Audio reading by Lynn Thomas The fall of 2017 was a turning point for me. It marked my official deep dive into global projects... and I was terrified! All the 'what if' scary scenarios popped in my head like 'what if my students hate it?', or 'what if I bomb this?' Fortunately, those scary scenarios…
What's the point of teaching knowledge when we have Google? Well, it's simple, because you don't know what you don't know. You need to know something to ask something of Google, right? Furthermore, how do you know you should even be asking something in the first place? William Poundstone considers this very conundrum in his…
My tongue was a different colour every other day for more than two weeks that summer. The day I saw that jawbreaker I knew I had to get it. It was HUGE! Talk about bang for your buck or quarter as the case may be. I was so excited when Mom let me get it.…
A humble imitation of Margaret Atwood's reveries on a piece of bread. Imagine a classroom. You don't have to imagine it, you're in it right now. The colorful poster on the wall with the sparkly stars that says "Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you'll land among the stars" stares back at you…
Happy makes the learning happen As parents we all voice the same sentiment for our children: "I just want them to be happy." But do we actively practice that sentiment? Do we teach the frames of mind that would ensure happiness in our children? Do we really know what being happy actually means? Much research…
Audio reading by Lynn Thomas Galileo experimented, pondered, and tested theories thereby laying the foundations of what we now know as the scientific method. He was also a keen observer, inventer and thought deeply on almost everything - definitely a Renaissance man. It's an understatement to say he was very clever, and he was very clever…
Audio reading by Lynn Thomas In considering education and how it should evolve to best prepare the class of 2030, we should look at it like we look at Frankenstein. Remember? That cautionary tale warning of the evils of science? Well, not really, it is more the tale of a scientist who longed for things in…
The excitement was palpable as we entered the conference area. There was an electric atmosphere that accentuated the enthusiasm of every individual and amplified it. I marveled at the apparent effect and afterward, I was in awe of the depth and breadth of learning I experienced. I am talking about Microsoft's Global Education Exchange in…
This house believes... “It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it.” ― Joseph Joubert Debate is the cornerstone of freedom and democracy and without healthy debate, we lose. Noam Chomsky outlines the dangers of not having truly free debate: “The smart way to keep people passive…
The biggest challenges students in kindergarten right now will face when they graduate is a rapidly changing work environment so being flexible is essential, and flexibility requires confidence. Confidence is the by-product of strong emotional intelligence and it will be necessary to successfully navigate the work-world of the future. Social-emotional intelligence ensures students are self…
