Old Knowledge

Master Po: [after easily defeating the boy in combat] Ha, ha, never assume because a man has no eyes he cannot see. Close your eyes. What do you hear?
Young Caine: I hear the water, I hear the birds.
Master Po: Do you hear your own heartbeat?
Young Caine: No.
Master Po: Do you hear the grasshopper that is at your feet?
Young Caine: [looking down and seeing the insect] Old man, how is it that you hear these things?
Master Po: Young man, how is it that you do not?
-from the TV series, "Kung Fu"

There was an interesting exchange recently between technology guru and visionary Clay Burell and a young, articulate up-and-comer, Arthus regarding the value of content knowledge.

After receiving a mediocre score on an interactive geography quiz, Arthus remarked

"I’ll leave the geography facts to Google. I’ll do the thinking."

Clay responded,

"I don’t buy your 'geographic facts are unimportant compared to real thinking' implication.

Geopolitics, regional wars, and a million other things start with knowing where places are, what places surround them, the history of relations, the resources, etc etc.

That fact-base takes time to stew and congeal into a worldview and theoretical base... Foundational knowledge of facts is a prerequisite for nuanced thinking "

Arthus countered

"Ah… but I have the sense to Google something before I pretend to know about it."

A seemingly innocuous exchange, but it reflects two distinct schools of thought regarding the object of education: should we modify curriculum in favor of outcome-based education? Is it enough to possess the skills to access information or does content-based learning still have value? What do students need to acquire in the educational system to become successful adults? Should schools focus on skills and process?

What does a successful learner look like?

"Where is the wisdom we have lost in knowledge? Where is the knowledge we have lost in information." -T. S. Eliot


"Reflective grasshopper" by Cowboy Dave

A Very Merry E-Christmas

"For centuries men have kept an appointment with Christmas. Christmas means fellowship, feasting, giving and receiving, a time of good cheer, home." -W.J. Ronald Tucker

Many of the gifts exchanged in our household this Christmas had a technical or digital component.

There was a selection of books (from a Jane Austen mystery to a home improvement manual); the requisite sweaters, scarves, and socks; food and beverages enough to ensure jolly times for days to come.

But there were also the connected "toys": my MacBook, my husband's digital camera, a new phone with answering machine, a DVD player, wii accessories galore, a printer, and a GPS system.

Rather than fracturing the family, these tools bring us closer together as we set them up, learn their idiosyncrasies and use them for communication, collaboration, and just plain fun.

Our skills range from basic to professional grade. Within our ranks, we manage to differentiate for, and accommodate, a very mixed group of learners.

In our various ways, we move with inquisitive minds into the future.

"I think, at a child's birth, if a mother could ask a fairy godmother to endow it with the most useful gift, that gift would be curiosity." -Eleanor Roosevelt

And wild and sweet the words repeat...

"I heard the bells on Christmas Day. Their old familiar carols play. And wild and sweet the words repeat. Of peace on earth goodwill to men." -Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Yesterday I heard "Oh Holy Night" on the radio and was immediately transported back to a Sunday afternoon in late December, over 45 years ago.

Every adult parishioner, each student from the school (grades K -8), all members of the elementary and high school choirs, gathered for a program of traditional and sacred music.

Jimmy Maguire sang a solo in his soaring Irish tenor; the senior choir contributed a cappella Latin hymns; the entire congregation thundered forth "Joy to the World".

We walked home in the deepening evening to sip hot chocolate and dream beside the Christmas tree.

My beliefs have matured, possibly; changed, certainly. The music has stayed with me as a continuing comfort and delight.


"Adeste fideles, laetit triumphants, venite, venite in Bethlehem!" -Adeste Fideles (Oh Come, All Ye Faithful)

"You are the music while the music lasts." -T. S. Eliot

Welcome to My World....So Far

NJ Tech Teacher shared a site that lets you map your travels.

For a visual learner like me, this graphic serves as an easily scanned reminder of the deficiencies in my world travels. Although I've expanded my virtual horizons considerably, I still fancy exploring in real time some of those cities, countries, and continents upon which I have yet to set foot. I have seen "...the glory that was Greece, And the grandeur that was Rome." (Edgar Allan Poe, To Helen); I want to see more.



create your own visited country map

I've done a bit better when it comes to U.S. travel, but there are still quite a few states I haven't visited yet.



create your own personalized map of the USA

“I cannot rest from travel; I will drink Life to the lees.” – Alfred, Lord Tennyson, Ulysses


"Suitcases" by Malias

Do Do, Re Re, Meme

I was tagged for this meme by Ms. Whatsit. Although I've done similar lists before, I'm never averse to talking about myself, so here goes:

1. I can snap the fingers of my left hand, but not those on my right hand
2. I was born in Uncle Sam's home town, Troy, NY
3. Both of my parents saw active duty in WWII. Mom was in the WACS (France and England); Dad served as a navigator in the Army Air Corps (India/Burma)
4. My favorite dance in high school was the Bristol Stomp
5. I don't like mustard and put mayonnaise on my ham sandwiches
6. My first clear memory is of the bears in the San Diego Zoo
7. I cried throughout the movie "Rudie"

Pass it on, Life as I Know It, nickhereandnow, A Keeper's Jackpot, the cloudy dreamer/stacy, And another thing, Techno Tuesday, and Slam Teaching.


Here are the rules:

- Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.
- Share 7 random and or weird things about yourself.
- Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.
- Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
from Diane & Tim and Family

Relationships

“With only one life to live we can’t afford to live it only for itself. Somehow we must each for himself, find the way in which we can make our individual lives fit into the pattern of all the lives which surround it. We must establish our own relationships to the whole. And each must do it in his own way, using his own talents, relying on his own integrity and strength, climbing his own road to his own summit.” -Hortense Odlum


In her latest NeverEndingSearch blog posting, Joyce Valenza asks "So, what's your own top edtech story of the year?"

For me, it's always been about people. My career history reflects this orientation, as I moved from social work to public library work to teaching, with some interesting stops along the way.

All of our education and/or technology investigation, promotion, instruction should ultimately reflect back to the needs and desires of our target audience: our students. Not the district, Board of Education, staff members; not the state or federal government; not the business world...but the people of all ages who rely on us to guide them and facilitate their learning.

We are preparing them for a life which includes, but is much more than, a career. They need to understand how the world they inhabit operates on all levels: culturally, socially, technologically, politically, morally.

My top edtech story has to be the launch of Students 2.0. Their voice is getting stronger. Are we listening?


“Human relationships always help us to carry on because they always presuppose further developments, a future—and also because we live as if our only task was precisely to have relationships with other people.” –Albert Camus


"Happy People" by panchiluli

Pimp my wrist

My daughter-in-law is now making custom beaded bracelets. Guess who suggested these designs!

Death be not proud

"Death be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for, thou art not so..." -John Donne

Today I watched the video of a man giving his Last Lecture. For most college professors, this would the opportunity to deliver a defining philosophical statement. For Randy Pausch, it was the chance to say good-bye.

Professor Pausch is 46 years old, and he is dying of pancreatic cancer. His upbeat and inspiring speech was meant to challenge his colleagues and students to "move on" without him. It will also serve as a legacy for his young children.

Today I read Terry Pratchett's open letter to his fans announcing that he has been diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. A best-selling British fantasy and science fiction author, Pratchett remains positive, saying "I would prefer it if people kept things cheerful, because I think there's time for at least a few more books yet".

These two men personify courage. They are moving forward with dignity and grace.


“Death is the last enemy: once we’ve got past that I think everything will be alright.” -Alice Thomas Ellis

"Snowdrops Thorney Abbey Graveyard" by wit

W00t!

As our universe expands, so does our language.

My cyber buddy, Cathy, asked who would be the first to blog about the addition of "w00t" to the Merriam-Webster dictionary. The term is, in fact, the Word of the Year for 2007.

So my answer to Cathy is: Me!