{"id":4779,"date":"2020-04-14T20:04:50","date_gmt":"2020-04-15T01:04:50","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stager.tv\/?p=4779"},"modified":"2020-07-26T05:56:20","modified_gmt":"2020-07-26T10:56:20","slug":"educational-zoom-activity-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stager.tv\/?p=4779","title":{"rendered":"Educational Zoom Activity #1"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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“You can’t think about thinking without thinking about thinking about something” – Seymour Papert<\/p>\r\n<\/blockquote>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

I find potentially interesting education provocations everywhere. The remarkable generosity of the world’s finest musical artists performing online during this pandemic have kept me safe and sane. I aspire as an educator to possess their level of talent, wisdom, expertise, focus, humor, commitment, generosity, and love. It is these very virtues that has made jazz musicians such a source of knowledge, wonder, and comfort in my life. One other very special aspect of “the hang” with jazz musicians is the lack of generational barriers within their community of practice. Most people aspiring to be great at what they do welcome opportunities to mentor newbies who express passion for similar pursuits. What makes the performing arts so special is that, as in the Brazilian samba schools, everyone \u2013 young and old alike \u2013 “dances” together.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

So, in between concerts regularly scheduled concerts by Peter Martin<\/a>, Chick Corea<\/a>, and the Emmet Cohen Trio,<\/a> I’ve watched great musicians discuss music they love at listening party fundraisers<\/a> for Jazz House Kids (Friday nights) and Wynton Marsalis’ \u00a0“Skain’s Domain<\/a>,” (Monday night) where world-class artists spin yarns and take questions from the audience.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

When I think about education, these are three ideals I cling to.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

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  1. The best thing we can do is to create as many opportunities as possible for young people to be in the company of interesting adults.<\/li>\r\n
  2. Greatness is achieved through a laser-like focus on overcoming bugs that bother you. Once you approach overcoming that obstacle, a new challenge reveals itself. Such focus tends to make experts great teachers since such self-awareness is easy to articulate.<\/li>\r\n
  3. If you wish for others to learn from you, your practice needs to be as transparent as possible.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

    Each of these principles are embodied in the Skain’s Domain<\/a> Web livestreams (and archives). I highly recommend you watch the one below, even if you do not understand the subject matter, like jazz, or know who the participants are. There is still plenty to learn about learning and teaching.<\/p>\r\n\r\n