~ True Brilliance ~

As you know, I love to share cool stuff I come across that is related to self-learning and mastery learning. Here a short little piece I found exceptionally enlightening. Because this is a short blog entry, I have cut and pasted the entire thing, but you can visit the blog by clicking here:

http://didithrodrigo.blogspot.com/2009/02/in-face-of-true-brilliance.html

Yesterday, the Learning and Motivation class I am attending tackled mastery vs. performance motivation and approach / avoidance modalities. In a nutshell: A person with mastery orientation is interested in learning for learning’s sake. A performance-oriented individual on the other hand is interested in learning in order to get a grade. A mastery-oriented person approaches challenge and new knowledge and tends to avoid misunderstanding and confusion. A performance-oriented person approaches easy victory and avoids looking inferior.

For a few moments, the class struggled with confusion over mastery-orientation avoidance and performance-orientation avoidance. Weren’t they the same thing? Then, Phil Pavlik, a research scientist here at the PSLC who is auditing the class with me, put everything in perspective.

He said: To me the difference is do you want to avoid looking stupid or feeling stupid.

And that, my friends, is true brilliance.

~ They ‘Get It’ in Australia! ~

I get so excited when I read stuff like this! Why don’t more educators get it? It ain’t rocket science.

The title?  There’s more to learning than just scoring A’s

” They would come up with ideas that are unconventional, and this can only be achieved in an education system that encourages thinking and self-learning.”

To read the whole (kinda short) piece, pop over to

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/1/30/focus/3149668&sec=focus

And have a g’day, mate!

(Okay, that was too corny.)

~ Cake in a Mug! ~

5 MINUTE CHOCOLATE MUG CAKE – from Heidi Cardenas

4 tablespoons flour

4 tablespoons sugar

2 tablespoons cocoa

1 egg

3 tablespoons milk

3 tablespoons oil

..or try real butter…worked very well

3 tablespoons chocolate chips (optional)

a small splash of vanilla extract

1 large coffee mug

Add dry ingredients to mug, and mix well. Add the egg and mix thoroughly. Pour in the milk and oil and mix well. Add the chocolate chips (if using) and vanilla extract, and mix again. Put your mug in the microwave and cook for 3 minutes at 1000 watts (high). The cake will rise over the top of the mug, but don’t be alarmed! Allow to cool a little, and tip out onto a plate if desired.

EAT! (this can serve 2 if you want to feel slightly more virtuous). And why is this the most dangerous cake recipe in the world? Because now we are all only 5 minutes away from chocolate cake at any time of the day or night!

Kudos to my friend Dan Gay for posting this on his Facebook page. The whole world thanks Heidi, whoever and wherever she is! Moms, take a break and make ya some of this.  🙂