The 5 Habits Framework

1) Evidence (How do I know what's true?)

2) Perspective (Who might think differently?)

3) Connections (What other areas of knowledge are connected?)

4) Supposition (How might it be different if..?)

5) Significance (Is this important?)

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Single Mother Returns Money from Broken ATM

Bank Customer Lauded for Honesty


(Getty Images)

http://www.delcotimes.com/general-news/20161005/cop-shop-woman-does-the-right-thing-after-gift-from-atm

1)  What could be used as evidence that this story is a fabrication?  What are the limits of financial records as evidence?  What are the limits of video evidence?

2)  Whose perspective is represented?  Left out?  In what ways is your perspective limited on this story?  Why might the CEO of Wells -Fargo feel differently about this story today than 3 years ago?

3)  In what ways is this connected to social media?  Marvel Comics?

4)  How would the story be different if it was a man?  A woman of a different race?  A larger amount of money?  A smaller amount?  A bank teller was responsible?

5)  To whom might this be significant?  What are some basic assumptions about honesty in financial dealings?  

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can rank which items are the most immoral to steal  a. a car  b.  a painting  c. pirated music  d.  bread for a hungry family.  and then research Kant's categorical imperative and re-rank

2)    Students can write a short story of a character who one day finds $133,000 dollars was deposited into their bank account.

AoK:  Ethics

WoK:  Emotion  

Friday, October 7, 2016

UK Girl Makes Money Naming Chinese Babies

16 Year Old Has Helped Name 200,000 Children


Beau Jessop

http://www.bbc.co.uk/newsbeat/article/37255033/a-16-year-old-british-girl-earns-48000-helping-chinese-people-name-their-babies

1)  What numbers are of significance in this article?  What evidence would be helpful to the clients that their name is appropriate?  If you were seeking a Chinese-influenced name?

2)  Whose perspective is represented in this article?  Whose is left out?  In what ways might a mother's perspective be different than a child's?

3)  In what ways is this connected to the culinary arts?  Sports?

4)  What might happen if a Chinese young woman is discovered doing the same for Europeans?

5)  In what ways is this significant?  What are some basic assumptions about naming children?

Extension Activities:

1)  Students can research popular names over time and analyze frequency charts to make predictions about the likelihood of people of different ages having certain names.

2)  Students can read the chapter of Freakonomics discussing names and how they are connected to social status and predict the names of the future indicating education level or relative wealth.

AoK:  Human Sciences

WoK:  Language, Imagination