Type image: Cliff Johnson A milestone for Emergent Thinkers.com - one hundred pieces published. It feels both special and surprising today, as I succumb to brain strain and cabin fever in my nth lockdown. 'WFH whilst homeschooling' back in play, raising stress levels somewhat. Enforced isolation more akin to an ‘institutional lock-in’ with the loudest …
World’s Children Day 2020 – kids takeover
kids takeover and turn the world blue Hey, hi everyone. My brother, sister and I, have taken over Emergent Thinkers today, and turned it blue. Why? Because today's a special day to promote children's rights and voice all over the world. Mum likes to write A LOT, but we think we are better at explaining what we want …
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Addressing elitism, exclusion, prejudice, greed and despair in 2020
Image: Adapted Camel pic (skitterphoto) with Felicity-the Pirate (Vanessa Randel, 2020) We are subsumed by challenge and change, at micro, meso and macro level. The implications and the importance amplified by our tumultuous political, economic, and social landscape. There are transitions in world leadership, and newly mobilised and channelled energies. Voices of the disenfranchised and …
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In celebration of ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’
Felicity Pirate image: Vanessa Randel www.thinkingvisually.com Today is ‘International Talk Like a Pirate Day’. My name is Felicity, and I’ve been a pirate for 531 days. Evocative memories of the evening I claimed this mantle firmly cemented. A potent mix of shared values, a collective consciousness of grievances, powerful stories shared by author, social entrepreneur …
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In celebration of ‘Pathic Writing’: a personal journey
Image: Pompeo Batoni (1708–1787) National Trust, The Public Catalogue Foundation It is 'National Book Lovers Day', deliciously coinciding with my wonderful in-depth conversation with Kevin Watson of 'My Own Coach Ltd'. Recently, Kevin had invited his network to engage in his upcoming podcast series 'Words Matter'. An invitation for a one-to-one to discuss quotes, poems …
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Nexus+ 2020: The gift of connection
Adapted image by Clint Adair Fresh from the close of UWTSD's Nexus+ 2020 I’m just too stimulated to not commit a few ‘in the moment’ reflections to screen. It was an absolute privilege and joy to present with entrepreneur/pirate/pioneer Educator, Paul Ranson, to share work on entrepreneurial inspired online peer support and development on behalf …
Guest: A student advocate for the professional context vlog assessment
For those who follow my posts you will know I am a strong advocate of what I term the 'professional context assessment vlog'. Here, guest contributor, Kieran Hughes, reflects on the skills development achieved from the VLOG assessment integrated into one of my online Human Resource Management graduate modules. A newer assessment model helps equip …
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Ponder, Puzzle, Pose: the case for curiosity revisited
In light of today's [28/01/20] discussions generated by the Guardian's article on 'Schools Killing Curiosity' - a revisit to one of my 'hot topics' of 2019. Questions, a kindling for curiosity For many babies, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ is one of the first literary introductions to the concept of wonderment, contributing to the foundation ‘inquisitive …
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EntreComp: the tool of choice for resilient VUCA*-proof change agents
2020. The time has come to ditch broken paradigms, and unleash the power of 21st century 'EntreComp' skilled change agents. As global citizens, we live with constant change and challenge. Issues seeded from an era of unrestrained greed and competition, and an over-zealous drive for growth. All against the backdrop of rising populations, depleting resources, …
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WCOL2019: new pathways to hope and light in a digital world
My 'lived experience reflections' of the ICDE's 28th World Conference on Online Learning, Dublin, 2019 (4-7 November), hosted by Dublin City University (DCU). Sense of place WCOL2019 was well situated in the unique glass-fronted futuristic Conference Centre Dublin. Interaction, innovation and inspiration were first impressions as I rose the heights of its atrium of crisscrossing …
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WCOL2019: the power of voice and story unveiled [repost]
An abridged re-post from earlier in the summer when I marked one year to the day I last held my father’s [an Irish-man] hand. Reflections on loss that triggered a deeper reflexive insight, on being, life perspective, and identity, including that of a ‘researcher’. Feelings resurfaced, as I make an emotional return journey to Ireland. …
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The mind behind 21c pirate rebellion
An interview with Sam Conniff Allende. Social Entrepreneur. Innovator. Disruptor. Author. Following the impact of my first meeting with Sam at an Urban Foundry 51.6 event, as reported in my previous blog: 21st century pirate: the rebel with a cause I finally get to know more about the mind behind the global movement 'Be More …
Their future, our hands: new book inspires
Tay Kay Luan's gift to the future generation It is with enormous pleasure I announce the availability of Mr Tay Kay Luan's second book on sustainability. The arrival of the book has brought tremendous excitement to my household. For not only does it contribute significantly to the global discussion on the most important challenge of …
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Happy Birthday dear blog
A simple thank you to all my followers and visitors from the last 12 months. Whilst I typically have education, sustainability and technology themes in mind, exploring how we can prepare well for a future AI-shaped volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous world, simply I enjoy the journey of a voice shared. In the words of …
In grief: the power of voice and story unveiled
Image by Dmitri Posudin from Pixabay 4th June. Today marks one year to the day I last held my father’s hand; the birth of an all-consuming grief that would transport me into a dual reality. Two states of mind. One, where life continues as normally as can be manufactured, for the sake of a young …
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Ponder, Puzzle, Pose: the case for curiosity
Questions, a kindling for curiosity For many babies, ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’ is one of the first literary introductions to the concept of wonderment, contributing to the foundation ‘inquisitive period’, the preschool years. Anyone who wants a crash course or trip down memory lane in viral questioning, I’ll happily signpost you to my three young …
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