"Struggling" to learn balanced with the freedom to play

British educator Russell Tarr tweeted an interesting article by NPR station KQED's Mindshift blog this morning about the different approaches taken by western and eastern cultures in terms of "struggling to learn."  Importantly, eastern cultures tend to approach struggling as part of the learning process versus the west's tendency to think something is wrong or defective with the learner.  However, I like the reminder near the end of the article that the eastern approach to learning isn't the end all. Students from China and Japan work incredibly hard but tend to lack creativity in learning. 

This August 2011 FastCompany article reinforces that claim in a powerful story of a centuries old system of student testing that should give pause to test mania minded reformers in Washington DC and our state capitols. Students will thrive in an educational culture of care that offering challenging learning balanced with the freedom to play and create.

	russeltarr (@russeltarr)
11/17/12, 3:01 AM Struggle Means Learning: Difference in Eastern and Western Cultures #education #pedagaogy #ukedchat: tinyurl.com/bprhxaj

Grantland article - Summer 2012 - not men or women, just great athletes

Author Jay Kang insightfully shared a great observation about the summer of 2012. Appropriately in the summer of the 40 year anniversary of Title IX legislation in the United States, mandating equity, millions of fans tuned in to watch great athletes practice their craft at world-class levels.

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/8372737/from-serena-williams-missy-franklin-gabby-douglas-summer-2012-defined-female-athletes

The Olympics, Doping and the Race for an Edge

Current doping charges against two American athletes, seven-time Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong and most recently Olympic track and field 400 meter runner Debbie Dunn , mark the latest chapters in a long running conflict over where to draw the line between training and illegal performance enhancement. A look at the history of athletes using all manner of substances to improve their performance reveals it has been happening as long as there has been sport. The first well documented use of drugs in the modern era of sports is credited to the 1960 Rome Olympics. Author David Maraniss in his 2009 book Rome 1960: The Summer Olympics that Stirred the World  offers a compelling story of Danish cyclist Knud Jensen and his teammates warned against taking a blood circulation enhancing drug Roniacol given the extreme hot temperatures in Rome (p. 138).   Jensen ignored warnings and succumbed to the heat during the competition, his condition exacerbated by the drug (p. 139).

In the current issue (July-August 2012) of Smithsonian, author Christie Aschwanden details today's inner battle between athletes who, despite the warnings and regulations and random testing of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), continue to use illegal substances. Although detection of illegal substances or medical practices is more sophisticated than ever, Aschwanden, in a second article in the same issue , reports future practices will envolve altering athlete's DNA.

The USADA case against Armstrong will be interesting to watch. Armstrong is strident in maintaining his innocence and USADA's case is built not on identifying a specific drug violation but on blood test results according to an Examiner.com article . Sprinter Dunn has left the Olympic team and is working through the process for appealing the test findings.

The non-standard world of concussions

The Sports Legacy Institute re-tweeted a New York Times blog discussing a study just released investigating whether or not athletes of the 70's and 80's are now showing cognitive impairment. The blog reports one study did find some minor differences in brain composition, however, the participants functioned normally. And, perhaps most fascinating, the effect of concussions varies by individual. The world of athletics is more proactive than ever in concussion treatment. It appears one challenge will be trying to diagnose a concussion when one fall or hit looks normal but is significant to the athlete while a ferocious hit or collision has little or no effect on another player. One thing is clear, coaches and players need to stay informed on best practices. Training plans, techniques and strategies will have to adapt to the realization that concussions do happen no matter the sport or equipment.

L.A. Unified statistics link athletics, higher academic performance

Why are athletics a part of the high school experience? This research from the Los Angeles City schools documents the positive impact of sport with academics.

Check out this article from LA Times:
New statistics from the Los Angeles Unified School District, given to the City Section athletics office, indicate that participating in high school sports can have a huge effect on academic performance.
To read the full article, click on this link or copy and paste it into your browser: http://www.latimes.com/la-sp-0609-athletes-grades-20120609,0,7054680.column

"I don't travel, I coach."

Bob Keisser of the Long Beach Press-Telegram has a great story about USC Director of Track, Coach Ron Allice and his role in developing many olympians. Allice also offers important thought about the role of Title IX in developing women's track and field. He also reminds us about how the reduction of physical education in schools has impacted talent discovery and development. My favorite quote is Coach Allice's comment about traveling to the Olympic games to see his athletes compete. He remarks, "I don't travel, I coach." Coaches, no matter the sport, understand the passion and the thinking behind that quote. Helping athletes to discover and develop their talents is the calling of coaching - one practice at a time.

Track & Field Primetime - SC vs. UCLA, Drake & Penn Relays

The last week in April is always special in the world of track & field. It is the week of big relay meets - in the midwest, the Drake Relays and on the east coast, the Penn Relays. For track fans in Des Moines and Philadelphia, these meets are without equal. However, as a native southern Californian, I relate more to the other "big meet" of the week - the great dual meet between my alma mater, USC and their arch rival, UCLA.

Track historian and announcer, Rich Perelman has a special article this week on the awesome performances of the great Gail Devers in the dual meet when she was at UCLA. (Thanks to Track and Field News for the link) One look at the article reveals not only how awesome Devers was but also the unique nature of the rivalry and the dual meet format. Athletes compete in four or five or in Devers case, seven events! In today's era of one event specialization, the dual meet is like the no huddle offense in football - athletes move from one event to another.

My Dad was a high school football and track coach at Hart High School in southern California. Growing up in Los Angeles, track for Dad was the Coliseum Relays and the SC-UCLA meet. In 1969, when UCLA built Drake Stadium for its home track meets, the Holden family were season ticket holders. Great performances and memories followed. I vividly remember greats like Wayne Collett, Dwight Stones, Edesel Garrison, Donald Quarrie and Randy Williams. (I never got to see the Gail Dever or Jackie Joyner-Kersee performances because in the early 80's, I was across town at USC busy with spring football practice)

I am looking forward to this Sunday's edition of SC-UCLA - great performances to be sure but the current generation of Bruins and Trojans will have to push to equal the marks of great performers of the 70's and 80's, names like Quarrie, Stones, Foster, Williams, Devers and Joyner.

NFL, football and violence in sports - where is the line?

ESPN and Grantland.com editor / writer / creator Bill Simmons has a thoughtful and candid article on the current NFL's actions against the New Orleans Saints and its coaches / players. Simmons includes links to organizations doing research on the effects of violent impacts on young and adult athletes. The challenge faced by youth, college and professional sports is where to draw the line. The impacts given and taken by athletes in sports like football and hockey are parts of each sports appeal. Yet, the damage caused by the sports to athletes appears to only becoming more severe. So where is the line where the hits are part of the game and when they cross the line and are not? Simmons rightly observes that line is far from clear.

Identity and Mission Presentation at the 2012 HLC conference

The slide show for our presentation on Identity and Mission at the 2012 Higher Learning Commission is available via .pdf file on this google docs link - HLC slide link

The handout packet reviewed during the session is available via google docs shared folder.

Teacher preparation: Selectivity vs. Diversity, an incomplete argument

This Inside Higher Ed article on teacher quality and the comments that follow the article are interesting for both what is said and what has been omitted. The major thesis of the article is that selectivity will equal great teaching and the means of determining selectivity is valid....even though that is far from proven. It is a given that more great teachers are needed.

Like most key issues in our society, the real challenge is in defining the problem and the real debate is who gets the power to set the definition and evaluation system (see immigration, global warming, medical care, etc.). This is a complex issue with many many uncontrollable variables and one that will take many attempts to solve. Our solution attempts should be formative and proven at regional or local levels versus one big NCLB solution. (that has gone well)

The unmentioned acumen of great teachers is the ability to inspire students through care, patience, and helping them down the road of discovering their gifts. We are having this discussion on devices made by companies like Dell and Apple and software from Microsoft or Google. The founders of these companies did not get permission from a high GPA or standardized test to go forth and make these innovations. They discovered their gifts and had the freedom to succeed and fail. Where is the discussion and the ideas to help our next generation do great things?