Guy Kawaski's Advice to Educators

Guy Kawaski is a futurist, author, and venture capitalist best known for his work with Apple Computers the company's early stages. I had the opportunity to attend a keynote address that he gave at this year's NAIS Annual Convention (Guy is an alumnus of the Iolani School, a Hawaiian independent school).

Guy closed his address with the following pieces of advice for educators:

• Teach students to figure out anything by themselves
• Teach students how to explain anything in 30 seconds
• Teach students how to write a 1-page report (this is all that most people will read)
• Teach students the 10,20,30 rule of PowerPoint: no more than 10 Slides, delivered in 20 minutes, in 30 point font
• Teach students that the optimum length of an email is 5 sentences
• Teach students how to survive a business meeting
• Teach students how to conduct a good meeting
• Teach students how to work as a group
• Teach students how to negotiate win/win situations
• Teach students that learning is a process, not an event with fixed beginning and an end

His last piece of advice?

"Remember that we are preparing students for life, not for work."

Author Ji-Li Jang Visits Park

Ji-Li Jang, The author of Red Scarf Girl, visited Park and spoke to Middle and Upper School students about her childhood expereiences during China's Cultural Revolution. Students in grade 7 read Red Scarf Girl as part of their world studies curriculum.

Ms. Jang shared her recollections of the turmoil that the Cultural Revolution caused for her and her family, culminating in the Communist Party's request that she denounce her own father.

Students then had an opportunity to ask Ms. Jang questions regarding her experiences as both a witness to history and a working author.

Many thanks to the University at Buffalo for making Ms. Jang available to our students!