Jun 30 2008
The World Flat – Part E
Hi all,
The next part of my summary and thoughts on The World is Flat. This follows from Part A, Part B, Part C and Part D.
The World Flat: Part E
It has taken me five parts and finally I can see where Freidman brings in his educational thinking.
Right Stuff – education
I have extracted three pojts that caught my attention.
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Curisity CQ and Passion PQ is greater than IQ (Intelligence Quotient). Survey students for the their favourite teachers and do those courses – the content does not matter. It was a bit like this when I was at university – I am not sure you can get away with this for the “core” of what we need to do but learning how to learn is made a lot easier by learning from those with passion and intellectual curiosity.
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In China today Bill Gates is Britney Spears. In America today Britney Spears is Britney Spears – that is our problem. On this point often I see great teachers in their own school have to sit listening toexperts from outside to do what they can do or even do for other schools
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Remember, in, China when you are one in a million there are 1300 people just like you. This was just a sobering thought. I remember reading this on a plane coming back from Wagga Wagga after some presentations. Does not matter what the odds are have a go.
Okay the World is Flat
This expression has been around for a while now. We all have heard it in different contextx no longer are Bangalore Call Centres somehting we hear about they are something we deal with around dinner time. They are the places we/I can call in the evening to fix up Optus or my PDA. This is much easier than doing during workhurs.
This sort of stuff has freed me up The playing field is flattened – we can all be an expert now. I feel we have to specialise in our expertise. I am abreast a lot of information now and peole ask me how I keep onto of things. For me it is made possible by blogging, Twitter, when it works and Google Reader – for me it is all viral professional development.
These two summary statements are useful for me to reflect upon.
Columbus looked for India and found USA and the world is round.
Now America has found India and the world is flat
The World is Flat:Part F will be about how schools can cope.
Now I am off to the Gold Coast for the Marathon weekend. with my family and Cool Running friends
Catch you all later.
cheers MArtin



