Tagged: video

Beautiful Library

Books and Reading

In Praise of Libraries

Maria Popova has a wonderful new article at Brain Pickings titled “How Libraries Save Lives.” Libraries have always been important to me, and to be honest, if I would have grown up near a college that offered a Master of Library Science degree, then I may well have ended up a librarian instead of a teacher. In her article, Popova offers a fine collection of quotes and stories in praise of libraries, as well as links to reflections, essays, and art work. You’ll find tributes from Ursula LeGuin, Nikki...

Figurehead of HMS Surprise

Travel

Below Deck on the HMS Surprise

One of my favorite books is actually an entire series–the Aubrey/Maturin series by Patrick O’Brian. You may have seen the movie based on the books, Master and Commander, starring Russell Crowe. The series is about the exploits of Captain Jack Aubrey and his best friend Dr. Stephen Maturin. They sail on many ships in the series, but the ship that is dearest to them is the HMS Surprise. It was a real treat for me to discover that the HMS Surprise that was used in the movie is...

David Coleman, President of College Board

Travel

NCEA 2016 Reflections from Day One

Yesterday’s opening keynote was from David Coleman, president of the College Board, the organization responsible for the SAT and Advanced Placement tests. His talk was inspiring and filled with hope, and he was overflowing in his praise of Catholic schools. The first three-fourths of his presentation was spent thanking Catholic education for giving students five gifts that he believes the world needs desperately: Productive Solitude Reverent Reading of Shared Texts Restful Excellence Gratitude and Grace Dignity and Pricelessness Next followed some great educational sessions and a visit to...

Minecraft Education

Travel

Snapshots of NCCE 2016

A video of collage of some of the highlights of NCCE 2016. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6213CIYMZU

Nick Senger trying Google Cardboard

Teaching / Technology / Travel

My First Experience with Google Cardboard

Today at NCCE 2016 I got to play with a cool new technology, Google Cardboard. They were on display at today’s Google Summit and again this evening at the GEG Washington meetup. These virtual reality glasses are made of cardboard and cost less than $20. Once you stick a smart phone inside and put them on, you are immersed in a 3D environment. They were on display through the Expeditions Pioneer Program, a team of people who bring Google Cardboard to schools so students can travel virtually to far distant...

Henry V Kenneth Branagh

Homily

Henry V and the Transfiguration: Homily for the 2nd Sunday of Lent

One of the greatest speeches in all of literature is the St. Crispin’s Day Speech by William Shakespeare from his play, Henry V. It’s October 25, in the year 1415, and King Henry of England and his men are about to fight the French in what will come to be known as the Battle of Agincourt. Henry’s men are exhausted and sick. They’ve been fighting for months, and they’ve just finished a long and grueling siege of Harfleur castle. As they move across the French countryside trying to...

Our Lady of Fatima Exterior

Teaching / Technology

One of Our Catholic Parish Churches Rendered in MinecraftEdu

The eighth graders are continuing to build their Catholic landmarks in MinecraftEdu. Peyton and Dylan in particular have done an amazing job recreating Our Lady of Fatima church. Our Lady of Fatima is one of the three parishes that our school serves, so they’re both very familiar with it. While most groups began by working on the outside of their buildings, Peyton and Dylan began constructing from the inside and worked their way out. The video below shows how much detail they  have put into their work. But...

World of Humanities Promo

Teaching / Technology

The Wonderful World of Humanities in MinecraftEdu

Yesterday the sixth grade began using Eric Walker’s Wonderful World of Humanities in MinecraftEdu. The World of Humanities is an advanced installation of MinecraftEdu that allows students to explore and learn about ancient civilizations. This world is a perfect complement to our sixth grade social studies curriculum. Even though we are running MinecraftEdu on older MacBooks, the students really enjoyed themselves and were excited to interact with people from ancient Rome and Greece. After initially trying to create and build, as they are used to doing in Minecraft,...

Giving Tuesday Baby

Service

#GivingTuesday Is Almost Here – Are You Ready?

Here’s a great idea for the beginning of Advent: #GivingTuesday! What is #GivingTuesday? Black Friday. Cyber Monday. #GivingTuesday! We have a day for giving thanks. We have two for getting deals. Now, we have #GivingTuesday, a global day dedicated to giving back. On Tuesday, December 2, 2014, charities, families, businesses, community centers, and students around the world will come together for one common purpose: to celebrate generosity and to give. It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company or your organization...

Nasrudin's Donkey

Homily

Donkeys and Moonwalking Bears: Homily for the First Sunday of Advent – Year B 2014

There’s a video that’s been online for about five years now, that I like to show to my students. It starts in a big parking garage with two street basketball teams, one wearing white t-shirts and sweats, the other wearing black. As they stand there in one line, each team with its own basketball, the announcer’s voice begins, “This is an Awareness Test.” “How many passes does the team in white make?” A voice yells, “GO!” and suddenly the teams start running around, weaving in and out, passing...