Dec 26
The below comments are written for parents and grandparents of children over ten. The funerals at Newtown have come to an end, the days of mourning have (for those of us not directly affected by the tragedy) given way to Christmas celebrations. Group prayers have turned to other concerns. And yet the shadow of …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/12/26/conversations-with-kids-in-the-wake-of-violent-tragedies/
Nov 30
I had the great honor of working with the boys of Troop 414, about thirty of them ages 11 to 18. The night had been set aside to introduce the boys to new STEM Nova program the boy scouts of America have rolled out. The award program enables scouts to “Be Prepared” in a world …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/11/30/three-electric-cars-for-under-100-a-stem-nova-project/
Nov 14
I enjoyed a SPARK hosted lunch and presentation at the Carnegie Library in Oakland with Jean Barsotti, Director of the Beaver Falls Library. We have been discussing ways in which BC STEM and the Beaver Falls library can work together to make opportunities for students to master skills in digital media, robotics, video game design …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/11/14/film-making-in-a-library-carnegie-libraries-new-media-lab/
Oct 28
Grow a Generation advocates active learning, engaging young people in meaningful projects, and tapping into a person’s intrinsic motivation to learn. I’ve challenged parents and teachers to see technology as a tool to help develop a generation of innovators, critical thinkers, collaborators, young people able to take criticism, to fail and rise, who are empowered …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/10/28/assigning-wikipedia-entries-for-a-college-classroom/
Oct 23
Children can and do change the world. They recognize injustice, they experience fear and anger. The father of the Buddha tried to protect him from all suffering, injustice, and anguish. He created a beautiful bubble for him, a bubble of plenty of sweet food, no harsh words, no sickness, no poverty, and no loss. The …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/10/23/childhood-dreams/
Oct 16
I am thrilled to announce that I have accepted the job as director of the new Baden Academy Charter School Media Lab! I will continue to build my company, Grow a Generation (and finish the book!), teach part time at Duquesne, and volunteer in various roles such as Beaver County STEM. I now embark on …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/10/16/what-is-a-media-lab/
Aug 19
USA Today calls Tony Wagner’s latest book “A road map for parents who want to sculpt their children into innovative thinkers.” I couldn’t agree more. Creating Innovators: The Making of Young People Who Will Change the World focuses on what we must do differently, as parents and educators, in a globalized and technologically altered world …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/08/19/creating-innovators-the-making-of-young-people-who-will-change-the-world/
Jul 25
I enjoyed an incredible lunch Monday sponsored by The Sprout Fund with Nikki Navta of Zulama and Todd Keruskin of Elizabeth Forward School District at spoke at a lunch & learn at Sprout offices today about their experience at the Games for Change Festival earlier this summer. Keynotes and presentations from the festival are online. …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/07/25/games-for-change-2012/
Jul 13
I just finished reading Switch by Chip and Dan Heath from the perspective of a person and parent trying to understand how to motivate myself and my child to action. It was a great complement to Kahneman’s Thinking Fast and Slow reviewed last month. The Heath’s metaphor for what Kahneman called System One and System …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/07/13/switch/
Jul 05
Preparing our kids for the 21st century involves exciting them about STEM education and making sure they are literate in science, technology, engineering and math. Many are asking that we put an “A” for the Arts into STEM education, making STEAM education the focus of 21st century learning. That begs the question – does that …
Permanent link to this article: http://www.ellencavanaugh.com/2012/07/05/musicstem-careers/
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