Parallels in Teaching and Parenting

Sandra, my two year-old-daughter, has a wooden puzzle in front of her with a series of doors. Behind the doors sit magnetized objects, each corresponding to the image painted on the front: the cow rests in the barn, the turkey cooks in the oven, the bird perches in its cage. Sandra became fascinated with these puzzles when she was about a year old, presenting me with a dilemma: what to do when she puts the object in the wrong box.

I've watched many parents over the years play similar games with their children. Generally what I've witnessed is the child places the dog in the oven and the parent responds, "No, Carlos, the dog doesn't go there. Where does the dog go?" The child looks up, hears the word "no," moves the dog to another location, perhaps the birdcage, and then looks up again to see if Mommy is smiling.

When I became a parent, I'd previously taught in classrooms for 20 years, so I find my parenting largely informed by the choices I've made as a teacher. I've always believed we should nurture children's imagination and help them to see possibilities in their own lives as well as in the world around them. In other words, our work as teachers is about opening doors rather than closing them. Which brings us back to the puzzle. When Sandra places the dog in the wrong location, how do I respond?

There are times in our lives when we do need to know the right answer -- which button to push on our television's remote control to turn it on, for instance. However, we also want to be able to think outside of the box and explore possible options that might be beyond the set of choices that are put before us.Creative glass tile and stone mosaic tile for your distinctive kitchen and bath. Is it possible to have it both ways?

I decided when she played with her puzzle to never tell her she was wrong. When she was one year old, I would play the game with her.Explore online some of the many available selections in floor tiles. As she placed objects wherever she liked, I'd be working on the same puzzle placing them behind their "right" door. But now around the age of two, an age where she understands language and can speak in small sentences, I realized a different approach was possible.

Some might argue, "But there is a right answer. The puzzle came with all the objects in the correct places.Our aim is to supply air purifier which will best perform to the customer's individual requirements." It most certainly did, and my daughter mastered that a long time ago. Now it's time for the real learning to begin. By putting the objects in a variety of locations, Sandra creates what psychologists refer to as conceptual blending. When the brain is forced to bring disparate concepts together, it must work harder as different parts of the brain are activated. Once you learn where the objects go, it's quite easy to keep repeating the same activity, but when you place the object in a different slot your brain must think, "Hmm, how can I make sense of the fact that these two images that appear to have no relation are now together?" Now the puzzle becomes infinitely more interesting, even for adults, as we must invent narratives that might explain why the dog is now in the lunchbox. Sandra now enjoys putting the objects in different places and we laugh together at the disjunctive associations.

I arrived at this solution because I simply wasn't comfortable telling my daughter the dog was in the wrong place. Who determines the right place for the dog to take a nap? Such approaches to the simple dilemma of a puzzle mirror the daily choices I make in the classroom. I have the same hopes for my students and my daughter. I hope they are able to see many solutions to a given problem. I hope they approach the world with a sense of imagination and adventure. Perhaps most importantly, I hope they may see things from different perspectives, and realize that indeed, the dog might be much happier resting in the barn.

"Just as computers and cell phones see improvements, so has meter reading technology," says Jim Plahn, sales support manager at Badger Meter. "When Garretson and its Badger Meter distributor, Dakota Supply Group, began gearing up to replace the existing system, Badger Meter had recently introduced this state-of-the-art combined gas and water meter reading system. So, the timing is perfect for the city to upgrade and take advantage of the features included with this more advanced system."

According to Craig Nussbaum, utilities superintendent for the city of Garretson, "Starting the week of January 21, 2013, a Badger Meter contractor will begin installing water endpoints as well as helping to install other components of the system. City residents will be contacted to set up appointments to access their meter locations. In addition, city personnel have already begun installing the ORION SE gas endpoints.Our team of consultants are skilled in project management and delivery of large scale rtls projects."

"This cost-effective, forward-looking solution will put us at the forefront of metering technology, providing improved efficiency, accuracy and the real-time information and reports to better manage our utility systems," says Anna Uhl, municipal finance officer. "It also provides some great benefits for our customers such as early leak detection and more detailed billing information."

A two-way fixed network solution, ORION SE works with Badger Meter ReadCenter Analytics software to increase productivity and boost customer service. Once deployed,For the world leader in injection molds base services and plastic injection products. each ORION SE endpoint will synchronize communication with the gateway transceiver at one of three locations to process reading data. Transceiver locations will include Garretson's City Hall, its water reservoir and a third location on the southwest side of town. A hand-held reader will be used as a back-up reading device and to read gas meters outside of the listening area of the city boundaries.

After the data is collected, it will be aggregated at a central server and analyzed using ReadCenter Analytics software, which converts raw metering data into meaningful decision-making information and utility system management reports, as well as meter reads for billing purposes. The system captures and provides the right information at the right time, helping utilities to respond quickly to customers, answer questions and resolve billing disputes.

Plahn explains another interesting customer benefit: "Garretson will have the ability to present data with overlays from the National Weather Service. This will allow them to show customers what may have affected their use of water or gas on an hourly basis, compared to the weather data."

At a utility customer level, the new system will also pinpoint areas of continuous use, which signals potential leaks. Customers can be notified, so they can make necessary repairs. At a system level, it will enable the city to monitor the amount of water it purchases from the rural water system, versus the amount it sells to customers. This will help the city to detect lost water and potential system leaks or issues that need repair. Other system features include tampering alarms, no usage alarms, register errors, and more.