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A Language for the Future



Courtesy of Google Images
Mandarin language classes are on the rise. It’s no wondersince 1.3 billion people reside in the People’s Republic of China. Mandarin isthe dominant language and it is helping to unify the country and change theface of China.  

Research has proven that it is best to learn a second languagefrom childhood. This is even more true for Mandarin because the ear needs toperceive the four tones that distinguish the meanings of many words.

Learning Mandarin is a challenge that our students can meetif we support them be offering courses in elementary school. Their economicfuture may depend on it.

See one teacher’s approach:
http://www.educationnews.org/k-12-schools/rising-number-of-american-students-are-learning-chinese/

Thing 3


Google’s Principle Number Three: Fastis better than slow.

I’m not so sure about this one and it's effect on the classroom.There are some actions that could speed up to make delivery of education moreefficient. Many of them are out of the realm of the teacher. So, is thereanything worthwhile that can be done faster in the classroom?  
  • ·        All students would appreciate havinganswers to their questions in a timely way.

·        Access to all classroom informationcan be faster with an internet connection.
·        If I were a student again I wouldwant a quick response to my answers on a test.
Delays are the stuff of societiesthat keep their citizens in check. Speed is a characteristic of opencommunities.
And what’s the reason to speed upthe information process? To give the student more time for quiet reflection. Ittakes time to process information and make a good decision. Speed gives us thatadvantage.


School for the Imaginative

Courtesy of Vittra


Liz Dwyerasks, “Is Sweden's Classroom-Free School the Future of Learning?” We can onlyanswer, “Yes, yes, yes!”
In Sweden’s new Vittra,Telephonplan learning flows from one space to another. Vittra, which has set up30 schools in Sweden has eliminated classrooms altogether. The building lookslike a studio for techies. Well, maybe it is, although they are very young.
Spaces are arranged forindependent and group work. Play becomes work, and work is play. It’s a fit.
No grading system gets in the way.Students are taught at their own level with others whose needs are similar.
I would like to work and play here. How about you?

Read the article: http://www.good.is/post/is-sweden-s-classroom-free-school-the-future-of-learning/

See the Vittra philosophy: http://vittra.se/english/AboutVittra/Oursixpromises.aspx