Year-End Musings – Star Wars Wisdom

Sometimes my inspiration for a new blog post comes from educational websites, sometimes from personal conversations, and sometimes from news articles in the local paper.  I also read other blogs to gain inspiration.  That’s where this one came from — I recently read a post from a teaching colleague that motivated me to create my own short list of Star Wars Wisdom.

tfa_poster_wide_header-1536x864-959818851016For those of you unfamiliar with my passion for Star Wars I should tell you that it is truly one of those past-times from my youth which has extended into my adult life.  I get just as excited for the next Star Wars movie as I was for the last one.

As we close out another school year and head into the summer break it seems like a fitting time to discuss some important leadership lessons that I’ve learned over the years — and how Star Wars shares some of this wisdom:

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Be My Eyes – A Really Cool App

I’m occasionally asked why I’m so passionate about technology in schools.  It can admittedly cost a lot of money and for what real advantage?Ed Tech

It’s a GREAT question.  And it’s one that I’ve given a fair amount of thought to over the years — even more so in the recent past.  You can read some of my thinking in some recent blogs that I’ve written on the topic:

For me the question isn’t really ABOUT the technology — it’s about the effect that technology can have on the learning or lives of those it impacts.

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When Innovation & Best Practice Collide

The Rubik’s Cube — who didn’t have one when it was all the rage back in the 1980s?  What an innovation — certainly one of most unique puzzles or toys I had as a youth!

rubiks cube 2As the story goes, Hungarian sculptor and professor Ernő Rubik invented the device to teach his students about the mechanics behind 3D movable parts.  He soon discovered that he had a pretty cool toy on his hands and with that impetus, the Rubik’s Cube made it’s international debut at some European toy fairs in early 1980.  With sales at over 350 million units to date it is widely assumed to be the world’s top selling puzzle game … ever!

If toy stores had not decided to take a chance on this innovative new toy we never would have had been enamored with its unique challenge.

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