Managing Tasks in Google Calendar

Google's talents are really the persons whom you can learn so much.... on a day-to-day basis. For someone who love learning new things, Google is just so much to provide.

For those people who spent so much time managing emails during office hour, you would love using Google Tasks like me as it fully integrated with the Gmail. When you have something that you need to follow-up after reading an email, you can simply click "Add to Task" and personalized the work. It's very useful for making cross-referencing.

Now, Google even makes it better -- the Tasks is integrated with Google Calendar.

Google fans and those who would like to enhance their productivity via useful free programmes, don't miss it.

http://gmailblog.blogspot.com/2009/05/tasks-now-in-calendar-too.html

Tasks to go with the mobile devise?
Check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AbiMbmq3JG4

(轉載Yahoo新聞) 美國多處派發假「紐約時報」

(轉載Yahoo新聞 -- 11月13日星期四 13:55

美國多處派發假「紐約時報」

美國多處派發假「紐約時報」 美國多個主要城市周三有幾可亂真的假《紐約時報》派發，內容包括報導伊拉克和阿富汗戰爭結束、全球天氣暖化和經濟問題解決等。負責出版的人表示，希望籍此激勵奧巴馬履行競選時的承諾。

Release of Picasa 3.0

Google again? Yes, you bet.. this is truly a great company that makes your life easier.... for free!

Picasa 3.0 advanced with the function that similar to the "tag" in Facebook. If you are taking photos at all times, sharing those you took with friends now become easier! You can easily tag and share photos with your friends with the Picasa 3.0.



There are lots of Web Album, why Picasa?

For me -- one simple reason : you can download the WHOLE photo album instead of doing it one by one !

Google Browser - Google Chrome

About Google Chrome --

Do I need another browser other than the great firefox? I am not sure. However, as Google friends, I tried out the Chrome after its release on Tuesday and read relevant news about it without delay.

Based on my initial assessment, Google Chrome will be good for those who have at least basic programming knowledge or else, it will be just as the other kind of regular browser.

For layman like me, I am still very hop up with the useful toolbars and others add-on that Firefox provided to me. Probably, I wouldn't switch the browser until they provide more useful add-ons for dummy like me.


Google Chrome Video from Google Site in You-tube :

Google Chrome Tips and Pointers

Google Chrome Screenshots

Review: Google Chrome - a Faster, Sleeker, Better Web Browser by Daily News

The strength to take the next breath

5月14日，距離考試完結少於一周，但很多在Hall碰到的同學都說已考完試了
。


在Hall裡，大家都開始為不同的東西有所追求。 今天晚上10時30分，為著四川的情況迫切禱告時，一些文字湧現。 決定不要收起感動，把它們製作出Poster在Hall貼出來。

I don’t know what you are striving for right now… your right or your freedom in an air-conditioned room with water supplies, fresh air and food.

我不知道你此刻正在追求什麼，但我知道在不遠的地方，有些人為著生存而掙扎。

I know what thousands of people in this world are striving for right now:

The strength to take the next breath

Jennifer Lee, Senior Hostel Tutor, 14 May 2008

Pray for the sufferings in the Sichuan’s Earthquake and Maymmar’s cyclone

It matters more how you depart

(see the below note about the photo)

“This is my last presentation in the Associate Degree Programme.” Daniel, Joseph and Kasa told me after the Q&A section on a Friday afternoon of the last teaching week.

Ever since then, I couldn’t stop thinking about them.

I taught Daniel and Joseph three years ago when they first entered the Community College in pursuing their Pre-Associate Degrees. That was right after the Waterloo battle in the HKCEE in 2005. It never occur to me until this very last point that Daniel & Joseph were my students in their first term in the College as Pre-AD students and now in their last terms as the graduating Associate degree students. Throughout marking their last project presentation in the AD Programme, lots of memories flashed in. How did they manage the previous 1000+ days at a Community College craving for a higher qualification?

With different voices in the general public about the academic framework of the Associate Degree, I have a strong sense that people somehow neglected the most important element in eduction throughout the discussion -- the developmental process. Fortunate to be a witness of the process, I couldn't help myself but pleased to see how this group of youth develop and enrich, like Daniel, Joseph and the others did. Why we always have to evaluate a group of adolescents by mere figures? Do we really understand the ‘quality’ of the Associate Degree students or even graduates?”

Everybody is talking about articulation rate. Everybody is talking about whether one gets into an undergraduate degree programme. The GPAs. The tuition fees. In short, all numbers and figures. As Lecturer as well as Administrator of Associate Degree Programme, I have no difficulties in understanding the cruel reality. However, can our general public gives more room for love and care about the developmental process of these groups of students? Can we treasures more and show supports to their significant changes in the value-added process?

Instead of acting as a critic for the education policy, I would rather spend times in the more challenging and rewarding work for real education.

I decided to write about their stories.

Yes, a story that worth knowing and recognizing. A story that about life and about growth.

Not educated as a linguistic or trained as a journalist, these stories may not be written in a professional manner. However, I remember reading a writer encouraged readers in her book– just write with your heart, something from within, something that has driven you and enlighten you. Just write. Yes, this is what I am going to do. Like many of my students who adventure in their AD studies, I am pioneering in the realm of writing. Yes, I may fail, I may not be successful and I may not receive any recognition from whatever areas the earthly people treasure. It still worth trying, at least for this courageous group of students of mine.

“No matter what happen (either you get into the undergraduate programme or not), remember I told you this here, YOU ARE WORTHY!” I told my student Kaman, also a graduating AD student who somehow came in my office for a lunch invitation while I was writing this piece of work. I remember her face when she left and closed the door of my office -- the red and watery eyes.

They don’t need mere teaching but authentic love and care.

“It makes little difference whether you enter as a mediocre student or one who has achieved honors. It matters more how you depart.” Mark Johnson, a former AD graduate and now motivational speaker said.

Yes, it all matters how you depart.

*About the Photo:

I found that I didn't take photo with Daniel, Joseph and Kasa on their last presentation. The photo above was taken at one of the last AD classes in Dec 2005. Some of them are now in their Second year of the undergraduate programme and that's why I still see them on campus. Would love to know how the others are doing. If you somehow in the photo and saw this post, write me email and let me know your update. (Lu.jenLee@gmail.com)

References :

About Mark Johnson : http://www.markthespark.com/community.html

學生寫我 我寫學生

(真是愧對Jacqueline同學，數月前已說會將她那篇寫得很真摰的文章放在網誌中，到現在才放上來，望她勿見怪。Jackqueline，妳的老師也覺得妳寫得很不錯，Keep up the good work. )

不是我的全部

於採訪前一天，向李鳳儀老師(Jennifer)拿了些背景資料，當中包括了她的個人網誌。細閱下，其中紀錄了她的教學生涯。我想，她的教學生涯可以用「豐富」來形容。

棄厚薪投身教育界

在嶺大工作已有十一個年頭，開始時是全職負責大學的行政工作，並兼任宿舍導師、與大學生一起住在校園。2000至2001年，是Jennifer在工作上的轉捩點。當時有一位老師策劃毅進計劃，目的是幫助學生認清目標，發掘每個學生的潛能。「那時我很認同這位老師的意念，後來他邀請我教毅進的晚間課程，我覺得自己也能夠應付，就開始了我的教學生涯。後來更把行政工作辭去，全身投入教學。」

很多人都覺得她當時的決定是不智的，因為大家都認為轉行後很難有優厚的待遇。「我的決定沒有錯，雖然高薪是很多人所嚮往的，但對於我來說，生命不能只用金錢來衡量。」那麼生命的重量來自哪裡？「未轉換工作前，我覺得自己是一部e-mail machine。行政工作只能維持大學文件上的系統，但教書是在做有關生命的事。」可見教育能夠給她生命的重量，更屬於生命的一部份。

溝通不是理論

Jennifer曾修讀過Youth Counseling和 催眠等課程，但她現在覺得那些溝通技巧已不太重要。從前，她能靈活運用那些技巧去控制學生的反應，從而幫助他們解決問題。「但認識神後，我學會用心去愛他 們。溝通技巧不是最重要的，現在我衷心希望其他人的生命有所改變。」用心去交流，真誠去對待每一個人，讓生命與生命之間產生化學作用，筆者認為這種教學態 度是可貴的。

她覺得最大的得著是可以和不同的學生有生命上的交流。她可以分享到其他人的生命，陪伴他們成長，始終年青人是需要人去陪他們一起走成長的路。「他們開始可能會帶一些家庭問題或升學問題來找我，但我更希望和他們討論成長的方向。」

信仰的奇蹟

Jennifer在2003年開始上教會，原來在那之前，她是非常反對基督教的。大學時代很多朋友邀她上教會，但她選擇逃避。「未受浸前遇到傳教，我會覺得沒意思。有事誰能幫自己呢？我比較相信自己。」直到她認識了嶺南的一名學生，驕陽。這位同學是一位很優秀的學生，有一天她告訴Jennifer，她信了耶穌。「當時我不敢相信，也覺得很奇怪，一個優秀的學生也要相信耶穌。她知道我抗拒信仰，但她仍希望和我分享，為我禱告。」漸漸，驕陽將神與Jennifer的距離拉近，信仰的種子慢慢在她心中萌芽。

一般人都覺得Jennifer是一個女強人，但她也試過和學生交談時覺得難以抽離。「其實我曾經和學生一起哭，也會和他們一起祈禱。可能很多人都覺得我很強，但這不是我的全部。」她認為神在為她作工，能夠和學生分享是神給她的經歷。

獲獎後的啟發

對於2006年榮獲嶺大社區學院最佳教學獎，她別有一番體會。「這是一個特別的經歷，和同事一起得獎，能夠分享得獎的喜悅。」被問及得獎後的目標，Jennifer表示會釋放自己，希望可以集中進行一些有關教學及學習上的研究或討論。「今年開始參加了一個教學發展小組，讓自己參與並成為一個平台去分享教學，讓其他老師也享受教學的樂趣。」她的教學以學生為出發點，寓工作於分享，深信教學是一個有意義的過程。

*Jackqueline同學的標題原為:「李鳳儀老師 寓工作於分享 」

Related article :

1825 days and it's beginning – a life sharing journey

Tools you shouldn't miss in this digital era !

To be frank, I am not a very well-organized person. At least not in papers. The digital evolution has saved me from all hassles and probably give me a way to live. People say I am 'hi-tech" -- I will take it as a praise if it isn't from those who don't even know what Google is. Yes, my interests and habits are alienated from my background but I don't think technology or new adventures in the net only belong to the youth group. There are certain useful tools that can make our work more efficient and effective.


Students of my classes in this term all aware that I am a great fan of Google, yes, you bet I am. The people out there are just so great to be real. The things they did just save you enormous amount of time in work. If you work in the office, you probably know what I mean.


The thing I like most is the Google Calendar, in particular when you have more than 20 invitations to be sent out. Tracking responses of invitations are not easy. Not to mention about people's wills to see who else are coming (and probably who are not; sorry to say this but I do think this matters more to certain Chinese, myself included). Ok, how to use a Google Calendar? Simply by typing the details of the function in the Google Calendar and then click share, emails will be sent out to those you invited. After that, you can rest your legs on the wheel chair, wait and see who are coming, who are not and who haven't replied -- on-line REAL TIME ! This not only helps you to manage the invitations but also let others reply based on the feedback of those they concern. (If you encounter people raise this question after you ask them whether they join the function or not -- "Is xxx coming?" or "Who is coming?", you probably know how POWERFUL this function is.) Isn't it wonderful ? I had been using this for quite a while. Here's my little obstacle : people still send me personal "EMAIL" instead of clicking the reply embedded in the email. I manage to think of two reasons : first, they would only like me, personally, to know whether they are coming or not. OR they simply not aware that the reply could be in one click and that's why they sent email as the old way. Yes, right man. Changes take times. Try it out and you probably know what I mean.

Google App Training (Google Calendar) http://services.google.com/apps/resources/overviews_breeze/Calendar/index.html

How to use Google Calendar from CNET (Video) http://reviews.cnet.com/Master_Google_Calendar/4660-10165_7-6530989.html

The second thing is about the Google Documents. At certain point, I am tired of sending out drafts for people to review and then tons of email were found in the mailbox with attachment of the "updated version". It just waste of time simply trying to match up with the amendments did by various people. Why don't we consider about putting it to the Google Doc and then sent out an email for collaborators so that we all know that the documents have been amended by who and when?

Click out this video, you will admire not only the function of Google Doc but also people's creativity and ability to present simple things in such a great way :

Google Docs Community :
http://www.youtube.com/user/GoogleDocsCommunity

I had been rest in bed and home for most of time in the previous few days -- after realizing what I did this whole morning, I thought I have recovered : at least I finally manage to do the things I like. The illness has once dragged me down to the point that I couldn't even move ! Oh god. I am back.

Video about life

There're certain reasons I love Youtube, it could stimulate learners of various types : visual, auditory as well as kinesthetic. This is also the reason why certain videos are that powerful and thought-provoking. Like this one :





Try to write have your reflective thoughts after watching the video on your journal, blogger, xanga or any kind of these. Just write.

Movie : Tokyo Tower – Mom & me, and sometimes Dad

因病休息在家好幾天，看了之前在忙亂的日子沒有好好去看的電影。

今天看了由Lily Frank(中川雅也)回憶錄改編松岡錠司導演的「東京鐵塔 – 我的母親父親」。翻查資料，才知道台灣的譯名為「東京鐵塔 - 老媽和我、有時還有老爸」，英文是 “Tokyo Tower – Mom & me, and sometimes Dad” 對於電影的名稱，我想英文及台灣的譯法相對於香港的更切題。

人長大了，生活總算可以之後，也就想起自己反叛的日子是怎樣與父母相處的。 這是在143分鐘後，在我心內最大的回響。

是的，初看DVD封面，再加上它的副題，不得不令我想起一些很教導式的電影。也怕觸動自己對母親的懷念，因此差不多看完其他的電影才把它拿出來看。 電影沒有用什麼刻板的教條，反之然是展現出一家三口的成長。主要是榮子(母親)與兒子(中川雅也)的故事。因著生活，榮子在城市、鄉村、城市、鄉村中穿梭，最後在大都會的鐵塔下走完人生。雅也在不同階段來來回回，與母親一起走最後的七年。最令我深刻的一幕是母親榮子在醫院裡的最後一些日子。一天以為她快要離開了；母親榮子在不太清醒的情況下，說著好些話。 「你要好好做人…好好地活….什麼什麼嗎？ 不是。她在蒙蒙瓏瓏中說著…說著…「回家也就好了…. 回家也就好了….雪櫃有天婦羅….味增湯….
蘿蔔…..」(不太肯定全部名稱，總之全是日本的食物的名子)。

這能不能令人不感動？ 人在遛彌之間，想到的仍了孩子的需要。這些人的名子叫母親。

University education reform: initatives and planning ahead

While education reform of College education in Hong Kong is rigorously underway, Universities in Hong Kong are all preparing for the new curriculum for the shift of 3 to 4 years of College Education.

When I read the letter from the President of University of Chicago addressing to the important issues of University development this morning, I couldn't stop myself to admire this group of great education administrators. They all have board horizon and mind to collect, incorporate and develop various kinds of programmes in the University development. More importantly, they laid out the most important issues to be addressed throughout the whole review process :

All considerations of what initiatives we take as a University must be put in the context of our fundamental values and the particular role that we play within the academy. The University is driven first and foremost by a culture of rigorous open inquiry and unrelenting analysis and questioning. The way the University has been organized and evolved over the years, the intensity of our intellectual culture, the resulting education that is so engaging and powerful, and the nature of the contributions the University has made to scholarship and to society are all derived from this focus. It is both a defining feature of the University and what we need to build upon as we consider our future.

The engine of our activity is our insistence on seeking the most original agenda-setting faculty and students at all levels with the capacity to benefit from and contribute to our academic environment. Each major step we embark upon must take into consideration how it will enhance our ability to attract and retain these faculty and students and foster the culture of inquiry that distinguishes the University.

Do we have mindset like this? What's the core elements in our planning while we set forth for the future development?

Prof Zimmer's letter is worth reading : http://president.uchicago.edu/reports/letter_032108.shtml

Photo : Hutchinson Hall at the University of Chicago

令人痛心的照片 Heart-wreching photos

疑似藝人淫照在香港鬥得滿成風兩，作為一個有良心的香港人，我......難受了好一陣子。

一直都不想多談，直至有學生在課堂裡以「應用相關理論的學術討論」為發問原則，好的，也就談談吧。

「看到同學對學術討論的追求及應用相關理論的渴望我很欣賞，也明白同學委實對最近的新聞深表興趣，但容我坦白一點: 這則新聞和我們剛才提及的理論沒有直接的關係。」這是我的第一句回應。

然而，我很願意分享一下我個人的看法。

同學問: 人們都要求那男事主出來交待一切，不是與uncertainity avoidance有關嗎？
首先，這不是什麼uncertainity avoidance 的問題。

我想是......直接一點，這也許是與我們香港人的品質更有關係。

交待，交待，是的，我們要一個交待。然而有趣的是，有一種人特別需要交代，他的名字叫「別人交待。
我們自己的行為麼，是我們的私隱。奇怪，可每個「自己」都有私隱，除了一個叫「別人」。


說下去之前，我要先declare我不認識這些明星，也沒準備深入討論他的行為，只因其他衍生出來的現象實在太有趣了。陳生的行為失當與否，只是我們用來放在前面好讓我們可以任意的去談論別人生活的一個解釋已而。 (Rationalization)

我們香港人是怎麼樣的一群的受眾，讓我們想想以下問題:

1. 如果這些照片是你一些朋友與其伴侶的照片，你會否事無忌憚的看？在公眾場合看？在公眾討論？有否丁點兒覺得看了別人的東西不對？ (我們暫且不說相中人的行為是對與否)

2. 如果有人在你家中的衣櫃偷取了你的內衣褲出來，然後在世人面前展示及討論，你要否也欠公眾一個交待？

個人而言，我不認同陳的行為；但令我更難受的是我們自己香港人的反應。

是的，我們總被世界很多東西牽著鼻子走，沒選擇似的。
這幾年很多人消極的對我說: 「Jennifer 妳這麼有理想，但人人也是這樣，你改變得來嗎？」

Well, if that's the case, I am sorry about you. I am particularly sorry for those who got the opportunity to be able to read and educated.

Choice? Who said we can't make the choice?

Yes, I may not able to change the world but I decided not to let these kind of obscene materials get into my eyes and my mind. 我不看 也就是不看 !! 我是一個Visual learner，我深知眼睛看的也就進入我的意念。

我的思想以及我的頭腦，有太多更重要的事情 -- 比如別人的生命。

我支持香港有品
http://www.charactercity.hk/


Photo source : http://www.gnci.org.hk/

The passage of a Rwanda Genocide Survivor

Genocide, not the word I am familiar with, not to mention about the background.

Came out from the Lecture hall of the Film Education Seminar Series this afternoon, I was exposed to the world with vivid images of life from the other end of the world. For a visual learner, images always have its powerful impact. The first movie showed this afternoon was a documentary by an independent director, J.R. Rutagarama, who was a victim of the genocide in Rwanda. Within these 73 minutes, I was brought forth to the scenes of the brutal truth of life that happened in the history.

Though I do not know every details of the country, Rwanda is never an unfamiliar place. Starvation and drought, medical aids were requested to send to the place. Other than the starvation, I hardly spend time in understanding the antecedent of the event. Natural disaster seems to be taken for granted for the cause. Tracing back to its’ colonized Belgium governance, people in Rwanda was forced to be chosen for their ethnic groups – Tutsis, Hutus and some others. Civil war within Rwanda was taken place in 1994 between the Tutsis and Hutus. Over half million of Tutsis were massacred by the Hutus in 1996. In the movie, you can see how Hutus killed Tutsis alive on street like the way people killing animals. It’s thrilling. Once a Tutsis was found, Hutus would naturally go and kill him, as natural as you go and get a drink when you are thirsty. Lots of the scenes in the documentary simply made you couldn't stop having an outcry of "oh..no… could somebody do something?"

Director J.B. Rutagarama was the survivor of the Massacre who was lucky enough to be able to speak English and served as a translator for the journalists from the western countries who came to report the exile. As time passed by, people were fell short of basic necessaries, got sick and even died. Dead bodies were just everywhere – around the borders, near the road and even in rivers. The more scary thing was people around seems all got used to it. Rutagarama was lucky enough to be able to survive, fled to England and then adopted by the British journalists. After earning his degree in Film and then worked in New York for a while, Rutagarama thought it was time to go home after witnessing the 9-11 tragedy of the World Trade Centre in 2001. The movie brought us back in seeing his mom again, whom the whole family were killed by Hutus. It couldn't hold my tears when Rutagarama managed to meet her mother again after all these painful experiences. The movie interviewed some other victims and also talked about reconciliation. It was truly a great experience in walking along with a Rwarda Genocide Survivor. Also, it just brought me into the readings of the related historical facts.

Somehow, the ignorance on this brutal fact made me shameful and thereafter bred the urge in sharing it with more people. It's truly a priviledge in working on campus -- you just need to open up and then the world is there.

Movie

Back Home –

Directed by J. B. Rutagarama

http://www.afi.com/onscreen/afifest/2006/project2020/rutagarama.aspx

Trailer:

Source and further Reading

1. By Tim Wassberg -- http://www.movingpicturesmagazine.com/departments/docspot/jbrutagarama
2. Tutsis and Hutus conflicts -- http://www.cnn.com/EVENTS/1996/year.in.review/topten/hutu/hutu.html
3. CNN News -- Rwanda: How the genocide happened (1 April 2004)
4. Rwanda: How the genocide happened - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/1288230.stm (extracted on 13 Nov 2007)
5. Wikipedia -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rwandan_Genocide (extracted on 13 Nov 2007)

Photo source : Wikipedia

Wag the Dog 作大英雄

若不是因為封面上 Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro的名字，也許會錯過了這一套電影。

喜歡看書及電影的原因，是你在全情投入其中的一個多小時內，你一下子走進另一個國度，另一個空間。每次看過一套具啟發性的電影，思潮總是起伏不定。 電影中的真實性，可真令人看後立時想到現在的處境。

故事講及總統的幕僚為一次總統選舉前出現的性醜聞，用盡各種的方法去挽回選民對總統候選人的信心。不理事件的可真性，但那種可以為求達到目標而以假亂真的煙幕真的令人從心底裡寒出來。

中間有三首很感人的歌，唱出陣陣愛國情懷。以前我一定會為世界上有如此的人而高興。 但如果你看過這電影，你會明白一種復雜的感情是怎樣產生出來。多得監製、編劇及各演員的才能，你可以從一種應該有的心理反應而反過來覺得心痛。這情況好比你在聽一個人悲哀的經歷，心裡應是出現同情，而你的心出現的卻是猜忌。

影片不錯提供了我們對一些平常視之為理所當然的事件看法的一種反思空間，以及導演、監製、編劇及各演員都是無容置疑的一流及專業。然而把思緒沈澱後，卻不難發現影片可令一些人走往另一極端而產生把一切事件全然否定其真確性的心態。 如果我們只懂從對事物由全然接受走向全然否定，我們是否又走回舊路？ 這方面值得細想細想一下。

另外，影片給我的另一個反思是我們香港人視野的問題。看看我們在報章、雜誌上我們關心的是什麼樣的事情？又或我們是在關心、是在爭取？還是在追求那份令人炫暈的個人爭勝感？我們的愛港情又是怎麼樣的一樣東西？

素養是一個重要的建基點，我想我們還是要回到一些基本處著手。

2007/9/23 香港

電影資料:

Director : Barry Levinson 巴利李維遜

Main Characters: Dustin Hoffman 德斯汀荷夫曼 and Robert De Niro羅拔迪尼路

Music by : Mark Knopfler

Relevant Websites:

Wikipedia website : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wag_the_Dog

Official Website of the Movie : http://www.wag-the-dog.com/

Other relevant Blogs that wrote about this movie:

http://blog.huanglee.net/2006/11/20/wag-the-dog/

http://blog.sina.com.tw/mabel823/article.php?pbgid=6923&entryid=11863

Mind for the future

After completing a ground-breaking studies on the diversity of intelligences, Harvard psychologist Howard GARDER, is going to publish his latest studies on the five important minds to prepare the fast-moving world.

In 1983, he proposed that there should be a broader measurement on the type of intelligence than just the two parameters of logical mathematical and linguisitcs ability. In his theory of Multiple Intelligences, abilities shouldn't be only refined to certain areas but the following :

1. Musical Intelligence
2. Spatial Intelligence
3. Bodily-kinesthetics Intelligence
4. Interpersonal Intelligence
5. Intrapersonal Intelligence
6. Linguistic Intelligence
7. Logical-mathematical Intelligence

Delivering his lecture in the Longfellow Hall at Harvard University on 3 May, Prof Gardner talks about his latest book "Five Minds for the future" outlining the quality of minds required to face the upcoming challenges in the world. Gardner described the world is now more "dominated by science, distracted by technology, overwhelmed by information, and marked by the interaction of diverse cultures." To make one ready for the changes, the five minds are essential.

• The Disciplined Mind
• The Synthesized Mind
• The Creating Mind
• The Respectful Mind
• The Ethical Mind

I would say other than the creative and synthesized mind are what our current education reform is catering of, the others are still far from being in the awareness. With information being easily access at finger tips and the widely use of internet and great access of computer, addict to online game/chat/blogs/browsing is becoming a problem for this generation. Time management is now an issue for most of the College students. For the training of respectful and ethical minds, it is not even being thought of.

Based on the few recent incidents happened on campus, Hong Kong is going the opposite way on the training of these two minds. Even at the Policy Meeting I had on University Conference Centre yesterday, I realized we are still in the stage of struggling/fighting for 'liberty' in our unique Hong Kong style though. The more we struggled, worried and the more we are thinking we are walking towards liberty, the more distorted values we are implanted on the younger generation. Based on the core characteristics of Hong Kong People, the immediate or the forefront layer of the issue is far more appealing. Against the ideas or suggestions proposed by the "Powers" are the most straight forward way to brag our braveness. No doubt, mere crying out the slogan for liberty is far easier than reading and studying the true essence of it. This is our city and our place.

I would highly expect the arrival of Gardner's book and looking forward in reading his ideas on the Respectful and Ethical Minds. These two words are probably too new for people here, as we are still in the previous stage of fighting for whatever needs we want.


Relevant Link :

• More about Howard Gardner : http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

• Lecture at Longfellow Hall at Harvard Graduate School of Education News : Howard Gardner's 'quintet of minds' — The Harvard University Gazette

Photo source : http://www.infed.org/thinkers/gardner.htm

Dean's Perspective on future education

By a random chance, I got access to the alumni magazine of Bowling Green University. With strong interests in knowing what's happening in different institutions around the globe, I read it with great fun. What impressed me most is the article written by Dr Donald G. Nieman, Dean of College of Arts & Science, Bowling Green University in his Dean's Perspective.



Still remember reading the previous issue of Alumni Magazine from HKU, it also talked about admitting students around the globe to expand the world vision of its current students. Nowaday, ample of Colleges are having exchange programmes while Dr Nieman's words are the few that has firm ideology on why equipping students for that.

Dr Nieman first laid out the picture of student in the class of 2010 whom will have career peak in 2030 and in the work force in 2050. What are the required qualities one needs to have in meeting the society requirement by then? They will the be group "working in a highly interdependent global in scope-form diminishing supplies of fossil fuels, climate change and nuclear proliferation to hunger, religious and ethnic conflict, and human rights. They will face intense competition from well-educated professionals and entrepreneurs in 'developing' countries like India, China and Mexico, as well as those in Europe and Japan. But in addition to competition, they will enjoy rich opportunities for economic, intellectual, scientific, cultural and humanitarian collabroations that open new possibilities for human progress on a global scale." This is the reason why we have to equip students that are able to think gobally and work with diverse culture. What a person with mission and vision!

p.s. The reading made me recalled the book of "The World is Flat" by Thomas Friedman which I read with tremble about the globalization 3.0 !

When the Companion meets Freud and Erikson……

Monday, 2 October 2006

Recommended by an eclectic scholar of art and media, two friends and myself stepped out of the Broadway Circuit at Cinematheque near midnight to conclude the end of long weekend. For the 2 hours before midnight, we indulged ourselves to the understanding of the ‘descending’ stage in the movie of “A Prairie Home Companion” which translated as「在睛朗的一天 收檔」in Chinese.

Probably related to my recent teaching, I couldn’t keep my mind away from the stages of human development proposed by Erik Erikson throughout the whole movie. Erikson postulated that there are eight different stages in a person’s life. People in each stage are assigned with specific tasks, or psychosocial crises as he named it. There are certain stages that I personally do not have hand-on experience and thereafter could only tell from my observation of the others and readings. One of the stages is the “Old Age” which roughly starts from 65 years old onwards. According to Erikson, people in this stage kept reviewing their life. The sense of ego integrity, which includes our acceptance of an unique life cycle, with its own history of triumphs and failures, provides a sense of order and meaning. When one couldn’t accept their life passage, one probably ends up in despair. Somehow the movie “A Prairie Home Companion” seems providing me a chance to taste the last stage of Erikson’s model.

While senescence may not be a contemplating issue to me at this stage of life, Erikson’s concepts do provides me the framework of how to perceive it. How one go through this stage of life when there’re too many stories to tell, memories to share and people to remember. How should one face the coming and leaving? What about those issues/buildings/programmes that used to be core in our life? When time passed by, earthly things dissipate. In what position should one take while facing all these things? Senior persons are the witnesses of life changes. It’s unpalatable that they have no choice but accept as it comes. The “Angel” in the movie simply carried a symbol of ‘thought’ for this group of people who prepares the last show of the long-serving live radio programme. This “thought” comes and go like the ghost. It can mean the end of life or the end of a particular state. Meeting the ends of something probably is the main task of the senior – one scares its occurrence while the other tries to repress* its existence. The woman in pure white jacket may not come to the attentions of all the crew members of the radio programme and yet no one can deny its existence – for this group of people or the ancient building. Isn’t it served as some kind of unconscious reminders? It’s there even though you may not really able to see it through.

The struggles in this stage of life are far more than that, I am sure. I look forward to be able to transcend it in the coming 20- 30 years or getting a chance to hear from a real person, preferably growing up in the mid-west of USA in Erikson’s old age.


*Freudian suggested that repression is also one kind of ego defense mechanism.


Movie website : http://www.aprairiehomecompanionmovie.com/

1825 days and it's beginning – a life sharing journey

How far can one walk in 1825 days? I do not have a concrete idea but for sure it is way beyond one can imagine.

Honoured to be invited for a short sharing at the Orientation Ceremony of L.I.F.E, an extended arm of the University, for 600+ Project Yijin and Foundation Diploma students at the University Auditorium on Sat, 23 Sept 2006 morning.

While my schedule was packed with classes and all different kinds of evening activities over the previous 5 days, how I hope to have a short break on Saturday morning. Not until the time when I prepared the powerpoint slides for the presentation did I realize it was instead a blessing for me. If it were not this ceremony, I wouldn't sit down and reflect upon how I started the teaching profession.

In 2000, upon an invitation of one of my previous Professors, I was teaching the first evening cohort of Springboard Programme (the then Project Yijin) on campus. Apart from the few tutorials I had helped out of for busy Professor, this is my first teaching experience in classroom on campus. People nicely praised me for my innate of teaching. I suppose the passion on people’s life is one of the biggest reasons behind. That first taste of teaching turned my life upside down: I witnessed those students at the edge returned to regular school lives. They talked and shared with me their experiences and why they were being marginalized by the mainstream education system. A young girl, I still remember her at my first day of teaching, was using her coarse language to communicate with the staff member. Putting her hands at the back pockets of the jean and used her posture to tell you : What do you want from me? Don't you ever try to tell me to keep quiet and study ! At the last class, I saw her came up with her assignment, built a more healthy self-concept and finished the course with reflection that helped her to think about life. This was truly rewarding moment. When you are so honoured to be involved to witnessed such process, you would not agree with me more. Journey of this kind is fulfilling. You were walking along with a group of people from 17 to 30s. Some came with a reason where most of the others had nothing to do or to go. There was another girl who was labeled as ‘different’ and thereafter isolated by the majority of students. She was then found sitting in the rear stairs one night – student told me and that was how I found her. We talked for a couple of hours until she has missed her last bus to Tin Shiu Wai. I asked her to take a taxi and she told me she didn't have enough money. How insensitive of me! Giving her two notes, I hoped she would take a taxi home: “Your safety is very important” I told her. She said she might not able to return the money in a short period of time and then she explained her family economic situation with water filled her eyes. One day later, I received a thank you letter with the money. I can't remember the details now but no doubt that I was moved. Sadly, she withdrew from the Programme one term later and I never see her again. By reminiscing this memory now, how I hope to see her again.

That's the beginning of the 1825 days. Probably the beginning of why I could have so many stories to share with students in classes. Ever since the one year experience of teaching evening classes, thoughts lingered. It's like your day time job was no longer be the same. Actually, even I am not the same. I asked myself why I still worked for my day time job as an Executive handling paper works everyday. What on earth made me to stay on? Of course, who would give up a job with 50% pay raise in two years, have spacious office and clerical assistance? This is unbeatable deal for young College graduate! I thought a lot during that summer while I was in study tour in San Francisco. One month after I came back to Hong Kong, I submitted a resignation letter. From the rational point of view, this was obviously not a wise choice – giving up a job with attractive remuneration and even a substantial amount of gratuity and then moved on to teaching – not to mention that it was just part-time basis for the first year. No matter what, that's my choice and this is how I started working with L.I.F.E.

The first few years of teaching were far beyond physical comfort. Carrying notes and textbooks to different teaching centres to teach (Wan Chai, Tsim Sha Tsui, Casueway Bay and Tuen Mun) was not fun. I then reached the situation that just one stable office would be satisfying. I still remember the time that I have to teach in TST in the morning while having my lunch in the bus running back to Tuen Mun for afternoon class. How grateful I met Jesus in 2003 which gave me strength to go through those days.

Five years or 1825 days have gone. My salary was still less than the figure that I remunerated in 2000 (for my previous administrative post in the University) even after earning a promotion this year. However, this doesn't strive to be important. There are far more things I got in return : I once had walked with hundreds of students at certain points of their lives and this is priceless. Like my mission statement says:

“My mission of life is not focus on being praised by my achievement but seeing the lost returning to life with dignity and self-respect.”

Other than Mr Lau, Mr Tam and Prof Chan I was deeply indebted of, I thank Lord for keep seeking me for decades. Similar to most of my students, I was once lost and then be found. Therefore, may all the praises and recognition that I got be lifted up to him – for he is our refugee and our Lord.

“And if I have a prophet's power, and have knowledge of all secret things; and if I have all faith, by which mountains may be moved from their place, but have not love, I am nothing.” (Bible; 1 Corinthians; 13:2)

Blog and education

李家同:糾正大學生電腦網路部落格的偏差行為

原文發表於台灣自立晚報 2006/05/15

【記者張志杰北縣報導】針對多數大學生沈迷﹁電腦網路文章﹂及﹁部落格﹂，暨南大學前校長李家同教授深以為不可。他說，﹁網路﹂及﹁部落格﹂的文章，有不少不合邏輯且矛盾，也沒有經過修飾、篩選與修改，反而受到年輕人的喜愛，非常糟糕。若整個社會如此，不及時加以糾正，長期下來，必然會影響學生終身的成就，更會影響國家的前途，他極力呼籲學生們要﹁唯有大量閱讀、再加上文化刺激，才能提高國家的競爭力﹂。李家同教授於十五日蒞臨真理大學演講，以﹁大量閱讀的重要性﹂為題發表演講，受到同學們夾道熱列歡迎，整個活動中心座無虛席，許多學生還坐在地板上勤作筆記。李家同教授頗具知名度，尤其他的文章經常發表在報章上，例如﹁讓高牆倒下吧﹂等文章，膾炙人口，引人共鳴，發人深省。他的文筆敏捷，針砭時事，沈澱心靈，鼓舞人心，喚醒貧困，匡世濟民，深受各界佳評。李家同率直的表示，我國有嚴重教育程度上的落差，有三分之一的國中畢業生基本學力測驗的成績低於一百分，而滿分則是三百分，真是難以想像。為什麼這些孩子學不好呢？原因之一是﹁文化刺激太少﹂，因為他們的父母不看書，孩子從小就沒有看書的習慣，更沒有接觸精緻文化的可能。但是目前各級考試都越來越活潑，題目範圍越來越廣，李家同說，這種趨勢未來會對偏遠地區及弱勢的孩子﹁首蒙其害﹂。文化刺激不夠的負面影響，學生連普通常識都不夠，學習任何課程都會有困難，包括數學、自然、社會、英文等學科。例如有不少學生數學不會做，常常是因為看不懂題目；而國中畢業生竟然不知道希特勒是誰？更不知道大學裡會有電機系，你說奇怪不奇怪。閱讀不夠多、基礎不好，很多理工科研究生竟然看不懂科學論文，有時並非因為他們專業上的程度不夠，而是因為當年沒有閱讀的習慣，李家同認為十分可惜。對於閱讀不夠的學生，他武斷地說，作文一定不會好，因為沒有好的中心思想。入學考試如果要考作文，弱勢學生一定會吃大虧。李家同發現，有不少研究生明明有很好的研究結果，卻一直寫不清楚，無法具體表達出來。他也發現許多學生的文章主旨不明，更有很多文章前後明顯矛盾，這種現象可能與現在的大學生喜歡﹁電腦網路﹂及﹁部落格﹂有關。他提醒大學生們說，﹁西方國家都會強迫學生大量閱讀，而不像我國。﹂他說，閱讀如果不夠，不僅不能寫出好文章，就連如何清楚表達自己的意思，也很困難。他鼓勵學生們要大量閱謮，包括﹁一、中外經典名著。二、好的論述文章，如社論及諸者投書。三、法官判決文和偵探小說。四、有趣味、知識性的報章與雜誌﹂。他希望全國的老師們都要推動學生大量閱讀，更希望教育部要多編列圖書經費預算，才能提升學生的能力，縮小城鄉差距，提高國家的競爭力。

"Can Blogging Derail Your Career?" (The Chronicle Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education)

“Can Blogging Derail Your Career?” The Chronicle Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education, July 28 2006

Speculations on the possible causes to Juan Cole, currently Professor of modern Middle East and South Asian History at University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, lost his position at Yale was in Chronicle Review, The Chronicle of Higher Education. Despite with recommendation of two departments to hire him, he was finally turned down for appointment. Does blog help or ruin career of an academic? The issue was discussed by 7 bloggers including Siva Vaidhyanathan, Glenn Reynolds, Daniel Drezner, Ann Althouse, J. Bradford DeLong, Michael Berube and Erin O’Connor.

Quite a good background reading for those academics who would like to move further from surfing to blogging.

Related Websites:
Juan Cole’s Informed comment : http://www.juancole.com/
Siva Vaidhyanathan, New York University, http://www.sivacracy.net
Glenn Reynolds, University of Tennessee, http://www.instapundit.com
Daniel W. Drezner, University of Chicago : http://www.danieldrezner.com/
J. Bradfort DeLong, University of California at Berkeley, http://www.j-bradford-delong.net/
Ann Althouse, University of Wisconsin, http://www.althouse.blogspot.com
Michael Berube, Pennsylvania State University at University Park, http://www.michaelberube.com
Erin O’Connor, University of Pennsylvania, http://www.erinoconnor.org