sabato 28 giugno 2014
How schools kill creativity video review
http://www.ted.com/talks/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity
Ken Robinson is very amusing, indeed. But does he make sense?
It's a big leap from "For some kids our schools don't work well" to "schools kill creativity."
It's a big leap from "Teaching critical thinking" (at school) to (at school) "Mistakes are the worst thing you can make."
If schools make us grow out of creativity, where is the evidence of creativity in previous ages (when we did not have our school system)? And where did the recent explosion of technology come from, which requires quite a lot of original ideas that have value?
If schools killed creativity, where did "the extraordinary evidence of human creativity at the conference" come from? Did none of the participants attend school? Surely not.
Then he has the story about someone educated in the Thirties. Amazing. So in the middle of the Great Depression the schools did not pay enough attention to the individual needs of children and somehow this proves that 70 years later schools kill creativity? Has he been in any schools recently?
In my own education I did not get too much preparation for working in the industry but rather too little of it. In the industry people work often in multi-disciplinary teams and there was little preparation for this at school. Critical thinking, constructive and concise communication, focus, perseverance, reflection, and work-life balance are all important, next to creativity. I do not think we lack ideas. I think we lack the ability to recognize them, digest them, agree on them, and use them to the advantage of humanity.
The key to success? Grit video review
http://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_the_key_to_success_grit
I like what Ms. Duckworth says, but I'm not sure that this is something all educators don't know already. Of course it's "passion and perseverance" and "stamina" that create success. I admire that Ms. Duckworth was motivated to find the answer and backed up an inference made by teachers with substantial study and data. In the video, however, the most important question, "How do I keep kids motivated?" is left unanswered. Ms. Duckworth says, "I don't know." The Growth Mindset approach of teaching students about the brain, learning, and metacognition is an excellent start, but the larger way to encourage motivation in students would be a change in some of our societal attitudes. There is a strain of anti-intellectualism that has pervaded American culture from the beginning. Sadly, the anti-intellectualist perspective is promoted every day in our television, movies, and media. When someone has the "grit" to hold off before making a quick-fire decision, preferring instead to study the matter more deeply, we label that individual indecisive or weak. Our school systems, as well, ironically play a part in the culture of anti-intellectualism. We place more emphasis on succeeding in sports than in academics. Students who do have the "grit" to study longer, or who display an authentic love of learning, are, at times, chastised by their peers and labeled "geeks." Some in the public denigrate teachers, speaking out vociferously, implying that educators are lazy and don't really have a serious profession. The implication is that teachers, because they don't make a lot of money, aren't worth much anyway. In addition, our public education system, the bastion of our democracy, is under attack. All of these factors contribute to a "gritless" "want-it-all-now" and "what-good-is-school anyway?" culture. Let us all, as members of a great society, change our attitudes. Then the "grit" will emerge with newfound passion.
I like what Ms. Duckworth says, but I'm not sure that this is something all educators don't know already. Of course it's "passion and perseverance" and "stamina" that create success. I admire that Ms. Duckworth was motivated to find the answer and backed up an inference made by teachers with substantial study and data. In the video, however, the most important question, "How do I keep kids motivated?" is left unanswered. Ms. Duckworth says, "I don't know." The Growth Mindset approach of teaching students about the brain, learning, and metacognition is an excellent start, but the larger way to encourage motivation in students would be a change in some of our societal attitudes. There is a strain of anti-intellectualism that has pervaded American culture from the beginning. Sadly, the anti-intellectualist perspective is promoted every day in our television, movies, and media. When someone has the "grit" to hold off before making a quick-fire decision, preferring instead to study the matter more deeply, we label that individual indecisive or weak. Our school systems, as well, ironically play a part in the culture of anti-intellectualism. We place more emphasis on succeeding in sports than in academics. Students who do have the "grit" to study longer, or who display an authentic love of learning, are, at times, chastised by their peers and labeled "geeks." Some in the public denigrate teachers, speaking out vociferously, implying that educators are lazy and don't really have a serious profession. The implication is that teachers, because they don't make a lot of money, aren't worth much anyway. In addition, our public education system, the bastion of our democracy, is under attack. All of these factors contribute to a "gritless" "want-it-all-now" and "what-good-is-school anyway?" culture. Let us all, as members of a great society, change our attitudes. Then the "grit" will emerge with newfound passion.
Are athletes really getting faster, better, stronger? video comment
http://www.ted.com/talks/david_epstein_are_athletes_really_getting_faster_better_stronger
About the video I think he did not mention one important factor in the modern professional sports and that's the DRUGS usage which largely enhance the human capabilities in sports. Another important factor in increasing the motivation among the laypersons to get involved in professional sports is the big MONEY earned.
These both factors are cynically demonstrated in Lance Armstrong's case. Lance Armstrong is the latest most famous sportsman caught using drugs. But actually the point is that he was not caught really. The whole system failed in spotting him using drugs. He was "caught" only because his colleagues and then himself admitted using drugs. So the real question is how many like him are and were in the professional bicycling sport when the same faulty system of bicycle racing committee and organizers failed to spot them during the decades ?? And the second question is, why the whole media is keeping its mouth shut and not asking the same tough question again & again ?? Why it looks like the media and the various administrations of the different professional sports have a common interest in keeping their mouths shut and not to inquire too deep into this drugs consumption issue in the bicycle races and other professional sports ??
My intelligent guess is that the reason is the big MONEY involved in the various modern professional sports. The various sports administrations, as well as the media, are deep into the business of making big MONEY from the professional sports. So obviously they would not dare to go too deep into the rancid waters of drugs usage in the professional sports, as doing this would be like cutting down the tree on which they both are sitting.
Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model. Video review
http://www.ted.com/talks/cameron_russell_looks_aren_t_everything_believe_me_i_m_a_model
I think this talk is sincere and appealing in that she expresses her insecurity in many ways throughout the whole talk, through her slightly quivering voice and her sometimes stiff, unnatural posture. This sense of insecurity and self-doubt about how she presents herself in relation to the way people perceive her, contrary to the stereotypes people associated with a famous model – fabulous, confident, you tell me – is what she is trying to express. Sadly this is precisely why some people criticize her or this talk for not being "good enough".
Yes, she is nervous. Yes, she may not be an experienced talker who can express himself or herself eloquently in 10 minutes, but I really appreciate her courage to expose a weak, uncertain, vulnerable but REAL self to the world! Also, please remember, she is only 25. She may look older, as she said, her image is “constructed” to make her look more sophisticated, mature, or even jaded. But she is just as young/old as any college students who just graduated from university and barely know what lies ahead of them. Finally, while she is aware of the free things that come with her good look, she is humble and thankful because she knows that many people are underprivileged simply because how they look. I know a lot of people with relative mediocre looks who are judgmental and critical about how others look. I find her honest about the advantages of good looks, and I find her a conscientious person.
How to make stress your friend video review
http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend
It seems like she is trying to make an argument for why stress is not bad for you when what she is really doing is saying that stress is bad for you so a good coping mechanism is to think positive when you feel stress, which will lessen the stress, and which will in turn reduce your physical symptoms (which cause chronic illness). I don't think she has said anything new here, she just repeated what she said at the beginning ("stress is bad for you") in a different way, and offered coping mechanisms.
Your body doesn't think it's way out of stress (your body doesn't think - you do). But if you choose to stress yourself out about feeling stressed than the bodily effect (which has health consequences) is much longer lasting. I did not hear an argument for why stress is not bad for you, only that how you deal with stress defines how stress effects you. That is not new information.
ps: you don't give more to other people when you feel more stressed, you just seek social support for self-preservation. Those people who are less stressed are more capable of giving to other people because they are more able to think about other people. And the giving, in turn, leads to less stress. Another coping mechanism.
It seems like she is trying to make an argument for why stress is not bad for you when what she is really doing is saying that stress is bad for you so a good coping mechanism is to think positive when you feel stress, which will lessen the stress, and which will in turn reduce your physical symptoms (which cause chronic illness). I don't think she has said anything new here, she just repeated what she said at the beginning ("stress is bad for you") in a different way, and offered coping mechanisms.
Your body doesn't think it's way out of stress (your body doesn't think - you do). But if you choose to stress yourself out about feeling stressed than the bodily effect (which has health consequences) is much longer lasting. I did not hear an argument for why stress is not bad for you, only that how you deal with stress defines how stress effects you. That is not new information.
ps: you don't give more to other people when you feel more stressed, you just seek social support for self-preservation. Those people who are less stressed are more capable of giving to other people because they are more able to think about other people. And the giving, in turn, leads to less stress. Another coping mechanism.
Obama's Speech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WbIrm42zYTU
Charles Krauthammer dubbed this the “oddest presidential speech ever,” and he has a point. Presidential addresses from the White House during prime time usually have a clear purpose, or what I called on Twitter last night a “Big Ask.” This particular bully pulpit isn’t used for fireside chats or for campaign speeches, but to focus American attention on a particular and inexorable course of action, and to rally Americans behind the Commander in Chief for that action.
Yesterday, though, Obama sounded contradictory and confused. He attempted to rouse moral outrage over the use of chemical weapons against scores or hundreds children in Damascus on August 21st, which is an easy case to make — but thousands of children have been killed in the Syrian civil war in all sorts of ways, by all sides. Obama argued that Bashar al-Assad had to be deterred from using chemical weapons in the future, but left out any call for regime change, which is still the official strategic goal of the Obama administration. To Americans reluctant to engage in another war, Obama cajoled us to action, claiming that only the United States had the power to bring Assad to heel.
And then almost in the same breath, Obama then acknowledged that a diplomatic solution had arisen, despite two weeks of beating the drums for war. Just after arguing that only the US military could solve the problem, Obama said that he was turning to Russia for a potential solution. Not only that, but he also announced that he had asked Congress to hold off on a vote to authorize military action until the Russia and UN track played itself out. This change was necessitated by the fumbling of his Secretary of State, even though Obama himself had just called the UN “hocus pocus.”
The speech may have been short, but it far outstripped its substance and its symbolic value. Before a President gets up to wave the bloody shirt, is it too much to ask that he (a) knows what the hell he wants to do, (b) actually has decided on military action as a last resort instead of a first resort, and (c) and knows who we’re fighting against — and for?
Charles Krauthammer dubbed this the “oddest presidential speech ever,” and he has a point. Presidential addresses from the White House during prime time usually have a clear purpose, or what I called on Twitter last night a “Big Ask.” This particular bully pulpit isn’t used for fireside chats or for campaign speeches, but to focus American attention on a particular and inexorable course of action, and to rally Americans behind the Commander in Chief for that action.
Yesterday, though, Obama sounded contradictory and confused. He attempted to rouse moral outrage over the use of chemical weapons against scores or hundreds children in Damascus on August 21st, which is an easy case to make — but thousands of children have been killed in the Syrian civil war in all sorts of ways, by all sides. Obama argued that Bashar al-Assad had to be deterred from using chemical weapons in the future, but left out any call for regime change, which is still the official strategic goal of the Obama administration. To Americans reluctant to engage in another war, Obama cajoled us to action, claiming that only the United States had the power to bring Assad to heel.
And then almost in the same breath, Obama then acknowledged that a diplomatic solution had arisen, despite two weeks of beating the drums for war. Just after arguing that only the US military could solve the problem, Obama said that he was turning to Russia for a potential solution. Not only that, but he also announced that he had asked Congress to hold off on a vote to authorize military action until the Russia and UN track played itself out. This change was necessitated by the fumbling of his Secretary of State, even though Obama himself had just called the UN “hocus pocus.”
The speech may have been short, but it far outstripped its substance and its symbolic value. Before a President gets up to wave the bloody shirt, is it too much to ask that he (a) knows what the hell he wants to do, (b) actually has decided on military action as a last resort instead of a first resort, and (c) and knows who we’re fighting against — and for?
domenica 15 giugno 2014
What Is It About Swimming That We Love?
What is water? Some people say we can’t live without it. We need it for survival. It is their enemy. It is their friend. It is unpredictable and wild, yet it is tame and inviting. Water… so undefinable. But to me, the pool is my home, the water is my best friend, hard work is my passion, and swimming is my life. An outsider to the sport would call us insane for staring at a black line for hours on end, but really it’s much more than that.
I began swimming two years ago. I thought it would be fun and great exercise, little did I know that I would soon be addicted to it and never turn away. I was definitely not a natural, I slowly worked my way up the list, and I am now on an exclusive community team that is the defending state champions. I’ve been through everything you can imagine- injuries, losses, wins, friendships, enemies, sickness- yet I would never trade the lessons I learned from that for the world. Truly, swimming is a great sport. At one meet you might be ranked number one, then at the next you may finish last. It is such a fast-moving sport.
Every true swimmer has the will to work hard and get better every single day. It’s this that pushes you through those grueling practices where you just want to pass out; it’s what makes you spend an unfathomable amount of time in the pool just to shave off a millisecond in your next race; it’s what consumes your thoughts every second of the day to just achieve that unimaginable goal time. This is why swimming is not for the feeble-minded. It is the most mentally challenging thing I have ever done. You must train your hardest to overcome your fastest enemy who may as well be your best friend in the lane next to you. Swimming is simply unbelievable.
I never knew I had such a strong passion for swimming until this summer. I spent more than 100 hours in the pool this summer and made some of the best memories of my life. It was worth getting up at 6:00 AM to train for hours a day instead of having tons of sleepovers with my friends. It was worth spending my summer going to two practices a day instead of going on fancy, luxury vacations all over the world. I made friendships that will last a life time and have discovered more things about myself than I ever thought was possible. This summer I found the will to succeed and never give up. I found it in the water.
I can apply this to any aspect of my life which is the amazing thing about swimming. When you are swimming a long set and feel like you are going to drown, this is where the champions are made.
Beneath the water is a different, complete world. It’s almost impossible to describe every aspect of it. I feel alive under the water. I feel free. I feel at home. I feel like myself. But most importantly I feel that my desire for success is greater than my fear of failure.
I began swimming two years ago. I thought it would be fun and great exercise, little did I know that I would soon be addicted to it and never turn away. I was definitely not a natural, I slowly worked my way up the list, and I am now on an exclusive community team that is the defending state champions. I’ve been through everything you can imagine- injuries, losses, wins, friendships, enemies, sickness- yet I would never trade the lessons I learned from that for the world. Truly, swimming is a great sport. At one meet you might be ranked number one, then at the next you may finish last. It is such a fast-moving sport.
Every true swimmer has the will to work hard and get better every single day. It’s this that pushes you through those grueling practices where you just want to pass out; it’s what makes you spend an unfathomable amount of time in the pool just to shave off a millisecond in your next race; it’s what consumes your thoughts every second of the day to just achieve that unimaginable goal time. This is why swimming is not for the feeble-minded. It is the most mentally challenging thing I have ever done. You must train your hardest to overcome your fastest enemy who may as well be your best friend in the lane next to you. Swimming is simply unbelievable.
I never knew I had such a strong passion for swimming until this summer. I spent more than 100 hours in the pool this summer and made some of the best memories of my life. It was worth getting up at 6:00 AM to train for hours a day instead of having tons of sleepovers with my friends. It was worth spending my summer going to two practices a day instead of going on fancy, luxury vacations all over the world. I made friendships that will last a life time and have discovered more things about myself than I ever thought was possible. This summer I found the will to succeed and never give up. I found it in the water.
I can apply this to any aspect of my life which is the amazing thing about swimming. When you are swimming a long set and feel like you are going to drown, this is where the champions are made.
Beneath the water is a different, complete world. It’s almost impossible to describe every aspect of it. I feel alive under the water. I feel free. I feel at home. I feel like myself. But most importantly I feel that my desire for success is greater than my fear of failure.
Iscriviti a:
Post (Atom)