TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

August 4, 2000

CONTENTS

            CONNECTIONS

            (1) The 4th International Conference Fully Subscribed, Kathy Suerken

                NETWORKING

                  (2)            Business and Education: An Interesting Merger, Audrey Taylor

                        (3)            An Intermediate Objective: Sharing Experiences, Beverly Brown

                  (4)            Our Quest for POOGI

            EDITORS’ NOTE

                  (5)            Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

CONNECTIONS

(1)      The 4th International TOC for Education Conference

From Kathy Suerken

 

Our four-day conference is fully subscribed at 500 attendees and we have closed registration for the full 4-day conference.  There will be delegates from 14 countries: Canada, Ecuador, Israel, the Netherlands, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Republic of South Africa, Russian, Singapore, Taiwan, United Kingdom, the United States and Venezuela.

 

The first day of the conference will be open to people outside of education in order for them to better understand the TOCFE program and vision.  Seating capacity is limited to 800 for the first day so registrations for the first day are on a space available basis.

NETWORKING

(2)            Business and Education: An Interesting Merger

By Audrey Taylor, Grosse Pointe, MI USA

 

Dear Friends,

At long last I am chronicling an interesting merger between the world of business and TOC for Education.  I teach a TOC class to MBA students at Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan.  Most students are already working at some high levels in area companies, and a few are owners of small businesses.  Near the end of the semester, Cheryl Edwards held the Regional TOC for Education Conference at Wayne State.  The date of the conference coincided with the TOC class, and so I invited Larry Till to speak to my students.  Larry, as you know, is a counselor at Joy Middle School in Detroit. Larry and the staff at Joy Middle School have accomplished some amazing things using TOC tools.

 

As Larry spoke in his quiet yet passionate way, my students were riveted. There was no movement or coughing, none of the traditional signs of boredom with which all teachers are familiar.  He told these business professionals of how by using the IO Map and TrT, the students in his school dramatically raised their reading scores.  He spoke of restored hope in both the students and in the faculty.  He told story after story of individual students whose lives had been changed as they started to see a way out.

 

Even though my students appeared to be riveted, I could not be sure what they were really thinking.  A few told me right after the talk, that Larry had been a powerful speaker and that they had enjoyed his talk immensely.  However, I still did not know what the rest of the students had thought of this educator's talk about students and trials and dreams.

 

At the end of each semester, I ask my students to fill out a survey, which I collect and review immediately.  Wayne State University also has all students fill in a standard survey that is returned months later.  As I read the survey, I was amazed.  Almost every student had mentioned how powerful Larry's talk had been and what a dramatic effect it had had on their lives.

 

Never doubt the power of the results you are getting.  Never be ashamed or hesitant to share them with someone you think might be a hardened business person.  Children learning, growing and hoping touches and inspires us all.

 

Thank you Larry.  Thank you very much.

Audrey Taylor

(3)      An Intermediate Objective:  Sharing Experiences

From Beverly Brown

 

One of the obstacles mentioned for the TACTics ambitious target was "readers don't realize the importance of sharing their experiences."  The intermediate objective is “readers realize the importance of sharing experiences.”

 

I too want to thank Mira and Rami for sharing the "Necklace" story.  Because of Mira's idea, I now have other ideas for using TOC.  One thought I had was using the same story and writing a negative branch of what happened to show the consequences of our actions.  Another idea is to use another Guy de Maupassant story, "Piece of Yarn" or "Piece of String," (textbooks use different names for this one) and write a cloud and/or negative branch for that one as well.  Thanks for the idea; we really do need to share everything.

 

I will miss my TOC family this year at the conference, but I will be thinking of all of you. Please continue to keep in touch via this newsletter.

 

Beverly Brown

<bevbrown@bright.net>

(4)      Our Quest for POOGI

 

Ambitious Target:

TOC for Education practitioners are intrinsically motivated to enthusiastically share their learning experiences with their fellow TACTics readers.

 

Obstacles
Intermediate Objectives

Educators don’t know if their stories

are worthy of publication.

Educators feel strongly that their stories are important in the POOGI of all TOCFE educators.

 

Putting experiences in “writing” and then sharing leaves the author open to criticism.           

 

The philosophy of TACTics is that everyone has something of value to offer.  Readers know this and share their thoughts to keep us all on a POOGI.

 

Readers don’t realize the importance

of sharing their experiences.

 

1.  TACTics readers value the learnings of others and therefore understand that they too must contribute

 

2. Readers realize the importance of sharing experiences.

 

I can’t find the information for

TACTics in a timely fashion.

 

 

TACTics readers are prepared to contribute without unnecessary preparation time.

 

I don’t know how to format my information and load it so TACTics can read it.

 

Information for TACTics can be sent in draft form by e-mail to the editors and will be formatted by then for the journal.

 

There are no new experiences during

summer holidays.

 

1.    Educators write up experiences from the school year during the summer.

 

2.   Educators share their experiences using TOC with family and friends during the summer holiday.

 

There are not enough educators that

apply TOC in education.

 

If all TOC educators share their experiences, there will be enough good stories.

 

It is not easy to write in English

if it is not your mother tongue.

 

Contributions to TACTics can be in rough draft.  The editors appreciate the difficulty of writing in a second

Language and will take the time to carefully revise and edit any information coming from our readers.

EDITORS’ NOTE

(5) Kay Buckner-Seal and Cheryl A. Edwards

Audrey Taylor and Beverly Brown, thank you for contributing to our POOGI.  We look forward to hearing from all of you!  Send responses via hyperlink to <bucknek@resa.net> or <redwards@sault.com>.  Or you may send them by mail to: 

Cheryl A. Edwards

2253 S. Hill Island Road

Cedarville, MI 49719 USA