Posts Tagged ‘Haiti’

Behind Every Trend is a Driving Force. Here are 10…

July 3rd, 2010
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Access to potable water in 2005.
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One challenge we face in determining new government and economic models, is broadening our sights in order to adopt a globally integrated view. As depicted on the concept map linked below, the driving forces affecting major trends are many.
The IMF has divided the world into 9 economic regions. Each region is trying to control for driving forces that keep them in harmonious tune with global trends. How to prepare for wildcard disasters affecting potable water supply and arable land, is a big challenge in each region but to varying degrees.
An earthquake in Haiti and Chile, a Volcano in Iceland, an Oil Spill in the Gulf, ALL have ripple effects that can produce tipping points beyond a region’s ability to return to stability.
There are some bright prospects on the horizon (assuming that’s not a Tsunami just ahead).
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Posted in Biotechnology, Environment, environmentalism, Futurism, Government, Sustainability, Technology

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How to Gather Students Around the Glow of the Monitor for Subject-Centered Learning…

March 1st, 2010
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The invention of the printing press made it po...
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Yesterday I posted a link on my Posterous concerning the history of the printing press and how this revolutionary innovation affected and ultimately transformed society, culture, and the world.

Interestingly, hand written books were generally read aloud to groups. Recalling my time in Haiti and my research into the Haitian culture, I learned about “Krik-krak” the art of Haitian story-telling. Similarly, stories were recited around an evening fire when the work was done and the day was gone.

However, the printing press allowed the mass production of written material and corporate gathering for book-reading and story-telling gave way to independent study and ultimately to silent reading.

Aside: Silent reading was not readily accepted of course. People caught reading to themselves were considered demon-possessed by those observing them moving their lips without uttering a word.

Today, teachers as guides and facilitators are gathering their students around the fiery glow of the computer monitor to focus on units of learning centered around some theme or subject matter. Web 2.0 applications like VoiceThread allow students to read, hear, and interact by gathering around a subject matter rather than around the teacher as story-teller or disseminator of knowledge.

Yet the information is not necessarily student-centered either. Though it should be appropriate for the intended audience, the subject matter becomes the campfire around which the students gather to listen, observe, hypothesize, experiment, interact, collaborate, and report.

The usefulness of technology today is grounded it this ability to create rich, immersive environments for such gatherings. When this atmosphere is cultivated in the classroom, students and teachers are no longer in opposition to one another but are fellow-explorers navigating the new subject matter for a better understanding.

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Posted in Education, Mobile Learning, pedagogy, Social Media, Technology

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My Experiences in Port-au-Prince, Haiti …

January 25th, 2010
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What a typical Haitian family owns

A typical Haitian family and all their worldly goods.

The wafting smoke from heaps of smoldering trash greets visitor to Haiti. Baby Doc Duvalier was the dictator during my first visit in 1984. The dreaded Toto Makut (Duvalier’s feared secret police force) were in charge back then. During my next few visits, » More: My Experiences in Port-au-Prince, Haiti …

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Posted in Education, Media, Simple Living

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