10 Teach me to do your will,
for you are my God;
may your good Spirit
lead me on level ground.
On 12/11/2013,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society, teaching & learning,
by Daniel Christian
On 11/26/2013,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, psychology, relationships,
by Daniel Christian
“Faithful are the wounds of a friend.” King James Version
or
“Wounds from a friend can be trusted…” New International Version
On 11/01/2013,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships,
by Daniel Christian
May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
On 10/23/2013,
in 21st century, business, Daniel S. Christian, ethics, hearts -- matters of the heart, machine-to-machine communications, MBA, technology (general), the downsides of how people use tech,
by Daniel Christian
A new digital ecology is evolving, and humans are being left behind — from io9.com by George Dvorsky
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
Incomprehensible computer behaviors (<– Can we use the word behavior here? It seems an odd word to describe computer-related actions…) have evolved out of high-frequency stock trading, and humans aren’t sure why. Eventually, it could start affecting high-tech warfare, too. We spoke with a researcher at University of Miami who thinks humans will be outpaced by a new “machine ecology.”
For all intents and purposes, this genesis of this new world began in 2006 with the introduction of legislation which made high frequency stock trading a viable option. This form of rapid-fire trading involves algorithms, or bots, that can make decisions on the order of milliseconds (ms). By contrast, it takes a human at least one full second to both recognize and react to potential danger. Consequently, humans are progressively being left out of the trading loop.
…
“What we see with the new ultrafast computer algorithms is predatory trading,” he says. “In this case, the predator acts before the prey even knows it’s there.”
Johnson describes this new ecology as one consisting of mobs of ultrafast bots that frequently overwhelm the system. When events last less than a second, the financial world transitions to a new one inhabited by packs of aggressively trading algorithms.
.
From DSC:
I’m getting concerned about the power of emerging technologies and who is using these technologies — and how they are using them. It took humans to program these algorithms. It still takes humans to oversee these issues/trends (at least at this point in time!). Therefore, values — and hearts — come into play here — with very real effects. Quoting from the article:
“There is real money being gained and lost here — even a few thousand dollars every millisecond, which is a tiny amount on the market, is a million dollars per second,” he told us. “This money could be pension fund money, and so on. So somebody needs to understand what is going on, and if it is ‘fair’.”
Who’s involved here? Who’s making sure things are “fair?” Also…what are MBA programs teaching along these lines? Computer Science teachers/professors? What values are we instilling in the people who will be programming the algorithms that overlook such processes? That are/will be creating this new “machine ecology?”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
On 10/02/2013,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships, society,
by Daniel Christian
Fear of man will prove to be a snare,
but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.
On 09/27/2013,
in faith, global / globalization, hearts -- matters of the heart, relationships,
by Daniel Christian
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
On 09/18/2013,
in education, education technology, hearts -- matters of the heart, society,
by Daniel Christian
Meta-analysis: Technology-led education drastically curbs recidivism — from campustechnology.com by David Nagel
The largest study to date measuring the effectiveness of prison education programs found that technology-driven programs are at least as effective as teacher-led programs. Both types of programs have led to drastic cuts in repeat offenses and significantly higher employment rates for prisoners upon release.
Excerpt:
Education programs in prison have a massive impact on recidivism. Based on a new meta-analysis, “inmates who participated in correctional education programs had 43 percent lower odds of returning to prison than inmates who did not.” The study also set out to find whether technology-led instruction among inmates could cut down on recidivism as well as teacher-led instruction. The results were positive.
“I feel soooo much joy when I dance.” Music and life at the level of the soul. Talk about gifts…wow!
On 09/05/2013,
in art, Australia, creativity, Daniel S. Christian, health, hearts -- matters of the heart, music, relationships,
by Daniel Christian
“I want to change the world…one smile at a time.”
.
.
.
.
.
From DSC:
If you watch this ~8 min clip, I guarantee that you will smile — and, if it hits you like it hit me, you will even cry. But you will be touched. It’s music and life at the level of the soul.
I’d like to thank Joe and Kate Byerwalter for this excellent and fun find.
Rarely do I want to go out an immediately purchase a tune that I’ve just heard.
But that’s what happened when I heard the tune that Tommy Franklin danced to:
Shooting Stars from The Bag Raiders
On 08/27/2013,
in 21st century, creativity, economics, education, education reform, engagement / engaging students, hearts -- matters of the heart, K-12 related, learning preferences, passions, personalized/customized learning, social learning / networks, society,
by Daniel Christian
Changing education from the ground up — published on Jul 18, 2013; with thanks to Mr. Michael Haan, from Calvin College’s IT Department, for the resource
Sir Ken Robinson addresses the fundamental economic, cultural, social and personal purposes of education. He argues that education should be personalised to every student’s talent, passion, and learning styles, and that creativity should be embedded in the culture of every single school.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.
From DSC:
What strikes me about this piece of scripture is how amazingly detailed-oriented — and loving/caring — the LORD is. Incredible. Mind-blowing!
By the way, I’d take this message any day over the front-page articles that I see each morning when I pick up some coffee. The articles are typically meant to catch your eye and attention — but do so almost always with an agenda of violence, war, humankind’s fighting and atrocities towards one another. Normally, they are accompanied by images of violence, loss, catastrophe, accidents, war, bloodshed, and fighting. Whereas that might sell newspapers, I hate the underlying message — the message they convey is life isn’t worth *&%~. Once again showing that the world’s ways are often 180 degrees opposite from our Heavenly Father.
On 08/06/2013,
in faith, hearts -- matters of the heart,
by Daniel Christian
Colossians 2:9-10 New International Version (NIV)
For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,
and in Christ you have been brought to fullness.
He is the head over every power and authority.
On 08/01/2013,
in business, creativity, Daniel S. Christian, ethics, hearts -- matters of the heart, leadership, marketing/social marketing, MBA, United States, workplace,
by Daniel Christian
From DSC:
The two items mentioned below — which I recently ran across — took me back to a nagging thought:
In the United States, we need for our businesses to pursue a higher calling and purpose. We need businesses to ask how they might best be serving society/others; and I, as an individual, need to be asking the same thing.
It’s tough to do. It’s easy to loose our footing here. But if culture eats strategy for breakfast — and if strategies are so key in navigating/surviving in a quickly-changing world — then why don’t we work more on our cultures? Our hearts? Our reasons for existing and working?
My guess is that employees would also find their work more meaningful if they saw how their companies were making significant contributions and differences in the world. For example, when I worked at Kraft (Foods) in the 90’s, we did some things like sending food to areas in crisis; but it wasn’t highlighted that much and it certainly wasn’t our reason for being. Can you imagine how we would have felt if it was one of our top goals to provide food to every single person in the world? I wonder how much more energy, commitment, creativity, innovation, etc. would have been generated with that sort of aim in mind? How would such a perspective/drive have affected the company’s culture? (Instead, Philip Morris purchased Kraft and had a negative affect on the company’s culture.)
The new marketing strategy: Company culture — from kristakotrla.com on March 17, 2013
Excerpt:
Dear Corporate Leadership
Please get back to being a business of people… serving people. Sounds a tad cheesy but seriously. Stop trying to be a big “corporatey,” over-processed, over-mechanized, over-bureaucratic, over-org-charted machine. Smoke and mirrors and perfection is out. Authentic, human, collaboration and innovation from real-time engagement is in.
If you treat your business like a machine then don’t be surprised when your employees act like passionless robots. Ever find yourself scratching your head wondering why on earth your machine-like, killer strategy isn’t thriving? Check your culture (and check your heart).
This one tweet reveals what’s wrong with American business — from LinkedIn.com by Henry Blodget
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
The real problem is that American corporations, which are richer and more profitable than they have ever been in history (see chart below), have become so obsessed with “maximizing short-term profits” that they are no longer investing in their future, their people, and the country.
This short-term greed can be seen in many aspects of corporate behavior, from scrimping on investment to obsessing about quarterly earnings to fretting about daily fluctuations in stock prices. But it is most visible in the general cultural attitude toward average employees.
Employees are human beings. They devote their lives to creating value for customers, shareholders, and colleagues. And, in return, at least in theory, they share in the rewards of the value created by their team.
In theory.
In practice, American business culture has become so obsessed with maximizing short-term profits that employees aren’t regarded as people who are members of a team.
Rather, they are regarded as “costs.”
Corporate profits and profit margins are at the highest level in history…
On 07/29/2013,
in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, digital learning, faith, hearts -- matters of the heart, innovation, internet, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning preferences, lifelong learning, mobile learning, mobile technologies, more voice more choice more control, new media literacies, online learning, online media, reading, ubiquitous learning,
by Daniel Christian
In the beginning was the Word; now the Word is on an app — from nytimes.com by Amy O’Leary
.
Nathan Weber for The New York Times
Listeners use a Bible app during a sermon at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.
Listeners use a Bible app during a sermon at Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church in Chicago.
Excerpt (emphasis DSC):
EDMOND, Okla. — More than 500 years after Gutenberg, the Bible is having its i-moment.
For millions of readers around the world, a wildly successful free Bible app, YouVersion, is changing how, where and when they read the Bible.
Built by LifeChurch.tv, one of the nation’s largest and most technologically advanced evangelical churches, YouVersion is part of what the church calls its “digital missions.” They include a platform for online church services and prepackaged worship videos that the church distributes free. A digital tithing system and an interactive children’s Bible are in the works.
…
This month, the app reached 100 million downloads, placing it in the company of technology start-ups like Instagram and Dropbox.