Inspirational Find - Collaboration At It's Best!

Last week, my friend Shelly, sent me a link to Joesph-Gordon Levitt's collaborative company, (also known to both of us as JGL- we are huge fans of his work via his acting career in Hollywood cinema) HITRECORDTV's first episode! Attached is the first episode of the company's season long TV series appearing on Pivot TV channel and has apparently been renewed for a second season. 

The idea behind Levitt's company is genius! Everyone and anyone can collaborate on a single project or multiple projects via online uploads that appeal to Levitt's call for specific topic/theme submissions. Take the the time and watch this first episode - the theme is on the "number one" and the variety of mixed technology and forms of media is incredible. 

After watching this episode, I immediately thought about 21st century learning and how this episode is a prime example of collaboration and remix at its' best. Artists, innovators, creators, people etc.! can create works of media globally because of the web! It's about taking bits and pieces of work and putting it all together to create one product. If we connected students globally or even locally with neighbourhood classrooms to collaborate on any themed/topic project, we would have our very own "HITRECORD TV" look-alike! The best part of it is that students can submit any piece of art form, literary work, musical piece, graphic art etc. (the possibilities are endless!) and it would be work that represents their best achievement. 

Looking forward to watching more episodes and continue to being inspired! 

** Thanks Shelly! You probably would have never thought that a link to JGL would lead to an educational blog post! :) 

The Importance of Getting Students Engaged!

http://www.thestar.com/life/2014/01/05/skateboard_school_is_vehicle_to_success_for_teens.html

Getting students engaged is a huge part of motivating students to learn and a huge component of 21st Century Learning. The article above (see link) discusses an alternative school programming that has managed to spark curiosity in teenagers who would much rather be at home playing video games. I think this article/story is a great example of how interest sparks engagement and motivation in learning. Connecting students love for arts culture and skateboards with the curriculum and real-world experiences (Recipe for success!). I also think it is great that schools can form a mentorship relationship with local businesses to create programming that is meaningful for students (we need more of it!) Take a read! 

First Inspirational Find of 2014 - "Amanda Bennett: We need a heroic story for death"

Happy 2014!

One of my resolutions for this new year is to blog more and to find time to get through my list of TED talks and inspirational finds that I collect on the daily basis and keep on the "when I have time" list. This year, I am going to make time to learn and grow from the finds and try (really hard) not to keep a never-ending list of things to get to!

In this inspirational TED talk find, I thought Bennett's story had a great message about how to deal with troubling times in our lives. Bennett argues that the emotion of "hope" is actually interchangeable with "denial" and many of us miss the chance to really be in the "moment" or "feel in the moment" because we are in "denial" in that search for "hope". Her story of losing her husband to cancer argues for a different discussion about death or the journey to death. To search for a narrative that discusses the battles/triumphs that is experienced by the person on the journey and his/her family members rather than the ultimate plot of "to live" or "to die".

This find also made me think about how difficult times in our lives is really a "difficult" discussion to have with anyone and especially children....and that maybe there are always many different opinions in approach... but really no "right" way.

Interesting perspective to listen and explore.... Enjoy!