SFU Thesis Bootcamp

Exam Week at SFU. Good times. Undergraduate Memories.

This photo brings back many memories of my undergraduate learning experiences 20 years ago at UBC.  I remember writing Math 100 and Chemistry 120 in the Armouries.  It looked much the same.  Luckily, I was not on campus to write a math exam.  I was going to the SFU Thesis Bootcamp for Masters and Doctoral students.  Thank you SFU Research Commons for hosting the Bootcamp.  I tried to register for this workshop several months ago, but was wait listed.  On Monday, I responded to an SFU email call out to fill two unexpected openings.  First come, first serve.  Winner!!!  Cleared my schedule and on the first ferry to SFU from the Sunshine Coast.  It was an incredible learning experience.  Loved sitting in silence with my dissertation.  Loved listening to the guest speakers.  Loved meeting other graduate students sharing the same experiences.  No more pacing at the foot of the mountain.  I’ve taken the first step up and prepared to climb.  #muchgratitude #selfefficacy #lookingback #progress

e-Portfolios

Do you want to think out of the box in education? Think about e-portfolios. I am such a huge advocate for formative assessment and Assessment for Learning (AFL) practices in the classroom as an effective means to help students learn about their learning.  Yet, the reporting process seemed incongruent to what is achieved with AFL.  At the end of the term, formative feedback is reduced to a final letter grade or percent.  It’s a tough connection, but as teachers, we are required to report out on student achievement with a number, a letter, and a short comment.  At the BC Superintendents’ Association (BCSSA) Fall Conference 2013, I attended an awesome workshop by teachers from SD71 on e-portfolios.  It was a wonderful presentation for many reasons.  First, these teachers felt the same inconguency as I did with AFL and reporting.  Second, these teachers mutally agree that 3-4 report cards and an interim report is not good enough to report student learning for both students and parents.  Third, these teachers under the leadership of the school district’s Director of Instruction are stepping out the box to explore the possibilities of e-portfolios as learners and professionals.  Finally, these teachers shared their stories of their students’ learning stories with delegates of the BCSSA Fall Conference.  Photos, pictures, quotes, anecdotal comments, ongoing reporting, QR codes, technology, parent engagement, and student pride… the possibilities seem endless.  Thank you teachers from SD71 for taking a bold step forward with assessment and reporting.  To me, e-portofolios is the LAST CHAPTER of AFL.  All stakeholders are re-invested.  #closure #makessense

Back to Blogging

Whew… I’m back to blogging.  My deepest apologies to my Bloggies who follow my edu-blog regularly, but I took a bit of a hiatus to reflect on my practice, my blog, and my edu-purpose.  This is the magic of professional learning and growth.  Nothing beats experiential learning.  You can never know unless you try.  The “first step” can be terrifying, but according to Kolb’s Experimental Learning Cycle… do it, reflect on it, improve on it, and try again.  This learning process is cyclic, which could feel like a circle, but I am growing and I’m grateful.  Learning by doing requires action, courage, and patience.  Living in paralysis, keeps you stuck.  Think out of the box.  Try.  Move forward.  Blogging is one forum for me to reflect, conceptualize, and sense-make.  I am inspired by my learning experiences and by the wonderful things people say.  I am compelled to share what I’ve learned via blog with hopes that you can share in the learning too. #happyfriday

Vision Quest

I’ve just returned back from the BC School Superintendents’ Association Fall 2013 Conference.  In 4 words, “It was absolutely amazing.”  The overarching themes, for me, were Transforming Curriculum and Assessment, student learning and success, and the journey.  One of the plenary speakers, Wab Kinew from the University of Winnipeg, shared his story, his journey.  I loved his honesty, authenticity, and sense of humor.  One of his stories was about Indigenous Education, experiential learning, and Vision Quest.  You cannot teach about Vision Quest in a classroom.  You just have to do it to understand it.  The Vision Quest is a rite of passage.  No eating for 4 days, isolated from others, disconnect from ego, and be humbled.  The journey is to work your way back up from there.  Love that imagery.  Vision Quest is a metaphor for transformation… stepping out of the box, breaking down, finding your passion, and building yourself up.  I truly get that.  #gratitude

Deja Vu

Life’s lessons… you cannot make them up… they just happen.  There is “something” to be learned by each lesson.  Failure to learn that “something” will result in deja vu.  It just happens again.  Water through the light fixtures… The last time this happened was on Christmas eve a handful of years ago.  My daughter and I were “camping” in the TV room that night… and all I could hear was… Drip.  Drip.  Drip.  Sure enough our toilet upstairs had a slow leak and whoosh our kitchen downstairs was soon flooded.  Nothing says “Ho, ho, ho”… like potential water damage.  This time, our washing machine opted to malfunction and create an indoor waterfall… and all I could hear was…  Splat.  Splat.  Splat.  Yup.  The kitchen was flooded once again.  Serves me right for doing housework.  Lesson learned.  But really… what I am suppose to learn?  Is it patience?  Resilience?  Grit?  In the end, I remained calm and I am oozing with gratitude. #yayforexpertise #notalone

Cheer Leader

What kind of leader are you?  I have always been fascinated by leadership and studied it as a graduate student.  Would you be…
      1. an autocratic leader (power oriented)
      2. a democratic leader (seeks input from others)
      3. a charismatic leader (inspires enthusiasm)
      4. a people-oriented leader (focused on people)
      5. a transactional leader (management oriented)
      6. a task-oriented leader (getting the job done)
      7. a laissez-faire leader (leaving it to others)
      8. a bureacratic leader (by the book)
      9. a servant leader (meets the needs of the team)
or 10. a transformative leader (inspirational)?
I think that we are a little bit of each type in some way and would like to consider myself to be a “cheer” leader… a combination of servant, charismatic, and people-oriented leadership.  I love supporting others.  I am outgoing.  I am driven by helping others to become the best they can be.  Yay me!!!  #classicteacher

SD46 Student Trustee

Trustee Younghusband & Student Trustee Maya Treuheit

This is a time for celebration… SD46 Board of Education is making history… Student Trustee Maya Treuheit from Chatelech Secondary School was sworn in last night at the November 12, 2013 Regular Meeting.  It was so wonderful to have a student sit at our board table and I look forward to the student voice.  Members of the District Student Leadership Team (DSLT) were also introduced at last night’s meeting, that is, two student representatives from each secondary and alternative school on the Sunshine Coast.  I encourage these students to consider sitting on other Board Committees such as the SD46 Education Committee.  As chair of the SD46 Education Committee, I appreciate the voices from different stakeholder groups at the table.  The conversation becomes rich, thoughtful, and diverse.  Representation from the DSLT would raise the bar of dialogue as we discuss education at the governance level.  Congratulations to Student Trustee Maya Treuheit.  Welcome to the SD46 Board!

Remembrance Day 2013

“LEST WE FORGET” Remembrance Day Service 2013 Sechelt Cenotaph

Little Sister

Even in our 40’s, I still feel like the little sister.  I remember as a child I had always wanted “equal status” as my siblings.  My sister is the first born, aka. #1. My twin brother is 5 minutes older than me, but also the first boy. Then, there’s me, #3. Certainly being the youngest has its perks.  I was never “burdened” or consulted with family responsibilities.  By the time it got to #3, the problem was solved.  Life was good.  I’d always knew that the path in front of me would be paved.  For this, I am grateful.  Tonight we were reunited once again.  I love our little family reunions.  What’s nice about them are, I can pose a question and both of my siblings are there to share their knowledge and expertise with me.  On the one hand, I am overwhelmed and humbled.  On the other hand, I am honoured and heart-warmed.  It is comforting to know that both my brother and sister always have my best interest in mind. #luckyme 

Wholeheartedness

“Let ourselves be seen.” – Brene Brown

What an internal struggle.  It has deeply affected my life and will continue to do so until it’s completed.  I am talking about my dissertation.  I’ve been in a holding pattern for several years and made life decisions to give myself space to think and rethink about what I am trying to accomplish.  More than a dozen revisions of my proposal and I’m back at the research question.  Humbling?  Yes.  Disheartening?  No.  I am challenged by what I really want to know and why.  Furthermore, I want to move forward with my research without “hurting” anyone… whatever that means.  I am cognizant of what I would like to address, but uncertain how to go about it.  As a result, nothing gets done.  The upside is, I am learning.  I am learning more about education but also more about myself.  I am scared to show others what I think.   I can’t control the outcome.  I can’t “be perfect” as a rookie-researcher.  I can’t hide from others.  I need to be vulnerable with my research and be open to how things will unfold.  No more pretending.  To experience the joy of research, is to also experience the heartbreak of failure.  This is the underpinning of Brene Brown’s research and wholeheartedness.  I can no longer numb the pain, fear, disappointment, and shame.  To truly succeed, I am open, vulnerable, and authentic.  This is what I’ve been striving for all along. #movingforward #feelinggood #gratitude #joy