In order to even begin the discussion a few “educational myths” need to be exposed.
First and foremost, Rigor means mastery. It is the continual constant accurate application of all that is learned not the addition of more demanding content.
Second, develop a language common to both industry and education. Even though the same words are used they often have different connotations for each of the stakeholders.
Third, recognize that learning how to learn is more necessary than what is learned.
Fourth, ethical behavior, individual responsibility and the ability to function with and within diversity are critical.
Fifth, use cognitive science to challenge our traditional distinctions between:
• head and hand,
• academic and vocational
• knowing and doing,
• abstract and applied knowledge
• education and training; and
• school-based and work-based learning
Sixth, recognize and eliminate commonly held mistakes concerning education and training. Contrary to popular belief:
• Skills are not like building blocks one learns in a specific order each building on the last. In fact human beings-even small children are sense-making problem solving individuals. Failure to involve them at the earliest age in refining problem solving skills creates barriers to learning itself.
• Students are not “blank slates” waiting to be written upon. Most traditional curriculum is based on memorization and analysis of subject matter and does nothing to modify what is already in an individual’s head. As a result, many become adept at taking tests or solving “book problems” and equations but when they encounter real world problems they become confused and unable to apply the book-based theory.
• Students are not empty receptacles into which knowledge is poured. In fact, learning only really occurs when the learner constructs, invents and solves problems.
• Students are rarely able to apply skills and theories learned in isolation without practice in applying them to real situations.
• Although “learning to know, learning to do and their application” are often separated, there is no effective learning or understanding of one kind without the other two.
Finally, all stakeholders must become committed and willing to make “whatever changes are necessary” to assist our youth in becoming productive, effective, successful members of society. The implication for schools is that they must become committed to learning in context and break down the distinctions between knowledge and practice.
This requires re-designing learning and using appropriate contextual methodology for teaching rather than simply applying new technological tools to old methods. Ultimately it requires the merging and cooperative use of resources, leadership, experience and expertise available among diverse stakeholders.
Monday, October 25, 2010
Global Achievement Gap-Understanding the Situation
Amidst the scathing indictments of our current educational system there is much that is positive. Changes are being made at local levels. In fact as Charles Leadbeater, consultant for innovation in education in the United Kingdom suggests, “Education + Skill training + technology = Hope.”
Educators must however realize that: “Most innovation comes from collaboration. Most effective learning occurs as a result of collaboration. Our current system of education can’t deliver the necessary outcomes with the current teachers and techniques that are in place.”
Systemic transformation will only occur when new attitudes and delivery techniques are universally used to address the needs of the workplace and the motivations of what is now being described as the “Net Generation.”
The current generation of learners is very different from their teachers. They are accustomed to instant gratification. The “always on” connection has resulted in a physical re-wiring of their brains.
They use the web for extending friendships, interest driven learning, self-directed inquiry and view the Internet as a tool for self-expression.
They are constantly connected, creating and multitasking in a multimedia world everywhere except school. Young people aged 8-18 spend 7 hrs and 38 minutes a day using electronic devices. If you factor in multitasking that time increases to 13 hours.
They have less fear than their predecessors. They have less respect for authority and want coaching or mentoring not lecturing. They want and need to “make a difference.”
In order to truly transform education, educators must reframe everything to address the needs of the world and its learners.
Educators must however realize that: “Most innovation comes from collaboration. Most effective learning occurs as a result of collaboration. Our current system of education can’t deliver the necessary outcomes with the current teachers and techniques that are in place.”
Systemic transformation will only occur when new attitudes and delivery techniques are universally used to address the needs of the workplace and the motivations of what is now being described as the “Net Generation.”
The current generation of learners is very different from their teachers. They are accustomed to instant gratification. The “always on” connection has resulted in a physical re-wiring of their brains.
They use the web for extending friendships, interest driven learning, self-directed inquiry and view the Internet as a tool for self-expression.
They are constantly connected, creating and multitasking in a multimedia world everywhere except school. Young people aged 8-18 spend 7 hrs and 38 minutes a day using electronic devices. If you factor in multitasking that time increases to 13 hours.
They have less fear than their predecessors. They have less respect for authority and want coaching or mentoring not lecturing. They want and need to “make a difference.”
In order to truly transform education, educators must reframe everything to address the needs of the world and its learners.
Global Achievement Gap-Assessment
Schools at all levels around the world fail to prepare students for the workplace.
This was the clear message from business, government and education leaders of 50 nations participating in the Bahrain 2010 Global Education Conference. The global achievement gap between what industry expects and what education delivers is not caused by a lack of content but of context and practical application.
The basic problem stems from the fact that educational institutions mistakenly interpret rigor as adding more difficult coursework rather than demanding mastery of existing content at all levels. They are also mired in an archaic assembly line system that fails to deal with the requirements of a knowledge-based economy that is agile, pull oriented, media rich and increasingly accessible.
The result is both business and students are unhappy. Fewer jobs require a 4-year degree but more technical skill. Mobility has increased and students at all levels feel increasingly unprepared to meet the challenges of a 21st century workplace.
According to Dr. Mona Mourshed partner and co-leader of Global Education Practice of McKinsey and Company:
• 30% of available jobs internationally remain unfilled because companies are unable to find qualified talent to fill them.
• 70% of students leaving school at all levels lack practical experience.
• 56% of students leaving school lack any specific career training.
• 58% lack a sense of work ethic and professional conduct.
• 62% lack the ability to adequately communicate in both oral and written form.
• Students entering the work place (including those leaving university and graduate schools) are generally unable to produce immediate results.
Only 20% of the unfilled 7.2 million jobs require a 4-year degree. Most of those unfilled postings are high pay positions that require a high degree of relevant technical skill.
Business leaders recommend several core competencies or “survival skills” necessary across the board for success in a 21st century workplace. These universal requirements are in addition to mastery of job specific theoretical knowledge and technical skill.
Dr. Tony Wagner co-director of the Change Leadership Group at Harvard Graduate School of Education defines the core 21st century survival skills as:
1. Critical thinking and problem solving,
2. The ability to create, collaborate and communicate across media rich networks and systems,
3. Agility and Adaptability,
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship,
5. Effective oral and written communication
6. Accessing and analyzing information and
7. Curiosity and imagination.
Increasingly, the worldwide challenges are remarkably similar. Dr. Wagner suggests three areas of global concern.
Global equity must be achieved in the areas of basic literacy, access to education, and availability of web based access/infrastructure.
The methodology of teaching and assessing knowledge and skills must be drastically overhauled to accommodate altered learning styles, motivational and knowledge based economy demands.
The understanding of what motivates the “net generation” to excellence must be accurately understood and addressed.
According to John W. Scott, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, “Employability Skills must take priority for both students and employers.” He suggests that in order to produce work ready graduates educators must collaborate with industry leaders to:
• Determine the desired outcomes and employability skills.
• Develop behavioral descriptors that can be measured.
• Design a “Universal Curriculum” around competencies.
• Use learning strategies that develop competencies through problem based learning opportunities.
• Create a transparent assessment methodology.
• Provide evidence of performance and industry recognized portable credentials.
In order to facilitate systemic transformation the education community must alter a few perceptions.
First and foremost employability skills can no longer be considered secondary “add-ons” or by products of the education process. They must be integrated into every level of teaching and learning.
Second, educators must be willing to reflect the face of change in business, industry and the professions. A knowledge-based economic system requires students and educators to prepare for a rapidly changing future. This preparation cannot be based on what is rapidly obsolete knowledge, pedagogy or technology.
Technology and pace have changed the workplace but not education. The world requires technology as a tool that facilitates learning. It is place neutral and time independent. In contrast, educational institutions are increasingly focused on locations and seat time.
This disparity demands a change in the traditional content, teaching strategies and notions of a “knowledge only” education.
Meaningful change is inhibited by:
• entrenched pedagogy and vested interest,
• lack of political will,
• lack of confidence in the new paradigm
• uncertainty as to the implications with respect to international competitiveness,
• old world teachers and the lack of or interest in retraining,
• old world designed curriculum,
• inflexible facilities and a lack of resources to change and
• unwillingness to accept that an entirely new approach to teaching and learning is required.
This was the clear message from business, government and education leaders of 50 nations participating in the Bahrain 2010 Global Education Conference. The global achievement gap between what industry expects and what education delivers is not caused by a lack of content but of context and practical application.
The basic problem stems from the fact that educational institutions mistakenly interpret rigor as adding more difficult coursework rather than demanding mastery of existing content at all levels. They are also mired in an archaic assembly line system that fails to deal with the requirements of a knowledge-based economy that is agile, pull oriented, media rich and increasingly accessible.
The result is both business and students are unhappy. Fewer jobs require a 4-year degree but more technical skill. Mobility has increased and students at all levels feel increasingly unprepared to meet the challenges of a 21st century workplace.
According to Dr. Mona Mourshed partner and co-leader of Global Education Practice of McKinsey and Company:
• 30% of available jobs internationally remain unfilled because companies are unable to find qualified talent to fill them.
• 70% of students leaving school at all levels lack practical experience.
• 56% of students leaving school lack any specific career training.
• 58% lack a sense of work ethic and professional conduct.
• 62% lack the ability to adequately communicate in both oral and written form.
• Students entering the work place (including those leaving university and graduate schools) are generally unable to produce immediate results.
Only 20% of the unfilled 7.2 million jobs require a 4-year degree. Most of those unfilled postings are high pay positions that require a high degree of relevant technical skill.
Business leaders recommend several core competencies or “survival skills” necessary across the board for success in a 21st century workplace. These universal requirements are in addition to mastery of job specific theoretical knowledge and technical skill.
Dr. Tony Wagner co-director of the Change Leadership Group at Harvard Graduate School of Education defines the core 21st century survival skills as:
1. Critical thinking and problem solving,
2. The ability to create, collaborate and communicate across media rich networks and systems,
3. Agility and Adaptability,
4. Initiative and entrepreneurship,
5. Effective oral and written communication
6. Accessing and analyzing information and
7. Curiosity and imagination.
Increasingly, the worldwide challenges are remarkably similar. Dr. Wagner suggests three areas of global concern.
Global equity must be achieved in the areas of basic literacy, access to education, and availability of web based access/infrastructure.
The methodology of teaching and assessing knowledge and skills must be drastically overhauled to accommodate altered learning styles, motivational and knowledge based economy demands.
The understanding of what motivates the “net generation” to excellence must be accurately understood and addressed.
According to John W. Scott, CEO of Bahrain Polytechnic, “Employability Skills must take priority for both students and employers.” He suggests that in order to produce work ready graduates educators must collaborate with industry leaders to:
• Determine the desired outcomes and employability skills.
• Develop behavioral descriptors that can be measured.
• Design a “Universal Curriculum” around competencies.
• Use learning strategies that develop competencies through problem based learning opportunities.
• Create a transparent assessment methodology.
• Provide evidence of performance and industry recognized portable credentials.
In order to facilitate systemic transformation the education community must alter a few perceptions.
First and foremost employability skills can no longer be considered secondary “add-ons” or by products of the education process. They must be integrated into every level of teaching and learning.
Second, educators must be willing to reflect the face of change in business, industry and the professions. A knowledge-based economic system requires students and educators to prepare for a rapidly changing future. This preparation cannot be based on what is rapidly obsolete knowledge, pedagogy or technology.
Technology and pace have changed the workplace but not education. The world requires technology as a tool that facilitates learning. It is place neutral and time independent. In contrast, educational institutions are increasingly focused on locations and seat time.
This disparity demands a change in the traditional content, teaching strategies and notions of a “knowledge only” education.
Meaningful change is inhibited by:
• entrenched pedagogy and vested interest,
• lack of political will,
• lack of confidence in the new paradigm
• uncertainty as to the implications with respect to international competitiveness,
• old world teachers and the lack of or interest in retraining,
• old world designed curriculum,
• inflexible facilities and a lack of resources to change and
• unwillingness to accept that an entirely new approach to teaching and learning is required.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Put the Big Rocks in First
Managing your workflow in a pressure packed digital environment doesn’t have to be as difficult as herding cats in a windstorm. Most problems occur due to a lack of planning, failure to understand the process and keeping an eye on the “end game.”
Here are some very basic steps that work and can make the difference between meeting and failing to meet a deadline.
¬Prepare in advance. – Know your gear. Prepare your gear. Clear your computer workspace of anything that will get in the way or slow down your processor.
¬Name it and save it. – As soon as you open a project in your NLE, name it and save it somewhere you can easily find it.
¬Put the Big Rocks in First. – A Physics professor once made me fill a bucket with large stones. When he asked if it was full I said yes. So he gave me some sand and had me fill in the cracks. Again… same question and answer. So he gave me some water to add to the mix. HMMMMMM? What’s the point?
I would never have gotten the big rocks in had I filled the bucket with sand and water first.
Short story…. rough cut the main stuff first then worry about the fluff. Special effects, fancy transitions, sound effects, music and fancy edits won’t make your story better only prettier.
¬Save now and often.
¬Render frequently.
¬Export or cut to tape before you do a final polish. - You never know when a computer will crash, a processor will freeze, or someone will trip over your power cord. If you have a hard copy
that is mostly finished you can re-load and at least have a chance.
¬Save again.
Hiring Manager Deal Breakers
So what really is a deal breaker when you or your students apply for a job? I know many of you will disagree, but the reality is astonishing. Here is a summation of an article from Caitlin Malden of Career Builder.Com.
The full text of the article can be found here: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2320-Job-Search-10-Hiring-...
1. Using social media speak during an interview.
2. Having an unprofessional online personal brand or posting personal content that is in poor taste.
3. Any written content that displays below par writing and grammar skills.
4. Complaining about prior companies in online forums
5. Bringing up salary in the initial interview.
6. Speaking about scheduling limitations or prospective reasons to leave a position.
7. Acting impolitely or speaking down to any person in the office.
8. Saying that dealing with people is your biggest challenge/weakness.
9. Consistently answering questions other than those asked.
10. Having immature cell pone ring backs.
11. Not knowing what job or company you are applying for.
12. Lying on a resume.
13. Arrogance.
14. Spelling mistakes on a resume.
15. Inappropriate attire.
The full text of the article can be found here: http://msn.careerbuilder.com/Article/MSN-2320-Job-Search-10-Hiring-...
1. Using social media speak during an interview.
2. Having an unprofessional online personal brand or posting personal content that is in poor taste.
3. Any written content that displays below par writing and grammar skills.
4. Complaining about prior companies in online forums
5. Bringing up salary in the initial interview.
6. Speaking about scheduling limitations or prospective reasons to leave a position.
7. Acting impolitely or speaking down to any person in the office.
8. Saying that dealing with people is your biggest challenge/weakness.
9. Consistently answering questions other than those asked.
10. Having immature cell pone ring backs.
11. Not knowing what job or company you are applying for.
12. Lying on a resume.
13. Arrogance.
14. Spelling mistakes on a resume.
15. Inappropriate attire.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
Setting Scratch Disks in Final Cut Pro
Whenever you encounter problems or have questions in Final Cut Pro it is always a good idea to search the help files first. They generally are well written and provide much of the necessary help immediately. Such is the case with setting the scratch disks either when FCP is first opened, if they are “misplaced”, or if you want to specify a destination such as an external firewire drive for your project content.
Below is an excerpt from those help files that should explain the process and get you well on your way.
Specifying Scratch Disks
A scratch disk is a hard disk, internal or external to your computer, where Final Cut Pro stores captured digital video and audio, as well as rendered media files created during editing. (Rendering is the process of creating temporary video and audio render files for portions of your sequence that Final Cut Pro cannot play in real time.)
By default, Final Cut Pro uses the hard disk on which the application is installed. You use the Scratch Disks tab in the System Settings window to choose where you want to save the video and audio files that you capture and the render and cache files that Final Cut Pro creates. You can also specify other settings related to the size of captured and exported files and the minimum available space allowed on scratch disks.
To specify one or more scratch disks and associated settings:
1 Choose Final Cut Pro > System Settings, then click the Scratch Disks tab.
2 To specify a disk or a folder on a hard disk as a scratch disk:
• Click Set.
• In the dialog that appears, locate and select the disk you want to use.
• Only connected external disks or installed internal disks are listed. If your hard disk doesn’t appear, make sure that it’s connected properly and correctly initialized and mounted. For more information, see the documentation that came with your computer, your hard disk, or your disk-formatting software.
• Click Select (the button includes the name of the disk you selected). The specified disk is listed next to the Set button, along with the amount of available disk space.
3 To capture video and audio to separate files, select the Capture Audio and Video to Separate Files checkbox. Note: For capturing DV media, it’s usually best to leave this checkbox unselected. For more information, see “Capturing Video and Audio Separately” on page 287.
4 Select the checkboxes corresponding to the type of files you want to store on each scratch disk: Video Capture, Audio Capture, Video Render, and Audio Render.
5 To choose a folder where Final Cut Pro will automatically save copies of your project for backup purposes:
• Click Set next to Autosave Vault.
• In the dialog that appears, locate and find the disk you want to use, then click Choose.
Scratch disks you’ve set can become unavailable for a number of reasons: they might be turned off, disconnected, or temporarily unmounted. Also, if the scratch disk folder you selected has been moved, deleted, or renamed, Final Cut Pro might not be able to find it.
When you open Final Cut Pro and one or more of your scratch disk folders cannot be found, a dialog appears with three options:
• Quit: Lets you quit without changing the scratch disk preferences.
• Set Scratch Disks: Opens the Scratch Disks tab in the System Settings window so that you can change the current set of scratch disks. Any disks that are missing are removed from this list. You must choose at least one scratch disk to continue.
• Check Again: Allows you to reconnect or start up your scratch disk, wait for it to mount, and then proceed as usual.
Assigning Search Folders for Reconnecting Media Files
After you specify which volumes and folders you want to use to capture media, you may want to assign these same locations as search folders for the Reconnect Files dialog. This allows Final Cut Pro to limit its search for media files if they become offline.
Below is an excerpt from those help files that should explain the process and get you well on your way.
Specifying Scratch Disks
A scratch disk is a hard disk, internal or external to your computer, where Final Cut Pro stores captured digital video and audio, as well as rendered media files created during editing. (Rendering is the process of creating temporary video and audio render files for portions of your sequence that Final Cut Pro cannot play in real time.)
By default, Final Cut Pro uses the hard disk on which the application is installed. You use the Scratch Disks tab in the System Settings window to choose where you want to save the video and audio files that you capture and the render and cache files that Final Cut Pro creates. You can also specify other settings related to the size of captured and exported files and the minimum available space allowed on scratch disks.
To specify one or more scratch disks and associated settings:
1 Choose Final Cut Pro > System Settings, then click the Scratch Disks tab.
2 To specify a disk or a folder on a hard disk as a scratch disk:
• Click Set.
• In the dialog that appears, locate and select the disk you want to use.
• Only connected external disks or installed internal disks are listed. If your hard disk doesn’t appear, make sure that it’s connected properly and correctly initialized and mounted. For more information, see the documentation that came with your computer, your hard disk, or your disk-formatting software.
• Click Select (the button includes the name of the disk you selected). The specified disk is listed next to the Set button, along with the amount of available disk space.
3 To capture video and audio to separate files, select the Capture Audio and Video to Separate Files checkbox. Note: For capturing DV media, it’s usually best to leave this checkbox unselected. For more information, see “Capturing Video and Audio Separately” on page 287.
4 Select the checkboxes corresponding to the type of files you want to store on each scratch disk: Video Capture, Audio Capture, Video Render, and Audio Render.
5 To choose a folder where Final Cut Pro will automatically save copies of your project for backup purposes:
• Click Set next to Autosave Vault.
• In the dialog that appears, locate and find the disk you want to use, then click Choose.
Scratch disks you’ve set can become unavailable for a number of reasons: they might be turned off, disconnected, or temporarily unmounted. Also, if the scratch disk folder you selected has been moved, deleted, or renamed, Final Cut Pro might not be able to find it.
When you open Final Cut Pro and one or more of your scratch disk folders cannot be found, a dialog appears with three options:
• Quit: Lets you quit without changing the scratch disk preferences.
• Set Scratch Disks: Opens the Scratch Disks tab in the System Settings window so that you can change the current set of scratch disks. Any disks that are missing are removed from this list. You must choose at least one scratch disk to continue.
• Check Again: Allows you to reconnect or start up your scratch disk, wait for it to mount, and then proceed as usual.
Assigning Search Folders for Reconnecting Media Files
After you specify which volumes and folders you want to use to capture media, you may want to assign these same locations as search folders for the Reconnect Files dialog. This allows Final Cut Pro to limit its search for media files if they become offline.
Golden Rules of Social Media
Social media has become a free form means of delivering personal messages that take many forms. Posts range from useful to vitriolic. It would seen that perhaps there should be some generally accepted Rules for Social Media. OK so it’s a bit presumptuous of me, but here are some suggestions I picked up from Social Media Consultant Aliza Sherman. Take them for what they are worth.
Respect the Spirit of the Net. It was meant for communication and connection to people and information.
Listen. It will give you a sense of what people are saying and feeling. It will also help you map your social media footprint.
Add Value. Always ask yourself: How is this providing value to the conversation? To the community?
Respond. A quick response is more important than ever. Don’t be a dam in a conversation flow.
Do Good Things. Perpetuate social responsibility in all you do.
Share the Wealth. If you’ve got it, share it, spread it around. Sharing is the fule of a conversation engine.
Give Kudos. Nothing is wrong with self promotion but things really take off when you give others their moment in the spotlight.
Don’t Spam. I just don’t have the time, tolerance or bandwidth to deal with it.
Be Real. Be yourself. You’ll have far better and more long-lasting positive results than if you try to be something you are not.
Collaborate. Social media tools are just that....tools. The real power is people. We are the media.
Respect the Spirit of the Net. It was meant for communication and connection to people and information.
Listen. It will give you a sense of what people are saying and feeling. It will also help you map your social media footprint.
Add Value. Always ask yourself: How is this providing value to the conversation? To the community?
Respond. A quick response is more important than ever. Don’t be a dam in a conversation flow.
Do Good Things. Perpetuate social responsibility in all you do.
Share the Wealth. If you’ve got it, share it, spread it around. Sharing is the fule of a conversation engine.
Give Kudos. Nothing is wrong with self promotion but things really take off when you give others their moment in the spotlight.
Don’t Spam. I just don’t have the time, tolerance or bandwidth to deal with it.
Be Real. Be yourself. You’ll have far better and more long-lasting positive results than if you try to be something you are not.
Collaborate. Social media tools are just that....tools. The real power is people. We are the media.
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