I move so move along with me :D

I just move here:

www.dinautami.com
www.dinautami.com
www.dinautami.com
www.dinautami.com

From now on, I am no longer write on this blog :)

CooL Things With Human Computer Interaction

CooL! now SADAKO can actually come out of your TV!

*in overly confidence tone

CooL! MINORITY REPORT's for ReaL!

*in overly confidence tone


So what do you think is next? Daffe, who'd just attended an international conference on tangible user interface said: "Long Distance Sex" :D /jk

Which came first?

I've been dealing with 'which came first' questions lately.

Several days ago I had a short of disagreement with my senior, who is also a rector of a private university in Yogya, about ICT investment in education. His university had just received a grant from the government for ICT facilities improvement. In my opinion, ICT investment in education is necessary and will give us many advantages. He thinks, if ICT wasn't used properly it wont give any advantages, or worse disadvantages. Both of us agree on that but which should came first? Investing on ICT first or preparing our students culture and habits first? There's the disagreement.

Another story.
A couple days ago, I had a chat with a friend. He was asked by his father,also a rector, "Which one is more important in your opinion, and you must choose one only, elementary education or higher education?" We both think elementary education is more important but his father think higher education is more important.

Why is it matter anyway? Why one should come first after another?
Why can't we just invest on IT and preparing our students readiness meanwhile?
Why can't both, elementary education and higher education be both equally important?

Well, to us, maybe, it doesn't really matter but to the top level person or decision makers it is important. They're the one who should set priority and like Stephen R. Covey said on his book: "First thing first".

Fortunately, I am just an ordinary person. Still on the same book Covey also said: "Proactive people focus their efforts in the Circle of Influence" so thats what I'm gonna do. Those decission maker however have larger circle of influence, hence, greater responsibility.

Poor them :(

May Allah give them strength and wisdom. Amin.

the way we learn

Alfon, my nephew, fell of again this morning. Head first, big bump. He's learning to walk. It seems like everyday that he physically hurt himself. In a cartoon he'd be like crayon sinchan :p. Amazingly, he's still trying. Of course he cried, of course he feels a little doubt each time he starts to try again, but he never stops. Thank god he's easily distracted. We gave him minyak tawon and bring him close to a fan, don't know why but he likes to watch a fan whirling so much, and he stopped crying.

Most of the time, he was warned by us not to do something we thought to be harmful but he wont listen. Curiosity? maybe. Like 3 days ago, my cousin told him not to play with a belt and tried to take it away from him but he insisted. The buckle hit his head hard and he cried. Another bump, Told you! Each time he becomes more careful and skillful. He learned not only to walk but also to listen to us.

I guess that's just the way we learn. To never give up no matter how much failure we experience and to listen to those who we trust, love us and always be there for us, no matter how stupid our choice was.

The Prologue from the book, The Alchemist -Paulo Coelho

The Alchemist picked up a book that someone in the caravan had brought. Leafing through the pages, he found a story about Narcissus.

The alchemist knew the legend of Narcissus, a youth who daily knelt beside a lake to contemplate his own beauty.

He was so fascinated by himself that, one morning, he fell into the lake and drowned. At the spot where he fell, a flower was born, which was called the narcissus.

But this was not how the author of the book ended the story.

He said that when Narcissus died, the Goddesses of the Forest appeared and found the lake, which had been fresh water, transformed into a lake of salty tears.

"Why do you weep?" the Goddesses asked.

"I weep for Narcissus," the lake replied.

"Ah, it is no surprise that you weep for Narcissus," they

said, "for though we always pursued him in the forest, you

alone could contemplate his beauty close at hand."

"But..... was Narcissus beautiful?" the lake asked.

"Who better than you to know that?" the Goddesses said

in wonder, "After all, it was by your banks that he knelt each

day to contemplate himself!!"

The lake was silent for some time.

Finally it said:

"I weep for Narcissus, but I never noticed that Narcissus

was beautiful. I weep because, each time he knelt beside my

banks, I could see, in the depths of his eyes, my own beauty

reflected."

"What a lovely story," the alchemist thought.

Are you a narcissist? Which one? The healthy one or the pathological one?

Andragogy-The Art of Adult Learning

Have you ever wonder why when you were a student you felt so reluctant to attend a lecture but now that you have graduated you, surprisingly, learn more passionately?

Well, I do. Now, I read more books and many references without even being told to do so. I know that some of my blogger friends read a lot and they learn how to write, voluntarily.

In a training I had to attend as a junior lecturer, I learned about Andragogy. Andragogy applies to any form of adult learning. The term was originally used by Alexander Kapp (a German educator) in 1833, was developed into a theory of adult education by the American educator, Malcolm Knowles.

Now, adults here means mature psychologically and sociologically. In Indonesia that means if you are 17 years old or older.

Basically, it has four principles:

(1) Adults need to know why they need to learn something. When I studied at electrical engineering department, I never know why I study transformation method, signal and system and stuff, because my teacher never told why. So, I and I believe most of my friends, studied because we need to have a good mark in order to have a good GPA.

(2) Adults need to learn experientially. For Instance, if you want your student to learn about bugs in programming, ask your students to do some programming. As a beginner, I believe there will be plenty of bugs.

(3) Adults approach learning as problem-solving. Give real cases to solve. I heard that Problem Based Learning works really well in the medical faculty, UGM.

(4) Adults learn best when the topic is of immediate value. Adults are most interested in learning subjects that have immediate relevance to their job or personal life. One of my friends was interested in studying logical fallacies because he was frustrated in dealing with what he refers to be a non-smart blogger. While, Logical fallacies can be a very serious&geeky topic to some people hihihiii...

In practical terms, Andragogy means that instruction for adults needs to focus more on the process and less on the content being taught. Strategies such as case studies, role playing, simulations, and self-evaluation are most useful. Instructors adopt a role of facilitator or resource rather than lecturer or grader.

Moreover, if you want to be treated like an adult, you should act like and take the responsibility of an adult.

The Dilemma of Muslims in America at MP Book Point

Friday,Febuary 8 2008, I attended a dialog. The title was "The Dilemma of Muslims in America". The speaker was Mr.Putut Widjanarko. He earned a PhD from Ohio University with his dissertation "A Study of Indonesian Transnational Muslims in New York City". He is also a director of Mizan Publisher.

He began his presentation by describing Muslims in America. Their number are not precisely known since census in US never ask about religion. According to Ba Yunus and Kone (2004), the largest ethnic group is Arabs, which are 32 percent of American Muslims, followed by the American Muslims (mostly African American) with 29 percent. The Muslims from South Asian countries (Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Ceylon, Afghanistan and Maldives) rank third with 28.9 percent. Then, they are followed by the Turks (5 percent), Iranians and Bosnians (each 2 percent). The rest are Malays, Indonesians, Kosovars and others[here].

This ethnic groups had their own mosque and they only go to their ethnic mosque. Originating from many different countries, cultures, and various schools of thought in Islam, a monolithic perspective and treatment towards Muslim communities in the US will not help us in understanding the aspirations and internal dynamics of each community.

The situation changes after 9/11 with the increased sentiment towards Muslims. Some Americans do committed violation towards Muslims. But, the others show great kindness. Real story, the moderator was there, when 9/11 tragedy happened,to study and his wife is wearing hijab. Her office friends,trying to protect her, asked her to stay in the office till the situation are better. Some American friends shops for their Muslims neighbor who were afraid to showed up in public. So, to see American from monolithic perspective is also wrong.

Lesson learned, hasty generalization are always wrong. Muslims are not only those in the middle east or a bunch of terrorist and Jihad is not terrorism. And America is not George W Bush foreign policies, which are criticized by nations all over the world and even American them self. Mr.Putut said that "the strongest critics towards American Government policies came from American". I agree and I believe those who've read the books of Noam Chomsky or watched the documentary movie of Michael Moore would agree.

Please stop spreading hatred around the world...

I am a teacher -by John W. Schlatter

I am a Teacher.

My job was born the first moment that a question leaped from the mouth of a child.

I have been many people in many places.

I am Socrates exciting the youth of Athens to discover new ideas through the use of questions.

I am Anne Sullivan tapping out the secrets of the universe into the outstretched hand of Helen Keller.

I am Aesop and Hans Christian Andersen revealing truth through countless stories.

I am Marva Collins fighting for every child's right to an education.

The names of those who have practiced my profession ring like a hall of fame for humanity.

I am also those whose names and faces have long been forgotten but whose lessons and character will always be remembered in the accomplishments of their students.

I have wept for joy at the weddings of former students, laughed with glee at the birth of their children and stood with head bowed in grief and confusion by graves dug too soon for bodies far too young.

Throughout the course of a day I have been called upon to be an actor, friend, nurse and doctor, coach, finder of lost articles, money lender, taxi driver, psychologist, substitute parent, salesman, politician and a keeper of the faith.

Despite the maps, charts, formulas, verbs, stories and books, I have really had nothing to teach, for my students really have only themselves to learn, and I know it takes the whole world to tell you who you are.

I am a paradox. I speak loudest when I listen the most. My greatest gifts are in what I am willing to appreciatively receive from my students.

Material wealth is not one of my goals, but I am a full-time treasure seeker in my quest for new opportunities for my students to use their talents and in my constant search for those talents that sometimes lie buried in self-defeat.

I am the most fortunate of all who labor.

A doctor is allowed to usher life into the world in one magic moment. I am allowed to see that life is reborn each day with new questions, ideas and friendships.

An architect knows that if he builds with care, his structure may stand for centuries. A teacher knows that if he builds with love and truth, what he builds will last forever.

I am a warrior, daily doing battle against peer pressure, negativity, fear, conformity, prejudice, ignorance and apathy: But I have great allies: Intelligence, Curiosity, Parental Support, Individuality, Creativity, Faith, Love and Laughter all rush to my banner with indomitable support.

And who do I have to thank for this wonderful life I am so fortunate to experience, but you the public, the parents. For you have done me the great honor to entrust to me your greatest contribution to eternity, your children.

And so I have a past that is rich in memories. I have a present that is challenging, adventurous and fun because I am allowed to spend my days with the future.

I am a teacher...and I thank God for it every day.

Careful to Picky

Momon said I shouldn't be in rush to rush to get married.
Well, she obviously doesn't. Good for her?

When did it change from careful to picky?

Ouwh..I'm facing a Sorites Paradox

"1,000,000 grains of sand is a heap of sand. (Premise 1)
A heap of sand minus one grain is still a heap. (Premise 2)

Repeated applications of Premise 2 (each time starting with one less number of grains), eventually there's only one grains left.

Is it still a heap when only one grain remains? If not, when did it change from a heap to a non-heap?

Is it still called careful when you reject 150 proposal? If not, when did it change from careful to picky?

Introduction to Logical Fallacies

Dear student,

I am happy to see the debate you had about our former president Soeharto. To me, it is an indication of openness and critical thinking. I believe that it is a good habit we should further develop.

Today I am going to present you about logical fallacies, hopefully it can improve the quality of our debate. Fallacy is a component of an argument which, being demonstrably flawed in its logic or form, render the argument invalid in whole.

So why learn logical fallacies at all?
I can think of a couple of good reasons. First, it makes you look smart. You can show that the opposition has made an error in reasoning, it shows that you can think on your feet and that you understand the opposition's argument possibly better than they do. Second, hopefully, you can find ways to transform fallacious arguments into perfectly good ones.

It is supposed to be just an introduction. If you're interested, I'll give you link to the more advance source.

***False Dilemma***

Meaning:A limited number of options (usually two) is given, while in reality there are more options. Putting issues or opinions into "black or white" terms is a common instance of this fallacy.

Sample: "It's either punish him or forgive him"

Proof: Identify the options given and show (with an example) that there is an additional option,like we can forgive him and put him to trials.

***Argument from Ignorance***

Meaning: Arguments of this form assume that since something has not been proven false, it is therefore true. Conversely, such an argument may assume that since something has not been proven true, it is therefore false. As Davis writes, "Lack of proof is not proof."

Sample: "Since you can't proof that he's guilty, so he's not, so don't big talk"

The law in most democracies also allows negative proofs in criminal cases; namely, a defense lawyer may argue:

X is innocent because there is no (or insufficient) proof that X is guilty

This, however, is based upon the legal 'presumption of innocence', which is specifically intended to allow guilty parties to go free, to minimise the chance of innocent parties being convicted.
This concept is entirely inapplicable to normal logical argument.

***Appeal to Popularity***

The basic idea is that a claim is accepted as being true simply because most people are favorably inclined towards the claim.

Sample:The media shows that public mourn for the death of the general,so you may as well mourn for him.

Appeal to Pity

The reader is told to agree to the proposition because of the pitiful state of the author.

Sample:"Let's just forgive him and forget all of his past mistakes. He's so old and dying"

Proof:
Identify the proposition and the appeal to pity and argue that the pitiful state of the arguer has nothing to do with the truth of the proposition.

***Prejudicial Language***

Meaning:Loaded or emotive terms are used to attach value or moral goodness to believing the proposition.

Sample:"People who knows how to thanks would not try sent the father of development to jail"

Proof:
Identify the prejudicial terms used (eg. "people who knows how to thanks"). Show that disagreeing with the conclusion does not make a person "wrong thinking" or "unreasonable".

I think it's already long enough. If you wanna learn and find out more about the complete list of logical fallacies. You can always ask Uncle Google :D

reference:
www.onegoodmove.org, www.infidels.org, www.csun.edu, www.hebrew4christians.com,

dog vs human

Is it OK to bite the hands that feed you, if you know that had took the food he gave to us from someone else who need it???

Note: you are not dog

AIDS

Translation:
dina: gik, do you remember there used to be a street banner saying "GO TO HELL AMERICA WITH YOUR AIDS" during campaign in front of MM UGM?
o_giggs: yeah
dina: I thought what they meant by AIDS was HIV :D
o_giggs: =))
o_giggs: silly

That's how silly and naive I am. It's the financial aids they meant, isn't it? Reading Confession of an economic hit man finally paid off hiehiehie..

Btw, I've finished that book. Now, I'm a bit paranoid. Regardless of the many pros&cons about that book, but I do know that these facts are real:

Indonesia owes debt it cant never repay.

Our natural resources is being sucked up by industries without concerning the damage it might result.

The gap between the rich and the poor are larger.

Global warming is real.

Imperialist country move its industry to countries with cheap labors.

The world is in a mess hiks..

love life summary

In summary, this is what happened in my love life.
* I liked a men but he did not like me.
* A men liked me but I did not like him.
* I liked a men and he liked me, but there's always something on the way: distance, religion, marital status :p
* I liked him, he liked me..last awhile, then feeling's gone of many reasons.

How am I ever get married?

I'll never know............*bwahahahaha

Another Mixed Up Dream

Friday night I watched Radit&Jani at 21 theater with some friends. The movie was filled with uncontrolled emotion, anger, tear, laugh, love, over and over again, a bit boring. There're many episodes describing how miserable they're life was, especially Anjani, who could choose to live otherwise, and that episodes would end with Radit asking Anjani "Are you happy?" and she'd answered "I am".

I wanna puke :p

However, during the movie, a memoir of someone kept emblazoned in my mind. All the chat we used to have, about love and rationality. He said that in real life, people are often have to make rational decisions. He also said that inside a men, there's one thing that'll never be gone, responsibility.
Our story ended pretty much the same way with those Radit&Jani had.. :(

Anyway...that night I dreamt of him and we're together. In a war. What??!!

YeP! in a war! :))

He's a guerrilla, and we're fighting together. Although we suffered from hunger, exhausted from long period of running and hiding, our life's threatened, and we almost got killed everyday..
but I am happy with the life I had with him =)) (note: on the dream)

I woke up the next day and wondered why I had such a dream.

Then, I remember that I recently read "Confession of an economic hit man". There're two character I admired the most on that book. The president of Ecuador, Roldos, and the president of Panama, Torrijos. Both were an idealist who fought for their poeple against corporatocracy, and they're both assassinated.

also, back then, there were moment when he missed me so much and he wrote a message "Sending you a hug as huge as Merapi mountain". He said that it's what 'CHE' used to say to his wife when he missed her during revolution, because he traveled a lot.

I guess that must be it.

Well, Dina, that is what happen when you're life's so boring and you run into books & movies, you're sucked into it, living the characters life then it got mixed up with your own :D

Interpreter of Maladies & The Namesake -Jhumpa lahiri

so sad and real..
you are who you are, no matter where you are..

MOMO -Michael Ende

An imaginative story about the concept of time.

Why are we, adults, see it and use it so differently from children..how do we start changing?

In case you're wondering, What's good about all those technology that claimed to helped us work faster, if the time we save is used to do more work?

It's not that we should just waste our time.

This book reminds me of this story:

A time management guru places rocks into an aquarium at the front of the class. She asks the class if the aquarium looks full. Everyone points to the spaces in between the rocks. She smiles as she adds stones, which fall between the rocks to fill up the bigger spaces. People then point to the space between the large stones and pebbles. She sprinkles in sand, which seems to fill up all the spaces. When everyone agrees that the aquarium is full, she pours a jug of water into the aquarium. Every drop of it is absorbed between the rocks, pebbles and sand.

The moral of the story is not that you can always fit something else in - it's that this is the only way we can fit all this into the aquarium. If we place the rocks in first, everything else fits in around them. If we try any other order, we would have leftover things at the end of each day or week.

so, what's your rocks?