PSN-L Email List Message

Subject: RE: help from the academic sector
From: "steve hammond" shammon1@.............
Date: Fri, 13 Jun 2003 12:29:10 -0700


I have to jump in on this-- As a university professor at the University of
San Francisco myself, I can tell you that you get asked a LOT of questions.
In one day I receive questions via phone, email and outside of the
classroom. That's what it is all about. Some questions are answered better
than others. As for not acting excited to answer your question, let's look
at this example. I'm currently teaching two classes. For every hour in the
classroom I spend at least three hours grading papers or preparing for
lectures. One class is a combined class in data structures and Java graphics
programming and the other is a graduate seminar course looking at
contemporary issues in Information Systems. We are exploring paradigm shifts
in Information Systems and how groups uses technology to communicate and
gain knowledge. I spend four hours lecturing on the PSN model which is one
of the best examples in the world to demonstrates this concept. I spend one
entire class presenting the PSN infrastructure; it's many linked websites,
it's list-serve, people sharing a common interest and exchanging views,
implied social contracts, technology exchanges, the opportunities for
eCommerce, the opportunities for personal learning and the opportunities to
provide scientific data for study and research. I believe that the next wave
of information technologies must combine each of these attributes to be
successful. eCommerce sites that help form these types of informal social
contracts will lead the way as larger numbers of small groups use the new
lightweight handheld electronic media devices to their individual benefits.
The PSN model is a very powerful concept that can be applied to education
and business applications.

As a professor that also believes in life-long learning, I'm back working on
a second Master's because I need it to teach in other disciplines. Nowadays
I may seem a bit distracted because my current database professor thinks
that everybody should already know PHP, PostgreSQL and Apache web services.
I need to learn all this stuff to build the final project, an Internet
enabled database using client server technology; in under 8-weeks... My
point is, according to my wife, professors need a life too. While I can't
speak for the professor that prompted this post, I would like you to keep in
mind that any professor that looks down on the PSN will most likely be
passed over as the Information Age engulfs them. As for the folks at other
schools and government locations not supporting the PSN. When we started the
PSN in 1991 the folks at the USGS stepped in and gave their full support.
Many people have retired and moved on due to budget cuts. However, if we
were to come up with a good idea that needed their support and formally
asked for it, I think we would get consideration for our idea. Also
remember, a few PSN members are also USGS employees. As for the seismic
Labs, the last PSN meeting we held was hosted by the folks at the Berkeley
Lab.

Regards, Steve Hammond  -- PSN San Jose -- Aptos, California
http://www.PublicSeismicNetwork.com


 -----Original Message-----
From: psn-l-request@.............. [mailto:psn-l-request@.................
Behalf Of tdick
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 7:42 AM
To: psn-l@..............
Subject: help from the academic sector


  Am I imagining this -- do the college professors look down on the amateur
seismologist and avoid helping them? Maybe I am just paranoid! They give me
the impression that they are too busy to be bothered. Are there some that
are more helpful than others?







I = have to jump in=20 on this-- As a university professor at the University of San Francisco = myself, I=20 can tell you that you get asked a LOT of questions. In one day I receive = questions via phone, email and outside of the classroom. That's what it = is all=20 about. Some questions are answered better than others. As for not = acting=20 excited to answer your question, let's look at this example. I'm = currently=20 teaching two classes. For every hour in the classroom I spend at least = three=20 hours grading papers or preparing for lectures. One class is a combined = class in=20 data structures and Java graphics programming and the other is a = graduate=20 seminar course looking at contemporary issues in Information Systems. We = are exploring paradigm shifts in Information Systems and = how=20 groups uses technology to communicate and gain knowledge. I spend four = hours=20 lecturing on the PSN model which is one of the best examples in the=20 world to demonstrates this concept. I spend one entire class=20 presenting the PSN infrastructure; it's many linked websites, it's = list-serve,=20 people sharing a common interest and exchanging views, implied social = contracts,=20 technology exchanges, the opportunities for eCommerce, the opportunities = for=20 personal learning and the opportunities to provide scientific data for = study and=20 research. I believe that the next wave of information=20 technologies must combine each of these attributes to be = successful.=20 eCommerce sites that help form these types of informal social contracts = will=20 lead the way as larger numbers of small groups use the new lightweight = handheld=20 electronic media devices to their individual = benefits. The PSN = model is a=20 very powerful concept that can be applied to education and business = applications.
 
As = a professor=20 that also believes in life-long learning, I'm back working on a = second=20 Master's because I need it to teach in other disciplines. Nowadays I may = seem a=20 bit distracted because my current database professor thinks that = everybody=20 should already know PHP, PostgreSQL and Apache web services. I need to = learn all=20 this stuff to build the final project, an Internet enabled database = using=20 client server technology; in under 8-weeks... My point is, = according to my=20 wife, professors need a life too. While I can't speak for the professor = that=20 prompted this post, I would like you to keep in mind that=20 any professor that looks down on the PSN will most likely = be=20 passed over as the Information Age engulfs them. As for the = folks at other=20 schools and government locations not supporting the PSN. When we started = the PSN=20 in 1991 the folks at the USGS stepped in and gave their full support. = Many=20 people have retired and moved on due to budget cuts. However, if we = were to=20 come up with a good idea that needed their support and formally asked = for it, I=20 think we would get consideration for our idea. Also remember, a few PSN = members=20 are also USGS employees. As for the seismic Labs, the last PSN = meeting=20 we held was hosted by the folks at the Berkeley Lab.
 
Regards, Steve=20 Hammond  -- PSN San Jose -- Aptos, = California    =20 http://www.PublicSeismicNetw= ork.com
 
 
 -----Original = Message-----
From:=20 psn-l-request@.............. [mailto:psn-l-request@...............On = Behalf=20 Of tdick
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2003 7:42 AM
To: = psn-l@..............
Subject: help from the academic=20 sector

Am I imagining this -- do the college = professors=20 look down on the amateur seismologist and avoid helping = them? Maybe I am=20 just paranoid! They give me the impression that they are too busy to = be=20 bothered. Are there some that are more helpful than=20 others?

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