Archive for month: October, 2015

Big Beacon Radio Ep. 12: Innovate & Collaborate Like Thomas Edison

BB Radio HeaderEp. 12 – How to Innovate and Collaborate Like Thomas Edison

Many writers say we live in singular times calling for unusually great creativity, invention, and innovation and the rapid pace of change in the 21st century is dizzying at times, but the turn of the 19th to the 20th centuries was also a time of miraculous invention and fast-paced innovation. In this episode, host Dave Goldberg goes back to the future with Sarah Miller Caldicott, a great grandniece of the iconic inventor Thomas Edison, to explore Edison’s methods of invention, innovation, and collaboration laid out in two books, “Like Edison” and “Midnight Lunch.” Join Sarah and Dave for this lively exploration of he ways in which Edison’s lessons are relevant to a new generation of makers, coders, shakers, and entrepreneurs. Also consider how these methods may themselves be helpful in the reinvention and reinvigoration of higher education itself.

Listen on VoiceAmerica or download on iTunes podcasts.

Learn more about Big Beacon Radio, here.

Big Beacon Radio Ep. 11: An Interdisciplinary Life

BB Radio HeaderEp. 11 – Celebrating John H. Holland: An Interdisciplinary Life

On August 9th of this year, complexity science pioneer John H. Holland of the University of Michigan and the Santa Fe Institute passed away. John’s work as a researcher and educator changed how we think about complex adaptive systems through his creative and radically interdisciplinary research, his role in establishing an early department known for a unique kind of interdisciplinary computer science, and his many students. This episode brings three of Holland’s former students together for a lively conversation to celebrate John, the man as well as his interdisciplinary approach to research and teaching. Erik Goodman, Director of the Beacon Center, John R. Koza inventor of genetic programming, and Dave Goldberg, host of Big Beacon Radio, share their remembrances of John Holland and ways in which John’s interdisciplinary vision begs broad and full enactment. Join Erik, John, and Dave for a lively celebration of John Holland and interdisciplinary research and education.

Listen on VoiceAmerica or download on iTunes podcasts.

Learn more about Big Beacon Radio, here.

Big Beacon Radio Ep. 10: Professional Transformation

BB Radio HeaderEp. 10 – Transforming Professional Registration, Professional Societies, and Professional Education

The same economic, technological, and organization forces that are working to disrupt higher education are at work to disrupt professional institutions, including professional registration and licensure, professional societies, and the education of professionals. In this episode, host Dave Goldberg interviews Frank Mruk, Associate Dean of Architecture and Design at the New York Institute of Technology. Frank recently authored a provocative Wall Street Journal piece detailing some of the misalignments in the licensure process for architects. The episode explores the main points of that article as well as the root causes of the disruption, the relationship of the situation in architecture to other professions, the connection to the disruption of higher education, and the ways in which professional institutions of all stripes need to change to better serve both their constituents and society. Join Frank and Dave for this lively conversation about the professionals and their institutions.

Listen on VoiceAmerica or download on iTunes podcasts.

Learn more about Big Beacon Radio, here.

Big Beacon Radio Ep. 9: Documentary to Transform Higher Ed

BB Radio HeaderEp. 9 -The Making of a Documentary to Transform Higher Education: LET ME DO IT

Transforming higher education from a culture of expertise and obedience to one that balances expertise and support is critical to unleashing courageous learners to the possibilities in the world and their lives. But the shift required is large, and transforming the master narrative of education is as important as any changes to content, curriculum, and pedagogy. In this episode, host Dave Goldberg interviews the executive producer, Eddy Evans, and director, Ryan Varga, of a new documentary designed to shake up the staid world of engineering education. The documentary, LET ME DO IT, is designed to “become the rallying cry of a growing band of educators who want engineering education to return to its ‘show me, don’t tell me’ roots” and it will premiere in Toronto on Thursday, October 8, 2015. Join Eddy, Ryan, and Dave for this lively conversation about the making of this important documentary and the role of story reframing in higher education transformation more generally.

Listen on VoiceAmerica or download on iTunes podcasts.

Learn more about Big Beacon Radio, here.