The journey to this present website and its subjects and projects began more than 35 years ago. I've had to trade years for information and technology.Many years ago, some one wrote a book claiming that Americans are a flock of sheep. (No, Hamlet, he didn't say a flock led by a pig. Yes, Ophelia, Hamlet's remark was neither kind nor appropriate!)
My own conclusion was that EDUCATION PUTS STUDENTS TOO MUCH IN THE PASSIVE ROLE, FROM WHICH MANY NEVER RECOVER, AS POST-STUDENTS. (To see how I tried to counteract this over the years, hype the above hyperlink.)
A "second opinion" (to my own "first opinion") on this was what I call "Householder's Test".
Mathematician Alton S. Householder set up the first Computer Center at Oak Ridge, TN, a reasearch center during WWII which helped develop the first nuclear bomb.
Essentially, Householder said that THE BEST WAY TO TEST A STUDENT FOR HER/HIS KNOWLEDGE IN A SUBJECT (English, Math, etc.) WAS TO REQUIRE THE STUDENT TO TEACH A COMPUTER THE SUBJECT. For, YOU CAN'T LEAVE ANYTHING OUT WITH A COMPUTER (as you can with a student, leaving him/her to fill the gap), AND YOU CAN'T INTIMIDATE A COMPUTER (as you might a student: "Any fool can see this!").
So, X OPTED FOR ACTIVIST LEARNING, AND I SUGGEST HE WOULD CHEER INTERACTIVE PROGRAMS FOR DOING SO.
But this involves more than students. Somewhere, I say that NONVOTING IS FREELOADING. VOTING IS PAYING YOUR DEBT TO OUR DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY. The LOW VOTING RATE IS SYMPTOMATIC OF A PASSIVENESS IN ESSENTIALS IN THIS COUNTRY.
Elsewhere, I also speak of (ZEROSUM) SPORTS VS. (NONZEROSUM) DEMOCRACY, CAPITALISM, RELIGION, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, ART, EVOLUTION. The couch-potatoes who watch Sports are not only too PASSIVE, they are supporting a GAME IN WHICH ONE CAN WIN ONLY IF ALL OTHERS LOSE. IF DEMOCRACY, CAPITALISM, EDUCATION, SCIENCE, ART, EVOLUTION WERE THAT WAY, WE'D STILL BE IN A CAVE. But their NONZEROSUM RETURNS SUPPORT SPORTS WHICH DOES NOT CREATE ONE NEW PENNY FOR OUR ECONOMY, but RATHER IS SUBSIDIZED!
I suggest that INTERACTION IS THE BEST WAY TO CHANGE A PERSON'S THINKING ON A GIVEN SUBJECT.
An example which I've set up is an INTERACTIVE PROGRAM REGARDING STATES WHICH HAVE A GIVEN CRIME RATE (according to the latest data). IF CAPITAL PUNISHMENT (DEATH PENALTY) REALLY WORKED, ITS PRESENCE WOULD BE AN INDICATOR OF LOWER CRIME RATE. But THOSE USING THE INPUT ABOUT CRIME RATE FIND THAT MANY OF THEIR CHOICES HAVING LOW CRIME RATE DO NOT HAVE A DEATH PENALTY, AND MANY OF THOSE THEY BYPASSED BECAUSE OF HIGHER CRIME RATE DO HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY. For some inputs, THE "SUCCESS RATE" IS NO BETTER THAN RANDOM!
I'm seeking help, particularly among young people, who often are most at home with computers, to help me make all sorts of issues INTERACTIVE.
A web presenting such a program could REFORM AMERICA!
I CHALLENGE YOU TO SUPPORT THIS EFFORT.