Weekly Update #2

Weekly update #2
This week, I've been thinking about the basic foundations of transformative literacy in the 21st century and just what exactly those bases will consist of and originate from. Each one will serve as a general content area of the final project. At this point, I've arrived at the following topics of concern: cognitive change capacity enhanced by open elearning environments, sustainable techniques for food production, energy efficient housing and transportation, natural resource preservation, maintaining ethnic and cultural identities in a global knowledge economy, and financial stability for the masses in that economy.

My final project choice is Option #3, Conduct an Online Database Search. The topic is "Relationships between current distance learning technologies, lifelong transformative learning, and sustainable living practices for the 21st century." The databases are Scirus and ERIC.

Weekly Update #1

This blog was created yesterday afternoon and some exploring and uploading photos accomplished.
This morning I went to netvibes, established the account and decided to come back and blog a bit about't. Widgets were fun!! At netvibes the learning curve is going to be much more gradual but the end result will be more all-inclusive - a total package - at least that's how I feel today.Why? 'cause of more tools. Widgets were fun!! Explored learning curves on wikipoedia and confused about steep, gradual, and fast. Definitions change with time as does literacy. Literacy skills change with time as does learning. Transformative is slow for those unaccustomed to it, faster for those initiated before Alzheimer's & BSE, and rapid reflective learners introduced early on in cognitive development. Wonder how learner characteristics affect all that? Wonder how environment affects all that? Wonder how developmental stages,social learning theory affect all that? Cultural contexts??? Is literacy necessary for survival? Not currently!! IS literacy necessary for lifelong learning? NO, IT's gonna happen regardless. IS literacy necessary for transformative learning? No, some people are just inherently more reflective and see more windows of opportunity for change. Daydreamers I'd say. Is universal lifelong transformative learning necessary for sustainability in Earth? I think so (transformative = adaptable = change = survival) Uninitiated to transformative literacy won't be able to do it. That brings us back to literacy for survival. Transformative literacy (TL) is a necessity.

Chicken Stock Gumbo

SUBMITTED BY: TOYASEWS

"This gumbo is a feast of food. Use your imagination and add any leftover cooked turkey or chicken pieces along with the stock, if you like."

PREP TIME	25 Min
COOK TIME	5 Hrs
READY IN	5 Hrs 25 Min

SERVINGS & SCALING

Original recipe yield: 12 servings

US METRIC About scaling and conversions

INGREDIENTS

• 1 pound bacon
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 8 stalks celery, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cloves garlic, chopped
• 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 pound smoked sausage of your choice, sliced
• 2 quarts chicken stock
• 2 quarts water
• 1 (14.5 ounce) can peeled and diced tomatoes with juice
• 1 (10 ounce) package frozen okra, thawed and sliced
• 1/2 cup Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon hot pepper sauce, or to taste
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

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DIRECTIONS

1. Place six slices of the bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Set aside the cooked bacon and reserve 1/2 cup of the grease in the skillet. Whisk in the flour and vegetable oil until smooth. Stir in the celery, bell pepper, garlic, parsley and onion. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring constantly.
2. Transfer the sauce to a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add the sliced sausage and cook for 8 more minutes. Slice remaining raw bacon and crumble the cooked bacon; add to the pot. Stir in the chicken stock and water until well blended with the gravy mixture. Add the tomatoes and okra. Season with Worcestershire sauce, hot pepper sauce, bay leaves, and cayenne pepper. Simmer uncovered for 2 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally.
3. Add the rice and cook for an additional 30 minutes, until thick. Stir in the brown sugar and lemon juice. This tastes great served over more rice.

3/19/08 21 cent T lit blog created