How 2 Train Heroes?

Thought provoking TED Talk by Charles Leadbeater on the potential of disruptive informal education in the world's slums and hopefully elsewhere. Is it time to abandon the teacher centered push of the traditional curriculum, and instead begin to utilize a student centered pull? The Pull begins with Motivation, which must be Extrinsic i.e. actually matter to the student's life now, and intrinsic i.e. interesting and fun. Start with a question from a group of students, add technology, and always keep it practical. What will this mean for the increasingly expensive, and yet outdated, factory model of our "modern" education world?

Fascinating TED Talk by Seema Bansal on creating effective educational change with limited resources. Simple texting creates communication creates powerful change. Outstanding example of getting to the factory floor, discovering the real problems, and moving beyond the all pervasive fundamental attribution error.

Grit = The Power of Passion and Perseverance . Perhaps the key to unlocking peak performance. Create in others and yourself with continuous support, always demanding the best, and insistence on follow through. Check out Angela Duckworth's Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance for more ideas to reinvigorate your teaching.

Fascinating review of How We Learn  by leading New York Times Health and Scientist columnist Benedict Carey. Just like the  Make It Stick  (being applied by Wash U EM right now), this book will hopefully become a game changer for students and teachers across disciplines. Throw out what your highlighters and what you thought you new about learning. Welcome to frequent breaks, percolation, interleaving, mixing skills and environments, overcoming the fluency illusion, and sleep. Citing decades of research, the book provides an evidence based review of how we can make learning fun again. Perfect way to rejuvenate your curricula for next year.

Excellent weekend refresher article from Will Jonathan on the importance of prioritizing the journey over the destination.

Wonderful weekend rejuvenate article on Google's pursuit of the secret to creating successful teams. Many thanks to my good friend and mentor Dr. Steve Aks @ERTox for sending along!

Informative and inspiring "Disruptive Research" podcast to plug into on your next long run, ride or commute. Tim Ferriss interviews UCSF neurologist and neuroscientist Dr. Adam Gazalley @adamgazz about improving human cognition across the lifespan through the use of video game and eventually virtual reality technology. Check it out here. Imagine what the future of clinician and even patient education will be. . Back to playing Star Wars Battle Front on the Xbox with my nine old son...