20100326 Ambushed @ Metro

It's the first time we took the metro, from Staromestska to return to the hotel.

All went on pretty fine for the purchase - press a button and collect the ticket, from the ticket vending machine. It cost 18kc (which is equivalent to about S$1.40) There was no barricade, so we just walked through... just like anybody ahead of us...

The platform is pretty deep under...

Then... 3 policemen appeared before us and stopped us to check our tickets! They shaked their head! What???? They said, "No, no, no... you did not validate your ticket... you either pay for a fine, we'll issue you a ticket here; or handover the passport and go to the police station". Unbelievable!!!! You even got the booking ticket all ready!!!! We were not allowed to go up to validate the ticket despite telling them that we just arrived and not aware of the local procedure! So, it's our fault of not reading the fine prints behind the tickets and therefore to be penalised for 700kc each!!!!!!!??????? Stupid it!!!! Had no problem in the cities like London or Paris! What a stupid "trap" in Prague!!!

In less than 5 minutes, they repeated a few times, "You either pay now or go police station". Hey, hey, hey... so threats work in Prague!!!??? Enough, enough! stop threatening us... You were so readily pull out your book-ticket booklet... Point taken... You just need to meet your quota of the day! What an ugly scene painted on this beautiful historical city! It ended up... we paid for 2 booking tickets (despite of 3)... why? the police offered a discount! So... They just need 2 more tickets to meet the quota!!!!!

The Summit is about...

It promises keynote speakers, breakout sessions, discussions with thought leaders, and ample opportunities for networking designed to create a truly engaging event. Participants will leave with a better understanding of how technology makes learning more compelling and personalized.

Briefly, the agenda...

Friday 26 March (5:30 pm)
Meet "Today's Learners" at the Lobkowicz Palace. Students will showcase their projects using the fundamentals of Apple's Challenge Based Learning programme (see http://ali.apple.com/cbl/ ).
A buffet dinner will be served in the palace throughout the evening as attendees wander through historic halls and contemplate the future of learning.

Saturday 27 March
On Saturday the summit moves to the International school of Prague for a day of inspiration and hands on experiences.

The morning will open with Marco Torres presenting 'Take Action and Make a Difference' - a behind the scenes look at Challenge Based Learning. After the keynote, continue with inspirations from around the world through a series of 20 minute presentations.

After lunch we move from inspiration to experiences. During this time, we will divide into sessions on leadership, learning with technology and IT.

Sunday 28 March
Itay Talgam provides a specialised version of his Maestro Programme focused on the transformations coming to schools. During the Maestro programme, participants identify the different elements of creative teamwork: active listening, interdependence, mutual respect, peer support and giving feedback. Itay, will then help participants orchestrate the individual voices in their organisation to create an environment that maintains constant dialogue, maximum sharing of ideas and viewpoints, in a way that calls for and encourages active participation.

The summit comes to a close with a keynote by Apple Vice President of Education, John Couch. John will share his history, vision and passion for learning with the group and a look at the trends that are shaping schools for today and tomorrow.

Speakers include...

Marco Torres - As a teacher and media professional artist, Marco Torres is involved with many professional organizations where he is an advocate for more collaboration between the media arts world and education. For example, Marco was recruited to serve as a board member for the George Lucas Educational Foundation—a foundation created by filmmaker George Lucas to promote digital technology, change, community, and learning everywhere. Marco also is an Apple Distinguished Educator and was named California Educator of the Year.

Matt Federoff - CIO, Vail School District, AZ is presenting "Beyond Textbooks" - http://beyondtextbooks.org
At Empire High School in Vail, Ariz., students use computers provided by the school to get their lessons, do their homework and hear podcasts of their teachers’ science lectures. And throughout the district, a Beyond Textbooks initiative encourages teachers to create — and share — lessons that incorporate their own PowerPoint presentations, along with videos and research materials they find by sifting through reliable Internet sites.
"Beyond Textbooks" (see NY Times article "As Classrooms Go Digital, Textbooks are History)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/09/education/09textbook.html?_r=1 ).

Clay Shirky - Clay is a NYU professor, author and Web 2.0 expert who talks about how to manage a social community for learning. Clay's book Here Comes Everybody talks about how social communities are changing the way people interact. We have asked Clay to adapt that information to Learning and how students are using social trends in learning contexts. Clay will moderate a panel of students as reverse mentors to the educators and discuss how students learn today and then close out the saturday with a keynote on social communities impact on learning and getting the most of today's technologies for learning

Clay in action: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2708219489770693816&ei=syoqS6CFCIGEqAOKsvz1BA&q=clay+shirky&hl=en&client=safari%23docid=6526924696519785712

Itay Talgam - Itay is a world renowned conductor and currently the Music Director of the Tel-Aviv Symphony Orchestra and of Musica Nova Consort. Itay will run a three hour session on creating great learning. The session will focus on his Maestro program that teaches individuals how to get the most out of the community of learners. In the process of learning, the “Maestro” facilitator-conductor orchestrates the individual voices and ‘rehearses’ with the participants, maintaining constant dialog, maximum sharing of ideas and viewpoints, in a way that calls for and encourages active participation.

Itay in action: http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/itay_talgam_lead_like_the_great_conductors.html

布拉格的苹果之约 - 点滴、插曲