How can the Internet foster and build compasion, empathy, cultural awareness, and peace?

...it can't. But people like you and I can. We can use this incredibly powerful platform to do these things. You don't believe me? You say that the internet and its sub-networks like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Myspace and the like are nothing more than a way to promote "Me" and "I?"

Well, then check out the work of MadV over on YouTube. This is simply one example of the countless ways that people like you and I are using the Internet to foster and build compassion and empathy (or in the opinion of the skeptic, this is cultivating nothing more than pure narcissism). MadV posted the 40 second video below titled, "One World." This video quickly became the most responded to video on YouTube. Eventually MadV took the various responses and remixed them to create the second video below (a special thanks to MadV for actually returning a message of mine on YouTube as I had difficulty finding the original One World piece).

MadV's original, "One World," Video:


MadV's Remix of the various responses to One World:



MadV also sparked another project titled, "The Humans Project" where he asked the simple question, "What does it mean to be human?" People submitted responses and then he compiled them all in final piece. See the two videos below:

The Humans Project:


Compilation of Responses to the Humans Project:


Empathy and compassion or narcissism?

Castilleja School YouTube Channel

This is just a reminder that our school has its own YouTube Channel that it will using to share videos from our school community. We foresee sharing talks by special guests, student projects, student speeches, etc. I am one of the designated video uploaders at Castilleja and I'm hopeful that we'll be able to post 1 video per week throughout the year. I recently posted Marissa Mayer's June 2009 Commencement address and the two parts to this talk are embedded below. Subscribe to our Channel if you'd like to notified when we post new videos.

Marissa Mayer Castilleja Commencement Address Part I (June 2009):


Marissa Mayer Castilleja Commencement Address Part II (June 2009):

Changing My 'Mindset'

The summer reading book for our faculty and staff at Castilleja is Carol Dweck's, Mindset. I've found it a fascinating read and already am finding that it is positively affecting my own mindset about long held beliefs I've had about my ability to learn certain tasks. The essence of Ms. Dweck's book is that humans have two different types of mindsets that they slip into when learning. The first mindset is one where we believe that the ability to learn something is hardwired into our DNA. I've had the fixed mindset about learning music for years - I believe that you either have an innate ability to learn music or you don't. People who have the second mindset, or the growth mindset, have a totally different approach. They believe that new skills can be cultivated and developed through hard work and effort.

In the book she cites many examples of individuals who have taken on either a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. She tells Michael Jordan's story and how people with the fixed mindset tend to attribute his success to natural ability and great physical gifts. They forget the fact that he was cut from his high school basketball team in his senior year and that he was a notorious gym rat well before he established himself as one of the greatest NBA players ever. Michael Jordan is the classic growth minded athlete. Clearly he not only enjoyed great challenges but he thrived under these pressure situations. The video below demonstrates Jordan's perspective in failure and success:




Mindset has already had an impact on my attitude about learning new tasks. I was recently in Ludington, Michigan visiting with my family and friends. My brother-in-law, Bill, is an incredible card player. All of his children are excellent card players as well. For years they've asked me to play cards, but I would always say something like, "I'm terrible at cards," and then I'd sit on the sidelines. Bill comes from a family of card players and I've always considered his card playing ability to be hard coded into his DNA. Since becoming more aware of the various mindsets, I now am able to see that Bill's card playing skills have nothing to do with innate ability. Bill has spent hundreds, if not thousands, of hours playing cards with his family and friends over the years. He can anticipate someone holding a jack in their hand while playing euchre not because of some magical ability, but because he has tons of experience playing the game. He is poised and calm during cards not because he is a "cool-cat," but because he has a great deal of experience practicing. On my last day in Michigan, my sister asked me if I'd like to learn and play euchre with Bill and their daughter, Tenley. I put myself into a growth mindset and said, "Sure." I concentrated and applied myself a bit and while I still struggled to learn all the nuances of the game, I did learn some basic rules and now feel as though I can at least play and enjoy a game of euchre. If I didn't have the growth mindset, I'm guessing I would've turned down my sister's offer to play and learn the basics of a new card game (more importantly, I would've missed out on a fun experience with my family!)

In upcoming posts, I'll reflect on how I'm thinking about applying Mindset to my work with students on the Gator Radio Experience and students in my 10th grade advisory section.