love of learning

Refections upon an insightful article by Jonny Dymond — “The decline of US manufacturing jobs and living standards”

On 08/08/2012, in 21st century, career development, corporate / business world, Daniel S. Christian, economics, engagement / engaging students, love of learning, reinvent, society, staying relevant, United States, workplace, by Daniel Christian

The decline of US manufacturing jobs and living standards — from bbc.co.uk by Jonny Dymond BBC News, Michigan

Excerpt:

For decades America’s vibrant manufacturing sector provided poorly educated workers a bridge to the middle class. But today’s plants need highly skilled workers who know their way around ultra-high tech machinery.

From DSC:
While manufacturing levels are back up, unemployment rates continue (McAfee, 8/8/12 –> “But new manufacturing facilities in America and elsewhere today don’t need large numbers of hard-working-but-unskilled workers; they need small numbers of hard-working-and-highly-skilled ones.”).

I have a feeling the middle class is going to continue to shrink here in America, unless we can reinvent ourselves. But reinventing ourselves requires that people learn about new things — something much more feasible if people like to learn.

Upon graduating high school, do our students like to learn? Upon graduating college, do your students enjoy learning about new things? If not, how can we make learning more engaging and enjoyable? That’s imporant these days because there”s no more hopping on the corporate bandwagon for 40 years and then retiring with a nice pension/401(K) plan. All of us will need to “go back to our drawing boards” many times during our lifetimes now.

Also see:

We’re Still 12 Million Jobs Away From Normal — from bloomberg.com by Mark Whitehouse

Tagged with: career development • corporate / business world • economics/business • engagement • love of learning • reinvent • society • staying relevant • United States • workplace

The infinitely more important question to ask first is, “What will motivate students to love this?”

On 07/02/2012, in blended learning, engagement / engaging students, hearts -- matters of the heart, hybrid learning, K-12 related, lifelong learning, love of learning, more voice more choice more control, motivation, online learning, personalized/customized learning, by Daniel Christian

The first principle of blended learning — from innosightinstitute.org by Heather Clayton Staker

Excerpt:

As I talk to people who want to blend online learning into students’ curriculum, the most frequent question I get is what online content is best? I respect that question, and others that sound really good too, like what does a student-centric classroom look like? Or what should be the teacher’s role?

But I am convinced that the infinitely most important question to ask first is what will motivate students to love this? My observation is that once a student’s heart is in it, the learning happens naturally, elegantly, and quickly. Imagine a classroom filled with students who want to be there, are focused, engaged, even clamoring to learn. But getting students into that righteous flow*, where they learn something because they genuinely love learning it—that’s where 90 percent of the battle is won or lost.

From DSC:
I think Heather & Co. are onto something here. One of the most important bottom lines and gifts that we can give our young people is a love for learning.

I ask myself, if and when students graduate from high school, what are their views on learning? Do they love it? Are they looking forward to continuing a journey of lifelong learning? Are they prepared for being employed on a constant basis in a world of constant change?

How much more could lifelong learning be served if students developed a love of learning. Then, like Heather mentioned, “…once a student’s heart is in it, the learning happens naturally, elegantly, and quickly.”

Borrowing from a sports-related analogy…it’s like in tennis; don’t worry about the score. Play the point, mentally be in the point/moment and enjoy what you’re doing. Then the score will take care of itself. But if you are so focused on the score, you probably won’t enjoy what you’re doing and the score, most likely, will not take care of itself.

Tagged with: blended learning • customized learning • engagement • hearts -- matters of the heart • K-12 • Lifelong learning • love of learning • more choice more control • motivation • online learning • personalized learning

Lifelong learning ecosystems!!! A powerful vision for our future [Daniel Christian]

On 03/14/2012, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, A/V -- audio/visual, accreditation, active learning, adult learning, analytics, Apple, blended learning, business side of he, changing business models, cloud-based computing / apps / other cloud-related, CMS/LMS, content development, aggregation, repositories, convergence, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, cost of getting a degree, dangers of the status quo, Daniel S. Christian, digital learning, digital textbooks, disruption, distance education, e-publishing related items (EPUB and more), education technology, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, face-to-face, future of higher education, game-changing environment, higher education, homeschooling/homeschoolers, innovation, intelligent systems, intelligent tutoring, interactivity, internet, K-12 related, learner profiles, learning agents, learning ecosystem, Learning from the Living [Class] Room, learning spaces, lifelong learning, love of learning, machine-to-machine communications, marketplaces, mirroring and/or multiple devices, mobile learning, mobile technologies, MOOCs -- Massive Open Online Courses, multi-touch, multimedia, Near Field Communication (NFC), New "Amazon.com" of Higher Education, new business models, online learning, online media, online tutoring, passions, personalized/customized learning, reinvent, smart classrooms, social learning / networks, social media, staying relevant, student-related, surviving, teachers, teaching & learning, teaching online, technologies for your home, telepresence, television, training / L&D, transmedia, trends, TVs, ubiquitous learning, videoconferencing, virtual field trips, virtual K-12 schools, Virtual Reality (VR) / worlds / learning, virtual tutoring, vision/possibilities, web-based collaboration, webinars, workplace, by Daniel Christian

From DSC:
The vision below involves:
(click on the image below to access it)

The convergence of the telephone, the television, and the computer
Cloud-based education stores/marketplaces/exchanges
Second screen devices and machine-to-machine communications
Social networking/learning
Smart classrooms/learning spaces
Content recognition/synchronization applications
Apps as “channels”
Web-based learner profiles
Video overlays
New business models in higher ed
New jobs/needs for the future
A new way for employers to hire highly-effective employees/contractors/consultants
…and more

No more business as usual [Cross]

On 01/12/2012, in change, corporate / business world, corporate universities / corporate training, leadership, learning ecosystem, lifelong learning, love of learning, reinvent, staying relevant, strategy, training / L&D, by Daniel Christian

No more business as usual — from internettime.com by Jay Cross

Excerpts (emphasis DSC):

Business is changing, and the learning function must change along with it.

…

Learning is no longer optional
Continuous improvement and delighting customers require a culture of pervasive learning. We’re not talking classes and workshops here. Creating a new order of business requires learning ecologies — what we’ve been calling Workscapes — that make it simple and enjoyable for people to learn what they need to get the job done. Companies that fail to learn will wither and die.

As all business becomes social business, L&D professionals face a momentous choice. They can remain Chief Training Officers and instructors who get novices up to speed, deliver events required by compliance, and run in-house schools. These folks will be increasingly out of step with the times.

Or they can become business leaders who shape learning cultures, social networks, collaborative practices, information flows, federated content management, just-in-time performance support, customer feedback mechanisms, and structures for continuous improvement.

Tagged with: change • corporate / business world • corporate training / universities • leadership • learning ecosystem • Lifelong learning • love of learning • reinvent • staying relevant • strategy • training

Smart Class 2025: How to make classrooms engaging [Heppell]

On 11/11/2011, in creativity, K-12 related, learning spaces, library / librarians, love of learning, smart classrooms, UK, by Daniel Christian

Tagged with: creativity • K-12 • learning spaces • library / librarians • love of learning • smart classrooms • UK

I need to rant at the end of this loooonnngggg weeeek.

On 09/09/2011, in education reform, love of learning, student-related, by Daniel Christian

Two rants from DSC:

RANT #1:

When someone questions the value of investing in educational technology — especially those technologies that give a student access to the Internet — they’re often inferring that, “Other people don’t know anything of value.”

It should go without saying from here on out that if I can gain access to the Internet through a variety of educational technologies, I’ve just opened up a world of knowledge — tapping into expertise from all over the globe regarding any discipline imaginable! Whether that be at school, church, home, work, etc. — doesn’t matter…value is there…instantly.

Don’t tell me that isn’t valuable! Stop saying that we’re not getting value from investing in such educational technologies.

RANT #2:

I dropped my daughter off early at school today so that she could help feed the animals in a classroom located at the back of the school (where the teacher had authorized access to such students). Another teacher told her to go to the front of the building…ok…

Then, as I’m driving her to the front of the building, I ask her, “How are things going in getting to the bus in time?” She had 4 minutes to make the trek the other day from the end of the school, carrying a backpack that weighs in at about 25-30 pounds! She told me that she can not take her backpack to her last class in order to make the mad dash to the bus. Security precautions perhaps?

All these rules. All these “don’t do this”, “don’t do that!” “Sit down.” “Stand over there – now.” “Be quiet.”

Then we wonder why they don’t own their own learning. *&*$$% Then we wonder why they don’t love learning. Double *&*$$%

Tagged with: education reform • love of learning • student-related

“We Prepare Children to Learn How to Learn” [Richardson, Hancock]

On 09/06/2011, in assessment, Europe, future, K-12 related, leadership, love of learning, strategy, by Daniel Christian

“We Prepare Children to Learn How to Learn” — from Will Richardson, LynNell Hancock

Also see:

Why Are Finland’s Schools Successful? — from smithsonianmag.com by LynNell Hancock
The country’s achievements in education have other nations doing their homework.

“This is what we do every day,” says Kirkkojarvi Comprehensive School principal Kari Louhivuori, “prepare kids for life.”

Tagged with: assessment • Europe • K-12 • leadership • love of learning • strategy

New ad for iPad stresses education, learning

On 09/01/2011, in 24x7x365 access, Apple, corporate universities / corporate training, digital learning, elearning, higher education, K-12 related, lifelong learning, love of learning, mobile learning, mobile technologies, multi-touch, multimedia, online learning, online media, by Daniel Christian

Also see:

Tagged with: 24x7x365 • Apple • corporate universities / corporate training • digital learning • e-learning • higher education • iPad • K-12 • Lifelong learning • love of learning • Mobile learning • mobile technology • multi-touch • multimedia • online learning • online media

Daniel S. Christian- One of my hopes for teaching and learning -- 8-28-11

Tagged with: 24x7x365 • Daniel S. Christian • digital audio • digital learning • digital video • learning ecosystem • learning from the living [class] room • Lifelong learning • love of learning • mirroring / multiple devices • Mobile learning • multimedia • online learning • passions • quality • student-related • ubiquitous learning • vision

Congrats to Kelly Tenkely and the Anastasis Academy! Here’s to a great future for you and your students!

On 08/23/2011, in communities of practice, creativity, education, education technology, hearts -- matters of the heart, K-12 related, love of learning, passions, play, by Daniel Christian

First day of school: Anastasis Academy #standagain — from iLearnTechnology.com

Excerpt:

Today was one for the books. We did it! We opened a school with a radical new vision for what a school should look like in light of learning. It was a truly great day!

Mission:
[Anastasis Academy’s mission] is to apprentice children in the art of learning through inquiry, creativity, critical thinking, discernment and wisdom. We strive to provide an educational model that honors and supports children as the unique and creative individuals that God created them to be. We work to shape the development of the whole-child by engaging the mind, body and spirit while inspiring each to personal excellence.

Also see:

Look where you want to go and steer in that direction: How a blog started a school — from Dreams of Education (6/24/11)

From DSC:
²⁴ “The LORD bless you and keep you; ²⁵ the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; ²⁶ the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26) May He bless your efforts as you seek to not only impact the minds of — but also the hearts of — your students.

We really need to impact both in order for our future students to make significant, positive impacts around the globe. Way to go Kelly!

Tagged with: communities of practice • creativity • cross-disciplinary assignments • education • educational technology • gifted • hearts -- matters of the heart • K-12 • love of learning • passions • play • wisdom

Free Learning: Essays on open educational resources and copyright [Downes]

On 08/17/2011, in Canada, copyright/ownership/NFTs, global / globalization, love of learning, open courseware and systems, society, by Daniel Christian

Free Learning: Essays on open educational resources and copyright — by Stephen Downes | National Research Council Canada

From DSC:
Thanks Stephen for this collection of essays, postings, resources, materials.

After reading the first several sections, I feel compelled to add here that I have not accepted any money for my Learning Ecosystems blog; the work I do on this blog is given freely (and this is often very appropriate…as I often curate content from many other sources).

I don’t know if I’ll be able to continue to do this, but I have chosen to post those items that I believe are going to be helpful to others and/or further a conversation or idea or perspective — but have done so free of charge. I have not been paid to post anything on this Learning Ecosystems blog.

Anyway, thanks again Stephen for your work and for your worthy goals.

Tagged with: Canada • copyright / royalty-free • global • love of learning • open • society

Reflections on “The Singularity: Five technologies that will change the world (and one that won’t)” [Gerrold]

On 08/17/2011, in 3D, chemistry, emerging technologies, engineering, future, learning agents, love of learning, Near Field Communication (NFC), social learning / networks, streams of content, by Daniel Christian

The Singularity: Five technologies that will change the world (and one that won’t) — from MaximumPC.com by David Gerrold; originally saw this in Steve Knode’s July 2011 Newsletter

Excerpt I want to comment on:

Now, let’s try a thought experiment. If we apply Moore’s law and assume that the rate of scientific advancement doubles at the same rate as the computer power that we apply to research, then we can project that we will likely accomplish a whole 20th century’s worth of scientific advancement in 5 years—by 2015. As the rate continues to double, we’ll accomplish a century’s work in 2.5 years, then 1.25 years, 7.5 months, 3 months and 3 weeks, then a smidge less than two months, one month, two weeks, one week, then 3.5 days, 1.75 days, and if you ignore Zeno’s paradox, by the end of 2020 we will be accomplishing a century’s worth of research every day, and two weeks later, every second. And after that…?

From DSC:

This is why it is critical that all of us are tapping into streams of content. We can’t be dealing with damned up “water” — but we need to access ever-flowing-streams of content. We need to learn how to learn — and like learning! We’ll also need to know how to manage learning agents in order to sort through the information overload coming at us.

Also mentioned in the above article:

Graphene
Robots
Bio-Fabbing
Universal Smart Tech

Also from Steve Knode:

10 technologies that will change the world in the next 10 years — from CIO.com by Julie Bort
3D printers, sensor networks, virtual humans and other technologies under development now will drastically change our world in the decade to come, according to Cisco chief futurist Dave Evans.

Tagged with: 3D • blogging • chemistry • emerging technologies • engineering • future • information overload • Learning Agents • love of learning • Near Field Communication (NFC) • robotics • social networking • streams of content • The Singularity

Reflections on “Grading Moratorium: Steve Moore”

On 08/17/2011, in assessment, creativity, engagement / engaging students, K-12 related, love of learning, passions, student-related, teaching & learning, by Daniel Christian

Grading Moratorium: Steve Moore

From DSC:
I need to reflect on this idea further…but when dropout rates are hitting 20-30% for many parts of the country and when, for many students, school can often become a source of pain/discouragement rather than instilling a love for learning, I’m finding myself more open to ideas on how to change that situation. We need to foster a love for learning..and perhaps this type of thing would help.

How do we assess students’ learning without attaching the competitive — often discouraging/”I just can’t do this” — type of message? Are there better ways to tap into students’ passions, gifts, abilities, and creativity?

Tagged with: assessment • creativity • engagement • K-12 • Keeping students engaged • love of learning • passions • student-related • teaching & learning

My guess is that for many youth, this will blow traditional books out of the water (and for some of us adults as well)

On 07/14/2011, in 21st century, 24x7x365 access, 3D, A/V -- audio/visual, animation, Apple, art, changing business models, convergence, creativity, digital audio, digital learning, digital storytelling, digital textbooks, digital video, disruption, educational games / serious games, elearning, emerging technologies, engagement / engaging students, generational differences, human-computer interaction (HCI), innovation, interaction design, interactivity, K-12 related, learning ecosystem, love of learning, media/film, multimedia, new business models, new media literacies, publishing, quality, reading, storytelling, technologies for your home, tools, trends, user experience (UX), user interface design, using teams, by Daniel Christian

Check out:

Fantastic new children’s iPad book by author William Joyce — from curiositycounts.com as curated by Maria Popova

Also see:

From DSC:
This also nicely illustrates why I believe we need to use teams of specialists to create and deliver our learning materials (June 2009).

Tagged with: 21st century • 24x7x365 • 3D • A/V • animation • Apple • art • convergence • creativity • cross-disciplinary assignments • digital audio • digital storytelling • digital video • disruption • educational technology • elearning • emerging technologies • engagement • engaging students • generational differences • human-computer interaction (HCI) • innovation • interaction design • iPad • K-12 • learning ecosystem • love of learning • Media/film • multimedia • new business models • new publishing models • publishing • quality • story • technologies for the home • tools • trends • user experience • user interface design • Using teams

What if school nurtured the passion and interest of every young person? [Knock]

On 07/12/2011, in education reform, engagement / engaging students, hearts -- matters of the heart, K-12 related, love of learning, passions, by Daniel Christian

What if school nurtured the passion and interest of every young person? — from Anne Knock

Excerpt:

As we move away from valuing some intelligences over others and recognising that there is value in the contributions of all – school can become the nurturing ground for all students, as it should be.

We need to create environments – in our schools, in our workplaces and in our public offices – where every person is inspired to grow creatively. We need to make sure that all people have the chance to do what they should be doing, the discover the *Element in themselves and in their own way.

Ken Robinson The Element: How finding your passion changes everything

* Element – the place where things we love to do and things we are good at come together.

Tagged with: education reform • engagement • hearts -- matters of the heart • K-12 • love of learning • passions

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Learning Ecosystems

Refections upon an insightful article by Jonny Dymond — “The decline of US manufacturing jobs and living standards”

No more business as usual [Cross]

Free Learning: Essays on open educational resources and copyright [Downes]

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