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"At first glance, it looks as though the group of young adults is building Lego. But these are actually students at the University of Cape Town's Hasso Plattner Institute of Design Thinking, and they're using the colourful blocks to design a prototype. It represents policy reform ideas around transitioning from informal to formal economies. It's a complex system represented with very basic materials. This is design thinking in action: human-centred, problem solving activities that ground design thinking in practice. It helps students to understand and innovatively solve challenges. Design thinking can be used very successfully as an academic programme that goes beyond traditional university practices. It allows universities to prepare a more resilient, adaptive student cohort. These graduates are more competent to enter economies that are constantly changing. This is particularly important when higher education institutions are training students for jobs that might not yet exist or that might have changed or become redundant by the time they graduate."

There's no doubt that the world looks far different today than it did just a year ago. For so many of us, the outbreak of COVID-19 has dramatically changed the way we live our daily lives. Now, more than ever, we're using the internet not just for communication or for entertainment. We're relying on it to help us survive and grow, from working at home to learning at home. But what does the transition to the digital world mean for our children who are having to adapt to remote learning? How might this affect not only their education today, but also their hopes and dreams for the future? Are we dooming this generation to a lifetime of academic struggle because of the "learning loss" they're ostensibly facing now? And, if so what does that mean for their futures? For their career prospects?

I recently had the opportunity to speak with a group of parents whose children are transitioning into a new phase of their learning. I used this as an opportunity to share some key messages for successful learning and thought I would briefly unpack these here.

"The pandemic has raised concerns about the way stress is affecting kids. Even though the word 'trauma' is on a lot of worried adults' minds these days, information about it is wide-ranging and can leave people feeling unsure about what to do next. Trauma is a response to life-threatening events, harmful conditions or stressful environments, writes Vermont-based educator Alex Shevrin Venet in her book "Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education." As students transition back to learning in school buildings, traumas that have been hard to see during Zoom classes may become more apparent. On top of that, adjusting to new schooling structures may be another hurdle for young learners and teachers alike. Educators who want to create a nurturing school environment for returning students or hybrid learners may find solutions in trauma-informed education that uses an equity lens."

Born as Kimberly Alexis Bledel in the heart of Houston, Texas, Alexis embarked on a journey that would see her transition from the glitzy world of modeling to the demanding realm of acting. Her story is not just one of fame and success, but of perseverance, adaptability, and an undying commitment to her craft.

From the bustling streets of Thousand Oaks, California, emerged a star whose brilliance would light up the entertainment world for years to come. Amanda Bynes, a name that resonates with both young and old, has been a beacon of talent, versatility, and resilience. With a career spanning over two decades, she has donned many hats - from a bubbly child artist making her audience laugh to a mature actress delivering powerful performances, and then transitioning into the world of fashion with grace and panache.

In the sprawling universe of Hollywood, where countless stars vie for attention, Austin Robert Butler stands out like a luminous beacon. His ascent in the entertainment world isn't just a tale of luck or being at the right place at the right time; it's a narrative of relentless dedication, adaptability in roles, and an innate talent that refuses to be overshadowed. From his early days of navigating the complex maze of showbiz to becoming one of its most recognized faces, Butler's journey is a masterclass in ambition fueled by sheer passion. His ability to seamlessly transition between roles, coupled with a work ethic that's second to none, showcases the makings of a true artist.

"With so many schools adopting the use of iPads I find it strange that we aren't hearing more about the incredible opportunities available in iTunes U. Well I suppose it isn't that strange given that schools in the early stages of transitioning to an iPad platform are extremely busy and learning one more thing can seem overwhelming."

"Keynote is one of the best presentation apps out there. We have repeatedly featured it in several of our app lists in the past. Keynote provides users with a bunch of powerful features that makes creating professionally looking presentations 'as easy as touching and tapping'. Some of these features include: users can work collaboratively on a single presentation in realtime; select from a wide variety of Apple-designed themes; add animations, charts, cinematic transitions and several other elements to your presentations; use a wide variety of predefined text styles and interactive features; present your slideshows live from Mac, iPad or any other iOS enabled device and many more. In today's post we are sharing with you two great guides designed and shared by Apple Education. The purpose of the guides is to help teachers make the best of Keynote on both iPad and Mac. The guides are free to download and read on your iBooks. Enjoy"

"Blended Learning: Personalizing Education for Students"

Recently I read 'Good to Great' by Jim Collins a book that describes the processes and structures that allowed eleven companies to transition from good to great and outperform the market by a factor of three for sustained periods. One story stands out as a metaphor for a growth mindset.