Sunday, November 25, 2007

Your Vision

What are three characteristics that would be part of a "perfect school" five years from now? Think about the roles of the student, teacher, and technology as you describe your ideal learning climate. As you consider this question, you might also think about what you might look for in your ideal college.

Please consider this question seriously and realistically, as your responses will form part of a presentation to the 21st century learning community of teachers this week.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

Drawing Electricity from the Sky

Examine Benjamin West's painting, Benjamin Franklin Drawing Electricity from the Sky (1805). You may access this painting via the following link: http://www.frankelec.com/west_fullsize.htm. After spending a few moments with the painting, please respond to one or more of the following questions:

1. What do you think the artist is trying to achieve in this painting? Consider the sometimes clashing roles of science and religion and how they function in this painting.

2. What are your reactions to the elements of this painting? Do you think it's Romantic? Rationalist? Explain your response.

3. What do you think Benjamin Franklin thought of this portrait of himself?