Minerva Project Announces Annual $500,000 Prize for Professors: Measured how?

How would one measure extraordinary, innovative teaching?  We have a difficult time measuring regular teaching!

The Minerva Project, a San Francisco venture with lofty but untested plans to redefine higher education, said on Monday that starting next year it would award an annual $500,000 prize to a faculty member at any institution in the world who has demonstrated extraordinary, innovative teaching.

via Minerva Project Announces Annual $500,000 Prize for Professors – NYTimes.com.

EarSketch rocks: Music + Python in intro for 14 year olds

I’ve seen EarSketch demoed a few times, and Barb is involved in planning their summer camp version.  It’s very cool — goes deeper into Python programming and music than MediaComp.

The students use EarSketch, the software created by Magerko and Jason Freeman, an associate professor in Tech’s School of Music. EarSketch utilizes the Python programming language and Reaper, a digital audio work station program similar to those used in recording studios throughout the music industry.

“Young people don’t always realize that computer science and programming can be fun,” Freeman said. “This is allowing students to express their own creative musical ideas as they learn computer science principles.”

via Gwinnett pilot hopes to draw students to computer programming… | www.myajc.com.