Disturbing Stories, Violence, and Professional Liars
Keeping the main thing the main thing
We’ve wrapped up the second week of school, and already I’ve seen some very cool things happening in classrooms—students solving puzzles, collaborating, moving beyond worksheets and into real, authentic learning. It’s a reminder of why we do this work: to keep the main thing the main thing. Don’t get distracted by shiny shortcuts or quick wins that don’t serve our students. As Steve Wozniak said, he “never sold out”—and neither should we.
With that, here are 10 things worth your time this week:
1. Disturbing Stories, Violence, and Professional Liars
How violence shapes our narratives—and how professional liars use those stories to bend reality. Read it here →
2. Everyday Objects at Super-Macro Scale
Ordinary objects become unrecognizable when viewed up close. A reminder that perspective changes everything. See for yourself →
3. AI for People, Not as a Person
We keep trying to humanize AI, but maybe that’s the wrong direction. What if it just… helped us instead? Read more →
4. Replacing the Wrong People with AI
Maybe it’s not frontline workers who should worry about being replaced by AI—but the decision-makers at the top. Read more →
5. Rethinking Remote School
The narrative says remote learning was all bad. But for many Black, Latino, and low-income students, it actually felt better. Read more →
6. From Counting Blocks to Bias
The way we teach young kids math isn’t neutral—it shapes how they see the world. Read more →
7. Why Cell Phone Bans Fail
Schools keep banning phones, and teens keep finding workarounds. Maybe the problem isn’t the tech—it’s how we use it. Read more →
8. The DC Punk Archive Goes Online
Fugazi, GWAR, and a teenage cameraman—punk history is digitized and ready to explore. Check it out →
9. Generative Textbooks?
David Wiley imagines a future where AI and OER collide to create participatory, dynamic “generative textbooks.” Read more →
10. Beyond Policing AI in Assessment
Instead of using AI to catch cheaters, what if we reimagined assessment itself through authentic learning and connectivism? Read more →
That’s this week’s 10. As always, I’d love to hear what resonated, what you’re trying in your own classroom, and how we can keep making learning more authentic for students.
Cyas,
MP