DISRUPTING CLASS

In one of my CSUSM classes this summer, Dr. Sharon Sutton mentioned the book “Disrupting Class – How Disruptive Innovation Will change the Way the World Learns” by Clayton M. Christensen... so I picked up the book.

What an outstanding and practical read – the book is ambitious in its premise and very real in its delivery. The book brings to bear the success of Christensen in the business world dealing with innovation.

Here are some quotes:

“The students who succeed in schools do so largely because their intelligence happens to match the dominant paradigm in use in a particular classroom – or somehow they have found ways to adapt to it.”

“The question now facing schools is this: Can the system of schooling designed to process groups of students in standardized ways in a monolithic instructional mode be adapted to handle differences in the way individual brains are wired for learning?”

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in improving education.

INNOVATIONS IN TODAY’S OFFICE COMPUTERS (13 YEARS LATER)

It is really delightful to come across something like the flyer below. It is a reprint of an article I wrote for the Dallas Medical Journal back in 1995. I was running my business selling medical solutions and saw that the whole industry was just getting started and that the impact of new technology would be profound. Ha! How little did I know… :)

Some highlights…. Come on – laugh with me! Remember it was written in 1995!

“…On year ago, disk storage of 1000 megabytes, or 1gig. Capacity cost around $1000. Today you can find the same capacity drives for $450”

“[on clinical notes] …a screen in every exam room… allows him[or her] to enter data as he [she] examines patients.”

“The physician also can dial CompuServe or the Internet and send professional messages to colleagues across the country or across the world.”

“When he leaves home, he may consult an alpha-numeric pager that is programmed to receive the latest stock market information…is [also] used by the office staff to send messages to the physician. In an emergency, via a cellular phone, the doctor can review a case with a colleague and have all his patient information available on a laptop computer.”

This had to bring a smile to your lips… oh to be so right and WRONG! In any case, I am sure you just picked up your latest iPhone, looked at it – and laughed!

Me too!

PERSPECTIVE

My nephew Jorge (a tocayo) sent this from Bs. Aires.


It is always good to keep perspective...

ALASKA

This fourth of July my wife and I took the plunge and headed to Alaska on the ms Amsterdam cruise ship from Holland America. What a treat! We left Seatle to Juneau on July 4th and came back on July 11th...All I can say it is way way too short!

Recommended hands-down to anywone looking for a real break and small vacation that is relaxing, envigorating, and just plain wonderful!