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Another Professor from my Alma Mater, the Unversity of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. He is a professor of Political Science.Taken from his blog the follow excerpt: "He received his Ph.D. from The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University in 2003. He currently teaches introductory politics, international politics, and a U.S. Foreign Policy course at Steven's Point through the Collaborative Degree Program. His current research focuses on how the U.S. military has adapted strategies and tactics in stability and reconstruction operations. Contact Eric at: egiordan@uwc.edu" We both are Political Science majors with an interest in Law and Diplomacy and the U.S. Military.

I love reading reflections on implementing new strategies in teaching and learning. That's one of the best things about posting your reflections online. You never know when someone will find you and feel connected, or at least less alone!

Salman Khan talks about how and why he created the Khan Academy, a carefully structured series of educational videos offering complete curricula in math and, now, other subjects. He shows the power of interactive exercises, and calls for teachers to consider flipping the traditional classroom script -- give students video lectures to watch at home, and do "homework" in the classroom with the teacher available to help. He says students from around the world can tutor each other. This presentation was just given a few days ago.

Bruce, I have to say that this TED video posting you put up is the most interesting post I've looked at all quarter! Salman Khan talks about a very unique "backwards design" for education now and in the future with his suggestion that the "lectures--videos" be watched at home and the "homework" be done interactively with the teacher at school. In reality, this concept is the very one I was trained to do way back when I was getting my teaching credential for elementary school. In that model, teachers interact consistently all day long with small and large groups of students and individual students as well, helping them with what they need to understand until some sort of mastery comes. The only appreciable difference that I can see is the use of today's technology tools. A good teacher, no matter if face to face in a classroom or remotely in cyber space, will take the time with each individual student until he or she learns what is being taught. Self-paced learning such as what the TED video centered on was practiced years ago with SRA reading modules and similar modules for math. They fell out of fashion in many schools when districts began standardizing learning and "no child left behind" came along with its requirement that all students meet a particular standard in a particular way. Perhaps I'm over-simplifying things a bit, but I feel compelled to share this. Someone once said, "There are no new ideas under the sun, just new ways of implementing them." Anyway, thanks for this posting--I will eagerly look forward to how the Khan University develops!

Wow...thanks for sharing this link. I've watched the documentary "Waiting for Superman" and was blown away about how our education system is failing so badly. Here's an example of what person can do and change the way we learn.

Thanks again for the comments, Jen and Mary Ann. Never satisfied with my mistakes, I keep going back and trying to clear them up.

This is my portfolio post for week 5

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_17396167?nclick_check=1 - This is an OpEd piece by David Brooks of the New York Times, which came out this week. "It could be that the nature of technlogical changes is (causing) a shift in values". This is not an opinion about education, but goes to the point about preparing students for the future/present even that assumes technology. Maybe our values are and how we assess things has to evolve, as well.

I truly thought that blog was thought provoking! I absolutely agree about changing values. But, I think that change must come from this generation and what they want for themselves, for their community and for their country. Hopefully they can think that broadly about themselves and the world. I believe they can and do!

Ahhh...my favorite place...second life and virtual worlds! I was watching a video and found a speaker named Terry B, a prof at Montana State U. His strikingly beautiful virtual hair lead to instant "virtual love."

Do you spend much time in SL? I have 2 avatars but haven't been in ages.

No Jen...I just got crazy after that lesson in Wiggins on Backward Design. Then when I read your postings in Diigo, I researched it a bit more. Never seen an Avatara or a virtual world (as posted in this citing) or until last night when I read this post and the one I posted on Avatara. I play Farmville on Facebook now and then and Cafe World. Other than that, I escape into the recesses of my own mind and create my own reality in cyperspace. I cannot take serious too long. Sometimes reality hits me like a ton of bricks and I retreat to the only place I feel safe...creation and humor. Intellectuals get too stuffy for me. I like action!

I have added my page on Wikispace. I have a video I want my learners to view. I have asked them to research the topic and present their blogs, videos and etc.,in Diigo. I have asked them to discuss this Module's question on the need or not for a Silver College similiar to the one in Japan for aging Japanese people. Japan is one step ahead of the U.S. in trying to deal with the many issues and needs of their aging population. Grading or assessment will be determined by the quality of the participation and discussion in Diigo. The Module discussion would be set up to continue for one week and is 25% of that Module's grade. The idea is not to grade the students but to encourage them to research the topic and bring to the discussion some ideas as to whether this is a useful idea or not if applied to the Senior population in America. I will be writing a blog regarding this lesson as well. I have not finished it yet.

Joy, I really like the way you set up the assignment related to the short film on how Japan is gaining huge benefits by engaging its senior population. When you think about it, this enlightened Japanese view to making good used of aging citizens isn't controversial at all. Farming retired folks out to finish their lives out in disconnected retirement homes seems so backward, and poorly planned. We should be gathering together all of that life experience through good design, and putting it to good use!

I hear you Bruce!