Archive for June, 2009

Democracy in the Classroom of 1945 … and today!

June 18th, 2009
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Official Portrait of President Ronald Reagan.
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“Democracy is worth dying for, because it’s the most deeply honorable form of government ever devised by man.” – Ronald Reagan

If, as Ronald Reagan said, Democracy is the most honorable way for people to govern themselves, then it makes sense that Democracy in the classroom would offer the best way for educating future generations to become responsible citizens. It also follows that promoting democratic ideals in the classroom would constitute best practice among teachers. My definition of best practice is the focus on procedures known to produce optimum results. Therefore, based on Reagan’s quote and my definition of best practice, we could conclude that a teacher’s best practice would focus on teaching procedures that » More: Democracy in the Classroom of 1945 … and today!

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How to Connect with Digital Native Students…

June 6th, 2009
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Recently someone remarked about digital natives being goal oriented which caught me off guard. I’m not sure about ‘goal’ oriented. I think this is why there is a disconnect between teachers and students today. Digital immigrants are ‘work’ oriented but this new generation of digital natives is ‘play’ oriented. If teachers emphasize education’s goal is to make productive and useful ‘workers’, » More: How to Connect with Digital Native Students…

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Posted in Education, Internet, Media, Technology

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Differences Between Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

June 6th, 2009
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1. What are the characteristics of students in the digital age?

Hi, My name is Cyborg. You may call me Cy for short. I, like you, appear to be a typical carbon based life form. My electrochemical CPU comprises 20% of my total energy output. As I say, like you, we appear to be quite similar. However, I am a digital native. Digispeak is my native tongue. I understand best when your tweets are 140 characters or less and your SMSs are 160 characters or less. And don’t bore me with your linear lectures thinking you are making things clear to me. I need lots of variables thrown at me at one time; visual, verbal, tactile, you name it. Just please, » More: Differences Between Digital Natives and Digital Immigrants

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Mediocrity is the entropy of our future…

June 1st, 2009
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Nothing is more dissatisfying than living a mediocre existence day after day. Superficial encounters with friends leave our true selves buried within the tomb of wasted time. So pitifully sad. Where are the visionaries? Where are the trumpet blowers? When will we wake up? Are we so drugged, so stupefied by mainstream status quo rhetoric that tells us everything is as good as it can be? When will we break through the shell of our tenuous existence that hangs by a thread and see our subatomic existence as it really is?

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Posted in Futurism, Mystery of Life, Simple Living

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Facebook is the blackhole of time…

June 1st, 2009
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Social networking is a huge time burden which would not be a problem if it were real but so much is superficial mumbo jumbo. I’m disappointed in the feeble attempts of my social network amigos who ‘try’ to give the impression they are happy, doing great things, pursuing high goals, attempting marvelous exploits, etc, etc. Where’s the real people? Where’s the deep thought? I can see the surface with my eyes. I want to hear what’s going on in the heart and soul of my fellow earth dwellers.

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Posted in Internet, Mystery of Life, Simple Living, Technology

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The Internet is the Wormhole to the Metaverse…

June 1st, 2009
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I am surprised that so much typical rhetoric was presented in graduation speeches around the country. With so many upheavals surrounding us on many fronts, it would appear some paradigm shifts are required to deliver us from the status quo.

One school superintendent exhorted students to pursue what they love; what they are passionate about. If this is the goal, why is the means so dreadfully presented? If I were a student, I would ask » More: The Internet is the Wormhole to the Metaverse…

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Posted in Education, Futurism, Government, Internet

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