Day 3 - February 6th - Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action

How this will change my year:


Thinking through the model - "Why, How, What" - inside out.... most people start with the 'What' of their organization and move to the 'Why' - but Simon would contend that those 'great' organizations start with the 'why' and then work out from there. This is a very large idea when you put it in the context of education - 'why' educate.  People don't buy what you do - they buy why you do it.


The big question - why do we educate?  The answer - to provide a safe and caring environment where kids can take chances in their learning.  This certainly takes 'big picture' planning for a school to a new level.


There is also a great bit about early innovators & laws of diffusion of innovation - this is a perfect way to frame educational change and innovation - anybody who wants to change a system, for good, you have to consider this concept!

The Video

Day 2 - February 2nd - Ariel Garten: Know thyself, with a brain scanner

I really enjoyed the quote: 'we are like a tourist, visiting our selves' - when we seek out 'retreat' to get to know thyself.  This really resonates with me.

Thought controlled computing...

IntraActive Computing - is extremely compelling and you can really think of interesting ways to maybe use in school environments!  Ariel even brings up kids with ADD and allowing them insight into their own learning needs.  

How will this change my coming year:

- well, it might not change mine, but it might change the teachers or the students I work with.  I will forward this video onto some people at my school who might take particular interest in trying this kind of biofeedback in the coming years.

The Video

Day 1 - Take Two - February 1st - Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work

Day 1 - February 1st, 2012 - Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work

I suppose I should start by why I failed.... it's like all resolutions, they seem bound to fail.  Anyway, I am going to give it a second shot and if I am lucky - maybe TED Talks will be able to answer that question too.

Back to the Shawn Achor and his secrets of happiness.... and how it'll change this year.

Shawn's tip - about the faulty formula = if I work harder = I'll have more success = I'll have more happiness

Basically saying that 'happiness is pushed over the cognitive horizon' because once we get close to what we think is success, we change what we consider to be success.  Insane... basically, we are always chasing an impossible dream.

In essence - Shawn claims optimism is the goal.  If we are optimistic we are more creative, productive and ultimately happy.  He advocates for meditation, random (conscious) acts of kindness and sustaining a gratitude journal will rewire our brains and ultimately we will find new levels of happiness.  So.. back to how it'll change my year... I am going to run a bit of a personal experiment for myself this month - I'll start a gratitude journal and shoot to meditate at least 7 days this month.  I'll see where it'll take me.

At the end of the day - this is a great video and I look forward to sharing it with those around me.

The Video