For evolutionary biologists, the concept of chance has always played a significant role in the formation of evolutionary theory. As far back as Greek antiquity, chance and "luck" were understood to be key factors in the evolution of the natural world. Emphasizing chance is an entire way of thinking about nature, and it is also one of the key ideas that separates Charles Darwin from other systematic biologists of his time. Studying the concept of chance in Darwin's writing reveals core ideas in his theory of evolution, as well as his reflections on design, purpose, and randomness in nature's progression over the course of history.
In Darwin's Dice: The Idea of Chance in the Thought of Charles Darwin, Curtis Johnson does exactly that. He examines the work of Darwin in terms of his views on randomness and chance, and how the views changed as his work progressed. Randomness was a focal point for Darwin, and pursuing it as a theme helped significantly transform his research. Darwin's Dice shows us how Darwin defined "chance," and explores Darwin's influential architect metaphor in relation to the idea. Through the lens of randomness, Johnson reveals how Darwin's treatment of free will becomes more complex. This approach can shed light on many other quirks and points of interest in Darwin's work, including the curiously shifting presence of giraffes in subsequent drafts of On the Origin of Species. Johnson also reexamines Darwin's "Metaphysical Notebooks," and discusses the role Darwin felt that chance plays in morality and religion.
Darwin's Dice presents a new way to look at Darwinist thought and the writings on Charles Darwin. Curtis Johnson reveals that chance and randomness play a large part in Darwinist thought, and that we can better understand Darwin's work by understanding that part.

For Sophomore/Junior-level courses in Automatic Control Systems, Process Controls, and Instrumentation and Measurement. This text is designed to provide students with an understanding and appreciation of some of the essential concepts behind control system elements and operations, without the need of advanced math and theory. It also presents some of the practical details of how elements of a control system are designed and operated, such as would be gained from on-the-job experience. This edition includes treatment of modern fieldbus approaches to networked and distributed control systems. This middle ground of knowledge enables students to design the elements of a control system from a practical, working perspective, and comprehend how these elements affect overall system operation and tuning.

Teachers fully in charge of what matters for student and school success is now a movement, growing steadily in nearly half the states of the U.S. According to a national survey, most teachers in America are unaware that this is a professional option. And, because most thinking is about "real school," it is apparently not "safe" for even scholars to talk about teachers being in charge. Nearly every book diagnoses the problem then defaults to a conventional remedy - like chasing good principals. This book is aimed at raising the teacher-powered movement's visibility, making it safe to talk about teachers in charge of schools, showing how this arrangement erases the talent drain now plaguing the schools, and offering evidence that students do better in these schools than they do in the conventional system. The book outlines how the movement could get bigger, faster. And the massive institutional resistance to change that slows its progress. And unlike most books, the author sees teachers unions as part of the solution.

A comprehensive study of evangelism as a lifestyle. This is not your typical evangelism outline, and is sure to change the way you see life as a Christian while taking you to a new level of influence in personal evangelism. Lifestyle Evangelism is the first step in taking the work of the Christian ministry to its ultimate level, personal life change.

Clay Christensen's groundbreaking bestselling work in education now updated and expanded, including a new chapter on Christensen's seminal "Jobs to Be Done" theory applied to education.

""Provocatively titled, "Disrupting Class" is just what America's K-12 education system needs--a well thought-through proposal for using technology to better serve students and bring our schools into the 21st Century. Unlike so many education 'reforms, ' this is not small-bore stuff. For that reason alone, it's likely to be resisted by defenders of the status quo, even though it's necessary and right for our kids. We owe it to them to make sure this book isn't merely a terrific read; it must become a blueprint for educational transformation.""
--Joel Klein, Chancellor of the New York City Department of Education

""A brilliant teacher, Christensen brings clarity to a muddled and chaotic world of education.""
--Jim Collins, bestselling author of "Good to Great"

""Just as iTunes revolutionized the music industry, technology has the potential to transform education in America so that every one of the nation's 50 million students receives a high quality education. "Disrupting Class" is a must-read, as it shows us how we can blaze that trail toward transformation."
"--Jeb Bush, former Governor of Florida

According to recent studies in neuroscience, the way we learn doesn't always match up with the way we are taught. If we hope to stay competitive-academically, economically, and technologically-we need to rethink our understanding of intelligence, reevaluate our educational system, and reinvigorate our commitment to learning. In other words, we need "disruptive innovation."

Now, in his long-awaited new book, Clayton M. Christensen and coauthors Michael B. Horn and Curtis W. Johnson take one of the most important issues of our time-education-and apply Christensen's now-famous theories of "disruptive" change using a wide range of real-life examples. Whether you're a school administrator, government official, business leader, parent, teacher, or entrepreneur, you'll discover surprising new ideas, outside-the-box strategies, and straight-A success stories. You'll learn how: Customized learning will help many more students succeed in school Student-centric classrooms will increase the demand for new technology Computers must be disruptively deployed to every student Disruptive innovation can circumvent roadblocks that have prevented other attempts at school reform We can compete in the global classroom-and get ahead in the global market

Filled with fascinating case studies, scientific findings, and unprecedented insights on how innovation must be managed, "Disrupting Class" will open your eyes to new possibilities, unlock hidden potential, and get you to think differently. Professor Christensen and his coauthors provide a bold new lesson in innovation that will help you make the grade for years to come.

The future is now. Class is in session.

This manual is designed to provide users with an understanding and appreciation of some of the theoretical concepts behind control system elements and operations, without the need of advanced math and theory. It also presents some of the practical details of how elements of a control system are designed and operated, such as would be gained from on-the-job experience. This middle ground of knowledge enables users to design the elements of a control system from a practical, working perspective, and comprehend how these elements affect overall system operation and tuning. This edition includes treatment of modern fieldbus approaches to networked and distributed control systems. Generally, this guidebook provides an introduction to process control, and covers analog and digital signal conditioning, thermal, mechanical and optical sensors, final control, discrete-state process control, controller principles, analog controllers, digital control and control loop characteristics. For those working in measurement and instrumentation and with control systems and PLCs.

Teachers fully in charge of what matters for student and school success is now a movement, growing steadily in nearly half the states of the U.S. According to a national survey, most teachers in America are unaware that this is a professional option. And, because most thinking is about "real school," it is apparently not "safe" for even scholars to talk about teachers being in charge. Nearly every book diagnoses the problem then defaults to a conventional remedy - like chasing good principals. This book is aimed at raising the teacher-powered movement's visibility, making it safe to talk about teachers in charge of schools, showing how this arrangement erases the talent drain now plaguing the schools, and offering evidence that students do better in these schools than they do in the conventional system. The book outlines how the movement could get bigger, faster. And the massive institutional resistance to change that slows its progress. And unlike most books, the author sees teachers unions as part of the solution.

A groundbreaking and timely prescription for education reform-from a leading expert in innovation and growth Recent studies in neuroscience reveal that the way we learn doesn't always match up with the way we are taught. To stay competitive-academically, economically, and technologically-we need to rethink our understanding of intelligence and reevaluate our educational system. Disrupting Class offers a groundbreaking and timely prescription for education reform that incorporates customized learning, student-centric classrooms, and new technology. The foremost expert in the field of disruptive innovation, Clayton M. Christensen and his coauthors apply his famous theories to illustrate the benefits of changing our approach to education. Featuring fascinating case studies, scientific findings, and unprecedented insights on how innovation must be managed, this book will open your eyes to new possibilities, unlock hidden potential, and get you to think differently about learning and education.