Category Archives: Mindfulness

Learning assessment, Finnish style

I am trying to find new, innovative, and useful models for assessing higher learning in student work.  I also seek formative assessment through self-reflection upon my own performance as a teacher-facilitator. Five purposes of mathematics assessment have been outlined by Kulm (1994) as the following: improving instruction and learning, evaluating student progress, providing feedback forContinue reading “Learning assessment, Finnish style”

A Beginner’s Mentality in Teaching

I am teaching a short term course for South Bay Adult School in Manhattan Beach, California, Beginning Screenplay Writing, for the next four weeks.  The course website gives an overview of the course content and approach.  I will apply this same model when I go to teach in Karachi, Bangkok, and Shanghai.  Always having aContinue reading “A Beginner’s Mentality in Teaching”

Wisely and earnestly: I keep trying to remember this idea

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. – Buddha’s Wise Words that I emulate to the best of my ability.

Why do people read?

I assume the most basic explanation or response to the question: why do people read? is that reading is a likable activity for the most part.  It yields good results.  But to question, Why do people read, wondering about reading and deeper learning by students from a critical perspective–this is a personal effort to improveContinue reading “Why do people read?”

Transmedia Storytelling

I am finding opportunities and work in a new field of teaching (new, for myself)—Transmedia Storytelling.  I am supposed to teach this subject so it’s a good time to define what transmedia storytelling is, and how students can learn from it.  I found this good article that helps as an introduction.  I am looking forwardContinue reading “Transmedia Storytelling”

Rainbow Millet Tabbouleh

In Place of Other Grains: Rainbow Millet Tabbouleh Millet is capable of doing the job of pretty much any other grain. For example, tabbouleh is usually made with bulgur but a gluten-free version can be made with millet. It’s delicious by itself or served with your favorite Mediterranean dishes. The different colored vegetables give itContinue reading “Rainbow Millet Tabbouleh”

Labor exploitation in Palos Verdes Estates: Where is a Union when you need one?

A revolving door is a common phrase to signify a repeating pattern of random hiring and firing of workers. Oftentimes a revolving door is enshrouded in secrecy and all kinds of unfairness.  I am referring specifically to the problems facing a nonunion high school baseball coach at Palos Verdes High.  That coach is facing the revolvingContinue reading “Labor exploitation in Palos Verdes Estates: Where is a Union when you need one?”

The beginning of the story

This is a very useful video by Michael Arndt (Toy Story 3) about the struggle and importance of the story’s beginning–creating the foundation for the rest of the story.  I am very interested in the experience of writing and developing a story, asking myself, what does it feel like to write?  Writing is purely mechanicalContinue reading “The beginning of the story”

Bangkok, Museum of Floral Culture

    For future reference in Bangkok: Museum of Floral Culture This is one of Bangkok’s gorgeous surprises. The creation of Thai floral artist Sakul Intakul, the museum is for flower and nature lovers and those with an interest in Thai flower culture. It features exhibits of important floral cultures from civilizations across Asia suchContinue reading “Bangkok, Museum of Floral Culture”

Tape is gone, but it lives on!

A useful writing that explains the absence of audio tape stock.  CLICK HERE “Recording on tape enforces a musical process, McTear explains. Band members must play together, recording all at once, instead of editing and manipulating sounds so perfectly that they’re perfectly boring.”  I love this approach to musicianship and recording arts. The reel storyContinue reading “Tape is gone, but it lives on!”

A Bloom Refresher

I use Bloom’s Taxonomy for the benefit of students in my classes. I don’t know why the Taxonomy that Bloom et al developed seems to be kept in secret from students? Tell me why so few students are acquainted with Bloom et al? I share the Taxonomy with my students and encourage them to applyContinue reading “A Bloom Refresher”

Happiness and Suffering

I have been pondering the notion of Happiness and the Root of Suffering.  I am trying to simplify my understanding here, and I hope it helps someone else too. What is happiness? Happiness is when the heart and mind are freed from suffering. How can one achieve happiness? Happiness can be achieved as the causes ofContinue reading “Happiness and Suffering”

A Lumad Prayer in Bendum, Philippines

I am re-editing some documentary projects that I produced years ago in the upland forests of Mindanao, Philippines.  My son says my style as a filmmaker is antiquated and extinct, and he is probably correct, but it’s my best effort and hopefully achieves some level of mindful simplicity in an online context.

Affordable Care Act

A new “5-year rule” in California allows the government to recover their costs for social services received by you. Question: Are the insurance subsidies under the ACA to be considered as a social service received?  Presumably so, but I am not sure. Under the new rule the government can demand to be paid back from your estate for theContinue reading “Affordable Care Act”

Guro Dan Inosanto: PE Teacher at Malaga Cove School

I was lucky as a young person at Malaga Cove intermediate school. I was lucky because I had GURO Dan Inasanto was my PE teacher in grades 6, 7, and 8.  GURO=GURU (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guro) Guro Dan Insosanto’s website is: http://www.inosanto.com As our teacher and role model, he was authentic and awe-inspiring.  I believe this could be said about allContinue reading “Guro Dan Inosanto: PE Teacher at Malaga Cove School”