December 6 - December 13, 2015
The end of year reports are coming in, and with provocative ideas:
The Innovative Pedagogy Report contains a few items to chuckle about ("Learning through argumentation"... really? That's new?), but otherwise captures good practices and shares where to find more information about them. It's a good link if you don't dismiss it outright for its shortcomings.
Audrey Watters' "Top Ed Tech Trends of 2015" series offers in-depth looks at stories that emerged over the course of the year, stories that sometimes only indirectly involve tech. These are great reports with typical Watters wit.
And Steve Blank's blog turns out consistent gems for leaders looking to drive innovation. He's currently writing a series on innovation outposts, a series geared to people driving slow-moving organizations in fast-moving industries.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Distractions And The Dangers Of Pseudo-Depth
Cal Newport, 12/12/15
"Switching your attention -- even if only for a minute or two -- can significantly
impede your cognitive function for a long time to follow. More bluntly: context
switches gunk up your brain. This effect has been validated from many angles in
academic psychology and related fields."
Who Will Save Math? Dan Meyer, Not Sal Khan
New Republic, 12/1/15
"Meyer thinks technology can change the math classroom's reputation as a dull,
mystifying, and even traumatizing place. But he doesn't think tech can fix
everything. 'There's limitations on what kinds of work can be done on a computer
without a teacher... You'll never see a free-form argument of the sort that students
do in our best live classrooms--and those are the sorts of skills that we cherish and
reward in modern working life.'"
Diversity Leads To Better Decision Making In Groups
Campus Technology, 12/7/15
"When surrounded by others of the same ethnicity or race, participants were more
likely to copy others, in the wrong direction. Mistakes spread as participants
seemingly put undue trust in others' answers, mindlessly imitating them. In the
diverse groups, across ethnicities and locales, participants were more likely to
distinguish between wrong and accurate answers. Diversity brought cognitive
friction that enhanced deliberation."
ADOLESCENCE
Young Adult Use Of Cigarettes Way Down, But Tobacco Use...
Gallup, 12/10/15
E-Cigarette Flavoring Linked To Lung Disease
Harvard, 12/8/15
ATHLETICS
Op-Ed: Should Football Require A Legal Age Of Consent To Play?
New York Times, 12/7/15
CHARACTER
On Letting Kids Fail
New York Magazine, 12/7/15
On The Difference Between Losing And Being Beaten
Farnam Street, 12/2/14
Optimism Leads To Better Outcomes. Here's How.
Edutopia, 12/9/15
Business Schools Assign And Discuss Novels To Foster Empathy
Baffler, 12/10/15
COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Memory Champion Explains How A Memory Palace Works [video]
Wired/YouTube, 12/7/15
On How Humility Enhances Self-Control
Pacific Standard, 12/9/15
CREATIVITY
Discursive Design: The Design Industry Turns Pedagogical
Core77, 12/10/15
Creativity Requires A Flexible Way To Record Ideas
Fast Company, 11/30/15
Find More Questions Before Searching For Creative Solutions
99u, 12/7/15
DIVERSITY/INCLUSION
Grinnell College: A Model For Elite School + Socioeconomic Diversity
Hechinger Report, 12/9/15
EARLY CHILDHOOD
On Blocks And Free Play (vs. Minecraft) In Elementary Schools
NPR, 12/3/15
HIGHER ED
4 Of 5 Parents Are Questioning The Value Of College, Says Survey
Campus Technology, 12/7/15
HUMANITIES
Ta-Nehisi Coates On Hope: It Shouldn't Be A Part Of Writing History
Atlantic, 12/10/15
LEADERSHIP
Organizational Growth, Part 1: The Evolution Of The R & D Lab
Steve Blank, 11/21/15
Organizational Growth, Part 2: The Innovation Outpost
Steve Blank, 12/1/15
Organizational Growth, Part 3: Avoiding Innovation Theater
Steve Blank, 12/8/15
PEDAGOGY
"Innovative Pedagogies" That Are Gaining Traction In 2015
Open University, 12/2/15 [Report]
READING/WRITING
On Whether Computers Will Be Able To Learn To Read
Priceonomics, 12/11/15
What It Means To Grow Up When Books And Albums Are Digital
New York Times, 12/5/15
SOCIAL MEDIA
Teen Use Of Facebook Remains Consistent At 78%
Gadgets, 12/8/15
TECH
Phones Affect Posture; Posture Affects Mood...
New York Times, 12/12/15
US DOE Publishes 2016 National Education Technology Plan
EdSurge, 12/10/15 [Report]
OTHER
Top Ed Tech Trends Of 2015: Credits And Credentialing
Hack Education, 12/9/15
Top Ed Tech Trends Of 2015: The Employability Narrative
Hack Education, 12/7/15
Researchers Actually Explore The Psychology Of Being A Geek
Pacific Standard, 12/8/15
A Linguistic Analysis Of The "YouTube Voice" Of Famous YouTubers
Atlantic, 12/7/15
Rap Has The Largest Vocabulary Of Songwriting Genres
Musixmatch, 12/3/15
The Innovative Pedagogy Report contains a few items to chuckle about ("Learning through argumentation"... really? That's new?), but otherwise captures good practices and shares where to find more information about them. It's a good link if you don't dismiss it outright for its shortcomings.
Audrey Watters' "Top Ed Tech Trends of 2015" series offers in-depth looks at stories that emerged over the course of the year, stories that sometimes only indirectly involve tech. These are great reports with typical Watters wit.
And Steve Blank's blog turns out consistent gems for leaders looking to drive innovation. He's currently writing a series on innovation outposts, a series geared to people driving slow-moving organizations in fast-moving industries.
FEATURED ARTICLES
Distractions And The Dangers Of Pseudo-Depth
Cal Newport, 12/12/15
"Switching your attention -- even if only for a minute or two -- can significantly
impede your cognitive function for a long time to follow. More bluntly: context
switches gunk up your brain. This effect has been validated from many angles in
academic psychology and related fields."
Who Will Save Math? Dan Meyer, Not Sal Khan
New Republic, 12/1/15
"Meyer thinks technology can change the math classroom's reputation as a dull,
mystifying, and even traumatizing place. But he doesn't think tech can fix
everything. 'There's limitations on what kinds of work can be done on a computer
without a teacher... You'll never see a free-form argument of the sort that students
do in our best live classrooms--and those are the sorts of skills that we cherish and
reward in modern working life.'"
Diversity Leads To Better Decision Making In Groups
Campus Technology, 12/7/15
"When surrounded by others of the same ethnicity or race, participants were more
likely to copy others, in the wrong direction. Mistakes spread as participants
seemingly put undue trust in others' answers, mindlessly imitating them. In the
diverse groups, across ethnicities and locales, participants were more likely to
distinguish between wrong and accurate answers. Diversity brought cognitive
friction that enhanced deliberation."
ADOLESCENCE
Young Adult Use Of Cigarettes Way Down, But Tobacco Use...
Gallup, 12/10/15
E-Cigarette Flavoring Linked To Lung Disease
Harvard, 12/8/15
ATHLETICS
Op-Ed: Should Football Require A Legal Age Of Consent To Play?
New York Times, 12/7/15
CHARACTER
On Letting Kids Fail
New York Magazine, 12/7/15
On The Difference Between Losing And Being Beaten
Farnam Street, 12/2/14
Optimism Leads To Better Outcomes. Here's How.
Edutopia, 12/9/15
Business Schools Assign And Discuss Novels To Foster Empathy
Baffler, 12/10/15
COGNITIVE SCIENCE
Memory Champion Explains How A Memory Palace Works [video]
Wired/YouTube, 12/7/15
On How Humility Enhances Self-Control
Pacific Standard, 12/9/15
CREATIVITY
Discursive Design: The Design Industry Turns Pedagogical
Core77, 12/10/15
Creativity Requires A Flexible Way To Record Ideas
Fast Company, 11/30/15
Find More Questions Before Searching For Creative Solutions
99u, 12/7/15
DIVERSITY/INCLUSION
Grinnell College: A Model For Elite School + Socioeconomic Diversity
Hechinger Report, 12/9/15
EARLY CHILDHOOD
On Blocks And Free Play (vs. Minecraft) In Elementary Schools
NPR, 12/3/15
HIGHER ED
4 Of 5 Parents Are Questioning The Value Of College, Says Survey
Campus Technology, 12/7/15
HUMANITIES
Ta-Nehisi Coates On Hope: It Shouldn't Be A Part Of Writing History
Atlantic, 12/10/15
LEADERSHIP
Organizational Growth, Part 1: The Evolution Of The R & D Lab
Steve Blank, 11/21/15
Organizational Growth, Part 2: The Innovation Outpost
Steve Blank, 12/1/15
Organizational Growth, Part 3: Avoiding Innovation Theater
Steve Blank, 12/8/15
PEDAGOGY
"Innovative Pedagogies" That Are Gaining Traction In 2015
Open University, 12/2/15 [Report]
READING/WRITING
On Whether Computers Will Be Able To Learn To Read
Priceonomics, 12/11/15
What It Means To Grow Up When Books And Albums Are Digital
New York Times, 12/5/15
SOCIAL MEDIA
Teen Use Of Facebook Remains Consistent At 78%
Gadgets, 12/8/15
TECH
Phones Affect Posture; Posture Affects Mood...
New York Times, 12/12/15
US DOE Publishes 2016 National Education Technology Plan
EdSurge, 12/10/15 [Report]
OTHER
Top Ed Tech Trends Of 2015: Credits And Credentialing
Hack Education, 12/9/15
Top Ed Tech Trends Of 2015: The Employability Narrative
Hack Education, 12/7/15
Researchers Actually Explore The Psychology Of Being A Geek
Pacific Standard, 12/8/15
A Linguistic Analysis Of The "YouTube Voice" Of Famous YouTubers
Atlantic, 12/7/15
Rap Has The Largest Vocabulary Of Songwriting Genres
Musixmatch, 12/3/15