This post is not about technology. It's about how we (humankind) have been wiring our brains to think about technology. We have quite a hole to climb out of. Not only are our brains already "wired to scout for the bad stuff," the Huffington Post reports, referring to what neuropsychologist and author Rick Hanson calls our "negativity bias." We've been reinforcing that bias with at least 15 years … [Read more...] about Neutralize the ‘negativity bias’ against kids’ Net use
School & Tech
Restorative justice eclipsing zero tolerance in US schools
Here's a model for preventing bullying and a whole lot of other problems: a school that promotes social literacy not zero tolerance. At the Boston area's Charlestown High School, "where many students come from high-crime neighborhoods, an innovative program employs a surprising method to help keep teens in school and out of trouble with the law: Encouraging them to talk to each other," reports NBC … [Read more...] about Restorative justice eclipsing zero tolerance in US schools
All kids deserve the safety & other benefits of social-emotional learning
Think how digital spaces, homes, schools, workplaces and everywhere else we human beings congregate would change were every child to be kindly, respectfully taught the following skills: Self-awareness: The ability to 1) recognize emotions and thoughts and how they affect behavior and 2) assess one’s strengths and limitations Self-management: The ability to regulate emotions, … [Read more...] about All kids deserve the safety & other benefits of social-emotional learning
A Connecticut school to its students: ‘We trust you’
Pure inspiration – both the message in the video and the wonderful student (and staff) faces and voices in all their diversity. To see what I mean, take a 2-minute break and go to this page at Mind/Shift, scroll down to the embedded YouTube video, and start at 1:55 into the video from New Canaan High School. Imagine what school would be like and what could happen – for learning, student … [Read more...] about A Connecticut school to its students: ‘We trust you’
Students hacking iPads: Mostly good, isn’t it?
Calling it a "hacking scandal," NPR reported that less than a week after receiving their iPads in the Los Angeles Unified School District's $30 million iPad program, more than 200 high school students had already figured out how to bypass the filtering software installed on them. A scandal, maybe, for educators who just want to control students' use of the devices. But this is school not jail, … [Read more...] about Students hacking iPads: Mostly good, isn’t it?