Innovations Lab

New business cards

Will deBock — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 12:01:14 +0000

Here are my new business cards:

I used Moo for printing!

[Note: The scan isn't great.]

Circus Physics

Will deBock — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 12:13:25 +0000

From PBS: An interesting series of circus videos which demonstrate principles of physics.

Hat tip to Mr. Byrne at FreeTechnology4Teachers.com

It Gets Better Project.

Will deBock — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 20:03:06 +0000

It is simple. Bullying is wrong. The It Gets Better Project gives hope to young people.

It started here:

The project went viral and even the President recorded a video:

Classical Sociological Thought 2.0

Will deBock — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 02:40:22 +0000

Dr. Gerald Levy

Q: Why am I re-taking a course that I first took 28 years ago?

A. I’ve always had a thing for sociological theory.
B. It is going to be the frame-work for some writing I want to do.
C. This is my mentor, Jerry Levy’s, last course.
D. All of the above.

The answer is D. All of the above.

Let me explain a little more clearly. Starting tomorrow, I will be sitting in on my former professor and mentor, Jerry Levy’s course on Classical Sociological Thought. This will be the final course he will be teaching at Marlboro College before he retires. When I first heard that this Fall I knew I wanted to be there. I wasn’t quite sure why I wanted to be there? I had to do some soul-searching and make sure it wasn’t Mitch-Albom-envy. You know, writing something profound and inspiring about a former teacher of yours? Once I convinced myself that this just wasn’t a stunt, I had to get on to the hard work and figure out what I wanted to do with this experience.

In the proper mindset of participant observer research, I can’t say with certainty what I will come away with from this experience, but here is how I am approaching it:

Sociology, particularly Classical Sociological Thought, played a big part in my development intellectually and as a person. Jerry was my guide through this material and through that time in my life. In many ways, Jerry, is a model teacher, and had perfect “pedagogical pitch” when it came to teaching me.

I want to write a series of essays of reconsideration. I want to write some essays on these types of topics:

Teaching
Being a student
Sociology and authenticity
And a series of articles reconsidering some central classical sociological thinkers in the context of the world I/we live in today — the digital world of technology-mediated, social media. Will probably include:
- Max Weber
- Karl Marx
- Georg Simmel
- Emile Durkheim
- Thornstein Veblen

I am debating with myself whether or not to do some of the writing “in public” or not. But in either case, I’ll keep you all posted!

Right now I have to finish reading some Mary Wollstonecraft!

Can you see the real me?

Will deBock — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 16:11:08 +0000

From a philosopher…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFIyhseYTWg
(Julian Baggini – Is There A Real You? TEDx Youth Day in Manchester)

From Quadr0phenia…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey2XBzuDtck

Both good!

Happy Days!

Will deBock — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 22:42:44 +0000

Again. Literally! Today, at the Marlboro Elementary School during the All-School-Sing, I introduced the school to a craze that was sweeping the nation’s schools 35 years ago this week. Anybody remember Happy Days? Specifically, episode #77 – “The Book of Records.” Click below to watch the clip of the most important part:

http://www.tubechop.com/watch/263717

The morning after that episode kids all over Alexis I. duPont Middle School were flipping coins off their elbows! Today I passed the “meme” on to about 90 kids in Marlboro, Vermont in 2012. The tradition continues!

I hammed it up. The kids were enthralled. I ended the performance with a 17 quarter catch to the roar of the school! What a rush!

Books are magical!

Will deBock — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:01:21 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SKVcQnyEIT8

Maurice Sendak: A TateShot Video

Will deBock — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 20:01:10 +0000

[Editors Note: This is not a video for children. There is some of adult language.]

This 5 minute video from the Tate in the UK has “picture book” author, Maurice Sendak, talking about all sorts of things — from his love (and non-understanding) of William Blake to his self-described most important book, Outside Over There.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXAjkLUv7dY

The Tate video series looks interesting itself.

The Plan of Concentration: Marlboro College

Will deBock — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 23:14:47 +0000

I am a proud graduate of Marlboro College. It is a small place, but has an important niche in American higher education. Here is a nice video about how the “crown jewel” of a Marlboro education, the Plan of Concentration, was created.

My Plan of Concentration was a sociological study of Evangelical Fundamentalism in Modern American Culture.

Connection for Promotion!

Will deBock — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 00:45:12 +0000

The folks over at TalentPharm posted an interesting infographic entitled, “How to Promote an Event Online.” It is a little too generic for my tastes, but I loved this advice:

But the thing is, this is great advice not just a few days before an event. This is an ongoing process and is how people and organization develop a robust social media presence. It applies to large corporations, individual entrepreneurs or enthusiastic hobbyists.

Click here to see the whole infographic.