Mindfulness and Meditative Practice in Education

University of Manitoba professor of Education, Thomas Falkenberg is deeply involved in education for sustainable well-being. I recently read his article, "Teaching as Contemplative Professional Practice" in which he explores the benefits of mindfulness and ongoing self-awareness in the teaching profession. Training ourselves to be aware not just of our practice and strategies or our […]

Posted by milesmac on February 15th, 2016 | 1 Comment Posted in #GDPI, big ideas

and they call it Democracy: Raising followers or leaders or free thinkers?

This post is a quick reflection on the Noam Chomsky piece called, "The Responsibility of Intellectuals, Redux: Using Privilege to Challenge the State", Chomsky as always, sees past what's on the surface straight through the underlying issues presenting a clear argument with compelling evidence. What does this have to do with teaching and learning? Well, […]

Posted by milesmac on February 13th, 2016 | No Comments Posted in #GDPI, big ideas

Seeking help is a critical skill

“Toxic ideas such as  “asking for help will alter others’ perception of me” or “asking for help will make me feel less competent than my colleagues” prevent them from seeking help from informal (e.g., friends) or formal (e.g., colleagues, project manager, etc) sources.  Since competence and independence are among the most cherished values in today’s organizations […]

Posted by milesmac on January 23rd, 2016 | No Comments Posted in #GDPI, big ideas, Professional Inquiry

"History of Education" what's it good for?

Herbst, J. (1999). The history of education: State of the art at the turn of the century in Europe and North America. Paedagogica Historica, 35(3). “… historians of education meant to be academic historians before they would consider their role in educational scholarship and professional training.” This statement was a revealing insight into historical scholarship. […]

Posted by milesmac on January 23rd, 2016 | No Comments Posted in #GDPI, big ideas

Creativity and Innovation: Are they the Same Thing?

Creativity and Innovation These terms are often used interchangeably when describing new ideas, processes, and products but there is a key difference that is worth considering. Creativity exists only in our minds until we use it to do or create something. Innovation is when we ACT on our creative thoughts. How do we know if someone is […]

Posted by milesmac on January 17th, 2016 | 4 Comments Posted in #GDPI, big ideas

Speed Read: "Social Physics" by Alex Pentland

Pentland's Social Physics If you work with people, or know people, or are a people, then you should read this book. http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18079689-social-physics Pentland, A. (2014). Social physics: How good ideas spread - The lessons from a new science. New York, NY: Penguin Press. For a good overview of what social physics is about, read Pentland's […]

Posted by milesmac on January 9th, 2016 | No Comments Posted in big ideas, Pedagogy, Speed Reads

Espoused and/or Practiced Values

Espoused and/or Practiced Values Argyris (1995) describes two theories of actions: the theories we espouse, and the theories we practice. Ideally, of course, they are one in the same; our behaviours align with the philosophies we hold close. However, there is, more often than not, a mismatch between what we say we believe, and what […]

Posted by milesmac on November 12th, 2015 | No Comments Posted in big ideas, Professional Inquiry

How to create a culture of collaboration: Collaborative Inquiry 1 of 3

Collaborative Inquiry When done right, collaborative inquiry(CI) engages participants in deep reflection on, and discussion about evidence and artifacts relating to the organization's goals and the individual's practice. CI participants challenge each others' practice and points of view in pursuit of positive change. Calling a collection of people a, "collaborative inquiry group" however does not […]

Posted by milesmac on November 11th, 2015 | 2 Comments Posted in #GDPI, big ideas, Professional Inquiry, Research

When procedural change challenges organizational values: An open case study

This organizational learning case study was created as part of my participation in the graduate course Organizational Learning at Queen's University as part of the Graduate Diploma in Professional Inquiry leading to a Master of Education degree.  Organizational Learning Case Study A New Report Card While the doors of Prairie Lighthouse Middle School (PLMS) first […]

Posted by milesmac on November 7th, 2015 | No Comments Posted in #GDPI, big ideas, Pedagogy

Wearable Technology Possibilities for Education

This  paper was written as part of my participation in the graduate course Educational Hardware Systems at the George Washington University. It is one of the required courses for the Education Technology Leadership concentration in the Master of Arts in Education and Human Development. Wearable Technology Possibilities for Education ABSTRACT Networked computing is radically changing how […]

Posted by milesmac on October 5th, 2015 | No Comments Posted in #GWETL, big ideas, Pedagogy, Research
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