Smarter Kids Emerge From Montessori Programs

toddler playing

toddler playing

If you’re looking for opinions on education all you need to do is ask parents what they think. If you want actually useful data to plan policy then talk to experts on how children learn. Those experts will all agree that inquiry based learning is the way to go. A recent study confirmed that the inquiry approach is the best way, and that following the tried and true Montessori methods is best for children and even cheaper for society.

By the end of kindergarten, children who won a random lottery to attend public Montessori preschools outperformed their peers in reading, executive function, short-term memory, and social understanding—all while costing approximately $13,000 less per child than traditional preschool programs.

Those costs do not include anticipated savings from improved teacher morale and retention, a dynamic demonstrated in other data.
…
“These findings affirm what Maria Montessori believed over a century ago—that when we trust children to learn with purpose and curiosity, they thrive,” said Angeline Lillard, Commonwealth Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia. “Public Montessori programs are not only effective but cost-efficient.”

Read more.

African Solarpunk is Real

Solar Panels during Dusk

Solar Panels during Dusk Photo by Magic K

The future will be powered by renewable energy and the continent of Africa is an example of what’s to come to other continents: solarpunk. Solarpunk is the vision of a world entirely powered by renewable, carbon negative (or just neutral), and ultimately living in concert with a a global ecosystem. That seeds of a solarpunk future are being planted throughout Africa. Ironically, the lack of an established and robust power grid makes for increased opportunity for renewables. Sales from handheld solar lamps to full solar installations are on the rise. When there aren’t vested interests holding back renewable adoption then people go straight to cheaper, more reliable, renewable.

And here’s what nobody outside Africa understands: Sun King has 50%+ market share in their category. They’re not scrappy startup. They’re a dominant infrastructure provider.

This would be like if one startup owned 50% of U.S. home solar. Except the impact and the TAM is bigger because there’s no incumbent grid to compete with.

Read more.

Canada Climate Week Xchange

wind turbine
One way to fight climate change is to get corporations to only invest in renewable options and celebrate success in the green economy, and that’s one of the goals of the Canada Climate Week Xchange. Happening this week are tons of events from coast to coast all about finance and the growing green economy. More than ever, Canada needs o push an economy that is forward looking and embraces renewable energy and sustainable investments. In order to deal with the threats coming from the USA Canada ought to focus on shifting it’s economy into a future mindset opposed to one clinging to the 20th century economy.

Mission
Support Canada’s commitment of a significant GHG reduction by 2030 through the creation and promotion of a time and space where cross-collaboration on Canada’s climate-related challenges can drive solutions and opportunities.

Goal
Attract, curate, and promote a variety of accessible, action-oriented events that focus on Canada’s unique perspective and situation on climate-related issues.
?

Check it out and find an event to attend.

Finding Atrocity-Free Technology is Easy

Large technology companies have been selling their software to countries and other organizations that commit violations of human rights. Sometimes the tech companies just cut off agreements and data access to organizations they don’t like, an example is when Microsoft eliminated the emails of the International Criminal Court. When we use and pay for services from some technology companies we support the development of oppressive tools and can become victims to their whims.

Multitudes of alternatives exist and a new site is listing technologies that are no connected with human rights abuses.

Lysverket is committed to promoting an open dialogue about the importance of informed citizenship in a democratic society. Here, we believe that everyone has a role to play in uncovering facts that are important to our society.

We offer resources and a collaborative environment for individuals and groups interested in investigative practice, whether through traditional journalistic methods or innovative digital tools. Through workshops, discussions, and joint projects, we aim to cultivate a diversity of voices that can contribute to social justice and meaningful change.

Read more.

Civic Searchlight: A Tool to Fight Disinformation

Picture of Vancouver City Hall

Canada’s National Observer as seen that journalists are feeling the years of budgets cuts and the lack of institutional supports and decided to do something about it. The National Observer has released a fantastic new tool to help Canadian journalists research and identify issues in municipalities throughout the country. The tool known as Civic Searchlight makes it easy to track issues and find what’s being discussed at the local level across Canada, and they are adding more towns and cities!

In at least one municipality — Cochrane, Alta. — reporting based on Civic Searchlighthas been instrumental in providing the council with the information it needed to stay in the net-zero program the town had been part of for more than 20 years. Canada’s National Observer’s reporting was the deciding factor in the town remaining in the program — that’s according to the group that targeted Cochrane with climate misinformation to try to convince it to leave. “We would have won in Cochrane if that hadn’t happened,” the group’s organizer said in a meeting.

Read more.