Our son Samuel focused on the prism-effect and shadows for this sculpture and he calls it “Borrowed Light” — a phrase that my father used to use to describe a room that doesn’t have light of its own but needs to gather it from an interior window. So much of who I am is because of the things my dad taught me.
Productivity Decoupled from Employment
April 27, 2013Erik Brynjolfsson’s TED talk “Race with the Machines” has a powerful idea. Due to technological advances, human work has become decoupled from wealth and our productivity decoupled from employment. In turn this leads to an ineffectiveness of traditional ways of measuring the economy — especially as a way of viewing innovation.
http://www.ted.com/talks/erik_brynjolfsson_the_key_to_growth_race_em_with_em_the_machines.html
Lots to think about here. Another “distribution problem”? His point related to the industrial revolution is especially fascinating…. it took about thirty years (e.g. all the managers had to retire) for factory procedures to change when electricity was introduced. While the managers were in place, the factories ran as they had done with steam power – not taking advantage of what the new power source had to offer. The same 30-year cycle appears to be necessary to make best use of computers.
Are MOOCs an example? I certainly understand the arguments that MOOCs are incomplete. But couldn’t MOOCs be a valuable part of a new model, that includes teachers in a somewhat “guide on the side” role with the MOOC content being the central organizer. A different post-secondary economy would be required but maybe the new managers will see it that way — looking more at learning and less at the notion of formal education. Those who really hate MOOCs, often pointing to high dropout rates, lack of support and variable quality, seem to me to be missing the potential of MOOCs (or similar environments) to assist learning. Should we get rid of books since, after all, a person might start to read one, not like it and decide to move on to something else?
Update on May 6 – Bonnie Stewart’s interesting blog post!
http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/university-venus/not-hand
“….MOOCs started, in a sense, as a recognition that the credentialing equation was hollow…“
Beacon Hill this Morning
April 25, 2013Deryk Houston’s Art Exhibition 2013
April 3, 2013Deryk’s current art exhibition includes some amazing work and we’re looking forward to the opening reception tomorrow night (6pm – April 4, 2013) at the Eclectic Gallery on Oak Bay Avenue.
http://victoriaartgateway.derykhouston.com/?p=267
These paintings include some of our favourite places like Point no Point, Garibaldi, Peggy’s Cove and Saanich fields – all shown through his imaginative eyes. The exhibition also depicts some of his most personal memories, such as a brilliant flower-filled room that takes him back to his mother and his childhood or the feeling of staring down into a pool of swirling fish.
Eco Workshop
March 21, 2013
(this piece is called “The Heart is Everywhere”)
Join me for an “Eco Workshop” – I’m giving a Glass-on-glass mosaic demo
Monday April 29 7 – 8:30 p.m. $18
Register April 2 at Monterey Rec Centre. http://oakbay.ca/parks-recreation/facilities-rentals/recreation-centres/monterey-recreation-centre
More info about my process is here:
http://glass-on-glass.ning.com




Posted by Elizabeth Wellburn 





