The Influence of the Wealthy

Last week, I found an interesting article about Mark Zuckerberg. As the creator and CEO of Facebook, he is one of the richest people in the world. Yet despite this, he rarely splurges on what we would think he would- mega-mansions, yachts, fancy cars. Rather, most of his money is given away to various charities and organizations. In 2010 Zuckerberg signed Giving the Pledge, in which he vowed to give away more than half of his money. He also has given almost $100 million to Newark public schools.

One particularly interesting project Zuckerberg is involved in is Code.org  This project serves as a beginning platform to encourage learning about coding and understand how it works. People of all ages can participate in the "Hour of Code" in which they go through various exercises that teach more about coding and how to do it.  The set up of the coding is quite similar to that of Scratch.  Upon completing the Hour of Code, participants are told various ways to continue to learn about coding. Resources given include an Intro to Computer Science Course, Tynker,  Scratch, Lightbot, and App Inventor.

And Zuckerberg is just one of many influential people involved in this project. The founder of Dropbox has donated money and various celebrities appear in their videos. But Zuckerberg in particular is listed as a founding donor of Code.org. And while the exact amount he has given is unknown, it it can be sure that with the support of the founder of Facebook, Code.org is having quite a bit of success. 

Alongside Code.org, he has also invested in other educational programs through school-improvement effort known as Startup: Education. With a $100 million donation, the effort has assisted a Massachusetts-based startup that analyzes data from teachers, parents and students to better advance schools. Also, last December,the effort also gave support to EducationSuperhighway,which is a nonprofit to help bring faster online connections to schools. 

While it certainly is extremely generous of Zuckerberg to say the least, what I find particularly interesting is the role of wealthy individuals providing supports for education. Bill Gates is another excellent example- one of the primary goals of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is to expand educational opportunities and give better access to information technology. Donations have ranged anywhere from $3.5 million to $1.5 billion. 

Scribble Machines!

A scribble or a drawing Machine is "a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path". Something interesting about these machines is that they can easily be made from simple, everyday materials and anyone has the ability to make one. The idea of a scribble machine is not just about the marks that can be made but also the process of making it. Figuring out how the machine works to create specific marks requires experimentation and an open mind.  It also allows for people to learn the general set up of an electric current and creating a motor from that set up.  

Scribbling machines can range from relatively simple designs…

… to more elaborate and complex ones.

Scribble machines of all variations can be created as tools of experimentation and creating pieces of fine art. Students are able to learn the dynamics of how different components come together to create their very own personalized scribble machines. It also involves a lot of trial and error in figuring out where to place the mark making objects and the motor.  Every little detail can make all the difference in the making of the machine and this kind of project creates an experimental and learning experience. 

Diorama with a Twist

A diorama is defined as being "a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit." since elementary school I have made numerous dioramas for different classes but with this project, it was nice to add the element of including a circuit and a working LED light. 


As for the subject of my diorama, I decided to do a scene from the first Harry Potter book focusing on the Mirror of Erised. The Mirror is actually a magical object that has the ability to show someone their deepest desire. Each person sees something different in the mirror- Harry Potter sees himself happily with the parents he never knew, Ronald Weasley sees himself as Head Boy and Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, while Professor Dumbledore sees himself holding a pair of socks. 

Learning what one wants or desires is an important part of a person's development. Having desire is not necessarily a bad thing but there is line between desire and greed. Too much desire can be dangerous dangerous and can make someone lose themselves to obtain what they want most. Rowling uses the dark lord Voldemort as such an example. In his desire for power and eternal life, he ultimately gives up his own humanity and any good in himself. The Mirror of Erised serves as an important plot device that help's teach Harry, and the reader, the difference between such desires. 

Something particularly interesting about Rowling's creation of the mirror is the the inscription on the top of it. Though at first is seems indecipherable, it is actually mirror writing, symbolizing how everything is a mirror reflection is flipped. Read reversed, it says I show not your face but your heart's desire. 

Because this is such an important object in the Harry Potter series, it was important to emphasize that in the making of the diorama.  I made it so that when the door is opened, the light positioned under the mirror will light up the mirror and emphasize the importance of this one object in the room. There is much more to it than meets the eye.