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 Seminar, Colombia, MD USA, Kathy Suerken

(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 Malaysia it was becoming a challenge to reach out to millions of people to update them on recent developments. When the New Straits Times, Malaysia’s national English language newspaper, offered space in their education supplement for a TOCFE page, I jumped at the opportunity to disseminate the knowledge. What better way to reach out, by having TOCFE walk into schools, homes, offices and institutions through a reputable public media to inform and update readers?

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 Malaysia, Pelanduk Publications (http://www.pelanduk.com/) took up the manuscript of the school story and decided to publish it in book form. This book THINKING SMART was introduced to TOCFE at the International Conference in Seattle, USA on 14 August 2005.

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 Kuala Lumpur and Penang Island in Malaysia on Nov 19 and Nov 26, 2005. Both sessions will include a public talk on TOCFE.

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, USA

 

"…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, USA

"…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 Korea

"…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 Israel

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, USA

The Theory of Constraints for Education, United States, is making available to all Louisiana and Mississippi high school students powerful ACT / SAT test-prep materials. The materials will be available for free download from October 10, 2005December 31, 2005, and can be found at http://www.rationalsys.com/ .

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, Overland Park, KS 66213 and can be reached at (913) 515-3911, or be e-mail at http://webmail.east.cox.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=round@rationalsys.com.

(3) Have you joined yet? TOCFE Yahoo Discussion Groups

Danilo Sirias, USA

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 Seminar, Colombia, MD USA

Kathy Suerken

I will be teaching a one day TOCFE seminar in Colombia, Md. on Saturday, Nov 5, 2005. The seminar is sponsored by the Maryland Home Education Association. There is a 50 person limit but there are still some openings if you -or anyone you know- might be interested. For more information and to register: http://www.mhea.com/ or you can email me personally at http://webmail.east.cox.net/agent/MobNewMsg?to=suerken@cox.net and I will forward registration information.

(5) 9th International TOCFE Conference

Kathy Suerken

The 9th International TOCFE Conference will be held Aug 9-12, 2006 in Leon, Mexico. More information will be shared through the TOCFE Chat group chat group and on our webpage: http://www.tocforeducation.com/.

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 Friday, December 2, 2005. So, please, send submissions to us by Monday, November 28, 2005.

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.