Yo Yo Ma

I saw Yo Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project at Blossom last Saturday night.

The following is taken from A Message from the Artistic Director (Yo Yo Ma) in the program handed out at the concert:

"The Project's work consists of careful investigations, joining beloved traditions with new knowledge and innovation. Live performance, constant learning, trust, and inventive collaboration lie at the core of our work together. Our educational partnerships have served to broaden and strengthen out committment to passion-driven learning. We are guided by the belief that all of us are equipped with different intellegences and that we best receive and share knowledge in multidisciplanary, multi-sensate ways.

During the past twelve years, the Silk Road Ensemble's experiences have led us to new discoveries and new ways of thinking as we share in a culture of collaboration. The creation of trust is a key ingredient, a safety net in an environment where risk-taking and innovation are encouraged."

As I read it I started to think about our class, our discussions, and education.

Shouldn't this be how education works as well?

Sir Ken Robinson Books

Great discussion and sharing this morning. Thanks.

Sir Ken Robinson's books I mentioned this morning:

The Element- how finding your passion changes everything

Out of Or Minds-Learning to be Creative

Dr. Ben Carson Speech

Phenomenal speech about education in the 21st century. This guy is amazing and gets what education should be about. Absolutely worth reading. He received a long standing ovation after giving this presentation at the annual AP Conference.
http://www.udel.edu/PR/UpDate/00/33/carson.html

Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's Speech at the National AP Conference

Here is the link to the speech Secretary of Education Arne Duncan gave at the national AP Conference in July in Washington, DC. Great speech emphasing what we discussed in class.

http:/www.collegeboard.com/events/apac/2010/speakers/video/index.html

Sir Ken Robinson and the AP National Conferemce

I just returned from the national AP conference in Washington, DC. The conference was great- always good to share with colleagues who share a passion for learning. The guest speakers included the Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough of Morning Joe, Dr. Benjamin Carson, and Sir Ken Robinson. We watched a Ted video of a part of a Sir Ken presentation during our class. All of the speakers were outstanding. I had the chance to meet and talk to Sir Ken for a couple of moments. HE GETS IT! All of the speakers sounded like they were in our class in June. The message-emphasized and repeated by all, including the secretary of education, get away from the bubble tests/scores/test results/ranks and teach/encourage/develop/promote critical thinking/problem solving/collaboration and creativity. By doing this we can raise the bar!! (and not perform assembly line education) as well as get our students more ready for the world they are about to enter. Can we get from rhetoric to implementation? Let's hope so and soon.