Many people did not sleep last night: Some because of the World Cup; some because of the NBA Finals; others because they are presenting projects today. Still others (including fellows in the Mandel IDF Educational Leadership Program) did not sleep because they are officers on duty involved in searching for the kidnapped boys. Others did not sleep, because they are parents who do not know where their children are.
In moments like these, we should appreciate the privilege we have, of being able to focus on eternal matters – issues that should be addressed both in times of peace and in times of war. Especially when things look so bleak and cruel on the world outside, it is important to appreciate how lucky we are to be in a place of light and togetherness, a place devoted to improving society and benefitting others. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to those who make this possible: the Mandel Foundation and its CEO, Morton L. Mandel; and the Mandel Foundation President, Prof. Jehuda Reinharz, who is here with us today.
A week ago, I finished teaching a course on identity and education to cohort 22 of the Mandel School of Educational Leaderships. Among other things, we examined the metaphors we use to describe educational processes. Inspired by the discussions with cohort 22, I searched for a metaphor to describe working on the project, especially for the work with individual tutors and in the project workshops. In the spirit of the George Orwell essay I studied with the fellows of cohort 21 a few months ago, I searched for a fresh metaphor, one that is neither trite nor clichéd, and, hopefully thought-provoking.
And here it is: echolocation. I will show you a one-minute YouTube clip on echolocation (http://youtu.be/IO0-lL5v8AU) and then present my loose translation of the narration into Hebrew. The translation is at its loosest toward the end. While watching the clip, try swapping the word “bat” with the word “fellow.”
“Echolocation is a method of sensory perception some animals use to orient themselves in their environment, detect obstacles, communicate with others and find food. Bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark and find food. The bat emits a series of high-pitched sounds from its mouth or nose. The sounds bounce off an object in its path and create an echo enabling the bat to determine the size and shape of the obstacle, as well as the direction of motion. This echolocation method is so accurate that bats can detect gadflies, and truths as subtle and fine as a human hair.”
Dear cohort 21 members, I congratulate you on the echolocation methods you developed over the past two years, which have enabled you to get this far in implementing your projects. I hope you will be attentive to the echoes that reverberate back to you over these two days and as you move forward in your professional paths.
From Dr. Eli Gottlieb's opening remarks to project presentations by fellows of Cohort 21 of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership on June 16, 2014
In moments like these, we should appreciate the privilege we have, of being able to focus on eternal matters – issues that should be addressed both in times of peace and in times of war. Especially when things look so bleak and cruel on the world outside, it is important to appreciate how lucky we are to be in a place of light and togetherness, a place devoted to improving society and benefitting others. I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation to those who make this possible: the Mandel Foundation and its CEO, Morton L. Mandel; and the Mandel Foundation President, Prof. Jehuda Reinharz, who is here with us today.
A week ago, I finished teaching a course on identity and education to cohort 22 of the Mandel School of Educational Leaderships. Among other things, we examined the metaphors we use to describe educational processes. Inspired by the discussions with cohort 22, I searched for a metaphor to describe working on the project, especially for the work with individual tutors and in the project workshops. In the spirit of the George Orwell essay I studied with the fellows of cohort 21 a few months ago, I searched for a fresh metaphor, one that is neither trite nor clichéd, and, hopefully thought-provoking.
And here it is: echolocation. I will show you a one-minute YouTube clip on echolocation (http://youtu.be/IO0-lL5v8AU) and then present my loose translation of the narration into Hebrew. The translation is at its loosest toward the end. While watching the clip, try swapping the word “bat” with the word “fellow.”
“Echolocation is a method of sensory perception some animals use to orient themselves in their environment, detect obstacles, communicate with others and find food. Bats use echolocation to navigate in the dark and find food. The bat emits a series of high-pitched sounds from its mouth or nose. The sounds bounce off an object in its path and create an echo enabling the bat to determine the size and shape of the obstacle, as well as the direction of motion. This echolocation method is so accurate that bats can detect gadflies, and truths as subtle and fine as a human hair.”
Dear cohort 21 members, I congratulate you on the echolocation methods you developed over the past two years, which have enabled you to get this far in implementing your projects. I hope you will be attentive to the echoes that reverberate back to you over these two days and as you move forward in your professional paths.
From Dr. Eli Gottlieb's opening remarks to project presentations by fellows of Cohort 21 of the Mandel School for Educational Leadership on June 16, 2014