It's more than a swan song...

Education needs to be more than a swan song.

Revolution doesn't come from convincing the best minds to take on educators at the end of their careers, it needs to be their careers--from the start; and the only way this is going to happen is if we raise the value of an educator. It's time our state and federal legislative bodies put OUR money where their mouth is.

Stories about great minds leaving behind illustrious careers to take on the challenges of education is praise worthy, don't get me wrong.   For example, Mitch Kapor has had a huge impact through various education technology investments, and we're now just seeing the early impact on U.S. education from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  However, these are exceptions, not the norm. 

We deserve better.

photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eyesplash/4645918131/

Bringing Curiosity Back!

Canadian Astronaut Chris Hadfield may be single-handedly responsible for inspiring a future generation of space travelers. Through a series of short YouTube videos, including a the first music video shot in space, Hadfield takes career outreach to the next level.  What lessons can we learn as educators?

Wet Paper Towel

Mission Reflections

Taste in Space

Controlling the ISS

New Schools Summit 2013

Didn't get a chance to attend the New Schools Summit this year? No problem, here are all the videos from the headline events and discussions.   Thanks @NSVF for making these available! 

A conversation with the Secretary

The Common Core is coming

Zynga and Coursera Founders on the future of EDU

A conversation with Mr. Friedman

What can the U.S. learn from the world?

Millions & Millions of great teachers needed

What should we do differently?

creating hope for the lost

Mental illness and its impact on many of the students our schools serve is tragically ignored or greatly misunderstood. This video from Soul Pancake studios documents the story of one brother and his quest to honor his sister that took her own by creating a work of art that can serve as a message of hope for people dealing with dark times.  

"Everyone gets hit... [but] every hit help shapes you into something better"

See the entire film here: http://foranybodyhurting.com

The Enigma of Shepard Fairey

Though the language and violence in this video will likely keep you from sharing it with your students, Shepard Fairey's story is truly an inspiration for all creators and change makers alike. Loved this short dramatized documentary on how he got started.  

Google April 1 Roundup 2013

It's that time of year again. Here's a roundup of all the great April 1 Google launches so far.  Keep in mind that Gmail launched on April 1 too, so a real product my be hiding within the fun.  

Google Treasure Maps

Google Nose

YouTube Finally Picks a Winner

The Levity Algorithm 

Gmail Blue

Gmail Blue

Why the future for urban schools is bright

There's no question that cities are flush with failing and low performing schools. Attempts to "fix" this problem are reminders that there isn't a silver bullet for education reform.  However, the pendulum will soon begin to shift in favor of urban schools.  

Enter community institutions 

We are seeing the beginning of what will soon be a transformative movement and a complete re-imagining of the K-12 education experience.  I predict that urban schools will shift from agrarian educational factories to community hubs where students and academic programs will consist of learning experiences that exist both in and out of the classroom. Rather than sitting in rows for hours on end, students will join reading communities at public libraries, maker communities at science centers, coding programs online, and community impact programs at local not-for-profits.  Were are already seeing these types of programs to emerge (see New York & Chicago) and it's only a matter of time before they become a full-fledge movement.