From the desk of Mr. Hans...

David Christian: The history of our world in 18 minutes

2012-08-28T08:41:00.002-04:00

A thought provoking TedTalk to begin the new school year!

Word Clouds - Great Teaching Tool

2012-08-16T08:42:00.001-04:00

Below are six word clouds highlighting the First Inaugural Address of six presidents throughout USA history. I find it fascinating to see the words each president found important to initiate their presidency. Word clouds are a great tool for teachers to compare and contrast ideas with their students. Word clouds created by - TagCrowd

George Washington - First Inaugural Address (April 30, 1789)

created at TagCrowd.com

Andrew Jackson - First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1829)

aid congress duties federal foreign found generally government importance interests military national officers peace people power preserve proper public reform rights service states system whose

created at TagCrowd.com

Abraham Lincoln - First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1861)

created at TagCrowd.com

Franklin Delano Roosevelt - First Inaugural Address (March 4, 1933)

act action congress days discipline duty efforts emergency face helped leadership measures mere money national neighbor people profit public recovery respects restore task values world

created at TagCrowd.com

Ronald Reagan - First Inaugural Address (January 20, 1981)

act america americans away begin believe beyond called children freedom god government heroes individual man means nation people president price problem strength today work world

created at TagCrowd.com

Barack Obama - Inaugural Address (January 20, 2009)

america common crisis face father generation god greater jobs life meet moment nation peace people power prosperity seek spirit things today women words work world

created at TagCrowd.com

2012-07-30T08:29:00.001-04:00

From: OnlineColleges.net

EdCamp from the beginning...

2012-07-12T09:02:00.003-04:00

Cloudy with a chance of voting

2012-06-30T09:32:00.000-04:00

Great tool to use in contrasting candidates for students.

Cloudy with a chance of voting

Wed Jun 27, 2012 2:35 PM EDT

Here are those word clouds we had on today’s show. Chuck talked about the big words that pollsters heard the most in our new NBC/Wall Street Journal poll. Do check out the smallest words in all four – some interesting results overall.

What word would you use in each of the four categories? Tweet your thoughts into the conversation at #dailyrundown.

Cloudy with a chance of voting

Congratulations to the Class of 2012

2012-06-24T14:33:00.002-04:00

As we conclude this season of graduations and commencement speeches it makes one reflective. I realize each year brings about a new class of unique graduates anxious to begin their next stage of life. Individuals like no other, filled with special gifts and talents that will have a profound impact on this world. But I think the most unifying factor in all the graduating classes through all the years is the hope they represent. They stand and celebrate their work and we congratulate them knowing that the future looks brighter because they exist. I know witnessing this hope always makes me optimistic about the future and glad we take the time to celebrate their accomplishments.

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE CLASS OF 2012

Teachers - Giving Thanks!

2012-05-09T12:50:00.000-04:00

EdCampSS - March 24. 2012

2012-04-26T11:01:00.001-04:00

I was introduced to EdCamp last October by attending EdCampNYC and I cannot begin to tell you how awesome the experience has been in my journey of becoming a full-time educator. I am currently in the Alternate Route Teacher program of New Jersey having obtained my Certificate of Eligibility in Social Studies K-12. EdCampSS is now my second EdCamp and I can hardly wait for my next chance to attend another EdCamp. What is an EdCamp? It is a one day learning experience driven by the concept of an un-conference, that is a conference not structured by the traditional model of presenter to attendee, but structured by the model of attendee to attendee. This my seem like like a minimal difference but in reality it is a difference that raises the value of the discourse and collaboration to a level unmatched by most conferences. Without experiencing the conference it is difficult to give an EdCamp a fair write up to understand the value. The podcast below produce by the wonderful educators of TeacherCast is one of the best to understand an EdCamp - but the greatest way to understand EdCamp is to sign-up and attend an EdCamp near you - I am certain you will not regret your decision. Hope to see you soon at an upcoming EdCamp.

Introducing TED-Ed: Lessons Worth Sharing

2012-03-19T10:56:00.000-04:00

TED-Ed Launches on YouTube

TED-Ed's mission is to capture and amplify the voices of great educators around the world. We do this by pairing extraordinary educators with talented animators to produce a new library of curiosity-igniting videos. A new site, which will launch in early April 2012, will feature these new TED-Ed Originals as well as some powerful new learning tools.

For those who can't wait that long, we're pleased to announce the official launch of TED-Ed's YouTube channel featuring all of our new videos. Also, we are happy to extend an open invitation for the nomination of educators and animators and the suggestion of lesson ideas.

Arne Duncan - The Daily Show Interview

2012-03-08T11:57:00.000-05:00

Jon Stewart is a brilliant interviewer and this interview is a must view for all teachers and educators...

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook

Pros and Cons of Social Media in Education

2012-02-12T11:57:00.000-05:00

Via: Online Universities Blog

Mike Rowe celebrates dirty jobs

2012-01-31T17:28:00.002-05:00

ANAGNORISIS: The point in the plot especially of a tragedy at which the protagonist recognizes his or her or some other character's true identity or discovers the true nature of his or her own situation.

PERIPETEIA: A sudden or unexpected reversal of circumstances or situation especially in a literary work.

Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes

2012-01-16T11:49:00.001-05:00

Teaching as it is meant to be...

Sheryl Sandberg - On Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders

2012-01-03T11:09:00.000-05:00

#10 Women have made great gains but there is still work to do!

Julia Bacha: Pay Attention To Nonviolence

2012-01-02T19:47:00.000-05:00

#11 What captures our attention becomes our reality.

Graham Hill: Less Stuff, More Happiness

2011-12-31T11:17:00.000-05:00

#12 The counter argument to the McMansion craze!

Naomi Klein: Addicted To Risk

2011-12-29T09:29:00.000-05:00

#13 Has modern life caused us to forget the risk?

Rebecca MacKinnon: Let's Take Back The Internet!

2011-12-26T13:01:00.000-05:00

#14 The internet a gift and a challenge to freedom!

Sebastian Thrun: Google's Driverless Car

2011-12-20T10:04:00.002-05:00

End-of-the-year collaboration between TED and The Huffington Post counting down 18 great ideas of 2011 that they believe will shape 2012. Watch, engage, and share these groundbreaking ideas as they are unveiled one-by-one. Standby, the countdown is under way!

#15 The car of the future and not too distant future!

Deb Roy: The Birth Of A Word

2011-12-17T10:19:00.000-05:00

Kathryn Schulz On Regret

2011-12-12T08:33:00.000-05:00

Kevin Slavin: How Algorithms Shape Our World

2011-12-09T23:03:00.002-05:00

End-of-the-year collaboration between TED and The Huffington Post counting down 18 great ideas of 2011 that they believe will shape 2012. Watch, engage, and share these groundbreaking ideas as they are unveiled one-by-one. Standby, the countdown is under way!

#18 The technology of algorithms truly awesome in the correct sense of the word. This video will both excite and terrify you about the future of algorithms and the world of tomorrow.

New Jersey Math

2011-11-04T16:18:00.001-04:00

A few years back I was working for a local parish as a Pastoral Minister. One of my responsibilities and achievements was the initiation and administration of a men's retreat weekend. During these weekends a series of witness talks were given by a team of men. These talks consisted of the men sharing their everyday lives in relationship to God. Over the ten years of running these weekends, I was privy to some very profound sharing. Although, the stories were profound the men would often weave humor into their story lines. In particular one of the opening's of a talk always brings a smile to my face. The gentleman began his talk with this line "I was born in the summer of 1950 in Christ Hospital, Jersey City, just in time to vote twice in the November 1950 elections.” You see Hudson County NJ has the dubious reputation of voter fraud and corruption – think Tony Soprano! As a lifelong Hudson and Bergen County resident I can admit some truth to this reputation, but I think some of the reputation is more folklore rather than based in reality. It still may be honest to say New Jersey has a funny perspective on math and numbers and that point was recently driven home for me in two state developments.

Like most states New Jersey is struggling with budget demands pitting revenues against expenditures - and this post is not an argument for the best solutions (maybe a future post) but a request to at least start with good math. Recently the current Administration under the guidance of Governor Christie declared victory on pension reform but the victory could turn out to be a big loser if we do not pay attention to the math in this solution. All one has to do is look at the pension investment plan - Experts say taxpayers could be hit with much higher pension bills if it does not make 8.25 percent interest which it expects to earn each year on investments till 2018. Yes you read that right 8.25 investment return ever year over the next seven years - if you believe that kind of return on your investment, I have a bridge in Brooklyn you can have for a song. There is no way this kind of return will happen - I am afraid this is another example of financial vehicles gone wild. Wall Street over promising with false hope to an already beleaguered economy. Let's look for answers but let's start with realistic numbers.

The second example of New Jersey Math can be found in a recent announcement from the NJ-Department of Education - Department of Education announces formation of College and Career Readiness Task Force. Contained in the announcement was the following quote:

"When you have over 90 percent of students who matriculate to Bergen and Essex County Community Colleges requiring remediation before they can begin college-level work, we clearly are not hitting that mark," said Acting Commissioner Christopher D. Cerf.

While I am not trying to diminish the great value that Bergen and Essex County Community Colleges provide to the students of New Jersey. These institutions are not considered by college preparatory high school students to be the institution of choice - in fact most of New Jersey CP students do not even consider these colleges a safe choice when completing college applications. Again, I am not saying this as a knock on these institutions but trying to define realistic expectations. The majority of students finding their way to these institutions are coming form a background of general courses in high school - not a college preparatory program. Students coming to these institutions with a general course of studies in high school would obviously lack the ability to do college level work, as they did not follow a college preparatory course of studies. So I think to be surprised by 90% needing remediation is looking at the wrong statistic. We need to look at the number of students in high school CP programs who need remediation - this would be a better way to rate how prepared college bound students are being served by New Jersey high schools. Again, starting with the right math will lead to better outcomes.