TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by TOC for Education Practitioners

May 23, 2003

In this week’s issue:

Connections

(1) 7th International TOCFE Conference: A Global Think-Tank for

Educators, Cheryl A. Edwards

(2) Think-Tank Thanks, Beverly Brown

(3) Bernie Kean, Our Unsung Hero, Cheryl A. Edwards

Quote

(4) Winston Churchill

Editors’ Notes

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

CONNECTIONS

(1) TOCFE 7th International Conference: A Global Think Tank

for Educators

From Cheryl A. Edwards

This year’s annual conference took place in warm and sunny Florida, USA not

far from where the TOC Thinking Tools were first introduced to middle

school students by Kathy Suerken. The conference was attended by

educators from approximately 13 countries and 9 US states and they were

all eager to share and learn more about successful methods of dissemination

and the new applications of the thinking tools. It really was electrifying to

hear about the fantastic progress that is being made in so many different

countries.

The conference was truly a “Global Think-Tank.Practitioners from all

different areas of education shared many new and impressive applications.

In future TACTics you will be able to read featured articles written by folks

who attended the many different sessions. So, stay tuned for some

interesting first hand accounts! The first one follows.

(2) Think-Tank Thanks

From Beverly Brown, Ohio, USA

To Kathy, Bernie, Eli, and everyone who made the 7th International TOCFE

Conference possible.

I chose to attend the conference for several reasons. First, I needed to be

motivated to finish the book I started several years ago. Gila Glatter’s

workbooks, especially Rainbow in the Cloud, definitely motivated me to finish

my book. I even broke some of the obstacles in my Ambitious Target at the

conference. Second, I needed to be energized—I sometimes feel I am alone

in my TOC efforts. I needed to hear about Sandra Fierro’s working alone in

the mountains of Ecuador, Michelle Royan’s single-handedly helping students

solve problems in Michigan, and Michael Round’s individual effort at using

TOC in math in Kansas. All of their stories energized me. Third, I needed

to become reconnected. Eli helped me to reconnect on the first day. He

reminded me of the 3 pillars of TOCFE: “Every situation is governed by one

constraint, there is no conflict in reality, and people are good (remove the

conflict, and they are good) never assume people are bad. People are doing

the best they can do under the conflict; remove the conflict, and people will

shine.”

Finally, I attended the conference to get inspiration. Francois Moll, Belinda

Small, Danilo Sirias, and Kathy Suerken answered my need for inspiration. I

supervise 2nd year university education students who are majoring in social

studies, history, special education, family and consumer sciences, business,

and language arts. I also supervise 4th year university students who are

majoring in integrated language arts, English, and communication. One of my

ambitious targets is to teach the TOC tools to these student teachers, so

they can go out and teach students and other teachers. Francois’s

information on writing critical (argumentative) essays will be one of the first

items I share with my students (check the April 25 Tactics if you missed

this discussion). Also, I am ecstatic that Belinda Small has discovered

another aspect of the problem that students (of all levels) have in

standardized testing. She discovered that students have problems

interpreting the answers to the questions. Her analysis of too broad, too

narrow, and the main idea has opened many new doors of thought for me.

Danilos ABC teaching method of Analyze, Break Down, and Connect inspired

me as well. And then there was Kathy. Her story of Yani touched the heart.

Everyone must acquire a copy of this inspirational story. The moral sums up

what the conference meant to me: “You can achieve your goals in life.”

Thanks to everyone mentioned (and so many of you not mentioned) for

allowing me to see a road to achieving my goals.

I attended the conference to find Meri (motivation, energy, reconnection,

and inspiration), and I found Yani (yet another new idea)!

(3) Bernie Kean, Our Unsung Hero!

From Cheryl A. Edwards

Over the years many of us TOCFE folks have had problems solved, questions

answered, and information provided by Bernie Kean, Assistant to Kathy

Suerken. But who is this Bernie Kean? Unfortunately too many of us have

never met Bernie in person. People began to wonder…is there really a

Bernie?

All we know for sure is that Bernie is always there, ready to do anything she

can to help us. The really extraordinary thing is that she always, always

helps with an incredible willingness that goes way beyond what is necessary.

Her smile broadcasts reassuringly over the telephone lines and even through

her email messages.

Well, folks, there are hundreds of us that can now testify that Bernie Kean

is alive and real. She was there, at the conference, helping and answering

questions, of course. But the best was that she always had on that

wonderful smile and it was ready just for us.

From all of us to you, Bernie, THANKS!!! We are so glad to know you!

EDITORS’ NOTES

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

Beverly, thanks for sharing! Just a friendly reminder...conference

attendees, our TOCFE friends who could not attend the conference are

depending on you to learn all about the conference. Won’t you please take

the time to write up your insights and reflections and send them to either:

Cheryl at cedwards@cedarville.net, or snail mail to 2253 S. Hill Island Rd.

Cedarville, MI USA 49719? You can also send them directly to Kay and

TACTics at bucknek@earthlink.net. If you have any questions please,

contact Cheryl. We are all looking forward to hearing from you.