Finding the Disruptive Element in Higher Education Part 1

Originally posted at Press 42 on January 14 2012.

It’s time for a major shake up in the education sector. Technology has so far been complementing higher education (Facebook, anyone?) but hasn’t really altered it fundamentally. You still stay up all night writing essays, pay huge amounts for fees and course materials and drink more in three years then you will in the rest of your life. This is changing: universities and private businesses are embracing free online courses and access to education is growing across the world. It’s a great idea, sure. But is that really all that disruptive?

Berlin Geekettes at Google: Ladies Inspiring Ladies

Originally Posted at Silicon Allee on July 17 2012

by Claire Adamson

Using gender as an advantage and the lack of great female role models in the tech world were some of the main topics touched upon at the Berlin Geekettes Summer Meetup on Monday evening.

A huge turnout of women from Berlin’s tech scene came to Google’s HQ in the city to hear the speakers, who included Zoe Adamovicz, the CEO of Xyologic, and Caitlin Winner, co-founder of Amen.

Looking for Inspiration in the Sandbox

Originally posted at Press 42 on November 11 2012

You have to be at least 35 years of age to be the President of the United States of America. So far, the youngest US president at inauguration was Teddy Roosevelt at 42, and the median age (according to Wikipedia) is 54. Imagine if a 24 year old took office. Is that as terrifying a prospect as we might think?

Forget Couches: Discover More with Roomsurfer

Originally posted at Silicon Allee July 23 2012

by Claire Adamson

Everyone knows that the best way to explore a new city is to be shown around by a local. How else can you discover that the best view of the sunset in Berlin is from Modersohnbrücke, or that Sudanese street food from Weserstrasse will be a transcendent experience?

Roomsurfer is a new Web platform for accommodation aiming to address this by connecting people who want to engage more thoroughly with a city with couches, spare rooms and the locals who they belong to. The service is similar to Couch Surfing or even AirBnB, but the big twist is that  locals and tourists are matched automatically based on their interests.

Learning in a VUCA World: How Knowledge Workers Learn to Innovate

Originally posted at ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN News Portal on November 13 2012

The acronym VUCA – volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity – accurately describes the conditions under which organisations, corporations and institutions operate in the world today. As there is no predictability or way to plan for every issue or problem that may arise, it becomes necessary to plan for any issue that may arise. The VUCA world calls for innovative business strategies and processes that can be used to cope in any given situation, and if treated right, the VUCA world can be an opportunity for knowledge workers to learn and develop effective agile and flexible strategies. This year’s ONLINE EDUCA BERLIN conference will hold a plenary session to discuss learning in a VUCA world and the ways that knowledge workers learn to innovate.

Mixing Tunes Across Platforms with Musicplayr

Originally posted at Silicon Allee on July 19 2012

by Claire Adamson

Music is hardly an untouched subject in the world of startups. Countless websites offer the chance to upload, share and discover music, sometimes to the point where your bookmarks menu is full of links to songs you love.

But now Musicplayr, a new tool described as ‘unified listening’ by its founders, is bringing all of these services together in one package, giving people the ability to make playlists from music scattered all over the Internet. And being shortlisted at the latest TWiST Berlin vs. London event has helped provoke interest in the startup.