Category: Good Fact

Randomly Generated Education

A handheld deceived used by a teacher can encourage better learning by randomly generating names to call on in class. The device was created to try to get teachers to call on girls as much as boys so all can learn equally, but an additional benefit is that it helps to keep kids focused.

Maybe it’s the fear of randomly being called upon to answer questions that keep kids focused, or perhaps the success lies in making everyone feel included.

“When teachers use a handheld computer that randomly selects which student to call on, even shy or reluctant pupils will be included in class discussions–and students pay more attention as a result, the researcher found.”

Lowered Chance of Recurring Breast Cancer

There is new hope for people who have HER2 type of breast cancer – a type of breast cancer that is infamous for its relapse rate. HER2 also affects 20-30% of breast cancer cases. A new drug, Herception, has reduced relapse by 50%!

“The results of these clinical trials provided consistent evidence that treatment with Herceptin following standard chemotherapy reduces the risk of cancer recurrence by about 50%. Herceptin has clearly demonstrated that it provides the best chance of long-term survival when used as early as possible in the course of the disease.”

Amnesty International Invites Webmasters to Defeat Censorship

Worldwide human rights group, Amnesty International has begun a project called irrepressable.info to monitor and circumvent internet censorship.

The website gives visitors the opportunity to place a small box on their own sites which contains a snippet of censored information.

Canada’s Federal Green Party

In preparation of a coming election the Green Party of Canada will be announcing a new star candidate to take the reins of leadership. Elizabeth May, long time activist and former executive director to the Sierra Club of Canada has announced her intention to run for Green Party leader.

Having been privy to her first campaign event, I have to say the she posesses all the criteria of a great leader. Her humour and obvious in-depth knowledge of many Canadian issues make her ideal to push the Green Party beyond the psychological barrier of a one-trick enviropony. Additionally, May’s media savy and long history of environmental activism, will prove to add much needed intellectual policy dicussions come the next election.

Paraphrasing her words, May believes she will have great sucess in elevating the parties status because her platform in content, not poll driven (she plans to sponsor policy think tank meetings to develop the party’s platform) and well….she’s a woman….. who would be participating in a debate that usually doesnt see a lot of women.

Mobile Phones Used to Help Poor

Farmers in Africa are using mobile phones to better their lives and business careers. The phones allow them to gain direct access to their respective markets and keep informed about global trends about their industry.

“One of Mashva’s neighbors said he had quadrupled his monthly income since using the phone, as he was now able to cut out a middle man who paid him far less than the market price for his cotton crop.

“Last year was really a disaster, I made around 800 rand ($120) a month and was having trouble feeding my family,” Jeremiah Chauke told reporters. “But last month I made around 4,000 rand — that’s a lot of bucks.”

Chauke has invested some of that extra cash into growing vegetables on a small plot of land near his house, which he also sells using his phone”