In the following TED talk, Bobby McFerrin engages a whole crowd in an impromptu chorus. Watch until the very end and hear what he says about this experience. We are truly connected and are just beginning to understand those hidden gems. Mr. McFerrin is one of those grand explorers of the human experience.
For all topics concerned with "mining the gems within" to positively empower and transform
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Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Empower Every Teen (and Every Child)
Too often, teenagers are considered an unruly, energetic person in limbo waiting for adulthood. Too often, we do not allow or foster teenagers to apply their gifts for the improvement of society. In doing so, we miss the opportunity to provide their greatest lessons during their formative years.
We need to recognize the potential within teenagers to help change the world. At home and in school, there should be no shiftlessness just because of one's youth. In fact, because of one's youth there should be a supportive environment for creative service for others. In serving others, they can gain a clearer understanding of who they are and the power of their own actions for the betterment of society.
This could come in the form of youth joining organizations that provide service in the community; however, I suggest that the youth be supported in creating their own organization. Let the organization organically grow from the needs within the neighborhood in which they live. Let the organization be a non-profit or a for-profit entity. Get to know the teenagers and encourage them to harness their strengths - be they writing, art, science, performance, craft, sport, etc. - and not let a single day of such exuberant life be wasted.
Here are a few examples to help inspire you (two teens that provide their own stories and a person who inspires. empowers the next generation through her organization)...
We need to recognize the potential within teenagers to help change the world. At home and in school, there should be no shiftlessness just because of one's youth. In fact, because of one's youth there should be a supportive environment for creative service for others. In serving others, they can gain a clearer understanding of who they are and the power of their own actions for the betterment of society.
This could come in the form of youth joining organizations that provide service in the community; however, I suggest that the youth be supported in creating their own organization. Let the organization organically grow from the needs within the neighborhood in which they live. Let the organization be a non-profit or a for-profit entity. Get to know the teenagers and encourage them to harness their strengths - be they writing, art, science, performance, craft, sport, etc. - and not let a single day of such exuberant life be wasted.
Here are a few examples to help inspire you (two teens that provide their own stories and a person who inspires. empowers the next generation through her organization)...
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
The Cost of Excellence
What is a reasonable cost for excellence in education? Do we put the price at $5000, $10000, $15000, or $30000 a year? What is the value of a high school education or a college education?
Perhaps, the question to ask is, what is the cost to the individual and society for missing to give each student the opportunity to excel and contribute to society? We know all of the financial implications for the individual - annual earning power with and without a high school education, with and without a college education, with and without a professional degree. The statistics are out there -> click HERE.
But what else goes with such educational opportunities? The ability to purchase a home and provide a support structure for the next generation are among the many dominoes that fall in place. I encourage you to look at your own child's school, neighborhood schools in both economically poor and rich areas, and your state. Ask the following questions:
1. What is the cost per student? ( US data = http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66 )
2. What does the funding go towards (administration, teachers, materials, student support services, infrastructure support)? Does the funding seem appropriate in order to give each student an opportunity for excellence - given individual student needs (whether they be what is called gifted or special needs)?
3. What does your community do to support learning outside of the classroom? (library services, for example)
Here are a few places that are considered high quality by some...note what their cost per student is...
http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/30/perfect-college-acceptance-for-urban-prep-again.html
http://www.hightechhigh.org/about/
Check out national, regional, and state rankings for schools here...
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/schools/2011/list/national/
So, what is excellence worth? What is an investment in a human's potential worth to you and to society?
Perhaps, the question to ask is, what is the cost to the individual and society for missing to give each student the opportunity to excel and contribute to society? We know all of the financial implications for the individual - annual earning power with and without a high school education, with and without a college education, with and without a professional degree. The statistics are out there -> click HERE.
But what else goes with such educational opportunities? The ability to purchase a home and provide a support structure for the next generation are among the many dominoes that fall in place. I encourage you to look at your own child's school, neighborhood schools in both economically poor and rich areas, and your state. Ask the following questions:
1. What is the cost per student? ( US data = http://nces.ed.gov/fastfacts/display.asp?id=66 )
2. What does the funding go towards (administration, teachers, materials, student support services, infrastructure support)? Does the funding seem appropriate in order to give each student an opportunity for excellence - given individual student needs (whether they be what is called gifted or special needs)?
3. What does your community do to support learning outside of the classroom? (library services, for example)
Here are a few places that are considered high quality by some...note what their cost per student is...
http://www.bet.com/news/national/2012/03/30/perfect-college-acceptance-for-urban-prep-again.html
http://www.hightechhigh.org/about/
Check out national, regional, and state rankings for schools here...
http://apps.washingtonpost.com/highschoolchallenge/schools/2011/list/national/
So, what is excellence worth? What is an investment in a human's potential worth to you and to society?
Work That Matters: A Teacher's Guide
High Tech High has produced a teacher's guide to project-based learning. This guide is clear and quite useful. Examples are provided and High Tech High's basic formulation of how they go about engaging and empowering students is contained within it. Get a copy for yourself, your fellow educators, and your friends who are educators. Ask the following questions,
1. How does this work with my current way of designing learning experiences for students?
2. What are the potential benefits of using this framework?
3. How can you revise one lesson or unit of study to HTH's framework?
If you do apply any part of this to your learning environment, then post your experience here.
http://www.innovationunit.org/sites/default/files/Teacher%27s%20Guide%20to%20Project-based%20Learning.pdf
1. How does this work with my current way of designing learning experiences for students?
2. What are the potential benefits of using this framework?
3. How can you revise one lesson or unit of study to HTH's framework?
If you do apply any part of this to your learning environment, then post your experience here.
http://www.innovationunit.org/sites/default/files/Teacher%27s%20Guide%20to%20Project-based%20Learning.pdf
Friday, March 30, 2012
Bully or Assault? Or is it more?
I haven't had a chance to see the documentary "Bully" yet, but hope to. The conversation about bullying behavior should be brought to the forefront. When I think of the world bullying, I think of a behavior that destroys the sanctity of the classroom and school learning environment. It fundamentally erodes the development of virtuous character of all involved - the bully, the attacked, and the voyeur. If such behavior was applied to adults, then it would not be seen as trivial - it would be criminal.
But it is more than criminal, and, yet, a call to treat the bully as a hardened criminal and to "lock them up" is paradoxical to the mission of a school. These actions can be criminal, but I suspect that they are often a power move, an attempt to feel empowered and dominant over others. It is a degradation of those gems within (both the attacker and attacked) for the sake of a rush of adrenaline and veneer of control (by the attacker).
Will zero tolerance rules or any punishment be a panacea for bullying? No. A more thoughtful and long-term solution is needed. A call to our virtues that starts as a seed within is required. If only we address them on a daily basis, remind students that they are one human family, and encourage restorative justice, then can we transform the classroom and school to a safe learning environment.
Children will make mistakes, but as adults, we should not sit idly by and allow those mistakes to grow and become their character. As adults we need to intervene early, recognize those teachable moments and guide children to form the mighty oak from that seed. Then they will be empowered for positive change in this world.
I encourage you to consider how you will help in this realm. I will begin to provide virtues training with a few children in the first grade. I will utilize the educator's guide for The Virtues Project and focus on the virtues of Forgiveness, Respect, Kindness, Tact, Assertiveness, and Trust (as a starting point).
But it is more than criminal, and, yet, a call to treat the bully as a hardened criminal and to "lock them up" is paradoxical to the mission of a school. These actions can be criminal, but I suspect that they are often a power move, an attempt to feel empowered and dominant over others. It is a degradation of those gems within (both the attacker and attacked) for the sake of a rush of adrenaline and veneer of control (by the attacker).
Will zero tolerance rules or any punishment be a panacea for bullying? No. A more thoughtful and long-term solution is needed. A call to our virtues that starts as a seed within is required. If only we address them on a daily basis, remind students that they are one human family, and encourage restorative justice, then can we transform the classroom and school to a safe learning environment.
Children will make mistakes, but as adults, we should not sit idly by and allow those mistakes to grow and become their character. As adults we need to intervene early, recognize those teachable moments and guide children to form the mighty oak from that seed. Then they will be empowered for positive change in this world.
I encourage you to consider how you will help in this realm. I will begin to provide virtues training with a few children in the first grade. I will utilize the educator's guide for The Virtues Project and focus on the virtues of Forgiveness, Respect, Kindness, Tact, Assertiveness, and Trust (as a starting point).
Wednesday, March 28, 2012
Making Digital Books Social and Worthy of Today's Students
With the advent of computer hardware being ultraportable and wireless connections abundant in some countries, the time has come for the cornerstone of education - the textbook - to catch up with this reality. Many publishers are still utilizing the digital world as just another venue to replicate the same textbook.
Take a look at many of the digital versions of textbooks available and you will find little change and a lack of creativity. While many devices today that fit in our hands go far beyond the computers that were the life blood of astronauts landing on the moon, we do not see an equivalent departure from the traditional textbook to the vast change that is possible with software.
The layout and design of many digital books are based on a philosophy of learning that is at odds with what education researchers know is best. Most are pretty encyclopedias or, if the creators do push the edge of technology, they are very expensive interactive encyclopedias.
Here are a few thoughts about where we can and should be today with digital books:
1. Cost
The cost of production of an interactive, digital book (can we ever get away from the word 'book' or transform its meaning?) should not be the equivalent of a paper textbook or even just ten percent less.
It should be significantly less. It could easily be one third to half off the retail of a hardbound textbook. Even the $14.99 price point for digital books that are merely digital copies is too much. At $14.99 you should expect a lot of interactivity within the book and between users of the book.
2. Based on How People Learn
In addition to making a fine digital product based on solid content, the digital books of today should be based on solid context. Educational research supports a digital book that has a pedagogical framework in its design. Many digital books exude the old image of a student being an empty vessel by the way they are designed. They would be better if based on the idea that students have prior understandings, require exploration and reflection, and learn by thinking about their learning. Sadly, many do not.
3. Social
If anything is possible today, then it is to utilize technology to leverage collaboration. Many of the digital books available do not do this. There may be one or two companies that do this, however, the price of their product is too high.
A response to these three key requirements is found in the ScienceWerkz iBooks product currently available through "Mining Gems" in the Apple iBookstore.
1. Cost
Each Sciencewerkz iBook is currently sold for $2.99, a reasonable price point for an interactive and appealingly designed digital book. I cannot imagine anything that is taught in K-12 that should be above $9.99. Perhaps, at the college or university level, one should find digital books to be $14.99.
2. Based on How People Learn
Each Sciencewerkz iBook has been designed to engage students in thinking about their prior knowledge/experience while encouraging them to question. Many times the user is asked to think about a scenario, consider questions given and their own thoughts, and come back to it later in the iBook - a delay that gives the user time to think. This is only one of several design considerations for today's learner.
3. Social
An example of the beginnings of a social addition to a digital book is found in the ScienceWerkz iBooks series now available on Apple's iBookstore for the iPad. Several of them have what is called a "Be Social" component added to their "Test Yourself" self-assessment section at the end. If users choose to 'be social', then they seamlessly are provided suggested answers to the questions and challenge questions (sometimes including simple hands-on activities to allow for application and further exploration). They are also provided a easy to use space to post responses to those suggested answers and challenge questions. A forum is developed based on the iBook. This is worthy of today's students.
Examples of screenshots from a Sciencewerkz iBook:
Take a look at many of the digital versions of textbooks available and you will find little change and a lack of creativity. While many devices today that fit in our hands go far beyond the computers that were the life blood of astronauts landing on the moon, we do not see an equivalent departure from the traditional textbook to the vast change that is possible with software.
The layout and design of many digital books are based on a philosophy of learning that is at odds with what education researchers know is best. Most are pretty encyclopedias or, if the creators do push the edge of technology, they are very expensive interactive encyclopedias.
Here are a few thoughts about where we can and should be today with digital books:
1. Cost
The cost of production of an interactive, digital book (can we ever get away from the word 'book' or transform its meaning?) should not be the equivalent of a paper textbook or even just ten percent less.
It should be significantly less. It could easily be one third to half off the retail of a hardbound textbook. Even the $14.99 price point for digital books that are merely digital copies is too much. At $14.99 you should expect a lot of interactivity within the book and between users of the book.
2. Based on How People Learn
In addition to making a fine digital product based on solid content, the digital books of today should be based on solid context. Educational research supports a digital book that has a pedagogical framework in its design. Many digital books exude the old image of a student being an empty vessel by the way they are designed. They would be better if based on the idea that students have prior understandings, require exploration and reflection, and learn by thinking about their learning. Sadly, many do not.
3. Social
If anything is possible today, then it is to utilize technology to leverage collaboration. Many of the digital books available do not do this. There may be one or two companies that do this, however, the price of their product is too high.
A response to these three key requirements is found in the ScienceWerkz iBooks product currently available through "Mining Gems" in the Apple iBookstore.
1. Cost
Each Sciencewerkz iBook is currently sold for $2.99, a reasonable price point for an interactive and appealingly designed digital book. I cannot imagine anything that is taught in K-12 that should be above $9.99. Perhaps, at the college or university level, one should find digital books to be $14.99.
2. Based on How People Learn
Each Sciencewerkz iBook has been designed to engage students in thinking about their prior knowledge/experience while encouraging them to question. Many times the user is asked to think about a scenario, consider questions given and their own thoughts, and come back to it later in the iBook - a delay that gives the user time to think. This is only one of several design considerations for today's learner.
3. Social
An example of the beginnings of a social addition to a digital book is found in the ScienceWerkz iBooks series now available on Apple's iBookstore for the iPad. Several of them have what is called a "Be Social" component added to their "Test Yourself" self-assessment section at the end. If users choose to 'be social', then they seamlessly are provided suggested answers to the questions and challenge questions (sometimes including simple hands-on activities to allow for application and further exploration). They are also provided a easy to use space to post responses to those suggested answers and challenge questions. A forum is developed based on the iBook. This is worthy of today's students.
Examples of screenshots from a Sciencewerkz iBook:
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Design and Creativity
In this video Kelli Anderson presents the idea to disrupt our notions of what a material or media is used for. Especially take a look at 6:20 when she describes the wedding invitation project.
Challenging our assumptions and allowing ourselves to try something new with bits of knowledge from many different viewpoints or sources can lead to creating something new.
What does it mean to look at something and think, "How can it be used differently?" and "How can we make our vision come true?" What do you take from this video? What ideas come to mind when you reflect on this?
I also recommend reading the book "The Design of Everyday Things." It is a great starter book for anyone who wants to consider how design dictates how a person interacts with something. It also reveals how awful some design is simply because the designer didn't think (perhaps too deeply or at all) about how a human interacts with things.
Challenging our assumptions and allowing ourselves to try something new with bits of knowledge from many different viewpoints or sources can lead to creating something new.
What does it mean to look at something and think, "How can it be used differently?" and "How can we make our vision come true?" What do you take from this video? What ideas come to mind when you reflect on this?
I also recommend reading the book "The Design of Everyday Things." It is a great starter book for anyone who wants to consider how design dictates how a person interacts with something. It also reveals how awful some design is simply because the designer didn't think (perhaps too deeply or at all) about how a human interacts with things.
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