The Scout Report -- Volume 22, Number 49

For civics teachers and other educators interested in incorporating informed discussion about controversial issues into their classrooms, this resource may be of interest. Deliberating in Democracy is an initiative by the Constitutional Rights Foundation Chicago (CRFC), the Constitutional Rights Foundation (CRF) in Los Angeles, and the non-profit organization Street Law, Inc.. It is designed to train high school teachers in facilitating student engagement in "authentic civic deliberations while learning democratic principles." While the teacher training portion of this initiative ended in 2010, this website continues to provide a number of lesson plans that address enduring issues, such as freedom of expression, juvenile justice, and cyberbullying, that continue to be relevant today. Lessons use the Structured Academic Controversy (SAC) method to scaffold group discussions and help students engage with multiple perspectives on controversial issues. Educators can find complete SAC lesson plans - including readings, graphic organizers, and a list of related resources - on the Lessons page. The site also includes a helpful video tutorial demonstrating the SAC method. [MMB]

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Since its founding in 1996, the Center for Philosophy for Children at the University of Washington has been dedicated to helping educators engage children with philosophical questions. On the center's Lesson Plans page, visitors will find a number of lessons and activities designed for elementary and middle school students. One such lesson helps middle school-aged children parse the difference between belief, knowledge, and truth. Another lesson engages young students in the question of how to define art. Others center on the ethics of self-driving cars, examining perspectives in the media and the nature of laws. These highly interactive activities can be easily incorporated into a variety of elementary or middle school classrooms. Alternatively, many of the activities found on this website would also work well in a variety of enrichment classes and out-of-school spaces as well. [MMB]

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Genes, a publication of the Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI), is an open-access journal dedicated to issues in genetics and genomics. Genes publishes a diverse array of articles, reviews, and case studies on a regular basis and interested readers can check out all published articles via this website. In one recent article, a group of scholars from the College of Computer and Information Science in Saudi Arabia consider computational intelligence programs and non-coding RNA. In another article, a team from the Max Planck Institute of Psychiatry in Germany investigate the possible role of DNA methylation, "an epigenetic mark with important roles in transcription and the mediation of environmental influences" in the development of schizophrenia. In another recently published study, a transnational team of researchers examine nicotine dependence. Each article features links to related articles for those interested in further research. [MMB]

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The American Mathematics Society (AMS) has created this diverse resource list dedicated to the intersecting fields of mathematics and music. This list includes a number of video-recorded lectures, podcast episodes, articles, and journals available for subscription. Many of these items will be of use to mathematics and music classrooms alike, while others may hold special appeal to researchers and members of the general public. Readers will find a video lecture about symmetry in mathematics and music by a musician of the Santa Fe Symphony (accompanied by a performance of the symphony); a TED talk by researcher Natalya St. Clair about Beethoven's use of mathematics; and a podcast episode featuring composer and music theorist Dmitri Tymoczko on using coordinate geometry and topology to express musical notes. [MMB]

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Researchers in a variety of academic fields often debate the relative merits and drawbacks of pursuing frequent publications. This paper, authored by Ulf Sandstrom of the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden and Peter van den Besselaar of the Network Institute & Institute for Social Resilience in the Netherlands, explores this debate by comparing the number of publications and the number of scholarly citations of 48 Swedish researchers over the course of three years. The authors examine publications in a variety of fields, including Computer Science/Mathematics, Humanities, Sociology, and more. Based on this investigation, the authors conclude that "quantity [of publications] does make a difference." Those interested in learning more can download the 16-page paper, including detailed graphs, through the link above. [MMB]

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In 1896, the army of Ethiopia successfully fought off Italian invaders and secured the nation's independence during an era of colonialism. Historian Raymond Jonas published a book in 2012 dedicated to this battle and its significance. On this accompanying website, visitors can learn more about the Battle of Adwa by exploring a variety of maps, photographs, and other primary documents. Those unfamiliar with the Battle of Adwa may want to start with About the Book, which includes recorded interviews with Jonas, however, the highlight of this website is the Features page. Here, readers will find a variety of materials and ideas that are better suited for web-viewing that in a printed format. These items are useful in not only learning about the Battle of Adwa, but also in demonstrating the craft of researching history. For example, in Maps and Terrain, visitors can see how Jonas, with the help of his son, used archival maps and GPS in order to construct his own visual interpretation of the battle. [MMB]

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For science teachers and others interested in learning more more about global climate change, NASA hosts this collection of resources dedicated to the topic. On the Graphics and Multimedia page, visitors will find a variety of simulations, short documentaries, infographics, and interactive quizzes. These resources break down the science behind climate change in an engaging, succinct manner. In one video, How Global Warming Stacks Up, different causes of climate change are compared via an interactive line graph. Another video, Frozen Earth, features a striking collection of NASA satellite images and explores what these images tell us about global climate change. Meanwhile, the sleek infographics on this page provide excellent visuals for any science classroom. In addition to this wealth of multimedia material, NASA also hosts an extensive resource list of lesson plans, classroom activities, and teaching modules in the For Educators page. Finally, parents and elementary school teachers can find resources to engage young learners in the Climate Kids page. [MMB]

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From Annenberg Learner comes a wealth of resources designed to help high school students engage in fiction and poetry via four different pedagogical strategies: reader response, inquiry, cultural studies, and critical pedagogy. The Expanding Canon features a number of detailed videos designed to familiarize teachers with these four methods of literary analysis along with strategies for how they might engage young readers with each approach in a classroom setting. The site also features author profiles for a number of writers that teachers might consider including in the classroom, such as poet Pat Mora, novelist and memoirist Esmeralda Santiago, and science fiction author Octavia Butler. Teachers can also download PDFs of a variety of readings for classroom activities. These resources are organized into "sessions" matching each pedagogical strategy and can be used collectively or integrated independently into a language arts classroom. While designed with high school students in mind, many of these resources would also work well with adult learners. [MMB]

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As winter revs into gear, skiing enthusiasts will want to check out the Origins of Skiing in Canada's National Capital Region, an online exhibit from the Virtual Museum of Canada and the Canadian Ski Museum. With more than 100 artifacts on display (including photographs, articles, and memorabilia), the exhibit charts the history of skiing in Ottawa from the late nineteenth century through the 1960s. As the Canadian Ski Museum notes, "Historically, the origin of skiing activity in the National Capital Region is inseparable from the founding and evolution of the Ottawa Ski Club." Accordingly, many items also highlight the Ski Club and its influence on the sport. Visitors can browse items individually or explore four curated exhibits in the Stories section of the website. For instance, in George's Trail, visitors can read a 1924 article that claims to explain how the trail got its moniker. [MMB]

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This delightful webpage is for nature-lovers and art-lovers alike. John Muir Laws is an artist, naturalist, and educator who has authored a number of outdoor and drawing guides. On How to Draw Plants, a project Laws heads with support from the California Native Plant Society, visitors can learn how to sketch a variety of plants and flowers - a skill that enables nature enthusiasts to record new findings from a hike or camping trip. Visitors can develop their own sketching skills by downloading a number of PDF tutorials or by watching a series of demonstrative videos. Laws emphasizes that these materials are best used together, as the PDF tutorials provide templates that are discussed in the videos. As Laws notes, "drawing and sketching plants and nature is an excellent way to train yourself to observe more carefully." [MMB]

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At the turn of the twentieth century, the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) was the largest corporation in the world, and president Alexander Cassatt (brother of artist Mary), was determined to build a tunnel through the Hudson River to connect Philadelphia and Manhattan. In this episode of PBS's American Experience, viewers can learn more about PRR, Cassatt, and the design and construction of both the Hudson River tunnels and the magnificent Pennsylvania Station. As this documentary points out, Penn Station was constructed at the same time as other pioneering construction projects, including the Brooklyn Bridge and the Panama Canal. However, the $59 million project was unique in that it was entirely the initiative of PRR, with no government funding. This documentary explores the project from a variety of perspectives, including workers (over a dozen lost their lives constructing the tunnel) and PRR's decision to demolish the Penn Station building in 1963, which sparked movements to preserve historic buildings. On this website, visitors can watch this documentary in full and check out a number of accompanying resources, including bonus videos, articles, and a timeline. [MMB]

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Queen Mary University of London is Home to the History of Emotion Centre, a center dedicated to a growing subfield of history that explores the intersections of social and cultural history and the history of science and medicine. Historians of emotions explore a number of questions, such as: What social and linguistic forces have shaped how people categorize their emotions throughout history? And, how have the physical expressions of emotions, such as yawns, screams, and smiles, changed over time? On the History of Emotion Centre's interdisciplinary blog, visitors can learn more about the history of emotions via scholarly and popular articles, podcasts, and more. For example, in one recent post about the history of anger, Kirk Essary explores the different words used to describe anger-like feelings in early languages, and how many of these words describe emotions that differ from our contemporary understandings of anger. Meanwhile, in a series titled Normativity November, Sarah Chaney, David Saunders, and Stacy Hacker each explore normality throughout history from different perspectives. [MMB]

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Light pollution has greatly diminished how well individuals around the world can view the night sky. For the past decade, the National Optical Astronomy Observatory has hosted Globe at Night, a citizen science project that collects global data about light pollution. The project invites participants to fill out a form that details their location, the sky conditions, and what constellations they observe. On this website, visitors can explore collected data in a variety of ways, including an Interactive Data Map, a Regional Map Generator, and an Interactive Data Map. In 2015, Globe at Night collected data from 105 countries. Thanks to widespread citizen participation in this project, Globe at Night provides useful information for stargazers around the world. Those interested in participating can find more information here. [MMB]

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Throughout American history, music has been a central part of daily life, religious practices, and social events. From the Center for Popular Music at Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) and the American Antiquarian Society, comes this extensive database of music manuscripts from the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries. On this website, visitors with a specific research question can conduct a detailed search for a particular song, songwriter, or subject in order to find digitized copies of music manuscripts. Alternatively, those interested in casually browsing the collection may want to start with the site's Gallery of Images, which highlights a variety of collection materials. These include two hymns published in Providence, Rhode Island in 1802 and intended to be sung on the anniversary of American Independence, and a handwritten songbook featuring a number of songs about the U.S. Civil War. This collection will be of interest to fans of music and American history alike. [MMB]

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If you love longform writing across a variety of genres and subjects, then Longreads is for you. Founded by Mark Armstrong in 2009, Longreads publishes original investigative journalism, essays, and fiction pieces. In addition, Longform also curates works of 1,500 words or more that have been previously published in other magazines. Visitors can check out original pieces in the Exclusives section or curated pieces in Our Picks. Recently published Exclusives include a retrospective appreciation by musician Tom Maxwell of "Ella and Louis," a 1956 collaboration between Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald; an excerpt from novelist Marcy Dermansky's recently published, The Red Car; and an essay by Stanford University professor Adrian Daub about the origins and ubiquity of the "BRAAAM" sound in movie soundtracks (you'll recognize it thanks to included embedded videos). In the Our Picks section, readers will not only find a diverse collection of essays, but also lists to aid in the discovery of new reading material. As of this write-up, readers can find a variety of "year end" lists, including the best Under-Recognized Books of 2016. [MMB]

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This podcast is for fans of science fiction and fantasy in all of its forms - including "books, movies, games, and comics." Geek's Guide to the Galaxy is hosted by fantasy writer David Barr Kirtley and John Joseph Adams, editor of science fiction anthologies and Lightspeed Magazine. The show features interviews with a diverse group of authors and conversations about a wide variety of issues, from science to filmmaking to identifying as a "nerd" or a "geek." Recent guests include novelists Karen Russell, Hyperbole and a Half comic artist Allie Brosh, author Malcolm Gladwell, and actor John Cleese. As one can gather from this list, Geek's Guide to the Galaxy is eclectic enough to appeal to a wide variety of listeners in addition to sci-fi aficionados. Visitors to this website can follow links to listen to full episodes, which run approximately one hour in length, via Wired magazine. Visitors can also download episode transcripts and check out related reading from this website. [MMB]

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For Mac users concerned about cybersecurity, OverSight is a free security tool designed to alert users when the microphone or webcam on their computers have been activated. As the creators of OverSight note, "[o]ne of the most insidious actions of malware" is that it can "[abuse] the audio and video capabilities of an infected host to record an unknowing user." The creators go on to say, that "while the webcam's LED will turn on whenever a session is initially started, new research has shown that malware can surreptitiously piggyback into such existing sessions [such as Facetime or Skype sessions] and record both audio and video - without fear of detection." For more information about OverSight and to download this tool, check out the link above. [MMB]

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Gmail users interested in adding some simplicity to their lives will want to check out deseat.me, a tool that identifies websites that you've previously signed up for in order to help users unsubscribe. By visiting the website above and signing into Google, users can see the names of organizations and businesses where they currently have subscriptions. For each email list, visitors can select to keep the subscription or to add it to the "Delete Queue." A heads up: adding sites to the Delete Queue does not automatically unsubscribe users, but users can click on a link to the host site's webpage in order to unsubscribe. [MMB]

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