Daniel Kaneman discuss in his book (Thinking Fast and Slow) how in admonishing or rewarding someone we often get the wrong feedback – we reserve these events for such extremes of behavior or outcome the simple law of averages – the regression to the mean – ensures that following admonishment ‘matters will improve’ and following reward ‘matters will degrade’. As a parent I have seen this myself – it’s a terrible trick of the light, a deception on what our children need most and how they respond to our encouragement or reward systems.

By deliberate omission I left out my parents when I covered history in the previous post. I have tried to distil the single greatest thing they added to my life and growth. And after several previous attempts I struck that aha moment:

Deep down whatever our differences (and there were many) I knew they loved me. In realising this I also realised what an effort it was for me to realise such a simple and basic truth.

Which probably explains why as a parent this is at the forefront of what I wish to bring to my children and their lives – the knowledge (without effort) that I love them through and through.

Setting the example

There can be no good to come of them thinking otherwise, and yet I see so often around me parents trading off things with their children so the children can earn their love. Unfortunately love is conditional for too many children. But don’t get me wrong neither do I support unconditional love when people interpret it as allowing their children to get away with anything they choose, ordering their parents around and having no limits.

Like dogs (unfortunate but true) children need boundaries and I’m constantly aware that it’s how and with what I draw the boundaries that creates what I get back – today, tomorrow and forever in the future.

As parents, particularly those with resources at hand, with education and upbringing, we have very few excuses as to why we can’t deliver such a valuable lifelong gift to our children as having them be fully aware – from what we say, what we do, what we don’t do, consistently – that we love them and through the much of their lives we will focus attention to their health, wellness and happiness.

As a parent my kids don’t owe me, I owe them.

I know that may sound like idealistic rot to many, but what happens if I don’t take this view? How can either side of the equation be enhanced to more than it would be under such a giving and loving scenario? I can’t see how it works another way, but I can see plenty of examples where parents feel owed – and largely get disappointment.

Just why should we expect our children to be more responsible than the example we set? If we have raised our children with the right values care and attention, should such effort be an ongoing burden or will it be more of a joy to behold?

And I’m far from perfect – of course I break the ‘ideal’ I have just written, but I always come back to being the one responsible for loving and owning how my children grow up – and that re-centers me. I need to be constantly reminded of this, constantly attentive to it, never give it up.

It is the very concept that the field of mobile learning battles against, to reinvent pedagogies, to flip the classroom, to usher in game changing technologies, to take the ‘teacher’ off the pedestal in favour of collaborative and (social) constructivist methods of technology enabled learning.

Just a few of the buzzwords and phrases I’ve come across during my postgraduate study, many of which I’ve used myself.

I have come to realise that you can’t reinvent or rewrite decades of established practice overnight. A paper which I came across during my research last year (the author who I later saw as a speaker at the ascilite conference) sparked the start of the questions I am posing for my research this year:

Neil Selwyn proposed “Why has there been no educational ‘killer-app’ or ‘game-changing’ technology that has transformed learning along the open, mass-participatory and convivial lines that we are continually being promised?…It is simply not good enough to look only for instances of where educational technology ‘works’, or to focus solely on examples of ‘best practice’ and the ‘leading edge.’

So what of this notion of the ‘killer app’ for tertiary education? Can there be such a thing? By what criteria do we regard a piece of software as a ‘killer app’? What are the qualities required for a ‘killer-app’ in the context of tertiary education?

How can mobile devices, AirPlay technology and multiple screens be utilised in a tertiary education context to enable emerging pedagogical practices?

—

Now, I am not a teacher. I work a lot ‘teaching the teachers’ but often in small groups or on a 1-1 basis through my work as a ‘LATTE’, but couple of weeks ago, I had my first experience teaching to a group of students. I’ve run a couple of workshops and tutorials, spoken at conferences and events, as well as coming through an undergraduate degree which involved a lot of communicating ideas through group critiques, so it wasn’t a completely new experience to stand up in from of a group of people.

As I got ready to leave the house in the morning, I made sure to remember to pack my VGA adapters for both my laptop and my iPad, a simple accessory without which I would have to rethink how I teach and do some last minute reshuffling of content across devices.

When the new building at AUT was being constructed, I was part of negotiations and discussions where it was suggested that we do away with the fixed computer and document camera and instead equip each lecture hall and classroom with an HD projector and Apple TV. The assumption was that soon all lecturers would have a Mac laptop and / or iPad so that they could come into the classroom and connect wirelessly to the projector. There are many obvious challenges to this vision within the current technological landscape but it is something we could see as being feasible one day. Increasingly we are having teachers find out about this capability and so classrooms and studio spaces are being equipped on an individual basis with careful negotiation with ICT Services, who aren’t yet fully supportive of the technology.

My first time teaching in the new building, I had to call up ICT Services and get them to give me the code to unlock the cabinet so I could turn on the computer. Shortly after, I got an email logging my job and asking to confirm that it had been resolved.

Something seemed off about this process. When technology works, it is invisible. As Apple’s mantra goes: “it just works”. A comment make at the ICT Visioning Day, that “I look forward to the day we don’t think of technology as technology because it just becomes a part of our lives and it just works.”

Again, it is something we associate commonly with traditional classroom ‘teaching’, where teachers are anxious when teaching in new spaces they’re unfamiliar with because they’re not always sure they’ll know how to operate the technology in the space which enables them in the transmission of their content.

I was a bit nervous as first about teaching to a group of up to 40 students, given that I’m used to teaching workshops with staff. Then I found myself thinking, ‘it’s okay. It’s only for an hour, so I’ll just be talking at them with little time for interaction.’ But, that’s not what it should be about. I enjoy teaching my workshops for staff because with the smaller groups, I can facilitate more interaction, both with the software which I’m teaching and in answering questions and getting a feel for how they’re engaging with the content, and can alter my teaching accordingly. I keep thinking to myself – how can I make this more interesting, engaging, interactive? One part of what I enjoy most about the work I do is that it lets me interact with people, and I don’t feel that standing up in front of a group of them and talking is the way to do that.

–

So what of the ‘killer app’? Without getting too deep at this point into the meaning and definition of what that that entails, I am proposing that rather than attempt to reinvent pedagogical practices in a one year masters dissertation, to take one aspect of traditional instructivist teaching – the screen as the plane for content deliver – reinvent the interaction around that.

I framed these ideas into the initial question for my masters research proposal: How can mobile devices, AirPlay technology and multiple screens be utilised in a tertiary education context to enable emerging pedagogical practices?

I use the word reinvent because in my honours research, I came across the SAMR model which provided a way to evaluate whether new technologies substitute, augment, modify or reinvent the tasks which were possible with the previous or analogue alternative.

The SAMR model provides a framework against which to measure a ‘killer app’ – the functionality should be in the ‘redefinition’ stage. I’m going to start by taking some classroom tasks focused around the screen and interaction and brainstorm how technology can be used to substitute, augment, modify and redefine this task.

I’ve started thinking about the different types of interactions possible with connecting multiple devices and displays, the first step is to test what the programming frameworks will enable me to do.

I’m thinking about my next destination
I’m wondering what wedding gift ill buy
I’m not sure if I’m working yet tomorrow
I’m not sure how ill look or what I’ll want to wear
I’m wondering if I should just keep driving
I’m questioning my last response
I’m confused about what I should be doing next…

And so as a result I realized I am tired. But then I asked myself, what am I doing when I’m not thinking about all this….

I’m singing out loud
I’m exercising
I’m taking pictures
I’m visiting my Grampy
I’m creating projects
I’m building on my strengths, my happiness, my friendships.

I read a article today about how our generation has been lied to for years. We’ve been told that with an education we will have success; the majority of my friends are well educated and are struggling to find work. This article told me very clearly that it is all a lie; friends, we’ve been lied to. We need to erase that idea that an education equals good paying jobs…the article said everyday we are building our selves, everyday we have opportunities but often deny them because we believe it isn’t the “right” one. Each opportunity we have we should grab on to it, but we should never stop searching for more and we should continue to maximize our potential, but each day is the building blocks to our life. We are life long learners and explorers. We need to take the small jobs, the less paying job, the job that nobody wants…because it is another block to add to our life of experiences, appreciation, and another block that tells another story about you. I recently accepted a really funny job that makes me laugh out loud every time I think of it…it wasn’t at all planned, and it all happened very unexpectedly, but to me that is the most important part; who cares if its minimum wage, part time and some what embarrassing? It’s going to give me something to look forward to, meet new people, and help me have a new appreciation for a new field of work. One day ill post a photo for you of me at my really funny new job

So then I got thinking about those things that Im doing when Im not running my mind into exhaustion;

Each picture I take tells me a story, it may be the right one, it may be wrong, it may be entirely made up but I see beauty and inspiration in every single one. I take pride in finding the little angles that tell the story just right. I do it all because it makes me happy and I feel accomplished when I’m done, I get excited about feedback and I get excited for the next time, what do you do that gives you butterflies of excitement inside? If I didn’t pursue this interest of mine I feel a part of me would be missing, I’m interested in pursuing it at a more personal and professional level someday and that will remain a goal of mine, and I will continue to work on it more and more so that each day I’m finding new opportunities and fulfilling goals that are important to me.

Lately I’ve been struggling with my job as a supply teacher, I sometimes refer to myself as a glorified babysitter. But as the year is coming to an end, and the students are getting ansy, so am I. I almost started loosing sight of why I’m there – whether I am their regular teacher, supply teacher, subject teacher or glorified babysitter; students remember you for what you say, and how you respect them. Students want to know more and learn more, students are creators and inventors just like we are; I’m looking for more and I find it in my photography, my writing, my work- why? Because I take pride in it, because I’m engaged and I’m interested, I want my students to find the same passion in their learning. If its just one day or one hour that I spend with them, if I can help them find a part of who they are in my lessons by creating, or inventing, or acting the concepts, the ideas, if its something they remember and something that inspires them to learn and discover more, because it is now important to them; then that is what I am there for.

As I’m searching for the best version of myself and the most logical answers to my questions, it is helping me find answers in other aspects of my life; never stop doing what you love, never loose sight of your dreams, and never stop pursuing your goals. Be a part of your life journey, life learning and life lessons.

I will be a full time teacher is some shape or form of this world; I will teach.
I will pursue photography because pictures capture precious moments that help me make sense of our world.
I will create opportunities and I will take chances to find daily success, happiness and love for everything, and everyone around me.

So long may long weekend, tomorrow is a new day

floraexplora*

Can you imagine the anticipation he would have felt before the flight? Undeterred and determined, Charles continued on and achieved what he set out to do. We can all achieve results and the inspiration we can gain from people like Charles Lindbergh reminds us all that – WE CAN DO IT! 

Charles pictured with The Spirit of St Louis

• Charles Lindbergh is recognized internationally as an aviator, author, inventor and explorer. He was an amazing leader and pioneer, in the development of commercial aviation in the USA.  Follow his journey from an early age, when he loved all things mechanical.  He also loved nature and took an active role in the preservation of the environment.  His adventurous and exploratory personality led him on many exciting journeys.  Charles led a heroic life and his acts of bravery are an inspiration to people from all walks of life.

His amazing story can be explored in Amazing Aviators.

Amazing People Education is brought to you by The Amazing People Club – an international education publisher that is bringing these sensational resources to students and teachers worldwide. To explore tips and tricks on classroom edu-tainment using BioViews(®) please download our free Amazing Teacher Toolkit. To get involved in our direct-to-classroom resources, be sure to check out these Education Case Studies.

We would like you to try some of our amazing class starters and let us know how they were received by teachers and students. To take a peek at how some students reacted when they came face to face with Columbus and Michelangelo, please see our video from Castle Vale High School.

For further information, please contact marion@amazingpeopleclub.com, or visit www.amazingpeopleclub.com.

I can not wait for this week to conclude for it represents another fast paced, hopefully productive, school year in the full time gig! It also is the beginning of my new focus…growing MochaChic, taking care of “home”- that includes the Hubbs, and having more life experiences! On my list (from this post http://lifewithmochachic.wordpress.com/2013/03/26/almost-mid-week-thoughts-of-a-newlywifed-2/) was to do some new things and improve on what’s going on in my life. I have to have reminders that this list does exist and like with any list, I want to cross some things off!

Riding in the car yesterday with the Hubbs, it struck me that I not only wanted, but need, to something big from “MochaChic”! Initially I was thinking of a community service initiative and then the brainstorm rant went from there. Please know that I take my dreams a little serious and would love to see them come into fruition. So stay tuned to see what great works come from this wonderful thing. I was also thinking more and more on branding…then pow! There in my inbox was the video from Leslie Young about the BLMGirls events to be held on August 31st…perfect! I get to learn how to really do this blogging, branding, and wonderfully creative outlet a lot better than how it’s been going so far. I can’t wait for this experience and learning opportunity!!! Besides, it will be the beginning of my Fabulous, Foxy, and Forty Chapter in my life and looking forward to it…

Going along with the theme of new things, I am learning more that I’m craving more life “experiences and memories”! Sooo I’m looking to have more social time with family and friends (finally going to use that pool and our HOA fees to the hilt!) with pool time, cookouts, drop-by cocktail gatherings(I have some great ideas to share)…just whatever will bring folks together to enjoy one another. Then when it’s time to settle down…I want to create an oasis of relaxation for the Hubbs and I. I truly still feel like we are newlyweds. Therefore, as we approach the two year mark in the fall, I want to continue to solidify our foundation. And who knows what is to come for us…. baby, maybe??????????? Yes those question marks….huge ones!  LOL! That’s just whole other phase to prepare for…so we aren’t quite there yet. But at least the discussion is there…

I will also continue classes for my specialist degree, so life will be busy…but I’m so ready…for it’s almost Summer! Cheers…

Living in the Sunshine,

MochaChic

Miss Ritcey, circa 1981, Alderney Elementary School

Her name was Miss Ritcey. She wore tweed skirt suits, sensible shoes, and a hint of a smile.

A few of us were pulled from our classrooms once a week and taken to the library to spend the morning with her. We sat in table groups, hardly believing our luck.

On our first day, she called us into a circle, and said quietly, “A boy wants to go home, but there is a man with a mask in his way. Who is the man in the mask?” We were allowed to ask her questions with yes or no answers. We fell over ourselves coming up with possibilities, before realizing the key to the answer was asking the right question. We finally got to the idea of sport, and then baseball, and the answer: the man was the catcher for the other team – the boy was afraid of being tagged out. It was drastically different from the Halloween or horror ideas that initially popped into our collective heads.

From then on, we were hooked. Unaccustomed to learning being fun or engaging, her class was like a mirage to a delirious desert traveler. Days spent in our regular classroom dragged by, while we waited for that quiet knock which signaled her presence in the building.

She lead us in discussions ranging from books to science. We did the talking. She mostly listened. Everything fascinated her.

When she did speak, she was quiet and deliberate and began all of her sentences with, “Now, people.” As though we were adults. As though we were important. As though she was giving the Throne Speech instead of addressing a motley group of kids aged ten to twelve.

For those few hours each week in the library, it was cool to be a geek. No idea was ridiculous. No question was stupid. No contribution went unnoticed.

We became our very best selves. Freed from chalkboard pointers, we dared to dream. We learned what it meant to think outside the box. We were encouraged to be different. We were encouraged to be daring. Miss Ritcey often smiled, but never laughed. We emulated her, and listened carefully to our classmates, used our powers of critical thinking to debate ideas rather than dismiss them out of hand.

She didn’t need to raise her voice. Robbie and Jennifer – prone to misbehaving – sat quietly for a change. We were all in awe of our wise teacher, mesmerized by her serene aura. Lulled by the calm oasis she created, despite it being in the basement of the school, where three rows of books amounted to the library. Her presence induced a pavlovian response to learning, cobwebs cleared from our brains and we readied for takeoff.

From grades four to eight, Miss Ritcey parachuted into our school, a Mary Poppins amongst mortal teachers. After that I never saw her again. I never kept in touch. She was constantly on the move, rotating schools around the city, and it was long before email existed. Dropping by to see her wasn’t an option. I haven’t seen or heard of her for thirty years, but I will never forget. Her voice was one of reason, her body was one of composure, her pores reeked wisdom and the palest scent of Chloe, and especially the unwavering respect she showed each and every one of us.

Miss Sally Ritcey, wherever you are, you encouraged us to believe in ourselves, instilled in us a hunger for knowledge, and a desire to be different. Thank you.

“Wisdom begins in wonder.” – Socrates

Who was the teacher that made a difference in your life?

I share a little secret with her  (shhhhh  just between the two of us) – when I feel that I have prepared well for an exam, I actually quite enjoy them.

ColorScope – pick one or intuit which ones are past, present, or future (here’s the link if you wish to watch it instead of reading my summary – http://youtu.be/44jnDnQXwHs):

Turquoise – moving forward, might be angry or happy about it, but it won’t be bad. Like a gush of water, you approach it and move forward through it. Like that pimple at the end of your nose, you can’t not address it, you address it, it was a big adventure and then you feel at peace after the fact. Breathe. Allow it to flow, and move forward!

Metallic Green – sense of magic, natural but kind of not natural… finding your right place, what’s right for you. Finding what’s right for you with love. Finding the balance, finding what your truth is for you, and really embracing that. Grounding. Balanced = grounding. Allow our hearts to guide us. We can be very grounded but very connected as well to the angels. Allow yourself to BE versus DO!

Purple – mystery, something hasn’t been reveled. Filled with wisdom, knowledge, and magic. You’ve been wrapped… a sense of coming out, showing yourself that you have more wisdom than you knew. Something is going to come out of you that is going to help others. Timing. Trusting. Sense of being able to trust there is divine timing. For everything we do, we desire. Allow yourself to trust that. Transforming, allowing the things that bug us, we’re allowing ourselves to love that part of us so we can push it forward so it stops being a thing we’re hiding so we can emerge and be completely us!

Inspirational message:

You are worthy of everything you absolutely desire! We all want love, abundance, recognition, but we want our version of it. And your version is so worth having for you!!

~~~~~~~~

I intuitively picked purple, cause my heart said so. And after hearing them, I thought that they fit perfectly in the order they were given as past, present, and future. Either way, I am looking forward to this new adventure I am on in my life. I keep going back to her, in my mind, as the want I am just not getting. But I am trying to be comfortable with how things are, not focus on her, and move on. Let go. I am very much there.

I finally deleted her from my phone, pics, texts, and all, blocked her on fb so I can’t see her anywhere, un-friended her sister because there was no reason to keep her around, and I threw away some stuff she left at my house. Feels SO right. And I woke up not thinking about her, even though I dreamed about her.

Things are moving in the right direction. When I really allowed myself to feel the pain and really actively pushed myself to let go, made the decision… I got my camera out and shot some scenes downtown. Felt amazing! So I know I am in letting go mode. In time I won’t think about her, and though that thought kinda makes me sad, it doesn’t really because it is a good thing.

She’ll always be in my heart. I love her. I want her to be happy. And I know that it doesn’t matter who she is with, if she can’t find that within, if she is looking for it outside of her then she may never find it. And the same goes for me! I want me to be happy. I wasn’t happy with her. Loving her fills me up, brightens my life, but it was never going to make me happy. Because only I can do that for me. So I have to make actual steps to build that life for myself that I want! All the while KNOWing I am worthy of it!

She’ll come along, and we’ll build a beautiful life together – in time. But I want to build some stuff of a very individual basic nature first before I can really feel good about being with someone on such an intense level. Its what I truly want… to be stable, and solid in my life, in my world, before I truly connect with my twin flame!

I have to stop denying myself what I truly want and trust that the universe is conspiring to give me what I want, all in perfect timing! I need to allow myself the perfectness of my wants and the time to acquire them! I created all of this, I wrote this story. I wanted to fall in love, just to have to move on, let go and experience life without her while I built myself up from the ground floor. I want to prove to her, but most importantly to myself, that I can and will do this! It is my desire. It is my story! And I am beyond fucking worthy! Praise!

~~~~~~~

p.s.

When I say I wrote this story… let me tell you, the fucking realizations I have had since this whole thing has been occurring have been wicked! I’ve been writing this story since I was 14… that is the weirdest thing of all of this! I seriously have had this story written already, it’s been there waiting for the perfect timing… and here it is, so all I have to do now is live it. I know how it “ends” I know what it looks like, what it feels like, I know it all, and though my faith comes and goes, I hold this story as truth in my heart and expect every part of it to manifest, as long as I allow it!

Believe in your dreams, want what you want and never think it is not possible, nothing is impossible… it will happen, it absolutely will and can happen!! Faith, practice, and be easy!

much love and peace to you my friends

-the hopeful romantic

*I know words don’t teach… so I am going to teach this, better yet prove this, with my life! All we can do is wait and see yes?!?*

Vista Participants: Olivia Callison, Yerania Alvarez & Mick Lount

At our busy Freeport Blvd book depository in Sparks we are always in need of volunteers to help with the leaning and categorizing of the hundreds of books that we receive by way of purchases and donations.

On this day we were pleased to welcome troop 1030 from one of the local Girl Scout groups.  Led by Kelly Elder, these dedicated and efficient scouts impressed us all with their dexterity, attention to detail and dedication to the task on hand.

We thank them all whole heartedly and wish them well in all their ongoing adventures.

Mick R Lount
VISTA
Washoe County School District
Volunteer Services

The goal after graduation is to go onto college or get a job. A redesigned program at one high school is making sure every student gets that chance, no matter their abilities.

You could call Sami Strain a super senior. She says, “That’s what Ms. McKibben would say.”

She already graduated but remains a part of Urbandale High School’s Severe and Profound Special Education class. Teacher Julie McKibben says, “This is a classroom for students who need more supported learning that are here to learn more functional life skills.”

McKibben started redesigning the classroom three years ago. The focus is teaching school skills that translate into the real world. She says, “In this program we’re really just thinking outside of the box, evolved those academics into something where our kids can leave here when they turn 21 or whatever their parents agree to, and have skills in the community.”

Eight students are in the program. They work with nine teaching associates on their individual education plans. Each student has an office where they work on their goals. They practice life skills in various labs, like making a bed and cooking food. Students also learn job skills like filing and typing. Strain says, “I’m doing my job application.”

And, there is the grocery store where students can shop for pretend food, bread, produce and other items. They use their pretend debit cards to check out. They also work in the store, which means they have to “clock in” for each shift. McKibben says, “They actually stock shelves, front shelves and really learn that skill to get them a job in the community.”

The store also teaches the students about money and how to pay with things like a debit card. McKibben says, “I think Special Ed is really starting to evolve, and the thought process behind how to educate students with intellectual disabilities is changing.”

The ultimate goal is for students like Strain to get hired in a job they enjoy. Sami says she would like to work at a grocery store. She says, “Probably do the sacks or something. Put stuff in sacks. It’s going to be awesome.”

Most of the classroom items are donated, so the redesigned program didn’t really cost more money. The Northwest Rotary Club is honoring McKibben with a Hero in Education award for her work on the program.

With ten members present (and others joining in online through the live-blogging we debuted this year), we launched straight in over lunch to playtest a new card-and-description game I’m designing for the Engaging Visitors Through Play event at the end of May. That event is for museum professionals, and my aim was to teach them about simple contextual games through a simple contextual game involving curating a group of artefacts. The play test was incredibly helpful, simplifying my overly-complex rules and producing a much leaner game.

We then launched into the main session of the afternoon – new member Simon Grey (University of Hull) setting up four Raspberry Pi’s and launching Minecraft on each of them. Simon uses this set-up to teach basic programming skills to his students, and he took us through the method. Many of us had some background in programming in the dim and distant past, and we found ourselves learning loops, if-else statements and functions in Python, whilst seeing the results in technicolour lego blocks within Minecraft. It was a highly engaging way to learn (programme-see a reward) and we followed our practical test with a good discussion about this method and its potential, over some magnificent cake.

We finished the first afternoon with a deep delve into games and learning theory, Nic Whitton leading us through a structured set of themes to crowdsource our collective knowledge of work in the field. This proved to be a highly useful, thought provoking task for all, and neatly finished off our aim to mix theory and practice in all GLSIG activity.

One of the strange beasts overlooking our table

For the now-traditional evening games, drinks and deep conversations, Andy led us to a quite remarkable pub (The Grove – more real ales and mythological stuffed-creatures-on-shields than you could shake a jackalope at). We played some weird and wonderful independent card games (We Didn’t Playtest This At All, Zombie Dice and Diggity) – all interesting in their own way, with Diggity taking the most time to work out a strategic approach to – and shared our knowledge of (and played through a few too many) drinking games.

Friday morning saw us shake off any wooly heads with my and Nic’s Game Design Workshop (a 60-120 minute fast-paced game creation experience which we’ve now run successfully for a wide range of participants) – our two teams coming up with a pair of highly original games within the space of 50 minutes. We then merged with online GLSIG members to discuss potential ways to free up time and gain funds for research and practice in the field: whether small local practice, or bigger inter-institution projects. In the process, we resurrected the SIG’s parked Ninja Badges project and set it back in motion for the coming year. SIG business then rounded off the 24-hours, and we all set off happily back to our various corners of the UK.

Deep in game design mode

Another excellent event, and one which mixed theory and practice particularly well: giving us all tangible things to take away and implement, in addition to new theoretical avenues to explore. Special thanks go to Andy and the University of Huddersfield for being fine hosts, and to all the GLSIG members who played active and playful roles.

NB: If you are interested in our Game Design Workshop, contact me for further information.

Our first activity of the day was “Workbook Fun“! We grabbed some newly sharpened pencils, pink erasers (Don’t you just like looking at those?… Well, I do anyway!), and got to work.

As usual, our workbook time was loads of fun. We spent a few hours running around the house counting objects, solving logic problems, and answering riddles. There is never a dull moment when we’re learning.

After workbooks, things got really animated, as we unburied our traveling suitcases and headed “out” for our virtual field trip. Today’s destination: Costa Rica!

After marking our world maps, we trekked over to mommy’s computer to discover some fun facts and details on Costa Rica. There we learned all about Costa Rica’s national exports, their tourist attractions, some of their history and topography, native animals and plants, and explored more of their fascinating culture.

Seeing images and watching a quick video was fun, but there is nothing quite like hands-on learning. So, off to the kitchen we ran, ready to get our hands dirty.

We hand crafted butterflies out of coffee filters and talked about a few of Costa Rica’s main exports; coffee and bananas! To help remind us of how grateful we are for these tasty products, we decided to spend some time in the kitchen. We made ourselves some iced coffee (mostly cream with a dollop of syrup to sweeten) and this wonderful cake:

Costa Rican Banana Cake [Queque de banano]

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground gloves
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 8 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup butter, melted & cooled
• 1 1/2 cups sugar (The cake was pretty sweet so next time I would reduce the sugar to 1 cup or 3/4 cup!)
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, and spices.
2. In another bowl mash the bananas.
3. Add the butter, sugar, eggs milk, and vanilla.
4. Fold the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
5. Bake in a greased 9×13 pan for about 40-50 minutes, or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

After enjoying a lovely snack, we made sure to have our passport books stamped and collected a photograph to remember our trip. 

Our learning day was fun, delicious, and informative! After all that hard work, we decided to reward ourselves with some time in the water.

Ah… nothing like a hard day’s fun (Oops, I mean work)!

Is there a particular country you are focusing on this week? We’d really enjoy hearing about your adventure!

Today I have neglected my work somewhat and dedicated my time to clearing out the kitchen in preparation to sell my house. I thought it would be a quick job taking an hour max… NOOOOOO…. I’ve just finished it 4 hours and half a skip full of rubbish later. Who knew I could hoard so much utter toot in such a small space. On the upside though I am now about £30 better off with all the loose change I have found.

However, tomorrow it is back to the day job. I will be getting to grips with all things Google+ over the next few days. I have had a profile for a while but never really known what to do with it! Anyway, with the new layout and the mass amount of changes they have made to the platform lately, we thought it best to check it out. So, once we have had a scoot round the insides and backsides of it all ( ooo-er!) I will come back with some key information for you. It is going to be a huge threat to Facebook I reckon, so hang onto your hats, set yourself up a profile and learn with us!

Who tells us how to measure our success? Society? Family? Friends? Co-workers? Media? People at church? If we don’t measure up to the standards of others does that make us failures? At some point in time we all have to step up and decide “What makes me successful?”“Am I going to be a success or am I going to be a failure?”

Well Let me tell you my success is NOT defined by my clothes, my house, my income, society, media, friends, or anything else! I am successful because I alone decided to rise above my fears and self doubt and started to make changes to be a healthier, happier person! I am a success because I am learning to conquer my food addiction. I am a success because even though I struggle almost every day I’m learning to brush off the dirt and keep on trying!

I want to share with you my success for today. I was having a horrible sweet craving and a crunchy food craving. Two weeks ago I would have grabbed my favorite pop and a bag of chips and dip. And eaten it all!

NOT TODAY! This is what I ate instead!

Lots of yummy fresh fruit and raw almonds!

This my friends is a small success. A baby step success.  But a success indeed!

]]> http://leicesterpilates.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/character-strengths-for-a-better-life/ Mon, 20 May 2013 22:24:40 +0000 leicesterpilates http://leicesterpilates.wordpress.com/2013/05/20/character-strengths-for-a-better-life/ It has been said that we need to know what our character strengths are so that we can leverage them to achieve a better and happier life, a life that suits us better and gives us more satisfaction and is more rewarding.

Do you know what your character strengths are?

I took my character strength test (yes, all 240 questions of it!) and these are the results I got:

Wow! Is that me? Put it like that, it makes it sound quite “grandious”. I wonder what the people who know me in person think of this.In any case, try out the test yourself here: VIA Survey of Character Strengths. But please note that the test results are only as good as the accuracy of your answers! So do your best to answer as accurately and truthfully as possible.

Let me know about your results. Do you think they match you? Will the help you have a more meaningful life?

Live long and prosper

& now to homework…

My internship program required me to write a 2-3 page “personal internship development plan” that addresses what I will be doing at my intern site, some history behind it, and objectives Iʻve set for myself while working there.  Be kind,… I havenʻt been in school for the last few weeks and the last English course I took was a semester ago. Haha. 

“Personal Internship Development Plan”

Kualoa Ranch Hawaiʻi Inc., at the surface, has become a well known tourist attraction. However the company’s mission to be stewards of the land by education and celebration of its history and culture, brings together a true concept of ahupua’a.

Though not found in each, a loko i’a kuapā was a prominent feature often constructed at the bottom of an ancient Hawaiian ahupua’a. This simple yet genius system begins at the meeting of a stream mouth and the shore where fresh water mixes with salt water, creating a brackish water, attractive to certain herbivorous fish and organisms like “the ʻamaʻama (striped mullet, Mugil cephalus)” (7, Sato & Lee). A carefully designed rock wall (kuapā), sometimes stretching miles in circumference, makes home for many of these organisms in a brackish water sanctuary. Indeed, a fishpond is a sanctuary due to its mākāhā.

Mākāhā, or gate fixtures, are built into the rock wall on the outskirts of the pond, closest to the ocean. Small voids in the gate allow for only small fish or “pua” and critters to enter, thus serving as protection from larger predators (6, Sato & Lee). The young organisms, including common delicacies like ” āholehole (Hawaiian flagtail, Kuhlia sandvicensis), moi (Polydactylus sexfilis), awa (milkfish, Chanos chanos)” and ʻōio, happily enjoy the nutrient rich mix of fresh water that comes down from the mountains, and soon get too big to swim back out of the mākāhā (11-15, Sato & Lee).

This is where Hawaiians are so intelligent: Knowing which fish would not be able to escape, pond-keepers would open the inner gate, let the fish swim to the outer gate, close the inner gate, then with an ʻupena (net), scoop their meal caught in the median (ʻauwai).

Pond-keepers, like other professionals in the Hawaiian culture, were keen observers, hard-workers and natural scientists. Modeling the footsteps of an ancient Hawaiian is a man named George Uyemura, the keeper of Mōliʻi fishpond, the loko iʻa kuapā now privately owned by Kualoa Ranch Hawaiʻi Inc. where I will be interning.

“Uncle George”, as he naturally became known as, was born in 1920 as the son of first generation Japanese immigrants (31, Sato & Lee). Coming from a fishing family, his father obtained a lease for Mōliʻi pond and when Uncle was eight years old, him and his family moved from Waikīkī to Hakipuʻu. A rough transition from city to country and convenience to no electricity or running water, did not break him. He quickly learned the tricks and trade of the pond and became very skilled in his profession, with the help of his family and teachers (32-37, Sato & Lee).

Uncle George is ninety-five years old today, and still works hard. A lot of hard work, in fact, is essential in the upkeep of this 128-acre pond that has been in full working existence for over 600 years (49, Sato & Lee). In result of invasive species and other variables culminated over time, labor and maintenance today not only includes the tasks that Uncle did as a little boy, but also need to incorporate studies that will help preserve the ponds function, which is to feed the community. Such studies that I will be a kokua (help) in this summer, include: “maintaining a daily log of weather conditions and rainfall, as well as a weekly log of dissolved oxygen and salinity data, establishing and maintaining a 100×100 foot of (invasive) jellyfish removal, researching and reporting invasive jellyfish with emphasis on reproductive cycles and control methods, conducting daily observations of juvenile and adult marine species in designated areas, identifying and quantifying native and non-native algae species, establishing and maintaining a 100×100 foot of invasive algae removal, researching and reporting on invasive algae with emphasis on identification of native species and control methods for non-native species, observing and measuring floating algae mats and researching possible related conditions to occurrence and duration, establishing and maintaining predator elimination area, observing and quantifying juvenile marine species in and out of predator elimination area, conducting an informal water current analysis in relation to tidal changes, and mapping depth and bottom strata of the north pond” (Kui McCarthy).

Though overwhelming at first, I realize the list of duties are all interconnected and with the help of aunty Kui, I am committed to accomplishing the tasks written out for me. These scientific tasks are contributing not only to this specific loko iʻaʻs well-being, but hopefully to the others in Hawaiʻi and beyond. The research and maintenance will also, in essence, play a part in this eraʻs environmental movement to healthier ecosystems, from mirco-climates to global warming; my small contribution will hopefully better the entire communityʻs efforts, keeping in mind that a healthy ocean is a key factor in a healthy planet.

Regardless of the fact that a lot of what I will be doing, is what I really want to learn anyway, Iʻd like to specifically learn and apply why native species are important to their native areas, and what evidence, if any, do we have today that might imply that native Hawaiians were aware of invasive species (if so, what solutions did they have, and how can we use both their methods and science today, to better control our invasive species in Hawaiian waters).  Such a detailed objective, I assume will take years of dedicated research to accomplish, however there are three things Iʻve committed to doing in my internship that I hope will create a foundation for me to work from in years to come. These three things are what Iʻve stated earlier, that Uncle George Uyemura models as…

I will be a keen observer. Science, as much as it is about math and data, begins with observation and I am committing myself to each day at work, being a better observer than the day before.

I will be a hard worker. The hours I put in will not only be physical, but I am also dedicating myself to working hard mentally, using common and uncommon safety knowledge in whatever Iʻm doing, to protect myself as well as my co- workers.

And last but not least, I will be a natural scientist. Science alone was not my strongest subject in school, but applying it in my job will definitely be good practice for future courses and even a future career. I know that my ancestors were brilliant scientists, and therefore I am holding myself to putting my best effort in being so as well. 

Along side my three objectives, I will also be constantly working on my personal character. I tend to be quiet and reserved when around others, and I know that there are certain times when I do need to open myself and have confidence in speaking and presenting.  I hope I become paʻa to my objectives as well as add more during my summer at Mōliʻi, and Iʻm very grateful for this opportunity to experience applied science field-work.

Works Cited 

Sato, Vernon, and Cheng-Sheng Lee. Keeper of Mōliʻi Pond: An Informal Account of George Uyemura and His Amazing Hawaiian Fishpond. Waimānalo, HI: Oceanic Institute, 2007. Print.

Aloha & God Bless 

Want to grow big and strong? Take a cue from Toronto-based street artist Aidan Glynn, who created these mushrooms and dropped them into a local grocery store.

Glynn‘s other projects surround the video game world with nods to Pokemon, Donkey Kong, Mario and more: