Welder World Blog

Archive for June, 2011

A torch lighter usually refers to a butane torch or propane torch used to light the flammable gases butane and propane respectively. Be it for smokers or for campers, here are some tips about torch lighters in general.

Propane or Butane torch lighter—which one to pick?

Both the gases are similar in characteristic, but when it boils down to efficiency, butane wins hands down. This literally means that for the same quantity of gas, butane would provide more energy than propane. Additionally, butane is also available at a cheaper price than propane. Unfortunately, unlike propane, butane tends to freeze up as soon as the temperature drops below 0°C and it cannot be handled by being shaken around.

These limitations can prove disadvantageous, if you are a camper with a backpack and if you wish to hike in the cold outdoors. This is one reason why campers and hikers prefer propane torch lighters to the butane alternative, but it does not make much of a difference to smokers in moderate climates. Propane is definitely capable of handling more rough treatment than butane, but if you are using a torch lighter in a place where the temperature is on the higher side, then there is no reason to opt for the latter. In addition, in today’s market, special butane torch lighters are available, which can achieve higher temperature much quicker than the traditional ones. This is good for campers and smokers both, since they have no need to hold the flame for a very long time to light the fire.

Torch lighters can help fix simple home hardware problems—unbelievable but true! You must have come across daily problems at home, wherein you have found it difficult and sometimes impossible to loosen the stray stubborn nut or bolt. Greasing or hammering also doesn’t seem to help sometimes. This is because of the natural weld because of years of corrosion and it could hold up your work for hours. However, one of the best ways to deal with these simple home problems is to use heat.

A regular lighter will not help, but you do not need to call in professionals for the same —just use a propane torch lighter. If you use it indoors, ensure plenty of ventilation. In addition, do not fret about the cost. There are mini propane torches available for household use, which could be just what you are looking for.

Finally, traveling with torch lighters and matches can be cumbersome, especially in airplanes. Most liquid-filled lighters or disposable butane lighters are all right for plane travel, but cannot be checked in. Torch lighters are disallowed completely. Used by many pipe smokers, it can create a needle-like flame capable of being reaching up to 1370°C — much hotter and more intense than the less malevolent cigarette lighter.

Lighting Charcoal in a Weber Smoky Mountain Smoker with a 100000 BTU Propane Torch (aka “Weed Burner”). Only really needs 1 minute or so but went for 2 minutes for viewing purposes. These can be had for -50 online easily and bolt right up to any standard Gas Grill Propane tank.
Video Rating: 4 / 5

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The theory behind keeping an arc going is, the electrical current is forced between the welding rod tip and the steel you are welding. If you want to be a successful welder you must be able to strike an arc and keep it going without even thinking about it.

The 2 most common ways of starting your arc are by tapping and scratching your welding rod to the steel. Scratching seems to be the most natural way used by beginners.

Scratching is when you swipe the rod across the steel as if you were trying to light a match. Once the rod makes contact with the steel, the arc starts. The only real reason for scratching it to get it started is so it won’t stick to the steel since it is in motion. The trick then is to locate where you want to weld and try to keep the arc going. This takes some practice to get the hang of it.

Tapping is basically stabbing the steel with your welding rod. This is better for starting your rod in the correct welding location, but it is harder to keep the rod from sticking and still maintaining an arc. The natural reaction is once the arc strikes, you will want to pull it away to keep it from sticking. The only problem is, beginners tend to pull it too far away and lose the arc. This can go on and on and is actually pretty funny to watch someone doing this. But we all need to remember we were new at one point also.

Sticking of your welding rod is caused by the rod melting to the steel before it is pulled away slightly to maintain it’s arc. I won’t go into how far away it should be from the steel since it is dependent on what type of rod you are using and the amperage you are welding with.

These are the basics and should give you an idea of how to strike an arc. Just remember that it takes practice and patience to get good at it. One day you will grab the stinger and it will all just click in your head. It will almost start to feel natural, then you will know it’s all coming together.

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Before you constitute your purchase of your soldering tool there are some items you should take into deliberation. What situation will you be using your Soldering Tools for? What type of heat will your soldering jobs require? Will you need a battery-operated soldering tool for more portability or will you be working at a mending bench where you will have easy access to a power supply? Also choosing the proper soldering tips should be an fundamental factor you contemplate prior to making your purchase.

So let’s start off with the type of soldering tool you should choose. If your function is for the most part performed at a repair bench atmosphere then I would suggest picking a Soldering Station. There are several choices of Soldering Stations, but the universal rule is to select one that has an alterable control (wattage) setting. This gives you many Soldering Irons in a single tool. The Solder Station also gives you a place to quickly hold your Solder Iron between uses. The largest downfall of a Solder Station is it’s negation of portability through its bulk and necessity for an AC power supply.

If you elect to choose one of today’s quick cool Solder Irons you might want to consider these fundamental factors into deliberation first. They are indeed the best when it comes to portability. They don’t command an AC power provider, and nearly all batteries in these family of Solder Irons in most of cases provide you up to 10 hours of use in advance of needing to be re-energized. The demise with these types of Solder Irons is the absence of power. The brisk cool Solder Irons I have had the pleasure of using had a top power of ten watts. This could be ample power for lesser solder jobs or work with heat impressionable workings, but if you are working with line or larger components that are not heat vulnerable this will not grant enough power for the project.

Solder Irons and Soldering Guns that have need of an AC power base provide a varied array of power options and some portability in a sole package. Solder Guns give a wattage that provide an adequate amount of power for soldering wire and alternative bulky components, but don’t allow the technician the malleability to get into small spaces. Solder Irons on the alternative hand assign you the adaptability of a extensive collection of wattages for 6 watts up to 60 watts. They also allow you to amend to different styles of soldering tips for almost every imaginable soldering jobs.

Butane Solder Irons also afford the technician the portability needed of a cordless Solder Iron, the choice of soldering tips and the power required for a large amount of soldering jobs. Of course they necessitate you to have additional butane available for refills, but for the most part they constitute an exceptional choice.

So now that you are an authority in regards to Soldering Irons go out there and shop with confidence. I’m confident you will find exactly what you are looking for.

 A very large percentage of the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors in our country are also Recovering Addicts. This especially pertains to those certified by agencies created specifically to improve the qualifications of those working in a previously hugely unregulated field. This certification became necessary, as so many Addicts inspired by the 12 Step Concept, want to “give back” what they have acquired that changed their lives for the better, and in many cases “saved their life”! 

I can only speak for myself, but approaching 10 years as a counselor, I believe myself to to represent the profile of very many counselors. I definitely have had issues that relate back to childhood personality problems like, shyness, insecurity, and fear. As a child I was very small. I began school, 1st grade, at only 5 years old, in rural Missouri.

My family relocated from there to California whan I was eight. When I graduated from 8th grade I was 4’8″ tall and weighed a mere 78 pounds. I had already spent 2 years in over-achievement, with a great degree of success. In 8th grade I was a starting line member in every sport. A benefit that came with that success, at that time, was that girls approached me, in spite of the fact that I was still so lacking in self-confidence that I could not approach them. So, at 12 years old, in 8th grade I won a popularity test at the annual Carnival and was crowned King of the Carnival. This was a very small rural school, though. My problems really surfaced in the next, or 1st year of High School. I was cut from every sport I entered in my Freshman year. This was a major blow to my somewhat bloated ego. I did still maintain a dominant role in my neighborhood, though. But school was important… very important to me as it is to all children. Thus I began my first associations with an alternative demographic and began drinking and smoking pot as regularly as an average 12 or 13 year old could… mostly Saturday nights. I also started hanging out with people 3 or 4 years old than I was. This period, I feel, set the trend for my life assuming the outcast or outlaw persona! Between my freshman and sophomore years I grew from 5’1″ to 5’8″ and shot up to 145 pounds, which left me sort of with 2 left feet and hands. It was a disappointing time and I began to drink and smoke pot more, usually staying under-the-influence all weekend.

This is in the 1960′s and a lot of social anxiety was going on with the civil rights movement many other societal tensions. The “underground” was forming and I was right there in the middle of it as much as someone my age could be. Remember, I had a tendency to associate with people older than me. My junior year in high school started with a move to a high school that just opened that year. I tried to make it a fresh start. I went to class everyday, which I had not been doing recently. My grades improved and at 5’9″ and 160 pounds I had regained my agility and made the Varsity squad of the wrestling team. Somehow I found the strength to refrain from drinking and smoking pot and cigarettes. I now had two lives that I kept unbelievably well separated from one and other (honing my skills of deceit)! I had my “Jock” friends, and I had my “Hippie” friends. After wrestling season ended, the hippies gradually became my “comfort zone”. As was the course all through high school, I was not very popular with the girls, especially those expected to be in the company of an athlete. This was a real problem that I suppressed and eventually came to accept, on the surface, as not very important, though my libido told me differently. My senior year I went out for wrestling and inflated the seriousness of a minor injury so I could quit. Luckily, my academic performance had so improved that I only had to attend classes for half of the day. Sadly, it gave me more time to pursue my alternative lifestyle choice! I was using drugs more frequently than ever and began involvement in politics, even attending demonstrations against the war in Vietnam, that were in their fledgling state, but would soon dominate the National stage. I graduated from High School at 17 without a clue regarding my future.

In a matter of months the “Draft” would resolve that issue. I knew that my number would come up soon because I would be 18 soon, and everyone in my uncommitted status of life got drafted shortly after turning 18. So, shortly before my eighteenth birthday I went to the Navy recruiter, to avoid the Army Infantry. This was also truly an attempt to change my future as I was certainly headed for drug addiction, already a serious drug abuser, and full-well knew it! Wrong!!! Wrong decision!!! Join the Navy… see the World! Guess what? That big old World out there had better, easier to get, drugs than I ever could have imagined.

 San Diego may very well have been the drug capital of California at that time, rivaled only by maybe, San Francisco. Of course I couldn’t use in Boot Camp; the first four months in the service. But, I stayed in San Diego, in schools, training in electricity and electronics and radio communications. The training schedule was arduous, but I found my first true love as a result… Amphetamines!!! This is an extremely addictive drug and you build tolerance to it rapidly. Starting with about 10 “Bennies” a week, I eventually found myself taking up to 100 per day. I had made a connection across the border in Tijuana and became a drug dealer to help support my enormous habit. In this precarious position, I was headed for an assignment in “Top Secret” classified communications at the Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet Headquarters at Pearl Harbor. Again, I would make an attempt to arrest my drug abuse problem, and it wasn’t too difficult for a while.

At the Communications Center, we worked 12 hours on 12 hours off, seven days a week, for the first ten months I was there. Still, I managed to make some minor drug connections at Pearl Harbor. After that first 10 months we were allocated almost a 50% increase in personnel and I found myself with a lot of free time and also moved off base. It was easy to get Navy pay for off base housing because of their fear of “shop talk” in our off hours at Pearl Harbor. Well, folks, Pearl Harbor, as you know, is in Hawaii. I found myself living only blocks from Waikiki Beach. Now, I was able to return to a very familiar scenario; living a dual life, with my Navy friends and my Civilian friends becoming two separate lives. Somehow, I managed my Navy life. There was no drug testing back then, fortunately for me. Or, maybe unfortunately for me, I don’t know for sure. I made civilian connections and begun selling drugs to a dealer at Pearl Harbor that I had used for my own needs, previously. I also went to a lot of rock and roll music concerts, taking LSD, experimenting with Cocaine, and even getting my first taste of Heroin. I started helping the “Draft” resistance keep people out of the service and even worked with a Church that was a sanctuary for “deserters”. This led to a relationship with some local American Civil Liberties Union people, who offered to help me desert to Canada, but I couldn’t go that route. My love for my parents definitely had something to do with that decision, but truthfully, I was just plain old scared to make a move that big and bold and serious. I still had enough sense to see losing a “Dishonorable Discharge” as too high a price to pay for any reason. My family has a long history of service to this country going all the way back to Charles Carroll of Carrollton signing the Declaration of Independence. Anyway, by the Grace of God, I did get an Honorable Discharge, and make it through the whole ordeal of the United States Military. I may not have indicated it, but I was raised on John Wayne and have always had a true love for and pride in my Country. If not, I never would have seen enlisting as a solution to my drug problem. It’s true that the ‘60′s made me question a lot, but I’m tried and true, red, white and blue, at heart.

The biggest blow to my patriotism came as a result of working in Top Secret communications, though. I am a patriot and will not mention any details of my work, to this day. It must suffice to say that I could confirm that the President of the United States was telling the American public lies, period… outright lies!!! This is what led me to the draft resistance, and became a perfect excuse to become a full-blown Drug Addict. I did some other duty in the Navy but it’s mostly irrelevant right now. Let’s just say that I came home to California, disenfranchised, angry, and a regular dumping ground for drugs. I came home using anything and everything in almost every combination conceivable. On top of that, I had lost all faith, and for many years claimed atheism as my chosen belief.

I drew unemployment compensation the first year I was out, growing my hair and trying to be as much of a “hippie” as I possibly could. I did anything that would distance me far from the military! I have to admit though that right at first I screwed up big time and found myself in jail 28 days after leaving the military. I had a succession of drug arrests until my unemployment checks ended and had to go to work. I got my bearings and after living a dual life in the Military, doing it in civilian life became a piece of cake. From 1974 to 1991 I was what some call a “functioning addict”! I had good jobs and learned the trade of pipe welding and became a Union member with my own portable welding truck. Drug testing still wasn’t very prominent. I made well over a million dollars over that period but by the time of my next drug arrest in 1991, I owned no property, lost my welding truck, had two divorces, and had no money in the bank. I had specific addictions to alcohol, cocaine and methamphetamines. The “Meth” was the closer. From 1991 to 1995 I spent about half of my time homeless or in jail. Between 1985 and 1995 I did a lot of things I am ashamed of to this day. Worst of all was deserting my children, choosing drugs and addicted women over them!

In 1995, at 45, with my last trip to jail, I fell completely apart mentally and spiritually, and no longer had the desire to live, but had come to hope that there was a God. In lieu of a 3 year prison term, and incredibly compassionate Judge looked at my Military Service, my deceiving job history, and I think my obviously apparent declining physical condition and sentenced me to just jail time, and coupled it with a sentence to a drug rehabilitation program. That Judge named “Felice” saved my life, surely under the direction of God and by recommendation from the assistant DA. I now like to say the DA, the VA, AA and NA saved me. During that last arrest, I began praying again. When I got that last sentence I had already come to believe in God. About 10 days after becoming incarcerated, on the eve of my father’s (who was in the hospital) birthday), I had a radical religious experience, and my life was changed from that moment on! You can read about that in one of my articles at EzineArticles.com…  

I did my jail term. Successfully completed a drug rehabilitation program and the VA Hospital in Fresno, CA. Remained clean as a member of AA and NA. Went back to a full-time job (notice that I did not go directly into training for counseling). Went back to school for office skills. Went back to school at Cal-State University Bakersfield, Drug and Alcohol program and became a Certified Counselor through the California Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (CAADAC) and have worked as a Counselor since. I was working in the field before, and during my schooling, close to 10 years now. This I believe is a very common scenario of personal history for drug counselors, as I stated at the beginning of this article. My total acceptance of the help provided me in “Treatment” helped to make it successful for me. I must mention the loving caring staff at the VA program, too. I hold one person in the highest regard and that is my personal counselor, Sally Belle, who understood me so well. She gave me the initial inspiration and suggestion to become a Counselor.

Let’s not escape it anymore. Each professional field in today’s times require certification and skills. The field of welding is no different. Even the field of welding and training requires certification of various kinds. Welding has its own types and certification varies according to that. For instance, pipe welding has different requirements to be fulfilled. This article aims at dealing with the detailing of pipe welding.

The organisation responsible for the pipe welding certification, the United Association of Plumbers and pipefitters (UA) has made a unique code for the same, i.e. UA-1, 2, 3, 4 etc. It goes on till the number 92 is reached. The common tests count up to 92 but there can be other possibilities as well.

There are several welding processes involved for the pipe welding like Gas Metal Arc (GMAW), Flex Core Arc (FCAW), Shielded Metal Arc (SMAW) and Gas Tungsten Arc (GTAW). If that was not enough, there are also different metal groups involved like carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminium. This is the reason that so many pipe welder certification exists for the varying sites.

You can refer to the ASME Section IX if you want to peep in to the certification requirements and qualification limitations. For the general purpose, we can assert that most common limitations are thickness, position and diameter of pipe. There are some limitations even after achieving the certification tests.

For instance, a welder who has passed the test of TIG on 2 inch schedule 80 pipe in a 6G position can weld 1 inch and grater diameter pipe. It can go up to 436” thick and then a welder can weld in all positions. Similarly, a welder having passed the test of 6” schedule 40 in a 6G position is qualified to weld till .560” thick and it can go down up to 2.875” pipe diameter.

The market welder qualification asks for a combo pipe welder. It is always beneficial to enhance your skill to make it to the best possible option. Obviously, if you carry both the skills of welding a TIG root as well as a hot pass followed by an E7018 stick fill and cap, it will be easy for you to get the job. The combo welders are able to weld with several welding processes. Companies choose TIG welding for the root and hot pass and stick welding for the rest of the pipe. Requirement can vary; therefore, your skills should be compatible enough to deal with the conditions.

Article Source >> http://www.aeisndt.com/blog/how-to-get-a-pipe-welder-certification



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Are you wanted to be famous entrepreneur in manufacturing industries, and then concentrate on the process of welding and its tools? Welding the joining process plays a vital role in the industries, the metals and steels which are very huge in size are the results of welding process. Even the small metal plate which we use for dining is the process of welding. There are different types of welding process and many types of tools we are using for the process of welding.

Arc welding and its tools:

Arc welding is the common method of welding process. Arc welding process is easy and portable and it welds the metal at its welding point. Arc welding uses shielding gases which protects the weld from atmospheric gases. Arc welding is the cheap and effective method of welding. There are two methods of arc welding; they are consumable and non consumable methods.

Impact of consumables:

Consumables are the things needed for the welding process. Shielded metal arc welding uses the consumables electrode rod or stick for its process. Shielded metal arc welding is mainly used for welding the steel and it can be also used for other metals also. Metal inert gas welding operates at high speed and welds the complicated metal is an improvement process than stick welding process. It is an economical method used for welding steels. Flux core arc welding and submerged arc welding are the other welding process. Flux core welding uses the flux as a consumables and used in windy conditions and submerged arc welding are used in large industries.

Non consumables and its impact:

Tig welding is the welding process which uses non consumables electrodes such as tungsten rod for its welding process .previous welding process uses carbon rod for its welding process. The tungsten electrodes has high melting point among the other non alloyed metals, it has higher density and hardness which enables tungsten electrodes to be used in numerous applications. Thoriated tungsten is the non consumable tungsten electrodes which are generally used for welding process. Tig welding is the friend of aerospace industries. It is mostly used for aircraft manufacturing.

Welding products the advancement in science:

Due to advancement in technology welding products with portable and comfortable size are available. Welding products enables the metals to weld soon. Welding products has the features of extra wires and many welding accessories such as welding guns, spool guns can be attached. These welding products are available for all welding process such as tig mig submerged arc welding with input power one phase and three phases are available.

Accessories and parts of welding:

Welding process cannot be successful if there is no proper accessories and parts. Accessories such as guns and torches, spool guns, welding helmets and gloves, welding carts and parts are important accessories in welding. Welding torches and cutting torches are used to weld and heat metals. Spool guns prevent the contamination and damage of the weld wire. Welding helmets and gloves are necessary for the welder. Industries should provide proper welding helmets and gloves and make sure that the welder is working safely.

Plasma cutting the process of science:

Plasma cutter is the equipment which is used to cut the heavy metals with good accuracy. In science plasma is a gas which reacts strongly with electromagnetic fields. Plasma cutting is a time saving and productive method.

High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a type of plastic made from petroleum. Since subsequent melting and shaping can remould this material, it is classified as a polyethylene thermoplastic. It can also be joined in segments when welded or machined. However, it does not accept adhesives very well. Also known as polyethylene high-density (PEHD), products made of high-density polyethylene are marked by the imprint of the number “2″ surrounded by the Möbius strip recognized as the universal recycling symbol.

As the name implies, high-density polyethylene is denser than most other polymer plastics, namely low-density polyethylene. This is due to its crystallization structure occurring in a linear fashion rather than branching out to form long chains of polyethylene. Instead, the lack of branching results in its carbon molecules bonding with more hydrogen molecules. This allows the final product to possess greater tensile strength, even though it is lighter than water. It also makes high-density polyethylene highly resistant to acids and solvents.

The production of high-density polyethylene does not happen by accident or natural event, however. In fact, the lack of branching during the polymerisation process is deliberately induced by the addition of a type of reagent known as a Ziegler-Natta catalyst. Usually, these catalysts are derived from titanium compounds.

Since high-density polyethylene is so durable and chemically non-reactive, it has numerous applications in various industries. It is used in many different types of packaging containers, such as milk and laundry detergent bottles, as well as plastic grocery bags. It is also found in storage systems designed to store chemicals and fuels. In fact, high-density polyethylene is used to produce materials to act as chemical barriers, such as liners that are placed under landfills to help prevent soil and groundwater contamination. One of the most common uses of this material is in the manufacturing of wood plastic composites to make furniture, flooring, fencing, and landscaping materials.

In terms of environmental impact, products made of high-density polyethylene do not readily biodegrade in landfills. Such products can be recycled, though, albeit at the risk of losing some of its original tensile strength. Since this material is constructed of hydrogen and carbon, being subjected to high heat merely results in the release of water and carbon dioxide. However, additives, such as fire retardants, UV-stabilizers, and dyes, can produce other toxins.

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Welding is a procedure that involves joining two materials together. It has been in usage right from the Bronze and the Iron ages. Over the years, welding has become much more than a mere forging process and today uses lasers and other gadgets to achieve the purpose of joining materials.

In today’s times welding no longer remains a profession that is chosen by unskilled people. It is a major profession as without welding, even routine equipments would become impossible to use. In fact, the profession has become so well-known that there is an entire university dedicated to teaching people about the various requirements of welding. The Hobart Institute of Welding Technology, based in Ohio, US was started in 1930 and still is the leading institute in terms of the career choice. The institute provides not just training but also teaches its students the aspect of safety while carrying out welding.

In terms of safety and carrying out the process of welding the primary requirement is that of the availability of good welding supplies. Welding is not a simple and easy process. It requires lots of primary inputs. One of the most important inputs is power. Welding is impossible without power to generate the welding. This is why welding generators are highly powered so that there is no time wasted while carrying out the process. The amount of power required to operate a welding machine is over 80 amps.

Other welding suppliesinclude welding pipes, welding positioners – to hold the equipment properly and the pipe bully. Pipe bully is mainly used to rotate the welding pipes so that the equipment does not slip and the welder does not encounter any loss to the welding material or to himself.

There are many companies that deal in distributing quality welding supplies. For example the pipe bully that is marketed by All-Fab Corporation. The Welding Supply Guide offers premium welding supplies to its clients based in the United States and Canada. In fact, in the United Kingdom there is a firm that provides welding supplies to its clients through the medium of internet so that both time and energy can be conserved.

With the help of the right welding supplies, welding professionals can ensure perfect delivery of the job carried out. Also considering the risk involved in the career, these professionals also end up ensuring safety of not just themselves but also of other people who might be around.

Running Head: Learning Theories and Practices

Learning Theories and Practices: A Brief Synopsis

Patrick Wellert

ETC 547

Northern Arizona University

Abstract
The use of learning theories n education has been the foundation for growth and diversity within the profession. In order to assume a more active role in a student’s education one must be verse in all areas of education. The use of theories and practices such as; Behaviorism, Social and Cognitive Learning Theories, constructivism, and contructionism are just a few of the budding opportunities for teachers to better their students learning.

Introduction

            Becoming a teacher who helps students to search rather than follow is challenging and in many ways frightening. Using a lot of theories presented in this paper may be difficult and challenging but as educators it is the right thing to do. When educating it is unfortunate that most of what we seek to teach our students is of little or no interest to them. Even when the topics are of interest to students, the recommended methodologies for teaching the topics sometimes are not. Little wonder, then, why more of those magnificent moments don’t occur. (Brooks & Brooks, 93, 99).

Behaviorism

This is the foundation and basis for what we do in education. The basic beliefs and core of all theories come from this way of reasoning. This was the biggest break through in educational theories. B.F Skinner was influential in defining radical behaviorism, a philosophy codifying the basis of his school of research (named the Experimental Analysis of Behavior, or EAB.) While EAB differs from other approaches to behavioral research on numerous methodological and theoretical points, radical behaviorism departs from methodological behaviorism most notably in accepting treatment of feelings, states of mind and introspection as existent and scientifically treatable (Wikipedia.org).

This is a trial and error type of design in which people and animals were given several tests and based on their response received a positive or negative reaction.

Social Learning Theories

These beliefs are built upon the idea that people need interaction and cohesiveness amongst each other in order to learn and grow. “These beliefs suggest powerful new principles that can be, and in some cases are now being used to promote learning among children and adolescents, and even adults in formal educational settings” (Feden & Vogel, 2003).

The core beliefs behind this theory according to Nolan and Francis are:

1.      Knowledge is actively constructed by learners

2.      Prior knowledge greatly influences new learning

3.      Teachers must focus on how to help learners change their cognitive structures, rather than on their own teaching

4.      Learning is situated, and much of it is domain specific.

5.      Learning is a social endeavor more than an individual one. (Nolan and Francis 1992, 47-49)

Cognitive Learning Theories

            When studying or reviewing this theory it is important to learn one word and its definition: Introspection. “Introspection is the process we use to reflect on our own feelings and thoughts” (Feden & Vogel, 2003). Humans acquire knowledge by seeing others and then reflecting upon their behavior and even incorporating it into their own styles. It is the reason coaches have their players watch game film, the reason children are able to mimic their parents motions, and the reason we are able to learn to dance. The core of this theory can largely be attributed to Albert Bandura.

The process of this theory is largely attributed to the idea behind modeling. The chart below can help explain the idea behind modeling:

Attention

Retention

Production

Motivation

Draws attention to material from a book. Show how strike an Arc and run a bead while using Arc welding. Students place this information into their notes.

Student rehearses material practicing the welds as an individual or in small groups

Student produces a weld using Arc welding and following proper safety steps including safety equipment.

Teacher coaches and advises as students repeat attempts until desires weld is reached.

*Adaptation of Hamilton and Ghatala

Computers were being used to represent the way that humans processed information, and development of a run-able computer model of those operations seemed to be the most scientific way to operationalize them” (Jonassen, 2005). While computers are a great way to simulate a decision or a decision making process they still cannot replace the real thing. I believe that the human mind is more complicated and does not always react the same to the same problem every time.

Constructivism

“Building models requires that learners construct their own knowledge. Therefore it is important to assess the kinds and extent of knowledge construction by learners not the regurgitation of ideas previously delivered to them” (Jonassen, 2005).

The traditional methods include students reading the chapter and answering questions out of the textbook. Lectures, quizzes, and tests are all examples of items used in a traditional classroom. The disadvantage of this is that students act sort of like a holding cell for information usually remembering the required material until the test or quiz is given then release the information never to grasp it again. Students also transfer knowledge from textbook pages to worksheets in order to meet teacher objectives.

 In a constructivism classroom; students learn to build on previous experiences to better grasp knowledge, students share ideas and understanding of knowledge in group settings, students follow areas that interest them while building connections and witnessing patterns, and highlights learning by involving students into the learning process and eliminating fact driven lectures and tests. “Critical thinking skills are stable and not easily altered. The development of critical thinking emerges over time with lots of practice” (Jonassen, 2005). How does one practice this is my first thought? Are people practicing this without even knowing it? I believe that all of us are good at focusing on specific areas that we have passion for. Critical thinking can be developed and used in every aspect of our lives.

The Piaget design of constructivism can help explain the basics of beginning critical thinking skills:
1. An infant sees a cube
2. When mental and muscular functions allow the infant touches and holds the cube.
The basics of this application allows the infant to build on the non-grasping and then assimilate that into the grasping action. 

Constructionism

This theory is built upon the idea that knowledge is supplied by the learner and not the teacher (Papert, 1990). Constructionism is based on the sole idea that students will construct and gain knowledge as they do. The idea behind contructionism is not entirely new but one that is being newly discovered and used. Learning sciences research tells us that students learn much better “by doing” rather than “by listening.” This means that passive learning – the traditional lecture – is being replaced in our classrooms by more active learning activities that emphasize student problem solving, discussion, presentation and other “authentic” learning-by-doing-activities. (Day, 2004). By including students into the lesson it opens up a realm of possibilities because students can retain roughly only 10% of what they write down.

 
History of technology use in schools

Technology is the term first used with computer use in the classroom. “Technology based student projects help facilitates integrating technology and digital media into the curriculum” (Shelley et al, 2006)

There are numerous uses of technologies that have been used by teachers to include students into the classroom’s lesson. These include Interactive Whiteboards, Proximas, PowerPoint games, interactive DVDs, Ventrilo chat software, Myspace, Blackboard, and scavenger hunts. To put the uses of technology into an effective practice, teachers need to help students set achievable goals; encourage students to assess themselves and their peers; help them to work co-operatively in groups and ensure that they know how to exploit all the available resources for learning (Hall, 2006). The use of the theories described in this paper is an excellent example of ways to do this.

Summary

While technology and its uses become more popular it is important that the basics of learning especially the theories and practices are not forgotten. The master teacher needs to continue searching for ways to include technology into the lesson and not just give a lesson on

technology. This would serve as a major injustice to students. The foundation of education and

new theories must all be incorporated together to better the overall experience of education

Works Cited

Behaviorism (2008, November 7). In Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved November 8, 2008, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Behaviorism

Brooks, J. G., & Brooks, M. G. (1993, 1999). In search of understanding: The case for

            Constructivist classrooms. Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum

Day, J. (2004). Enhancing the classroom learning experience with web lectures. Retrieved May 31, 2008 from http://smartech.gatech.edu/dspace/handle/1853/65

Hall, B. (2008, March 4). Explorations in learning. Message posted to Student Centered Learning, archived at http://secondlanguagewriting.com/explorations/Archives/2006/Jul/Studentcent
eredLearning.html

Hamilton, R. and Ghatala, E. (1994). Learning and instruction. Boston: Mcgraw-Hill.

Jonassen, D. H. (2005). Modeling with technology: Mindtools for conceptual change (3rd. Ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN: 0131703455. pg 29, 34

Methods of Teaching: Applying Cognitive Science to Promote Student Learning. Preston D.

            Feden & Robert M. Vogel. McGraw Hill, 2003. ISBN 0-07-230514-2.

Nolan, J., and Francis, P. (1992). Changing Perspectives in curriculum and instruction.

In C. Glickman (Ed.), Supervision in transition: The 1992 yearbook of association for supervision and curriculum development. VA: ASCD.

Papert, S. (1990). Introduction by Seymour Papert. In I. Harel (Ed.), Constructionist learning.

            Boston: MIT Laboratory.

Shelly, G. B., Cashman, T. J., Gunter, G. A., & Gunter,  R. E. (2006) Integrating Technology and

            Digital Media into the Classroom (4th Ed.). Thompson Course Technology pg 417.

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There was a time, when the use of chemicals was completely prohibited and before that, chemicals weren’t even used in the ripening of fruits. But with the demand of higher quality and better tasting fruits, farmers and agricultural firms have been increasing the amount of chemical usage for the growth of fruits.

Let us take an example, that of Mangoes. The process of ripening is chiefly regulated by a gaseous plant hormone, called Ethylene. Ethylene regulates the expression of several genes involved in fruit ripening so as to modulate the activity of various enzymes involved in the process of ripening. These enzymes act to soften the `skin’ of the fruit and also convert complex polysaccharides into simple sugars.

The commonly used chemical for the ripening of fruits is Ethephon (2-chloroethylphosphonic acid), which penetrates into the fruit and decomposes to ethylene. Other chemicals like Calcium Carbide are also used, which produce acetylene and carry over toxic materials to consumers.

The presence of toxic materials, such as traces of Arsenic and Phosphorus in Carbide make the fruits poisonous and cause a range of problems in the body. Eating artificially ripened mangoes causes an upset stomach besides triggering numbness in the legs and hands and general weakness. Also, the shine on the surface of Apples comes from either petroleum wax or chemical spray that is harmful to the digestive system!

Iodine solution binds to starch, but not to sugar, forming a dark-colored complex. You can estimate how ripe a fruit is by whether or not is darkened after painting it with an iodine solution. Unripe fruit is starchy, so it will be dark. The more ripe the fruit is, the more starch will have been converted to sugar. Less iodine complex will be formed, so the stained fruit will be lighter.

So basically, we are not doing justice to anyone, not to ourselves, not to nature. At the end, we are basically polluting our own bodies, as the food chain proceeds, chemicals end up accumulating in our bodies, thus causing a range of diseases. It is important for anyone any fruit, to wash it properly, and see whether it is clean and edible from the outside, and then proceed and enjoy the fruit.

A demonstration of the explosive potential of even a small amount of acetylene mixed with the right amount of oxygen. Carleton University, Ottawa, Canada.