STUCK IN THE MUD...

Stuck in the mud…

I just had a conversation with a colleague who just doesn’t get it. The world is changing. Life is dynamic. We are living organisms in constant flux. Everything around us in fact and theory is in some kind of constant chaos all the way down to the molecular level and even smaller. Thus for better or worse, nothing stays the same. If things are left alone, do they stay the same? No, they deteriorate, somthings quicker than others.

Why are people so afraid of change? Too many reasons to list here, and I can think of hundreds myself, but I’d rather skip that and move on for now. A year or two ago, I read the book “Who moved my cheese” by Spencer Johnson. This book is a must read for anyone stuck on the couch. It is funny, a quick read and life changing.

Now I don’t want change for the sake of change. I know a manager who reacts that way. And more than creating change, I just want to be aware that it is happening around me, and not be oblivious to it. I also don’t want to just react to change, I want to be influential when appropriate and accepting when someone else has a better idea.

I chose this typeface or font on purpose for this blog. It is “ELEPHANT,” …because I don’t want to be an elephant stuck in the mud, unwilling and unable to change for the better.

A SYSTEMS APPROACH... (based on a posting I wrote for one of my grad. classes at Capella U.)

A SYSTEMS APPROACH: to distance education and…


I grew up flying planes and sailing sailboats. What am I doing now? Sitting behind a computer typing. Oh what happened to the good-old-days? Responsibility is the evil word. Responsibility costs time and money, so I have to be an armchair pilot (just for now) and sail on occasion. What does this have to do with systems and distance education? Everything. Sailboats and airplanes run on systems. Distance education is facilitated through a system involving content developers, instructional designers, web designers, learning management systems, administrators, staff, instructors and learners. That is one big interdependent system!

An airplane no matter how big or small, or complex or simple must work as a system. Airplanes are built with multiple systems that back each other up if there is some type of electronic, mechanical or human failure. A sailboat is less comprehensive, but has systems to control the sails to harness the wind. Also, the crew on a sailboat must work together as an interdependent team, thus a systems approach.

A distance education university, program, or class cannot operate successfully outside the system. Each part is dependent on the other and dependent on them all working synergistically. If the LMS is down, the class is down, if the instructor is out, the class is down, if the techs are out sick, the class could be sinking without life jackets.

Thus, the more we realize how interdependent these parts and pieces are, the better distance education will become.

Could this apply to everyday life also?


Moore, M., & Kearsley, G. (2005). Distance education: A systems view (2nd ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. ISBN: 0534506887.

THEORY IN ACTION...

Theory in Action (Based on readings from Argyris, C., & Schön, D. A. (1992).)

SITUATION
Some mornings I wake up and think, “omg,” what have I got myself into this time? What was I thinking? Can I actually do this PhD thing that is reserved for smart people? Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night thinking the same thoughts. However, after reading Paul @ Elder’s (2006) chapter one through four, I have to rethink how I think, or rethink not to spend so much time worrying about things I can’t control, and I should spend time tackling the things I can influence.

Over the past several days I have had severe computer issues which I believe I have resolved with the help of Miami Dade College’s computer techs. Thus one hurdle has been jumped and I landed on my feet ready for the next hurdle. Should I start worrying about that next hurdle now? No, of course not, but I have to make a conscience effort not to do it. Ouch, that is a painful realization.

My situation is truly a blessed one. I have everything I need, a job, family, transportation and many other things others may not have. So the only thing I should be concerned with is moving forward. Thus I will move forward in pursuing a PhD in Instructional Design for Online learning.


CONSEQUENCE
As I learn my way through each Capella class, I will become a better teacher, learner, course designer and person. As I traverse the hills and valleys of this journey (lot of hills in Miami…), I want to groom myself to become a spokesperson for this new paradigm of e-leaning.


ACTION
I have a crystal ball. I look in it every day. It tells me to look to the future, to be proactive, don’t waste time, employ technology, follow a five year plan and finally, most of all, have faith!

My assumptions are based on fact, fiction and faith.

1. I will live for at least another three decades (faith)
2. I will continue to apply what I learn daily (fact)
3. I will loose weight (???)
4. I will re-grow my hair (fiction)
5. I will move to a less populated area of Florida and work from a home office and have time to play in the outdoors. (faith)

Summary/Putting it all together: My situation is truly a blessed one. Thus I will move forward in pursuing a PhD in Instructional Design for Online learning. I will become a better teacher, learner, course designer and person. I will look to the future, to be proactive, don’t waste time, employ technology, follow a five year plan and finally, most of all, have faith!

Argyris, C., & Schön, D. A. (1992). Theory in practice: Increasing professional effectiveness (Reprint ed.). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. ISBN: 9781555424466

Paul, R. W., & Elder, L. (2006). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall. ISBN: 9780131149625.

Greener Pastures...

Greener Pastures...

What's it about Miami, FL that makes me want to get the _____ out of dodge at least once a week? Is it the traffic, the heat, the attitude, the corrupt government... Mayor Alvarez asking for layoffs and pay cuts for the workers, and giving raises to his cronies?

I could go on and on, but I pride myself on being an optimist. So my optimistic thought of the day, is that I doubt any of this will change, but I have the ability to make changes. So as soon as the kids are off to college, we will be off to greener pastures. Maybe some farm land in North Florida, with a river bank, and a grass runway long enough to land a light sport aircraft on it. Where I can wear a jacket in the Winter and shorts the rest of the year.

I believe in five year plans. This is mine.

The PhD journey...playing the game at work. (this blog was based on a posting that I created in one of my classes at Capella U.)

To get a PhD or not to get a PhD, that is the question…

Every job description you read at the university level and the community college level either requires or prefers that you have a PhD. This seems to be the trend for all of higher education, and it seems to be following the “Jones,” hop on the bandwagon fallacies. I have been teaching for over twenty years with a Masters of Science degree. And now all of the sudden, I need to have a PhD in order to be promoted to Professor at a two year college. Having a PhD may make me a better professor in the long run, but in order to get it, I will have to spend less time with my students and more time taking graduate classes for the next four years. I know that this adventure will help me out leaps and bounds, but not for this semester’s or next semester’s students.


Which is more important, satisfying the chairperson and dean or teaching and learning with your students?

Both are important. In order to continue to teach and learn with my students, I must play the game and please my superiors at the same time. Serving on committees, attending college functions and spending countless hours in departmental meetings are part of my employment contract. Teaching seven classes each major term and four in the summer pay some of my bills. The joy I get from seeing my students get from point “a” to “b” to “c” is PRICELESS.

I believe that I will continue to become a “fair minded” thinker as I progress through my PHD coursework, participate in class discussions and read the required texts. I have spent several hours reading the Paul and Elder (2009) first chapter and have caught myself daydreaming about my thinking process, and then thinking about, thinking about and even more thinking about how I and my fellow coworkers demonstrate our/their thinking through our/their actions and words. I have found it eye opening, distracting and rewarding all at once.
How do I plan on tying this all together? While and during this learning adventure, I want to continue to think critically. I want to demonstrate “second order” thinking for my students, peers and supervisors. I want to stand up for good ideas, even if they are from my competitors. I want to have the courage to support what is ethical and just, even if it is unpopular, and I want to be empathetic to people who are out of work and less fortunate.

Paul, R. W., & Elder, L. (2006). Critical thinking: Tools for taking charge of your learning and your life (2nd ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Test blog

This is to see if this actually works...

Welcome to my new blog site! Stay tuned for exciting updates...