Curriedflavouredflipproductions

The bottom line is:
"No fear, no surprise, no hesitation, doubt or allow oneself to wallow in disappointment."
Richard Templar adapted from a seventeenth century samurai warrior.

I must admit I am not the most pragmatic of people. I have learned it is hard to plan for all eventualities. Recent earthquake disaster in Haiti have me reviewing my own critical incident instructions.

Relating to this my favourite series at the moment is BBC Survivors. I have the first series as a DVD box set. We are now on series 2. They are good lessons in teaching how to deal with crises/trauma by sometimes referring to how selfishly immature we can be when we have to deal with an emergency.

The series deliciously promotes maturity. The sub plots divide the characters into the following themes: Prejudice, Superstition, Ignorance, Fear, Tolerance, Consideration, Detachment, Constancy, Cheerfulness and finally absence of Negative Emotions.
Series 2 episode 1 aptly illustrates what it is like to be trapped in a building that has collapsed. My prayers are for everyone in Haiti : (

Copy and paste the URL below in your URL bar as my link is not working properly.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00pzch5/Survivors_Series_2_Episode_1/



Have you heard of Hugh Masekela? I was introduced to his music when I was in Mozambique in 1996. Check out one of his songs.

The bottom line is:

"do not think too small, like the frog at the bottom of the well. He thinks that the sky is only as big as the top of the well. If he surfaced, he would have an entire different view".

Mao-Tse- Tung

Someone asked me recently what are the biggest changes on the horizon in my job? I immediately thought of a small video I created 3 years ago. What I understand now is, change is inevitable, if conditions are correct, we have to retrain to be able to adapt to the following:
*Most students will have their own Wi-Fi enabled notebooks.
*Most students will access learning material personalised for them on Managed Learning Environment.
*Most students will socialise and be represented by their own avatar in the Virtual Learning Environment.
*Most students will belong to a school which has been organised into "Federations".
*Individual schools within the Federation will have the suffix Campus.
*Most exams will be online with rapid response results.

What should not have changed is the meaning behind teaching. Regardless of the supposedly broad and balanced technological innovation, the primary teaching vehicle of change should be to constantly challenge ourselves, students, parents and colleagues.
Raise the bar of knowledge and achievement by interrogating the seen and indirect assumptions and prejudices of ourselves, students, parents and colleagues. Followed by focusing on modelling to our peers and students the best principles ever thought and said transforming the WOW factor to engage all learners. Without this foundation new technology is nothing.

There is more. However, to keep it simple the video below illustrates the above:



My video of the week is by

Undisputed Chet Baker, who despite his brilliance, struggled with his inner demons, ultimately losing his life not reflecting how good he was. An important lesson to us all.

"My Funny Valetine"

The theme for this weeks bottom line is taken from Professor Louise Stoll.
She said:

"In a fast changing world, if can't learn, unlearn and relearn, you're lost. Sustainable and continuous learning is a given of the 21st century."

According to the famous US Covey family (the authors of the extremely popular 7 habits of highly effective people series) Principles are invisible laws that rule our known world. Principles are not religious. They do not belong to you or me or a nominated country. They apply equally to everyone, rich or poor, male or female. They cannot be bought or sold. The interpretaion of them around the world adds richness. Generally if you apply them you may excel. If you happens to break one of them, then you are immediately at the mercy of consequences.

Examples of principles are: Love, Honesty, Volunteering, Gratitude, Fairness, Integrity, Loyalty, Quality, Forgiveness, Responsibility, Moderation and Respect. Of course there are more!

Compare and contrast the principles into why the following links in my opinion are of high quality

My URL link is not working so copy and paste these URLs in your URL bar:

http://www.photosbyknight.com/gray/
(Excellent Photoslide show, don't order photography until you have seen this example)

http://www.rossoscarknight.com
(Excellent author of the Photo slide show)

http://www.blackisbeautiful.se/
(Excellent clean coverage of Black media which you don't see mainstream)


I am proud to say that I have two friends among many who really understand colour. I quite often quote their works to my students when they are misunderstanding the world. Ross Oscar Knight in Atlanta, USA and Andreas in Sweden, Scandanavia. If you see their web pages it will change your attitude to seeing the world through Rose coloured glasses. These guys are awesome. And certainly most humble when we manage to communicate.

I often remind my students to focus on PRINCIPLES. Study them, refer to them, apply them, for it will enrich their work and ultimately gain higher marks.

In loving memory of Teddy Pendergrass who
taught men real manners back in the days!



and



More bottom lines to follow : )