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	<title>Our Kids Blog &#187; George Briggs</title>
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	<description>Helping families choose private schools and summer camps</description>
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		<title>Social Networking and Political Action</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/social-networking-and-political-action-8895/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/social-networking-and-political-action-8895/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 06 Apr 2011 11:06:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[California]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[citizenship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Egypt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[engagement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[participation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[politics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[study]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Can social networking make youth more politically and socially active?  This is the question partially answered in a recent California study which suggests that the internet leads to kids becoming more engaged citizens.]]></description>
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		<title>School Rankings &#8211; A Perilous Path</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/fraser-institute-school-rankings-a-perilous-path-8980/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/fraser-institute-school-rankings-a-perilous-path-8980/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 11:00:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grade School Age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[achievement]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[competition]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[elementary school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fraser Institute]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[harms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ontario]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[problems]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[rankings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ratings]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[testing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8980</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It’s that time of year again.  Spring, yes, but also the time that the Fraser Institute releases its rankings of Ontario elementary schools.  George Briggs is philosophically opposed to this type of exercise, and presents three arguments and an alternative to school improvement (if this is the motive behind rankings).]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
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		<title>“It’s for You” &#8211; in School!</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/its-for-you-in-school-8787/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/its-for-you-in-school-8787/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:00:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cool Classrooms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cell phones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Metiri Group]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[mobile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nintendo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[phones]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[report]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[study]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenager]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8787</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a previous blog post I spoke about the case for using social media in the classroom today and that post elicited a comment regarding the lack of solid evidence that using social media would lead to improved learning. The Metiri Report begins to address this issue.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>1</slash:comments>
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		<title>“Flow” Parenting &#8211; A Checklist</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/flow-parenting-mihaly-csikszentmihayli-a-checklist-8399/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/flow-parenting-mihaly-csikszentmihayli-a-checklist-8399/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 11:52:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High School Age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[centering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[checklist]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[choice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[clarity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[commitment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family context]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Flow]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mihaly Csikszentmihayli]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[relationship]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teenage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tips]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8399</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I am in the midst of reading “Flow” by Mihaly Csikszentmihayli, the section that I believe is of particular relevance to parents is based on a study conducted at The University of Chicago that “... observed that teenagers who had certain types of relationships with their parents were significantly more happy, satisfied, and strong in most life situations than their peers who did not have such  relationship.” Now it would be nice to know that we are setting our kids up to be happy, but the critical piece for me is the suggestion that we can help our kids become strong to prepare them for their life ahead. The ‘family context’ could be used as a checklist for parenting teens.]]></description>
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		<title>Are Schools Creative Environments?</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/are-schools-creative-environments-8361/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/are-schools-creative-environments-8361/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Mar 2011 11:21:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cool Classrooms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education Q & A]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News & Research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[innovation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[liquid network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Steven Johnson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[student-centred learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Where Good Ideas Come From]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8361</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Creativity appears to be the attribute that we can develop in kids that will enable us to prepare them for their place in the 21st century.  Emerging economies, such as those in China, emphasize rote learning in their education systems and, although they are able to outperform our students in standardized testing in maths and sciences, there is a recognition on their part that their education systems are lacking in developing creative graduates. What then should our education system look like if we want to develop and encourage creativity in kids?  Part of the answer to this question comes from Steven Johnson, author of “Where Good Ideas Come From.”]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Creativity – Are We Failing Our Kids?</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/creativity-are-we-failing-our-kids-8134/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/creativity-are-we-failing-our-kids-8134/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 17 Feb 2011 11:30:26 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dance, Arts, Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[academics]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Art]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[brain]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[creativity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Literacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[math]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[neuroscience]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[research]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8134</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The Toronto Globe and Mail of Friday, Jan. 28, 2011 featured an article by Anne McIlroy titled Neuroscientists try to unlock the origins of creativity. In this article Anne poses the question “Does studying art and music make children more creative in math and problem solving? How do you train a young brain to make it more flexible?” Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity. If you have not seen Sir Ken’s 19 minute TED talk I would highly recommend that you do so. Robinson suggests that “creativity is as important as literacy in education” and I believe that creativity is one important characteristic that will enable our kids to be competitive in the global economy of the future.]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/creativity-are-we-failing-our-kids-8134/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>2</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>A Case for Social Media in the Classroom &#8211; Today!</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/lessons-from-social-media-in-the-classroom-and-egypt-protests-8167/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/lessons-from-social-media-in-the-classroom-and-egypt-protests-8167/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 09 Feb 2011 11:30:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[classroom]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[curriculum]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Egypt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[protests]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[social media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tahrir Square]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[twitter]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8167</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Many journalists and Egyptian citizens were on the ground in Tahrir Square and other parts of Cairo and Alexandria - posting on Twitter.  Their view of events was markedly different from that presented by the mainstream media (and far more personal). Imagine the types of lessons that could be crafted if students had unfettered access to Twitter in their schools now. Teachers could ask groups of students to follow a specific Twitter feed, and in a collaborative activity have groups prepare a daily summary of events from their ‘correspondent’ on the ground (e.g. Sandmonkey), and share their reports with the class, or indeed the entire school via a blog.]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>4</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>From Community Service to Global Capability</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/from-community-service-to-global-capability-8047/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/from-community-service-to-global-capability-8047/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 02 Feb 2011 12:00:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cool Classrooms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[21st century skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bruce Mau]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[community service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Forum for Change]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[global]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Havergal College]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[school]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[UN Millenium Goal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volunteering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=8047</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today I would like to report on Havergal College’s Forum for Change, part of The Havergal Institute, which very successfully works toward making service an integral part of their students’ lives.  To quote from the Institute’s literature “The Institute was conceived as a way to enable the evolution of Havergal’s mission from community service to self-efficacy and global capability.  Making a difference is to live an effective life in the 21st Century.”]]></description>
		<wfw:commentRss>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/from-community-service-to-global-capability-8047/feed/</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<item>
		<title>Embrace Failure &#8211; A Response to Amy Chua&#8217;s &#8220;Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother&#8221;</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/embrace-failure-response-to-amy-chua-7912/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/embrace-failure-response-to-amy-chua-7912/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Jan 2011 11:34:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grade School Age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High School Age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[News]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parents]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Amy Chua]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[debate]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[failure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[formal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[informal]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[learning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[perfection]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=7912</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Well, I feel that I must weigh in on the debate over Amy Chua’s book Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother which has received press in the Globe and Mail and The New York Times recently.  The very short synopsis of her book is that Chua &#8220;&#8230; pushes her children to get straight A’s, forces [...]]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Authentic Audiences</title>
		<link>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/students-reaching-authentic-audiences-7790/</link>
		<comments>http://www.ourkids.net/blog/students-reaching-authentic-audiences-7790/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 14 Jan 2011 16:43:44 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>George Briggs</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Activities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clubs & Groups]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cool Classrooms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dance, Arts, Music]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[High School Age]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Students]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[21st century skills]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[communications]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[media]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pickering College]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[radio]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[teaching]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Technology]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.ourkids.net/blog/?p=7790</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Innovative practice in schools suggests that students are more engaged with their studies when teachers give them the opportunity to share their work with “authentic audiences.”  Authentic audiences are those that are ‘real life’ as in student publication of writing for professional review, dramatic or artistic productions with live audiences or demonstrating their products in competitions such as robotics.]]></description>
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