For anyone with even a passing interest in the First World War here is an unparalleled opportunity: Operation War Diary. The National Archive (UK) has digitized 1.5 million pages of British Army unit diaries, signals, operations orders and messages from the war. They are releasing them to an army of citizen historians to read, classify, … Read more
I take comfort in knowing that I am not the only gritless wonder on the internet. Peter Gow has now confessed to being genetically lacking in the GQ (grit quotient) department. I think it must be this that sinks me on the infamous grit test: “For the most accurate score, when responding, think of how … Read more
Is the only true purpose of education to help children stay learners for life? To learn how to learn? I was going to use the word “become” instead of “stay” but we all know that children arrive at school as avid, eager questioners and learners eager for the information and autonomy that comes with knowledge … Read more
It’s a good word grit. It’s short, and it has the good old English language virtue of getting right to the point. It also sets my teeth on edge. Why? Well for one, grit – it seems – has become one of those condescending terms that successful people use to describe what … Read more
A few years ago Ken Robinson urged us to bring on the learning revolution. Well some took him seriously. The people behind 21 Toys for example. They have developed toys for elementary school and corporate retreats and everywhere in between: Toys as Tools for the 21st Century Teaching Empathy, Failure, Creative Dialogue & Collaboration Take a look: … Read more
BBC’s Radio 4 first tweet for 2014 was a thrush with a bright blue sky background and a quotation from The Darkling Thrush – a poem that Thomas Hardy dated December 31st, 1900. It’s all rather grim and gloomy. The poem records the desolation of winter, the dregs of the day and the end of … Read more
Check out this terrific film made by Erica Enriquez created in 2013 while in her sophomore year in high at Poughkeepsie Day School. It’s about New York state’s standardized testing system, in comparison to Piaget’s theories regarding the cognitive development of young children. Thinking Outside the Bubble from Erica Enriquez on Vimeo.
How many designers does it take to change a light bulb? Answer: Does it have to be a light bulb? All those “why” questions to get at the root of the need or the problem are at the heart of systems/ design thinking. They can feel very annoying but they are essential to the process. The problem … Read more
What can you tell about a school in one visit when the kids are still on vacation? Well – quite a lot as it turns out. I had the opportunity this week to visit the Robert C. Parker School which is a wonderful progressive pre-k through 8th grade school up in the Albany area. I … Read more
The latest Program for International Assessment (Pisa) results are out and that means another round of handwringing, lamentation, self-flagellation, finger pointing and all that other good stuff. Basic summary: Shanghai tops the overall ranking with Singapore and Hong Kong coming in at second and third place. Since 2000, the OECD has benn trying to evaluate … Read more
I’ve recently discovered Haiku Deck – a new way to create slide presentations. It’s an interesting tool for finding images that are in the public domain and matched with the words you enter. You can also upload your own images. The PDS strategic plan has nine learning commitments. These are the nine beliefs about learning … Read more
“The necessary supply of heroes must be maintained at all costs.” (Siegfried Sassoon 24 February. 1917, quoting Sir Edward Carson in a speech in Dublin. I have been unable to confirm the details of that speech.) Each night at 8 pm the traffic is stopped at the Menin Gate and The Last Post is sounded. … Read more
