TACTics
Journal
A Publication for and by TOC for Education
Practitioners
November
2005
In this month’s issue:
Connections
(1) An Introduction to a TOCFE
reference novel: THINKING SMART: YOU ARE HOW YOU THINK - Applying the
Theory of Constraints in developing thinking skills. Khaw Choon Ean
(2) ACT/SAT Practice for Test Takers, A Correction, Mike Round
(3) Have you
joined yet? TOCFE Yahoo Discussion Groups, Danilo
Sirias
(4) TOCFE
(5)
9th International TOCFE Conference, Kathy
Suerken
Editors’ Notes
(6)Kay
Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards
Connections
(1)
An
Introduction to a TOCFE reference novel: THINKING SMART: YOU
ARE HOW YOU THINK- Applying the Theory of Constraints in developing thinking
skills By Khaw Choon Ean Malaysia
TOC For Education has developed by leaps and bounds all over the
world in the last few years. Even in
A page for
primary school (6-12 years old) with picture stories and a page for secondary
school students (13-17 years old) with a school story in episodes (a take-off
from Kathy and Cheryl’s The Never Ending Story) were created between
January to May 2004.
In 2005, an
established publishing company in
It is presented
in an easy-to-understand fictional scenario for anyone interested in Thinking
Skills and the Theory of Constraints For Education. It
will be a journey of discovery to understand the concepts, skills and the three
tools (the Cloud, the Branch and the Ambitious Target Tree) in the Theory of
Constraints for Education. The chapters are illustrated with step by step
guidance on using the thinking tools with examples, as well as a part for the
reader to try out the tools at the end of each chapter.
Written in simple
conversational English that demystifies the theory and thinking skills, it is
targeted for children, teachers and parents or anyone interested in TOC and
thinking.
The author has
been invited on an author signing tour at a major bookstore’s branches (http://www.mph.com.my/) in
The book is
available by online order at the website http://www.pelanduk.com/
at a very
reasonable price even with postage and handling as the main objective is to make
it available for as many people as possible especially students and teachers.
Anyone interested in translating it into a foreign language can please contact
the author at http://webmail.east.cox.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=khawce@gmail.com
The following
remarks have been received by email from readers of the TOCFE community.
(Thanks, thanks, thanks and very much appreciated
!!!)…
"…I met you at
the TOC for Education conference and purchased your
book
"Thinking
Smart". I am so glad that I did!
It is a great review of how to do
the three tools of TOC and a
good reference book for me--and it's
autographed,too!
I even had to
get the book "The Necklace and other Stories" by Guy
de
Maupausant to
see how the story ended. I'm glad I didn't know
the ending,
because I worked out a plan of
action with the TOC tools, and was surprised
to read that the woman who
lost the necklace didn't follow the logical
choice!
Thank you for
writing the book and for bringing it to the conference!..."
Karen Holt,
"…I wanted to
compliment her on her book, Thinking Smart, you are how
you think, and buy all copies she might have left…" Steve Dightman,
"…I am willing
to be a translator of your book. I believe your book is the only complete
material explaining TOCFE thoroughly. If it is used as a textbook, it will
be of great help to Koreans…" Choi Won Joon, TOC
"…The book is
very friendly and clear. You could not give any better name for the book:
Thinking Smart through TOC make each one who is taking responsibility on
his/her thinking a better maker of decisions.."
Gila Glatter, TOCFE
Here is an
excerpt…
CHAPTER
16
A DESIRABLE
TARGET
The next few days
were full of activity. Everyone had something to suggest for their idea of a
stage show on Teachers’ Day. Liza watched her friend’s
antics.
She had
volunteered to help make any costumes that were needed. No one needed her yet.
Nurul came by and sat next to
Liza. "What a crazy lot of friends we have!" she said.
Liza laughed. She pointed to
their friend Malliga. "Look at her, Nurul, sitting there dreaming away."
"What’s wrong
with her?" asked Nurul.
"Well, Malliga wants to be a great singer, maybe a famous star in
future."
"What’s wrong
with that? It’s something she desires for the future."
"Hmm, that’s a
target she has set for herself. But she has a long way to reach that target.
There are many things she can’t do yet to become a singer. But she sits there
dreaming of being one," explained Liza.
"She’s wasting her time?" asked
Nurul.
"Exactly!"
exclaimed Liza. "Now look at Kah Mun over there. She also
aspires to be a good singer and famous star. She’s asking people to help her
with voice training and she’s bravely doing a song item for the show and practising all she can by joining the school
choir."
"Malliga has a better voice."
"You’re right,"
Liza said to Nurul, "but you
know what’s the difference? Kah Mun will be the one who might
be successful."
"Why do you say
so?"
"When I attended
the TOC workshop during the holidays they taught us about Ambitious Targets and
how to succeed in achieving them," Liza explained.
"There are a few conditions you have to pay attention to."
"And what are
these?" asked Nurul.
"First, we have a
wish that we want to succeed at something we desire. Then we have to believe
that we are able fulfill our wish. And finally we have to work and strive
towards succeeding in achieving it."
"That’s sensible
common sense, isn’t it?" Nurul exclaimed. She looked
thoughtful for a minute as they looked at Malliga and
Kah Mun doing their separate
things. "Tell me, Liza, how do we know what we wish is
an important target?"
"You mean, as
compared to a simple everyday wish that’s easy to perform like buying a new book
or visiting a zoo?"
"Well, yes,
something like that," agreed Nurul.
"Then I’d say
that it is a target if achieving it gives you a sense of satisfaction,
achievement and a wonderful feeling of accomplishment."
"Would a target
be always achievable then?"
"Well, usually we
wish for a positive and desirable situation in the future which looks impossible
to achieve. That’s why many of us just dream about it because we are afraid to
work for it and commit ourselves for fear of failure," explained Liza. "Think of a target as the top of a
ladder…"
"That means we
have to climb those rungs to reach the top."
"Correct! And
each rung seem like an obstacle that blocks you from the top but if you try you
can be nearer. Look at Kah Mun singing her heart out in the choir…she’s practicing and
overcoming one rung And going nearer her target, you
understand?"
"And how does the
Theory of Constraints help us?" asked Nurul.
"It gives you a
way to increase your chances of success with a strategic plan!" said Liza. "It’s called Dealing with an Ambitious
Target."
"Cool," said
Nurul. "Now tell me more."
To check out
the diagrams and graphics, get the book!
For any
queries or information, please write to http://webmail.east.cox.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=khawce@gmail.com
(2) ACT/SAT
Practice for Test Takers, A Correction,
Mike Round,
The Theory of Constraints
for Education,
Mike asked me to include
the following information with regards to the article he submitted for October
TACTics:
"Thanks for TACTics ... though it's out, can I request one change to the
ACT/ SAT story?
Jack Criss, publisher of the Metro
Business Chronicle, a Mississippi Business Journal, is running the story of the
TOCFE ACT/SAT offer. http://webmail.east.cox.net/cgi-bin/gx.cgi/www.metrochronicle.com
"
Michael Round can
be contacted at TOCFE: 13234 Long Street,
(3) Have you joined
yet? TOCFE Yahoo Discussion Groups
TOCFE has formed a yahoo
group to enable communication among people around the world who are interested
in helping achieve the mission of TOCFE.
To learn more about the
TOCFE group, please visit: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/tocfe
To join the group, send
a blank email to:
TOCFE-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Moderator, TOCFE
(4) TOCFE
Kathy Suerken
I will be
teaching a one day TOCFE seminar in
(5)
9th International TOCFE Conference
Kathy
Suerken
The 9th
International TOCFE Conference will be held
Kathy Suerken http://webmail.east.cox.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=suerken@cox.net
Editors’ Notes
(6) Kay
Buckner-Seal, Cheryl A. Edwards
Congratulations,
Ean!!! Your book is fantastic and what wonderful
reviews.
Haven't tried the
TOCFE Discussion Group yet? Consider trying it. The topics are timely,
interesting and provocative.
Our next issue
will be published on
Please send your
articles by mail to: Cheryl A. Edwards,