My Self Assessment

Dec 26

My Self Assessment

I just completed my self assessment as part of working at Discovery Education. Every employee, I believe has to complete them. Essentially, I develop my own goals, and myown measures and then complete my own assessment. My boss consults with me, helps me decide what's reasonable, has conversations with me about them and supports me to achieve them.  I could...

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Be careful

Dec 04

Be careful

Blogged in a cab, at midnight between the airport and the hotel. Never done that before. So I’m sure it could come off sloppy both in format and content. So be it. It’s been very frustrating of late watching people debate important topics on twitter. It’s a lousy place to argue. But it’s not just twitter. There are some important ideas that...

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The difference between Khan and Austin

Oct 20

I get it. Will is has a point about the Khanifcation of Education. But as I expressed,  …after watching a few and even knowing one of them, Paul Andersen, I was under the impression that most of these are classroom teachers. At least many of them are. So what's the problem? I get it, you're worried about Gates' vision of Khan but I think Khan...

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The Value of a Boring Conversation

Sep 14

The Value of a Boring Conversation

While I've not read any of Sherry Turkle's books, I have watched her Ted Talk and watched some of the discussion and at times controversy around her ideas. The one idea that's been bugging me for a while with my own media use is the seduction of personalization and control. We have so many ways we connect to people and most of them allow us a great deal...

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The Thin Line Between Beauty and Sadness

Aug 20

I just watched the documentary Butterflies. The film documents the lives of 6 youtubers who have found community, fame and vocation on youtube. Although the film is 3  years old, it captures the current state of social networks and online communities quite well. As I watched I had this weird ebb and flow of emotions. When they discussed how they've found...

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Keeping the “Professionalism” in the Profession

Jun 11

A quick scan of my blog reveals I've discussed the word "accountability" often. LIke the word rigor, it's a word I despise when it comes to education and yet is the word governments and schools and districts use to market themselves as doing what's in the best interest of students. I've sat in on many discussions with well meaning, caring...

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