Live Blogging of Malcom Gladwell Keynote at NECC 2009

cbuyrn

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 5:42 pm

 

The electric co has sure changed!

VictoriaMiles

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 7:51 pm

 

Malcolm Gladwell gets a big THUMBS DOWN from me. He pushed his liberal political agenda from the first sentence he uttered. When he made his slanderous crack about President Bush, I left the room. If I had a megaphone, I would have BOOed him loudly, I am a middle school math educator and also happen to be a patriotic conservative American. I did not come to this conference to have Mr. Gladwell jam socialism down my throat. I’m surprised at NECC for contracting such an individual to be the Keynote Speaker.

Larry Jeffryes

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 8:03 pm

 

In reading Tweets and blog postings: Mixed reviews on Gladell’s keynote Some found it inspiring,meaningful other say “much ado about nothing,” canned. What do you say?

Larry Jeffryes

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 8:12 pm

 

Throwing in political comments into a keynote at at a ed tech conference seems to dilute runs the risk of turning off part of your audience. In the case of Victoria, completely negates any information or message you might want to communicate.

Like separation of church and state; in this venue it would be best to separate ed tech and political ideology.

I also read one blog; this was essentially the same speech MG gives to other organizations. Maybe MG has some basic truths that apply to all OR maybe MG only has one message and not much new to say.

Janice Salies

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 8:33 pm

 

@VictoriaMiles it sounds like your in what you might call a ‘not very vocal minority’. Of the 10,000 or so people that experienced Malcom Gladwell’s talk, you’re probably 1 of 10 or so people who were really turned off by what the rest of us call “rationality and logic”.

See the polls above…looks like people liked it. You might be watching too much Fox News…and if you still support GW Bush you’ve got serious problems.

VictoriaMiles

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 8:55 pm

 

Janice Salies,

Not only still support President Bush, but appreciate his leadership and the way he protected my country and my family for the last 8 years. Furthermore, I candidate vigorously and often for conservatives like Mitt Romney. I don’t have cable TV, and therefore don’t listen to FOX, but I would if I could…

I am a teacher first and foremost. I am a life-long conservative second. I don’t let the mainstream media or Hollywood or authors like Gladwell do my thinking for me. I draw my own conclusions and therefore resent Gladwell’s liberal hype.

I would be happy to meet you in person to discuss this – tomorrow let’s meet at Starbucks at 10:00 AM. in the Convention Center. I’ll be the one with the “Proud to be a Conservative” T-shirt.

FYI – I spoke in person with 3 random people after the speech, and of the 3, two of them agreed that Mr. Gladwell’s speech was offensive to them as conservatives. So it looks like probability isn’t your strong suit.

Pamela

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 9:19 pm

 

Victoria -

Who are you on Twitter? Would love to follow you. It’s nice to know there are other Conservatives in education out there. Thanks for standing up!

Lee

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 9:31 pm

 

I enjoyed Gladwell’s talk. Leaving the early political comments out of the picture (I’m a Canadian and will keep my opinions on the state of US politics to myself), I thought his message about learning very appropriate, especially in light of research about learning and assessment from the likes of Marzano, Guskey, et al. I did read a tweet from someone saying it was a summary of “Outliers.” I bought the book based on that comment because I do believe much of what he said about persistent effort, capitalization, compensation, and timely feedback were excellent.

It’s unfortunate people allowed political biases to cloud their judgment of the more important message.

[...] some general ones, as my battery died about halfway through. The live blogging of the keynote is here, here, and [...]

Terri Stice

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 9:56 pm

 

What an incredible way to kick off NECC 2009! Malcolm Gladwell did an excellent job again this year! (loved him when NECC brought him to New Orleans too) Also appreciated the Michael Jackson music too!

[...] band Fleetwood Mac served as Malcolm’s vessel in which he ferried the audience’s attention. Zach Goodwin was also on hand to live-blog the event and provide a litmus-test of the audience’s [...]

Wes Fryer

Sunday, 28th June 2009 at 11:05 pm

 

I enjoyed Gladwell’s presentation as well and am able to not let his political statements at the outset color my entire impression of his message. Keynote presentations should be about good ideas, and this one certainly was. The message that it is EFFORT and not simply heredity that determines where people go in their lives is a very important as well as compelling message. Gladwell advocated for us to respect and champion hard work, and help our students understand that those who are “successful” in the end often tend to be those who are hungrier and try harder than others. Great message, and a great way to start the conference.

Whether you consider yourself to a liberal or a conservative, I think it’s possible to see beyond the politics of Gladwell’s message (which were really just a small amount) and pay attention to his important ideas.

Bob Monty

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 1:11 am

 

@ Wes Fryer:

I have to agree with other posters, no matter how small the number, and indeed you yourself, who said that Gladwell’s politics should have been left at home.

The conference is about education – or at least it should be – and for Gladwell to permeate the conference with a boilerplate anti-conservative political intonation smacks of a holier-than-thou approach that dripping liberals are known for.

He should have stuck to the meat and potatoes issues or have stayed at home.

[...] ISTE Connects [...]

VictoriaMiles

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 6:42 am

 

Wes,
With all due respect, the only people that can see beyond such anti-American sentiments are socialists. In the same way that I do not buy Chavez’s CITGO gas, I will not buy this man’s book, now that I know what his underlying agenda is.

[...] of us in the the ballroom, there was an overflow room, the Twitterverse was alive, and the presentation is being covered via a live blog.  So, every nuance in your presentation will be covered and [...]

Ryan Osweiler

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 8:10 am

 

I was turned off by his political comments. While everyone does have a right to free speech, we are here to learn about Ed. Tech, not the Iraq War. His speech was philosophically-based and not content-based.

Karen Brock

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 8:32 am

 

While I still enjoy an occasional Christie McVie song, my students neither sample nor listen to Fleetwood Mac. Whether NECC right or NECC left masses approved or disaproved of the poltical comments the speaker used is not the issue either. These are sidebar discussions. What should matter is how prepared are we to engage, to teach, and to reach the students assigned to us – using the medium students use like the air they breathe – Technology.

Janice Salies

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 9:42 am

 

Really Victoria? Really?

“anti-American sentiments are socialists”

You mean if someone has an opinion that isn’t ‘conservative’ or in favor of someone like GW Bush then they’re ‘anti-American’. You should be proud to be among the 25% of the country that still think GW Bush was a good president – I guess you’re enlightened. I guess that makes you an elitist no?

I’ll be happy to meet you at Starbucks. I get the feeling though that our conversation will be as interesting as watching Bill O’Reilly foam at the mouth as he pushes his closed-minded sentiments on those around him.
—-

cshively

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 11:22 am

 

Having taught gifted kids, I do not agree with part of his fundamental premise about effort vs talent. I have witnessed the power of spontaneous/intuited genius and believe we need to make that opportunity available in addition to “effort” exercises. There are many ways that learners get there, and the important thing is that they have a chance to learn and revisit and rework and get feedback and let things incubate in the background, then revisit again. That revisiting does not always feel like “effort” or “work” and can actually be delight—as in the experience many of us get at NECC.

Kimberly Flack

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 3:43 pm

 

Having worked with high school learning disabled students for the first half of my career and with kids of my own with dyslexia, I found Malcom Gladwell an inspiration. He affirmed what I encouraged my students to do time and time again — keep trying and figure out the best way to learn — and to find a way around the roadblocks placed before them in the traditional academic setting. It is profoundly encouraging to know that focus and effort and 10,000 hours do pay off and research shows that. Despite your political views, Malcom Gladwell had inspiration to offer everyone. Breathe deeply and look beyond the surface of the polar extremes of politics — he had good things to say about ALL our students — not just those on one side of the spectrum.

Pamela

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 4:33 pm

 

And there’s also a reality that no matter how focused I am, regardless of my effort and the number of hours that I practice – I will never be an Olympic skier.

That said, if I focus on my characteristic strengths and where I have innate ability, I could be a dynamite, and always improving, teacher.

Stephan D

Monday, 29th June 2009 at 9:36 pm

 

I do not see how one comment about the Iraq war makes MG a liberal elitist. And for the conservatives who left after he took a crack at GW, come on, get over it. Most republicans and conservatives I know have come to the realization that GW was a diaster no matter what political stripe you wear. He was an incompetant conseravative and certainly not liberal so I guess the worst of both worlds. I for one thought that MG was pretty good. Not brilliant but thought-provoking nonetheless and that’s a great way to start a conference about education, don’t you think?

VictoriaMiles

Tuesday, 30th June 2009 at 7:02 am

 

Steven and Janice,

I could not disagree with you more. If a President’s job is to keep Americans from harm and to keep this country from attack, not to mention keep Americans employed, then Bush did his job. Millions have lost their jobs since GW Bush left office, my husband being one of them. I thank President Bush from the bottom of my heart. How dare you try to take my right to be grateful to my former president from me. Make no mistake, I could write plenty about the current administration. But I choose not to. It speaks for itself. GW Bush put everything he had into leading this nation. I never thought I’d end up blogging about this topic at this conference. Gladwell was out of line because ISTE did not contract him to talk about politics – liberal or otherwise. It was a lack of judgment on his part. Period. His opening remarks were offensive to me and hundreds, if not thousands of others. I spoke with the President of ISTE yesterday. She graciously apologized for my being offended, noting that ISTE is indeed a “diverse” population.

The two of you ought to have more sensitivity and allow people their right to think, feel, and respond however they will.

VictoriaMiles

Tuesday, 30th June 2009 at 7:04 am

 

Thank you all for allowing me to write why Mr. Gladwell’s opening remarks drove me out of the room. Some of us are very passionate about this country. And I do have liberal friends – a lot of them – that I respect a great deal, and who respect me in return. I am checking out now. Thanks, and I bid you farewell.

[...] Keynote with Malcolm Gladwell has been posted by ISTE Vision. There’s big debate going on in this post about his talk, which also contains a full live blog of the keynote. The full video is [...]

Ford Davis

Saturday, 4th July 2009 at 2:18 am

 

In this economy, with finances limited, I am a virtual participant. I watched the speech online and I was tremendously impressed … he didn’t tell you how to interpret his message, he left that to the intelligence of the listener. The scope of our situations in all of our schools varies so much across the country, or across a city. There was much to consider.

So many comments from someone who can’t listen to an opposing point of view. Virtually a “gunfight challenge” over a cup of coffee. I grew up in a home with an extreme conservative, my father. He died a couple years back, so bitter and angry. As a registered independent, I choose based on my belief and that has included republicans.

Victoria … when you leave the room rather than hear something you don’t agree with … I worry if you communicate that handicap to your students. In a land and a democracy of ideas, you become unqualified to critique a speech you didn’t hear. My father missed a lifetime of family life for similar reasons. Yet to him, he was entirely correct and the rest of the world or family was wrong. It was a lonely and bitter end, yet we were there for him.

I hope you stop and listen more, not that I expect you will suddenly agree, but that you will become informed rather than dogmatically insistent that the views different than you appreciate are so horrible. You had eight years of what you wanted, and now you need to watch how others can do things differently. Don’t worry, Sarah is coming in 2012!

VictoriaMiles

Sunday, 12th July 2009 at 9:55 pm

 

Ford,
I’m sorry that you are still angry with your deceased father. FYI, it’s Mitt Romney that I am going to campaign for, not Sarah.

Ford Davis

Monday, 13th July 2009 at 10:25 am

 

Victoria,

Your reply says far more behind it than in your actual words. Your “apology” is your faint attempt to lash out. I see I hit home.

My father had the anger, like you, and I long ago recognized some people try to anger others so they themselves can feel better. Your reply doesn’t anger me, it only confirms that you aren’t listening and exchanging ideas, but rather expressing your own anger and lack of qualifications to judge a speech you didn’t stay to hear … or so you say.

I appreciate that there are many like you, less one with my “angry” father now passed, but you are not a clear or even close majority in America. We “who are not enlightened like you” not only allow but encourage your contributions. Your words remind us of those who complain and cry without really considering anything but one limited opinion.

I sincerely hope you find a way to see something outside your limited point of view.

Victoria Miles

Thursday, 16th July 2009 at 9:49 am

 

Ford,
I’m a math teacher first. I also just happen to be conservative. I honestly don’t think this exchange between us is profitable, pertinent or necessary.
Vicki

Ford Davis

Friday, 17th July 2009 at 9:23 am

 

Victoria,

I differ with you, not on politics, but it is both pertinent and necessary that people who use these forums AT LEAST be informed.

Your political beliefs are not in question here. Your opinion of a speech that you didn’t stay to hear is the point. I can only hope that you might listen next time and talk about specifics that you disagree or agree about.

I too, a teacher, and most pertinent here for you, I am a lifetime independent. That means I determine my beliefs by informed choice. Please, just be informed by actually listening first!

Victoria Miles

Wednesday, 22nd July 2009 at 11:10 pm

 

Anyone care to read my first couple of posts in my very first blog? I’d be curious to banter with you if you are interested.

garybau

Thursday, 17th September 2009 at 3:46 am

 

and so it goes on…

latest report on achievement in the US?

links income of parents with academic record so the legacy of 8 years of GWB…seems to be entrenching privilege and blocking innovation of the ‘undeserving poor’.

politics is a BIG part of education, no way to not be critical of NoChildLeftBehind..the damage done will linger for decades…

so…what of GWB now?