Thanks for the comment!! I look forward to learning all that I can!

Thank you, happy to join this group. Mountain dulcimers are fabulous for taking a break from excogitating.

It seems, Ian, that some debates about whether or not a discipline is a science go on even today: http://chronicle.com/article/Anthropologists-Debate-Whether/125571/.

In today's late-afternoon mail, I received a used copy of Edward S. Reed's "From Soul to Mind: The Emergence of Psychology, from Erasmus Darwin to William James." I've read the first thirty-seven pages and can't wait to read more. Ian, take a look at a description at Google Books or elsewhere online, then seriously consider buying or borrowing a copy for yourself to read. Solid history of ideas and cultural change which turns the standard story of the development of psychology as "science" on its head. I think you'll appreciate its value and enjoy it too.

A copy of Facebook and Philosophy: What's On Your Mind just arrived in the afternoon mail. It looks interesting, Ian, but I won't have anything to share initially about it for a few days when I get to a little more careful look.

Thank you for the welcome, Ian. Funny to see how you interpreted my comments in my profile. I was thinking about changes in methodologies, philosophies, and lately, the overreliance on standardized testing. But I can see how my comments could also relate to technology. (In fact I love the technologies I am getting to use!) What I think, after many years in teaching, is that it seems like initiatives and approaches to teaching change every 5 or 10 years along with superintendents and Departments of Ed. Often we end up paying for a new look on an old approach. Then, once the textbooks are purchased and the staff training has been paid for, a new regime enters and it's time to pitch the "old" and do it all over again. Those are the shifting sands that are making me dizzy! ;)

Thanks Ian for the warm welcome!

Thanks, Ian. I'm looking forward to the learning curve I've thrown myself into this year! I haven't worked at the elementary level in about 9 years now.

I am at the National AAcadmies, the committee on Human -systems Integration. The K-12 part of this is the preparation for a workforce that involves problem solving, robotics, social anthropology, datamining, and other SC applications.

We are not prepared , our citizens because geography, culture and social frameworks are what is needed to accomplish the Dept of Defence missions, that includes peacekeeping so that conflict does not emergy. Interesting new viewpoints on anthropology. great applications for Super computing.

I am deep in a think tank at the National Research council and sleep deprived.. so many new ideas on workforce readiness, cognition, technology needs of future workers.
WIll be back in a day or so.

Thanks Ian! I am glad to join this group. I´ll see what´s going on first. I´m interested in TfU, professional development programs and technology.

Thanks again Ian.

Brian Aldiss 85th birthday celebrations are being controbuted to at this Facebook page in his honour - http://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/group.php?gid=120586967951630&ref=ts - please feel free to contribute if you can.

Cheers
Tim (son of Brian!)

Hi Ian
Thanks for the welcome.
I found you through a Google search.
I've been doing some research into Dad online as I am involved in arrangements for his birthday celebrations this month.
You may know that he is 85 this year, and (just for a change) he is exhibiting some of his artwork over his birthday.
Alongside this I have set up a Facebook group to collect contributions from those interested saying something (hopefully positive) about his work.
Would you be happy to help me spread the word? I was thinking of leaving a comment in one of the recent threads featuring a mention of Dad.
I will also delightedly join in if I have a contribution on the creativity elemnet you mention.
Cheers again
Tim

Hey Ian! Thank you for the welcome back. It has been a while. What can I say? Life happened all in one year it seems. = ]
I will definitely chip in once I take a look around and get reacquainted.

Ian, thanks for the warm welcome. I followed the link from a post in the Washington Post yesterday, an imaginary conversation between Jaime Escalante, John Taylor Gatto, Alfie Kohn and... I believe it was Frank Smith. Anyway, I think the author's name was Jerry and I presume I ended up here because he's also a member of this chat group. I'll browse for a while and then start tossing my two bits around.
Cheers,
Aaron

You are confusing Diarmaid MacCulloch with Diarmuid O'Murchu, Ian.

Ian, I've just read chapter one, "Greece and Rome (c.1000 BCE - 100 CE)," of Diarmaid MacCulloch's Christianity: The First Three Thousand Years and, based on that limited start, want to recommend to you that you acquire a copy and read it. This first chapter amply answers the question, "Why 3,000 year history?" and I've yet to begin reading Chapter Two, "Israel," which covers the same time period and looks to be just as insightful culturally and socially. This is history writing at its best (so far).

Thanks for the welcome. I was lead here by a Google search of Tao + teaching (looking for quotes for an inspirational wall). The conversation looks good so far. I'll try to add things although I have a bad habit of just listening when things get hectic and the beginning of the new school year is always a little hectic.

Thanks for the welcome. Like some others, I came to this site through Skipzilla.