What would you do? Response from RCSS...

During a recent assignment in Research Methods, self-reflection was required for one part of the assignment.

I am challenged during this course because many of the required reading assignments are in printed books...got it, no problem implementing the Adapt, Implement and Overcome attitude is something I can do. The required text books are in My Library using Google Books but the views are "No Preview Available" and "Limited Preview" and the books have some type of online supplement which are annotated in the notes. During the self-reflection process I came across a document that challenged me to return to school...again.

I believe this response from the Richmond County School System was the straw that catapulted me into grad school. What would you do if your school board responded to written questions like this? Were the questions to difficult? Isn't this information that anyone associated with a school should have access too? Have you encountered this type of response from the school board and school administrators? I followed RCSS protocol to appear on the agenda, had silent support from many parents, students, administrators, and educators but when the board meeting was adjourned, I had two principals ask me, "What are you going to do when the board doesn't respond?" At first I was shocked that school principals would ask me this but I responded that we will cross that bridge if/when we come to that point. I truly believed that the school board would answer all of the questions...I can remember being at Butler High School that day when the principal brought me the written response from the board...more than 60 days after the questions were submitted to the board.

When RCSS hired Dr. Dana Bedden, this document was presented to him during one of his first Meet and Greet sessions yet 3 years later no updates and the document resides in the public record of the RCSS repository.

So here it is from 2007...

Response from the Richmond County Board of Education

Your comments on the response (or lack of) and whether or not it would have prompted you to do something or accept the status quo are appreciated...or select of the Reaction buttons below this post.

What is Psychobiography?

So we have all heard of biographies and autobiographies but I was introduced to the term psychobiography.

William Todd Schultz has an entire site called Psychobiography. On this site you can discover what psychobiography is and is not, FAQs, influential persons, Schultz's publications, annual annotated bibliography, and supplemental links.

From Schultz's site, What is psychobiography?

Psychobiography is the analysis of historically significant lives through the use of psychological theory and research. Its aim is to understand persons, and to uncover the private motives behind public acts, whether those acts involve the making of art or the creation of scientific theories, or the adoption of political decisions. Some figures who have been the subject of a great number of psychobiographical books and articles include Hitler, Sylvia Plath, Freud, Jung, Gordon Allport, James Barrie, Gandhi, Luther, Marilyn Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, van Gogh, Clinton, Bush, and Saddam Hussein.

So have you read a psychobiography?

A Google Book search on psychobiography presented 1, 055 entries.

A search using Google Scholar on psychobiography produced 7,210 entries.

While this is not the type of qualitative research I will use during the dissertation process, it presents a term that I was not familiar with. Now I am looking for psychobiographies on Educational Technologists, any recommendations?

Comments are always welcome...if not select one of the Reaction check blocks.

Implicit Association Test

Don't let the word test scare you...
How aware are you of your unconscious biases? When is the last time you assessed your biases?

The Implicit Association Test offers one way to probe unconscious biases.

UnderstandingPrejudice.org, is a web site for students, teachers, and other individuals interested in the causes and consequences of prejudice. This is one of many resources available in the supplements to the syllabus for the current course I am enrolled in for research methods.

This warning is posted on the website before you select the option to move forward:
Warning: This test has been taken more than one million times, and the results usually reveal some degree of bias. Your test results will include interpretations based on research done with more elaborate versions of this test. However, the parties who have contributed to this site make no claim regarding the validity of suggested interpretations. If you would rather not read these interpretations or risk discovering hidden biases, please do not continue.

Your results are for your knowledge, there isn't an option to send the results to a social media site or post to your blog...it is just you, your Internet connected device and the 2 fingers you use to respond. Depending on where you are in life the results may or may not surprise you. I shared this link with a few people who vocally claim they have no biases and could use a technological assessment.

So whether you take the Implicit Association Test or explore the Understanding Prejudice website, there are more than 2,000 links to prejudice-related resources, as well as searchable databases with hundreds of prejudice researchers and social justice organizations.

Comments are welcome...or just click one of the Reaction buttons.

Technology Sharing Valentine's Day Certificate

With Valentine’s Day just a few days away…why not share your passion for technology. A simple gift certificate that anyone can use. One hour of 1 to 1 technology sharing. You can tailor the certificate to the recipients' needs or your choice of what you want to share.

In December 2009, I shared a Technology Sharing gift certificate because I work with diverse groups of people who span the technology scale. So here is the Valentine's Day version:

Give one and pass one on to someone else to continue paying it forward. From sharing your favorite blogs to using a specific piece of hardware or software to teaching about personal security or demonstrating the power of your PLN (Professional / Personal Learning Network). From F2F (Face to Face) to virtual, using a local library or a favorite wi-fi spot, from cell phones to netbooks...it is all up to you.

Whether you consider yourself an experienced techie, a novice, or someone who doesn't know a computer mouse from a real mouse the certificate is here for your use, modify, and to continue giving, learning, and sharing. You can give the certificate to those who may need some additional attention outside of a group setting or give the certificate to a group who may want to learn something you want to share. Maybe you know someone that you want to learn from...give them the certificate and request 1 hour of their time.

You can tailor the certificate based on what you want to give. A gift of your time to share tech info and skills cannot be purchased but the results are priceless.

I would love to hear how you give your technology presence versus presents. As always, your comments are welcome.

Do you practice Random Acts of Kindness?

Do you practice Random Acts of Kindness throughout the year?
Need a Random Acts of Kindness monthly calendar? Click here for the 2010 free monthly calendars.

What are you doing to celebrate Random Acts of Kindness Week?

Random Acts of Kindness Week February 15-21 2010

World Kindness Day November 13, 2010

World Kindness Week November 8-14 2010

Need more ideas?

Follow the RAK foundation on Twitter: @KindTimes

Check the Random Acts of Kindness site for:

Classroom or campus ideas

Lesson Plans for all levels, elementary, community service, middle school, reading and writing, arts and crafts

Send and RAOK e-Card

Learn how acts of kindness impact your health

Submit your kindness idea

See the collection of inspirational quotes

How do you practice Random Acts of Kindness? Your comments are appreciated, your shared experience is priceless!