FreeRice July 13, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous, Uncategorized , add a commentThe website FreeRice.com has two goals:
- Provide English vocabulary to everyone for free.
- Help end world hunger by providing rice to hungry people for free.
How do they do this? The website has a vocabulary game that offers a word and one-word definitions. You pick a definition and every time you get the answer correct, the organization or sponsor listed at the bottom of the page donates grains of rice. The words get progressively harder. If you miss a word, the word will be repeated later which enhances your learning. If you are an ESL (English as a Second Language) student, this is a great way to increase your vocabulary. Word associations are a fantastic way to learn language and enhance your own vocabulary.
The donated rice is distributed by the WFP (United Nations World Food Program). The WFP has distributed the donated rice to Myanmar, Uganda, Bangladesh and others. It takes about 19,200 grains of rice to equal 400 grams, which is the amount distributed per person by WFP.
Playing a free and fun game may not seem like much, but thousands are playing every day. Your winning “gifts” are combined with others’ and together we can make a difference in the lives of the hungry. Visit FreeRice.com today and play your part in reducing world hunger.
Leaving Behind the Talented July 5, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Miscellaneous , add a commentA recent article in the DeMoines Register entitled Professor: Don’t Leave the Gifted, Talented Behind by Megan Hawkins hit a nerve in me. Two of our children were “gifted,” but the programs in their schools left much to be desired. The programs were essentially opportunities for more field trips and exposure to depth in their subjects. They were able to use computers and one game they still remember was The Donner Pass. The students had to make decisions all along to get the party across the Pass. They also worked mind teasers and math problems. Even though the classes were for gifted students, none of the activities were challenging; they were more like enrichment than anything else.
My children also experienced jealously from other students because the gifted students were pulled from their regular classes on certain days of the week. All of the extra activities also were not funded by the school - parents of gifted students paid for the trips and materials. I was able and willing to pay, but I know that this was a hardship for some parents. Were some students not included in the program because they could not afford it?
I suppose the gifted programs were better than nothing. They gave my children greater access to the teacher as the classes were smaller. However, they were rarely challenged intellectually. The benefits may have been minimalized by the social stigma of differentiation. If the program could have been all day, every day, it would have given greater results. The children ended up doing very well in college and getting a good start on their careers. Would they have been able to do this without their gifted programs? I believe they would have been just as successful. The gifted programs helped with their boredom of school, which is common to those with high intellect.
In the 60’s when I was a child, there was no gifted program. My second grade teacher developed a program for the few of us who were doing well in reading. She sent us twice a week during reading time to a fifth grade classroom. We read with the fifth graders instead of our second grade classmates. I remember sitting in the big fifth grade chairs and reading stories that made more sense than those that I was reading in my class. By the time I was in the fifth grade I was reading everything I could get my hands on…..and bored (again) with reading class. Perhaps my lifelong reading and comprehension skills were the result of one creative teacher who tried to make a difference in her students.
The article reminds us that NCLB is an effort to bring underachievers up to a higher level. At the same time, it ignores the high achievers. Even the title of the law refers to “no child left behind”….but we consciously and purposefully leave behind talented students by not developing programs that make a difference in their lives.
Bit of a Break June 20, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentI’ve had a bit of a break from my studies during the month of June. My Marketing class technically begins July 1st. After getting all the way through MGT5012 with its difficult and time consuming assignments, I really needed a little break. I have started reading the chapters in the text but have not begun to write. I will not have an opportunity to start this weekend either - Son is flying in from Atlanta for a visit! I am very excited to see him and get some big hugs! We are ready to see him - it seems like it has been a long time…but it really hasn’t. I saw the children in May when Son graduated from college. But as a mother I never get enough hugs and kisses from my babies!
Goochland Farmers Market June 8, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentWe enjoyed our Saturday by making a visit to the Goochland Farmer’s Market. The market supports sustainability of the rural culture of Goochland County. The Center for Rural Culture organizes the market.
The market features local produce and hand made items. We visited the market several times last year but yesterday was our first visit this year. It was a very hot day hovering near 100 degrees but it was great to see so many neighbors out supporting the community. We purchased some vegetables and some goat cheese. Husband bought a buffalo steak and enjoyed talking with the buffalo farmer about hides. I bought some blue sodalite earrings and a rutile cabachon dug and polished by the craftsman, the Virginia Naturalist.
After visiting the market, Husband and I went to several yard sales and we each found some treasures. He bought some old tools and I bought some carnival glass. We were very hot by the time we got home. It was great to get out with my best friend!
Bonnie Tomatoes, Roses, and Dudley Lumber June 1, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Home , add a commentLast weekend we planted our little bucket garden with tomatoes and peppers. A bucket garden is like a raised garden, but uses buckets - the big paint buckets you can get at Lowe’s. The tomatoes are really growing well; the Bonnie Plant Farm ones are growing the best. Bonnie Plant Farm is from back home in Union Springs, Alabama. They came in the new peat pots which were very easy to use. The other non-branded tomatoes we bought do not look as good. It felt good to put in a garden using something from back home.
This weekend we planted two climbing roses on the new fence. Last summer we put in a fence around the yard and it needs softening up. These are pink “Climbing Queen Elizabeth” roses that I purchased at Wal-Mart for $6.00. They look very strong and one has buds on it.
Yesterday we also worked on adding lattice to part of our pool porch. The pool porch is lower than the main back porch and the 4′ vertical space between them was an issue with dropping things off the back of the porch and there was also the potential for falling. We added a wood lattice and framed it with 2″x4″s. When we set up the boards for sawing I saw the stamp on the lumber: Dudley. Could this lumber be from back home? Dudley Lumber is located in Salem, Alabama, and planes softwood lumber for decking and pallets. I have decided that yes, the lumber is from Dudley. It makes me feel better using lumber from pine trees back home in Alabama.
A Serious Offense May 31, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Career , add a commentOn Friday, I was notified that one of my employees was suspended for harassing another employee. I was stunned. This is serious and human resources is reviewing the case. The company has clear guidelines regarding these issues and we have all been through training. The employee made a very bad decision and now must suffer the consequences. My heart goes out to this person who clearly did not consider what the results of the actions would be. I am just sick about the embarrassment this person is experiencing and his/her fear of dismissal. This team consists of two people which also means that the other person on the team must pick up the slack.
Our actions everyday affect other people. We don’t realize it until something like this happens - and someone complains. There will be a terrible toll on the person, the team, the company and the victim. There may also be litigation down the road. As the manager, I am placed in a difficult situation…I support my employee but must also uphold the values and rules of my employer. I can only speak to inquiries about work contributions.
I have never experienced this with an employee. I just can’t believe this is happening to this person for whom I have a great deal of work-respect. A simple (but stupid) act has skyrocketed to become catastrophe.
MGT5012: Time Eater May 24, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : MGT5012 , 3 commentsBy far MGT5012 took more time than any other course to date. There were 12 assignments including papers and analyses. Today (Saturday) is the last day for this course and I did not finish up the assignments until Wednesday. Besides requiring a good bit of time, the next to last assignment referred to a chapter that was not in the 12e which was required for the course. Luckily, I also have the 11e and was able to complete the assignment. I told my academic advisor and the dean has been contacted.
Others have posted on the learner discussion board that the work load was manageable. I work a demanding job, plus I teach business courses and am a wife and mother. My time is very precious and this course sucked up just about all of my free time. It seemed like I was always working on a paper…either reading the text, researching, writing or reviewing my papers. I talked to one student who dropped the course after seeing the assignments!
My next course is MGT5002 Marketing Management. There are THREE assignments in this course. Of course, the assignments have high points potential!
New MD, VA, DC PhD Learner Study Group April 6, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : NCU , add a commentIf you live in Maryland, Virginia, or Washington, DC, and are a PhD learner at Northcentral University, you are invited to become a member of the NCU_PhD_Study_Group. This is a private Yahoo group for our region. In our group, we will be able to send group emails, post web links, tips, advice, chat, vent, etc. If you are interested in joining, contact me through the NCU messaging system. Our first order of business is to develop a charter. Next, we will discuss whether we want to set up a f2f (face-to-face) meeting, how often and when. Thirdly, lets spread the word and invite others to join. Let’s make this study group a valuable tool.
Pleasantly Surprised March 21, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : Uncategorized , add a commentI received my graded Assignment 3 back this week and was pleasantly surprised - I received an excellent grade. Comments indicated that I was on the right path all along. That assignment had wording that really needs to be improved. So, how did I celebrate? Why, I continued working on Assignment 4, of course!
Today I am about half way through the essay and bumping up against the word count. I will table this for a few days and come back to it with fresh eyes.
Decision Making and Costing March 16, 2008
Posted by thinkphd in : MGT5012 , add a commentI turned in MGT5012 Assignment 3: Cost Analysis and CVP yesterday. That assignment was an Excel spreadsheet identifying the break-even point. The instructions were detailed but vague. The assignment had a write up and an example submission, but it really did not match my interpretation of the assignment. I created a scenario about a business assembling garage doors and a decision that the owner would have to make about adding to the product line or keeping only one model. We will see later this week if I was on track or not.
Last night I began reading chapters 7 and 8 in prep for Assignment 4: Decision Making and Costing. This assignment is an essay comparing variable and activity based costing and will include examples and applications. Essays are to be 1000 words only and broken up into these headings:
Question /Prompt
Review of Subject
Discussions - max 600 words
Conclusions
References
I do not like these “canned” assignments and word count maximums. It seems so…high schoolish. I typically run more than the word count but I am not embellishing. I add a lot of references and try to be very clear. The point of the research and study is to LEARN. Word counts are just plain nuts at this level.
I hope to start on the writing portion of the assignment today. I wish I had more time to work on assignments because I would like to complete a course in fewer weeks. This course ends on 05/24 and has 12 assignments. I know some who are able to take two courses at a time or finish early to start on the next one earlier than 12 weeks (the course length). My PhD looks very far off in the distance - maybe 2011. I will be 52 then. Ugh.
