Deborah Meier believes that many people heading school reform outlets "have not read more than one or two of the 100 books I recommended at the end of 'In Schools We Trust.'"
I've read some Deborah Meier (The Power of Their Ideas), but I'm not familiar with her list of 100 recommended books. In fact, upon thinking of it- and I'm embarrassed to even mention this- I've never read a book by John Dewey. I've read books about Dewey's ideas. I've read countless articles that reference his ideas. I'm quite familiar with his ideas and yet I've never read what he's actually written.
Can I really say I understand Dewey without reading his works? How much am I missing by not reading his own words?
Now I'm wondering how many other influential ideas I've only ever gotten secondhand. I'm feeling suddenly unprepared pushing for change at my school.
I might not be quite the Google-ite others are, but I do use a good number of their tools, and I think their corporate structure and culture might have some lessons for the education world. As a result, I decided I'd like to see the Google in action at the Google Teacher Academy in NYC this November. I'm not counting on being selected, but I figured I couldn't pass up the chance.
I've put in my application, which included producing my own 1 minute long video- something I've never done before. I'm pretty happy with the results¹, although it's certainly a long way from being professional. I'd call it a good first attempt at film making.
Here it is, my acting, screenwriting, producing, and editorial debut:
Let me know what you think.
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¹ Upon searching for other applicants videos (which I did only after finishing my video), I saw lots of pandering to Google by focusing on how cool Google tools are. I hope that's not a major requirement, since the only Google-y things in my video are the brief screenshots of Reader and YouTube. Oh well. If they're looking for panderers, then I'm not going to be their guy anyway.
I just finished listening to the clearest explanation of the current financial crisis I've heard yet. Ira Glass, on his radio show "This American Life", takes the time to explain various financial products and how they've contributed to the major problems we've seen up to this point. If you're concerned about the economy but aren't exactly an economic wizard, this is the show for you.
My hat is off to Ira Glass and This American Life for breaking down the complicated world of finance in ways that are easy for anyone to understand. It won't make you feel better about our current economic system, but at least you'll understand why you should be worried.
UPDATE: The radio show above mentions a daily podcast that gives daily updates on the financial crisis. The podcast is called Planet Money; run by the authors of the Planet Money blog. I haven't checked out the podcast yet, but it's on my short list. The Planet Money blog does appear to be an easy read, even for non-financial types.
_____________________________ Thanks to BoingBoing.net for the tip. Clay Burell also pointed out This American Life's earlier show on the economy.
The K12 Online Conference 2008 is revving up to start on October 13 and running through November 1st. I was unable to participate in the 2007 edition due to time issues, and have heard very little but good about the whole process.
They've just posted the schedule for 2008, so I urge you to check it out. Unlike typical conferences, you can choose just to dip into what areas interest you. If you don't like any of the topics for a couple days, don't participate! If you have a big social event planned one of the nights, they're all archived for later viewing! And best of all (especially coming on the day when I was denied funding for EduCon 2.1¹), it's free.
I'm interested to see what ideas people will be sharing and excited to get an opportunity to interact with other individuals from around the world.
¹ In no way am I meaning to knock EduCon, or the fact that it costs money. I'm just a bit disappointed my district doesn't see it as valuable for my own professional development. We'll have to review personal finances to see if it's in our budget...
Today marks the first time the Large Hadron Collider will attempt to circulate a particle beam. This new tool in the belt of particle physicists should help prove/disprove some current grand unified theories, including the existence of the Higgs Boson, thought to be responsible for giving mass to particles.
While some people have been worried the LHC will cause some crazy reaction that will end in the destruction of the Earth (say, via a black hole), Cory Doctorow in a post at Boing Boing quoted a physics who said of the chances of the LHC destroying the Earth: "Look, it's a 10^-19 chance, and you've got a 10^-11 chance of suddenly evaporating while shaving."
In honor of this grand event, I post below the LHC Rap, which is a surprisingly good song about the LHC. If you weren't listening too closely, you could almost mistake it for a Digable Planets song (almost).
One thing I was excited about upon moving out of Michigan, the state where I've lived for 99.2% of my life¹, is discovering the little regional differences that gives each place its true character. It's the things you wouldn't necessarily pick up as a tourist passing through for a few days that are more fun. So far there's been the unsurprising (the large number of seafood shacks), and the more surprising (finding that wearing polos with the collar popped isn't done by a large segment of the population, not just preppy frat boys; finding wearing dock shoes without socks is cool, etc.).
One of the more obvious differences is the possibility of tropical storms/hurricanes. However, Connecticut is pretty far up the coast, and upon doing a little research, I found only 9 storms have ever reached Connecticut as hurricanes since 1856; only one within the last 25 years. And while tropical storms are a little more likely than hurricanes, the last time one affect CT was when Floyd came through in 1999, nine years ago. The image below shows all hurricanes (red), tropical storms (yellow) and tropical depressions (green) to affect New London county in the last 50 years.
Tonight Tropical Storm Hanna will blow through CT, with the center of circulation coming quite close to my location (see map from Google Earth below). I'm finding myself strangely excited to get a chance to experience a tropical storm- something I feel somewhat guilty for, since people are suffering through some property damage, power outages, and probable injuries as a result of Hanna already. A tropical storm is just so different from any type of weather we'd get in the Mid-West, that I find myself looking forward to the new experience.
I'm tempted to throw on a rain slicker and some goggles and head down to the beach Jim Cantore-style as Hanna blows through (I won't really).
I really enjoy teaching, but there are a few people that'd be able to convince me to take a hiatus from my current career track if they offered me a position. Here are three of them:
Richard Preston
Richard Preston is perhaps best known for writing articles on scientists and science in New Yorker magazine. He's well known for his article on people with Lesch-Nyhan syndrome- a genetic disorder that is perhaps most dramatically characterized by involuntary self-mutilation. In a recent Science Friday interview, he also discusses his brush with danger at a Level 4 biohazard facility, among other things. Dr. Preston, if you ever need a note-taker (or other technical support) during your research trips, I'm available.
Described on his TED Talk page as a "professional jack-of-all-trades," Nathan Myhrvolds has been the CTO of Microsoft, won a world championship for BBQ, discovered Tyrannasaurus Rex skeletons, and taken award winning photographs of wildlife. He's obviously a smart dude with skills, passion, and the money to fund them. Well, Mr. Myhrvolds, I love BBQ, enjoy wildlife, believe in the SETI program, and enjoy all manners of volcanoes. If you need a taste-tester, tripod holder, or alien hunter side-kick, I think I'm a good choice.
Nathan Myhrvolds' TED Talk does contain a couple PG-13 words, but those words do tend to be used quite accurately (Thanks to BoingBoing for the tip).
Robert Ballard
Yes, this is the Robert Ballard who re-discovered the Titanic on the floor of the Atlantic Ocean. However, that was hardly the only highlight in his career of exploring the depths of the ocean. In his TED Talk, he passionately petitions for a higher priority in exploring one of the largest unknowns in the universe: the depths of Earth's own oceans. Dr. Ballard, I think I could definitely help you out. First, you're interested in working with educating youth. Me too! Second, I have a degree in geology. Third, I already am a member of the Mystic Aquarium, which is a partner with the Institute for Exploration that you founded. I'll be living 25 minutes or so from Mystic, CT, and about 45 minutes away from the University of Rhode Island. Sounds like a natural fit, no?
Robert Ballard's TED Talk
Now, I don't really expect to hear from any of these guys¹, but I'd love to spend a summer following them around. I'm captivated not only by what they do, but their passion for it as well.
For the last several weeks I've been following the story of a student teacher who has been blogging his triumphs, failures, and frustrations of his credential program and of teaching in the classroom.
Recently a teacher from within his department confronted him on it with the ominous: "We, the department, know you're blogging.¹" The blog is anonymous to protect the innocent, though the confronting teacher noted he could recognize people mentioned in the blog.
I won't go through his whole story here (if interested, please readmore at his blog), but needless to say, it could end with his removal from the credential program.
In my recent job hunt, I was asked by some if I was worried potential employers would see my blog. I wasn't. I'd like any place that hires me to know that I am an active participant in my own global learning community. I wanted to get hired by a district and school that is supportive of the use of technology for personal professional development. If a district has a serious problem with a teacher that blogs, then I'd have serious reservations with accepting a job at such an institution.
In an episode of David Warlick's Connect Learning podcast, Chris Lehmann of the Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia discusses what he looks for when he's interviewing for teaching positions. Instead of trying to determine whether teachers will be toadies of the system who'll turn their monthly lesson plans turned in on time, he specifically looks for teachers who are active learners in their own right², both in their personal and professional lives. What better way to actively participate in your own learning that utilize a blog to share and have conversations about ideas?
There are too many schools (and teachers) out there who seem afraid that someone will find out what we're actually doing in the schools. I understand there are real and important issues in protecting student privacy, but I don't feel the system should be afraid of the general public finding out there is a group of thoughtful, reflecting, constantly improving educators out there.
Recently I posted a portion of some student work. I didn't mention who the student was or really any details about the student whatsoever. Yet, if that student saw it posted he/she would obviously know it's their work. His/her parents and some of his/her friends would probably also recognize it. Was that "unprofessional?" Did it break an "unstated, implicit confidentiality" between teacher and student? I argue it didn't. Or was I wrong?³
¹ Everytime I've read that I think of the movie Congo: "We. are. watching. you." It's probably an inappropriate association.
² Among many other things.
³ This may be the clearest instance of preaching to the choir. Evar. If you're reading this blog (especially commenting on it), you're probably not blog-o-phobic. Oh well. Your thoughts on the matter are still appreciated.
