Article Reviews

Miracle Maker
    
     This article discusses the advances and disadvantages of printing organs using 3D technology.  A technology that is very forward in concept.  I believe the thought of printing organs versus transplanting them is extremely valuable but is it doable and can it work?  Is it worth the money and time involved in creating these organs in 3D and can people that need the organs afford it?  A group of scientist worked to develop a tissue printing system called the ITOP, and it in facts prints organs.  Anthony Atala, the doctor responsible for making this technology happen devoted many years of his life to developing this system.  Further more his technology grows as it is capable of printing organs coated with human or animal cells and skin cells onto a person! The machine did have a couple set backs in that it can not print blood vessels and other supporting tissues at the same time meaning the organ could not live on its own.  While this technology is futuristic it still has a long way to go. 

Flipping the Classroom 

     The concept is to allow students first-exposure to learning prior to class and giving them focus on the processing part of learning in class.  Some studies prove that the theory in fact does work and students have significant gain in learning from these types of classrooms.  Set backs to the theory are that some students may lack a strong competency in the particular subject.  some students just don't comprehend as well as other students.  That being stated some teachers take a metacognitive approach to the flipped classroom which means they activate certain facts for prior knowledge to students that need more detail in a flipped classroom setting.  Flipped classrooms can be extremely useful if done correctly. 
Four key elements in a flipped classroom:
1. Provide an opportunity for student to gain first exposure prior to class.
2. Provide an incentive for students to prepare for class.
3. Provide a mechanism to assess student understanding.
4. Provide in-class activities that focus on higher level cognitive activities. 

I like the concept and it seems doable if you have the time to do it right!