TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

June 22, 2001

 

This Week’s Issue:

Connections

    (1)       3rd Israeli Conference in Tel Aviv, Limor Kraemer

   (2)     Clouds at Wayne RESA, Kay Buckner-Seal

    (3)      Ground Transportation Recommendations, Cheryl A. Edwards

    (4)     5th Annual TOCFE International Conference/First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference, Cheryl A. Edwards

Editor’s Notes

   (4)     Kay Buckner-Seal

 

CONNECTIONS

(1)        3rd Israeli Conference in Tel Aviv

From Limor Kraemer, Israel

 

We had the 3rd Israeli conference in Tel Aviv on Friday, June 1, 2001.  We had a full house of about 150 people from all over the country.  The special part of the day was that most of the presenters were children!  Students from age 5-years to high school told us about TOC in their life at school.  Gila and her team prepared a real show of TOC at its best!  The 5-year-olds talked about building a synagogue in the kindergarten using the Ambitious Target.  They described how at the beginning they knew nothing about it and by writing the obstacles they started to figure their way towards their goal.  The result is so beautiful and impressive!

 

The elementary students talked about being “peacemakers at school.  They have a group of peacemakers that act like judges.  They are using the clouds to resolve conflicts and if one of the sides is not happy with the solution he can appeal to the “court” again— using negative branch reservations.  We saw pictures of it and this group at work.  They have big blow hut seats around a table with “clouds” are all around them.

 

The kids also talked about reading and understanding literature with clouds.  They told us about a huge project they did at school.  Each class had a different book they worked on with clouds.  Then all classes had an afternoon session with their parents.  In this session they wrote the cloud and then looked only at the needs and made them relevant to their family life.  The parents were on one side and the kids were on the other side.  They said how surprised they were to find out what really motivated their parents.  The older kids talked about the excellency of learning achievements, poetry and better human relationships.

 

Also, Oded Cohen gave us a lecture about TOC in Industry: The Unbelievable Achievements and the Resistance to Change.  It was amazing to hear that the better way to implement TOC in industry is when no one knows you do it!  Gila also distributed a NEW workbook, The End Result Depends on Thinking First (in Hebrew the name is much shorter and direct).  Efrat Goldratt talked about TOC for the individual: How Can I Define the Self I am?

 

Many people were registered for our summer seminars and I can guarantee that Gila is going to be very, very busy next year.  Lastly, people are now contacting us through the net, which means our home page does the work! Thanks Rami!

 

 

(2)        Clouds at Wayne RESA

By !Kay Buckner-Seal, Michigan, USA

 

In last week’s TACTics, we shared an account of how a team of school improvement coaches from Wayne County’s Regional Educational Service Agency (Wayne RESA) came together to learn how to define a problem and look for “out of the box” solutions the TOC-way.  The team of coaches generated a list of obstacles that they face as they provide the technical assistance necessary for all students to achieve in their “priority” schools in Wayne County, Michigan. 

 

The following are the conflicts, which were written from their list of obstacles during their small group activity.  As you read them, you will see that these are problems that are faced in education worldwide.

 

Obstacle:  Lack of “quality” professional development

A:   Effective Staff Development

B:   Teachers want training that best suits their needs.

D:   Teachers want a choice of professional development opportunities

C:      Administrators want to expedite the calendar and get training that will meet everyone’s needs.

D’:      Administrators want to delegate professional development opportunities.

 

Obstacle: Leadership skills are lacking.  Leaders are more often “managers” than leaders

A:   Effective leadership

B:   School’s academic plan must be implemented

D:   Principal values the school improvement plan as a priority

C:   School must have a safe and orderly environment

D’:  Principal must concentrate on managing day-to-day issues

 

Obstacle: Testing backlash

A:   High Student Achievement

B:   State must set high academic standards

D:   State wants more standardized testing

C:   Teachers need time to teach process (skills/strategies)

D’:  Teachers want to devote less time to testing

 

(3)                 Ground Transportation Recommendations

From Cheryl A. Edwards

 

It has been suggested that:  If there is more than one person in your party going from the airport to the hotel, then you should take a cab rather than the shuttle and split the fare.

 

Because the shuttle cost is approximately $35 per person and drops people off at many, many different locations.  And, the cab is one price regardless of the number of people, which will take you directly to the hotel.  Be sure to confirm the fare before you hire the cab and head for the hotel.

 

 

(4)  5th Annual TOCFE International Conference/First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference, Cheryl A. Edwards

 

The best way to predict the future is to create it through TOC."

TOC for Education, Inc. presents the 5th Annual TOCFE International Conference and the First Annual TOCFE International Student’s Conference!

 

Date:                                June 25-28, 2001

 

Location:                                Detroit, Michigan USA

 

Hotel:                                Northfield Hilton

                        5500 Crooks Road

                        Troy, Michigan 48098

                        248. 879. 2100

The Northfield Hilton is adjacent to Interstate 75 at Crooks Road, Exit 72

 

Reservations:                                1. 800. HILTONS

                        Ask for TOC for Education’s special room rates.

                Single or Double Occupancy

Per night $139.00 U.S. + Tax (6% Michigan Sales Tax and 7% Occupancy Tax).  This rate includes breakfast for two.

 

Transportation:                                Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)

 

 

EDITOR’S NOTES

(5)        Kay Buckner-Seal

 

To those who are attending the 5th Annual TOCFE International Conference, we will see you at the Northfield Hilton on June 25!  To those who are unable to attend, look forward to gaining information about the conference in next week’s TACTics.

 

If you’d like to share a connection, an experience, a wish, or a thought, send by mail to Cheryl A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd., Cedarville, MI 49719, USA.  Or, send hyperlink to <redwards@sault.com> or <bucknek@earthlink.net.

 

 

 

To view TACTics in its intended formatting and to read previous issues, visit the TOC website at: www.tocforeducation.com