Thunk 38

A Thunk is a beguilingly simple-looking question about everyday things that stops you in your tracks and helps you start to look at the world in a whole new light. © Ian Gilbert

Thunk 38

If you were cold, would it be ok to burn a renaissance painting for warmth?

Cosmic Citizen

What does it mean to be a Cosmic Citizen?

Theatre of the Absurd

What's absurd about the Theatre of the Absurd?

The Sublime

Can an earthquake be considered 'Sublime'? 

Cafe Scientifique Dubai: Event 2

Cafe Scientifique Dubai

Event 2: Human Brain-to-Brain Interface

Date: Friday 31 May 2013 

Time: 5:00pm-6:30pm

Now that rat brains have been connected via the internet, it's only a matter of time before human brains link up directly in cyberspace. Join us as we discuss the human brain, the meaning of consciousness, and the consequences of uploading the mind and storing it digitally.

For more info, visit: www.cafescidubai.com 

Space Oddity

A revised version of David Bowie's Space Oddity, recorded by Commander Chris Hadfield on board the International Space Station. There's something poignant about the video - that's Earth in the background! For REAL!!

Click here to view. 

Talking of Books

A few of the Winchester Students were on 103.8 Dubai Eye's 'Talking of Books' radio programme this year. 

Click here to listen to Raya, Edeline, and Mr Roberts talk about David Deutsch's book, The Beginning of Infinity.

Click here to listen to Mehvash, Faiza, and Mr Roberts talk about Peter Diamandis' book, Abundance

Jason Silva Visits Winchester Again!

Wonder Junkie, Epiphany Addict, Re-mixer of Awe, Ideas DJ - The incredible Jason Silva visited the Winchester School again this year! It was great to have him over! A lucky few even got to have lunch with him!  Jason is the most inspirational, exciting person on the planet. Check him out on: thisisjasonsilva.com

Our Intelligent Optimism movement has been moving steadily along. We've had numerous workshops led by Mr Roberts and by the Sixth Reformers for students and teachers.

Visit our website for more information: www.intelligentoptimism.com 

Winchester Debates 2013

After a few extremely rousing and keenly contested preliminary rounds, we had the finals of the 2013 Winchester debates earlier this month. 

The motion was: "This house believes mankind should pursue immortality."

Click here to view the video 

Brain Awareness Week was successfully held at Winchester this year. 

Click here for more details.

Winchester Time Capsule

Join us on 16 June as we bury our Time Capsule.

Saturn Opposition

On Monday, The Winchester Astronomy Group took the Celestron CPC 1100 Cassegrain-Schmidt telescope to view Saturn and its moon Titan. We it's stunning rings and even saw the Cassini division in the rings! A sublime and awe-inspiring sight. 

Winchester Astronomy Art Exhibition

Click here to view images from the phenomenally successful and novelly-themed art exhibition.

Students take learning into their own hands

The video with the most views and downloads on  TED is Ken Robinson's talk on how 'Schools Kill Creativity.' This year's TED prize went to Sugata Mitra's idea of having a school in the Cloud. The tide is changing... will we see a Learning Revolution?

Watch this video in which students at Monument Mountain Regional High School take their learning into their own hands. 

Based on what you watched in the video, if you had to design your own school, how would you structure it? Who would get to attend? What problems do you foresee? What would the role of the teacher be?  I look forward to reading your response. 

Critical Thinking

Critical Thinking is a word we bandy about all the time. What exactly do we mean by it?

 Post your thoughts on what you understand when you hear the words, 'Critical Thinking.'

Names

Do parents / should parents have the right to name their children whatever they like?

Read this article and then post your thoughts.

High-Tech High

Click on the image above to watch a video of a school with a radical new approach to education and then answer the questions below. 

1) Would you like to study at High-tech High? Say why or why not.

2) How long can you go without connecting to a device or to the internet? What do you feel when you are not connected or don't have access to the internet?

End-of-course exams?

What do you make of Education Secretary, Michael Gove's decision to bring back the traditional two-year A levels and end-of-course exams?

Click here to read 

Astronomy Club Website Updates

Our Astronomy Club page has been updated with info about all the stuff we've been up to over the last few months. Click here to view.