A Qualitative Top 5 List

My colleague made the request below. And, because I had several (more pressing) tasks to complete I, naturally, dove in and blogged about it for the next hour.  

If the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, then I propose that the way to this man's creativity is through his procrastination.  

Jeez, what does that say about me as a learning coach and father?

Hi, fabulous MS teachers,

We're doing a mini-lesson on how we rate books (five-star system) on Friday on C side in grade 8. If you could fill in the blank to describe what 5 vs 4 vs 3 vs 2 vs 1 means, what would you say?

Your response could even relate to sports teams or movies or TV shows -- the point is this . . . the numbers MEAN  something to you. 

5 = 

4 =

3 =

2 =

1 =

This is hardly quick and easy but that's the way I like it.  Rating systems are, generally, designed to assess quality.

So, I'll channel Pirsig, Letterman, Sport Center's NOT Top Ten Plays and my own music library to handle this task:

1 - Too much detail without context (characters, setting, plot; chaotic.  Too much form and not enough function.  

Musical Metaphor:  The Pussycat Dolls

2 - Commonplace & Unmemorable.  The details and context are clear and, temporarily, interesting but fade with the next fad.  

Musical Metaphor:  Justin Bieber

3 - Standard Storytelling and/or Information is well-crafted.  Clarity helps tell an Interesting story but it lacks a Soul.  

Musical Metaphor:  Guns N' Roses Greatest Hits (as opposed to GNR's Appetite For Destruction)

4 - Storytelling and/or Information is still clear and interesting but draws on the reader's emotions and experiences to create an added layer of meaning.  

Musical Metaphor:  Bob Marley's Legend

5.  Doesn't just draw on a reader's emotions and experiences but influences them.  The reader is changed forever as a result of having read the text.  

Musical Metaphor:   Led Zeppelin IV  Just Kidding.  Zeppelin II touched my soul and I was never the same again.

So, what's your metaphor for a top 5 list?

Seeing is Believing?

I've been saying that the future of learning is in video.

Any doubts?  Just a take a look at how much educational content is now available on You Tube.

More proof?  Take a look at your favorite online newspaper and take stock of the number of video stories taking up space on the web page.

So, what does that mean to an Edu-Soap-Blogxer like me?

I'm in.

Check this little video clip of me preaching to the choir about 21st Century Skills and the need for them to take their place in classrooms.

Anyone have research-based evidence that video instruction is more effective for adolescents' in terms of learning than is reading?  I'll be scouring the internet looking for studies proving or disproving this idea.  In the meantime, try a little experiment for yourself.

Try reading an article and then explaining the facts to another person,  Then try watching a video report and explain its content.  Which was more effective for you?

Which do you think would be more effective for kids?

Howard Gardner must have something to say about this...

... Oops, I meant this!

To Be Continued!