Sunday, March 1, 2015
Infusing 21st Century Thinking Skills Into the T L Environment
- Link to Slideshare Version
- Flash/PDF Version
- Coaching Critical Thinking to Think Creatively!
THE SECRET
Perhaps, if the movie had really discussed some of the great minds of the past, I would have appreciated it more. Instead, we are listening to a bunch of successful people sharing with us how the secret has changed their life (the Law of Attraction!).
Isnt it obvious (self-fulfilling prophecy?) that if you are positive, believe in yourself, have passion, visualize your dreams, go for it, etc., you are more likely to succeed (perhaps I come from Mars!). If you ask me, there was nothing new to discover in The Secret, except clever branding and promotion. It is probably the most exciting, clever and exotic branding since Blue Ocean. The power of The Secret is not in the law of attraction, but in the word: "SECRET". Everyone wants to know a secret. In short, every single motivational guru since I dont know when has indirectly promoted the so called secret, but has labeled it in a less exotic and mysterious way.
However, if it can help some of the millions of people that have watched it to achieve their dreams, then I suppose it has some value :)
THE LECTURE
Actually, the real reason I am writing now is not because of the secret, but because I want to share with you my presentation slides for a lecture that was never conducted. Roughly, a month ago I was invited to be a guest speaker at a major workshop (250 participants!) to conduct a lecture about Critical Thinking. Due to some financial reasons, the workshop was postponed. And since then, I have never conducted this particular lecture. I suppose because no one else knew that I had prepared it. Or perhaps, because I am.... (Use the force! I mean the Law of Attraction)
Anyway, here are the presentation slides:
View If the presentation slides do not make any sense, perhaps you can invite me to conduct the lecture wherever it may be (The first lecture most be conducted face-to-face. Why? I dont know!). Since I am in Malaysia, it might be costly if you want me to conduct the lecture in United States or Alaska. However, if you are Oprah Winfrey or Jay Leno I might consider doing it for free. Sorry David Letterman, for you I will not do it for free.
Now, you are perhaps thinking that I have gone POTTY! Nope, I am simply being positive and realistic about my prospects and practicing the law of attraction :)
On a serious note, after I conduct the first live lecture (if ever! Be positive!), I will record an e-lecture using Adobe Presenter to enlighten (who ever reads my blog!) what I am trying to reveal in the presentation slides.
Until the first live lecture, it will remain a secret. Just exploring the power of The Secret :)
Wednesday, February 25, 2015
Is Boltelicious Keyboard Skills Required To Facilitate Online Effectively
If you are Usain Bolt, YES YOU CAN! Although, I have never been thrilled about eating chicken nuggets, I somehow feel like eating some right now. Since he went to McDonalds, I suppose... Nope... I will stick to eating chicken rice at the Mamak stall. A couple of juicy chicken legs with rice, and a mixture of different vegetables, curry and red hot chili peppers. Now, that is something I cant resist!
BOLTELICIOUS
So, what has that got to do with Keyboard skills...
KEYBOARD SKILLS
If you ask me, I would say YES with a big YES! Since I started with e-learning in 2001, I have noticed again and again that educators whom are most resistant to computers and e-learning are often those that lack basic keyboard or typing skills.
From what I have learned after observing especially Professors and Senior Lecturers (PSL) in action, is that many of them often lack the ability to type quickly. It is often the one, two, three, four fingers magic show! It wouldnt also surprise me if there is a strong correlation between poor typing skills and de-motivation to facilitate online learning.
The faster you type, the more time you have to think (Better yet, do it at the same time!). The beauty of great typing skills comes when you are capable of typing as fast as (or faster than) you think. Also, then you dont need to say, "What was I thinking again?".
In short, to improve the success of any e-learning or online facilitation initiative, I believe it is vital that educators (and students) have good keyboard and typing skills (say at least 30+ words per minute), so that they can efficiently answer e-mails, forum posts, chat sessions, develop content, projects, assignments, and so on.
If you dont have great keyboard skills already, dont worry. Just ignore your stubborn ego, and start practicing. You dont need to spend money, because here are a bunch of free learning tools to assist you:
- keybr.com
Take a typing speed test and practice typing online. - Peters Online Typing Course
Provides a set of free online typing lessons and typing exercises for beginning typists, and frustrated hunt-and-peckers who want to move from four-finger typing to full-blown touch typing. - Goodtyping
Free online typing course. Please try it without registering. If you like what you practice, then bother to register :) - TypingWeb
is a free online typing tutor & keyboarding tutorial for typists of all ages. All skill levels will benefit from TypingWebs free keyboarding lessons. - Rapid Typing
A typing game, where the training takes place in a “virtual picturesque underwater world” adding some fun to the learning. - PowerTyping
An online free typing tutor for kids, students and adults alike! - BBC Typing Tutorial
Aimed at the younger kids, but is great fun for anyone learning typing.
Have fun mastering your keyboard skills, which will empower your potential and ability to really enjoy online facilitation in a Boltelicious way. Just remember to practice and ignore your stubborn and lazy ego (if so!) :)