It is one of the most beloved film franchises of all time, and now Star Wars has been examined and presented as a means to teach world history. A new book entitled Star Wars and History claims that the epic space story parallels many earthly historical events. Star Wars creator George Lucas has denied any intentional links to actual events, but admits that due to the films' overall narrative of good vs. evil and war and rebellion, it would be impossible to avoid any similarities.
Nonetheless, authors Nancy Reagin and Janice Liedl have created an interesting way to present world history to students via a pop-culture phenomenon that is almost universally loved. CNet sat down with Liedl for an interesting look behind the making of the book. Read the interview here.
Educational supervision-that is, the field responsible for preparing teachers for the classroom—is way behind the curve when it comes to embracing contemplative, holistic approaches to instruction.
Ironically, teachers, students, and the schools where supervisors work, have embraced the contemplative movement. For example, the mindfulness revolution has entered schools at an impressive rate. Yoga-based programs are in at least 1,000 U.S. schools. A...

Ancient Tibetans created a rather unique culture of introspection and self-awareness.
At one point (about the fifteenth century), Tibet created an education system where its people could attend universities for free and devote their time to self-reflection, self-discovery, meditation, and the “inner” or science of the mind.
A critical mass of young people in the society felt part of something meaningful and were provided the guidance and time to develop their inner potential...
It’s no secret that students, especially those in elementary schools, have trouble sitting at a desk or in front of a screen all day.
It’s natural for children to want to move, jump around, burn off some of their extra, seemingly boundless energy. It’s also apparent that children (and adults) are more distracted than ever. We all need tools to help us focus.
Movement is good—but researchers are finding that movement coupled with mindful intention, for instance, becoming...

After the Pandemic: “We will return to physical workplaces and face-to-face training because it is indispensable."
Classrooms all over the world are looking for better ways to teach team collaboration skills. Imagine a group of students gathered together, either in person or virtually, to engage...
Students can spend 12 years in school (even more) and not know what they’re good at.
While they have hopefully mastered academics such as reading, math, and science, they likely have spent little to no time studying their own natural talents and strengths during that time. This is a major gap in our education system.
There has been a plethora of research on the development of individual strengths and talents and their use in the workplace, mainly by Gallup. The company had...