PRISM and Cognetics
On February 8, 2005 the West Windsor- Plainsboro Regional School Board passed a revised mission statement as developed and proposed by the District’s Strategic Planning Committee. The mission statement reads”” The mission of the West Windsor-Plainsboro Regional School District, valuing our tradition of excellence, is to develop all of our students as passionate, confident, life-long learners who have competence and strength of character to realize their aspirations and thoughtfully contribute to a diverse and changing world.”” Although it is my belief that this mission statement is a goal the schools will strive to achieve in the future, I believe that a longstanding program that exists in the middle schools already works toward the District’s mission.
For almost two decades, a program in the middle school called PRISM (Performance Revealing Individual Student Magic) has worked to expose the strengths of talented youth. PRISM allows for students to explore their interests and take their own path in creative learning experiences. One of the many “”paths”” offered is Cognetics. Cognetics is a program offered to students in New Jersey through the National Talent Network. This program is one in which students work in teams to solve a problem, using critical thinking and artistic skills to present their solution. Cognetics offers an opportunity for students to apply research, communication and creative problem solving skills in highly original and fun project groups.
In order to accomplish the WW-P District mission, members of a variety of committees have discussed numerous strategies. By 2009, the district hopes that “”all students will continually and willingly share with an audience the results of ongoing learning that is important to them.”” The Cognetics Program accomplishes this strategic goal, in that it encourages students to do extensive research in a specific area and then present their knowledge to an audience in an unconventional manner.
By 2009, the District also anticipates that students will “”continually recognize community issues, propose solutions and choose to carry out plans that contribute to their resolution.”” In Cognetics, these are the steps students take to reach their objective. Cognetics enables students to identify an issue and later execute a plan to solve the problem. These skills of distinguishing concerns in society and taking steps to solve them will be useful to all as we soon enter a “” diverse and changing world,”” another goal in the mission statement.
Participation in a Cognetics had been a vital part to my middle school career. Taking part in Cognetics has allowed my communication skills, research and thirst for knowledge to thrive. I’ve learned about how I think and learn, supporting me in the skills of creativity and interacting with others. I have grown to be more assured and confident, which will contribute to my success later in life. I look forward to continuing to meet Cognetics challenges at High School South, where students have carried on the tradition of excellence.
Cognetics presents students with a chance to accomplish goals the district believes are useful and essential in one’s life. And though a new mission statement has only recently been composed, Cognetics has run for numerous years and has already managed to achieve the mission of the district. Cognetics is a program, which has planted seeds for the future achievement of the mission.
Mallika Vinekar
Thomas Grover Middle School
Eighth Grade
DNA: Pathway of Hope
The capture of the infamous BTK killer has left our nation with a feeling of relief and security. Dennis L. Rader, the alleged BTK killer, is connected to ten murders and maybe many more. Yet, how is it that this man who was able to elude the authorities for more than 30 years was finally caught on February 26th? The answer is DNA evidence. As part of my research for the National Talent Search Network, I compared DNA to various methods of forensic investigation. Methods such as fingerprinting and computer-identification took the backseat when neither could provide any leads for the police of Wichita. However, 30 years later, DNA evidence that was taken from Dennis Rader was used to make a DNA fingerprinted that matched that of killer, thus, leading to the swift capture of one of the deadliest serial killers alive. No longer can BTK bind, torture, and then kill any women, for he is now in the hands of the law. DNA evidence has once again provided safety for the thousands of people who were indirectly victimized by notorious serial killers.
Not only has DNA assisted in the capture of the BTK killer, but it has also helped exonerate an innocent man after 25 years in jail. February 22nd was a fateful day for Gary Reece, the victim of a false accusation of assault. Convicted solely upon the basis of a testimony from the alleged victim, who happened to have a degree in acting, Gary Reece maintained his innocence and received help from the Innocence Project. He maintained that he was not guilty for attempted murder, aggravated rape, or any of the other charges placed on him by the self-mutilating witness. His innocence was proved by post-conviction DNA testing when no other method could have been used.
This proves that DNA analysis is the most reliable and efficient method in investigating violent crimes. DNA testing provides hope for those who believe in a safer world, and for those who have been victimized by the lies of others. As of now, DNA evidence is the best weapon forensic investigators wield against criminals.
Nonie Sethi
Thomas Grover Middle School
Eighth Grade
Expressing your Creativity
Cognetics (in association with the National Talent Network (NTN)) is a group based program that is focused on creativity and logical thinking. Creativity is a major factor, in that the group must come up with new and innovative ways to solve a challenging problem. The “”answer”” to the problem, is carried out through a play, where it must appeal to the aesthetic and abstract senses. Cognetics also promotes good problem-solving skills and focuses on bringing people together through these ideas.
There are various opportunities for one to express their imagination and resourcefulness. Every step in the Cognetics program is based on producing ingenuous ideas and applying them in a colorful, yet accurate manner. For example, the group must fit certain criteria in order to showcase their talents at the exposition. The criteria include thinking of a unique group name and coming up with an entertaining script that solves the question or problem being asked. Within the script, the group must give life to a diverse group of characters, design scenery/costumes that enhance the production, and create an atmosphere that will capture the audience into the heart of the play.
In our society, expression of one’s creativity (especially through the arts) has become an extremely important aspect of our lives. We encourage people to express themselves through various artistic fields such as, music, dance, drama, painting, sculpting, etc. realizing how valuable their creative talents are. The Cognetics program continues to promote these artistic abilities, knowing that one grows as person through the appreciation and knowledge of creativity. “”Creativity is inventing, experimenting, growing, taking risks, breaking rules, making mistakes, and having fun.”” (Mary Lou Cook)
Keerthi Chandrasekaran
High School South
Sophomore
Kids Teaching Kids
On February 1, 2005, I had the privilege of visiting Ms. Kimberly Renick’s third grade class at Tollgate Grammar School in Pennington. I went to introduce an exciting, extracurricular activity distributed by the national Talent Network and Education International Research Center. This program is called cognetics. I am fortunate that my school, Thomas Grover Middle School, participates in the Cognetics Program.
Cognetics is an “”out-of-the-box”” thinking skill within a group activity that enriches the students’ abilities in all academic areas. It is a program that involves solving a given program and performing a skit of the group’s solution. The skit must include authentic costumes and setting. Plus, the group must come up with a title that portrays their solution along with creating a poster that includes the main components of the skit.
I taught the class the basics of cognetics and what it takes to be successful. With experience in problem solving, I guided the class in ways to solve their own modification of a cognetics program. I was impressed with the ideas and creativity that the third graders provided. I really enjoyed presenting this to the kids and they invited me and my current cognetics group back to show them a final product.
This was a very eye-opening experience for me. I never knew that teaching was so much fun and rewarding. I can’t wait to return and show the students what my group and I have accomplished. This experience really opened up my eyes to the pleasures of working with children and sharing knowledge.
Rachel Sartor
Thomas Grover Middle School
Eighth Grade
