Uncontrolled Versions

After years of hunting around for it I finally located the very form which has served as a metaphor in many a public presentation around the traps over the years.

The story goes that whilst working with CLI a number of years ago my then boss at the time had provided me with absolutely very little to persuade me that sitting motionless behind a a molded plastic screen would further advance my career any more than it did sitting motionless on the other side of Australia.

After all, I’d up-rooted my family and moved to NSW to extend my career not kill it and here I found myself sitting in the dead-centre ( no pun intended ) at the Centre for Learning Innovation, TAFE NSW.

Lo and behold Leigh Blackall turns up and in front of 40 people in the boardroom proceeded to convince at least 50% of those present to go forth and be anything beyond an unthinking auto-moton.

To this day I’ll never forget the feeling that it gave me to receive news that if I wished to push something as simple as using del.icio.us to network bookmarks for research purposes that I’d have to fill in a request for innovation form and submit that for approval.

Heaven forbid…….I’m sure my inability to digest such inane bureaucracy got the better of me and to the horror of some I jumped ship after 5 long winded months where I got to update TALO more than my own blog site.

Ah well….I learned that innovation is not a granted request…rather a ground swell of initiative that follows it’s own sweet path and more often than not does not fit neatly into boxes. Perhaps next week I’ll find some more un-thinking examples for us to reflect on and to move away from…..

DER : End Of An Era ?

A shamless lift from Graham Wegner’s site though, nonetheless, a poignant moment in solidarity as we contemplate just what the heck was that promise ?…….. we so tenderly poised our voting 2008 pen over.

I even dedicated a whole category to it in this ramble of a blog.

I reckon that never has there been a time more pertinent, more urgent, more useful, more timely point to embrace and build a super connected community of learners who’s access to whatever they choose to get is heavily informed by the very educators whom we seem to respect less than the local larrikin lawyer.

Geoff Lubich, Leo Gaggl, Craig Lubich and I are exploring in our own small way some aspects of how to bring that connected learning journey through and with a mobile hive-mind in tow. It sure is a learning curve as we build and forge EDUPOV.

Craig : My Buddy, My Friend

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Craig Golding

Passed away 6th January in the arms of his loving family. Craig my buddy and my good friend I will always remember the beautiful person you were.

I will miss you dearly and feel very upset that we wont share anymore summers together but as long as I shall live I will look after Raelee and your dear little daughter Willow.

You were like a brother to me and you showed me the strength in being myself.

For that I thankyou and will treasure that about you.

I will miss you so much.

Be at peace now and know that I loved you.

Rest in peace.

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