"We especially need imagination in science. It is not all mathematics, nor all logic, but it is somewhat beauty and poetry." -Maria Montessori
This is how creative thinking works. When one looks at things freely and imaginatively, no telling what can be created. So seeing a brown hat, in many shades of brown, with a grey band makes a fun thought. Or could there be a hint of another hat within. What was an ugly rock in the road is now something much more beautiful and worth pondering.
Creative classroom activities work in the same manner. Imagination within study and play is stimulating and brings forth success, new ideas, and perhaps even a hope for a better world.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Beauty in the Eyes of the Beholder
Driving parallel to I-80 along a bumpy gravel road, this caught my attention. What odd beauty - an intertwined mixture of barb wire, stumps, and prairie grass.
The camera allows a person to look beyond facts, definitions, and what is real. Yes, in reality, this is an old stump, rusty wires, mixed with last year's growth of grass. The wires are even creating boundaries.
Yet, isn't it grand to slow down and take a different look, perhaps experiencing a beauty that comes shining forth from behind the camera's eye?
One thing is for sure, had I not become committed to doing a 365 upload of a picture a day on flickr, I would most likely have missed this beautiful sight!
Read more, at the flickr site. Click on the picture, for some brilliant observations of friends around the world.
The camera allows a person to look beyond facts, definitions, and what is real. Yes, in reality, this is an old stump, rusty wires, mixed with last year's growth of grass. The wires are even creating boundaries.
Yet, isn't it grand to slow down and take a different look, perhaps experiencing a beauty that comes shining forth from behind the camera's eye?
One thing is for sure, had I not become committed to doing a 365 upload of a picture a day on flickr, I would most likely have missed this beautiful sight!
Read more, at the flickr site. Click on the picture, for some brilliant observations of friends around the world.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Be a Communitarian in the 21st Century
Here's my set of suggested guidelines to being a communitarian on the Web. The world flattened with the onset of Internet authoring tools. A new global spirit has emerged. So, when you author to the web follow these guidelines:
1. Evaluate the website you plan to contribute content. Validate its authenticity and determine its purpose. Is it to educate, entertain, inform or enlighten, or perhaps question?
2. Be mindful of the objectives of the website, its conditions of use and guidelines.
3. Determine who the intended audience of the website is and add only material that is age appropriate.
4. Feel a sense of global connectivity and take pride in adding ideas, comments, and feedback.
5. Be a communitarian, listening to others, giving feedback, and being respectful of what others have to say.
6. Aim to sharpen communicative and language skills in your postings and comments. Follow conventional grammar and punctuation rules. Authoring to the Web is not a place for the texting style of writing.
7. Be ethical in use of copyrighted materials and items designated Creative Commons. If adding facts, quotes, graphics, audio or video files created by others, always acknowledge the author and other important information. Aim for originality in adding new ideas and content materials.
8. Become knowledgeable of the ever-changing and emerging new technologies on the Internet. Understand how RSS feeds allow users to subscribe to new information provided at a website.
9. Practice caution and safety when adding personal information to the Web. Seek the assistance of a parent or teacher if you have concerns about best practices on Internet safety.
10. Be honest and trustworthy in all that you say and do on the Web.
And so.....your comments are welcome here!
1. Evaluate the website you plan to contribute content. Validate its authenticity and determine its purpose. Is it to educate, entertain, inform or enlighten, or perhaps question?
2. Be mindful of the objectives of the website, its conditions of use and guidelines.
3. Determine who the intended audience of the website is and add only material that is age appropriate.
4. Feel a sense of global connectivity and take pride in adding ideas, comments, and feedback.
5. Be a communitarian, listening to others, giving feedback, and being respectful of what others have to say.
6. Aim to sharpen communicative and language skills in your postings and comments. Follow conventional grammar and punctuation rules. Authoring to the Web is not a place for the texting style of writing.
7. Be ethical in use of copyrighted materials and items designated Creative Commons. If adding facts, quotes, graphics, audio or video files created by others, always acknowledge the author and other important information. Aim for originality in adding new ideas and content materials.
8. Become knowledgeable of the ever-changing and emerging new technologies on the Internet. Understand how RSS feeds allow users to subscribe to new information provided at a website.
9. Practice caution and safety when adding personal information to the Web. Seek the assistance of a parent or teacher if you have concerns about best practices on Internet safety.
10. Be honest and trustworthy in all that you say and do on the Web.
And so.....your comments are welcome here!
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Reflections of Time
The golden moments in the stream of life rush past us, and we see nothing but sand; the angels come to visit us, and we only know them when they are gone. ~ George Eliot
Take time to reflect on those rich golden moments you have experienced in the past few days. Have you felt like the angels have been watching over you?
The time changed today! What's ahead during this vibrant spring just waiting to blossom?
Take time to reflect on those rich golden moments you have experienced in the past few days. Have you felt like the angels have been watching over you?
The time changed today! What's ahead during this vibrant spring just waiting to blossom?
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Tales Of Global Travel
This week is Read Across America Week. The teens in the high school book club are reading to the grade school children. At the same time, we are inviting the teachers and students to do an online global book with us. We are excited to see what global tales we get back from students.
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