TEDXYouth@ISBangkok is Back!

An event that we have been holding for 11 years now at ISB is the annual TEDxYouth event. Our 11th Grade students are asked to deliver a Ted Style speech based on something they are passionate about and deliver to their peers.  Then in each class, they select the three best talks from their class.  Then the team of teachers gets all these recommendations and tries to put together a balanced evening of talks and humans. 

Historically this is a very powerful night. It is also a fantastic showcase of the research, analytical, and presentation skills our ISB Students and their English teachers are working on in class.  This year looks to be another one of those nights.  We have eight exceptional students ready and two emcees that will crack you up as they connect all of these talks.  In addition, we have students who video and manage the lights and sound that will ultimately be turned into the videos that the people at TED will post to their site as an Official TED Talk.  I encourage you to join us next Tuesday night.  

  • Event Site and Info
  • Tuesday, Jan. 24th.
  • 6:30 – 8:30
  • CCT Theater – seats are first come, first serve

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Bell’s Recommendation

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy

After reading Cormac McCarthy’s new book The Passenger (recommended here about a month ago), I dipped into one of his other classic novels, Blood Meridian. Are looking for a terrifying book? Look no further. This book is set in the old west of America. It would likely be classified as a western. It is a book that explores the brutal lives and characters of the time.  This is one of those books that shocks you and scares you all at the same time. It is a little too real feeling at times. It is just terrifying at times.  All that said, it is masterfully written by McCarthy. Our main character is a bloodthirsty man who leads a band of rebels that clearly lack morals.  Scalping native Americans (or anyone who crosses them) for money is how they fund their journey across the southern part of Texas and Mexico.  This is not a book for children.  It is a book that will make you grateful you didn’t live in those tough times.  

Technology Tools

We all have our favorite videos or go to videos for learning new things. One of my favorites is a guy named Richard Byrne. He is well known in the education technology sector for quality tips. This is a really good one as it focuses on “5 Google Doc Features you May Have Overlooked’. Specifically, he talks about using:

  • Smart Chips (One of my new favorites!)
  • Building Blocks (SUPER COOL TRACKER)
  • Bookmarks
  • Dropdowns
  • Image Sourcing

These are some nice upgrades and will help you leverage Google Docs. Link to Video (5:37).

Digital Citizenship Corner

Typically I look to CommonSense Media for excellent Digital Citizenship materials.  However, I have recently been paying attention to Microsoft and its efforts.  As it turns out, they have a very good class with short lessons on the important elements of digital citizenship.  While we teach each of these at ISB via class assignments, I thought I would share these with the greater community. Take a look and see how you do – the class won’t take too much time. 

Microsoft’s Digital citizenship: Prepare today’s learners for online success