TACTics Journal

September 24, 1999

 

WIZDOM

 

THINK GLOBALLY, ACT LOCALLY… Catastrophes and the Learning Curve

By Kathy Suerken

 

As soon as I heard about the earthquake in Taiwan, I tried to reach Frances Su. Assuming that electricity would be out and that she couldn't access her email, I tried calling her instead… for 2 days!  Unable to get an international call into Taiwan, I remained concerned until I received Warren Foster's thoughtfully forwarded email from Frances.  I was both relieved and reminded that I don't yet have a Ph.D. on assumptions after all. (This is why people call me Twinkle Toes and not Dr. Suerken?)

 

Actually, it was uplifting to receive the reassuring news about Frances through Warren.  It made me realize how really synergistically "connected" our TOCFE family is.  What a valid and inspiring assumption!  So, as I sit in Niceville, Florida feeling the aloneness of a difficult task (writing my 25th draft of a story for the new session one), I realize that I am not alone.  And neither are you as we go about this difficult business of changing the world- wherever we are.

 

What can we as individuals do to help in the face of natural catastrophes that are out of our control?  Can we think of some tools to enable people to cope with changing realities- to rebuild their lives?  But, what if our actions are not local to Taiwan?  Do we have to be in Taiwan to progress toward the global objective or to help Frances-and each other-along the way?

 

At our conference, Frances gave us a gift- the most beautifully worded "direction" of the TOCFE culture: "The TOC solutions are disseminated through the shared vision and belief in our TOC culture and are carried out by the cohesive team effort."  Frances further characterized this direction as the synergy of WE/ME.

 

Do you THINK that the synergy of our collective individual TOC actions may someday just possibly eliminate those preventable human catastrophes such as the church shootings in Texas and the cultural and religious wars in Indonesia?

 

When I think of you and your potential, I am reminded of something Camas wrote:

 

"Some will say that hope lies in a nation, others in a man.  I believe rather that it is awakened, revived, and nourished by millions of solitary individuals whose deeds and works every day negate frontiers.  As a result, there SHINES forth the ever-threatened truth that each and every man, on the foundations of his own sufferings and joys, builds for them all."

 

Every single TOC cloud that we negate does just that.  More and more, if we simply will share what we have learned with others.

 

Editor's Note: Where do you think would be the best place for us to share what we have learned?  Do you think the TACTics Journal and its readers would benefit from your experiences?  You bet!  Share with us.  We know it takes time, but please think about the GOAL!

 

CONNECTION

 

We are all very concerned with the natural catastrophes around the world.  Our TOC family is spread out all over the world and when something happens we hold our breath and we wait.  The following correspondence between Warren Foster from the U.S. and Frances Su from Taiwan will ease some of our fears.  It is also an example of the caring and thoughtfulness of our TOCFE family members.

 

Dear Frances,

While attending the TOCFE conference in Los Angeles, I remember your saying that you lived South of Taipei.  I hope the recent news has not corrupted my memory, but I remember 90 miles south.  That would place you near the epicenter of the earthquake.  If you'll reply with an OK, I'll relax.  But do not reply until there is time.  I am concerned but you have really important things to attend to. Remember, do first things first.  A reply to me can wait.

I HOPE THIS EMAIL FINDS YOU (& YOURS) WELL!!

Cordially,

Warren R. Foster

 

Dear Warren,

Thank you for the email.  First of all, my family and I are fine.  The center of the earthquake is in the middle of Taiwan, in the scale of 7.6 or so.  We are in Hsinchu, which is north of that, we got about a scale of 5.  We have closed down schools for the rest of this week.  We were out of electricity for about 2 days; I have just got electricity back and am anticipating being out of electricity again soon. Already the after waves have been coming back a few times.

I can only image the worst situation in other parts of Taiwan until I can see the reports on TV.

Thank you again, I am fine.

Frances

 

Thanks for sharing this with us, Warren!

 

ELEMENTARY/SECONDARY TACTICS

MIDDLE SCHOOL ECONOMICS MEETS TACT!

By Cheryl Baugh

 

I had just completed teaching Session 1 of TACT, when a middle school teacher approached me and said, "This is really interesting stuff but I still don't see how I can use this in my teaching except for contrived lessons."  I am always careful to end each TACT session with implications for the classroom teacher, so I was very frustrated that my attempts had failed so miserably.  I asked this teacher if she happened to have one of her textbooks with her.  Fortunately she produced a book.  Unfortunately it was an economics book.  As I inwardly sent out a cry of distress, I opened the book looking for a very specific way she could use the cloud in a lesson.  Staring up at me from the pages of the book was this: "Economic Decision Making: 'High Definition TV.'  Followed by the question: "Should our government support this kind of research with tax dollars?"  I asked her what she thought the students would do with this assignment and she said they would choose for or against and tell their reasons.  I pulled out a sheet of paper and began the cloud.  She was bought in!  She agreed that the cloud gave the students a structure for thinking that would take them way beyond any traditional activities.  Here's the lesson plan:

 

Economic Decision Making

Materials:  Social Studies Textbook: Fearon's Economics, Revised Second Edition, pages 12, 13.         Social studies textbook, Fearon's Economics, Revised Second Edition, pages 12 and 13.

Objective:  Students will participate in an interactive discussion using the TOC Thinking Process the "Cloud" to understand a specific conflict with regards to economic decision making.

Question:  "Should our government support this kind of research (High-definition TV) with tax dollars.  What do you think?

Procedure: In small teams, using the cloud, students will identify the conflict, the needs behind the wants and a common goal.  Each team will then surface all assumptions for the wants/needs connections.  Using these assumptions the teams will try to find one assumption they can invalidate with a new solution to the conflict.

Evaluation: Using an overhead projector and proper communication strategies, each team will present their solution to the class. 

 

Won't you please share lessons you have created?

 

FLYING PIG

 

Word is out!  Will Stentz, student at Michigan State University, is in the process of scheduling his first TACT class.  WOW!!! Awesome! Congratulations, Will.

 

QUOTES...

 

HERE ARE A FEW INTERESTING AND THOUGHT PROVOKING QUOTES:

 

Words of wisdom for the teacher:

"When you make the finding yourself, even if you're the last person on Earth to see the light, you'll never forget it."- Carl Sagan

Do you agree?  If so, what can we learn from it that should impact our instructional methodologies?

 

"Assumptions allow the best in life to pass you by." -John Sales

Hmmm… interesting.  What do you think?

 

And, this one is just for us:

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world."- Mahatma Ghandi

Are we diligent about modeling the TOC way?

 

Send your ideas, concerns and questions to:

HYPERLINK mailto:Baughca@aol.com or bucknek@resa.com

Or mail to:

Cheryl Baugh

27731 Lathrup

Lathrup Village, MI 48076 USA