TACTics Journal

A Publication for and by

TOC for Education Practitioners

3 April 2005

In this month’s issue:

Connections

  1. In Memory Of Charlie Fried, Kathy Suerken
  2. 8th TOCFE International Conference-Update, Kathy Suerken,
  3. TOCFE And School Of Education, Western Washington University, Kathy Suerken
  4. TOCFE And Maryland Home Education Association ,Kathy Suerken
  5. TOCFE And Rotary International Convention , Kathy Suerken

Networking

  1. Some Insights I’ve Learned From TOC, Gila Glatter,
  2. Ambitious Target/USA, Mike Round
  3. A Tale of Two Needs, Eleanor May-Brenneker,

Editors’ Notes

  1. Kay Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards

CONNECTIONS

    (1) In Memory Of Charlie Fried

    From Kathy on behalf of TOCFE

"Don't be dismayed at good-byes. A farewell is necessary before you can meet again. And meeting again, after moments or lifetimes, is certain for those who are friends." Richard Bach, Illusions

TOC for Education extends heartfelt condolences to the family of our dear friend Charlie Fried who passed away March 28, 2005. Charlie faithfully served TOCFE as Secretary-Treasurer of TOCFE foundation from 1995-2004.We will always remember Charlie as a very special person devoted to enabling TOCFE to leave a better world behind.

Thank you Charlie and a most fond farewell.

    (2) 8th International TOCFE Conference

        "Building A Viable Vision For Education"

        Seattle, Washington, USA

        August 11-14, 2005

        Kathy Suerken >suerken@cox.net<

In order to better meet our needs, our conference venue has been changed to Embassy Suites Hotel Seattle-North/Lynnwood where we have reserved a block of rooms at $120 plus tax per suite/night for 2 persons (extra person add $15).

The hotel is near a ferry landing and waterfront that has interesting shops and great restaurants! A huge mall is also close by. The hotel provides limited courtesy transportation to area attractions and local shopping and you can also easily take public transportation across from the hotel to downtown Seattle.

Hotel amenities include:

    • A TWO Room Suite with living room and private bedroom
    • High speed internet access, 2 TV's, 2 telephones, coffee maker, microwave, refrigerator and hair dryer
    • Complimentary full breakfast, cooked to order
    • Two hour Manager's reception each evening
    • Indoor swimming pool, sauna and spa, exercise room

Our impressive group of presenters continues to grow. The complete menu of presentations/papers/workshops follows with newly listed ones marked by **asterisks.

Keynote Speaker: Dr Eliyahu Goldratt

Presentations/Papers:

    • "A TOC Math-Science Textbook" : Mike Round, Director of TOCFE, USA
    • ** "Insights and Updates on TOC Thinking Processes": Alan Barnard, President TOCICO, Republic of South Africa
    • "A TOCFE VIABLE VISION in Colombia through AGOAL Academy" Ana Maria Conde, student, Colombia
    • ** Deliverable Based Planning: How to Turn Chaos into a Systematic Approach for Projects" James Trimble, USA
    • **"The Core Problem in an Organization: A Prime Example: British Health Care System." Julie Wright, United Kingdom
    • ** " An Integration of TOCFE Tools in selected Technology and Livelihood Education (Ph.d Dissertation Study) Dr. Jeni Corpuz, Principal, the Philippines
    • "A Generalization Process" Dr. Danilo Sirias, Saginaw Valley State University, USA
    • **Applications of TOC in National Curriculum Materials: Khaw Choon Ean, Director, TOCFE Asia, Malaysia
    • "A Preliminary Investigation of an Innovative School

Budgeting Format" Dr. Audrey Taylor, Dr. Tammy Kowalczyk,

Western Washington University, and Dr. Suzanne Klein,

Superintendent of Schools, Grosse Pointe, Michigan, USA

    • "A New Publication: Tools of Choice--TOC and Decision Making" Cal Halliburton, Educational Consultant, USA
    • "TOC Certification Process in a Venezuelan School" Javier Arevalo, Director TOCFE, Venezuela
    • "A New TOCFE Initiative: Online Games and Simulations…or Getting to know your Blogs and Wiki"   Tom Warchol, USA
    • **"The Problem of Blame" Kathy Suerken, President TOCFE

Panel Discussions:

    • "Raising Test Scores Through TOC"
    • "How TOC Enables Bloom's Taxonomy, Differentiated Instruction and Other Best Practices"

                Workshops:

    • Analyzing and Improving a System (TOCFE Expert Track) : Facilitators TBA
    • Addressing Layers of Resistance to Change: Intro and Facilitator

Training (Administrators):Christina Cheng, Director TOCFE, Singapore

    • TOC Applications in Content and Behavior (Teachers and Counselors): Jackie Trimble, Teacher, USA and Zana Borisavljevic, Teacher, Serbia
    • Mediation Training (Counselors, Students), and Francis Mejia Conde, TOCFE Director, Colombia and Ana Maria Conde, Student, Colombia

Updated, detailed information on the conference is available: www.tocforeducation.com.

Click on "What's New". Then click over the globe.

    (3)TOCFE and the School Of Education,

       Western Washington University

          Kathy Suerken>suerken@cox.net<

TOCFE Conference Leadership Team welcomes Dr. Sandra Daffron and her class at Western Washington University!

Sandra and her spring quarter class of 17 students are helping TOCFE plan and execute the best TOCFE conference EVER! Sandra's class is a Program Planning Class for graduate students in a master's education class in the Continuing and College Education program. Among others, Sandra has exceptional credentials in organizing conferences. A special thanks to her and to Audrey Taylor, who teaches in the business school at Western Washington U, for enabling this very appreciated TOCFE connection to our Seattle conference team extraordinaire of Jackie and Jim Trimble and Sears and Audrey Taylor.

    (4) TOCFE And Maryland Home Education Association

            Kathy Suerken

Kathy Suerken will give a series of TOCFE workshops at the Maryland Home Education Association Annual Conference in Washington DC April 30th. More information on and to register for this event at www.mhea.com

    (5) TOCFE And Rotary International Convention

            Kathy Suerken

A TOCFE project booth has been accepted by Rotary International for display at their International Convention June 18-22 in Chicago, Illinois (USA). Over 33,000 Rotarians from 153 countries are already registered for this event that marks 100th Anniversary of Rotary. Dave Beltran, Mar Gatus and Kathy Suerken will man the booth and share the saga of how TOC made its Rotary journey from Niceville, Florida to the hearts and minds of children of East Los Angeles, the Philippines ...and beyond.

    NETWORKING

    (6) Some Insights I’ve Learned From TOC

        Gila Glatter, TOCFE Director Israel

Using the TOC tools I have come up with some insights which generated some additional practical steps:

1. When we come up with an ambitious target we should raise up a list of all the goodies and benefits we should get from achieving the goal.

Then we raise up all the minus and disadvantages we should get if we do not achieve the goal - many times it's not only the opposite and things become brighter. Only when we can see the benefits- phrased in front of us, we continue with the process.....

2. In win-win thinking we don't think about a list of priorities ( both needs are important) but we think about a list of what comes first and what second (prerequisite order). I'm not sure about the English words but there is a big difference between the 2 words if you think about it. For example: to give attention to your child is not more important than keeping your relationship with your friend. However when you can not do things to fulfill these needs at the same time, you should not think which is more important but which one I should fulfill first. May be you can think of better words. For my surrounding and me, it's one word that creates a new clear attitude for making decisions.

    (7) Ambitious Target/USA

            Mike Round, TOCFE Director, USA


This is a working copy of the ambitious target tree for TOCFE-USA, including ongoing initiatives, presentations, and a critical path of the specific necessary conditions to achieve the goal of establishing the Theory of Constraints for Education as a fundamental means of instruction in the K-16 environment.

Note: If you would like to view Mike’s USA Ambitious Target in its intended format please go to www.rationalsys.com.

Rational Systems, Inc. is the name of my statistical consulting firm, but I've taken off all of that material, and replaced it with TOC material, if you're wondering about the domain name! Mike

    AMBITIOUS TARGET

    GOAL: establish the THEORY OF CONSTRAINTS FOR EDUCATION as a             fundamental means of instruction in the K-16 environment.

                OBSTACLE

TOCFE does not have a method of rapidly publishing and distributing TOCFE materials.

                INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

TOCFE has a method of distributing materials with rapid turn-a-round, in addition to having the final say in the quality of the materials.

                ACTION STEP

We start our own publishing company, autoSOCRATIC PRESS, with Thomson-Shore the printer.

OBSTACLE

There are not sufficient documented case studies to entice teachers and administrators to take a look at TOCFE.

INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

TOCFE has a documented independent case study using respected metric, demonstrating "massive improvement rapidly".

ACTION STEP

We create ACT/SAT test-prep materials, looking to improve scores 50% in two days study.

OBSTACLE

There is no active method of ongoing communication among interested parties of TOCFE.

INTERMDIATE OBJECTIVE

There is an easily accessible method of interaction regarding TOCFE ideas, curriculum, etc.

ACTION STEP

We have an interactive discussion forum, affording review of TOCFE materials on a 24/7/265 basis.

OBSTACLE

The math profession resides over stagnant scores, despite best efforts.

INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

The math community has access to new methods of teaching math.

ACTION STEP

We create a "Math/Science and e-Learning" internet session to demonstrate the application of TOCTP to math.

OBSTACLE

Legislation and a lack of acceptance makes freedom to try TOCFE principles difficult.

INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

An institution outside the legislative community is created, with the ability to demonstrate the power of TOCTP.

ACTION STEP

We create "Arete Academy", an "academy of excellence" based on the thinking processes of TOC and consistent and rational educational philosophies.

OBSTACLE

Without the buy-in of the professional community, acceptance of TOCFE as a quality philosophy is unlikely.

INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

TOCFE is presented and respected in the educational community.

ACTION STEP

TOCFE Presentations are made at a variety of professional organizations.

OBSTACLE

Quality textbooks, a necessary condition for educational excellence, are both scarce and costly to produce.

INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

There is an abundance of quality textbooks demonstrating TOCTP in math / science curriculum.

ACTION STEP

We create a "Math/Science Textbook Initiative", with a cooperative Business / Educational relationship.

OBSTACLE

(internal obstacle) There is not a "critical path" vision, incorporating the above action items in reaching the goal.

INTERMEDIATE OBJECTIVE

There is a targeted vision with detailed chronological and logical steps to obtain the goal.

ACTION STEPS

A working critical path with immediate objectives is created.

(8) A Tale Of Two Needs

                    Eleanor May-Brenneker, TOCFE Director NL

                    Storyline:

In September 2004 I enrolled on a Doctorate in Education course (EdD).   My ambitious target was to be successful and to graduate at the end of this course. Students were left in no doubt that high standard of student performance was expected throughout the course. My motivation, dedication and input were certainly matching those expectations. A few weeks into the course, however, I - and many colleagues- found that the academic standard of lecturers (bar one) and their presentations were not of the quality and professionalism expected from this University, where I had enjoyed studying for a Master’s degree before. Doubts and disappointments crept in and at the end of the first term I realised I would not be able to stomach slapdash course tuition for a period of at least four years.

I therefore made a conflict diagram in order to clarify my own needs and to have a stab at the assumed needs of the team of course lecturers. When I finally managed to see the course director I was prepared as follows:

    1. common GOAL: Students pass the course successfully and graduate as Dr. Ed.
    2. my NEED: to have joy in the journey towards my destination.

D- my WANT: to be engaged in a highly professional, robust, thoroughly prepared, inspiring, holistic, multisensory teaching/learning experience at doctorate level.

    1. other side’s NEED: all students’ assignments and other course work is of high academic standard and submitted on time.
    2. D1- other side’s WANT: to teach a highly structured, factual, content oriented programme.

The director was given the opportunity to amend his side. On the whole he agreed with A-C-D1. Minor changes were made. I stressed that I appreciated his needs and that I had no problem with honouring those.

He, however, refuted most arguments-ASSUMPTIONS ON MY SIDE- I put forward that illustrated lack of professionalism of the lecturers’ team with one exception in my group. These arguments, by the way, are shared by many of my colleagues, similarly disgruntled about the course. The dir. asked me what I wished to happen. I pointed out that B needed to be addressed but that I did not expect for a course to be changed mid stream. {and that without adequate changes I would wish to withdraw}. The director promised me to discuss the matter with his team the following week and he would inform me about the outcome. Two months later he has not contacted me yet, even after I have emailed him several times (professional?). One of his colleagues, whom I sent copies of our correspondence, replied yesterday as follows:

"I am sorry about the disappointments and problems you experienced with the EdD course. I assure you Neil (course director) and I will discuss these to try to benefit from your advice and feedback as an EdD student. Thank you so much for expressing your views in a way that has been confidential, patient and supportive for the benefit of current and future students. We welcome critical friendly engagement with issues needing improvement, and will be working on these."

    EDITORS’ NOTES

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

We all know the importance of the folks behind the scenes of any project. Even though most of us in TOCFE have never personally met Charlie we all know of his continued efforts to help TOCFE. Charlie, Thank you! We will miss you.

The excitement of Conference 2005 is just leaping of the page. As the excitement builds look to TACTics for more updates and information regarding presentations, trainings and guest speakers.

What an asset Dr. Sandra Daffron and her students will be in helping the TOCFE Conference team plan and execute the conference. AND the students will get hands on experience in learning and applying the TOC thinking process tools. It sure looks like a true WIN/WIN situation to me.

Thanks, Gila and Mike, for sharing your work and ideas. Both articles give us some valuable information to really reflect on.

Won’t you consider sharing some of the work you are doing using the thinking process tools? REMEMBER TACTics is a journal ‘for and by TOC for education practitioners’. Don’t hesitate to share with us. We would love to share any new experiences with the thinking skills, any books, related articles, or quotes, any questions or concerns.

So, please send your articles by mail to:

Cheryl A. Edwards, 2253 S. Hill Island Rd.,

Cedarville, Michigan 49719, USA.

Or send hyperlink to: cedwards@cedarville.net or kayseal@comcast.net.

Deadline: Our next issue will be published on Friday, May 6, 2005. So PLEASE get submissions to us by Monday, May 2, 2005.

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