Excuse me while I kiss this guy.

I remember that my parents bought a brand new TV (without a remote) for the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics. I think this might be when my love affair with commercials began. My younger sister and I would recite or sing them word for word at bedtime. Those days led to a lifelong fascination and appreciation for the medium. Imagine my excitement at 16 when our local campus theatre would run The World’s Greatest Commercials, which were largely comprised of extremely witty and clever award-winning campaigns from European and especially British agencies. No making out ensued during such screenings. I was rapt.

Iconic commercials are part of our cultural fabric, serving as a complementary soundtrack to our phases and ages. That’s why when Jimmy, being British, brought this 1989 Maxell campaign to my attention, I pretty much said “ooooooh!”, stopped all activity and watched in a glow of nostalgia envy. The British make the best ads. I wish we’d had these:

The Maxell ads brilliantly capture a completely relatable phenomenon – the misheard lyric. Combined with the recognizable and undeniably cool flipping card technique made famous in Bob Dylan’s video for “Subterranean Homesick Blues”, and excellent songs, these ads are everything successful marketing should be. Simple. Memorable. Emotional. You’ll never hear these songs the same again, and you certainly won’t forget that Maxell gave you 30 seconds of pure enjoyment. And they sold you a lot of blank tapes, too.

The campaign was created by defunct British agency Howell Henry Chaldecott Lury, and won lots of fancy awards at Cannes, as one does.

It’s time to go and bring out my collection. Who wants a mix tape?

Night Flight to Venus?

SpaceRace is a very small business. We like it that way, because being small lets us concentrate on the things we’re good at (creative strategy-making, web development, hare-brained ideation) and avoid the things we stink at (babysitting, delegation, accounting). Taking stock of our business goals has never involved seeking ways to get bigger. We have a strong stable of collaborators whom we respect and trust, and a manageable client base whom we feel we can truly serve with the rocket power we possess. Our utmost goal is to be happy, and for that we have to love what we do. Every year our resolution is to love it just a little bit more, and we do that by looking ahead to what’s possible and pointing our rocket belts in that direction (see image at left).

But just because we’re ok with our size doesn’t mean we don’t have active learning goals. And the dawn of a brand spankin’ new year is a great time to take stock of what we’ve learned and what we really want to learn and experience next.

For me, that’s a giant 365 day slow-cooker of skills, books, events, discussions, and socks.  It’s the SpaceRace HOT LIST for 2013, and this week (January 2 – 6) is dedicated to telling you all about it:

A book:

Daniel Pink’s To Sell is Human
He’s one of my favourite authors because, for the love of Pete, he makes so much sense! With an emerging focus and interest in advocacy work, I am eager to hone and spit shine my techniques of persuasion. He’s also been particularly clever about pre-marketing this much-awaited new title – inviting pre-ordering folks a chance to participate in a New Year’s Day webinar (it rocked), providing cool workbook templates, offering signed bookplates, and putting out a lot of other really great content to support the book. These “First Mover” opportunities have helped build value in the ideas of the book, generated excitement, and created a tribe of pre-selling Pink fans. Book marketers, take note.
Here’s a particularly clever review from NPR.

A skill:

I defer to the talented SpaceRace Jimmy in most matters of design and image manipulation. Although I’m often the critical eye – because I know what I like and what I like is usually good (usually), I am too easily frustrated to develop a solid skill foundation in Photoshop. It pains me to no end, as I was the kid who cut out heads and photocopied them on to other people’s bodies, and I did it often and well. Yet any attempt I’m made to become proficient at PS has resulted in tears of agony and childish fist-banging. In 2013, that’s going to change. How do I know? Not even 2 weeks ago a friend asked me to paste their colleague’s head on to Astroboy’s body. And I did it. The time is now.

An event:

It’s really hard to nail down the event I’m most looking forward to in 2013. I’m headed for SXSWEdu in March, based on last year’s experience being completely positive. And fun. And game-changing. And I love Austin. This year I’ve extended my badge so I can also take in Interactive and Film.
I avidly follow EdSurge, and look to their event listings as a premium guide to all worthy ed-tech happenings around the globe. Beware – it’s guaranteed to give you a severe case of FOMO.
But the events I’m looking forward to the most are the ones I’m hoping to launch in my own backyard: a Creative Mornings inspired motivation series for early risers in my awesome mountain town, and a series of Ignite-style province-wide events to bridge the communication barriers between schools and parent communities.

Socks:

These ones.

A Discussion:

I registered for Alec Couros’s EdTech MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) partly because I wanted a first-hand MOOC experience, but also because I was excited about the topics that will be discussed with a promising cohort of interesting people outside of my current circles. #ETMOOC will cover and converse about social/participatory media, blended/online learning environments, digital literacies, open education, digital citizenship/identity, copyright/copyleft, and multimedia in education. Sounds pretty awesome, doesn’t it? There’s time to register, if you act quickly.

And in the interest of the ultimate resolution – BALANCE – it’s time to grab the kettlebell (thanks Kasie!) and head upstairs for some Soviet-inspired exercise. (and get better sleep)
More of the 2013 Hot List tomorrow. What’s on yours?

That was a few days ago. I’m still thinking about it, so I thought I’d give it the big share and ask a few questions.

1. What does an astronaut do if s/he needs to scratch his/her nose?

2. How could an astronaut remedy a stray piece of spinach or cilantro stuck in his/her teeth?

If you know any astronauts, please ask them to call me.

Without further ado:

These are a few of my favourite things.

The Canadian Education Association (CEA) are running a really cool blog series on innovation in public education. CEA President and CEO Ron Canuel asks a thought-provoking and (it seems) controversial question: why do we need innovation in education?
The answers come from a variety of contributors, including Andrew Campbell, Bruce Dixon, and yours truly. I was asked to contribute from the parent perspective, and my thoughts are here. Cue Sir Mix-a-lot.

Writing the post gave me pause for thought as I struggled to say something nice, but to also get the point across that I am frustrated by the lack of innovation in the Canadian public system. To balance it out – since I’m trying to be all about balance these days (I’m sitting on an exercise ball as I write this. Whoops, I fell. Ok, now I’m back on.) – I wanted to quickly point to some edtech action that points to shiny and bright. And awesome.

First, Penyo Pal. I had the distinct pleasure of connecting with founder Jane Wu and learned about the inspiration behind this innovative language app for kids. It was heartening to hear that Jane is part of an emerging edtech “tribe” in Toronto and is committed to sharing and learning while she builds her business and improves the experience for young language learners.

Next, with a bit more local flair, is the Kootenay Association for Science and Technology (KAST) and their 2012 Contraption Contest.
This year, KAST is asking young makers to “Imagine the year is 2050. How will we use less energy?”
This project gives kids the ability to think, and solve, and make, and create in the format of their choice, opening up participation to others beyond the digitally-skilled. Never underestimate the innovative powers of the brains of young’uns. I’m counting on them.

And last but not least, a couple of interesting articles and initiatives that inspired me and made me clap aloud.
Katrina Schwarz at MindShift examines some innovative alternatives to the ubiquitous SmartBoard.
If you’re in BC, StudentVote.ca invites to you to involve your classrooms in the upcoming 2013 provincial election.
Kicker: New Media Startup Fights Back Against the Dumbing Down of America

Enjoy!

Michael’s influence spans many communities, and I was lucky to know him – albeit briefly in the grand scheme of things – as a creative inspiration, ideas partner, and sounding board.

Maybe you knew Michael personally, or maybe through his web of fans and friends. Maybe you had the pleasure of tweeting back and forth with him, as I did on several occasions where we brainstormed product launches and fundraising stunts. I was excited to join him in the fight against salt stains on trouser cuffs.

The last time we had coffee, we were putting the finishing touches on the planning for an event called StockWould – a PowerPoint karaoke-type jam that would bring our people together in an evening of pants-peeing hilarity and participation for a cause. I’m sad that we didn’t have enough time to pull it off. But today I am grateful that I had the opportunity to bask in some of Michael’s shine – his generosity of spirit, his creative genius, his wicked wit, and his commitment to his communities.

Please consider a donation in support of Michael’s family.

Please donate to Esophageal Cancer Research in Memory of Michael O’Connor Clarke.

And let’s hug it out and feel happy that he was here. Much love to you all.

We also canoed, sea-kayaked, stand-up paddled, hiked, biked, sauna’d, ate the most delicious food, and had the most wonderful conversations. I met some amazingly inspiring people who are following their hearts and their dreams. Tears were shed, hugs were hugged, and connections were made – the kind of connections that colour lifetimes. I was able to give thanks to an educator who made all the difference in my life, and that felt like something I needed to do for a really long time. I was honoured to be invited and came away with a renewed faith in the teaching profession. If these leaders in learning are a reflection of what is possible in schools, then it’s well worth fighting for. For connected classrooms. For a commitment to engaging work. And for professional development opportunities that allow hard-working, passionate, and tuned in educators to connect, think, and share.

And then, this morning I received notification that I’ve been selected to be part of the Globe & Mail’s Special Advisory Panel on Education: The Globe School Council. I blinked a few times, and then truly did a happy dance in the living room. I am really looking forward to the discussions that this project will inspire – and looking forward to having my thinking challenged.

The Red Satellite will also launch in the next week (or so) (there go those swooshing deadlines…). It’s the latest SpaceRace Original project – a daily education technology online ‘zine that covers everything in the space from start ups and funding to launches, events, and reviews. It’s been a labour of love these past few months, and I am excited about the design and the opportunity to share the stories of a global industry that is opening, growing, and changing faster than perhaps any other. I am thrilled to be writing! If you’re interested in advertising or contributing, drop me a line.

A year ago, I was stuck in a very bad role with a highly dodgy group of people launching a hopelessly awful product. My experience made me question and second-guess nearly everything I thought I believed about my career, my potential, and my motivations. Not to get all woowoo about it, but sometimes I wonder if we have to go through those shitty experiences in order to come out the other side and know what we really want to do, or how we can contribute. You can’t polish a turd (I’ve always wanted to say that), but you can move forward and chalk things up to what they teach you. I learned a lot of “never do this”-type of lessons, and it’s taken me a long time to heal, but the next steps are feeling pretty solid. People will kick you when you’re down. They will gossip about your circumstances. They will comfort you but secretly hope for your demise. All you can do is crawl back and shimmy into what you know you can be. That’s really it.

My experiences over the last week have brought me full circle. Back into optimism, energy, and moving forward. If you’ve been a part of that, thank you very much! You know who you are, and you’re all pretty fine.

Or not.

Or not even close!

How about a week of cracking the code behind the coolest websites, field trips to Google, and creating games that you probably can’t play at the cottage (unless you have wifi)?

This summer, the luminaries behind Toronto’s Ladies Learning Code will run a series of summer camps for girls aged 9 – 13. Ladies Learning Code works to empower everyone to feel comfortable learning beginner-friendly technical skills in a social, collaborative way. Toronto parents are spoiled for choice when it comes to camping options, with options ranging from high art to high performance sports. New to the mix is Girls Learning Code, which immerses keen young females in the technology arts through mentorship, hands on learning, and building skills that tranfer to all manners of self-expression.

Laura Plant: Lady Learning Code

1. Ladies Learning Code has picked up a ton of accolades in the last year (yay!). What is the inspiration behind extending the learning to young girls in your upcoming Summer Camps?

When we first started Ladies Learning Code, we did so out of our own desire to find a learning environment that was beginner friendly and non-intimidating, where we could learn computer programming and design skills that were relevant to our own interests. We quickly learned that there are a lot of other women seeking the same thing. The support of Toronto’s tech community quickly taught us that there is a common eagerness to see more women in the field of technology; tech companies indeed recognize the value of more women and more gender-diverse teams. In order to support this goal, we began taking initiative to provide opportunities to girls, that we never had as girls, to become inspired into a world of technology – not just as consumers, but as builders. It is these girls who are going to close the gender gap in the tech industry in the future. That is why Girls Learning Code, Toronto’s only tech camp for girls, exists.

2. The content of the camps certainly looks amazing, and it’s great that you’ve incorporated field trips. Can you talk about any of the places or people that campers can expect to meet?

Google! Our field trip to Google in March was a highlight for some of the girls. There are some cool field trips happening at our summer camp as well, but it is a surprise!

3. What are the main transferable skills that campers will be able to take back home or to school in the fall? How does this help girls start to build a digital portfolio?

The main purpose of the camp is meant to inspire the girls to see technology as something that can help them be creative and do world changing things. They will learn some HTML and CSS using Mozilla’s Hackasaurus tool and how to build games using MIT’s Scratch, and much more. The girls will leave with strengthened technical savvy and instinct as well as a general comfortability with trying new things on the web. We want to help girls:
1. Discover a passion for learning about technology
2. Experience the satisfaction that comes from being a builder – not just consumer – of the web and technology
3. Become more confident and self-assured
4. Develop a willingness to try new things
5. Increase their knowledge of technology-related careers

…all while having fun!

4. The camps are priced a little more on the expensive side, so can you talk about the scholarship program?

Our goal is to offer as many partial and full scholarships to girls as possible. The more sponsors we have, the more accessible we can make the camp. We are very much interested in more sponsors so we can make this happen and our sponsorship package is posted on our website. Currently we have a number of scholarships available. Parents and girls can apply and tell us why they are interested in participating in Girls Learning Code summer camp.

5. Are you looking for helpers? Mentors? Volunteers? How can people get involved if they want to help?

We are looking for a few more in August. Tech-savvy women and girls who are interested in volunteering for the week can email me!

Girls Learning Code is sure to be a summer smash, and we look forward to following the success of the initiative.

You're my wonderwall.

Not me.

I’ll admit to occasionally trying to capture a flattering snap with PhotoBooth. Instagram. Hipstamatic.Trying being the operative word, as it’s hard to coordinate the pressing of the right button with the perfect facial expression and not spilling the wine. And the resulting photos are rarely of the calibre that you’d want increased to 500 x 500 on a website or other piece of collateral. For one thing, I’ve realized that my eyes don’t always look in the same direction. This is a problem. This has nothing to do with the wine.

Perfect for my keynote.

A while ago, I wrote about not using stock photography on your website to convince visitors that there are actually people that work at your company. I’m going to take that one further and suggest that whether you’re on the speaker circuit or belong to a LinkedIn group – your photo matters enough to warrant paying a pro to have a go. And before all y’all speed on down to the WalMart Photo Studio, check your local listings to see who might be available in your area. A new business? A student looking to bolster their portfolio?

According to this post from Vivian Giang of Business Insider, heatmap research proves that the profile photo is the most important part of your LinkedIn profile, and critical in the recruitment process. Eye-tracking techniques measured where a sample of recruiters looked when scanning a potential hire’s profile, and the results point squarely at that head shot. Discriminatory? Maybe – but probably not the place to take a chance on not having a picture, or displaying one that shows you in an unflattering light.

I spoke with lifestyle photographer extraordinaire Michel Feist about the pros of hiring a pro. Michel runs her company, Ampersand Grey, out of Edmonton, Alberta. As well as being a top-notch shutterbug, Michel is a talented designer who has done some really interesting branding work. When I caught up with her, she was jetting off to a shoot in San Francisco but had time to give me a bit of insight:

Why do so many self portraits veer to the ridiculous?
I think most people feel uncomfortable in front of the camera so they act silly or over exaggerate an awkward pose so they don’t feel as weird taking a picture of themself.

What can a pro capture that my PhotoBooth can’t?
You’re kidding right?

What should a social media profile/conference pic say about it’s subject?
For small business I see the “avatar” picture as a mini billboard for your brand. If you’re quirky, show quirky. If you’re a fashion blogger you should probably show a glimpse into your style. Being current is the best part of social media, this isn’t a business card you just printed 1,000 of. Change it up and have some fun!

The key takeaways?
* Market yourself with a head shot that does justice to your beauty and ingenuity. No bedazzling required.
* A pro can bring out the best in your bad self. Hire one and be rest assured that people aren’t coming to your session just to see your nipples or the moustache you thought you waxed.
* An effective visual you is a critical component of your personal brand.

Say cheese. Don’t be cheese.

I can hardly wait for your free lanyard.

These, my friends, were the days before random winner generators, online entries, and the power of quiet influencers with more followers than the Pied Piper using social tools to share their expertise. Biggest school in Ontario? Pssssssshhhhh. How about the elementary teacher from Armpit, SK, who has built a digital program for her students that gives them reach for their ideas that they’ll benefit from for years to come, and tweets her experience to 5000 like-minded followers? I’d rather learn about the platform that makes that notion of global collaboration possible for kids, as opposed to who’s bought (and wasted the most money on) the biggest gargantua of a conference booth (check out the eco footprint too, yo).

But at SXSWedu, there was no vendor showcase. Companies had to be sneaky and infuse their sessions with clever product pitches, sessionbomb by planting product-focused operatives during question time, or be not so sneaky and incur the deserved wrath (Hi, I’m a #conferencehashtag. People use me.) Teachers are getting much better about standing up to the disruption of their learning. They pay out of pocket to come to these things. It’s not cheap. Don’t invite them to a session about innovations in critical thinking applications and pitch your app.
Amway called. They want their strategy back. Ugh.
 

Boom.

Respect my pants.

Like any conference in any other industry, education vendors need to step up their efforts, and step away from interrruptions that turn their customers off. At some conferences, we’re seeing an increase of events and parties, which take the place of dry and forced conversations on the convention floor. Delegates can either choose to show up, enjoy a glass of wine in exchange for the elevator pitch, or venture elsewhere for their professional networking. There are a lot of ways to build buzz months before the event, and truly make it the talk of the conference – connecting teachers to teachers, teachers to new initiatives, companies, companies to funders etc. We’ll explore additional interesting options in a near-future post, but here are some big ideas:

1. Create an Experience
At ISTE 2011, several companies including Edutopia and Collaborize Classroom put their collective resources together and hosted an Ed Tech Karaoke Tweet Up. It was fun. It was memorable. It connected customers and companies in an informal atmosphere. Freshbooks (mentioned here a lot, because Saul is Yoda) frequently creates amazing experiences for their customers- including themed BBQ’s complete with mechanical rodeo animals, airport pickup, and yes, a Banana Stand. Sure, it takes creativity, budget, and lead time in social media to make these stunts happen. But I’m still talking about it.

2. Give Stuff that People Want
We don’t really need more pens. We won’t feature your branded coaster on our coffee table. Your cheap bag that leeches black ink onto my trousers is going right in the garbage. And you know what happens to the glossy brochure you spent $5K on, right? Swag wants to be landfill free. Check out Rightsleeve for great ideas beyond the ordinary. If you know your market, you’ll know what tools and treats will make their lives easier. Using Freshbooks as an example yet again – they created a hangover kit that may have saved a morning meeting or three. Give, give generously, but give stuff that people actually want.

3. Respect Your Customers’ Time
Got a new product to launch? Create an engaging experience for the debut, and be very transparent about what attendees can expect by attending. When they show up, they are giving you their time. Give away beta access, and make the experience sharable. Use social media to build fledgling introductions, and then deliver meetings of informational value when you connect in the flesh. Give your customers time to tell you what they think – good and bad. As mentioned previously, conference attendees frequently pay through the nose to attend learning events. They sleep 4 to a hotel room. Some even bring their own snacks. Do not trick them into sitting through your pitch. Come. On!

4. Be Fun
If I have to tell you what this means, then you might want to expand your event marketing department.

There’s room for everyone at a conference. We need sponsors to foot the bill, and vendors to subsidize registration costs. We need engaged delegates to build buzz and show up in eager droves. We need products that solve our problems. Why shouldn’t we all be in the same room? We’re all in the innovation business, aren’t we?  We’re a community. But if we’re a community, then some of the “big boys” need to take a hard look at their citizenship and realize that their marketing efforts are seen as interference as opposed to building connections for the betterment of all.

Have you seen a conference stunt that either made you jump for joy or cringe in horrorish dread? Comments below, yo!

The message is simple: performing CPR is as easy as keeping the beat to Stayin’ Alive…it’s disco, baby. What makes this spot so effective is it’s inherent stickiness – Stayin’ Alive is a powerful earworm if ever there was one, and to link of the action of CPR to the song’s beat is really brilliant.  I probably won’t hear it again without performing involuntary chest compressions. So beware if you invite me over and plan on spinning some BeeGees.   The AHA have created something so memorable in it’s zaniness, familiarity, and sheer simpleness of message- something certainly worth sharing for it’s important content and entertainment factor.
It’s hard to get it right – but when it works, it really works.

Another great thing:

Facebook Timeline is like a star sign that keeps ascending….or something freaky like that. (!) I’ve come across a few examples of businesses using the new Pages structure in interesting ways – and Facebook links to some cool examples, like Modern Family and Red Bull.  My personal favourite-of-the-moment is EMI Music Canada.  Instead of just pumping out the latest and greatest in their Top 40 catalogue, or what would be “obvious” in terms of the “viral” factor,  EMI have used their Timeline to take us back. Waaaaay back to the company’s founding in 1949…. and to releases of years gone by.

This is a highly effective way of stretching their demographic past the tweens and teens. It’s also a great use of their huge content library, and associates the brand with their extensive catalogue. I was able to scroll back and place myself between David Bowie and Roxy Music.

Where were you in 1974? I was in a diaper. But I was rockin'.

Business Pages will all incur the switch to Timeline this month, and it’s high time to think about what this platform now offers to clever punters. As usual, Facebook guru Mari Smith has developed an excellent guide.  But simply, strive to create a timeline that engages and encourages visitors to take a journey back – particularly if you’re a company with a history of content that people can relate to, remember, and associate with milestones in their own lives.