The internet is forever…

A blog post I read today reminded me that what we do on the world wide web can often has consequences, whether we want them or not.

“What Happens When You Like a Facebook Page” (http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/student-affairs-and-technology/what-happens-when-you-facebook-page), reminded us that all these ‘free’ pieces of technology, do need to make money, and in order to do so they have to use what they have.

My point to today is simple: do your best to keep things positive and informative, and if you are not sure, keep it locked down tightJ

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

How we communicate nowadays

A short article titled “Think Before Hitting Reply All” got me thinking about communication today (http://chronicle.com/blognetwork/tenuredradical/2013/01/radical-academic-advice-think-before-hitting-hit-reply-all/?cid=wc&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en). First, let me say that I do love technology and all it has done for us, but technology is a tool not a panacea.

There are so many forms of communication in business today beyond the telephone: basic email, text, BB messenger, yahoo messenger, Skype, tango, etc, etc. However, communication’s basic purpose has not changed, especially in the work place, and that is to accurately convey information from one person to another (or multiple people). When communication becomes complicated or even frustrating, sometimes going back to basics like face-to-face conversations or real phone calls can be very useful. Have you ever tried to read and answer a long text and realize that the person could have told you this in half the time if they picked up the phone? Have you ever had an employee text in sick and then post on their Facebook page that they are “really hung-over”?

Let us not forget just talking with each other, do not let technology become a barrier between you and someone else. Email and text can convey the wrong emotions sometimes, and remember to slow down sometimes (even on the phone).

It can be fun to communicate, let us remember that.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

The uncertainty of an online teacher

For those of you who teach online, I am sure you have experienced the anxiety or paranoia of not knowing if you will get classes again for the next term, or whether the section will even run. It is often an intricate weave of schools that online teachers work at, and with one slip of a class there could arrive financial hardship.

It turns out, just because you are paranoid does not mean they are not out to get you. I found this article “Digital Pink Slips” (http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2013/01/29/profit-woes-means-less-work-adjuncts) particularly interesting, because it puts a voice to something I have been seeing and hearing from people I know; and the sad thing is, there is not a lot a professor can do about it.

I think however, there is something the schools could do, starting with communication. I do not mean the standard seemingly innocuous, politically correct email that means nothing and tells you nothing, what I mean is telling the truth and the whole truth, so people can make alternative plans. Yes, there will be disappointment, but not knowing your status can be worse because you could be wasting hope on something that will never appear.

Institutions please treat your online instructors with respect and talk with them if they will not be receiving classes, it does not hurt you and it is the right thing to do.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Where are the bookstores?

Growing up, I always found bookstores to be exciting and fun places. Even now, I have tendency to disappear in a large bookstore until my wife has to have me pagedJ. The neighborhood stores are just as interesting, especially after you get to know the owners. Bookstores, in my opinion, have always been an important part of a neighborhood because it gave kids a good example and spurred learning.

There is nothing wrong with e-readers and tablets for reading books; they can be especially useful when you travel. However, nothing replaces the smell of a new book and the fun of browsing through the aisles to find it. So, where are the bookstores? Do you have a neighborhood one? Is there a big chain one near you? Not for long it seems, a headline today reads, “Barnes & Noble exec plans more store closings” (http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2013/01/28/barnes--noble-exec-plans-more-store-closings), even the big chains are having trouble (can you say Borders?).

What is the cause of this?  What can we do to save our bookstores? Why are not more people worried? What are those kids without an e-reader going to do if bookstores go away and how about kids in less developed parts of the world?

Watching my parents read books was always a good example for me growing up, and for that reason I credit my voracious appetites for books; I have passed on the example to my children. Technology is not bad, I like technology, but we should also be preserving the things that are good as well.

Physical books are good.

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Do we know our stakeholders?

A recently read article titled “where are the learners” (http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2013/01/25/learners-largely-left-out-digital-bill-rights-essay) brought to mind a common occurrence in education.

In the article, some educators got together to create a “bill of rights for online learners”, which is not a bad thing. “The problem is the group did not include any learners”. Of the 12 signatories, there were eight doctorates and they did not reach out to any learners on public forums or ask any learners what they wanted to put in the document; “the learners’ voices were silent”.

In education, it is amazing how often big decisions are made in a vacuum, without getting buy in from all the stakeholders (especially the learners). Think about how change has traditionally been implemented in your institution. Were you consulted or given a directive? More often than not, we are simply told, “this is what is going to happen’.

 

Having a terminal degree means, you are smart, but getting buy in from all involved is just as smart. Let us talk with our learners before we try to affect their lives in drastic ways.

 

It is about the learner right?

 

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Gratitude

Are we teaching our children to be grateful for what they have and get? Are we practicing these kinds of manners ourselves? When was the last time you acknowledged the checker at your local supermarket? Do you know their names and ask about their families?

Growing up, it was always interesting going to the store with my mother because she always seemed to know everyone. She talked with everyone, and we left feeling as if we were on a social visit. It turns out that my mother has an ‘old fashioned’ skill and that is very good manners.

Have you seen some Christmas lists from kids today? They are asking for very expensive stuff. I grew up very well off but we certainly did not hand Christmas lists to our parents unless you had salt and pepper with you (you would be eating it)!

My point is this; good manners, especially showing gratitude can help change the tone of education. Yes, I believe it is that simple, however; how many of us are willing to truly practice this? It has to be a team effort, between the home, community, and the school; we have to hold each other accountable for not only our children’s behavior but also our own behavior.

This is worth a shot and it costs us nothing. Our children are watching; are we willing?

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam

Searching for upbeat news in education

Every day as I search the educational news, I am looking for uplifting inspiration. I am looking for genuine good news not good spin and positive gains not basic improvements. I am looking for stuff that makes me excited to share to everyone so that everyone else can pass it along. This is getting harder and harder to do.

I have blogged about this before, and I will continue to do so until this changes; our tone in education is all doom and gloom.

We are not excited about education the way we should be; instead, we are always worried. We are not talking about the latest true innovations in teaching, but rather all the areas we are lacking. We do not celebrate good educators enough (once a year); we just continually talk about the bad ones (everyday). Have you ever noticed that if anyone was ever a teacher (no matter how short a period or even if you were a substitute) and they do something wrong, they are always “a former teacher…”?

Tone has a lot to do with how this conversation is going, so I will end with what I think is some good news; my kids love school and love learning. I enjoy hearing what they have to share with me every day, and I hope I always will.

Dr Flavius A B Akerele III

The ETeam