danaleeling

Summary: The mean number of absences was found to be statistically unchanged under the revised attendance policy for two courses. A third course showed a statistically significant increase in the mean number of absences. Note and policy background The following is a note on the mean number of absences in three courses at the College of Micronesia-FSM across multiple terms. The three courses are MS 150 Statistics (six terms), SC 130 Physical Science (five terms), and SC/SS 115 Ethnobotany (four terms). The background and genesis for this note is the shift from a college-wide catalog mandated attendance policy to individual attendance policies set by faculty. The policy in effect up until spring 2009 was: Students who are absent for more than six MWF classes, or more than four TTh or summer classes, will automatically be dropped from the course. The total missed classes include unexcused and excused absences, such as sickness, funerals, and any other circumstances. The policy i...

The Kosraean Student Organization put together a fund-raising variety show held at the College of Micronesia-FSM - China Friendship Multipurpose Center, otherwise known on campus as the gym . The dancers included groups other than Kosraean dancers. The dancer above, from here on Pohnpei, is performing a Samoan style dance. My daughters joined one of the dance groups. A first public performance for the dance group. The dancers more often perform at family functions in front of relatives. The college students represented a group of strangers for the dancers, and a noisier bunch than the usual collections of aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Imaging conditions in the gym were atrocious. The gym was only partially lit for the dances, and even then the lighting consisted of a five mercury vapor lamps and six sodium vapor lamps. Balancing the color was difficulty, even with five color balance options offered on the FujiFilm FinePix Z33WP I was using. Adding to the photographic diffic...

The Christmas holidays will be especially joyous and special with the arrival of a wondrous array of coffees. While the dark deluges of December rain down upon Pohnpei, my family and I can curl up on a kiaka on the porch with mugs of exotic and flavorful coffee to warm us up. My thanks to the giver of the above gifts, coffee is always a perfect gift for us.

A few years ago when I led the effort to add an exercise sport science requirement to the general education core at the college, a colleague expressed reservations. My colleague was keenly aware that the nation is seeing rising rates of obesity and diabetes. We were both aware of the magnitude of the problem, partially confirmed later by a number two ranking among nations for a body mass index over 25. And we both understood the benefit of exercise as part of a program to reduce obesity. He is a year one boomer, just over a decade ahead of me. I sit somewhere near the tail end of the boomers, depending on where one decides the boomers end. My colleague's concern was that the requirement ought to involve sweating. Lots of sweating. A significant effort. Were he a runner, he might have required students in courses to work out at 75% of their age rated maximum heart rate. Or some significant percentage of their VO max . I concurred, but noted that for some students mere walking wou...

Driving home the other evening my mind was turning over the news and images of the successes and experiences of children of former colleagues abroad. Gaining a singing role in a community theater production, visiting a museum, being selected to play goalie for a local hockey team, rollicking at at theme park. Living out here is a choice I made. Yet this is a small island with the limitations that attend life on a very remote island. Thus my thoughts were swirling around the concept that what might be optimal for me may not be optimal for my own children. I pulled into the driveway with these thoughts. I stepped out to find my daughter and two friends practicing a Pacific island dance routine for an upcoming event. A house guest for the past week who enjoys mugging for the camera. One of the many orchids around here, orchids that grow and blossom on mere neglect. No monitoring of the humidity, carefully controlling the temperature, or special growing media. A coconut husk and loca...

The students did a term end cleaning of the Palikir ethnobotanical garden. The class period also included review for the final examination . The students move out across the campus, machetes in hand. Above, Nayleen and Beautrina at work in the central area of the ethnogarden. Beautrina, Nayleen, Alwihter, and Kristina. Alwihter, apparently pausing to look around. Some of the plants in the garden include: Areca catechu Asplenium nidus Calophyllum inophyllum Campnosperma brevipetiolata Citrus aurantifolia Clerodendrum inerme Cocos nucifera Cyrtosperma chamissionis Gardenia jasminoides [G. augusta] Hibiscus tiliaceus Ixora casei Macaranga carolenensis Melastoma malabathicum var. marianum Microsorum scolopendria Morinda citrifolia Musa spp. Piper ponapense Premna obtusifolia Saccharum offinarum Scaevola taccada Senna alata Many of the plants are listed in an on line herbarium . JayKay strikes a pose. The photos were taken by students, many of the original 5...

I end the term with a laboratory intended to introduce the idea that mathematical models need not be algebraic. Mathematics is "bigger" than algebraic models - or those based in trigonometry, exponential functions, and differential equations. The lab also provides a chance to relax and have some end of term fun. Laboratory 15 introduces site swap notation and concludes with an introductory lesson on juggling. The students usually pick up juggling quickly with a minimal of directions. Above, Marsela works on a three ball cascade. Anchyleen also has a three ball cascade operational in the image above. Verne practices with two balls prior to moving on to three balls. Cecelia was juggling a three ball cascade pattern, site swap notation 3, but catching two in her left hand (holding one and catching a second). Then she would sweep the pair under her right hand and throw both balls simultaneously. She would catch the pair in opposite hands. She could run this pattern switc...