Delicious Every Other Day 10.20.09

The Age of the Essay
  • "The most obvious difference between real essays and the things one has to write in school is that real essays are not exclusively about English literature. Certainly schools should teach students how to write. But due to a series of historical accidents the teaching of writing has gotten mixed together with the study of literature."

Three Tweets for the Web
  • "Many critics of contemporary life want our culture to remain like a long-distance relationship at a time when most of us are growing into something more mature. We assemble culture for ourselves, creating and committing ourselves to a fascinating brocade."

From North Carolina, a model of how to transform education
  • "Many conservatives savaged the plan as 'social engineering' and said it was doomed to fail. Some parents were angry, and a few decamped for the private school system – until the results came in. Within a decade, Raleigh went from one of the worst-performing districts in America to one of the best."

Avataritis
  • "In video games, then, we do become one with our character – at least as much as acting out a role in a play allows us to vicariously experience being an another being."

A Regular Writing Routine
  • "...waiting around until you have enough time is just another excuse not to write."

The future of college may be virtual
  • "Might finding the right class online become more important than which institution was offering it? What happens if colleges or even specialized online-only education companies provide essentially the same Economics 101 course? Does geography cease to matter and do low-cost providers win out?"

"He not busy being born is busy dying"
  • "As authors and publishers explore the new world of online reading and writing, we need to do more than just translate print books to an electronic screen. We have a future to invent!"