Here is a link to pointed and informative video by Sir Ken Robinson on creativity in the STEM subjects-science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
http://sirkenrobinson.com/skr/askskr-question-8-creativity-is-not-just-for-the-arts
Sir Ken is in Red Deer on February 9th and I will be there with some guests who will no doubt report on their reactions to his lecture on his new book The Element. The event is sold out with 700 people coming from all over Alberta. You can see interest is great and a new organization called Creative Alberta is forming. .
There is another public lecture and conversation featuring Michael Adams author and pollster in Edmonton at the Sutton Place Hotel in the evening of March 17, 2011. His latest book is on the values and attitudes of Baby Boomers in this stage of their lives called Stayin' Alive: How Canadian Baby Boomers Will Work, Play, and Find Meaning In the Second Half of Their Adult Lives
We will also have Jean Twenge. Professor of Psychology from San Diego State University speaking at the same public lecture speaking on themes of her new book the "Narcissism Epidemic, Living in the Age of Entitlement."
All event of this is part of the Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta project I am involved with in partnership with the Alberta Teachers' Association. Check out more on this exciting initiative about the emerging roles, relationships and responsibilities of public education in Alberta at www.learningourway.ca
You can get tickets for the Michael Adam / Jean Twenge lecture on line very soon at WWW.LEARNINGOURWAY.CA Visit the site often to be part of the conversation about what Aspiring Albertans can do to co-create the Next Alberta.
Follow what is happening on Twitter at #creativealberta and #abfuture
Monday, January 17, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
What Should Raj Sherman Do-AN UPDATE
When I did my analysis of the next steps for Dr Raj Sherman I discounted leaving politics to return to medicine as an option because Raj himself said he was going to run in the next election.
However I did not anticipate the imagination and creativity of Sharon McLean the publisher and owner of the recently discontinued free newspaper The Edmontonian. She has recruited Raj to talk about medicine and health care on line in an Internet television like site called Well and Wise OnLine.
Here is a link to the introductory video.http://www.wellandwiseonline.com/videos/dr-raj-sherman/ Have to say Raj is a natural in this role. He will no doubt be professional, informative and even a bit entertaining in this endeavour.
Full disclosure - I have written a few articles for Sharon's The Edmontonian from time to time but I have nothing to do with this new venture. I do wish her the best of luck though as she pursues this project.
However I did not anticipate the imagination and creativity of Sharon McLean the publisher and owner of the recently discontinued free newspaper The Edmontonian. She has recruited Raj to talk about medicine and health care on line in an Internet television like site called Well and Wise OnLine.
Here is a link to the introductory video.http://www.wellandwiseonline.com/videos/dr-raj-sherman/ Have to say Raj is a natural in this role. He will no doubt be professional, informative and even a bit entertaining in this endeavour.
Full disclosure - I have written a few articles for Sharon's The Edmontonian from time to time but I have nothing to do with this new venture. I do wish her the best of luck though as she pursues this project.
Anticipating a Minority Government in Alberta?
OK - this idea of an Alberta minority government is a very hypothetical possibility today. There is no imminent election in the province but the politics are more volatile than most people living here have ever seen.
All signs point to a change from the political status quo next election. Will we do the historical thing and go for a wholesale change of government? Or will we reaffirm the status quo like in the last provincial election that returned the PCs with an increased majority under Stelmach as a new leader. Were we that supportive, or looking for stability or just wanting to give him a chance to prove himself? Or will we be so divided and uncertain about our future by the time the next election comes around that we end up with a minority government.
The key question, of course, is which party would form the minority government? Some of the power shifts in a minority government situation to a smaller party, provided they have enough votes to keep the minority government in power, or not. In that case it is just as critical a question for citizens to consider as to who should have that balance of power to make or break the minority government.
If Albertans decide to elect a minority government next time, will it be a sign we want to change incrementally or perhaps we want to send the PCs a message of our discontent but not rejection. That is what Albertans in Calgary Glenmore did in the by-election by putting the PCs in third place in popular vote. That was in a constituency that had been held by the Deputy Premier. OUCH!
I wonder if Albertans interpret that by-election as indication that the warning shot across PC bow has already been delivered. If so the next election outcome could be much more open and uncertain than the conventional wisdom that tends to think tomorrow will be a reflection and a mere extension of yesterdays results.
The blog poll this week presumes a minority government but not who wins. It ask who do you want to be the conscience of any minority government should we end up with one. Will you answer differ depending on who you think will form the minority government? Or will you trust one party over all others to hold the balance of power to keep any potential minority government on their toes and honest? Is that balance of power party choice chosen because they are able to assure a wider range of opinions will be debated? Or is that balance of power party perceived as a government in waiting and able to pick the time and ballot question in the next election after this one?
This is not a random scientific poll just a conversation starter and an attention focus for readers. I hope your comments on this post will give some insight as to what party you would prefer form a minority and why as well as who you trust to have the balance of power and why. It is complex stuff and an informed answer requires that you think about where you want the province to go and how to return political stability as part of the means to get there.
Looking forward to your choice and you feedback in the comments.
All signs point to a change from the political status quo next election. Will we do the historical thing and go for a wholesale change of government? Or will we reaffirm the status quo like in the last provincial election that returned the PCs with an increased majority under Stelmach as a new leader. Were we that supportive, or looking for stability or just wanting to give him a chance to prove himself? Or will we be so divided and uncertain about our future by the time the next election comes around that we end up with a minority government.
The key question, of course, is which party would form the minority government? Some of the power shifts in a minority government situation to a smaller party, provided they have enough votes to keep the minority government in power, or not. In that case it is just as critical a question for citizens to consider as to who should have that balance of power to make or break the minority government.
If Albertans decide to elect a minority government next time, will it be a sign we want to change incrementally or perhaps we want to send the PCs a message of our discontent but not rejection. That is what Albertans in Calgary Glenmore did in the by-election by putting the PCs in third place in popular vote. That was in a constituency that had been held by the Deputy Premier. OUCH!
I wonder if Albertans interpret that by-election as indication that the warning shot across PC bow has already been delivered. If so the next election outcome could be much more open and uncertain than the conventional wisdom that tends to think tomorrow will be a reflection and a mere extension of yesterdays results.
The blog poll this week presumes a minority government but not who wins. It ask who do you want to be the conscience of any minority government should we end up with one. Will you answer differ depending on who you think will form the minority government? Or will you trust one party over all others to hold the balance of power to keep any potential minority government on their toes and honest? Is that balance of power party choice chosen because they are able to assure a wider range of opinions will be debated? Or is that balance of power party perceived as a government in waiting and able to pick the time and ballot question in the next election after this one?
This is not a random scientific poll just a conversation starter and an attention focus for readers. I hope your comments on this post will give some insight as to what party you would prefer form a minority and why as well as who you trust to have the balance of power and why. It is complex stuff and an informed answer requires that you think about where you want the province to go and how to return political stability as part of the means to get there.
Looking forward to your choice and you feedback in the comments.
Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes | Video on TED.com
Diana Laufenberg: How to learn? From mistakes | Video on TED.com
Here is a video with great insight about public education when the school is no longer the place to get the information but the place to learn how to use the information.
All vital to Inspiring Action on Education and Learning Our Way to the Next Alberta
GOTTA LOVE TED.COM
Friday, January 14, 2011
Canada Called "Climate Criminals" Over Oil Sands
Here is a link to a blog post and a 7 minute video of a protest on the oil sands on the EU-Canada free trade deal that is starting to be negotiated in Brussels.
As an Albertan and therefore and owner of the oil sands, I feel we have to be more aware about what is being said about us in the international community. Equally as important I am concerned what my provincial and federal government are saying and doing about the development of the oil sands, in my name and with my property. Do other Albertans feel the same way? I would love to hear your perspectives in comments.
Then I feel I have to know more about what my tenants, the oil sands developers are doing to exploit my resource in a responsible and sustainable way...along with paying a fair rent to me and future generations by way of royalties.
For the typical citizen it is hard to get the information and when you do get something from the usual sources it has so much spin and propaganda we all know we can't believe it and we start to mistrust the sources. A perfect example of this is the response to my non-scientific blog survey showing about 6% of participants were prepared to trust our governments to monitor the ecological impacts of the oil sands.
The spin and propaganda from governments these days is so obvious we have simply decided to ignore them as a trustworthy source of factual information. This is a dangerous situation for an effective democracy. Something has to change and the climate for more open, transparent and accountable government is not good
As an Albertan and therefore and owner of the oil sands, I feel we have to be more aware about what is being said about us in the international community. Equally as important I am concerned what my provincial and federal government are saying and doing about the development of the oil sands, in my name and with my property. Do other Albertans feel the same way? I would love to hear your perspectives in comments.
Then I feel I have to know more about what my tenants, the oil sands developers are doing to exploit my resource in a responsible and sustainable way...along with paying a fair rent to me and future generations by way of royalties.
For the typical citizen it is hard to get the information and when you do get something from the usual sources it has so much spin and propaganda we all know we can't believe it and we start to mistrust the sources. A perfect example of this is the response to my non-scientific blog survey showing about 6% of participants were prepared to trust our governments to monitor the ecological impacts of the oil sands.
The spin and propaganda from governments these days is so obvious we have simply decided to ignore them as a trustworthy source of factual information. This is a dangerous situation for an effective democracy. Something has to change and the climate for more open, transparent and accountable government is not good
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