Dot Learnt

Dear Bon Education Team!

I wanted to wish you all a very happy new year and thank you for your hard work and dedication in 2011.

We are really excited to finally launch BB and Sam (our interactive digital literature app) in 2012 – that’s one of our big goals we have for this year. With all of your fabulous talents and skills I know we can make the final push these next two months towards a successful launch on the app store. We will also continue to grow and build our training and consulting business working with schools, teachers and students to empower and personalize their learning through technology.

I read an article in the NY Times this morning about the CEO of IBM.  He had these four questions that guided his management of IBM.  These are great reflection prompts, both from a company perspective as well as an individual perspective.  (link)

• “Why would someone spend their money with you — so what is unique about you?”
• “Why would somebody work for you?”
• “Why would society allow you to operate in their defined geography — their country?”
• “And why would somebody invest their money with you?”

The answers to these questions are where we’re going with Bon Education.  It’s about focusing on the purpose and impact of the work we do. I trust that if we are happy with our answers to these questions the financial returns required to sustain and grow Bon Education will follow. (more…)

In April of 2010 India, the world’s second most populous countries, passed a constitutional amendment which gives all children between the ages of 6-14 the right to a quality primary education.

The BBC reported on this law on April 1, 2010. “It serves as a building block to ensure that every child has the right to guaranteed quality elementary education. The state, with the help of families and communities, has a legal obligation to fulfil this duty,” said Karin Hulshof, India representative of UN children’s fund Unicef.

This got me thinking. What is it about education that makes it a basic human right? It seems to me to have something to do with learning. The human brain has such a capacity to learn, to explore and to investigate its environment. The brain is wired for creativity, abstract thought and metaphor. Anyone who has spent time around a child knows of their insatiable curiosity and desire to learn.

There is something very basic about learning. It’s part of our biology. And so it is wonderful that political and social systems, especially in developing economies, are supporting the education of youth. But I want to push this concept further. (more…)

A recent study in the UK suggests that putting houseplants in  schools helps children learn and feel better about themselves.  No surprise there!  And it is such an easy thing to do – but requires that little bit of extra effort and will power that often sits on our to-do list for…. um, years in my case.

Recently I decided to splurge on a mini-garden for my balcony.  I went to the garden center and picked out my favorite shades of green, some splashes of color and a nice array of leafy textures.  Now fully installed and thriving I must say… what a difference it makes!

So what is this post about?  This post is about how lazy we can be with our physical environment – especially at work.  I spend a lot of time working from my home office and I can honestly say that having some plants around makes my work much more enjoyable.

So in our quest to be more productive on the web – to learn more and get more done – I’m suggesting that we take a look around our desk and office and evaluate our work environment.  That added dose of productivity might really be a nice shurb or orchid!

Chris Batchelder

@bon_education

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