What states can learn about teacher shortages from the airline industry

What states can learn about teacher shortages from the airline industry

On the one hand, we’re told, robots are coming to take all our jobs any day now. But then there are 6 million job openings in the U.S., and large companies in a range of industries are telling us they are running out of humans to perform labor. The reality, of course, is somewhere in between….

Combating glibness

Combating glibness

Glibness is a disease that’s particularly virulent in Silicon Valley, politics, entertainment and the executive suite. Someone has an insight (or gets lucky) and then amasses power. Surrounded by more than they’re willing to understand, they substitute the glib statement, the smirk, the cutting remark. They turn everything into a status-fueled professional wrestling match. Source:…

How MIT’s Scratch is embracing mobile and adding classroom management

How MIT’s Scratch is embracing mobile and adding classroom management

Developers at MIT Media Lab are gearing up to release a new version of Scratch that works on mobile devices, can be integrated with physical objects, and that is lighter and faster. Source: MIT’s Scratch Program Is Evolving For Greater, More Mobile Creativity | MindShift | KQED News The block programming of Scratch is used…

First look at the micro:bit, a single board computer for the classroom

First look at the micro:bit, a single board computer for the classroom

First look at the micro:bit, a single board computer for the classroom. I first wrote about the micro:bit in 2016, but since it wasn’t available in the United States, I didn’t have one to play with and promptly forgot about it. This past week I was reminded about it after reading an article from the…

Conversation styles – introverts vs extroverts

Conversation styles – introverts vs extroverts

You and a coworker step into an elevator. As you descend in the tiny metal box, the silence between you grows awkward. Suddenly your coworker blurts out, “Such a shame that we’re stuck in the office on a beautiful day like this!” You mumble, “It sure is.” As an introvert, you despise making small talk; it feels like your brain was literally…