Category: schoolreform
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Dewey on Book Work and Opportunities for Mistakes
Here is a quotation worth considering in our communications landscape awash in information: From “Democracy and education: an introduction to the philosophy of education” by John Dewey, published in 1916. In Chapter Fifteen: “Play and Work in the Curriculum” he wrote: Doubtless the fact that children normally engage in play and work out of school…
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American Teacher Documentary: An Answer to Waiting for Superman
A new two hour documentary film was released in select U.S. theaters this fall about teaching and public education: American Teacher. It’s a direct response to last year’s “Waiting for Superman” movie, which (among other things) cast teacher unions as demons in educational improvement debates. See my October 2010 post, “Waiting For Superman: A Good…
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Karl Fisch at the 2011 Innovative Learning Institute
These are my notes from Karl Fisch’s luncheon keynote at the November 10, 2011, Innovative Learning Institute hosted by the K-20 Center at the University of Oklahoma. MY THOUGHTS AND COMMENTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. Links from Karl’s breakout sessions are available on Google Sites. This session is available as a no-edit audio podcast via…
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Janet Barresi’s ODLA 2011 Keynote
These are my notes from Janet Barresi‘s luncheon keynote presentation on November 9, 2011, at the fall Oklahoma Distance Learning Association (ODLA) conference. Dr. Barresi is the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction. (AN ELECTED OFFICE IN OUR STATE, SHE TOOK OFFICE IN JANUARY 2011.) MY THOUGHTS ARE IN ALL CAPS. HER PRESENTATION WAS SHARED WITH…
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Creativity is a Decision: Keys to Developing Creativity in Children and Adults
These are my notes from Robert Sternberg’s presentation, “Creativity is a Decision: Keys to Developing Creativity in Children and Adults” November 1, 2011, at the 2011 Oklahoma Creativity Forum. Dr Sternberg is the provost at Oklahoma State University. Creativity is an everyday phenomenon, it is not just something you find just in luminaries lives and…
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Creating Conditions for the Extraordinary by Peter Gamwell
These are my notes from Peter Gamwell’s presentation, “Creating Conditions for the Extraordinary” on November 1, 2011, at the 2011 Oklahoma Creativity Forum. Today’s program is available in PDF format. Peter Gamwell is the Superintendent of Instruction, Ottawa-Carleton District School Board Flow involves entering an energized state of mind during which attention becomes undivided and…
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NCLB Fulfilling Mission to Portray All Public Schools as Failing
When will our Oklahoma politicians and voters finally recognize the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) law is fundamentally flawed and was designed primarily to demonize both public schools and public school teachers as “failures” irrespective of academic results? One of the most telling quotations from today’s NewsOK article, “More Oklahoma schools, districts than ever ‘need…
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Podcast384: Michael Wesch at Heartland eLearning 2011
This podcast is a recording of Michael Wesch’s keynote presentation at the Heartland eLearning Conference in Edmond, Oklahoma, on March 8, 2011. This was a superb and provocative presentation about teaching, learning, lecturing, engagement, student interests, meaning, identity, recognition, and many other issues. In his keynote he suggested we need to move from simply getting…
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Share Your Ideas for K-12 Online 2011: Purposeful Play
You’ve still got several more days (till October 17th at midnight PDT) to submit a proposal for the 2011 K-12 Online Conference! Complete details about this wonderful, FREE, online conference are available on k12onlineconference.org. As a selected presenter you’ll create a twenty minute, engaging video presentation to share in one of our “strands” during our…
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Jack Berckemeyer: Opening Keynote at Qatar Academy
These are my notes from Jack Berckemeyer‘s opening keynote at the “Middle Level Years Learn-Tech Conference: Creating Connections For Educators Of Middle Level Students” in Doha, Qatar, on October 7, 2011. There is NO way my notes can possibly do justice to Jack’s dynamic, humorous, and engaging presentation style. WOW. This was one of the…