Executive Director of The Center for Teaching Bob Ryshke summarizes his two-day visit to Synergy 8.
http://rryshke.posterous.com/visit-to-a-synergy-8-class-at-westminster
CFT Director Visits Synergy 8 for Two Days
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Tag Archives: design
Different Ways of Knowing
Almost everyday, I watch a TED talk as part of my daily learning routine. Today, I watched Daniel Tammet’s talk, “Different Ways of Knowing.”
His 10 minute and 54 second talk has me thinking about a number of things, and I share below just a few:
- Isn’t the work of an educator to explore different ways of knowing? Isn’t our life’s work to examine how all of the learners in our care might perceive and understand a thing?
- Isn’t the intersection of words, numbers, and pictures interesting?
- How do we show what we see in our minds? Do we too often ignore the synthesis of things because of the complexity of demonstrating?
- Literacy today (throughout time) is really about understanding the synthesis of words, numbers, and images, isn’t it? About how to communicate effectively?
- What was Daniel Temmet’s life like in school? Was he a “problem student?” How can we discard that term, problem student, and strive as educators to honor and connect the ways of knowing in our school community?
- How can I better use my observation journal to understand the rich and complex world around me?
Be like bamboo
I learn so much from Garr Reynolds. There are countless lessons in his recent TEDxTokyo talk. Before I write too much about the myriad things I am learning and re-learning from his talk, I hope you will watch and find that still water in which to reflect yourself. Domo arigato, Garr.
Connecting JHPAC and GOOGLE Art Project
We moved into our current Junior High School building on August 3, 2005. I had been principal for two years, and I had a dream of helping establish a permanent art collection for student art when we moved into our new space. With the help of JHPAC (Junior High Permanent Art Collection) Director Mary Cobb, the art teachers, the students, and their parents, we now have over 340 pieces of student work in the collection. One of my favorite times is when Mary and I hammer nails and hang art each summer!
Now I have a new dream! I want to partner our students with GOOGLE and Amit Sood to supplement our JHPAC with this type of dynamic view and experience…
Can you imagine how cool that would be?! Our students could design and implement it…
Have a magical day!
Currently, I am ecstatically enjoying phase III of my sabbatical – several days at Walt Disney World with my wife and two sons (6 and 4 years old). In addition to the sheer joy of being with them in this magical place, I am reminded of some critical lessons about learning.
At Disney, there are no employees. Everyone who works here is a “cast member.” Very different connotations. Props are everywhere. Setting is carefully orchestrated, complete with music, costumes, sound cues, etc. All of the elements work in harmony to create a magical illusion. Very few details are left unconsidered. Consequently, the illusion can become very real and believable.
As Dan Pink explained in A Whole New Mind, story and design are critically important. The Heath brothers make the same point in their books, and folks like Garr Reynolds and Nancy Duarte reiterate time after time. Design and story make learning compelling, real, experiential, and captivating.
In schools, are we employees or cast members? I know some people bristle at entertainment-education, and that is not what I am advocating. I am questioning whether we pay enough attention to design and story. And I am certainly questioning if we guide students in creating the design and story themselves. I believe Disney has some advice to offer in this area.
Learning should be magical. Have a magical day!
it's about learning 