Educators, what are some strategies for connecting the classroom with the outside world?
NOTE: I’d like to share responses in my keynote at the iConnect iLearn Conference and on my blog and wiki. You can submit your ideas using the form below, share your text/audio/video reply in the Comments section of this post or respond to the corresponding Twitter and Plurk discussions. You can also view the compiled database of suggested strategies on my wiki, Learning Telecollaboratively.
Many have already identified this young boy as a basketball prodigy and there’s no denying he has skills. I’d certainly recruit him to play on my team if I was still coaching. It’s apparent from this news footage that he is dedicated to practicing and training so that he can become a great basketball player.
All four number ones have made it to the Final Four. It is both intriguing and boring at the same time. Intriguing because it is such an unusual occurrence, yet boring because no Cinderellas remain. I’m expecting both semifinals to be good games and am really looking forward to watching. Here are my predictions.
Memphis-UCLA; UNC-Kansas
Memphis-UNC
What are your thoughts?
GUEST BLOGGER
Trevor Acy
So Thursday’s games were pathetic and my bracket is not looking too hot because of it. There were no appreciable upsets yesterday. Kansas St. over USC I guess was okay but that’s it. I picked Davidson over Gonzaga so I’m not really counting that one but I suppose it was an upset too.
Duke:
Barely beat Belmont by one point in the last 12 seconds. Are you kidding me? Duke (the most perpetually over-rated team in America) is a #2 seed and it came down to that. Don’t get me wrong, I am not taking anything away from the way Belmont played. They would’ve given a lot of good teams a run for their money. I just don’t understand how Duke remains to be ranked when their regular season is such a wash. Maybe not in years past, but let’s be honest; this year the ACC was a shell of its former self. UNC is definitely one of the best teams in the nation, but other than that Clemson was the only other team besides those two to win 10 games. Maryland finished up .500 and all the other teams you think about from that conference were worse than that. Why do people like Coach K and the Devils so much?
Miss. Valley State:
Poor guys. What a roller coaster of emotions these players went through. Winning the conference, making it to the big dance, then being held to 29 points against UCLA. Now that would have been a great upset and I am not just saying that because I am from MS. I love watching #1 seeds go down early. It’s what makes March mad, but this year I just don’t see it happening. I even have all four #1 seeds going to the Final Four in one of my brackets. Call me crazy all you want, but this year I think it’s highly possible.
MSU:
Well let’s see who shows up to play tonight. Will it be the 6-8 Charles Rhodes or the 6-1 version? As a senior I hope he comes out of the gate firing, but that all depends on if our linebacker of a guard (how many times can they say that in a game?) decides to try to work the ball inside or not. Prediction: If the bulldogs go to any considerable depth in the tournament, Varnado breaks the all-time blocks during NCAA tournament play history. Thoughts?
Seriously though, how often do you need to compare Gordon to the size of a football player or a freight train? Every time they say something like “Jamont Gordon is so big, his strength is his strength,” I want to kick a baby kitten (nothing against cats, it just infuriates me). Oregon has good three point shooting and that has been something we have struggled with the second half of the season (Vandy anyone?). So if we come out with man to man instead of zone and shut down their perimeter game I think we can win. I just want the chance to play Memphis. They are a great time and if we beat them Pitt would be a huge one to overcome too, but I just hope for Rhodes sake we can stay in for a little while. I’m going to miss that big guy.
The Rest of the Tourney:
I just want some upsets. Namely us over Memphis, but any will do. I think Vandy better watch out because if Foster doesn’t show up to play, they don’t win games. Not to keep harping on the ACC, but I don’t think Clemson is that great so they better not take Nova too lightly. South Alabama is a legitimate threat this year, to any team.
Here’s to Austin Peay and UMBC.
Trevor’s Theory GUEST BLOGGER
Trevor Acy
Another Guest Blogger? Yeah, sorry guys but you’ve got another wet behind the ears yet highly opinionated blogger on your hands. Your previous guest writer happens to be my roommate and my partner in crime when it comes to sports. Since his SEC predictions were so incredibly off, (mine were too), I’ll try to refrain from trying to predict too much about the NCAA Tourney.
This post will just be to help acquaint yourself with me and my style. I’ll give you a little insight on who I am and what I do, but most importantly what I think. Clif will probably cover this stuff in the “about the author” section so I hope I’m not taking too much of his thunder. I’ll leave the juicy stuff for him to share. I am a born and bred Mississippi boy and the third Acy son to go to Mississippi State University. I guess you could say I’m kind of a bulldog fan. A big one. College sports is where it is at for me. And yes, the SEC is the best conference in the nation, period. Comment all you want about how wonderful the ACC is in basketball or how the Big East is great at football, but the SEC is the total package and if you want to argue look at the last two football and basketball championships. Enough said.
Now onto March Madness. Easily my favorite time of year. There is nothing better than days full of nothing but college b-ball. So many teams all playing their hearts out for the same prize. Every year there are big teams, big upsets, and underdogs (we haven’t forgotten you George Mason). When your team makes it to the NCAA, it’s like winning a championship in itself. Making your personal bracket and seeing how well it turns out is a treat and one I wish could be recreated in other sports.
MSU’s loss in the SEC tournament puts us at a disadvantage. Assuming we win first round (against a grossly over ranked Oregon St.) we have to play #1 seed Memphis (also assuming they win their first game). Granted, I think of the bad positions to be in, this is probably the best one. I would much rather be playing the Tigers than the Tarheels, but it obviously isn’t as positive as being a #6 seed and not having to worry about that kind of competition until a little later.
Regardless, I can’t wait for this weekend (even though technically the tournament started today, but who really counts the play in team?). Bring on the brackets!
And thank you all for welcoming me into the fold. I hope not to disappoint.
About the Author
Trevor Acy is another of Clif’s former middle school students. Trevor is now double majoring in business and Japanese and spent last summer studying in Tokyo. He plans to intern for a Design-Build firm this summer and intends to make his way back to Japan professionally after graduating suma cume laude this spring. Mr. Acy enjoys basketball, Unbeatable Banzuke, ballet and politics. Expect more posts from TA as he shares his perspective throughout March Madness and beyond.
Hank’s Take GUEST BLOGGER
Henry Horne
Since this is a first time post on here and many of you are probably counting down the minutes until Clif returns, I will try to keep this relatively short and sweet.
SEC Quarterfinal #4:
SEC Semifinal #1:
SEC Semifinal #2:
All depends on the matchup. Should KY win, it’ll be a good game(as was their regular season matchup this year and last year’s SEC tourney bout). If
Noteworthy
Of course, all of this might just mean absolutely nothing after they reschedule these games. As it stands, before this tournament is over, SOMEONE will have to play twice in one day, and that’s mayhem on any coach’s team and staff.
About the Author
Henry Horne is one of Clif’s former elementary students. He is now studying aerospace engineering at Mississippi State University and has interned with NASA. Henry will begin working for the military as a Level 1 Engineer after graduating suma cume laude this spring. Henry enjoys baseball, hockey, magic, and long walks on the beach. Look for more posts from Hank as he shares his take throughout the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Woohoo!!! March Madness begins today. I know other tournaments have been going on and some teams have already punched their tickets to the Big Dance, but…the SEC Tournament starts today and thus kicks-off March Madness for me. All of today’s games are pretty even matchups but I think the South Carolina and LSU game is the most interesting. A close second goes to the UGA and Ole Miss game. I’m not super confident in these, but here are my picks for today’s winners.
LSU
Vandy
Florida
Ole Miss
What are your picks? Let’s disucss! (HH and TA, I’m especially talking to YOU!!!) The winner gets to write tomorrow’s SEC Tournament post on this blog.
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If you are going to do this, then this is not a bad idea. I offer my apologies already!
😀
With an emphatic win over the Florida Gators the Bulldogs clinched the SEC West title in a game televised on CBS. This is MSU’s fourth divisional title in six years and assures State a #1 seed in the conference tournament.
How ’bout them DAWGS?!
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Bring on the Madness!!! March 1st is only three days away and tournament time is just around the corner, yet there is still much to be decided. Aw, it’s going to be fun!
Here are some interesting story lines.
