How Complexity Leads to Simplicity

I have often used this (now-infamous) Power Point slide on U.S. strategy in Afghanistan as an example of poor design and poor presentation.  Now ecologist Eric Berlow in a TED presentation shows how extrememly complex systems provide more information that can lead to a better, simpler solutions. He uses the Afghanistan slide to break it down to elementary points:

5 Amazing Lessons from Sir Isaac newton

Below is a great  article on Sir Isaac Newton reprinted in the blog Dumb Little Man  by Mr. Self Development who is a motivational author; his blog is mrselfdevelopment.com:
5 Amazing Lessons from Isaac Newton:


1.Patiently Think
“If I have done the public any service, it is due to my patient thought.”
We don’t spend enough time patiently thinking! Albert Einstein said, “It’s not that I’m so smart, it’s just that I stay with problems longer.” If you would just block out some time daily to “think,” you could solve many of your problems. …You could even solve some of the world’s problems.
2.Labor to be Tactful
“Tact is the art of making a point without making an enemy.”
Solomon said, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” We can all polish up on our tact, our diplomacy, our discretion, our delicacy, and our gracefulness. Solomon went on to say, “Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances,” labor to be tactful in all you do.
3.Build Bridges
“We build too many walls and not enough bridges.”
Tony Robbins said, “The quality of your life is the quality of your relationships.” This is why you must spend your time building bridges instead of walls. When we “build bridges” we are literally building a better life. When we build walls, we are stagnating our own growth. Joseph F. Newton said, “People are lonely because they build walls instead of bridges.”
4.Chase after Knowledge
“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.”
There’s no need to recreate the wheel. To make progress all you must do is to build on what others have already done. Commence by learning what others know.
When you chase after knowledge, you strategically position yourself on the shoulders of giants; you are then able to see what others can’t see.
5.Pursue Truth
“A man may imagine things that are false, but he can only understand things that are true, for if the things be false, the apprehension of them is not understanding.”
We must pursue “truth!” There’s an anonymous quote that goes, “The truth is heavy, therefore few care to carry it.” Be one of those few who pursue truth both night and day. Blaise Pascal said, “Once your soul has been enlarged by truth, it can never return to its original size.”
Thank you for reading and be sure to pass this article along

Student video

Check out this student created video using jaycut.com and a digital camera:

New Visualization Charts in Google Apps

From Richard Byrne's blog Free Technology for Teachers is a nice piec e about using Google Forms and Spreadsheets to create charts: http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2010/10/new-visualization-charts-in-google-docs.html

Using Power Point as a visual aid

Here's a great piece from Garr Reynolds' Presentation web site. He does an excellent analysis of how to use Power Point as a supplement to a presentation.
http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2010/10/talking-clearly-visually-about-plastic-pollution.html

Washington Irving's Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Here are a couple of outstanding video presentations on the author Washington Irving. The first is by a high school student. Notice how she uses the medium of video well with good transitions. The only thing she could have done better is to make the text easier to read by making it more in contrast to the background. The second is a cool animation of the author reading the Legend of Sleepy Hollow.

Bridge eaters

This is a great use of time-lapse photography with a tilt effect.

Bridge Eaters from Sam Javanrouh on Vimeo.