Survival of the Focused

I would add that beyond the ability to “concentrate,” the ability to sift through the mountains of data, information, junk and propaganda will be the most essential skill for 21st century learners (an ability we’re still not doing a very good job at helping current students learn or sharpen)…

Book review: Is the Internet Changing the Way You Think? – WSJ.com: “One theme emerges frequently from enthusiasts and skeptics alike: Precisely because there are such vast stores of information on the Internet, the ability to carve out time for uninterrupted, concentrated thought may prove to be the most important skill that one can hone. ‘Attention is the fundamental literacy,’ writes Howard Rheingold, the author of ‘Smart Mobs.'”

Attention is a new literacy, but there are also many other literacies out there we can’t ignore.

Creating Your Own Education

Exactly what I’ve been wanting to try with my 8th graders…

Create Your Own Assignments « Teaching as a dynamic activity: “This semester I am planning to let students create or choose their own assignments. “

I just have to be brave enough to trust what I know they can do and give up the preconceptions of what “assignments” and “assessments” really mean.

Learn Social Media Marketing in Las Vegas – Day After Affiliate Summit West

WIN a free ticket to Social Media Marketing Las Vegas – all you need to do to Tweet “Win a free ticket to #smlasvegas just after #asw11 Social Media Event in Vegas Jan 12 from @costpernews http://bit.ly/h8I1qr”

If you’re coming for Affiliate Summit West, stay for Social Media Marketing 2011 and escape one more day of whatever it’s like where you live. If you’re lucky, your home airport will be snowed in and you’ll have to stay anyway. It’s only $95 if you register early. (Or show up in swim trunks or a bikini. Just kidding.) Register here use code costpernews for 10% off.

Social Media Marketing 2011 will bring together leading brands and marketing experts to explore the viral power of social networks. Learn how to get coverage like a Lindsay-Lohan-gets-out-of-rehab photo. During this one-day event, a team of marketing experts – like Andrew Dumas, David Koloski and Murray Newlands! – will provide guidance on how to effectively engage with customers via social media, give tips on how to maximize the impact of your campaigns and offer insights into new services to try and trends to watch.

This is the ultimate event for anyone involved in social media or digital marketing.

Bring an extra supply of business cards because you’ll get to network with marketing strategists & directors, PR & communications managers, social media experts, bloggers & journalists.

Who doesn’t want an extra day in Vegas?

Presenters include:
Andrew Dumas – Sharethis
Ron Cates – Constant Contact
Murray Newlands, director of Influence People
Jennifer Neeley Lindsay, host of A-List on BlogTalkRadio
David Koloski, Director of Social Media, Web & Partnership Marketing for Caesar’s Entertainment
Eric Petersen, Manager of Social Marketing Strategy for Caesar’s Entertainment
Raymond Lyle, President of VigLink
Chase McMichael, Co-Founder & CEO of InfiniGraph.com

Sponsors:
Flamingo Las Vegas Hotel and Casino
VigLink
MarketMeSuite
Share This
352 Media Group

Media Partners:
Mashable: the Social Media Guide
Adrants
Ubergizmo
ReadWriteWeb
State of Search
LeadsCon
Bub.Blicio.us

When: 12th January, 9:00am – 5:30pm
Where: Flamingo Hotel, Las Vegas
For more info and to register: http://socialmediamarketing.co.uk/lasvegas/ use code costpernews for 10% off.

Guest post by www.murraynewlands.com

I Love Dan Bricklin’s Note Taker HD App


You can use Note Taker HD to take notes, sketch diagrams, quickly and easily jot down names, phone numbers, to-do items, directions, and more. Pages are flexibly organized by date/time last modified, tags, favorites, and more, with thumbnail images of part of each page to help you find them later. Pages may be grouped together as multiple “sheets”. You can also email one or more pages as a single PDF file. VGA output is supported with zoom and pan.

via softwaregarden.com

I’ve been using Bricklin’s Note Taker app on my iPhone since last December, but the Note Taker HD app on my new iPad is simply extraordinary.

I cannot wait to get into the lab with my 8th grade students and jot down notes and observations that we can use to better communicate their findings in our Physical Science class next year.

Thank you again for all you do, Dan.

Architectures of Participatory Learning

But the meat of the argument is about how the best explanation for many of the group phenomena we see online, from ICanHazCheezburger to Wikipedia, is that people like sharing with each other and collaborating. Not always, of course. But there are architectures of participation that encourage the kind of sharing and generosity that enriches us all, and by experimenting with them, we can create media and social change that harnesses millions of people to help and amuse each other.

via boingboing.net

Just got this on my Kindle/iPad/Desktops/iPhone (have I mentioned I love the type of portability the Kindle platform offers and hope that iBooks can replicate that type of cross-platform experience?) and can’t wait to dig in today.

I’m a big Clay Shirky fan (click the link if you need a sample), and I’m hoping this book, along with Daniel Pink’s ongoing work, becomes a pointer I can use when folks ask about the “effectiveness” of my teaching style.

I love the idea of the Teacher/Learner as an Architect. There’s something inherit about teaching that lends itself to the type of mystical and very practical practices of masons-meet-Howard Roark.

We’ll see and I’ll, of course, keep you posted.