Idea Overload: Here's Some Help

I am one of those people that has too many ideas...I am sure some of you are rubbing your eyes saying..."Oh boohoo, Lit Maven."

Yes, I should feel blessed...but no... I feel so overwhelmed by them. Even the notion that I could never develop all of them puts me into a cold sweat.

But...after searching I have come across some helpful resources that I would like to share with you. Here is one of my favorites!

Do More Great Work By Michael Bungay Stanier. The book has a series of exercises that help you to decide what your Great Work is. Please watch the video, The Alchemy of Great Work, to understand the concept of bad work, good work and great work.


Then there is a series of exercises to actually make a decision on which idea is the best to work on. The book can be found at bookstores and libraries. If you register on his site, you get the graphic organizers that come with the book for FREE.

I am really impressed with the Do Great Work interviews such as: Seth Godin and Neil Pasricha....Even if the subject seems to be far from your 9 to 5 job there are always some Universal ideas to relate to.

In addition to the interviews...Michael gives the best introductions I have ever heard.

So if you are like me...or not like me...check it out!

Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Who's Charged Up? Wil Smith is! Ideas to Change Education

So where were we...

A few posts ago, Dawson found himself learning about being a conversation continuer or a terminator. I think we can all agree that the only time to be a conversation terminator is when you are suffering from low blood glucose...

Today let's discuss even more ways to carry on the conversation.

Here is a little homage to John Hughes

Here is an example of a really poor conversation.


Okay so what can you do to be a continuer...

Here are some ideas from Idea-Busters and Idea-Builders

Idea-Busters vs. Idea-Builders

It just doesn't grab me vs. Tell me more
Who's going to do it vs. Here's a way to do it
It's been done to death vs. Let's do it better (or differently)
We can't afford that vs. Let's figure out a way to pay for it
Don't fight the system vs. Let's change the system

Now if you want something to pump you up for great educational conversations...



Until Next Time,
Lit Maven Out!

Who's Interested? Pee Wee is! Ideas for Changing Education

First check out this link. Pee Wee Gets an IPAD

Now THAT is an interested person!

So I just picked up








Idea Hunter:How to Find the Best Ideas and Make Them Happen by Andy Boynton and Bill Fischer.

Always on the look out for more ideas on ideas… For me, I found connections to all our discussions on 21st Century Learning.

What can we as educators do to be change agents?


BACKGROUND

This book uses the acronym IDEA to present 4 core ideas.

I Interested – Be Interested, Not Just Interesting
D Diverse-Diversifying the Hunt
E Exercised-Mastering the Habits of the Hunt
A-Agile- Idea Flow is Critical
As always, I look for ways to connect the ideas I find to...you.
So what does it mean to be Interested not just Interesting?

It means to be curious.
Boyton and Fischer state that "...curiousity...can more than make up for a lack of brillance." (p.27) and "...a curious mind is on the look out for surprises." (p.27)

So being curious means to look beyond, to not take everything at face value...essentially look past the ordinary. Why? "...because an ordinary idea in one setting could prove remarkable if applied to another setting." (p.28)

Example: Charles Birdseye, a furttrader circe 1910's, noticed that frozen meat from the hunt retained all its goodness when thawed. He wondered, can't we do that for goods sold in stores?....VOILA...the Father of Frozen Foods!

EDUCATION APPLICATIONS
"Ideas need to be found and replicated." (p29)
How can we leverage ideas for use in Education?

KEY POINT: INVEST IN YOURSELF

Did you know about "Sell the Best Hour" or similarily the "20% rule"?

Well, some companies have discovered that when employees are given an hour a day to follow their passions and interests, on company time...good thing happen!

Google employees are given one day a week to "follow their interests and passions"? HALF of the companies NEW products have stemmed from this rule!

Wow! Says the Lit Maven....

SO WHAT IF?
Teachers were given this permission....
Students were given this permission....

ANARCHY!!! I don't think so...what do you think?

I think we need more students that wake up like

this:

Next Post: D Diverse-Diversifying the Hunt