Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Author, Science Fiction Enthusiast 27th April, 2020 This is a research project I have undertaken as part of my Graduate Certificate in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. In it, I explore how Minecraft, as a Virtual Learning Environment, can redefine and transform English Language Learning.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Author, Science Fiction Enthusiast 20th April, 2020 Used Microsft Teams yet? It's definitely time to check out Microsoft's hottest new collaboration tool. Watch this series of tutorial videos on how to connect with your students and colleagues using this very powerful tool.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Author, Science Fiction Enthusiast 4th February, 2020 A blog article I penned recently for an exciting new sustainability project, GreenExecutive.com. I write about how art can help solve humanitys "Great Derangement" - our inability to perceive and prepare for impending catastrophe like climate change
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Author, Science Fiction Enthusiast 15th June, 2019 TEDxYouth@SWA is an independently-organised TEDX event that seeks to explore the histories and origins of a varied range of locally important ideas from different perspectives.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Author, Science Fiction Enthusiast 2nd April, 2019 This essay is a minor research project I undertook on my Master of Arts in English. It explores the origins of human violence in human nature and religion through Shakespeare's Titus Andronicus.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Science Fiction Enthusiast 6th March, 2019 You have probably hear me refer to myself as a futurist recently. But, what does this world even mean? In this article, I explore the origin of the word, the importance of the role in society, the different types of futurists out there, and the role I play as a futurist. Enjoy!
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Science Fiction Enthusiast 2nd March, 2019 In this essay, I explore the relationship between the individual and society in NoViolet Bulawayo's We Need New Names, and the role external social forces play in shaping the narrator's identity as she flees political turmoil in Zimbabwe for a new life in America.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Science Fiction Enthusiast 1st March, 2019 With masculinity, and the notion of "toxic" masculinity an ubiquitous and somehow controversial discussion point at present, I thought it pertinent to publish an essay I wrote a few years back on Chuck Pulahniuk's treatment of it in his novel Fight Club. No, I'm not talking about the movie. I also touch on masculinity's relationship to what I perceive to be the emasculating 21st century corporate culture.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Science Fiction Enthusiast 20th January, 2019 This article is a dissertation I wrote and submitted for the degree of Master of Arts in English. It analyses the treatment of resources and their management in three cli-fi works 1965-2015, and explores the role cli-fi can play in making sense of climate change.
Ryan Dloski - Teacher & Anthropologist 13th May, 2018 This paper uses a recent antagonistic quote from the President of the United States as a springboard to examine the histories of both nuclear war and racist policing in order to link them to present realities.
Ben Parsons & Ryan Dloski 22nd May, 2018 This article discusses how the hugely popular 3D world-building game Minecraft has a range of educational applications, including harnessing students' creativity, teaching the principles of 3D design, and even allowing them to explore real-world concepts such as urban planning & architecture.
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Science Fiction Enthusiast 29th October, 2017 Check out the happenings at the awesome Microsoft 365edu Summit at Brescia House School, a Microsoft Showcase School located in the heart of Johannesburg, South Africa. I delivered a range of sessions on Minecraft, 3D Printing, and the brand new Minecraft Code Builder
Ben Parsons - Educator, Futurist, Science Fiction Enthusiast 29th May, 2017 NexTech Innovation Summit is a large gathering of educational technology professionals and enthusiasts held at Nexus International School in the heart of Singapore. Sponsored by both Google and Microsoft education partners, the event featured workshops on a range of cool, techie stuff. I was engaged to deliver sessions on Minecraft, 3D Printing, and Computer-Aided Design. Check it out!