There is POWER in listening

One of the best bits of advice I've read in a long time (here) from our friends at HBR.

Education in the 21st Century

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker recently tried to quietly change the century-old mission of the University of Wisconsin system by proposing to remove words in the state code that command the university to “search for truth” and “improve the human condition” and replacing them with “meet the state’s workforce needs.” ... Continue reading (here).

197 "Educational Channels" on YouTube

I like lists, video and education. Here's a nice - though not necessarily complete - list of edu resources on YouTube from TeacherswithApps
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General

1. YouTube EDU: Launched in 2009, Youtube EDU centralizes content from over 100 universities and colleges, providing access to lectures, research, and campus tours. Think of it as an enormous global video classroom within the YouTube framework, divided into three sub-categories: Primary & Secondary Education, University and Lifelong Learning. You can even build your own global classroom by uploading videos to your YouTube channel.
2. Teaching Channel: A video showcase of inspiring and effective teaching practices.
3. TED-Ed: With over 400,000 subscribers, this channel offers an extensive library of original videos meant to inform and inspire. A new lesson is posted every day, Monday-Friday, and relevant TED Talks are highlighted on weekends.
4. TED & TEDx: As of 2011, TED Talks were the #1 non-profit channel subscribed to on Youtube. These ideas worth spreading have reached over 60 million viewers worldwide.
5. Edutopia: Run by the George Lucas Foundation, Edutopia focuses on K-12 education but offers a plethora of evidence-based teaching strategies for all levels and disciplines.
6. BIEPBL: Videos from the Buck Institute of Education, dedicated to improving 21st Century teaching and learning by creating and disseminating products, practices, and knowledge for effective Project Based Learning.
7. ASCD: Profiles in education, annual conferences, tutorials, and more.
8. Learning to Teach Online: This multi-award-winning free professional development channel is designed to help teachers from any discipline, whether experienced in online teaching or not, gain a working understanding of successful online teaching pedagogies that they can apply in their own unique teaching situations

Click here to see the remaining 189 "channels".

Why "Mother's" and "Father's Day" are so important; "Honor"

As a father and son Father's Day remains a date I always look forward to. I love my Dad and only wish I could spend more time with him. I love my children and certainly wish I could also spend more time with them too. The Ten Commandments (below) are among the most famous of scriptures in the Bible but it just dawned on me that #5 below is both the first that deals with how we relate to each other and the first to include a promise.
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Exodus 20

New International Version (NIV)

The Ten Commandments

20 And God spoke all these words:

1. 3 “You shall have no other gods before[a] me.

2. 4 “You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below.You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, 6 but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments.

3. 7 “You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name.

4. 8 “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

5. 12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

6. 13 “You shall not murder.

7. 14 “You shall not commit adultery.

8. 15 “You shall not steal.

9. 16. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor.

10. 17 “You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”...

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Notice it doesn't say "like" or even "love" but it says "honor". So what does the word honor mean? We have Honor Rolls in school, Honorable Mentions and National Medals of Honor. Merriam Webster offers the following

¹hon·or

 noun \ˈä-nər\

Definition of HONOR

1

a : good name or public esteem : reputation

b : a showing of usually merited respect : recognition honor

 to our founder>

2

: privilege honor

 of joining the captain for dinner>

3

: a person of superior standing —now used especially as a title for a holder of high office Honor

 please>

4

: one whose worth brings respect or fame : credit honor

to the profession>

5

: the center point of the upper half of an armorial escutcheon

6

: an evidence or symbol of distinction: as

a : an exalted title or rank

b (1) : badge, decoration (2) : a ceremonial rite orobservance honor

s>

c : an award in a contest or field of competition

d archaic : a gesture of deference : bow

e plural (1) : an academic distinction conferred on a superior student (2) : a course of study for superior students supplementing or replacing a regular course

7

: chastity, purity honor

 and her life — Barton Black>

8

a : a keen sense of ethical conduct : integrity honor

>

b : one's word given as a guarantee of performance honor, I will be there>

9

plural : social courtesies or civilities extended by a hosthonor

s>

10

a (1) : an ace, king, queen, jack, or ten especially of thetrump suit in bridge (2) : the scoring value of honors held in bridge —usually used in plural

b : the privilege of playing first from the tee in golf

 See honor defined for English-language learners »

See honor defined for kids »

Examples of HONOR

1. These people deserve to be treated with honor.
2. The team brought honor to the school.
3. The building was named in honor of the city's founder.
4. He was prepared to fight to defend his family's honor.
5. She has a keen sense of honor.
6. He would not do it as a matter of honor.
7. He's a man of honor.
8. It was an honor to be invited.

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Here's what really matters in measuring the success of any business, especially a start up.

A nice piece of writing (here) from by Jim Dougherty in HBR on what really matters when evaluating a business, especially a start up. Hint; it's all about the cash. That is to understand whether a business will succeed or fail often the key can be found by looking at just important items; a) compensation package for employees and b) the pricing plan for customers. 

1. Are they in sync? 
2. Are they crystal clear and easy to understand?
3. Do they work together or against each other? 
4. Do they incentivize new growth or in helping management make their goal?

To often firms sacrifice success for a dogmatic business model or approach that is devoid of reality. Remember the two most important tasks of every business are in this order:

1. Keep the customers you have
2. Find new customers

Bravo to Jim Dougherty for cutting through all the baloney.

Pictorial History of America's Income Tax

Courtesy of one of my more frequented sources (here)

Sorry Mr. Putin but America is exceptional!