What's More Inviting?

I was thinking about the impact the environment has on learning and wanted to share the following thought from the video game developer Valve:

Why does your desk have wheels?  Think of wheels as a symbolic reminder that you should always be considering where you could move yourself to be more valuable.  But also think of those wheels as literal wheels, because that's what they are, and you'll be able to actually move your desk with them...  There is no organizational structure keeping you from being in close proximity to the people who you'd help or be helped by most.

Compare this intent against the image below.  

Which if the following fosters, invites, promotes, welcomes genuine collaboration?  Which environment would you prefer to work in?

Worth Reading...

Sharing some articles, resources and videos that I have recently reviewed.


1. Why Every School Needs an Innovation Day- school in the UK experiments with Google's 20% time.  Empowering learners to assume ownership over time and focus of learning.

Bebbington believes every school should allocate one day per week for students to learn freely through projects. Doing so would certainly help students see how what they're learning can be applied to problems in the real world. After all, that's the kind of thing that makes students fall in love with learning, not moment-in-time test scores. 

2. Top US Universities Put Their Reputation Online (Couglan/BBC)- Some of the biggest powerhouses in US higher education are offering online courses - testing how their expertise and scholarship can be brought to a global audience. Further evidence of how online learning is becoming part of mainstream education.

Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have formed a $60m (£38m) alliance to launch edX, a platform to deliver courses online - with the modest ambition of "revolutionizing education around the world"

3.  My Students Reflect on Norway's Connected Testing-Pilot (Michaelsen/Powerful Learning Practice)- On the last day of May, my high school International English class participated in our national English exam. They were also among a group of students in Norway were allowed access to the Internet during testing as part of a pilot program.  Interesting range of students responses shared in the post.

Isn’t the issue interesting or provocative enough? They could be cheating during the test... asking if students should be able to use the internet while taking tests.  But the “controversy” doesn’t seem to have sparked much of an interest there either! Could it be that it’s just the sensible thing to do, and nobody wants to make a fuss?

4. Amplify the Positive Outliers (Godin)- provide a platform for those outside of the center and strongly consider their thoughts and actions.

The most efficient way to get the behavior you're looking for is to find positive deviants and give them a platform, a microphone and public praise.

5.  Skiing With Dad- late father's day post

As I recall, I’d leap out of bed before dawn and into my snow gear, energized by the crisp morning air and the anticipation of a day skiing with Dad. I’d relish our two-hour drives up I-70, our 1989 Volkswagen Westfalia chugging along to the rhythms of Carlos Santana. I’d scout the hills as Dad pointed out old mines and bighorn sheep. Then we’d arrive at Winter Park or Copper Mountain and make gleeful turns together, first chair to last. Yep, that’s the way I remember it.

7. Finland: Discovery Through Technology- Questions to Consider: See how Ms. Huttunen implements "progressive learning". How is technology used to enhance learning through research and data collection? How has technology changed Ms. Huttunen's role in the classroom?

8. All Your History: Valve Ep 1: Unlikely Heroes (w/ Gabe Newell Interview)- story behind birth of video game company Valve.  Newell talks about the open solution method followed by the company.

Opening Remarks

Opening remarks to the second Classics Academy Night held Wednesday June 13th.


I would like to take the opportunity to formally welcome everyone to the second of what will hopefully be many Classics Academy Night.  It is great to see so many family, friends and educators present for this evening’s program.  

First, I would like to thank Anthony, Cynthia, Dawn and Mark.  The success of the program and national recognition we have received is a direct result of  their dedication, effort and professionalism.  Their unwavering belief in what the Academy represents and faith in what our students are capable of achieving compels all  of us to redefine the educational paradigm at MHS.

In introducing last year’s program, I talked about a group of high school students from Massachusetts who started their own school within school.  In similar fashion, I wanted to take a brief minute to share a story I came across while reading Tony Wagner’s latest work Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World.

In Creating Innovators, Wagner provides a rationale for developing an innovation-driven economy. The book explores what parents, teachers, and employers must do to develop the capacities of young people to become innovators.  Throughout Creating Innovators individuals, teachers, corporations and educational programs such as the Stanford d. School and High Tech High are profiled.  There is an emphasis in the book on dissecting forward-thinking environments where cultures of innovation based on collaboration, interdisciplinary problem-solving, and intrinsic motivation are allowed to flourish.

One such program highlighted is the D-Lab at MIT.  Started by Amy Smith, the D-Lab’s mission is to improve the quality of life of low-income households through the creation and implementation of low cost technologies.  Sixteen different academic offerings make up the suite of D-Lab classes, falling into the broad categories of Development, Design and Dissemination. All D-Lab courses are based on the same values and principles of providing experiential learning, using technology to address poverty, building the local creative capacity and promoting local innovation.

Jodie Wu graduated from MIT in 2009 with a degree in mechanical engineering and also, was among the very first to enroll in d-Lab classes.  Upon graduating, Ms. Wu turned down a scholarship to the University of California at Berkeley to start her own business in Tanzania.  At age 24 Jodie is the president and CEO of Global Cycle Solutions.                                                   

Global Cycle Solutions  is working to share affordable, quality technology for villagers around the world. Ms. Wu’s core team works on the ground in East Africa visiting villagers to understand their lives and needs. Where there is a need and a solution, GCS brings that product to these villagers. Where there is a need and no solution, GCS develops these technologies in-house to cultivate creative capacity in the local communities.

Ms. Wu was quoted as saying, “everything changed when she took D-Lab,” which at that time was a sequence of D-Lab I, II and III.   Again Ms. Wu, “What I loved about the course was that it integrated my wanting to make a difference in the world with my engineering skills.

I believe there is a profound link between Ms. Wu’s experience and what you are about to see this evening.  It’s simply inspiring what can be achieved when young people are encouraged to follow their passions and develop a sense of purpose.  In just two years the Classics Academy and in particular this night of public exhibitions has shown the need to empower students to explore issues of personal and global relevance.

Before closing I would Personally like to thank the 2011-2012 Classic Academy students.  Our students  took a leap of faith in taking the road less traveled.  I hope the journey this year has been challenging, enduring, inspiring and something they will hold dear throughout their education and professional careers.

Again, I want to welcome everyone this evening and at this time I would like to turn the program over to the Classics Academy staff.