I loved that project! I really could do that for a living and it wouldn’t be like work. If I had started earlier, I would have spent a lot more time going back over details. Truth is that I wanted to start on that design the first week of the semester. It sounded like such a cool project – and something I want practice and feedback on so I can get better. I didn’t let myself start it until more of my other work was done though. So, it ended up being very last-minute and kinda rushed…
I love making all the pieces fit together for a class or seminar. It really is like a great combination of putting together a puzzle and making a map to your final destination.
So, why are there ads on my blog page now? How do I make those go away? It looks like some words are underlined and if I float my mouse over them, an ad pops up. At least the ad has something to do with the word that’s underlined! But, I don’t particularly care to endorse HP Printers or one of those silly credit monitoring software companies…
Anyone else getting this? Anyone else even reading my blog?
Through a very circuitous route, the Teaching with Technology organization has been added to my Blackboard. There’s some really good stuff in there from the VCU Center for Teaching Excellence workshop series. If anyone else is interested in having the organization added to your Blackboard, contact Jeff Nugent (jsnugent@vcu.edu).
So, my love/hate relationship with feedback has reared its head! I love feedback because it makes me better. It makes me better at what I do and how I do it. I am a downright feedback junkie. I hate feedback because I want to argue with what people tell me. I want to point out why I did things or how I did things or that they just don’t get it… Eh! It’s feedback – take what’s good and let go of the extraneous things. When I remove my ego from the equation, there’s some really good stuff lurking there.
I haven’t watched my video yet. The disc is sitting here next to my computer. It reflects the light from my desk lamp all over the room. I’m sure there’s some great metaphor in that light and reflection. But, I think I’ll use my energy to actually watch the content rather than creating flowery or insightful language!
Last week was tough. I had been fighting occular migraines all week. I am overwhelmed with the job hunt. I had to go after Suzanne and Carol who both did amazing teaching demonstrations. I think there was part of me that went into auto pilot. It’s a mode where I just get things crossed off the list. Part of that was nerves and part was well, just wanting to move on to the next thing on the list!
I am a crazy HUGE fan of training objectives! I hang them on my wall like a poster every chance I get! They give direction and meaning to everything done in the classroom. But, I really hate writing them… They have covered my assets in a corporate setting…
Client: Why didn’t you show them how to [fill in the blank]?
APT: Well, that particular skill was never identified as learning objective.
Client: How can you teach a class and not teach [fill in the blank]?
APT: I sent around learning objectives to all the VPs involved and they were approved. I created the curriculum for the seminar around those objectives. Is [fill in the blank] something that we need to consider for the next round of training? What other objectives may I have missed???
Any way, I just wrote the objectives for my teaching demonstration. I’ve been stewing on them for weeks…
Students will be able to
Explain the use of credit scores in the lending process
Recognize the importance of credit scores to saving money
Indentify ways to improve and protect their own credit scores
I know, I know… I am one of those folks that fell off the blogging wagon. I actually really enjoy it too. It is particularly cool to get comments from other folks out in cyber space about my entries.
I have hit a wall. I need more to do but my days seem so full already. Yet, at the end of the day, I’m not sure what I’ve really accomplished. I’ve gotten behind in school work and my house is a wreck. But, I am exercising a lot and have spent some great time with good friends. The light is beginning to flicker at the end of the tunnel though. I think having my teaching demonstration and the facilitator guide for ADLT 603 and all the other work for EDUS 660 will pull me out! The more I have to do, the more I’ll get done!
I have lined up an opportunity to teach a seminar for VCU Human Resources. I’m pretty excited! It will feel good to get back in the proverbial saddle. It is “Organizing Your Personal Documents” on April 21st. So, I’ve got a PowerPoint to design and handouts to clean up. I have also been taking all of the free seminars that I can get my hands on through VCU. I’ve taken Dreamweaver, HTML, Fireworks, etc. I love learning new technical stuff…
Speaking of technical… I talked with Dr. Carter about moving from the HRD track to the new technology track. Wow! If I stay with HRD and work hard, I could be done by next May. Very tempting… Or, I can hang out a little, work on my core courses and switch over to the technology track when the curriculum becomes available next summer. Also, very tempting! Will any of it really matter when I’m done? Either way, I will have an M.Ed. after my name. I am so drawn to instructional technology. I get such a thrill learning and incorporating technology into training. I want to design online learning. So, it makes sense to hang on… But again, will it really matter in the end?
I should probably be working on information for my “Nuggets of Goodness” to hand out on March 26th. But, I am still intrigued by this concept of Graphic Facilitation. I think I am intrigued because I have always wanted to be more “artistic” or even just be able to draw… The drawing classes have always frustrated me.
I found a link for The Center for Graphic Facilitation. The tag line to their blog is Images + Ideas + Methods + Tools = Visual Learning. Nice, eh?
Then, I found a website for Brandy Agerbeck who is a graphic facilitator. Here is her Introduction to Graphic Facilitation. Her artwork is pretty slick. If you poke around her site, you can see where she’s done a graphic facilitation of President Obama’s Inaugural Speech. In her words,
Graphic facilitation is the practice of using words and images to create a conceptual map of a conversation. A graphic facilitator is the visual, usually silent partner to the traditional, verbal facilitator, drawing a large scale image at the front of the room in real-time.
First, I have had a great week so far. For some reason, I have been really kind of blue for the past few weeks. No job, grandmother’s accident, being sick, taxes (I owe WAY more than I had anticipated), and the honeymoon is over with the new house. This week, it all slipped to the side and I got to work. No, not as in a job. But, I started cracking on tasks that have been on the list for months. Things that I vowed to get done while I was not working. It feels like the clouds have parted… I never know how deep of a funk I am in until I am on my way out. I am moving on now.
Also, I have been feeling the need for some technical training. I have cast about looking for classes to improve the skills I have or learn something new. Everything I was finding cost and cost a lot. Today, I came across the web site for VCU Training. I’m sure everyone else knew it was out there, some times I’m a little slow on the uptake. (Maybe the world is unfolding as it should and I wasn’t meant to find it until today. ) I signed up for several seminars including: Web Conferencing Tools for Instruction, HTML/XHTML, an Instructional Media Workshop Orientation, Adobe Acrobat – Level 1 and Dreamweaver Introduction – Level 1. Each class is short (at most a half day) and FREE! I will finish all of these by the end of March! So, for any of your that want to polish up your technical skills, definitely check it out.
Also, I might see if I can help with some of these presentations. I have skills and information that isn’t being put to use… I might contact the Training Department and see if I can put my financial literacy skills back out there. I don’t want them getting rusty and it’s a great way to keep something on my resume while I’m not working. If anyone knows other avenues of getting out there, please let me know!
Oh, there are so many more choices now with the way we’re looking at doing the individual demonstrations. I would love to present on Graphic Facilitation and/or using flip charts and white boards better. It is something that I would like to learn more about. I could also fall back on some of the financial literacy topics that I am familiar with… When I did this kind of project for a certification, I taught everyone how to set up a tent, including picking a view, safety issues and overall aesthetics to consider. That was good fun! But, it’s been done. Oh, and I have Boomwhackers. That could be really fun!
