This week’s title has nothing to do with Judy Garland, Christmas musicals, or the World’s Fair. Next week (Feb 22-26) I’ll be in St. Louis to give a keynote speech and host Open-Source Learning workshops at the EdPlus Innovate Conference. I’ve never been to St. Louis and I love exploring, especially with friends I never see because they’re somewhere in the midwest – so if you’re in the area or if you have any recommendations please let me know! Here is my itinerary so far: I get in Saturday n...

This week’s title has nothing to do with Judy Garland, Christmas musicals, or the World’s Fair. Next week (Feb 22-26) I’ll be in St. Louis to give a keynote speech and host Open-Source Learning workshops at the EdPlus Innovate Conference. I’ve never been to St. Louis and I love exploring, especially with friends I never see because they’re somewhere in the midwest – so if you’re in the area or if you have any recommendations please let me know! Here is my itinerary so far: I get in Saturday n...

Most schools were built to make an imposing impression at a distance, and/or control the behavior of students and staff. We should build the internal learning spaces that really matter to us.

Most schools were built to make an imposing impression at a distance, and/or control the behavior of students and staff. We should build the internal learning spaces that really matter to us.

"It is hard for people who have not lived in Los Angeles to realize how radically the Santa Ana figures in the local imagination. The city burning is Los Angeles's deepest image of itself." — Joan Didion

"It is hard for people who have not lived in Los Angeles to realize how radically the Santa Ana figures in the local imagination. The city burning is Los Angeles's deepest image of itself." — Joan Didion

As Salman Rushdie once observed, “A poet's work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep.” I can’t think of too many authors who did all that better than Tom Robbins. Tom, I’m glad you lived, and I’m sorry to hear you died. I know – 92 is a fair age and it’s not really my business. Memento mori and stuff. I just liked knowing there was someone on the planet who saw right through it all, who somehow combined exte...

As Salman Rushdie once observed, “A poet's work is to name the unnameable, to point at frauds, to take sides, start arguments, shape the world, and stop it going to sleep.” I can’t think of too many authors who did all that better than Tom Robbins. Tom, I’m glad you lived, and I’m sorry to hear you died. I know – 92 is a fair age and it’s not really my business. Memento mori and stuff. I just liked knowing there was someone on the planet who saw right through it all, who somehow combined exte...

I understood that sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll were designed to feel good in the moment – but, I asked myself, how would I feel later?

I understood that sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll were designed to feel good in the moment – but, I asked myself, how would I feel later?

Civic fitness is the Jan Brady of Open-Source Learning; it’s the easiest of the five fitnesses to overlook. Now it’s starting to feel ignored, and it’s acting out. People generally understand the importance of mental fitness. Physical fitness is the stuff of magazine covers. Spiritual fitness is literally awesome. Technological fitness constantly dominates the headlines. Civic fitness doesn’t peacock for two reasons: 1) the palindromic name brings to mind middle school history class and your ...

Civic fitness is the Jan Brady of Open-Source Learning; it’s the easiest of the five fitnesses to overlook. Now it’s starting to feel ignored, and it’s acting out. People generally understand the importance of mental fitness. Physical fitness is the stuff of magazine covers. Spiritual fitness is literally awesome. Technological fitness constantly dominates the headlines. Civic fitness doesn’t peacock for two reasons: 1) the palindromic name brings to mind middle school history class and your ...

This morning I did not want to get up at 5:30 and swim. My bed was warmer and cozier than anything that awaited me outside. In that moment, cold + wet equaled "nope." I had the thought, "It's my birthday week – shouldn't I be able to cheat?" But I have a superpower. I can see the future.

This morning I did not want to get up at 5:30 and swim. My bed was warmer and cozier than anything that awaited me outside. In that moment, cold + wet equaled "nope." I had the thought, "It's my birthday week – shouldn't I be able to cheat?" But I have a superpower. I can see the future.

I’ve riffed on the idiom “two heads are better than one” by counting the people in the room and saying, “(n) heads are better than one.” But are they?

I’ve riffed on the idiom “two heads are better than one” by counting the people in the room and saying, “(n) heads are better than one.” But are they?

As we sit down for holiday dinners with each other, we have a golden opportunity to apply the golden rule and stop fighting over things.

As we sit down for holiday dinners with each other, we have a golden opportunity to apply the golden rule and stop fighting over things.