Welcome to the OC Professional Development Reading Group blog. It is my hope to weave Web 2.0 applications into our reading group. One or two people wanted to be part of the group, but have other obligations scheduled at the time our group will be meeting. They will be posting to the blog in lieu of meeting face-to-face with the group. Anyone who has to miss a meeting may make a post to the blog in order to not lose credit for the half hour we meet face to face. As a matter of fact, I would like each member of the group to post regularly so that each person can learn how to use a blog. What do you think? Let's talk about it at the first meeting.
I think things are going remarkably well. I barely even notice the construction. Perhaps that is because even though the library is very, very retro, it still has a ceiling! Hope you're enjoying Outliers. See you Wednesday at 2:40 in the Senior High Library (that would be one of the only rooms with, ahem, a ceiling).
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
After reading the first 68 pages, I find it astounding that Gladwell devoted so much time to the birth months and years of hockey players and top programmers. From my experience as a college athlete, I agree that the top players are the ones who put in the most hours--10,000, I'm not sure. The only thing that I think he is missing out on is the fact that some people, particularly athletes and musicians, are just born with a certain skill set, predominantly the 6'4" 235 pound 15 year old who will have all the opportunities in the world as a result of his size. Gladwell does point out, however, that as a result of size and resources like money, this type of person will be given more opportunities to rise to stardom. My only hope is that in future chapters, Gladwell will point out that not everyone was born in to a family where things like money, opportunity, and birth date = success.
ReplyDeleteHis point from Genius Pt 1 did not jump out at me as obviously as the previous 2 chapters, i'm hoping to get the connection after finishing Genius Pt 2.
ReplyDelete(Meeting 2: Sept. 23) Ch. 3-4
ReplyDeleteAfter reading chapter 3, I found the term orthogonal intriguing. This terms was used to suggest that analytical knowledge does not imply practical knowledge and vica versa. A lot of times, especially in schools, when we have extremeley analytical students, we see that they lack the practical skill of being social. To me, one's ability to be sociable goes much further in the professional world than one's ability to be strictly analytical. However, if we take away face to face work, like Wikinomics implied, and concentrate more on e commerce for example, perhaps analytical minds will prevail. I also like the idea of concerted cultivation; and when it is used properly, young people especially, feel a sense of entitlement. Perhaps we can do this more with our economically disadvantaged students.
Lastly, the divergent testing example using the brick and blanket was very entertaining. It makes me wonder, should we give our students more imaginative/divergent tests, as opposed to the PSSA style convergent tests. Afterall, it seems like we deal more with the practical students than the analytical.