Unseen City: Wonders of the Urban Wildlife

I regularly listen to several podcasts.  One of my favorite podcasts is 99% Invisible.  The most recent episode, Unseen City: Wonders of the Urban Wildlife, broadcasts an interview with author and amateur naturalist Nathaneal Johnson.  In the book, Unseen City, Nathaneal Johnson shares stories of plants and animals which thrive in urban landscapes.  In the podcast, Johnson explains how he became intrigued by animals and plant life that many of us simply overlook on a daily basis. However, as the podcast and book highlights, urban creatures reveal fascinating stories of fortitude and survival.

What resonated during the podcast was a subtle message to take the time to observe the natural world.  We often take for granted the natural world and rarely stop and think about how aspects of the natural world evolved.  To an extent, this is true in education.  Students rarely slow down to observe the natural world or for that matter, the subtle developments within a given day.  As a result, meaningful opportunities to reflect and to dig deeper are lost.  The same is true for educators.  How often do teachers and administrators just simply observe students not necessarily to assess, but instead, to uncover hidden facts about how kids learn, interact with peers and manage the realities of being a student? Educators can take a cue from Johnson and carve out time to observe and to think deeply about what is noticed.  It is important to uncover the hidden/unseen stories and not take for granted certain developments within a school building or classroom.

Empathy and The Need to Observe

Next installment of my not so weekly podcast series.  Sharing thoughts about creating widespread empathy in schools and also the need to privilege the practice of observation in the classroom. The post was inspired by recent discussions about design thinking and my reading of Wired to Care by Dev Patnaik. 

Enjoy!!!

   

   
   
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Fostering Leadership In Our Schools

Next installment of my not so weekly podcast series.  The podcast, Leadership In Our Schools is a reaction to a chapter in Seth Godin's manifesto Stop Stealing Dreams.  I shared an excerpt from the chapter below.  As always your thoughts are welcomed.

This faux leadership is what we see again and again in traditional schools. Instead of exposing students to the pain and learning that come from actually leading a few people (and living with the consequences), we create content-free simulations of leadership, ultimately reminding kids that their role should be to follow along, while merely pretending to lead.

Leadership isn’t something that people hand to you. You don’t do followership for years and then someone anoints you and says, “here.” In fact, it’s a gradual process, one where you take responsibility years before you are given authority.

And that’s something we can teach.

   

   
   
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Flow

Podcast about the need to engage and actively participate in collaborative spaces.


"Ultimately the most valuable search is the one that connects us to people; they are often the best sources of information and knowledge”

Consider the need for educators to connect with their peers both within their school and district and on a global level.