While this post is primarily directed to one of the most innovative and talented group of educators on the planet - a group called Webheads - it is also meant for Global Learn Day Ten presenters who especially want to shake up the audience with ideas and comments that are far outside the box.

In a moment I shall speak to why Webheads are such an important force, but before I get to that I would encourage visitors here to read what I have to say about The Thrilla in Manila.

There, I talk only briefly about Ali and Frazier and the greatest fight of all times. Yes, I do introduce the two men who will open Global Learn Day Ten and that they are, like Ali and Frazier, icons in the world of technology and education….and thus the “Thrilla” connection.

But the main point of my “Thrilla” commentary is about an outrageously black promoter, convicted felon, and dirt poor guy named Don King — and how he changed an institution. But you will have to read the piece. (posted in an “odd” place - not for wide release, at least not yet.) It’s not a long piece, but it has wide implications for what I am about to talk about here.

Now, let me turn to the prime purpose of this post.

Its purpose is to challenge the whole entire membership of Webheads to give “hard thought” to contributions a good many might like to make on Global Learn Day Ten, Sunday October 8. (We can talk about time and “slots” later). For now, let’s talk about why you are so near and dear to me — and why your leadership for the rest of the planet is so damned important!

{Most of you already know I’ve been thankful since our Inaugural ten long years ago to feature Vance Stevens every single year; I’ve been lucky to have Eric Baber’s help to run our event and speak at it several times; that nobody ever did a beter job keynoting than Barbara Dieu and Teresa Almeida d’Eca; or my regard for Graham Stanley, podcaster, big thinker, member of the Dublin Bunch. I could go on and on, but you get the point…Global Learn Day would lose its brightest stars without Webheads participation.}

So here is my challenge.

How many of you can speak powerfully and with passion about the real importance of your work? How many of you believe — as I do — that while the chief goal inside your classrooms is to improve the English speaking, writing and listening skills of your students, that the biggest value you can add to a planet badly in need of saner voices is by way of the examples of your own daily work?

How many of you feel as I do that the students inside your classrooms will be the leaders of tomorrow — and that what you implant into their DNA today will help them make, later, better decisions for a safer, saner world?

How many of you feel as I do that residence abroad is just about the greatest learning experience that anyone, anywhere can have? That what you learn while abroad is an invaluable asset of huge, huge lifetime worth?

How many of you feel as I do that the Peace Corps was a great idea — and that many of you share the same kinds of ideals and generous hearts as did those who have answerd President Kennedy’s call?

How many of you would join an effort leading to a “national imperative” for the English speaking nations of the world - Australia, Canada, England, Ireland, New Zealand, the USA — to have as a national goal the sending of tens of thousands of its “best and brightest” to work abroad – not so much for the value they could “deliver” while overseas — but for the value of the changes it would make in them on their return?

How many of you think as I do that while travel abroad is a lovely experience and quite valuable, that if you really want to experience what it’s like to live differently than in Melbourne or Liverpool, Auckland or Dublin, Vancouver or Chicago, then you had best work in places like Abu Dhabi and Barcelona, Nairobi and Cairo, Seoul and Lima, Bangkok and Lahore? How many of you can make a compelling case for an argument that would advance this idea?

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How many of you can make a compelling case that part of your “job” in the classroom is to broadcast the good work you do — far and wide? How many of you can make the case that putting lips-to-microphone is not just a great pedagogic tool but also a unique opportunity to reach ordinary community radio stations around the world….and, in turn, reach tens of thousands who would never otherwise hear what the All-Stars in your classroom have to say?

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What better way to spread the word about an amazing result inside your classroom than this? What better way to put your class on a stage where Grandma and Grandpop can listen to the stars on your (weekly? monthly?) radio show? (with an ordinary radio, and yes, by podcasting too.)

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How many of you can offer ideas like those that Don King came up with? That in today’s world of education “delivery” is now possible by everything but two tin cans tied to a string? that one does not need to travel to Cairo or Bologna or Cambridge or Boston to get a great education?

How many of you can stand your ground and tell “the world” what it needs less of are “pieces of paper” (called Certificates or Diplomas).

That what it needs a whole lot more of are people who can collaborate and share, be student at the same time they are teacher; that today’s classrooms are more like conversations with your gardner — who is the expert? who is the client? how do we make “it” grow? that the days of “stand and deliver” are long gone - –even the idea of “guide on the side” seems mostly dated.

That what really, really, really counts is curiosity and collaboration, not cell phone and celebrity.

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How many of you can talk with pride and passion about how you stepped outside your own comfort zone? And what it did for you and your students?

How many can talk about how you challenged the institutions you serve — how you put at risk a steady paycheck because you put your students at the top of your totem pole?

About the value of events

How many of you agree with Sam Johnson’s idea that “nothing concentrates the mind like a hanging”?…and, along these lines, says Hibbs, is this: “Nothing concentrates the mind like an event.”

Webheads, you are one of the most important groups in the whole wide world. I believe that to the bottom of my soul.

I also believe in the value of the archive and the meaning of “The Long Tail” — that while we may only have a few thousand listen in on Global Learn Day Voyage Ten, that if all of us do our job “right”, and point others to the archives, than many tens of thousands will hear what you, collectively and individually, have to say.

And what could be more important than that?

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This entry was posted on Sunday, August 20th, 2006 at 9:55 am and is filed under Ports of Call, Keynoters. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.