Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton grew up and attained their learning more than 200 years ago. Is their example relevant, useful to our time and place?
December 8th, 2012
Genius or Dynamic Learner? Benjamin Franklin’s Path to Greatness
While the remarkable accomplishments of Benjamin Franklin stand without parallel, the means of their attainment can be considered more accessible to ordinary people and not necessarily attributable to a special genius. The steady development of Franklin’s knowledge and skills are traced in light of a new model of “dynamic learning,” which is a method that can be followed by many. The method involves reading, writing, collaboration, and active, “hands on” experience. Simple steps are suggested for testing the method in the classroom.
April 2nd, 2011
North Jersey Story: Envisioning a Dynamic Future
The goal of Finding North Jersey—both the book and the program—is to determine what people love about the region, what they are most proud of. Then, following considerable discussion, to set forth a vision of the future they want to realize, and third, to brand that vital essence of the region to guide the creation of that future with purposeful action involving the people, businesses, associations, and organizations by pursuing that vision. Read more »
March 30th, 2011
Cogitations on the Future of Library Education: Preparing Librarians for a New Age
What a day we live in; what opportunities it offers our profession. In one view (Robertson) the quantity and dissemination of information in our time ushers in a new, higher level of civilization. He views information as representing civilization, and its explosive growth, spread, and utilization signal a qualitative transformation of the conditions of human life, amounting to no less than a new Renaissance. The impact of the network and the resulting collaboration in work, learning, play, and life is characterized, at its core, by enormously increased connectivity and participation. Whereas my generation assumed they personally must know everything needed for work and life, today’s young people assume such knowledge is not only impossible but unnecessary. Read more »
March 30th, 2011
Library Futures
• Does the 'library' have a future? What kind of future?
• Is the book dead?
March 30th, 2011
Does ‘North Jersey’ Have an Identity Problem?
- Why do Saturday Night Live and late night TV pundits constantly crack “New Jersey jokes”?
- Do The Sopranos and Jersey Shore reflect north New Jersey reality?
- Is the 1922 Edmund Wilson characterization of New Jersey as having “no independent life” but simply where people “sojourn on their way to something else” still valid?
- Why is the perception of the area by outsiders generally negative?
- Why do people who live here love it?
- What is the REAL North Jersey story? Does anyone care?
Finding North Jersey intends to change all that. Interested? Send me your e-mail address for follow-up, a survey, and possibly a Meetup group when we get a discussion started.
(more to follow)
January 28th, 2011
Knowledge and the University Presentation
After centuries of stability—if accelerating change—the very nature of knowledge itself is changing dramatically. What does that pertain to the library? Read more »
January 27th, 2011
The Internet Has Changed Everything
In a mere 20 years the internet has moved from a high-tech curiosity to a basic element of modern life. It changes how we live, from how we shop, communicate, do business, learn, and, in some cases pray. It has transformed information from a scarcity to a glut, brought the world right into our homes and offices, and become a necessity. To take a few examples, consider the following: Read more »
January 26th, 2011
University of the Book – The Vision
THE VISION
In the information age the challenge is to break through the information glut to find the useful knowledge, meaningand understanding needed at that moment. University of the Book (UBook) offers an easy path to educational, vocational, civic, or hobbyist knowledge; a path guiding “searchers” to the information they need right now, for work, play, or life. Read more »
January 10th, 2011
Nurturing Engagement
Engagement cannot be directed or commanded, but it can be nurtured. Favorable conditions can be created for it to flourish, much as favorable conditions usually induce plants to grow and flourish. Read more »
