How to learn

Ambrose, S. A., Bridges, M. W., DiPietro, M., Lovett, M. C., & Norman, M. K. (2010). How learning works: 7 research-based principles for smart teaching. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

Chi, M. T. H., Bassock, M., Lewis, M. W., Reimann, P., & Glaser, R. (1989). "Self-explanations: How students study and use examples in learning to solve problems." Cognitive Science, 13, 145-182.

Dunning, D. (2007). Self-insight: Roadblocks and detours on the path to knowing thyself. New York: Taylor and Francis.

Hayes, J. R., & Flower, L. S. (1986). "Writing research and the writer." American Psychologist Special Issue: Psychological Science and Education, 41, 1106-1113.

Schoenfeld, A. H (1987). "What’s all the fuss about metacognition?" In A. H. Schoenfeld (Ed.), Cognitive science and mathematics education. (pp.189-215). Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

Book summary: The Smartest Kids in the World: And How They Got That Way

1. The author compares US education system with that of Finland, South
Korea and Poland - 3 of the best performing countries on the PISA
test.

2. She doesn't spend much time on Poland.

3. South Korean education model comes across as too wasteful since
students pretty much spend their entire day in the school or private
classes afterwards. They don't have a life. But the schools, parents
and society in general stand out for their clear focus on academic
excellence as opposed to US where sports somehow seems to get much
more priority in schools.

4. On parents' involvement - their time is better spent with kids at
home than getting involved in school activities. Children show better
academic results if their parents have been reading to them from a
younger age. While Korean parents act like coaches, Americans act like
cheerleaders - cheering minute achievements and in general setting low
expectations.

5. She clearly picks out Finland as the role model of education
system. Primary reason seems to be tough selection criteria for
becoming a teacher. Since the teachers are damn good - it is easy to
grant them a lot of autonomy - which results in much brighter
students. Again, like South Korea, Finland schools have a very clear
focus on academics but unlike South Korea - the students do have a
life. That's because teacher quality is much superior to that of Korea
- so teachers can achieve much more with the students in much lesser
time.

6. Another feature of US schools/society seems to be that many schools don't have an end-of-year passing exam. That's opposite to Finland/Korea.

7 day Sri Lanka trip notes

During the entire trip we had the same car and driver(Dinendu) with us. It made the trip unbelievably comfortable. Special thanks to Dinendu. He has great contacts. Can get you hotels cheaper than booking.com and knows what time to reach at which place so that you never miss anything.

General Notes

• Driver accommodation and food - I can't stress this enough. A very fantastic thing about travel in Sri Lanka is that almost every hotel gives free accommodation for the driver and almost every restaurant doesn't charge for what your driver eats. This is a very important factor which makes your and your driver's travel very economical and comfortable.

• Currency: I withdrew cash directly from my ICICI/HDFC debit cards which effectively gave me the conversion rate of around 2.4. Conversion rate online was 1 INR = 2.5 LKR. 

Day 1 - 6th April, Saturday - Reached Negombo

• Started from Hyderabad at 8:40AM. Reached Colombo at 1:25PM. Via Chennai.
• Headed to Villa Taprobane in Negombo. On the way bought Dialog SIM for data. We already had Airtel 40 mins pack on our prepaid SIMs.
• Villa Taprobane has great hosts. The lady cooks the food herself and it's amazing. We had dinner and breakfast made by her. For lunch we went to King Coconut(a restaurant on the beach).
• Negombo was very hot and that was expected. We chose to stay there as we wanted to take rest after flight journey. If you can manage your fatigue well, it's better to head straight to Sigiriya and from there to Kandy. Our laziness cost us the trip to Sigiriya.

Day 2 - 7th April, Sunday - Negombo to Kandy via Elephant Orphanage

• Started for Galaxy City Hotel, Kandy.
• On the way visited the Elephant Orphanage. Fed an elephant and saw them taking a bath - it's quite a procession as all the elephants cross the road to reach the pond and then they are given a royal bath. You need to be there at the right time to see them bathing.
• Bought a small diary made of elephant poo paper.
• Just next to the bath there was a restaurant serving buffet. Had lunch there. I guess it's named Hotel Pinnalanda.
• Started for Kandy again. Reached the hotel, took some rest.
• Had dinner at Cafe Aroma. Did some shopping at the nearby shops.

Day 3 - 8th April, Monday - Whirlwind tour of Kandy

• Tooth temple
• Kandy lake
• View point
• Botanical Garden
• Lunch at Kandyan arts residency
• Local market
• Buddha statue
• Rainforest - it's safe to go if you are a group of at least 4-5 people. I saw a wild boar inside which is a bit scary.
• Dance show
• Shopping in night.
• Dinner at Senani Restaurant.
• From my experience, Kandy is the best place to do shopping in Sri Lanka. Also known as its cultural capital. Here I saw a big number of women wearing a Sari(Saree).
• Also Kandy is way more cooler(in temperature) than Negombo.

Day 4 - 9th April, Tuesday - Kandy to Nuwara Eliya

• Did river rafting on the way, in Kithulgala
• Lunch at the same place - The plantation hotel, Kithulgala
• Ramboda Hanuman temple
• Tea at Blue Field tea center - RamBoda
• Reached our hotel - Manudi Glenfallsedge Rest
• Dinner at The Grand Indian Restaurant, Nuwara Eliya
• Nuwara Eliya was quite cold - here the hotel room had a heater as opposed to the AC in Negombo and Kandy.
• Nuwara Eliya and Ella are 2 most beautiful and cool places in Sri Lanka.

Day 5 - 10th April, Wednesday - Nuwara Eliya to Ella

• Took the famous train from Nuwara Eliya to Ella.
• Had lunch at Cafe Chill in Ella.
• Ella main market street is a very happening place. Good pubs and all. Foreigners buzzing around on rented 2 wheelers.
• Took a bath in Ravana waterfalls.
• Trekked to Little Adam's Peak.
• Slept and dined in The Tea Tree Resort, Ella.

Day 6 - 11th April, Thursday - Ella to Mirissa

• Trekked to 9 Arch bridge.
• Trekked to Ravana Cave.
• Visited Buduruwagala.
• Had lunch at Hotel Niwahana.
• Reached Randiya Sea view hotel at Mirissa.
• Had dinner at the Mirissa beach.

Day 7 - 12th April, Friday

• Whale watching (Raja whales)
• Snorkeling at Weligama beach.
• Lunch at our hotel - Randiya Sea view
• Swam in the hotel swimming pool.
• Dinner at the Mirissa beach
  
  

  Fin visible of the Whale shark swimming with us

Blue whale swimming, blowing with tail visible at the end

Blue whale tail

Orange poo of the blue whale

Day 8 - 13th April, Friday - Mirrisa to Colombo via Galle

• Left for airport.
• On the way visited Sea Turtle Hatchery.
• Galle fort
• Airport. Back to Hyderabad via Bangalore.

Last day in Mirrisa, early morning beach

Sea turtle hatchery

View from Galle fort

Clock tower in Galle fort

Galle Stadium visible from Galle fort

Basic Life Saving course

AED genderwise
Breathless
Heart stop
No response

15 breathes

Human chair wrist lock

Internal bleeding ear nose, don't stop
Head bandage demo

Shoulder tap response check

Neck pulse
1001

5sec each
Response shoulders,
neck pulse,
Hear breathing and hand on stomach

Unconscious
Tongue block airway
Lying down chin up

No breathing, no pulse then CPR, otherwise?

CPR ratio, 30 2

Epilepsy cloth between teeth, turn sideways

Kids notes, less pressure

Shock and fainting
First aid elevation of legs, blood flow Chin side or up

No forceful water

For vomitting also side

Choking
Self rescue chair
Bend forward hit on shoulder

Armsling cloth

Notes on clearing Trinity Electronic Keyboard Initial Grade Exam

My 7 yo cleared it recently with 84/100. Here are some notes.

1. Keyboard used - Yamaha PSR I455.
2. Syllabus is here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/ATMgrQXYKLmtk4Q97
3. First part of the exam(3 pieces) - he played - Ode to Joy, Camptown races and Country Capers.
4. For Ode to Joy, voice(tone) and style(rhythm) has to be self-chosen.

5. Listing below the voice and style number on Yamaha PSR I455 for all the pieces.
5a. Ode to Joy - Style: BtModern(25), Voice: Flute(162)

5b. Camptown races - Style: Bluegrass(129), Voice: Banjo(102)
5c. Country capers: Style: Beguine(142), Voice: Steel drums(214). The video here is different from what he played in exam.

 

6. For the above pieces, here is how we played the chords(note that actual way to play these chords is different but in initial grade they allow simpler versions)

6a. When you encounter a simple chord like  C,D,F,G - just play C/D/F/G on the left side of keyboard with auto accompaniment on.

6b. For G7 and Dm use these key combinations:  Dm = D+F, G7 = F+G.
6c. Another important note - when you "Fill to A" or "Fill to B" try to minimize unsteadiness else you will lose marks.

7. Second part of exam - Scales and chords. Make sure you play the scales in Legato else you will lose marks. Also make sure that you play the scales above the minimum specified tempo(60 for the syllabus above). Also, all scales are played with only right hand except C major contrary motion which has to be played with both hands.

7. Third part of exam - Musical knowledge. Notes - https://photos.app.goo.gl/RDqLbKvQWkV16hpK9

8. Fourth part of exam - Aural. Here is a youtube playlist to help you prepare - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0cEOYWYRTFdaq7JZgerJbSArV4iSFkKy