Putting the User at the Heart of Education
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Ben Showers , JISC , February 9, 2012. Summary of \"a recent Usability workshop held by Ben Showers and Torsten Reimer as part of their work on the Usability and Adaptability of User-Interfaces .\" Themes covered include the impact on the product development culture, strategic buy-in and communicatio.. .. read more..
Book review: Quality assurance in distance education and e-learning
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tony Bates , Online Learning and Distance Education Resources , February 9, 2012. Tony Bates reviews a book that \"provides comprehensive coverage of the practice and applications of quality assurance in distance education and some elements of e-learning around the world.\" He expresses disappointmen.. .. read more..
Unbundling Education, A Simple Framework
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Michael Staton , M. P. Staton , February 9, 2012. Illustrated, a framework for unbunbling education. I\'ve commented on the concept previously. This breaks down the task of learning along very different dimensions, describing \"ten services, listed here in the order of they will be disrupted.\" [ Link.. .. read more..
New Research Paper Presents 30 General Design Considerations for Online Delibera..
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Tim Bonnemann , Intellitics, Inc. , February 9, 2012. Good summary of an article (itself unfortunately behind a paywall) on the design of online deliberation systems. These are systems that enable a group of people to debate and eventually reach a decision about some matter. The article reviews a n.. .. read more..
A recurring chrysalis
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
An associate was telling me about his major cultural facility project now underway, and remarked that it was actually two entirely different creatures living in the same space. The day before it opens, it will be a construction site with one set of demands and challenges. The day after it opens, it.. .. read more..
SOPA and PIPA untangled
Friday, January 20, 2012
If you use the Internet, you likely have heard or read rumblings about legislation currently in Congress about Internet piracy. SOPA and PIPA were the inspiration for a blackout of several major web sites this week over concerns that the legislation would \'break\' the Internet through their requirem.. .. read more..
The rise of the \'edge-pert\'
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
A recurring theme at this year\'s Arts Presenters conference in New York was boundary crossing. Artists and arts organizations were celebrated for dancing with unexpected partners -- city planners, farmers, inner-city kids, health professionals. Other speakers encouraged such new connections and new.. .. read more..
My Annual Christmas Wish List for Santa!
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
It has been a REALLY busy, harried, controversial, challenging year for everyone. And if you are like me I am sure all of you are ready for a well-deserved break. But before mine starts I have one last task to complete… My Annual Christmas Wish List for Santa! -------------------------------.. .. read more..
If you can\'t get on the radio, get in a cab
Thursday, December 8, 2011
VICE online magazine offers a fascinating bit of music history from South Africa with a story about the rise of Kwaito house music in the 1990s. Since emerging artists in this street-wise musical style couldn\'t get on the radio, they would give their demos to taxi drivers to be heard. Taxis provide.. .. read more..
Are you ready? Honestly, are you?
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
So, you\'re running an arts facility or cultural organization in Anytown, USA, and your computer person (who might also be your office manager) falls ill or quits in a huff -- does anyone else know the system passwords and protocols? Or, a patron falls and breaks an arm -- is your front-line staff p.. .. read more..
Dance v. Powerpoint (advantage: dance)
Friday, December 2, 2011
While a thicket of work projects has kept from blogging for the past two weeks, I couldn\'t let this week conclude without sharing this fantastic TEDxBrussels presentation by science writer and \' Dance your PhD \' founder John Bohannon. Bohannon explains (and demonstrates) the expressive and interpre.. .. read more..
The arts at a crossroads...so says Ben Cameron
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
If you\'re in the vicinity of Madison, Wisconsin, this Thursday evening, you should make your way to the Wisconsin School of Business where I\'ll be hosting a public talk by Ben Cameron , Program Director for the Arts at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. Ben\'s insights on the past, present, and f.. .. read more..
New Series for Webmusicking 3.0
Thursday, November 3, 2011
This is a Blog that I have decided to revive. The author Christopher Small revived an Elizabethan term \"Musicking\" to address the dynamic state of music making. After all, we have acting, painting, dancing, etc. Why not return to the use of musicking to describe the social action that is centr.. .. read more..
Artists in search of a \'liquidity event\'
Monday, October 31, 2011
Last night I attended the Madison performance of Little Big Town , an alt-country group whose current national tour is sponsored by Country Financial (which is where I got the backstage invite...thanks Sean). And in the pre-show chat for the sponsor\'s guests, they were asked about how they managed .. .. read more..
Participatory practice in the arts
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Arts organizations and arts funders have long been discussing the rise of a more \'participatory\' interest among arts audiences. Beyond \'butts in seats,\' this emerging interest suggests that audiences increasingly engage in expressive activity throughout their lives (online, at home, among friends),.. .. read more..
PolymerOhio program
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
We\'re launching a program with PolymerOhio to work with Ohio\'s Polymer industry to show them the benefits of on-line technology. This program was developed by and will be administered by Digital City Mechanics. .. read more..
Connecting the dots at the CONTACT conference
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
I\'ll be speaking at the CONTACT conference in NYC this week. My theme will be “connecting the dots.” Everyone at the conference will be well intentioned, super intelligent activists, thinkers and doers. “So what can I say – which will make a difference?” 1. We\'re all.. .. read more..
My Testimony before the New Jersey State Board of Education
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Testimony of Robert B. Morrison New Jersey Arts Education Partnership for the New Jersey State Board of Education October 5, 2011 Good afternoon. My name is Bob Morrison. I serve as the chair of the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership – the statewide umbrella organization for the visual a.. .. read more..
Digital City project Prezi
Saturday, October 8, 2011
.prezi-player { width: 550px; } .prezi-player-links { text-align: center; } - a system for creating jobs \" href=\"http://prezi.com/0mcvq2mvndf8/the-digital-city-project/\">the Digital City project on Prezi .. read more..
Steve Jobs R.I.P.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
A great man passed away this week. Here\'s his keynote address to the Stanford class of 2005: Three main walk always: - connect the dots – think ahead of what\'s possible and don\'t shirk back - love what you do - you only live once, stay true to your heart and instincts .. read more..
Steve Jobs, Jef Raskin, Apple and Why We Teach the Arts in Our Schools.
Thursday, October 6, 2011
I often find myself in front of policy and decision makers discussing the status and condition of arts education in our schools. I have been in front of state boards of education, state legislatures, the Oval Office, the corner office, the principals office, school boards, congressional caucuses, s.. .. read more..
Promoting Your Program is No Longer an Option. It’s a Requirement!
Monday, September 19, 2011
Wow… where did the summer go? It feels like just yesterday school was wrapping up. Yet here we are facing the start of the new school year. New hopes. New dreams. New goals for you and your students. It means planning your programs, selecting your music, getting your lesson plans arranged, reviewin.. .. read more..
September 12, 2001: You Can Always Have an Impact... If You Choose To
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Today I opened a letter I have not read for nearly a decade. It was from Harold Decker, the president of the American Red Cross. It was a thank you note that accompanied a statue (called Motherland) he sent to me as a special gift. There is a story I have never told behind both the letter and the s.. .. read more..
The Parent Trap
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
I first wrote about this a few years ago. With the recent budget challenges facing public education and the strain on many of our school districts now is a great time to review tis idea one more time. There is an emerging trend that, until recently, had been isolated to California (Redwood City, Co.. .. read more..
10 Years of Blogging: Time for a Change and a Book
Monday, June 20, 2011
So last week it marked 10 years since my first blog post, a full decade of writing and sharing online. As I\'ve said many times before, it\'s been an amazing journey. I don\'t think I could have imagined the many ways that blogging was going to change my life, in a learning sense, in a professional se.. .. read more..
The UnCommon Core
Thursday, June 9, 2011
(Warning: Elitist, preachy, liberal, rantish stuff ahead.) Lately, I can\'t seem to get out from under the feeling that a) this country has pretty much lost its way and that b) at the end of the day, our education system carries much of the blame. No question, my parenting lens is coloring some of t.. .. read more..
A Different Path
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
So it\'s been about five years now since I wrote this to my kids : Dear Tess and Tucker, For most of your young lives, you’ve heard your mom and I occasionally talk about your futures by saying that someday you’ll travel off to college and get this thing called a degree that will show everyone that .. .. read more..
“Hessler St Fair”
Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Digital City Mechanics is helping with the tech for the Hessler St Fair – May 21-22, 2011. We helped create Hessler.org and we\'ll be doing live webcasting during the show on that site. We\'ve also got a ‘porch\' to hang out at – and show people what we\'ve been up to and we\'ve got a.. .. read more..
“There are Some People Who Don\'t Wait”
Saturday, May 14, 2011
This quote from Robert Krulwich of NPR caught my eye yesterday: But there are some people, who don’t wait. I don’t know exactly what going on inside them; but they have this… hunger. It’s almost like an ache. Something inside you says I can’t wait to be asked I just have to jump in and do it. He wa.. .. read more..
What We\'ve Always Known About Education
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
So this morning it\'s David Weinberger that\'s got me thinking . No doubt, David has been one of my favorite Web philosophers for a long time, someone who almost always seems to open the window just a bit more for me. Today, it\'s this: …we knew all along that atoms were never up to the job. We .. .. read more..
Have Schools Reached Their Limits?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
( Cross posted to Huffington Post ) The last couple of days I\'ve been soaking in a new white paper “ Right to Learn: Identifying Precedents for Sustainable Change ,” a document that I think nudges the serious conversation about real change in learning down the road a few steps if not mo.. .. read more..
The “New” Normal
Monday, April 25, 2011
Tim Stahmer\'s post “ There\'s No Normal to Return To ” has me thinking this morning. He writes: At the same time we in education are also doubling down on the “back to basics” and on teaching kids how to follow someone else’s instructions. Our leaders, both political and business, want u.. .. read more..
And What Do YOU Mean by Learning?
Monday, April 18, 2011
So, the biggest learning news coming from the Richardson household last week has, as is more often the case than not, little to do with the classroom and everything to do with doing. Two quick stories, both involving my 13-year old daughter Tess: Story 1 Three weeks ago, Tess decided (on her own) t.. .. read more..
What We Need is a “Prep” Rally
Friday, April 15, 2011
(Cross-posted at Huffington Post ) First, let me say that I\'m not specifically picking on the teachers and kids at Emerson Elementary in Pennsylvania, who put together this 12-plus minute video of their Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) pep rally for the state standardized tests, and .. .. read more..
Valuing Change
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
The past couple of weeks have reminded me how hard it is for teachers to consider change when they don\'t have a context for it and, most importantly, when they don\'t value it. Case in point: recently I was working with a group of teachers trying to help them re-envision their curriculum in the ligh.. .. read more..
“It was twenty years ago, today!”
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
“Just as there can be no education without learning; no education is complete without music” Growing Up Complete (1991) As we gather this March to celebrate “Music in Our Schools” month - many of our readers may not be aware of the events that occurred twenty years ago to help preserve musi.. .. read more..
Unforgettable Learning
Monday, March 14, 2011
( Cross posted on the Powerful Learning Practice blog as a part of an ongoing conversation with Sheryl Nussbaum-Beach.) Dear Sheryl, (Note: I’m grumpy and tired after being sick for a week so I apologize for the somewhat random thoughts that follow. Hope you can make sense of it.) I\'ve been thinkin.. .. read more..
Personal Learning Networks (An Excerpt)
Monday, February 28, 2011
(Cross posted at the ASCD Whole Child Blog , here is a snip from my new book, co-authored with Rob Manabelli , which comes out in May.) Seventh/eighth grade teacher Clarence Fisher has an interesting way of describing his classroom up in Snow Lake, Manitoba. As he tells it, it has “thin walls,” mea.. .. read more..
Crazy Days
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Meant to post this yesterday, but didn\'t get time. I think the headlines tell the tale around education right now. MICHIGAN NEW JERSEY WISCONSIN CONNECTICUT I didn\'t even get to look at Texas… These are some crazy days, and I fear we haven\'t even seen the half of it. And I wonder a couple of .. .. read more..
Dear Santa...
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Dear Santa, Well it is that time of year. PRESENT TIME! Once again, I ask that you indulge me by foregoing any gifts for me (hair club for men!!) and bring to some of the many more deserving, or needy, the gifts they need the most. So here is my list of those who have been either naughty or nice wi.. .. read more..
Tips for Holiday Concerts
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The advocacy committee of the New Jersey Arts Education Partnership developed this tip sheet for arts educators to use to promote arts education programs during this holiday season. Some quick idea highlights: Place a message in the performance or exhibit program talking about the importance.. .. read more..
Maria Johnson - flutist and flute teacher
Monday, November 15, 2010
Maria Johnson is a Brooklyn-based flutist and teacher who has appeared at Carnegie Hall (Weill), Lincoln Center (Fordham), Europe and Asia. Maria also has seven years of experience teaching private flute lessons in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens . She is also available for solo and orchestral sess.. .. read more..
Rebirth: The Future of Classical MusicBrief outline
Thursday, September 24, 2009
What\'s missing from this outline: details, objections to what I say (and my answers), liveliness, fun, and music. I\'ll spend... .. read more..
Rebirth: The Future of Classical Music
Thursday, September 24, 2009
My book on the future of classical music is going to unfold here, or at least parts of it... .. read more..
Old versions: First try
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Episode 1: Mark, Jed, and Beny Moré Episode 2: An Odd Blankness Episode 3: What Is Classical Music, Anyway? Episode... .. read more..
Viola Enluarada
Monday, July 27, 2009
I recently came upon a life-changing idea and became deeply engrossed in the beauty and depth of the text and music of a song “Viola enluarada” composed by Marcos Valle and his brother Paulo Sérgio Valle. In Brazil viola refers to the acoustic guitar. Violas are used for serenades, to a.. .. read more..
Technology and Process in the Arts
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Digital technology has shifted our attention away from the the object to focus on the process. As we discover process in creating new artistic works, we find that there is considerable overlap in generating new media. Now we have tools for investigating and interrogating our personal artistic proces.. .. read more..
Where Do We Go From Here?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
We are in the midst of revolution. The world is changing so rapidly that although we think we see the world around us, the world is changing right before our eyes... right now. A serious question faces us as educators. How relevant is the past? Do we cling to the past because it created us as we are.. .. read more..
Technology as an Extension of Ourselves
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Technology serves to extend the range of human expression and achievement. Because of this, music has always been intimately associated with the development of technology. Instruments emerged as the technological extension of the human voice, and as instruments developed, they extended the range and.. .. read more..
The Intimacy of Rain & Digital Collaboration
Monday, October 27, 2008
Recently I started a web collaboration with a dancer in California and a Dancer in New York, where I created materials to post on the web as a collaborative process . During a Skype conference we decided to explore the theme of intimacy . Exploring the concept of intimacy took me down a side path,.. .. read more..
SOLILOQUENCE
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
SOLILOQUENCE Soliloquence is a work exploring the Meeting of East and West. It is meant to be performed live with this multimedia film projected as part of the performance using dancers and a Gayageum player, although additional performers could be added. It should have an improvisational character.. .. read more..
Identity and the Web
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The WWW provides a new platform for discovery. It can be discovery of ourselves as artists, as citizens, as thinkers, as poets. We can be whatever we want to be. There is tremendous power in this illusion. But is it illusion? As we mirror ourselves in new identities, a transformation enters into th.. .. read more..
Virtual Communities as Collaborators
Thursday, March 20, 2008
The jury is still out on these virtual communities such as MySpace, FaceBook , BOOMJ , and Twitter . Recently, digital educational guru Stephen Downes was criticized for following only 30+ fellow Tweeters out of 1000+. Ed Techie Martin Wheeler seems happy that he follows as many Tweeters as follow h.. .. read more..
Web 2.0 Weary?
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Web 2.0 came into being around 2005/2006 after the .com collapse of 2004/2005, when the economy seemed betrayed by this new upstart Internet technology. When the business world adopted the web as a legitimate arena for conducting its activity, the Internet gained and lost on many fronts. Web guru Ti.. .. read more..
霸王車
Saturday, November 10, 2007
最近才剛收到一篇轉寄的文章，說台灣人如何的在美國大賣場\"借\"東西，或是如何的在日本\"借\"停車位，及在歐洲某國坐火車不用驗票是不是就不買票種種。自己在美國生活，完全可以體會文章裡提到的事件。話說我一直以為，只有亞洲人(沒錯，不是只有台灣人會貪這種小便宜)才會做這樣的事，但幾天前的事件實在讓我嘆為觀止。因為我住在離Manhattan較遠的地方，要去Manhattan需要搭火車(Long Island Railroad)比較方便，唯一的缺點就是票價貴了些，其他服務態度或通勤時間其實都比Subway還要好很多。我一向喜歡找靠窗的位置，那天上車前就由車窗外先相中了一個靠窗的位置，很開心的想要去那個位置坐.. .. read more..
Spring Awakening
Friday, November 9, 2007
When: Nov 8, 2007Where: Eugene O’Neill Theatre-230 West. 49th St.Seat: Mezzanine-J116官方網站 : http://www.springawakening.com/Spring Awakening 《春光乍現》獲得今年東尼獎十一項提名，最後贏得八項大獎，幾乎把所有獎項都搬回家，不是不驚人的。其中包括最佳音樂劇、最佳男配角、最佳音樂劇燈光設計、最佳音樂劇導演、最佳音樂劇原著、最佳詞曲創作、最佳編舞及最佳編曲。以1890年代德國偏遠小鎮為背景，由19世紀Frank Wedekind 同名劇作改編。本想把這部翻成《思春.. .. read more..
Musicators
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Sometimes the distinctions between musicing and musicating become blurred. Musicing is making music and music making, while musicating is learning and teaching music. Ideally the teaching and learning cycle is achieved through making music, and technology enhances that process, making musication an .. .. read more..
What A Wonderful World
Friday, November 2, 2007
Nicole得知我一個人住後...露出很同情的表情說\"等我再長大一點我就去跟你住然後我們就每天在家裡看動漫不要出去歐，然後我會把Sophie一起帶過去!\"我\"然後我們就會餓死在那\"去，這些小孩真是，想的真美你們很愛我我很感激，不過最好是每天窩在家裡看動漫就可以活赫.. What A Wonderful World! (苦笑)原文...Nicole \"Oh... When I\'m old enough. I\'m gonna move in to live with you.and then... and then, we can watch anime together all the time.. .. read more..
掛病號
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
病厭厭。感冒持續了一個多禮拜，本來還慶幸，這次感冒很神奇，什麼症狀都很輕，微微的發燒，咽喉微微的不適，也沒什麼咳嗽，流鼻水，偶而來的狂打噴嚏，也沒有太常發生。莫名其妙賺到的星期六，不需要早起去跳舞，下午Amy的課也停掉一次，讓我很開心的睡到自然醒，練琴練到爽，整個星期六都是我自己的。可星期天一整天的課上下來，一早出門就感到涼意，下課後吃的小火鍋硬是點了個受強力推薦的藥膳鍋，晚上回到家已經開始覺得不妙。喉嚨乾乾啞啞，在床上翻來覆去的就是沒法入睡，折磨了一整夜，隔天又自以為硬撐去學校上了一整天的課，回家只想早早睡下，卻又是喉嚨痛的沒個好覺可睡，星期二起床聲音已經\"分岔\"了。喜歡趴趴走的我，又硬是跑.. .. read more..
The Color Purple
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
When: Oct 19, 2007Where: Broadway Theatre-1681 BroadwaySeat: Rear Mezzanine-L111官方網站 : http://www.colorpurple.com/有人會看戲看到開場不到十分鐘，主角一開口就掉眼淚的嗎?我就是那支水龍頭沖著Fantasia的名氣，和崇拜黑人歌喉爆發力的我，就這樣買了票，進了超級大的Broadway Theatre，看那齣被Oprah Winfrey 捧的半天高的The Color Purple。不知道是Fantasia 名氣夠大，或是Oprah手腕夠高，第一次看到入場排隊排成這樣。整個就是超大的戲院.. .. read more..