Work

• learning spaces - my group is going to be focusing on the design of learning spaces starting in the new year - especially on how physical and digital learning spaces overlap, and how design can help to shape engaging learning experiences.
• paperwork. the absolute worst part of my job is reconciling the damned AMEX statement each month. I'm getting better at it, so it's slightly less painful now. Might be worse, if vendors actually took AMEX…
• the office non-denominational winter-solstice tree-shaped social artifact is up and decorated.
• cleaned out a storage room to use for the "technology lending library" - starting to collect a few different bits of tech that instructors can borrow to experiment with. Swivls, microphones, cameras, etc…
• got a Canon HF G30 compact video camera, to use with some projects. Holy. What a fantastic little camera. 20x optical zoom (and 400x digital zoom! I haven't tried that yet). f/1.8 lens. Wifi control and streaming. Crazy.
• moved into the new iMac 5K as my main work computer. Wow. So many pixels. But they're too small to actually see… Already starting to crunch away at the Reclaim Hackathon interviews to get a second and third episode up soon. Ish.

Read

• Support Hack Education - Audrey is one of the most important, authentic, critical voices in education (and ed tech). She does it without the support and safety net of a corporation or institution, and needs our support to keep going. Well worth it.
• Top Ed-Tech Trends 2014 - speaking of Audrey, here's her killer roundup of 2014 in edtech. Holy. I haven't had a chance to do more than skim the articles. I will be going back to read every word.
• thanks to a tip from @DrGarcia, I started reading C. Strange's Educating by Design. 1 chapter in, and it's already given me a lot to think about.
• Malcolm Gladwell is a hack. But you already knew that.
• Hiring a tutor may have short-term gains, but long-term losses. Teach a fish to read, and it something something for a bicycle.
• Instructional Design in the VUCA World (via Stephen Downes). It has a pretty diagram.
• Toys are more gendered now than they were 50 years ago. At least they make pink toy crossbows to to even things up. cough
• template for transformation to blended learning - via Ray Henderson. It's a bit over simplified, but could come in handy.
• Steve Wheeler on flipping classrooms
• Ruben Puentedura's presentation on an integrated approach to technology in education

Other

• the skiing line of the year - no. way. in. hell. I'm getting into skiing, and I admire the lines and skill of these people. But nope.
• took The Boyâ„¢ out to Nakiska again today. What an absolutely amazing day. He's getting stronger and more confident. So amazing to see him get better every time we go out.