There were plenty of school principals and teachers sharing their experiences building innovative new schools that use technology to empower kids so that they can learn online or at their own pace, to satisfy their own intellectual curiosities and passions.

Apart from a speech by Microsoft’s general manager for US education, Anthony Salcito, demonstrating Microsoft technology such as its PhotoSynth photo-stitching software and its Surface tabletop computer, the conference was otherwise largely free of Microsoft sales pitches.

One attendee Eric spoke with in some depth was Rosalind “Roz” Chivis, principal of The High School of the Future in Philadelphia that is a collaboration between that city’s school district and Microsoft.

At the two-year-old school, where all 750 students tote around Gateway laptops, project, rather than subject-based learning, is the standard. Colleague Julie Sartain profiled it in January, calling it “the most wired school in America.”

Chivis set the tone by introducing herself as “Chief Learner.” It’s all part of seeing her job as “terminating” problems that prevent her teachers being effective and students from learning, rather than being a top-down manager.

Hopeless hippie talk? Not coming from the African-American Chivis, who has been in education for three decades, was a former assistant superintendent in Philadelphia, and was willing to share some of the problems they’ve solved and tradeoffs they’ve made.

For instance, having teachers assign cross-disciplinary projects rather than the same old English, Math and Science curriculums may mimic real life better, but it initially created problems such as how to enter grades into the central database, which would’ve hurt students’ chances of getting into good colleges. That has since been fixed.

Or take the School’s policy on social networking sites. “Our kids use MySpace and FaceBook,” she said. But using a content filter or firewall to block pornography, besides presenting a tempting target for hackers, would’ve interfered with students downloading and using JPEGs for class projects, she said. So the School is instead looking at technology that will let teachers view Web traffic in real-time instead.

Also, students can bring cellphones to the school, but they may not use them. Those who do have their batteries confiscated. “Because we are in the inner city, our challenge is if there are gangs that get into an altercation, they might use the cellphone to call for backup,” she said, adding that the policy so far has “worked very well. Kids get the message after they tire of paying $15-20 every time for a new battery.”

That does seem to be a good compromise to the policy in force at New York City public schools, where students are not allowed to bring cellphones into the school. As a result, some students are taking their cellphones over to local deli shops, called bodegas in New York, where they can have them stored for $2 or $3 a day.

On whether online learning encourages cheating or plagiarism by students, Chivis disagreed. “We did have one instance where a student was clearly getting help from a dad or some other older relative,” she said. That was dealt with. “It’s the only instance. I would like to think it’s not a problem. And we use other technology to spot plagiarism.”

The High School of the Future is still traditional in many senses. Teachers still appear to have more control over classrooms than some advocates of “disruptive education” such as Michael Horn probably like.

And while there are few textbooks as most of the material and coursework is online, kids still physically come to the school and work in classrooms, unlike virtual schools such as the Florida Virtual School, which served 64,000 high school students nationwide last year, or the e4 Academy run by the Clear Creek public school district near Houston, Texas.

“I do think distant learning can be just as rich, but it depends on how the course is structured and it depends on the learner,” she said.

Original Post: December 3, 2008 - 3:21 A.M.
http://blogs.computerworld.com/philly_microsofts_high_school_of_the_future

• TAGS:e-learing, Education, Microsoft, Microsoft Surface, photosynth, School of the Future, virtual learing

• IT TOPICS:Government & Regulation, Windows & Microsoft

]]> http://ultrafutureworld.com/2008/12/11/microsofts-high-school-of-the-future/feed/ http://ultrafutureworld.com/2008/12/03/former-president-clinton-concludes-cgi-asia-meeting-and-announces-impact-of-commitments/ http://ultrafutureworld.com/2008/12/03/former-president-clinton-concludes-cgi-asia-meeting-and-announces-impact-of-commitments/#comments Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:57:28 +0000 UltraFuture http://ultrafutureworld.com/?p=325 Commitments unveiled at first (and possibly last) CGI Asia have estimated value of US$185 million, to impact more than 10 million lives

HONG KONG: Former President Clinton concluded the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Asia meeting today, highlighting examples of CGI members’ Commitments to Action that will positively impact lives across the globe.

“I am truly impressed by our Clinton Global Initiative members and the new commitments announced this week that will bring real, measurable change to millions lives in Asia and across the world,” said President Clinton. “CGI Asia members have made commitments worth an estimated total value of US$185 million, to positively impact more than 10 million lives.”

Examples of the impact CGI Asia commitments will have once fully implemented include:

An estimated 715,000 children will benefit from better education opportunities.

Over 260,000 adults will learn new job skills.

Of these, nearly 26,000 are teachers and 8,000 are health care workers who will benefit from new training.

Over 250,000 girls and women will be empowered with better opportunities for sustainable livelihoods.

Nearly 24,000 hectares of forest land will be protected by empowering local residents to manage their own natural resources.

The equivalent of more than 40,000 tons of CO2 emissions will be cut.

Over 700,000 people will better learn to cope with environmental stress and natural disasters.

More than 3.5 million people will gain greater access to health services.

Half a million people will now have safe drinking water, and 400,000 children will benefit from better nutrition.

Following the successful conclusion of the first day of the CGI Asia meeting, President Clinton was joined at a Gala Dinner by the Honorable Donald Tsang, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, internationally acclaimed actor Michelle Yeoh, Jet Li, founder of the ONE Foundation, and other CGI Asia members for a special evening of music and conversation to celebrate giving and inspire Commitments to Action.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd addressed the CGI Asia meeting by video.

“We need new ideas to confront and solve the myriad of challenges which lie ahead of us this century,” said Prime Minister Rudd. “I look forward to working with all those gathered at the Clinton Global Initiative meeting to move our world forward towards a new chapter in human history.”

CGI participants focused on the three main CGI Asia topics: education, energy & climate change and public health. The program also acknowledged the current economic climate with a plenary session on coping with the financial crisis.

Established in 2005 as a project of the non-partisan William J. Clinton Foundation, the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) convenes global leaders to devise and implement innovative solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. The CGI community includes: CGI University, a forum to engage college students in global citizenship; CGI Asia, the first in a series of regional CGI meetings; and, MyCommitment.org, an online portal where anyone can commit to helping improve lives.

Information on the Clinton Global Initiative and all CGI member commitments can be found at www.clintonglobalinitiative.org

From CGI Press Release via Ogilvy.

Related articles:

• Bill Clinton Is Said to Agree to Release Names of Donors
• Bill Clinton Kicks Off First (and Last) Charity Summit Overseas
• NYT: Bill Clinton agrees to reveal donors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

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UltraFuture is a global thinktank and brain trust. Collaborating with visionary thinkers and doers to create and facilitate world-changing events, media and projects on the leading-edge of technology and culture. UltraFuture is headquartered in Hong Kong. With advisors and associates based in Tokyo, San Francisco, Shanghai, London, New York, Buenos Aires and the Middle East, UltraFuture offers a unique global platform for communication and collaboration.

Project Palantir was created by Jack Lindamood at the last Hackathon Project.

Source: Darren Murph, posted Nov 19th 2008 at 5:47PM on Engadget.com

HONG KONG – November 18, 2008

Back in the 80’s and 90’s, there were rumours that Coca Cola or Pepsi were looking at projecting their logo onto the surface of the moon. While this would have undoubtedly been the most talked about advertisement in history, the general consensus at the time was that the moon was a ’shared’ space, and that it was not right to pollute it with something so crass and commercial as an advertisement.

There has been much talk lately about the commercialization of space. Many private enterprises are now competing to create and participate in an emerging ‘privatized’ space industry. Virgin Galactic, Space We have already had a number of space tourists and more will certainly come. Imagining a time when the moon or even Mars has a permanent human settlement is not far fetched.

Outside of popular science fiction, space as we know it is widely described and understood as rather, well, scientific. It is a place and a subject to be studied with objectivity and logic. Artist Velka Edge and luxury branding visionary Matthew Asinari are working on a project to partner with Google Lunar X-Prize contender Odyssey Moon and UltraFuture to engage the global imagination and create a genuine human connection with space.

Artist Velka Edge’s unique painting, entitled “Uni Essence and the Music of Spheres”, symbolizes humanities role and timeless essence in the universe. By rendering the painting on a light weight and pliable synthetic silk, the image can be transported as a minimal addition to the payload of a future lunar lander, projected to carry the artwork to the surface of the moon sometime around 2020.

The painting will be exhibited at the UltraFuture Conference held this December 13th at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park. Art on the Moon is a concept that utilizes art as a language to bridge the gap in the understanding of space science and to create relevant emotional bonds between humankind, the Earth, and the moon.  Art on the Moon will donate the original painting to be displayed permanently on Earth.

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UltraFuture Events are communications platforms where innovators, entrepreneurs, visionaries and thought-leaders come together to share new ideas and develop collaborations for the betterment of mankind.  This year’s conferences will focus on the Future of the Built Environment and the Future of Lifestyle and Communications.

The UltraFuture Conference 2008 will be held on December 13 in the “Golden Egg” Auditorium at the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park.  Exhibits will include the stylish audio speakers of Bowers & Wilkins, inspiring Cybertectural models from James Law Cybertecture International, and a replica of the Painting from the Art on the Moon project.

To learn more about Art on the Moon or the UltraFuture ThinkTank, please contact info@ultrafutureworld.com or visit http://ultrafutureworld.com

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UltraFuture is a global thinktank and brain trust. Collaborating with visionary thinkers and doers to create and facilitate world-changing events, media and projects on the leading-edge of technology and culture. UltraFuture is headquartered in Hong Kong. With advisors and associates based in Tokyo, San Francisco, Shanghai, London, New York, Buenos Aires and the Middle East, UltraFuture offers a unique global platform for communication and collaboration.

Calatrava originally unveiled his design to the public in 2004 and, to address security, engineering, and feasibility elements for the future landmark, revised it in July 2005 and summer 2008.

The $3.2 billion hub will sit at the northeast corner of the WTC site at Church and Vesey Streets and is expected to form an underground connection between the World Financial Center and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s Fulton Street Transit Center. Through it, pedestrians will have access to Hudson River ferry terminals, PATH trains, 13 subway lines, and possibly a direct rail link to JFK International Airport.

Calatrava’s design features steel “ribs” with glass panels between them to maximize natural light inside the station. The underground concourse, mezzanine, and platform levels will be largely free of vertical columns for a greater sense of openness and movement. The hub will also be a central pedestrian thoroughfare for the half-million-square-foot retail program planned for the WTC’s lower levels.

“The building is built with steel, glass, and light. They will all be equal building materials,” Calatrava said. “The light will arrive at the platform, and visitors will feel like they are arriving in a great place, a welcoming place.”

Calatrava said that Daniel Libeskind’s original master plan both guided his design and served as inspiration, stating that the transportation hub “articulates with Libeskind’s beautiful plan. The station fits like a centerpiece in the middle of the plaza.”

*Images courtesy of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey

*Originally posted on lowermanahattan.info

SHANGHAI, Nov. 10 - Energy Island, a sustainable and self-sufficient platform design for island and coastal communities, will be presented at the US China GreenTech Summit in Shanghai, November 13th. Energy Island is supported by a consortium of leading engineering, consulting and planning organizations including: Parsons Brinckerhoff, Noble Denton, Halcrow, the University of Southhampton and UltraFuture. Energy island is led by engineer and architect Dominic Michaelis, CEO, and architect Alex Michaelis, Managing Director.

The presentation will be part of the Utilities Panel on November 13th, which includes executives from IBM, PG&E. David Harris, managing director of thinktank and consultancy UltraFuture, will present Energy Island and participate in the panel on behalf of the consortium.

Renewable Energy
Energy Island utilizes proven technologies to harness all forms of renewable energy available at sea. At the heart of system is an open-cycle Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) plant, which is aided by solar, wind, sea current and wave energy converters. Energy Island has developed innovative designs and technologies that allow the integration of these energy sources into custom-designed systems that produce between 1MW and 250MW net power output.

Large-scale Fresh Water Production
In addition to being a non-polluting source of reliable energy, Energy Islands address a number of other immediate environmental and social challenges. One of the most beneficial by-products of the open-cycle OTEC process is mass desalinization of seawater; for every megawatt of energy produced by the OTEC process, 1.2 million liters of freshwater are produced. This freshwater can be utilized in the local communities and also can be shipped by tanker to areas in need.

The modular design of Energy Island allows them to be joined together to create larger community/utilities platforms. Energy Islands can be designed to accommodate aquaculture, greenhouses and mariculture pens for food production. Residential, research or tourism facilities can also be built on the islands.

Energy Island will also be presented this December 13th at the UltraFuture Conference in Hong Kong (www.ultrafutureworld.com).

For more information, please contact:
Nick Fabrizio, Production Manager of UltraFuture World Limited
Tel: +86 1581 5588774 or nick.fabrizio@ultrafutureworld.com

ScenarioLand.com Year: Beyond   Rating: 5 Hot

Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works, gave a presentation on how robots can easily eliminate half the workforce of the United States fairly soon.

Image of Marshall Brain, founder of How Stuff Works

He said that by 2042 there will be $500 desktop computers with computing power equal to the human brain. We can then put this into a robot which will have the power to do jobs that millions of people hold today. Robots can easily take over education, transportation, construction and retail jobs.

For example: Walmart alone has over 1.2 million employees, performing easy jobs. If robots take the jobs, “a million jobs at Walmart will evaporate.”

But what about the job market?

6.5 million in construction will be gone. 16.4 million in manufacturing will be gone. Retail/wholesale will lose 20 million jobs. Drivers will lose 3 million jobs. Education to lose 2 million.

“Half the jobs in the economy right now we can see robots taking over.”

He ended with the question displayed “What if 50-million people became unemployed?” He then said “there is no doubt these jobs will be gone fairly soon.” We have to start modifying our economy to deal with the mass unemployed.

Arthur C. Clarke formulated the following three “laws” of prediction:

1. When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible, he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong.
2. The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is to venture a little way past them into the impossible.
3. Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

The first of the three laws, previously termed Clarke’s Law, was proposed by Arthur C. Clarke in the essay “Hazards of Prophecy: The Failure of Imagination”, in Profiles of the Future (1962).

The second law is offered as a simple observation in the same essay; its status as Clarke’s Second Law was conferred on it by others.

In a 1973 revision of his compendium of essays, Profiles of the Future, Clarke acknowledged the Second Law and proposed the Third in order to round out the number, adding “As three laws were good enough for Newton, I have modestly decided to stop there.” Of the three, the Third Law is the best known and most widely cited.

Clarke’s Third Law codifies perhaps the most significant of Clarke’s unique contributions to speculative fiction. A model to other writers of hard science fiction, Clarke postulates advanced technologies without resorting to flawed engineering concepts (as Jules Verne sometimes did) or explanations grounded in incorrect science or engineering (a hallmark of “bad” science fiction), or taking clues from trends in research and engineering (which dates some of Larry Niven’s novels). Accordingly, the powers of any future superintelligence or hyperintelligence which Clarke often described would seem astonishing.

But in novels such as The City and the Stars and the story “The Sentinel” (upon which 2001: A Space Odyssey was based) Clarke goes further; he presents us with ultra-advanced technologies developed by hyperintelligences limited only by fundamental science. In Against the Fall of Night the human race has mysteriously regressed after a full billion years of civilization. Humanity is faced with the remnants of its past glories: for example, a network of roads and sidewalks that flow like rivers. Although physically possible, it is inexplicable from their perspective. Clarke’s Third Law explains the source of our amazement as our limitation, rather than the impossibility of the technology.

In his 1999 revision of Profiles of the Future, published in London by Indigo, Clarke added his Fourth Law: “For every expert there is an equal and opposite expert.”

From Wikipedia.org