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It Began With a Thump: The “Newsmakers” Interview
Posted by P.I.E. | December 11, 2010
Generally speaking, I’m not considered a klutz. However, as I sat on the soundstage and prepared for my “Newsmakers” WKRC TV interview, I did a true-to-form impersonation of the vintage Gerald Ford SNL skit performed by actor Chevy Chase.
Waving a quick goodbye to Hamilton County Commissioner Todd Portune as he exited the stage, I tumbled down the steps, slid across the stage and disappeared behind a news desk. Popping up with an “I’m OK” announcement to all the crew, I promptly climbed up to my chair, and taped the live (no dialogue edits) show with Dan Hurley.
Talk about adrenalin rush. Yes, I’m a fast talker, but the endorphins were exploding when the cameras rolled.
I’m not a stranger to cameras, microphones or journalists. As a FCC-licensed broadcaster and published author, I know how to talk to the camera (or the interviewer), engage the audience and build empathy. However, I just can’t “top” the tumble in Cincinnati. Did it make the interview any better? I don’t know – but it makes for a great story for the camera crew!
Many people ask what it’s like to do a live interview. Watch “Jeopardy”, and you’ll have some idea. Listening intently, staying mentally focused, and answering in quick sound bites bodes well for a memorable media interview. Simply, if the viewer can recall three key points I discussed, the interview was a success. If not, oh well.
Using the Debating 101 STT mantra (Smile. Think. Talk.), anyone can handle an interview –even when the questions are unknown. Try it with your friends or kids. Talk for two minutes about something that excites you, and quiz everyone afterwards!
Preparing for an interview? Think like a journalist, and fully prepare yourself. Be personable, discuss a point of view with singular acuity, and offer a message viewers will remember once the interview has ended.
In my case, I hope you’ll remember P.I.E. is a collaborative organization facilitating and promoting educational innovation. Will you? Well, that tumble may have kicked the interview into high gear, but it also represents P.I.E.’s overall point of view. We are catalysts for educational innovation and entrepreneurial change. We are a dynamic, evolving institution lead by innovators and change-agents. A little blip in the road may only serve to strengthen our position.
Yeah, even P.I.E. sees the silver lining – and the opportunity – in falling down some stairs. You finished reading this article, right?
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Due to technical difficulties, the “Newsmakers” video link is currently unavailable. The link will be posted when resolved.
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Distraction or Development: Technology’s Role in Education
Posted by P.I.E. | December 1, 2010
Mary Welsh Schlueter, PIE Founder and Chief Executive
As the season of giving approaches, many parents and teachers ask the same question: “Do children REALLY need all this technology”? To remain competitive in the academic and workforce sectors, the immediate answer is “yes”. And that’s not a bad thing.
You may not dream of the newest tech launch, but kids do. Spurred by the Internet, the global “Age of Information” has heightened the volume of information and knowledge distribution. Children have become the savviest consumers of the latest advanced technology.
A recent Black Friday survey conducted by BlackFriday.com predicts Apple’s iPad will top the “most sought after” products followed by Microsoft’s Xbox 360 Kinect. Other products predicted to show strong sales include Apple’s iPhone 4, HTC Droid, Amazon’s low-priced Kindle, plus Sony and Samsung 3D TVs.
Research indicates tweens and teenagers are loading their holiday “wish lists” with technology gadgets from iPads, MP3 Players, Smartphones and Nintendo DS units. How can schools compete with such explosive technology growth?
Opinions are mixed regarding technology’s efficacy within the classroom. With the federal government’s continued support of the portfolio STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) school program, leaders insist educational institutions embrace technology as a curriculum discipline. As seen in the Cincinnati Enquirer article, “Age of Information Accelerates Demands on Students”, University of Cincinnati Assistant Department of Education Nelson Vincent, argues that technology is now a component of “teaching the 4C’s: critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity-innovation.”
Others aren’t so sure. A recent New York Times article, “Growing Up Digital, Wired for Distraction”, highlights concerns about the sheer volume of technology usage by teenagers. “Students have always faced distractions and time-wasters. But computers and cell phones, and the constant stream of stimuli they offer, pose a profound new challenge to focusing and learning.”
NYT researchers argue that kids – unlike older adults — are able to effectively multi-task “constantly switching tasks” but are “less able to sustain attention.” Yet society demands effective and efficient technology “jugglers”. And as the global economy continues to reward the efficient and effective use of allocated resources, technology will be the competitive tool of choice. Simply, as manufacturing becomes less labor dependent, the service-driven economy will focus on IT.
To borrow from Oldsmobile: “This isn’t your father’s economy anymore”! Every new advancement changes how we live, work, play, and learn. And students need to feel secure moving among competing realities.
There is no doubt schools must adapt curriculums to incorporate technology. The Internet offers new opportunities and constant, iterative updates of existing knowledge, information, and skills. Schools that can best utilize these tidal shifts in information and knowledge delivery will be best positioned for success.
The video “Fast Times At Woodside High” shows a Silicon Valley school using creative process techniques to spur educational development. Their hope lies in regaining lost ground hindered from slow technology adoption. But as the video shows, such retroactive action isn’t enough to make significant progress.
One targeted example of technology “mainstreaming” lies in the development of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) schools. STEM schools emphasize technology’s global impact and its “connectedness” to many diverse disciplines. Clearly, teaching technology in a vacuum is counterproductive. Technology serves as a facilitator, marrying curriculums and balancing both creative (right brain) and critical thinking (left brain) skills.
Students have become hardwired for instant information gratification, most markedly with the explosion of facebook and twitter. But dysfunctional “blue sky” innovations create new opportunities. Today’s parents and educators need only review their experiences with Rock n’ Roll, Hip Hop and gadgets such as the Sony Walkman, CD/DVD players and the cell phones of the 20th century.
Technology will forever play a pivotal role in your child’s education. My advice: Exercise restraint, but never lose sight of technology’s power in your child’s future. And yes, that new gadget is VERY cool…
Fast Times at Woodside High Video
