Friday, May 27, 2011

TQP Updates

As I said in my earlier post today, I have not been as faithful to this blog as I had hoped to be. Today I would like to share some updates on our work . . .


  • Research Team: The research team has "completed" their phase of the journey. It is now up to the Collaborative Team to take the information gleaned from the research and determine a definition of teacher effectiveness that can be measured and used to gauge the success of the pilot.
  • Faculty Recruitment: We have a strong team of 12 UNI methods instructors that are ready to embrace the process of change in redesigning their course to reflect the challenge of creating the environment to prepare candidates for effective teaching in rural districts.
  • The TQP Team has been busy preparing for the instruction and workshop leadership for what we are calling the Faculty Redesign Summit. This summit will occur June 1-7 on the UNI Campus
  • The UNI TQP Assessment Team has met several times to address the determination of baseline data needed to assess the progress toward the goals of the grant and the pilot
  • Dan and I have begun training through both Quality Matters and Education Technology Online Learning to prepare and facilitate online courses. Dan has been instrumental in getting our first course (a blended learning format) up for next week's summit. I have been pleased that the learning I received on Monday has now been put to use as I was able to upload files to the learning modules for our use. (My own celebration!)

Panther Transition

Hello, Blog!

Hopefully I can make a return . . . my absence was consumed with the normal everyday things of life and also preparing for and participating in the graduation from high school of my eldest daughter. What a wonderful experience!



She had quite an experience as Tripoli Panther. I am proud of her decisions to be well-rounded. Here are some highlights of her participation:

9th: volleyball, Mock Trial (to state competition), musical, track letter, SADD, academic letter, softball manager letter
10th: cross country, Mock Trial, musical, track, SADD, academic letter, National Honor Society
11th: cross country, Mock Trial, musical, State Physics Olympics, SADD, academic letter
12th: Mock Trial, musical, Envirothon, State National History Day, FFA, SADD, academic letter, track manager letter, NHS President

At commencement she was honored with the Phil M. Snyder Memorial Scholarship and the American Bar Association Citizenship Award. Yes, I am proud!

Next year she will transition to a UNI Panther.
Best wishes to you, Erica!
I love you,
Mom

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Michelle Obama at UNI Commencement

From the moment I heard that Michelle Obama would be UNI's commencement speaker I knew that I wanted to be part of that moment in history. Initially I was concerned that I did not know anyone graduating so I thought I might not be able to attend. But soon it was announced that faculty and staff would be allowed to get tickets. So the day came that staff could receive their two tickets and I strolled across campus to secure my pair.

My first choice to attend with me was my eighteen year old daughter. She considered it, until she received more homework for the weekend prior to graduation than she had received all year. So my friend Kristie attended together. So glad I did!

Her address was moving. From the moment she began with her assertion that embracing family may be the highest value we can seek to attain to her ending of thanking Iowans for our generosity, willingness to serve and ability to accept diversity.

It was a delightful message that unfortunately was overshadowed by my desire to question my ability to accept diversity. This has come naturally to me. But the situation that transpired behind me in the UNI Dome was appalling.

We arrived and were seated by 10:30 am for the 11:00 am start with no issues getting through security. The processional lasted approximately 16 minutes and then it was time for the National Anthem, sung superbly by a UNI tenor. My anticipation to hear Michelle's words were overcome by what happened during the Star Spangled Banner. There were three adults and a toddler that had seated themselves behind us shorty before 11. They spoke fairly loudly in a language that I could not understand. Not all that unusual for UNI and I figured they would settle in and enjoy the ceremony once it begun. There I was wrong.

Through the corner of my eye I noticed the man directly behind me did not rise when the National Anthem began. While I found this rude (the others in his party did), what happened next enraged me. His cell phone rang during the song and he not only answered it but continued to talk in his very loud voice for nearly half the song! Sigh. We accept people into our country, they attend our universities and they choose to disrespect our us in this way?! Parts of me wanted to go find the nearest security guard and ask him to check into this. My head turned and caught the eye of the man with the rude, disrespecting one. This had no effect, or perhaps the opposite, but I have no way of knowing as I could not understand their conversation. More than once I thought about asking them to please be quiet but wondered if they even understood English. Then I thought about going to ask a security guard to deal with this fellow, but I never moved. He took another phone call and continued to speak throughout the entire time I was there.

But getting back to the heart of the matter . . . Michelle said she felt like Iowa was family, like another home to her. She appreciated all she and her husband had received during the campaign trail. Her story was genuine, her passion shown. She is a class act and one that I am glad I was able to hear and see.

Reading the newspaper accounts it seems that many took away the message about the ultimate service of those Nave SEALS that were delivered to the Osama bin Laden compound. Although I do not disagree, it   was discouraging to me to read that this was the highlight of her speech. For me and my friend, Kristie, the message was loud and clear: Family is the ultimate.

Happy Mother's Day . . . Happy Family Time~