Category Archives: People
Dan Pallotta: The way we think about charity is dead wrong
There has been much controversy recently around how we measure success in the not-for-profit sector. I really like this TED Talk by Dan Pallotta which challenges conventional thinking in this area and suggests that we:
focus on the scale of charities dreams rather than the size of their overheads.
His argument picks-up five aspects where charities face what he calls 'discrimination' against the expectations and standards we have for the private sector:
#1 Compensation
Pallotta argues that salaries and bonuses that are associated with 'doing well for yourself' appear to be almost without.
more
The Chimp Paradox – Dr Steve Peters
I am a bit of a mug for business books and love reading popular psychology. Many books in these genres are quite frankly rubbish, not based on any scientific evidence and too often completely useless in terms of generalising beyond the particular experiences or circumstances of the individual author. My interest in these books is usually both personal and professional - is there anything I can learn to improve myself and are there any useful insights that.
more
The Leadership Diamond
Code Hero
Just made a small donation and downloaded Code Hero from Primer Labs (thanks to Matt Seeney at Knowledge Nation for sharing the link).
The concept behind Code Hero is quite simply that young people can extend their capabilities and have a better understanding of their world if they learn how to actively create rather than passively consume. Computer coding can provide a very powerful way into this world but is often difficult to get into and involves a very steep learning curve (Logo springs to mind as a notable exception from my days as.
more
Stephen Pinker on Language and Human Relations
Been re-watching some of the RSA Animate videos and came across this great one by Steven Pinker. I don't always agree with his analysis or for that matter all of the conclusions he makes, but to my mind he continues to make a serious contribution to our understanding at a very deep level of what it is to be human.
In this video he turns his attention to the role of innuendo in human relations. His hypothesis is that even obvious innuendos are useful devices for maintaining fictional relationships as they are based on.
more
John Hunter and ‘The World Peace Game’
Got this link from Colm Linnane, Scottish Book Trust Online Teacher in Residence - @colmsbt
John Hunter is a brilliant teacher: humble; self-effacing; enabling; dedicated to improving learning; an inspirational role model.
Can you just imagine the delight of being one of his 4th Graders learning through his '21st Century Wisdom Table'? Do you think he has to spend a lot of time dealing with disruption or managing student underachievement?
Just think.
more
Sir Ken Robinson on Passion
A lot of this talk covers the same ground as the talk he gave at the RSAMD in Glasgow on the 8th March so a great opportunity to catch-up if you missed him.
I am currently doing a few days work for my old employer Learning and Teaching Scotland. The task is to support a working group of the LTS Advisory Council to publish their thoughts on 'Creativity Across Learning'. There is some symmetry in this task as first job I.
more
Hans Rosling: 200 Countries, 200 Years, 4 Minutes
I love this from the BBC 4 series the 'Joy of Stats'. It's a shorter version of the Ted Talks that Hans Rosling, expert on global health, did in 2006/07 (worth watching if you have time). A wonderful example of how data and statistics can be presented in a way that is both compelling and memorable. I will never think of the differences between the so called 'developed' and 'developing world' in the same way again..
more
Changing Education Paradigms – Sir Ken Robinson
Just came across this lovely little video from the RSA. Nothing new here but expressed so clearly, and with Sir Ken Robinson's trademark incisiveness and good humour. It's a real gem, hope you enjoy it as much as I did..
more