Read Write Respond #061

What a strange month. I must admit, I have found myself lost for words. Even with the return of some sense of normality with the inauguration of Joe Biden, it leaves one thinking about what lies beneath the surface and what it means moving forward.

On the family front, my wife planned for university onsite over summer break, but was then thrown into an online course. With that, it limited our time to get away. This turned out to be fortunate with the merry-go round that is Australia’s internal border closures. Subsequently, we spent the time hanging around home, cleaning up and catching up with friends. Our youngest also finished up at kindergarten and started school. She was well and truly ready. There were no tears, instead she actually helped console some of her friends from kindergarten.

At work, it was a case of the calm before the storm. I spent time tying up loose ends and preparing as best as one can before schools returned. The problem is that no matter how prepared you are in regards to videos, guides and training, when everyone wants to speak to you yesterday it just creates for long days and chaos.

Personally, I have taken on a new theme this year, that of ‘ideas’.

My One Word for 2021 is Ideas

Thinking about the idea of the novel, I purchased an audiobook version of Thomas Pynchon’s Gravity’s Rainbow. I soon realised that this was not the book to listen to around the house, so I then turned to Bertrand Russell’s A History of Western Philopsohy with a thought to ideas over time. In regards to music, I did a lot of reflection on 2020, so did not really listen to much other than that.

Music of 2020 in Review, or the Year of New Beginnings

Here then are some of the posts that have had me thinking:

Education

The Future of Professional Learning

Across two posts (one and two), Dean Shareski reflects upon the future of professional development. Two of the points that have stood out: the flexibility offered by online learning that will not go away and learning in-person will become more about connections and relationships.

Four Learning Models That Are Working in Remote (and Concurrent) Classrooms Right Now

AJ Juliani discusses four models for structuring learning when you have some students onsite and some offsite: Station Rotation, Choice Boards, Playlists and E5 ( Engage, Explore, Explain, Elaborate, and Evaluate)

8 Quick Checks for Understanding

Jay McTighe unpacks a list of eight formative assessment techniques that can be used for quick pulse checks.

Why Do We Keep Reading ‘The Great Gatsby’?

Wesley Morris explores the lasting legacy of The Great Gatsby.

Technology

Neofeudalism and the Digital Manor

Cory Doctorow discusses the idea of ‘manorial security’, where we place our trust in platform capitalism to keep us safe. In response, he wonders if companies like Apple, Facebook and Google have an opportunity for a Ulysses Pact where in a position of strength these platforms decide to step away from user data.

How @realDonaldTrump Changed Politics — and America

Derek Robertson reflects upon Donald Trump’s Twitter account. He documents some of the history associated with it and the platform it has allowed. Alternatively, Kevin Quealy documents all of Donald Trump’s Twitter insults.

A framework for digital resilience: supporting children through an enabling environment

Cliff Manning discusses the Digital Resilience Framework and the importance of collective action.

Before You Post That Hot Take

Ian O’Byrne talks about doing the personal work before sharing a hot take. you move to the local context. Read up. Problematize your perspectives. Question your assumptions and biases. Listen to others.

Mashapedia: Technologies of Attack Surface by Cory Doctorow

Pavel Anni has put together a companion to Cory Doctorow’s novel, Attack Surface and the Little Brother series documenting the various technology and terms discussed.

General

Maybe we shouldn’t change the date of Australia Day after all

Luke Pearson explains that changing the date of Australia Day is only the first step in correcting Australian culture.

The American Abyss – A historian of fascism and political atrocity on Trump, the mob and what comes next.

Timothy Snyder, the author of On Tyranny, places the current situation in time. Exploring comparisons between the lie perpetuated by Trump and that perpetuated by Hitler. Richard Evans goes aginst this, explaining that Trumps roll as an isolationist is counter to the fascist mandate

The UX of LEGO Interface Panels

George Cave breaks down the different interface panels in Lego. This includes exploring coding associated with size, colour, shape, texture, position and texture.

20 Years Ago, Donnie Darko Turned ’80s Pop Into Nostalgic Dread

Tom Breihan reflects upon Donnie Darko and the vibe set by the eighties soundtrack that was ahead of its time.