Having searched Netflix quite often for travel documentaries, I came across Long Way Round, which features my favorite Scot, Ewan McGregor, and his best mate Charley Boorman riding 20,000 miles on some fabulous BMW motorbikes. It’s a 2-disc set and I was glued to the tv for all 7 hours. If you aren’t familiar with the premise here it is:
Setting off in London in April 2004, Ewan and Charley travelled through some of the most beautiful, and at times dangerous, terrain the world has to offer. Crossing over into mainland Europe, they rode through France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia, Alaska, Canada before arriving 115 days later at their final destination, New York City, USA.
As I watched, their trip reminded me of all of my travel adventures with Komenka and how, no matter how unfamiliar a different culture may be, the people you meet quite often are just like you–willing to open their homes, share their customs and food, and celebrate life through music and dance–all without sharing the same language. I was lucky enough to travel to France 3 times, Hungary, Bulgaria, and Greece and each time I didn’t want to return to America, the land of strip malls and fast food. It’s nice being able to simplify your life and realize that you don’t really need much else besides good friends, food and shelter.
With that said, I looked up Ewan and Charley’s site because the DVD mentioned that they also produced a book. Well it turns out that the boys are off on another adventure this September called the Long Way Down, from Scotland to South Africa! I cannot wait!
I have been in ensembles where things have come just to the brink of falling apart, but I have never found myself in a situation of on-stage restarting. It is comforting to know, however, that I would be in good company if and when that situation arises. My number one, the Cleveland Orchestra, had a restart on-stage recently, as noted by Vivien Schweitzer in Playbillarts: “There must have been something in the Midwestern air last Thursday, as performances in Detroit and Cleveland both came to a grinding halt.” She goes on to quote some of the Donald Rosenberg story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer:
Anyone who has ever played an instrument or sung knows the uncomfortable feeling that creeps in when things don’t quite go as the composer planned.
Listeners aren’t always aware of these discrepancies, but the Cleveland Orchestra’s audience Thursday at Severance Hall was abuzz at intermission about the two interruptions during the last movement of Alban Berg’s Chamber Concerto for Piano, Violin and 13 Wind Instruments.
The piece was moving along when everything suddenly collapsed and music director Franz Welser-Möst uttered, “Sorry.” He took the ensemble back a bunch of bars and tried again, to no better effect.
“You see how difficult this is,” the conductor said to the audience. “It worked this morning.”
Finally, Welser-Möst got his meters straight, and the music proceeded to its inevitable, touching end. One suspects the weekend’s remaining performances will go more smoothly.
Berg’s score deserves the attention. It is a masterpiece of construction and emotional content, albeit one of the most intricate works in the repertoire. The composer flirts with 12-tone techniques as he incorporates hidden codes and the musical names of his close Viennese colleagues Schoenberg and Webern into the fabric.
The opening theme and variations introduce the primary motives and develop them. The second movement is a palindrome that also serves as an impassioned memorial to Schoenberg’s first wife, Mathilde. Material from the first and second movements are combined in the finale, whose tricky textures and rhythms — the cause of Thursday’s distress — are major challenges.
Despite the discomfort, the performance wasn’t an outright disaster, though it also wasn’t very good. Mitsuko Uchida’s forceful, alert pianism and concertmaster William Preucil’s silken violin solos gave vibrant voice to Berg’s profusion of ideas even when the interplay of solo instruments and fine winds failed to achieve coherence or urgency. Welser-Möst’s helpful comments before the performance about the work’s “meaning” often didn’t transfer to the music-making itself.
Big applause the other night, but the conductor kept going. Low strings didn’t…violins did for a couple notes.
Awkward short silence, then huge cue which most of us correctly understood to be the next forte entrance-so we had skipped a few bars. Fun. Maybe that’s the musical equivalent of things getting lost in cyberspace.
We finished the act, and conductor waves hands in front of face…but we couldn’t figure out if that was an international gesture for “You should really watch me closer next time”, “Something strange just happened on stage”, or “I’m sorry, that was completely my fault”.
Reneaud Garcia-Fons is a bassist every bassist should know. I was hipped to him by my very first double bass teacher (a classmate of mine who had barely studied the instrument himself) and, like my first exposure to Victor, Edgar, Jaco, I could not even be sure I knew what it was I was hearing.
Garcia-Fons’ technique stretches the concept of the double bass to its boundaries. His extensive use of his high C-string and extended techniques elicit unexpected timbres from what, for all intents and purposes, is a clumsy, cumbersome instrument. Renaud recently released a DVD (from which this video is culled) and it is worth the cost to obtain.
David Howells posted a review of the Arcoluz package at Amazon.com that reads as follows:
J. Hellborg, G. Willis, S. Clarke, D. Holland et al could not begin to dream where Renaud Garcia-Fons journeys on his 5 string double-bass. He is quite easily the greatest bass player of them all and this breath-taking CD (and DVD) is a living testament to his out of this world skills. His bowing technique alone is both bewildering and awesome. The sounds and speeds he gets in the higher register are like those of a maestro violinist and the arrangements are a joy. If you don’t believe me, buy this CD/DVD. The 85 minute DVD alone is worth the asking price (and more!). If you are a bass player, please ensure have a loved one close by to console you. If you want (need) to listen to Renaud in a larger group setting, get hold of a copy of Oriental Bass. Oh, and the guitarist and percussionist are also wonders to behold. PS: If you’re of the opinion that Jaco was the greatest bassist of all time, think again!
Here is one of my photos taken at Lowry Park Zoo. Be sure to see more of my photos at www.flickr.com/photos/walterhaynes
Thanks and you are welcome to post comments.
We received many items in May. As always, new books from the circulating collection and the Children’s books collection are located in the “New Books” shelves in the Group Study room. They can be borrowed right away! Reference books and A/V materials are put immediately in their respective shelving. Enjoy!
Books
Symbol sourcebook : an authoritative guide to international graphic symbols / Henry Dreyfuss.
AZ108 .D74 1984
Religion in America since 1945 : a history / Patrick Allitt.
BL2525 .A44 2003
Night / Elie Wiesel.
D804.196 .W547 2000
The second century : U.S.–Latin American relations since 1889 / Mark T. Gilderhus.
F1418 .G4873 2000
The cultural encyclopedia of baseball / Jonathan Fraser Light.
GV862.3 .L54 2005
Black baseball in Detroit / Larry Lester, Sammy J. Miller, and Dick Clark.
GV863.M5 L47 2000
Stories from my life in baseball / Ernie Harwell.
GV873 .H37 2001
Ernie Harwell : life after baseball / Tom Keegan.
GV873 .H376 2004
Designing and conducting survey research : a comprehensive guide / Louis M. Rea, Richard A. Parker.
HA31.2 .R43 2005
SPSS 14.0 guide to data analysis / Marija J. Norušis.
HA32 .N65148 2006
Cases on information technology : lessons learned / [edited by] Mehdi Khosrow-Pour.
HD30.2 .C3796 2006
Handbook of supply chain management / [edited by] James B. Ayers.
HD39.5 .H36 2006
Child labor and human rights : making children matter / edited by Burns H. Weston.
HD6231 .C454 2005
Mail and internet surveys : the tailored design method / Don A. Dillman.
HM538 .D55 2007
Gay rights / Rachel Kranz, Tim Cusick.
HQ76.8.U5 K73 2005
Prologue to violence : child abuse, dissociation, and crime / Abby Stein.
HV6626.5 .S84 2007
Modernization, cultural change, and democracy : the human development sequence / Ronald Inglehart, Christian Welzel.
HV9104 .S448 2005
Religious freedom in the liberal state / Rex Ahdar and Ian Leigh.
K3280 .A36 2005
Copyright law for librarians and educators : creative strategies and practical solutions / Kenneth D. Crews ; with contributions from Dwayne K. Buttler … [et al.].
KF2995 .C74 2005
The principal’s quick-reference guide to school law : reducing liability, litigation, and other potential legal tangles / Dennis R. Dunklee, Robert J. Shoop ; foreword by Charles J. Russo.
KF4119.6 .D86 2006
Case studies in school counseling / [edited by] Larry B. Golden, Patricia Henderson.
LB1027.5 .C3965 2007
The action research guidebook : a four-step process for educators and school teams / Richard Sagor.
LB1028.24 .S35 2005
Laptops and literacy : learning in the wireless classroom / Mark Warschauer.
LB1028.43 .W37 2006
The principal’s guide to managing communication / E. Joseph Schneider, Lara L. Hollenczer.
LB1033.5 .S36 2006
The practical guide to classroom literacy assessment / Diane Barone, Joan M. Taylor.
LB1576 .B315 2007
Principled practices for adolescent literacy : a framework for instruction and policy / Elizabeth G. Sturtevant … [et al.] ; with Patricia L. Anders … [et al.].
LB1632 .P75 2006
Leading and supervising instruction / John C. Daresh.
LB2805 .D152 2006
Leading for results : transforming teaching, learning, and relationships in schools / Dennis Sparks.
LB2805 .S735 2007
The principal’s guide to school budgeting / Richard D. Sorenson, Lloyd Milton Goldsmith.
LB2830.2 .S67 2006
Ethical leadership in schools : creating community in an environment of accountability / Kenneth A. Strike.
LB2831.9 .S77 2007
Evaluating teaching : a guide to current thinking and best practice / edited by James H. Stronge.
LB2838 .E847 2006
From first-year to first-rate : principals guiding beginning teachers / Barbara L. Brock, Marilyn L. Grady.
LB2844.1.N4 B76 2007
Girls, social class, and literacy : what teachers can do to make a difference / Stephanie Jones ; foreword by Randy Bomer.
LC191 .J665 2006
Courageous conversations about race : a field guide for achieving equity in schools / Glenn E. Singleton, Curtis Linton; foreward by Gloria Ladson-Billings.
LC213.2 .S58 2006
Gifted children and gifted education : a handbook for teachers and parents / Gary A. Davis.
LC3993.9 .D383 2006
Information security : principles and practice / Mark Stamp.
QA76.9.A25 S69 2006
Grid networks : enabling grids with advanced communication technology / [edited by] Franco Travostino, Joe Mambretti, Gigi Karmous-Edwards.
QA76.9.C58 G7559 2006
Handbook of data structures and applications / edited by Dinesh P. Mehta and Sartaj Sahni.
QA76.9.S88 H363 2005
The electrical engineering handbook. Third ed. Sensors, nanoscience, biomedical engineering, and instruments / edited by Richard C. Dorf.
R857.B54 E44 2006
Forensic entomology : the utility of arthropods in legal investigations / edited by Jason H. Byrd, James L. Castner.
RA1063.45 .F67 2001
Hazardous materials characterization : evaluation methods, procedures, and considerations / Donald A. Shafer.
T55.3.H3 S475 2006
Advanced topics in information technology standards and standardization research. Volume 1 / Kai Jakobs, [editor].
T58.5 .A375 2005
Nanotechnology applications and markets / Lawrence Gasman.
T174.7 .G37 2006
Mechanical design handbook : measurement, analysis, and control of dynamic systems / Harold A. Rothbart, editor, Thomas H. Brown, Jr., editor.
TJ230 .M433 2006
The electrical engineering handbook. Electronics, power electronics, optoelectronics, microwaves, electromagnetics, and radar / edited by Richard C. Dorf.
TK145 .E435 2006
Practical engineering design / edited by Maja Bystrom, Bruce Eisenstein.
TK151 .P73 2005
Principles of adaptive filters and self-learning systems / A. Zaknich.
TK872.F2 Z35 2005
The electrical engineering handbook. Third ed. Systems, controls, embedded systems, energy, and machines / edited by Richard C. Dorf.
TK1001 .E44 2006
Document and image compression / edited by Mauro Barni.
TK5102.5 .D57 2006
The electrical engineering handbook. Third ed. Circuits, signals, and speech and image processing / edited by Richard C. Dorf.
TK5102.9 .E44 2006
Wireless mesh networking : architectures, protocols and standards / edited by Yan Zhang, Jijun Luo, Honglin Hu.
TK5103.2 .W57351 2007
The electrical engineering handbook. Third ed. Broadcasting and optical communication technology / edited by Richard C. Dorf.
TK5103.59 .E44 2006
Security for mobile networks and platforms / Selim Aissi, Nora Dabbous, Anand R. Prasad.
TK5105.59 .A488 2006
Ajax : creating Web pages with asynchronous JavaScript and XML / Edmond Woychowsky.
TK5105.8885.A52 W69 2007
The electrical engineering handbook. Third ed. Computers, software engineering, and digital devices / edited by Richard C. Dorf.
TK7885 .E44 2006
Handbook of farm, dairy, and food machinery / edited by Myer Kutz.
TP370.4 .H3578 2007
PVC handbook / C.E. Wilkes, J.W. Summers, C.A. Daniels (eds.) ; with contributions by Mark T. Berard … [et al.].
TP1180.V48 P93 2005
Blown film extrusion : an introduction / Kirk Cantor.
TP1183.F5 C36 2006
Lean assembly : the nuts and bolts of making assembly operations flow / by Michel Baudin.
TS155 .B34 2002
Lean manufacturing : tools, techniques, and how to use them / by William M. Feld.
TS155 .F4985 2000
RFID metrics : decision making tools for today’s supply chains / William Oliver Hedgepeth.
TS160 .H43 2007
RFID in the supply chain : a guide to selection and implementation / Judith M. Myerson.
TS160 .M94 2007
Rapid manufacturing : an industrial revolution for the digital age / editors, N. Hopkinson, R.J.M. Hague, and P.M. Dickens.
TS171.4 .R34 2006
Accelerated testing : a practitioner’s guide to accelerated and reliability testing / Bryan Dodson, Harry Schwab.
TS173 .D61 2006
The handbook of manufacturing engineering / edited by Richard Crowson.
v. 1. Product design and factory development — v. 2. Factory operations : planning and instructional methods — v. 3. Parts fabrication : principles and process — v. 4. Assembly processes : finishing, packaging, and automation.
TS176 .H36 2006
Lean enterprise systems : using IT for continuous improvement / Steve Bell.
TS183 .B444 2006
Managing shutdowns, turnarounds and outages / Michael V. Brown.
TS192 .B77 2004
Rapid prototyping : theory and practice / edited by Ali Kamrani and Emad Abouel Nasr.
TS1714 .R357 2006
Interlibrary loan and document delivery : best practices for operating and managing interlibrary loan services in all libraries / Lee Andrew Hilyer.
Z713 .H447 2006
Reference
The Oxford dictionary of philosophy / Simon Blackburn.
Reference B41 .B53 2005
The timetables of history : a historical linkage of people and events / Bermard Grun.
Reference D11 .G78 2005
The Oxford encyclopedia of Latinos and Latinas in the United States / Suzanne Oboler and Deena J. González, editors in chief.
v. 1. Acequias-Dual nationality — v. 2. East Los Angeles-Llorona, La — v. 3. Lobato v. Taylor-Rechy, John — v. 4. Religion and spirituality-Zoot suit.
Reference E184.S75 O97 2005
Shapers of the great debate on the Great Society : a biographical dictionary / Lawson Bowling.
Reference E846 .B63 2005
A dictionary of business and management.
Reference HF1001 .C63 2006
Understanding American business jargon : a dictionary / W. Davis Folsom.
Reference HF1001 .F65 2005
The encyclopedia of taxation & tax policy / edited by Joseph J. Cordes, Robert D. Ebel, and Jane G. Gravelle.
Reference HJ2305 .E53 2005
The encyclopedia of aging : a comprehensive resource in gerontology and geriatrics.
v. 1. A-K, v. 2. L-Z.
Reference HQ1061 .E53 2006
The encyclopedia of international organized crime / Carlo DeVito.
Reference HV6441 .D48 2005
Encyclopedia of politics : the left and the right / general editor, Rodney P. Carlisle.
Reference JA61 .E54 2005
Information sources of political science / Stephen W. Green and Douglas J. Ernest, editors.
Reference JA71 .H64 2005
Black’s law dictionary / Bryan A. Garner, editor in chief.
Reference KF156 .B53 2004
Criminal justice / edited by Phyllis B. Gerstenfeld.
v. 1. Abortion - fingerprint identification — v. 2. Firearms - race riots in the twentieth century — v. 3. Racial profiling - youth gangs, appendices, indexes.
Reference KF9214.5 .C75 2006
Secondary education : the key concepts / Jerry Wellington.
Reference LB1607 .W37 2006
MLA handbook for writers of research papers / Joseph Gibaldi.
Reference LB2369 .G53 2003
The Routledge dictionary of literary terms / [edited by] Peter Childs and Roger Fowler.
Reference PN41 .D4795 2006
Handbook of mathematics for engineers and scientists / Andrei D. Polyanin, Alexander V. Manzhirov.
Reference QA40 .P65 2007
Handbook of dimensional measurement / Mark A. Curtis, Francis T. Farago.
Reference T50 .F36 2007
Sax’s dangerous properties of industrial materials / Richard J. Lewis, Sr.
v. 1. Index — v. 2. A-G — v. 3. H-Z.
Reference T55.3.H3 L494 2004
Drafting symbol sourcebook / Doug Wolff.
Reference T353 .W837 1999
CRC handbook of engineering tables / editor-in-chief, Richard C. Dorf.
Reference TA151 .C76 2004
The occupational ergonomics handbook. Interventions, controls, and applications in occupational ergonomics / edited by William S. Marras, Waldemar Karwowski.
Reference TA166 .O25 2006
The occupational ergonomics handbook. Fundamentals and assessment tools for occupational ergonomics / edited by William S. Marras, Waldemar Karwowski.
Reference TA166 .O258 2006
Dictionary of engineering materials / Harald Keller, Uwe Erb.
Reference TA402 .K43 2004
MEMS/NEMS : handbook techniques and applications / edited by Cornelius T. Leondes.
v. 1. Design methods — v. 2. Fabrication techniques — v. 3. Manufacturing methods — v. 4. Sensors and actuators — v. 5. Medical applications and MOEMS.
Reference TK153 .M446 2006
Children’s Books
Families / Susan Kuklin
HQ536 .K85 2006
Here’s looking at me : how artists see themselves / Bob Raczka.
N7618 .R33 2006
Black? white! day? night! : a book of opposites / by Laura Vaccaro Seeger.
PE1591 .S445 2006
She’s all that! : poems about girls / selected by Belinda Hollyer ; illustrated by Susan Hellard.
PS586.3 .S47 2006
Keeper of soles / by Teresa Bateman ; illustrated by Yayo.
PZ7.B294435 Ke 2006
Ask me no questions / Marina Budhos.
PZ7.B8827 Ask 2006
Below / Nina Crews.
PZ7.C8693 Bel 2006
I lost my tooth in Africa / by Penda Diakité ; illustrated by Baba Wagué Diakité.
PZ7.D54153 Iae 2006
The adventures of the dish and the spoon / Mini Grey.
PZ7.G873 Ad 2006
Duck & Goose / written & illustrated by Tad Hills.
PZ7.H563737 Duc 2006
Uncle Peter’s amazing Chinese wedding / written by Lenore Look ; illustrated by Yumi Heo.
PZ7.L8682 Un 2006
The legend of Bass Reeves : being the true and fictional account of the most valiant marshal in the West / Gary Paulsen.
PZ7.P2843 Lb 2006
Crossing Bok Chitto : a Choctaw tale of friendship & freedom / by Tim Tingle ; illustrated by Jeanne Rorex Bridges.
PZ7.T489 Cro 2006
Counting on Grace / Elizabeth Winthrop.
PZ7.W768 Cou 2006
Solomon and the ant : and other Jewish folktales / retold by Sheldon Oberman ; introduction and commentary by Peninnah Schram.
PZ8.1.O225 Sol 2006
Move over, Rover / Karen Beaumont ; illustrated by Jane Dyer.
PZ8.3.B3845 Mov 2006
Thelonius Monster’s sky-high fly pie : a revolving rhyme / by Judy Sierra ; with delicious drawings by Edward Koren.
PZ8.3.S577 Th 2006
Gregor Mendel : the friar who grew peas / by Cheryl Bardoe ; illustrated by Jos. A. Smith.
QH31.M45 B37 2006
VHS/DVD
Wrestling with manhood [videorecording] : boys, bullying and battering / producer, Ronit Ridberg ; written & directed by Sut Jhally.
GV1196.4.S63 W74 2003
Big bucks, big pharma [videorecording] : marketing disease & pushing drugs / Media Education Foundation ; producer, Ronit Ridberg ; written by Ronit Ridberg … [et al.].
HD9665.6 .B54 2006
The overspent American [videorecording] : why we want what we don’t need / with Juliet Schor.
HF5415.33.U6 S36 2003
Deadly persuasion [videorecording] : the advertising of alcohol and tobacco / a lecture by Jean Kilbourne ; Media Education Foundation ; director, Sut Jhally.
HF5831 .D434 2003
Hijacking catastrophe [videorecording] : 9/11, fear, & the selling of American empire / written & directed by Jeremy Earp & Sut Jhally ; produced by Jeremy Earp ; edited by Kenyon King.
JZ1480 .H55 2004
Captive audience [videorecording] : advertising invades the classroom / Media Education Foundation ; written & produced by Loretta Alper ; executive producer, Sut Jhally.
LB2847 .C367 2003b
Rich media, poor democracy [videorecording] / Media Education Foundation ; producers, Loretta Alper, Margo Robb.
P95.82.U6 R533 2003b
Posted May 25, 2007 on “American Libraries Online”
The Princeton (N.J.) Public Library came under fire in mid-May over the inclusion of two documentaries about Cuba among 14 films in its 2007 Princeton Human Rights Film Festival. The controversy resulted in a shouting match at the May 12 screening of ¡Salud! What Puts Cuba on the [...]
I find that in an online class, I am reading and jumping very fast. I think an online course requires a lot of self discipline. It is easy to get off on tangents of unrelated content. Group work and scheduled deadlines help prevent this from becoming a real problem. For me, even though I don’t hear very well, I miss the reinforcement of auditory learning stimulation. I am really a visual learner, but do best with both auditory and visual cues. Often as a distance learner there are minimal auditory elements. Being hearing impaired, this is good and bad. I hear some and want to reinforce my learning with sound. Finally, I personally spend a lot of time on the reading (I am kind of a slow reader). Then I worry I have not incorporated what I picked up from the reading in written assignments although I do feel I have a good understanding of the reading.
I do like that participants are all over and the backgrounds of the other learners vary. The fact that our instructor is in Alaska and participants are all over Florida and other states (Hawaii!) is very cool.
Well, many friends and colleagues do know this, but fellow students usually don’t. Aside from my work and studies, I am a part time real estate investor. I own and rent houses (have 3 plus the one I live in right now). I have had them and worked with them since way before the real estate “bubble”. The interesting thing is that because of my experiences as an investor, it has made me kind of the guy for referrals for home repairs, etc. So much so, that if I ever get the free time (yeah right!), I hope to create a referral Web site (like Angie’s or Craig’s list) with several twists. I also have several ideas for fiction novels but am fighting to find time to work on them for now as well.
I am hard of hearing (significant, but not deaf), but I grew up with normal hearing. I know some sign language (ASL), but because I work with and my family is almost all hearing I do not use it much. Since I grew up hearing, my speech is normal and quite often people don’t even know I have a hearing loss unless I tell them.
The 23rd annual Ybor City Museum Society Legacy Awards is being held Sunday, June 10, 2007, at the Columbia Restaurant. Individual tickets are $50; patron tickets, which include the purchase of a museum membership, are $100. Event sponsorships are available, ranging from $500 to $2500. More information about the event is available [...]
After a very enlightening meeting with my advisor a week ago, we managed to sign me up for College Algebra this summer. My class goes from July 2nd to August 10th and meets every Monday through Friday 8:00am to 9:15am.
Name- Carlton Russell
I m studying in the field of Social Science of Edu. My family consist of two kids, ages 13 and 11. My wife of 14yrs along with the other two additions our dog Brownie and cat Shadow. We currently live in the Tampa area. Both my wife and I lived in Tampa for over 30 yrs. basically all our lives. More about myself you say, well Im currently teaching in the social science field, but have taught other subjects. I taught all levels starting from elementary for 1 yaer, middle school for 4 yreas, and going on my third year in high school. My next step is to move up and teach college. In addition, I m looking towards using reading (being that I’ll have my reading endorsement) and technology to teach students effectivly.
I have worked in the field of adult education for about ten to twelve years. It has been an interesting career so far. My B.S. is in Secondary Social Science Education. I did an internship for eighth grade social studies after substitute teaching for two years. But after graduating, I immediately began working in adult education. I have trained police officers for computers and crime scene investigation. I also have worked with hundreds of municipal city employees for computer and professional development education courses which I wrote the curriculum for and facilitated in face to face instruction. I have worked as a system administrator and project manager for various networked computer systems.
I have a little experience with Flash and Dreamweaver, but am still learning.
In my current employment, I am designing both classroom led and instructor led training mostly law enforcement related since I have been a police dispatcher, a crime scene technician (CSI), and a police specialist. I like to combine all my skills in my professional career.
Hi My name is Chris Littlewood. This is my blog. I’m still learning about posting and themes, so bear with me if it is a little boring at first.
I am a graduate student in the Education, Instructional Technology program. I am a part time student and I work full time. I am a Curriculum Designer for St. Petersburg College and the National Terrorism Preparedness Institute. I am married with a 2 year old daughter and a two month old son.
A large part of the training my employer designs is on-line for distance learning. We offer training to the military and first responders (police, fire fighters, etc.). That is a big part of why I am taking this course (yes, it is required for my program too).
I am fortunate to have a job directly related to my field of study (which I love). Therefore, I do a combination of work for my graduate studies during the week at work and also in the evening while chasing my kids and helping my wife with household duties. I also do work on the weekends. This is my first time taking two classes in one semester, so I can pick up the pace to graduate and combine my learning in work and school projects.
There is one slight downside to online learning: when you get back from being out of town, you can see exactly how far other people have blown past you in completing assignments. Crap! Time to get back to work…
How is your information processing the same or different from other students you have worked with?
I typically scan all of the information for key items (important terms, dates, types of assignments) and then thoroughly read each segment as needed. For example, I categorize by due date and then by difficulty level or time needed to complete task. That way, I can judge what I have time to accomplish at any given moment to maximize my available time.
How do you learn best?
I am a visual learner. I really like using discussion boards because it’s a visually record of a conversation and I can see all of the parent posts/threads. Depending on the difficulty level or time needed to complete a task, learn best by chunking work into segments that I feel can be accomplished in a given timeframe.
What do you like about distance learning?
By far, it’s the flexibility. I don’t have to worry about missing class due to a scheduling conflict with work or feeling too tired at the end of the day after being at work. I can work at my own pace.
What could work better for you?
Group projects. They are always difficult to get started. I think that many students enjoy the flexibility of pace and scheduling, but this is an issue when trying to collaborate synchronously. I much prefer to utilize the group discussion boards rather than conference calling or using a chat room. I also prefer using the discussion boards because the instructor(s) can follow the work of the group. Doing group work is much easier in a traditional classroom setting.
I also find that learning (score and sequence) seems to be more disjointed in an online environment. Learning doesn’t flow as well for me when the instructor, classmates, and content are separated.
What experiences have you had that helped you learn to work with distance learning?
When a class involves a group project, I find it helpful if I try to get as much of my individual work done as possible. That way, I have ample time to devote to the group project. I have to be very flexible with group projects because of the scheduling issues…we can’t just agree to work after class like we could in a traditional classroom environment.
If this is your first distance learning course, what do you anticipate?
This is my third DL class. Since my first DL course required a group project and the second didn’t, I anticipate that this course will be more like my first class.
Tony Lake, foreign policy adviser for BHO, is coming to town Wednesday, June 6th to have lunch and talk foreign affairs with Obama supporters.
It’s a bigger ticket event than the last one, but it looks smaller and more focused than the last one. If I can find the dough I’m going to try and show up. If you want an invite, give me a shout and I’ll think about it.
I am very happy to be a part of this distance learning class, studying the topic of distance education. I am, or I want to become, an advocate of distance education, therefore, I will work hard to successfully move through the course material and become more knowledgeable in this area.
Already I am seeing that this format for learning information and completing assignments is quite challenging for me. I love the concept, but I will have to perfect my ability to work independently… to find answers on my own… to accept that I don’t have to hear detailed instructions from the instructor in order to understand what is required of me.
It seems that information processing does take place best for me if I am able to visually see the end product that I am working toward, like in a class where the professor gives examples. I also really like to hear from the professor, clearly hear an explanation of what the assignment is. In addition to seeing a sample and hearing the explanation, I really like to have a hard copy of the directions and grading rubric. In my experience, I have seen other students respond favorably to the same details. Everything that I’m speaking of now is just really referring to the completing of assignments/tasks… and in doing those tasks, learning information does take place.
As for listening to a lecture presentation vs. reading or viewing material online, I feel that I can be successful receiving information in both formats and I do enjoy learning the information either way. Both types of classes typically require extensive reading, and I have to do that on my own anyway. I think the aspect that I am realizing I can do without in this setting is the eye contact with the instructor; the confirmation from the instructor, even indirectly, that I am on the right track.
I do really like the idea that I can do my work from home, that I can communicate with the instructor via the online environment - more critically, that the instructor is able to communicate with me through the online venue - that is the real difference! I appreciate the fact that I won’t need to go to the campus to complete the course.
This is my first true distance learning course. I have had classes that have met synchronously once a month at a specific location, and there were assginments in between those scheduled meetings. This is the first one that I’ve taken that is authentically classified as distance learning. I anticipate that I’ll be able to study each day, and submit assignments on time; I expect to learn a lot about distance education. I will read the material thoroughly in order to be sure I understand the information.
I already have a new understanding about what my students are experiencing in the virtual school classes that I facilitate! Also, I have a new clarity about the discussion group postings/assignments for my students. I can now more clearly direct them about what/how they should be addressing those discussion posts - now that I see what a higher level discussion group looks like! I love it!
We spent all day cleaning up the apartment, setting aside tons of paper to recycle, and moving bookshelves from room to room. The initial plan was to have our living room have 3 writing spaces–1 for me, 1 for Andy, and 1 common computer station–but once I saw how much space was in our spare bedroom, I went for that area. This is the room that has been deemed the “animal room” because all the reptiles/amphibians live there in their respective tanks. Needless to say, Sweetness and I rarely enter that room. But now that I have to shift into serious writing mode and cannot afford to hang out at a Starbucks or Panera everyday, I decided to let the cold-blooded creature be my muse.
I know books will soon take over, so here’s a nice, clean, “before” picture.
The biggest lesson I have learned in the workforce is, everyone is different and I should accept that. That has been the hardest possible lesson to learn. I believe I learn faster and easier than most people. I also look down upon people who cannot grasp concepts as fast as me. As much as I try, I can’t seem to let that go. I will say that I give people an ample opportunity to process the information before getting too annoyed.
I learn best by hands-on experience. I can usually see something do a task once to be able to do it the rest of my life. I rarely ever take notes and if I do, I just confuse myself when looking back. I believe I do an excellent job at creating training manuals for users.
What I love best about distance learning is the ability to be able to complete an assignment in my pjs. I absolutely hate having to go on campus and love being able to learn at my own pace.
The most important piece of information I could pass onto others who have just started distance learning is to be very clear and open with your classmates. Its hard enough trying to communicate face-to-face sometimes, well we never get to do that. So we must be as clear as possible.
As a student I generally prefer physical in-classroom teaching because I tend to loose focus easily. Over the course of my tenure in education I have come to realize that I sometimes get bored very quickly and the sights, sounds, vocal pitches and tones of an in face classroom help to keep me focused. However, my love for technology, my commitment to education and my general desire to excel in all endeavors that I take on generally help me to perform well in Distance Learning classes. While I am not new to Distance Learning, as I have taken several courses, I am new to the materials and methods used by instructors to conduct these types of classes. It was not until the fall of 2006 that I experienced my first Synchronous session using Elluminate Live! as well as created my own podcast that still exists out there on the web somewhere. Maybe you will be able to find it; I may even post a few more to update the world on the happenings and views of LadyTanyah.
I deeply love challenges, I am very passionate about educating myself as well as others and I am a very creative person. I believe all of these qualities make for a sound contributor both in the single and group learning environments. As a student I learn better in relaxed and stress free environments. However, my most creative ideas seem to come to me when I least expect it. I love for teachers to include their students in the development or flow of the curriculum. I love teachers who are not afraid to go against the grain, to stray from their syllabus if the students call for a change. I have learned that no two students are alike, which means no two classes will be alike and thus keeping the same old boring syllabus does not foster students who will be future leaders in their field. I mean the Field of technology has a seamless evolution. The software and programs used today may be outdated tomorrow.
Boing Boing: HOWTO get your security deposit back when you move out
WikiHow has a great HOWTO for vacating an apartment without surrendering your security deposit — not just how to clean it, but how to clean it in such a way that your landlord can’t claim that you still owe. Wish I’d known about this [...]
Jason Heath just might be obsessed with cats. Since Jason is the inspiration for this blog, it seems I might as well follow suit.
My wife and I attended Pigilicious this weekend and came home with an adorable little kitten. I want to call her Pigilicious (Miss Piggy for short). I don’t think Meghan will let me.
Bornean orangutan baby Hadiah, born in September 2005 at Lowry Park Zoo, plays with a white shirt. He is the same age as Tad pole only a day or two different.
I have been in ensembles where things have come just to the brink of falling apart, but I have never found myself in a situation of on-stage restarting. It is comforting to know, however, that I would be in good company if and when that situation arises. My number one, the Cleveland Orchestra, had a restart on-stage recently, as noted by Vivien Schweitzer in 
