Brilliant or Insane?: Buy or Sell

Wednesday, March 26, 2014

Buy or sell Twitter as a teaching and learning tool?

Twitter is an absolute monster. It's scarier than Frankenstein, Dracula or any other horror film character you can think of.

What? You don't think Twitter is scary? Okay, maybe it isn't so terrifying to you, but if you've tried to get your students to use Twitter, you know what I mean.

Anytime I say I want to use Twitter, a chorus of students sings loudly, "My parents won't let me on Twitter." When I ask why, they say their parents are afraid of Twitter.

I'm buying Twitter as a powerful classroom tool

Parents -- the adults, on whom we rely to make informed decisions -- think Twitter is unsafe. It's some sort of social media monster, waiting to devour children the second they click "follow."

The problem is parents don't believe a social network like Twitter can be private. It's a stigma that social media applications are cursed with.

If you'd like to use Twitter or another social network in your classroom, enlist your students to help. Teach them privacy and appropriate use and have them share the power of Twitter with parents.

I've always encouraged students to ask their parents to join Twitter and follow our classroom Twitter stream. With parents following both our classroom and their own children on Twitter, what could be safer? Once all stakeholders join the conversation, Twitter becomes one of the best discussion tools a teacher can have at her disposal.

This is why I'm buying Twitter as an amazing teaching and learning tool. Let us know why you're buying or selling.

Mark Barnes is an education author and consultant and the publisher of Brilliant or Insane. Learn more about Mark on our Team page. Follow him on Twitter here.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Buy or Sell LeBron James as NBA's best all-time player

About six years ago, I wrote an article for Suite101, naming LeBron James one of the NBA's top 5 players of all time. In fact, as stated in the article, I placed King James at number 3, and he had been in the league for less than five years at that time.

The old version of that article received many comments, and most of them were less than kind to yours truly (Suite101 has removed old comments from its updated site). How could I place LeBron on such a lofty pedestal in such a short time, readers wondered.

Although the slant of this post is similar to the Suite101 article, the debate is fresh. With a decade of experience, four NBA MVPs and two NBA championships to his credit, it's time to pose the question: Is LeBron the best ever?

I'm selling LeBron James as the NBA's best all-time player

Based on my high ranking of LeBron years ago, it may seem strange that I'm not yet convinced that he's number 1 overall, considering his hefty laurels, and a good argument might convince me, because it's a very close call.

As I did years ago, I'm still going with Michael Jordan as the NBA's all-time best player.

Although Michael's and LeBron's statistics are similar, each better than the other in one or more areas, my Buy or Sell barometer measures so much more than statistics.

Even though LeBron James can rip an opponent's heart out faster than a zombie in The Walking Dead, Michael Jordan was even deadlier, when it came to snatching victory away from opponents and jubilance from opposing fans.

According to sketchy historical data, outlined here, Jordan hit 50 percent of his game-tying or game-winning playoff shots. By comparison, King James has hit slightly less than 42 percent in fewer attempts. Game winners is still just one more measuring tool, but a key one for me.

It's NBA Finals Game 7. The clock is winding down. 3, 2, 1. . . . You can have any player in history take this shot.

I'll take Michael Jordan, the NBA's best all-time player.

Who do you want?

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Buy or Sell Bill Belichick as best-ever NFL coach

When Bill Belichick coached my hometown Cleveland Browns from 1991-1995, I was convinced he was a loser, unworthy of the title of head coach in the National Football League.

Who knew that 18 seasons later, Belichick would be the topic of a Buy or Sell post?

I'm buying Bill Belichick as the best-ever NFL head coach

Let me begin with the obvious -- five Super Bowl appearances and three wins. I realize Pittsburgh's Chuck Noll won four titles, but the big trophy isn't the only measure of greatness.

Belichick is in the top 10 in all-time wins (keep quiet all you Don Shula fans; the guy coached for 157 years). Plus, Belichick's Patriots were a perfect 16-0 in 2007, and the New England head coach is an uncanny 18-8 all-time in the playoffs.

These are truly remarkable feats, but they don't come close to what distinguishes "The Hoodie" above all NFL coaches.

Just when I thought Belichick couldn't add to his resume, until the playoffs begin, he did something virtually everyone on the planet who watches football would have bet against. Belichick and his Patriots came back from a 24-0 halftime deficit to defeat Peyton Manning and a Super Bowl-contending Denver Broncos team.

Still unimpressed? Get this, prior to that win, teams facing 24-0 halftime deficits were 5-617, according to Elias Sports. That is a .008 winning percentage for the trailing teams. Let's not forget that Belichick had to rally his troops against Peyton Manning, who is having arguably the greatest season of any passer in history.

If this astonishing win were the only one in Bill Belichick's coaching career, I might still buy him as best-ever NFL coach.

Disagree? Who is your top all-tim NFL coach?

Friday, November 15, 2013

Buy or Sell peanuts on airplanes

If you travel often, you know that many flights serve soft drinks and some sort of snack -- usually pretzels or peanuts. Although this can provide a salty, fizzy distraction from boredom or turbulence, it's not usually the kind of refreshment that merits conversation, much less a blog post.

via: blogs.palmbeachpost.com

A recent flight to Nashville, though, inspired more than a passing thought about airplane snacks.

Buy or Sell peanuts on airplanes

As a general rule, I either pass on the peanuts or tuck them away in the magazine pouch in front of me, thinking I may reach for them later. I could never quite put my finger on why I did this; after all, I really like nuts, especially the dry roasted ones, which many airlines serve.

Then, on the Nashville flight, a friendly passenger shed a bright light on this previously-foggy issue. He had long finished his soft drink, when the nuts arrived. The timing of the nuts' arrival was nonsensical, he informed me. "I finished my drink," he declared. "How am I going to wash down these salty nuts?"

I glanced at my cup, which was almost empty, too, and I quickly stowed the nuts away.

It's very clear now why I'm selling peanuts on airplanes.

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Buy or Sell Brad Stevens as Celtics new coach?

He may look like he's 12 years old, but Brad Stevens is one of the coolest, smartest basketball coaches ever. Is this a bold statement? Of course it is. Before you start calling me names, consider Stevens' resume.

When he took the reigns as head coach at Butler University, Stevens won 117 games in his first four years, the most in NCAA history. That's an unfathomable 29 wins per year.

Far more impressive is the consecutive national championship game appearances Stevens and his Bulldogs made, playing out of the Horizon League. Yes, you read right, Horizon League.

Now, the 37-year-old Stevens is making a monumental leap to the big chair as head coach of the NBA's Boston Celtics.

Buy or Sell Stevens in Boston?

While other successful college coaches have failed to make the transition to the NBA, I'm buying Brad Stevens in Boston. Since I follow Cleveland State, which plays in the Horizon League, I've seen Butler and Stevens up close many times, and I have marveled at how unflappable this guy is.

He may not be able to grow a beard on that Opie Taylor face, but Brad Stevens knows how to win, and he understands how to win with less-than-spectacular players. As a tactician, Stevens is unrivaled.

The Celtics may not make the playoffs in Stevens' first season, but it won't be long before the people in Beantown love their new coach as much as the Butler faithful did.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Buy or Sell new healthcare website?

President Obama's highly scrutinized and criticized healthcare program, known as Obamacare, is taking heat from republicans over some computer glitches in the program's new clearinghouse website, healthcare.gov. Opponents suggest that the new website has far too many problems and that it should have been tested, prior to being rolled out to the public.

Buy or Sell Healthcare.gov?

I tried the HealthCare.gov website, and I am going to buy.

As someone who has designed many websites and built tons of content, including step-by-step instructions, I know what effective websites look like, and Healthcare.gov looks effective.

As you can see from the picture above, the site has a clean, user-friendly appearance. When you click "Apply Online," you're taken to a page that provides excellent, well-written information about the available programs and networks, broken down by income and coverage types.

I decided to apply for small business health insurance. The "Get Started" section is another aesthetically-pleasing page that leads the user to an application document that most elementary students could handle with little trouble.

Of all the government websites I've ever visited, HealthCare.gov is undoubtedly the best, so I'm buying.

How good is the actual healthcare? That's an issue to tackle on another day.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Buy or Sell Peyton Manning as best QB ever?

An ESPN show has a "buy or sell" segment, so I know it's not authentic, but let's be honest, some of the best ideas are already taken, so I thought I'd put my own spin on Buy or Sell.

Recently, I had an interesting discussion with a Pittsburgh Steelers fan about Peyton Manning. The Pittsburgh guy thinks Manning has been the beneficiary of playing in a dome and being surrounded by outstanding talent. "I've never liked him," the man declared, without reservation.

via: NFL.SI.com

During the past few years, I've come to think that Peyton Manning is arguably the best quarterback in National Football League history.

He's won a Super Bowl, four MVPs (a 5th is most assuredly on its way in 2013) and has thrown for 60,000 yards faster than any player.

Manning is a 12-time Pro Bowl participant (13 is certainly coming in 2013). Next year, Manning will probably throw his 500th touchdown pass, which only Brett Favre has done.

From a statistical point of view, it's tough to argue against Manning. He's on pace to break most single-season passing records this year.

I have to admit, though, that the Steeler fan had me intrigued. Do I have it wrong about Manning? Is it possible that he's just an above average QB, who has benefited from good situations. Playing in a dome. Passing to guys like Marvin Harrison and Reggie Wayne. Handing off to Edgerrin James.

So, Buy or Sell Peyton Manning as the best QB ever?

Not because of Steeler fan, but I'm going to sell this. Sounds crazy, based on all of the previously-mentioned evidence, I realize, but what statistics don't measure are intangibles.

I've seen Manning do some amazing things, and his precision as a passer is undeniable. I'm selling, though, because I've seen John Elway play.

I watched Elway break every heart in Cleveland too many times, as he rescued Denver from the jaws of defeat with some of the most unseemly, magician-like quarterbacking imaginable.

Like Manning, Elway was a brilliant marksman with excellent statistics. When it comes to needing to travel the length of the football field in only a few minutes to win a big game? I'll take Elway every time and that, to me, is what makes a quarterback truly great.

Is Peyton Manning a marvelous, far above-average QB? Absolutely. He's not the best ever, though. John Elway is.