Paly has a new block schedule this year leading to more collaboration time for both students and staff. Research points to the important link between collaboration and the creative process. Explore these links and discover works from a wide variety of writers, artists and musicians.
The "myth of the lone genius" is examined in the article Two is the Magic Number: a new science of creativity by Joshua Wolf Shenk. Also included is a video presentation on this subject.
Listen to this NPR tribute to John Lennon aired on his 70th birthday and featuring tapes of his last interview in Rolling Stone Magazine. All We are Saying: Three Weeks with John Lennon.
The subject of creativity is explored in a very creative fashion by Steven Johnson author of Where Good Ideas Come From. Here's his Ted Talk on the subject.
Thirty Years of Photography at the NYPL presents vintage photographs in a dynamic online exhibition. Don't miss the snappy video introducing the show.
The European Library is a creative collaboration among 35 national libraries. Visit the European Library Exhibitions Page for a look into the past using primary source books and manuscripts.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Reading, Technology, & Wikipedia for credit?
From the Colonial Horn Book to today's iPad, this Interactive Time line from the NY Times traces the path of educational technology. It's helpful to keep in mind that books have never required charging devices.
And speaking of those pesky charging devices, what kind of reading is best for electronic readers? Check out this great summary from the NY Times A Textbook Solution.
If you love history and movies, you simply have to check out YouTube Time Machine .This searching tool is a fantastic way to filter YouTube videos by production date to view authentic primary source video. Check out videos from 1903.
Google's Digital Literacy Tour offers zippy tips for evaluating information online and digital citizenship
Wikipedia for credit? The Wikimedia Foundation is collaborating with a few college professors to improve its content.
And speaking of those pesky charging devices, what kind of reading is best for electronic readers? Check out this great summary from the NY Times A Textbook Solution.
If you love history and movies, you simply have to check out YouTube Time Machine .This searching tool is a fantastic way to filter YouTube videos by production date to view authentic primary source video. Check out videos from 1903.
Google's Digital Literacy Tour offers zippy tips for evaluating information online and digital citizenship
Wikipedia for credit? The Wikimedia Foundation is collaborating with a few college professors to improve its content.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Perspective: a particular attitude toward or way of regarding something
It's always good to put things in perspective when a new school year begins. Perhaps these resources will help
This nifty website http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/ allows users to compare the USA to other countries. Did you know that Canadians spend 45% less on health care than we do?
What is the mindset of the college class of 2014? Beloit College publishes a list of facts that includes such gems as: Few in the class know how to write in cursive and The first home computer they probably touched was an Apple II or Mac II; they are now in a museum.
How informed is the world? According to the 2010 IFLA World Report almost 100% of public libraries in the US have free Internet access as compared to 20% in Russia.
Every day is a holiday...somewhere. Find out about holidays around the world by country and religion by checking out Earth's Calendar.
This nifty website http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/ allows users to compare the USA to other countries. Did you know that Canadians spend 45% less on health care than we do?
What is the mindset of the college class of 2014? Beloit College publishes a list of facts that includes such gems as: Few in the class know how to write in cursive and The first home computer they probably touched was an Apple II or Mac II; they are now in a museum.
How informed is the world? According to the 2010 IFLA World Report almost 100% of public libraries in the US have free Internet access as compared to 20% in Russia.
Every day is a holiday...somewhere. Find out about holidays around the world by country and religion by checking out Earth's Calendar.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Reading All Summer Long
Good friends, good books and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life. --Mark Twain
So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall.-- Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Interested in clicking rather than turning pages? Read "The iPad, the Kindle, and the future of the book business" by Ken Auletta from the New Yorker, April 26, 20102.
Nonfiction reading rules at the NY Times The Learning Network: Teaching With the New York Times and their innovative Summer Reading Challenge. The site has a lot of offer educators when planning lessons about current events.
The Paly Library READ page has links to many reading lists as does the Palo Alto City Library Teen Page , Santa Clara County Library and San Mateo County. Don't forget the Paly Library reading blog Read@paly for book reviews and blurbs.
Other good lists include recommendations from:
Personally I'll be digging into a variety of young adult books starting with Looks by Madeleine George (trying to stay away from vampires this summer) and "adult" books starting with Innocent by Scott Turow. If you have any great suggestions please post them there.
So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall.-- Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Interested in clicking rather than turning pages? Read "The iPad, the Kindle, and the future of the book business" by Ken Auletta from the New Yorker, April 26, 20102.
Nonfiction reading rules at the NY Times The Learning Network: Teaching With the New York Times and their innovative Summer Reading Challenge. The site has a lot of offer educators when planning lessons about current events.
The Paly Library READ page has links to many reading lists as does the Palo Alto City Library Teen Page , Santa Clara County Library and San Mateo County. Don't forget the Paly Library reading blog Read@paly for book reviews and blurbs.
Other good lists include recommendations from:
- Horn Book (An esteemed children's book review magazine)
- IndiBound Bookstores List (Books Inc. and Kepler's) Mention Paly at Kepler's and they will give the library a percentage of your purchase and Books Inc. gives student/educator discounts!
- UC Berkeley
- National Public Radio
- NY Times
Personally I'll be digging into a variety of young adult books starting with Looks by Madeleine George (trying to stay away from vampires this summer) and "adult" books starting with Innocent by Scott Turow. If you have any great suggestions please post them there.
Friday, May 28, 2010
In Honor of Memorial Day...
Bivouac of the Dead
The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
Read about this famous poem that graces many military cemeteries and learn about the poet Theodore O'Hara from Dept. of Veterans Affairs
A couple stunning new books about war: War by Sebastian Junger is the author's account of his time with an infantry platoon serving in Afghanistan in 2007/08, and THE MUST READ BOOK THIS YEAR is Matterhorn by Vietnam Veteran Karl Marlantes, a riveting portrayal of a group of soldiers doing battles with the enemy, the jungle, and themselves during the Vietnam War. (I could only read a chapter at a time it was so intense.) Read the review of Matterhorn by Sebastian Junger.
To remember the brave men and women who have served our country check out this article from the Washington Post about The Best Lesser Known War Memorials
At War is the sobering and stunning blog from reporters with the NY Times
The History of Memorial Day from History.com
Bivouac of the Dead
The muffled drum's sad roll has beat
The soldier's last tattoo;
No more on Life's parade shall meet
That brave and fallen few.
Read about this famous poem that graces many military cemeteries and learn about the poet Theodore O'Hara from Dept. of Veterans Affairs
A couple stunning new books about war: War by Sebastian Junger is the author's account of his time with an infantry platoon serving in Afghanistan in 2007/08, and THE MUST READ BOOK THIS YEAR is Matterhorn by Vietnam Veteran Karl Marlantes, a riveting portrayal of a group of soldiers doing battles with the enemy, the jungle, and themselves during the Vietnam War. (I could only read a chapter at a time it was so intense.) Read the review of Matterhorn by Sebastian Junger.
To remember the brave men and women who have served our country check out this article from the Washington Post about The Best Lesser Known War Memorials
At War is the sobering and stunning blog from reporters with the NY Times
The History of Memorial Day from History.com
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Bits of Knowledge: Food, Maps, Music, Science, War, and Literacy
Do this BEFORE lunch--Watch Jamie Oliver's passionate award-winning TED speech "Teach Every Kid About Food"
How do we see the world? Before Google Maps there was ... Explore this concept with the fascinating new exhibit Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda, & Art from the British Library and read this interesting article about the exhibition Ten of the Greatest: Maps That Changed the World.
How about a little music? Experiment with rhythm and sound with Wolfgram Tones
If science is of interest check out this review of Six Free Websites for Learning and Teaching Science including a great site from Scientific American.
Discovering the Civil War is an absorbing new exhibit from the National Archives that takes our knowledge further about this violent conflict.
We feel strongly about Information Literacy in the Library and we welcome this call to action! Information Literacy: A Neglected Core Competency
How do we see the world? Before Google Maps there was ... Explore this concept with the fascinating new exhibit Magnificent Maps: Power, Propaganda, & Art from the British Library and read this interesting article about the exhibition Ten of the Greatest: Maps That Changed the World.
How about a little music? Experiment with rhythm and sound with Wolfgram Tones
If science is of interest check out this review of Six Free Websites for Learning and Teaching Science including a great site from Scientific American.
Discovering the Civil War is an absorbing new exhibit from the National Archives that takes our knowledge further about this violent conflict.
We feel strongly about Information Literacy in the Library and we welcome this call to action! Information Literacy: A Neglected Core Competency
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Who decides what students learn? What makes a good teacher? Fun facts to know and tell about the Internet and a handy photo resource.
During Black History Month our high school read Black Profiles in Courage by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and students learned about dynamic African-Americans who were never mentioned in their textbooks. One student told me their lack of inclusion was because, "the winners write the books." Who decides what our students learn? The Common Core State Standards Initiative just published a draft of standards for Mathematics and English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Science and Science. Check out this fascinating article from the NY Times Magazine about how history/social science curriculum is formulated in Texas--How Christian Were the Founders.
March is Women's History Month. Link to Women's History Month a resource that is "writing women back into history."
What makes a great teacher? Doug Lemov, a founder of Uncommon Schools is trying to find out. Read about his process and efforts of other researchers in the article Build a Better Teacher.
What are "18 Interesting Firsts on the Internet"? Read the Tech Reader's blog to find out. (A warning to those of us over 29-- this might make you feel old.)
Pictures offer powerful messages and are very useful for presentations when they are in the public domain. Check out the Flickr Commons for public domain image collections from public institutions such as the Library of Congress and many university and museum collections such as the Getty. Limit image searches to public domain photos using Yahoo Advanced Image Search.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/3110117432/
March is Women's History Month. Link to Women's History Month a resource that is "writing women back into history."
What makes a great teacher? Doug Lemov, a founder of Uncommon Schools is trying to find out. Read about his process and efforts of other researchers in the article Build a Better Teacher.
What are "18 Interesting Firsts on the Internet"? Read the Tech Reader's blog to find out. (A warning to those of us over 29-- this might make you feel old.)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nypl/3110117432/
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