Blended Learning Station Rotation

After returning from the Hartford Public Schools District professional learning on Blended Learning, I applied a rigorous introductory lesson plan on surface area that contained Inquiry Based Learning, utilized three Station Rotations and had physical objects to work with and measure.

Upon reflection my initial feelings were mixed.  Students struggled with the idea of being more independent.  And from the perspective of order of the stations students who began at one station seemed more advantaged than another.  By the end of the lesson, students had not solidified their understanding of the surface area of 3 dimensional objects.

I had adequate evidence of their work and in subsequent classes they readily began to approach their work more independently and more conceptually.  I will continue the plan to make student centered learning a greater part of their learning.

The Driving Force?

Since June-July of 2010 the price of commodities have increased notably. Whether one is an optomist or a pessimist it seems that the world market recovery remains the biggest hedge game there is. There is civil and political unrest in all regions of the world.

My question is: How should the influence (imposition) of government in the free market impact the decision-making of a person whose involvement in investing is relatively low?