Archive for the 'Uncategorized' Category

“I read the news today, oh! boy, about an unlucky kid about to loose his spirit”

I saw the headline—”Aiming to close the achievement gap”. I know what the words say, I’ve heard them thousands of times. But the picture with this story—handsome Kelvon Cook—is worth a thousand words about how schools become spirit killers, beginning this early. I see the bright and interested eyes of a child already being dulled [...]

The “schools” we deserve!

I just read Tom Friedman’s latest shot across our bow. He comments on “a new study by the consulting firm McKinsey, entitled “The Economic Impact of the Achievement Gap in America’s Schools.””
He concludes his piece with, “…today, educationally, we are not a nation at risk. We are a nation in decline, and our nakedness [...]

Can we fundamentally reinvent schools or a school?

I listened to a podcast yesterday, part of a series called “4 Guys Talking”. I was drawn to it because I’ve been following Scott McLeod’s blog for some time and he’s got some interesting ideas. While he was reading The Game of School, for example, he posted thought-provoking quotes from the book. The “4 guys” [...]

Too Much Sadness: 2

I spotted 2 articles in this morning’s newspaper that also contributed to my sadness today. A member of our local school board allegedly called the principal at a school and the school’s community racist. After a surprise visit to the school and apparently after “words” between board member Chris Stewart and the principal, the principal [...]

Too Much Sadness: I

I’m sad today. I just happened on a blog run by FrontLine. The topic they will be exploring is the impact technology is having on our lives. The producer of the series found herself in one of those moments where you are propelled beyond the circumstance to a much more profound question. While cooking dinner [...]

A terribly disappointing education policy

This is a test to see is ScribeFire works while responding to David Warlick’s post. Kate Olson over at Kate Says blogged about her experiment with ScribeFire and it sounded like a very convenient add-on to Firefox. Thanks Kate. I just checked the first sentence in ScribeFire and it works–so on with it.
I think David [...]

ScribeFire Test

This is a test to see is ScribFire works while responding to David Warlick’s post.

Education and schools as the American Auto Industry

David Brooks wrote a very interesting article in the March 31 New York Times about General Motors (G.M.)There is an eerie, chilling echo to what I call General Education (G.E.)–you know, schools, or the establishment. See if this resonates with you.
Brooks pointed out that, “For 30 years, GM has been restructuring itself toward long-term [...]

Finding my way back

It’s hard to believe that I haven’t posted since September 30 last year. That’s almost 6 months ago and so much has happened to me, the country and world, and to my friends.
It wasn’t that I didn’t have things to write about. There was lots of  opportunity to write about education, digital tools, a new [...]

ReImagining: Developing a toolchest for 21st century information management

On September 24, 2008, David Warlick over at 2¢ Worth posted a very interesting question: If “It’s not about the technology,” then What is it about? As you might imagine, a lively conversation followed. The conversation pushed my thinking about re-imagining learning. What should we be doing?
Scott McLeod caught my attention when he posted on September 29, 2008 about what’s on the back [...]