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Artists Who Stare

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  Artists who Stare into their Creative Self Vignette There is a reckoning in the soul of every artist. It begins as a tremor, a flicker of light, almost imperceptible, yet relentless in hunger. That precise moment when the artist is alone, silhouetted against the radiance of an internal inferno and stares unflinchingly into their creative self. They dwell in the space between inspiration and doubt, bathed in the glow of possibilities and tormented by the fear of mediocrity. To exceed the ordinary, the artist knows, is both a blessing and a curse. Each touch, each word, each act of creation becomes a paradox: an offering to eternity but rooted in the fleeting frailty of the present. What if they fail? What if the light within, so achingly bright, burns them to ash rather than illuminating their path? The act of creation is no longer a choice; it has become a necessity. There is no turning back. Like a lone figure before the furnace of their own making, the artist surrenders to the ...

Innovation Comfort Zones and Schools

Innovation require a person to move into a new dimension. This dimension requires a person to disassociate from past experiences. Past experiences are the comfort zone and comfort zones are in effect conformity zones. When a person conforms the person remains static. The norm is the conformity which is the comfort zone. Introduction of a new method, idea and or system into a comfort zone creates anxiety, stress and fear. Sameness is safe, is effortless and is comfortable. Innovation is disruptive. Innovation rips at the individual patterns woven from past experiences. To lead innovation is to take people a significant distance from their past experiences to enable perspective based questions. However in today's environment of continuous disruption leaders must not allow new comfort zones to be established. Continuous disruption requires continuous Innovation which requires continual disassociation from the past. Working within an innovative project requires continual changing of pe...

UniTube: Youtube and and Virtual Classrooms

UniTube: Youtube and and Virtual Classrooms based on an article in the Weekend Australian (July 11-12 2009, Weekend Professional p7) University of NSW has demonstrated that YouTube can be used as an effective way to teach students. 16 selected High School students from 100 applicants throughout Sydney were enrolled in this innovative program, to advance students in a Higher Computing course. The computer lectures are videoed and placed onto YouTube. Anyone can view the videos. The videos are supported by weekly face-to-face tutorials (outside of school hours). The course also involves a two hour lab session. Essentially the videos mean that those who cannot attend a lecture can still gain the knowledge. Why are High School students doing this course? Lecturer Richard Buckland wanted to address the 'bored' students at High School. It is about raising the bar and allowing secondary students to do university quality material. It is about simulating and stretching minds. The YouTub...

Top 100 Tool for Learning 2009

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Top 100 Tools for Learning 2009 This is a list all educators should be aware of. As at 09 July 2009 136 Learning Professionals have shared their Top 10 Tools This is the 3rd year learning professionals from all over the world have shared their top 10 tools for learning to help build the annual Top 100 Tools for Learning. Note, by "learning" we mean both formal and informal learning This list was used to produce the 25 Tools : A Toolbox 2009 25 Tools: A Toolbox for Learning Professionals 2009 View more presentations from Jane Hart . Summary of the list: 1 Web browser Firefox | Google Chrome 2 Social bookmarking tool Delicious | diigo 3 Blogging tool Wordpress | Blogger 4 RSS/Feed reader Google Reader | Bloglines 5 Micro- blogging tool Twitter | Tweetdeck 6 Email gMail/Google Mail | Outlook 7 Instant Messaging Skype 8 Personal productivity tool Evernote | Google Calendar 9 Mind mapping Freemind | Bubbl.us 10 Presentation t...