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Tuesday, May 27, 2014

Hitting the Ground Running w/this "thought 4 the Week" :-)

Persistence will get you there

Every success story is a story of persistence. No matter where you start, with enough persistence you can reach the goal.
Persistence is not particularly glamorous or exciting. Yet the results of persistence can be truly amazing.
Persistence is not always easy, though it is always accessible. Once you’ve made the effort you can continue making the effort, and that’s what will make the difference.
You may not get very many lucky breaks. Yet every single day you will get the opportunity to persist, so take that opportunity and run with it.
It’s completely understandable that you will, from time to time, feel like giving up. It’s also absolutely possible to let go of that dejected feeling, and to replace it with an even stronger desire to persist no matter what.
Every turn of events is an opportunity to keep going. Take that opportunity, and with persistence you’ll get yourself all the way there.
— Ralph Marston

Sunday, May 25, 2014

Overcoming Challenges: A "View of the Week"

Education is about transformation and is about changing lives.   Sometimes, one gets inspiration in the most unlikely of places.   In the latest "Virtual Journey" on this Odyssey, ran across this courtesy of the team @ Ted.Com that is ever so revealing in thinking about what is truly within the realm of the possible:


Writer Andrew Solomon has spent his career telling stories of the hardships of others. Now he turns inward, bringing us into a childhood of adversity, while also spinning tales of the courageous people he's met in the years since. In a moving, heartfelt and at times downright funny talk, Solomon gives a powerful call to action to forge meaning from our biggest struggles. Watch »

Thursday, May 22, 2014

View of the Week: How Americans Spend Their Online Time


Part of assessing the future of Education is to get a sense of what the trends are.  This is an interesting compilation of what the average user spends their day on courtesy of the team at the Business Insider.    It should give all with plans for a vibrant Virtual presence a lot to reflect on.   

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

On the "MOOC" Journey: Brief Thoughts & a "Thought 4 the Week" :-)


It has been a busy and challenging week on the "Open Education Front". I was able to finish off the Learning by Giving Course and signed off on the "final exam" as I also secured the statement of achievement from Novo Ed. I will be beginning a couple of new courses starting now on Canvas which I will also be commenting on throughout the ensuing days and weeks. I could not help but remember this admonition as this adventure I have undertaken continues:

Saturday, May 17, 2014

On the Future of Digital Education: A Window Into the Future....


A "Week-End" Treat 2 Enjoy: The Story of the Physician.....




One of the key tenets of this channel I began was to focus on Education. What better way to do this than to see a movie of one of the pioneers of our time:

Thursday, May 15, 2014

On Fate: A Reminder from Invictus......

The MOOC adventure for Q2 is about to come to a close.   "Hopefully" a statement of achievement will be forthcoming.     I was reflecting upon this as I shared the poem "Invicitus"  with one of my classes earlier:

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul. 

Sunday, May 11, 2014

On the "MOOC" Trail: A Brief Update

I just finished the NovoEd Course on Entrepreneurship and finalized the final project.  I still have to work on the final set of Peer Reviews.   As I was finishing off, I was still amazed that over 12,000 people were still somehow active.  But when I used some of the search strings such as Professional, Hours spent, industry and level of education, it all of a sudden changed.  This led to wonder about how many actually completed this.

What must be noted, though, was that the Course was well designed and was quite engaging.   "Hopefully", the certificate of achievement will be forthcoming--but the insights were quite engaging in many respects.    Any opportunity to expand one's horizons is always welcome.   


What We Learn: "Thoughts" On the Art of the Possible :-)

As I gear up for a new work week, I thought this Daily "Snapshot" from the ever surprising 
Jonathan Lockwood Huie that captures the essence of the Education Journey that was, in many ways, the driving force behind the launch of this channel and the future that continues to be possible....

:


We Learn...
10% of what we read,
20% of what we hear,
30% of what we see,
50% of what we see and hear,
70% of what we discuss,
80% of what we experience,
95% of what we teach others.
- William Glasser

Learning is the beginning of wealth.
Learning is the beginning of health.
Learning is the beginning of spirituality.
Searching and learning is where the miracle process all begins.
- Jim Rohn

Education is not the answer to the question.
Education is the means to the answer to all questions.
- William Allin

True learning is not about facts,
but about conscious appreciation of the experience of living.
- Jonathan Lockwood Huie

Friday, May 9, 2014

A Funny Look @ Capitalism..Courtesy of 'Stumbled On" :-)

A "View of the Week": Transforming Meeca.....


This is a stunning view of the Holy Haram's Mosque in Maaka, Saudi Arabia as Saudi Arabia has begun a massive transformation of it which has included destroying iconic symbols of Islam.    


Wednesday, May 7, 2014

On MOOCS & Other Thoughts


This was a particularly poignant statement as I reflected upon my work with my MOOC Courses.  I did not wait--I wanted to see what the opportunity was and   I have been making headway on the course w/NovoEd and the team interaction has been fabulous.    The material presented by the Course Director have been stellar and the information ever so relevant.

In addition to the NovoEd course, I have also been making headway on the Learning by Giving Course that currently being hosted @ edX.    I nominated my local Boy Scout chapter--which unfortunately did not make it to the semi-final list.   Some of the organizations were truly deserving--including homeboy industries.  I am due to receive analysis of the "why" so that hopefully the Boy Scouts to occur.

I also have plans to "hopefully" join a Canvas Course on Data Journalism hosted @ Canvas.   I just got word that some 19,000 folks have signed up for it.  I did some "Virtual Walking Around" when I joined periodic deliberations of the Ethics MOOCS course that Santa Clara University had released through Canvass.  It was very good--and I was especially impressed with their APP that they had developed.  

WHat is clear is that MOOCS are an opportunity to rise above the crowd and build on it.  It renders the traditional model of Virtual Education obsolute--although organizations like Quality Matters are aiming to change that.    One cannot wait any longer for opportunities to occur-that's the message.

Thursday, May 1, 2014

On the Prowl in MOOCS & Other Thoughts on Education: Brief Thoughts On the Advent of a new month.....

The Journey is continuing.  I am right now continuing my "peer review" of the grants and hope to have it behind me, Soon!!   This is as I just attended my latest Google Hangout on our Team which was quite fascinating for my Novo Ed Course on Entrepreneurship.  

As I have been trying to work away on the projects, I also was fascinated by this that I shared with my students on the "crazy jobs".   The ultimate challenge for Educators is to make the future generation ready for such jobs.  The question is whether this is actually possible (Source:  Mashable):

10 Crazy Jobs That Will Exist in the Future


The Canadian Scholarship Trust Plan (CST) worked with foresight strategists to create job descriptions that will likely be available in the year 2030.