Enjoy!

We are Teachers! from Gary Stager on Vimeo.

MaryAnn Molishus - Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 - Show and Tell is Not Just for Kindergarten

MaryAnn Molishus - Constructing Modern Knowledge - Project Sharing

Andrew B. Watt - Alhambra Updated

Andrew B. Watt - CMK ‘09: FableVision & Minsky

Andrew B. Watt - CMK ‘09: Dr. Lella Gandini

Andrew B. Watt - CMK 09: When is an Image a Computer Program?

Sylvia Martinez - Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009
You may also take a look at the photos being accumulated from Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 here at Flickr.

Stay tuned for additional blogs and other goodies!

In the meantime, please check out the following resources:

• Essay on Education 1 - What Makes Mathematics Hard to Learn
• Essay on Education 2 - Effects of Grade-based Segregation
• Essay on Education 3 - Role Models, Mentors, and Imprimers and Thinking
• Essay on Education 4 - Questioning “General” Education
• Essay on Education 5 - Education and Psychology

1. Marvin Minsky at TED *
2. Marvin Minsky: Emotion Machine: Commonsense Thinking, Artificial Intelligence, and the Future of the Human Mind *
3. Marvin Minsky at the 2007 Gadgetoff
4. Marvin Minsky on a panel discussion regarding the film, 2001: A Space Odyssey

Here is a link to a large selection of books including, but not limited to the ones in the library of Constructing Modern Knowledge.

Constructivist Consortium Bookstore

Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 Library Bibliography (APA Style)

Not every book is represented, but most are. A few of the Reggio Emilia books do not have ISBN numbers, but are available from Reggio Children.

Be sure to visit http://constructivistconsortium.org/books for a clickable bookstore containing more resources for creative educators

Bibliography

Abel, J., & Glass, I. (1999). Radio: An Illustrated Guide. W B E Z Alliance Inc.

Anderson, M. (2006). Amazing Leonardo da Vinci Inventions You Can Build Yourself. Nomad Press.

Arvelo, A. (2006). Tocar y Luchar. Explorart Films.

Baker, D., Semple, C., & Stead, T. (1990). How Big is the Moon?: Whole Maths in Action. Heinemann.

Beall, S. (2000). Functional Melodies: Finding Mathematical Relationships in Music. Key Curriculum Press.

Bedford, A. (2005). The Unofficial LEGO Builder’s Guide. No Starch Press.

Bers, M. U. (2007). Blocks to Robots: Learning with Technology in the Early Childhood Classroom. Teachers College Press.

Boaler, J. (2008). What’s Math Got to Do with It?: Helping Children Learn to Love Their Least Favorite Subject–and Why It’s Important for America. Viking Adult.

Brameld, T. (2009). The Use of Explosive Ideas in Education. New Press.

Brockman, J. (2005). Curious Minds: How a Child Becomes a Scientist. Vintage.

Broug, E. (2008). Islamic Geometric Patterns. Thames & Hudson.

Cadwell, L. B., & Gandini, L. (1997). Bringing Reggio Emilia Home: An Innovative Approach to Early Childhood Education. Teachers College Press.

Choldenko, G. (2006). Al Capone Does My Shirts. Puffin.

Colella, V. S., Klopfer, E., & Resnick, M. (2001). Adventures in Modeling: Exploring Complex, Dynamic Systems with StarLogo. Teachers College Press.

Cuoco, A. A. (1990). Investigations in Algebra: An Approach to Using Logo. The MIT Press.

Curtis, D., & Carter, M. (2003). Designs for Living and Learning: Transforming Early Childhood Environments. Redleaf Press.

DeMarco, T. (2002). Slack: Getting Past Burnout, Busywork, and the Myth of Total Efficiency. Broadway.

DeMaria, R., & Wilson, J. L. (2003). High Score!: The Illustrated History of Electronic Games, Second Edition. McGraw-Hill Osborne Media.

Devlin, K. (2006). The Math Instinct: Why You’re a Mathematical Genius. Basic Books.

Edgerton, H. E. (2000). Exploring the Art and Science of Stopping Time: A CD-ROM Based on the Life and Work of Harold E. Edgerton. The MIT Press.

Edwards, C., Gandini, L., & Forman, G. (1998). The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach Advanced Reflections, Second Edition. Ablex Publishing.

Erwin, B. (2001). Creative Projects with LEGO. Addison-Wesley Professional.

Falk, B. (2008). Teaching the Way Children Learn. Teachers College Press.

Field, B. (2000). Make a Movie That Tells a Story. William Field.

Field, R. (1990). Geometric Patterns from Roman Mosaics. Tarquin.

Field, R. (1999). Geometric Patterns from Islamic Art & Architecture. Tarquin.

Field, R. (1999). Geometric Patterns from Tiles & Brickwork. Tarquin.

Finchler, J. (2000). Testing Miss Malarkey. Walker Books for Young Readers.

Gandini, L., Etheredge, S., & Hill, L. (2009). Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America. Davis.

Gardner, M. (1988). Perplexing Puzzles and Tantalizing Teasers. Dover Publications.

Gardner, M. (2005). Martin Gardner’s Mathematical Games. Mathematical Association of America.

Gardner, M. (2008). Hexaflexagons, Probability Paradoxes, and the Tower of Hanoi: Martin Gardner’s First Book of Mathematical Puzzles and Games. Cambridge University Press.

Gonick, L., & Smith, W. (1994). Cartoon Guide to Statistics. Collins.

Gurstelle, W. (2004). The Art of the Catapult: Build Greek Ballistae, Roman Onagers, English Trebuchets, and More Ancient Artillery. Chicago Review Press.

Gutman, D. (2009). Recycle This Book. Yearling.

Hendrick, J. (2003). Next Steps Toward Teaching the Reggio Way: Accepting the Challenge to Change. Prentice Hall.

Herbert, J. (1998). Leonardo da Vinci for Kids: His Life and Ideas, 21 Activities. Chicago Review Press.

Hill, L., Cadwell, L., & Schwall, C. (2005). In The Spirit Of The Studio: Learning From The Atelier Of Reggio Emilia. Teachers College Press.

Ihnatko, A. (2006). iPod Fully Loaded: If You’ve Got It, You Can iPod It. Wiley.

Jacobs, H. R. (1994). Mathematics: A Human Endeavor. W. H. Freeman.

Johnson, C. (1981). Harold and the Purple Crayon 50th Anniversary Edition. HarperCollins.

Jones, L. (1998). Our America: Life and Death on the South Side of Chicago. Scribner Paper Fiction.

Kaner, P. (1999). The Hutchinson Pocket Dictionary of Mathematics. Helicon.

Kelsh, N. (2003). How to Photograph Your Life: Capturing Everyday Moments with Your Camera and Your Heart. Stewart, Tabori and Chang.

KLUTZ. (Year). Lego Crazy Action Contraptions Book Kit-. KLUTZ.

Klutz, T. E. o. (2009). Tricky Video. Klutz.

Kohl, H. (2009). The Herb Kohl Reader: Awakening the Heart of Teaching. New Press.

Kohn, A. (2009). No Grades + No Homework = Better Learning. CreateSpace.

Lansch, E. S. (2008). The Promise of Music. Deutsche Grammophon.

Lopate, P. (2008). Being with Children: A High-Spirited Personal Account of Teaching Writing, Theater, and Videotape. New Press.

Magid, L., & Collier, A. (2006). MySpace Unraveled: A Parent’s Guide to Teen Social Networking. Peachpit Press.

Moscovich, I. (2001). 1000 Play Thinks: Puzzles, Paradoxes, Illusions & Games. Workman Publishing Company.

Nagata, J. (2001). Joe Nagata’s Lego Mindstorms Idea Book. No Starch Press.

Nettleback, D. (2005). Computers, Thinking and Learning: Inspiring Students With Technology. Acer Press.

Nieto, S. (2003). What Keeps Teachers Going?. Teachers College Press.

Onn, A. L., & Alexander, G. (1998). Cabaret Mechanical Movement. Cabaret Mechanical Publishing.

Pappas, T. (1993). Math Talk: Mathematical Ideas in Poems for Two Voices. Wide World Publishing, Tetra.

Pappas, T. (1994). The Magic of Mathematics: Discovering the Spell of Mathematics. Wide World Publishing, Tetra.

Patri, A. (2007). A Schoolmaster of the Great City: A Progressive Education Pioneer’s Vision for Urban Schools. New Press.

Peterson, I. (1997). The Jungles of Randomness: A Mathematical Safari. Wiley.

Pilegaard, U., & Dooley, M. (2007). Forbidden LEGO: Build the Models Your Parents Warned You Against!. No Starch Press.

Pogue, D., & Miller, A. (2009). iMovie ‘09 and iDVD: The Missing Manual. Pogue Press.

Porter, B. (2005). DigiTales: The Art of Telling Digital Stories. bjpconsulting.

Rathjen, D., & Klutz, I. (1998). Lego Crazy Action Contraptions: A Lego Inventions Book. Klutz Press.

Richardson, W. (2006). Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Corwin Press.

Rinaldi, C. (2005). In Dialouge with Reggio Emilia: Listening, Researching and Learning. Routledge.

Ryan, J., Dunford, G., & Sellars, S. (2006). Micronations. Lonely Planet.

Salvadori, M. (2000). The Art of Construction: Projects and Principles for Beginning Engineers & Architects. Chicago Review Press.

Sato, J. (2002). Jin Sato’s LEGO MINDSTORMS: The Master’s Technique. No Starch Press.

Scheinfeld, D. R., Haigh, K. M., & Scheinfeld, S. J. P. (2008). We Are All Explorers: Learning and Teaching with Reggio Principles in Urban Settings. Teachers College Press.

Schwartau, W. (2001). Internet & Computer Ethics for Kids:. Interpact Press.

Silberstein-Storfer, M. (1997). Doing Art Together. Harry N. Abrams.

Singh, S. (2000). The Code Book: The Science of Secrecy from Ancient Egypt to Quantum Cryptography. Anchor.

Singh, S. (2002). The Code Book: How to Make It, Break It, Hack It, Crack It. Delacorte Books for Young Readers.

Stewart, I. (2004). Math Hysteria: Fun and Games with Mathematics. Oxford University Press, USA.

Stewart, I. (2006). How to Cut a Cake: And Other Mathematical Conundrums. Oxford University Press, USA.

Stewart, I. (2008). Why Beauty Is Truth: A History of Symmetry. Basic Books.

Stewart, I. (2009). Professor Stewart’s Cabinet of Mathematical Curiosities. Basic Books.

Topal, C. W., & Gandini, L. (1999). Beautiful Stuff: Learning with Found Materials. Sterling.

Turkle, S. (2008). Falling for Science: Objects in Mind. The MIT Press.

Vines, R. D. (2008). Composing Digital Music For Dummies. For Dummies.

Vorderman, C. (1999). How Math Works. Readers Digest.

Wang, W. (2003). Totally Tasteless Photoshop Elements. McGraw-Hill/OsborneMedia.

Watson, B. (2003). The Man Who Changed How Boys and Toys Were Made: The Life and Times of A. C. Gilbert, the Man Who Saved Christmas. Penguin (Non-Classics).

Wells, D. (1998). The Penguin Book of Curious and Interesting Numbers: Revised Edition. Penguin (Non-Classics).

Williams, M. (2006). Making Real-Life Videos. Allworth Press.

Research, I. W. (2002). A New Kind of Science Explorer. Wolfram Research, Inc..

(Year). Arthur Ganson presents a few MACHINES, created between 1978 and 2004. Publisher.

Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 would like to thank iStockphoto for sponsoring Lesa Snider’s participation in the institute.

Click here to receive 10 free high-resolution images from the best web site for royalty-free graphics.

The goal of Constructing Modern Knowledge is to provide a space in which learning is the consequence of experience and where you don’t hear a series of speakers, but work with leading experts and enjoy intimate conversations with them while collaborating on personally meaningful projects. Therefore, the program listed below is a guide detailing appointments, rather than a rigid schedule of events allowing no flexibility.

Please familiarize yourself the amazing faculty for this year’s event. I am so proud and grateful that these folks will join us! You will not find such talent or expertise at any other event.

CMK 2009 tentative schedule
Constructing Modern Knowledge is all about flexibility. Mini-tutorials, more formal conversations and social events will be arranged throughout the institute, but I realize that people like to have a sense of the daily routine. Here it is, subject to change.

July 12 - 8:45 AM Meet in the Radisson Lobby for preconference Science and History Tour of Boston (space still available)
July 12 - 7:00 PM Informal get together in JD’s Tavern at the Radisson Hotel

July 13 - 8:15 AM Registration at Radisson Hotel
July 13 - 9 AM Welcome and opening keynote by Dr. Gary Stager
July 13 - late morning Guest Speaker: Brian Silverman (the nature of science, mathematics and how computing brings these ideas to life)
July 13 - noon Lunch (on your own)
July 13 - 1 PM Project development time
July 13 - 4:30 PM End of day reflection
July 13 - 7 PM Conference dinner

July 14 - 9 AM Start of day & project development time
July 14 - 10 AM Guest Speaker: Deborah Meier (a conversation with one of the leading visionaries of school reform)
July 14 - noon Lunch (on your own)
July 14 - 1 PM Project development time
July 14 - 1 PM Learning Adventures with Lesa Snider (she literally wrote the book on Photoshop CS4 and is an expert on digital photography)
July 14 - 4:30 PM End of day reflection

July 15 - 9 AM Start of day & project development time
July 15 - 10 AM Guest Speaker: Dr. Lella Gandini (a visual tour of educational Reggio Emilia, perhaps the world’s richest example of constructivism in practice)
July 15 - noon Lunch (on your own)
July 15 - 1 PM Project development time
July 15 - 3:30 PM Leave on bus for Big Night Out in Boston
July 15 - 5:00 - 7:30 PM Reception, tour and special treats at FableVision Studios
Guest Speaker: Peter Reynolds
Optional roundtable discussion with legendary MIT scientist, inventor and raconteur, Dr. Marvin Minsky
July 15 - 11 PM (precise) Board bus back to Manchester
July 15 - midnight Arrive back at the Radisson Hotel

July 16 - 9 AM Project development time
July 16 - 10 AM Discussion of student leadership and empowerment with Sylvia Martinez, President of Generation YES
July 16 - Noon Lunch
July 16 - 1 PM Culminating project development
July 16 - 2 PM Project sharing
Reflection
Clean-up
July 16 - 4 PM Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009 comes to a close
Space is still available for Constructing Modern Knowledge! Don’t miss out!

No person is more responsible for bringing the revolutionary learner-centered principles and techniques of Reggio Emilia, Italy to American educators than Lella Gandini. Dr. Gandini is the United States Liaison for the Dissemination of the Reggio Emilia approach, Lesley University Visiting Scholar and an early childhood education consultant.

Although rooted in the municipal preschools of Reggio Emilia, Italy, the powerful ideas are applicable to learners of all ages and offer 45+ years worth of lessons for creative educators concerned with authentic sustainable school reform. This approach to education built upon “the defense & promotion of the rights and potential of children,” the use of authentic materials, an emphasis on creativity, the environment as a teacher and teachers as learners is wholly consistent with the goals of Constructing Modern Knowledge.

More about Dr. Gandini…
Lella Gandini was instrumental in bringing the groundbreaking museum exhibit, The Hundred Languages of Children, to the United States and in introducing Howard Gardner to Loris Malaguzzi, the guiding inspiration behind the Reggio Emilia approach.

Lella serves as Associate Editor of Innovations in Early Education: the International Reggio Exchange and helps translate the powerful ideas of “Reggio” via lectures, books and articles.

Dr. Gandini is co-editor and co-author of The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach to Early Childhood Education; Beautiful Stuff: Learning with Found Materials; Bambini: The Italian Approach to Infant/toddler Care; In the Spirit of the Studio: Learning from the Atelier of Reggio Emilia; and the recently published, Insights and Inspirations from Reggio Emilia: Stories of Teachers and Children from North America.

Lella has also carried out research on parenting, children’s fears, the use and text of traditional nursery rhymes in Italy, and comparing rituals at bedtime in Tuscany and New England. She has published several books for children, as well as books about parenting and early education in Italy. Lella is a correspondent for the Italian magazine for teachers, Bambini. For the City of Pistoia, she served as a consultant and was the curator for two exhibits: Bedtime and 100 years of Children: An Open Family Album.

Read Gary Stager’s 2002 article about the Reggio Emila approach, The Best Idea this Side of Italy.

If you or your students ever used Apple Logo, LogoWriter, MicroWorlds, programable LEGO, Scratch or dozens of other programming environments for children, there is a good chance Brian had a hand in their creation. After working with Seymour Papert while an undergraduate at MIT, Brian went on to be a founder of LCSI where he held most leadership positions, and for 20+ years led was responsible for research & development. His work resulted in countless learning environments used around the world. For more than a decade, Brian Silverman has been a consulting scientist at the prestigious MIT Media Lab.

Brian spoke at six of the seven New Jersey Educational Computing Conferences I chaired, plus a bunch of other conferences I organized in the US and Australia. Teachers looked forward to spending an hour or two with Brian each year because his presentations were so stimulating. There is no greater fun than making your brain go to places you never imagined before and Brian is a fantastic navigator. He is witty, profound and remarkably down-to-earth.

Brian Silverman’s love of math and science is infectious. He inspires me to think in new ways and explore problems on the frontiers of our imagination. Brian is remarkable in his ability to make complex concepts accessible to laypeople - most importantly, children. The universe is his playground and powerful ideas are his toys. Here are just a few examples:

Brian once built two different tic-tac-toe playing computers out of TinkerToys! Read a Scientific American article about it.
Brian and some friends, including the inventor of Tetris, are fascinated by preserving not only old computers, but the software that made them special. Here is their faithful recreation of the world’s first videogame from 1961, SpaceWar! Play the game online. Read the history of SpaceWar!
Brian and Mitchel Resnick founded The Playful Invention Company to create a powerful whimsical robotic construction kit for kids. You’ll get a chance to build with the Pico Crickets at Constructing Modern Knowledge.
Brian’s recent hobby is the creation of a software microworld in which art and mathematics are mutually supportive and beautiful, TurtleArt.

The computer is Brian’s laboratory and canvas. His spirit, wisdom and talents are a most welcome addition to Constructing Modern Knowledge 2009.

I’m thrilled that Lesa Snider is part of the CMK 2009 faculty.

I often tell people that I am “Photoshop disabled.” I know how to use about 1% of what Photoshop can do and am often confused by the software. Lesa Snider is such an amazing teacher that her clever examples and clear presentation helps me understand the complexities of this critical software. Her expertise in digital photography and image manipulation allows her to tailor instruction for any learner.

Lesa is on a mission to teach the world to create and use better graphics. She’s a stock photographer and Chief Evangelist for iStockphoto and founder of the creative tutorial site GraphicReporter.com. Lesa is the recent author of Photoshop CS4: The Missing Manual along with many video training titles, including: Graphic Secrets for Business Professionals, From Photo to Graphic Art, and Practical Photoshop Elements. She writes regularly for Macworld Magazine, the National Association of Photoshop Professionals, Elements Techniques, and Layers Magazine. Lesa is also a corporate trainer and teaches at many industry conferences including Photoshop World, Macworld Expo, Mac Mania Geek Cruises, and the esteemed Santa Fe Workshops.

Since 2003, she has assisted New York Times technology columnist David Pogue’s with many projects, including his Missing Manual book series and NYT videos. You can catch her Graphics Tip of the Week live each Wednesday night on the Your Mac Life internet radio show, which she also co-hosts.

During free time, you’ll find her carving the twisties on her sportbike or hanging with fellow Mac geeks. Lesa is a proud member of the BMWMOA, F800 Riders Club, DACS, NCMUG, Washington Appe Pi, and LiMac.

Constructing Modern Knowledge provides a rich learning environment in which educators have the time, resources and inspiration to learn via the creation of personally meaningful technology projects while interacting with some of the wisest educators of our time. Social events include an opening institute dinner plus a reception at the legendary FableVision Studios before a big night out in Boston.

Constructing Modern Knowledge respects the budgets of schools and educators by keeping registration costs affordable and by offering team discounts. The institute is appropriate for all K-12 educators, administrators and teacher educators.

Then spend the rest of the evening exploring fabulous Beantown before heading back to Manchester by bus.

This is yet another reason to attend Constructing Model Knowledge 2009!

Register today!