So...What's Next?!?

Career Day

I just returned from career day at my son's school. I got to speak to 6 different classes, but not my son's class :(

I really have fun explaining what I do to elementary school kids. They always think I have a really cool job and then they tell me about all the sites they are on that I did not know about. Specifically sites with virtual games.

I think I am going to adapt my career day presentation for some of my client presentations.

I broke it down into as simple terms as I could get. First we defined social as socializing  which is what they do at lunch or on the playground. Then we defined media, as TV, radio, mail, email, websites, online video, and so forth.

Then I spoke about how companies were once only able to speak to the masses and when the masses wanted to reply they could only do so through snail mail. I had an envelop to demonstrate the message going from one person to the next.

Then I talked about email, and as I was describing email I had the kids pass the envelop around until I said stop.

Then I explained what a blog was by writing a "blog post" on the whiteboard.

I asked how many kids held the envelop, which was usually 1/4 of the kids. Then I asked how many kids saw me write on the whiteboard - which of course was everyone. I explained to them that that was the power of social media.

I personally enjoyed the reactions of the teachers at that moment. What was even more fun is when I started talking about virtual worlds and the kids were explaining the concept to the teachers.

I think I left everyone with a couple of really good lessons. One was that technology was powerful, for both good and evil, so always use caution. Two was that the careers they hear about today may not exist tomorrow and careers that no one has ever thought  of may become their dream job. Their job is not just to learn how to read, write, and do math. Their job is to learn how to learn - because in today's world we all have to continuously be learning.

The school I would start

A friend just emailed me with an idea for our schools. Her and her mom attended SoCon08 and loved the un-conference format. They were discussing how that format could be used in our school system and suggested that we somehow introduce the concept. We are in agreement that our education system is not keeping up with the changing needs of the students. For example, my son probably knows more about history  - his favorite subject, than what would ever be taught in school. However, since the subject is taught to the lowest common denominator, it is not necessarily his favorite subject. But I can tell you we listened to at least 5 history podcasts in the car on our road trip this past week. Each one he picked out.

He also knows more about current affairs than me. Not through the news, but through YouTube, his social network and of course Comedy Central.

The standard curriculum can not keep up with the kids being raised in the information age. These are the same kids who are probably contributing to Wikipedia - and then quoting themselves. Actually that sounds like something I would have done.

My response to her email highlighted a few other things I would like to see changed in the school - or what I would do if I could start my own school. I wrote;

I agree!

I also think they teach History the wrong way. I think we should start with current events and then explain why - what happened before, and why that happened and why that happened. Not only would it be more relevant and interesting, it would ideally show that there are consequences (good and bad) to our actions.

Math is completely taught wrong. No one will ever care when one train is going X miles per hour and the car is going Y when will they collide? - But even high school kids would be interested in the stock market and how to make millions. That is all algebra, and calculus and that is how it should be taught. UNLESS the kids are going to be engineers. In College math course are geared to the discipline - they should be that way in high school.

I also think we could get creative and efficient enough to figure out each child's dominant interest and strength and then link all subjects to that interest. You would have students in music focused classes learning music theory (math) music history (history) sounds of nature (science) composition (English) - I can link every subject to every interest.

Some have suggested that if I feel so strongly I should be more involved with the school system and the PTA. The problem is that I feel so strongly that I cannot be involved because I would not be diplomatic. It is one of those cases where it is best for everyone involved if I just turn the other way and hope that someone who is better than me would take a stand and make some changes.

Anyone? Anyone?

Appreciation Through Game Play

I finally was able to get past the Metallica song,  Enter Sandman on my medium solo guitar tour of Rock Band.

I am not a fan of Metallica, but I have a new appreciation for their music.

In fact, I am not a fan of many of the songs on Rock Band, meaning they are not songs that I would load on my iPod - but I have learned to appreciate them now that I have been attempting to "play" them.

My brother is visiting me this weekend. His son (my nephew) is 18 years old and has been a "gamer" for as long as I can remember. He also has Rock Band and is highly ranked on the guitar. When I was struggling through Enter Sandman my brother jumped on the phone to see how well my nephew had done on that song.

I found that interesting. The pride in the idea that his son is good at playing a guitar on a game. I personally feel the same pride with both my boys playing drums on Rock Band - yes even my 6 year old is getting through a few songs. At one point I almost felt guilty that I enjoy watching my oldest son play drums on Rock Band more than I enjoyed watching him when he was in band at school.

Last year he decided he did not want to play in the band anymore. He had been in band for three years playing percussions, he took piano for a year, but he was no longer interested in music...until Rock Band.

Personally I have always thought I lacked rhythm and coordination to play an instrument - yet I am moving through Rock Band on  guitar, bass and drums.

Of course I realize this is not the same as learning an instrument. The drums are pretty close to the real thing, but the guitar is not. However it is providing an appreciation and for my youngest son an early introduction to music.

I am a huge believer in music education. Learning rhythms and patterns helps with math aptitude, music allows us to express our human emotions and expressions. Music is very important, however music education in our schools, besides lacking funding, often times does not draw many students in. The reason my son quit band was because he was bored. He is rockin' on Rock Band though...and definitely shows talent.

I started thinking about "what if schools had a Rock Band game in every music class?" This got me to thinking about something that Timothy Moenk has been advocating since I met him, Games and Learning.

According to this website that he shared with me;

Games and play can be effective learning environments, argues Richard Van Eck, not because they are fun but because they are

• immersive;
• require the player to make frequent, important decisions;
• have clear goals;
• adapt to each player individually; and
• involve a social network.⁶

I can see the value through music, but what other games are out there that teach skills, and how can we implement them to enhance our learning. Also with the ability to connect and play with people from all over the world, we can enable our children to learn and interact with various cultures. When they are learning about Asia, they could take some time to play with children in Asia. We have the means, we just need the will to make this world a better place.

Know what's missing from most people's lives? The realization that nothing is missing from their lives.
- Notes from the Universe

BlogSavannah Recap

Well I am home after a long day. Tim and I set off for Savannah this morning at 4 am and I walked in the door at 10:30.

The drive was worth it. It was great to see some friendly faces including the not so excruciatingly normal Betsy, the Bigger than life BigBonton.

I was especially happy to see our tour guide from last year, Phil Sellars. Phil is one of the most delightful, knowledgeable, and entertaining story tellers I know. Last year Amber, Rusty and I had the pleasure of walking and driving around Savannah with Phil and hearing about the rich history of the city at every corner. Phil also helped us get our cars out of a locked garage at the end of the day as well. He is a enjoyable and well connected (thankfully!)

I am happy to report that with a few key partnerships, Phil has taken his walking tours podcast idea to a whole new level with a company called CityTrex.

I am very much looking forward to the success of this venture and hope to be able to find a way to be part of it as well.

The final highlight of the day was seeing a demonstration of a OLPC which in spite of whatever controversy or disruptive business practices might be happening around this project is still a really cool innovation and provides the right ideas and hopes for raising a connected, educated, and creative generation.

Today's Quote

"Learning is what most adults will do for a living in the 21st century."
_Perelman