OLDaily

Three Things I Learned from Teaching Happiness
Discovery Education, 2018/06/06

Related to the Wil Wheaton post (keeping in mind that 'happiness' is not the opposite of, nor the cure for, depression and anxiety). So what are the three things? First, "The first mistake that people make is equating happiness, the overarching quality of life, with the temporary enjoyment we feel in response to something pleasurable." Second, "people enjoy what they are doing more if they are focused on what they are doing, right when they are doing it" (the thing I really enjoy about giving talks is that they uniquely allow me to be in the moment as I speak). Third, "it takes commitment to strengthen and reclaim the function of our core “pro-social” demeanor—to learn skills around trust, reconciliation, and teamwork." The idea that these are skills - not innate amibilities - is key. So is the idea of reclaiming the ability to do them after a major setback.

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Concept Maps in the Trenches
Geoff Cain, Brainstorm in Progress, 2018/06/06

I like concept maps - I used to make huge ones when I was a student - but they're the sort of thing that I think has never really made the transition to digital media. I think they just need bigger screens. And pencils, maybe. Geoff Cain: "I find myself thinking over and over again, quarter after quarter, semester after semester, how import tools like free writing, drawing, and concept maps are to thinking. However, I find that not all tools are created equal – especially when used in the wild." He lists a few: C-Map Tools, Inspiration, Lucid Chart, and CMap Cloud. Be sure to have a look at the slides at the bottom of the article.

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Release of Ed-Fi Data Standard 3.0 and ODS / API 3.0
Ed-Fi Alliance, 2018/06/06

The actual headline is a lot wordier and has too many adjectives, but this is a press release and for some reason press release writers have never learned to communicate in ordinary English. The release marks the release of the most recent Ed Fi data standard. This is a data model that covers the description of everything in schools from assessments to school attendance to bell schedules.

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This Chrome Extension Makes GitHub Look Like Windows XP
Justin Pot, How-To Geek, 2018/06/06

In honour of the very odd pairing of Microsoft with Git, where's a Chrome extension that makes Github look like Windows XP. As to the developing story, "Some people believe Microsoft really has changed, but others are skeptical. Whatever your take on the situation I think we can all agree that XP’s color scheme makes Github look way better."

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My name is Wil Wheaton. I Live With Chronic Depression and Generalized Anxiety. I Am Not Ashamed.
Wil Wheaton, Medium, 2018/06/06

This has nothing to do with education (except for the very sensible advice to teachers that sometimes children are very anxious and afraid, even if they seem to be really bright and outgoing). But it's the sort of thing that should be said and should be read, and because Wil Wheaton is the sort of person who has tried to do good with his 'lowest life difficulty' setting, I'm posting it here. It's a good article and worth reading.

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Walmart Chooses Three Colleges Where Its Employees Can Study For $1 a Day
Jeffrey R. Young, EdSurge, 2018/06/06

This article describes the latest in "an arms race by large retail chains to offer education benefits...  service-industry employers have started or expanded programs to offer free or greatly-discounted tuition to all of their employees, often delivered in an online format." The spokespeople in the article take pains to say there's no watering down of standards that results from this association (of course, though, it works out well for Walmart if the university denies the employees admission).

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