What We Don’t See

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In What We Don’t See, Rushton features Joseph, a boy who lives in an orphanage and really wants a yellow Umbrella.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Can you imagine what happened that may have led the father to bring the boy to the house in the story? Is the father’s story another one that people may not see when they look at him?”

What a heartbreaking and heartwarming story! I think a lot of students would be able to relate to this story. I also think it would open up a lot of great discussions for those who may have felt the same way or want to share their own story. These students might not treasure a yellow umbrella but might want to share about something else that has a special meaning to them. 

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Love and Sacrifice

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Love and Sacrifice, Rushton features a man saving cats abandoned in Fukushima nuclear zone.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“If you were a family member of Mr Kato, what would you say to him to try and get him to leave for safety? Could you say something unexpected that might persuade him?"

I found this interesting because it was hard for me to imagine myself doing this. I don’t think I would do this and I’m not sure I could convince someone else to leave. I also would be very worried if this man was my family member. I know when my parents chose to stay in their home when a hurricane would pass through, I was very worried about them but couldn’t convince them to leave. I would imagine this man’s family feels the same way.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

The Joy of Discovery

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In The Joy of Discovery, Rushton features a man who is learning new things.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What makes what the man in the video experiences interesting? Can you bring that to your own learning?”

I loved this video because I love learning. Every year, I have the goal of learning something new. I try to model this with my students and I want them to know that you should keep learning all your life and not just in school. I want my students to see me go through the process of learning and how I struggle to understand and practice my new skills. Some things I continue to do and improve my skills but some things I learn that I don’t like. I compare this to tasting new foods; some you like and some you don’t. Some you still include in your diet and others you stay away from but you would never have known that if you hadn’t tried it.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

The Angles of Art

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In The Angles of Art, Rushton features Michael Murphy who creates Perceptual Art.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Would you take the time to create something like this? Why or why not?

If you were making a piece of art in this style about a group or place that is important to you, what might you include in it to give an extra layer of meaning about how you see its importance?”

I found this very fascinating. Every other year, Boynton Beach, FL has a kinetic art exhibit and there were some pieces similar to these but on a much smaller level. They were fascinating to see in person! The results were amazing and it is hard to imagine all the hours that go into planning something like this. I think it would be fun to do a fruit display like this and include some fruit aromas.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Learning from an Elder

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Learning from an Elder, Rushton features a 96-year-old woman who sells vegetables at night. She has been doing this for thirty years.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“There are lessons that come from what she has to say, and things that you learn from watching the story. What do you learn about where she lives by watching this video?

Did the people who made the video that went viral do her a favor? Why or why not?”

What a wonderful example of a work ethic this woman shares. Her positive mental attitude as well as her good physical condition are amazing and students need to see more of this in life. The only thing that I thought was sad is when she stopped selling pies because the number of customers became overwhelming. I don’t believe we use the older generation enough in our classes. What a wonderful resource these people can be! They are full of experience and knowledge; we need to tap into this.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Third Thumb Research

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Third Thumb Research, Rushton features a video that shares what researchers are learning about a possible third thumb and the impact it can make.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Start with what you could do with another thumb on your hand. What uses does the video show? What else might be possible?

Consider now that this is a video put together by a research team about their work. Have you ever used a video to tell a serious story? Why might you use a video instead of some other way of sharing what you know?”

I love when we ask students to think outside the box and look at new possibilities. I thought that something like this would be great for people who may have lost their other hand. It seemed like this extra thumb let people do things with one hand that normally needed two hands. It also seemed as if the brain was able to adapt to using the extra thumb rather quickly. I almost wish that I could give that a try!

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Seeing Challenges Within

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Seeing Challenges Within, Rushton features Butterfly IQ, an ultrasound device used in Nairobi, Kenya.

Rushton gives the following prompt to accompany this video:

“Looking at your list of challenges, are there advantages that are associated with the challenges? For example, might it be that living in a slum means being part of a close community that allows people to rely on each other?

Now think about the people you know where you live. What challenges do they face? Are some of the challenges the same?"

This video was very inspiring because it would encourage students to look within their own community and the challenges that exist. It would help students look beyond their own life challenges and more into the challenges a whole community would face. It would be interesting to have a brainstorming session to think about ways to overcome these challenges.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Letting an Idea Take Off

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Letting an Idea Take Off, Rushton features a flying car.

Rushton gives the following prompt to accompany this video:

“Would you want a car like this? Why or why not?

Now imagine explaining something that you think is cool, and having that explanation be a video with no one speaking. What would you choose, and what visuals would you use to tell the story?

Could you create an equally cool story, but for someone who cannot see? How would you craft that story?”

This was an amazing video of something I never thought would happen in my lifetime. I grew up watching The Jetsons but it was one of the cartoons that showed the “impossible” and the “impossible” is actually happening now. I think having a car like this would be wonderful and fun to drive, but I wondered about the logistics. Would you need a pilot’s license along with a driver’s license? What rules and regulations would be established to keep all drivers safe in the air? How much would insurance cost? How much would it cost to fuel the car and how far would it go on a tank of fuel? I wonder how long before we actually see cars like this available for the general public and what would be the cost of this car.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Light and Ruins

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Light and Ruins, Rushton features Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Rushton gives the following prompt to accompany this video:

"Angkor Wat is both a place loaded with history, and one of the ways history can be magical for us is when it allows us to ask ever more interesting questions.

In addition to what you would ask based on what must have once taken place there, given what you see in the video, how is this place important in the present?"

I found this video interesting because I’ve never been there before. It looked beautiful. I wondered how long ago this was built. How did the people learn the skills to build this beautiful place? What was it used for? Why was it built? This video had me want to learn more about Angkor Wat.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

A Fed Bear

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In A Fed Bear, Rushton features large grizzlies to test bear-resistant products.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“The bears in this video were lucky. Can you explain why it usually ends badly for the bear?

Have you ever seen someone do something that they thought would be something kind, but it turned into a kind of problem? How might you lessen the chance that something you do will have harmful unintended consequences?”

Many students don’t think about behaviors and their consequences. This is a great video to bring up this discussion. There are consequences to all of our actions but sometimes we don’t think about the unintended consequences.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Sensing a Sand Crisis

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Sensing a Sand Crisis, Rushton features a video that talks about the looming sand crisis.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Think about other often-discussed problems. Is there a disconnect between how some problems are normally described and what the issues actually are? In effect, can overly simple descriptions create more complex problems?

Have you ever tried to explain something to someone, been surprised when that person became angry, and then realized that the person didn’t understand what you meant because you hadn’t provided enough detail? Is that different, in terms of communication, than the situation with sand?”

I never thought about how much we take sand for granted. I tend to think of sand as never-ending and not as a resource that could be in crisis. This had me looking at other things I take for granted. It would interesting for students to list other things that we don’t think about ever losing but could be a resource in crisis.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Kickstarting a Business

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Kickstarting a Business, Rushton features Sierra Deodhari. She is the Founder and CEO of Sierra Karate and is only twelve years old.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What characteristics does Sierra have that have helped her do what she does? Might some of those characteristics mean that she can get help from others, as opposed to simply having help from others?

Clearly one of the things she can do is convey what she is passionate about. If you were to start a business, how might it connect to things you’re passionate about?”

I was amazed that this girl was only twelve years old! She had a goal and focused on achieving that goal. This video would definitely be an inspiration to a lot of young people.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Doughing Good

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Doughing Good, Rushton features Christopher Gee who started baking bread at 12 years old. He is 14 years old in the video but he talks about how he got started in his bread-baking business.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Try and make a list of the things that happen along the way – what he does and what others do – that help him capture the attention of others. What does he do that turns out to have been really good for his work? What kind of help does he find as he tries what he tries? What roadblocks do you imagine he encountered, but didn’t get described in the video?

What kind of business would you like to start? What would you need, and who might help you?”

I found it interesting how much research he did to try to find the perfect ratio to make sourdough bread. I like how he reached out to other bakers on social media and wasn’t afraid to ask questions. He would be a great inspiration to students who think they are too young to make a difference because after seeing this video, they may change their minds.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Symbols and Walking

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Symbols and Walking, Rushton features the El Camino trail in Spain. Many people walk the trail for different reasons.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What symbols did you notice? How would you connect what you noticed to the Camino?

If you were to create a path in your part of the world for people to walk, where would they start, what would they visit along the way, and where would they finish? What symbol or symbols might you choose for the path?

Have you ever tried walking a long way? Why did you do it, or try to do it, if so?”

I found this very interesting because I have had several hiking friends who have walked the El Camino trail. I loved hearing stories about it and seeing the joy they experienced it as they talked about it. I like the idea of students thinking about trails they might want to walk and what they would hope to see.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Access to the Right Tool

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Access to the Right Tool, Rushton features Jehiel Oliver. He started Hello Tractor, Inc. in Nigeria to help farmers get access to tractors. This helped farmers do in one day what would normally take 40 days to do manually.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Do you know people who work hard, but are missing something that would allow them to be more (or much more) successful? What challenges do you see in your community? If you identify a need, would you take time to brainstorm with others interesting ways of addressing that need?”

It is so important to have the right tools for the job you are doing. It is always amazing when technology can help people have a better life. I think about how much this will change the lives of so many people in Nigeria. It would interesting to have students brainstorm ideas for their own community.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share. 

The Silent Dance

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In The Silent Dance, Rushton features the China Disabled People’s Performing Arts Troupe. The dancers are hard of hearing and the musicians are visually impaired.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

"Pick anything you love to do. How might you approach doing that if you couldn’t see or hear?

What do you imagine yourself incapable of doing now? Might there be a way to make it happen? If so, what would you need? Why not try? The more unlikely it seems, the cooler it is if you make it work."

It was fascinating to see how these people compensated for their disabilities. They were still able to do amazing things. I can’t imagine how difficult this would be! I think one of the things that would be helpful is that they are able to work together and support each other. This is something that I think would be inspiring to many students.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Dancing with Trash

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Dancing with Trash, Rushton features a choreographer, Alison Orr who wants to make a movie involving dance and garbage trucks.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What different reactions do you have watching this trailer? Do you think of honoring those rarely honored? Do racial themes come to mind? Do you see enough to believe that something beautiful happens in this story? If so, what?”

I found it interesting that this choreographer was thinking outside of the box. I never imagined something like this being done. It had me wondering what other occupations are quietly left in the background. How about the road construction crews? What about the train repairmen? Or plane maintenance crews? How about the people who load luggage on planes? It would be fun to have students brainstorm other occupations that could be featured.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Standing Up to Injustice

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Standing Up to Injustice, Rushton features: 

“Maida Bilal led a group of women from her village in a 503-day blockade of heavy equipment that resulted in the cancellation of permits for two proposed dams on the Kruščica River in December 2018.”

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Do you know someone who stood up to more powerful people because she or he felt it was the right thing to do? Describe what happened, and what that person did.

Seeing a story like this, one good move is to learn more about the people who made the video. What can you learn about the Goldman Environmental Prize?”

I am impressed by these brave women! 503 days is a long time to continue a protest and it would take a lot of energy to keep people interested in continuing a protest this long. I know how hard it must be to stand up against big business so this took a lot of courage. How could you keep people engaged in a long protest like this? Too often, people lose interest and give up. 

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Reasons and Assumptions

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Reasons and Assumptions, Rushton features Victor Hubbard, a homeless man in Texas and how the community found a way to care for him. 

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“Do you know people who have special challenges, but most people don’t know the reason why? How do you learn more while still valuing that person?

What do you assume about yourself? Are there people trying to help you see yourself from new perspectives? Do you let them?”

This video hit close to home. I worry about my students with special needs and what will happen to them when they leave school. Will the community step up when they see my student in need or will they shun and ridicule him. By making people more aware of the possibilities, it might make communities realize how they can help someone like this. Another concern is that will my students accept the help offered to them? Will they know the difference between being helped and being used? I guess I'm a mother hen and will always worry about my students. 

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.

Enjoying a Challenge

“The NVIV (Next Vista Inspiring Video) series of posts are written by Rushton Hurley and designed to provide students and teachers with fascinating discussion prompts.”

In Enjoying a Challenge, Rushton features Life Rolls On, a group that helps those experience life in ways they never thought possible.

Rushton gives the following prompts to accompany this video:

“What if the challenge for you is a simple one? Try talking with a friend about something you could do together that would bring joy to someone else. Would it be bringing some flowers to the folks who serve lunch in the cafeteria? Arranging for a class to surprise someone by bursting into song on cue? (Check with your teacher on that one.) What might you do together?”

I love the idea of how a group of people came together to bring joy to so many people’s lives. Many people with handicaps never thought surfing or using skateboard ramps would be possible, yet this group made the impossible happen. It was wonderful to see the joy in their faces. I think this would be a great way for students to think about ways they can help others.

Please check out the video and think of other prompts you might come up with. Please share.