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Posts Tagged ‘think beyond’

The growth of ebooks

Sunday, January 24th, 2010

The Horizon Report 2010 suggests that ebook technology will develop rapidly over the next two years. Perhaps by the end of this year we may see the sales of ebook readers tripling and a 200% increase in the sales of ebooks. The technologies surrounding ebooks will improve significantly, with an exponential increase in e-friendly apps, use of touchscreens and the development of user-friendly interfaces.

This year I am launching a series of ebooks to explore these developing technologies. The first of these is a series on Talking the Walk: Walking the Talk. These are for educators who wish to use a learning walk process to develop their pedagogical leadership skills. Aspects of the Kiwi Leadership for Principals that are highlighted in this book include relationships (since these underpin learning walks) and the power of context. Leading change, problem solving, culture, pedagogy, systems and awhinatanga are also key strands throughout this book series. Talking the Walk: Walking the Talk also relates well to the Leads Other for Learning section of the ACEL Leadership Capability framework which you may also want to explore further.

Talking the Walk: Walking the Talk experiments with flip book technology, giving the look and sound of the pages of a book as they turn over. You can read it online or download as a pdf. Adding embedded audio and video will be the next stage in my learning. If you come across new ideas and tools that I could use please let me know. Ebooks are on the rise!

You will find more information about the content of  my first ebook on the News! page and can place orders at the Store.

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Fear and Hope

Friday, September 18th, 2009

Today I had the opportunity to share some of my reflections on my voluntary work in Cape Town, as part of the Rata Teachers Support group. I hope that those who came to listen could see what a profound effect my experience has had on me. It reinforced the importance of giving to others in order to help understand yourself. I had never been involved volunteering overseas before and all I could do was hope that I would have something to offer. The experience took me out of my comfort zone – and I believe that this is where real learning happens.

Margaret Wheatley says that hope propels us to action and that when hope enters the room fear is always by its side. That is because while hope looks to the future, fear is based on the past and the ‘what ifs’.

I have really become aware of the many people who are seeking to make a difference to others, throughout the world and for many different causes. They are driven by passion and commitment. They have high hopes that their work will make a difference and at times, fear that the difference is not great enough. They are not paralysed by this fear, but rather more determined than ever because it is worth the risk. One example is the Adonis Musati Project, based in Cape Town, yet another ripple of hope to help humanity:

I fear for a world where we cannot reach out and help others, instead focussing on greed and self interest. Is that not what got us to this place we are today? These are times for courageous leadership, for each of us to have a strong moral compass that compels us to lead ethically, driven by clear beliefs for what could be. Again, Margaret Wheately describes this profoundly:

We may not succeed in changing things, but we choose to act from the clarity that this is right action for us. People who endure and persevere for their cause describe clarity as a force arising within them that compels them to act.

They express this by saying, “I couldn’t not do it.”

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The rise of the nomad

Thursday, September 10th, 2009

I have been contemplating buying an iphone. Every time I meet an iphone user I gaze at their phone longingly, borrow it for a few minutes and check out what apps they have installed. “You mean it can recognise that song that’s playing right now? It’s got GPS? So where can we buy a pizza?” I guess it’s partly because I am a mac girl, but it’s really more than that. I long to have a more nomadic technological existence. Rather than carry my laptop everywhere I want to travel with an iphone and my livescribe pen. I’m sure my chiropractor would support me here.

But I’ve been procrastinating, and today I worked out what it was that was holding me back. It is all to do with the inability of New Zealand telecommunications providers to tailor a usage plan to meet my needs. I can buy an iphone at a cheaper price if I want to sign up for a two year contract. Trouble is this gives me a certain number of calls, texts and limited download capacity. Options are complex to interpret and advice slow. This model of customer service is so outmoded that I can’t even contemplate it. We live in flexible times. Times where we can tailor our own learning and where technologies change rapidly. So if providers can’t be responsive to my needs they have really missed the boat. Of course they can tailor the programme if I am a large corporate. But I’m not. I think there are lots of people like me who aren’t having their needs met. Collectively we are powerful. If we withdraw our support they will soon feel it.

The latest trendwatching briefing lists transparency of prices, opinions and standards as one of the most important current consumer trends. As they say, “reviewing is the new advertising.” So yes, I have been reading reviews, twittering for advice and researching the options.

What am I going to do? Within the next few weeks I will bite the bullet and buy an iphone. I’m not going to sign up to any plan that is not customised for me. I’m going for an option that I can change whenever I want and that is based on my needs. I haven’t quite finished my research – but I know what I don’t want. Nomads don’t want to be tied down.

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Resources

Friday, June 5th, 2009

Resources

These resources are available for your use, and to share with others. Please acknowledge the source in using these articles and resources. Page 1 contains slideshare resources, page 2 – articles, page 3 – videos and page 4 – other links.


Slideshare


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News!

Monday, May 4th, 2009

News

Cheryl’s new ebook is now available for purchase from the ‘STORE‘ link on this website. Talking the Walk: Walking the Talk is an introduction to learning walks as a process for bringing about change in education.

This book is the first in a series, with future ebooks being available in the next few months. The writing of ebooks fits with the Think Beyond philosophy of sustaining resources. Rather than cut down trees, the book can be read online or downloaded as a pdf. It is easily updated, and has the ability to provide interactive resources such as videos and audio.

The Future Learning Walk  is based on the process shown in the diagram below. It asks leaders to focus on what is important and to be courageous in leading their learning organisations forward.

Future Learning Walks Process

Future Learning Walks Process

This first ebook in the series outlines the process, with each subsequent book providing greater detail of each stage of the process.

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