TACTics Journal
A Publication for and by TOC for Education
Practitioners
May 2007
In this issue:
- A
Welcome Note by the Editor
-
10th TOCfE International Conference
- Reminder
- Odyssey 2007- The
- Metropolitan
Police Cadet Introduction Evening Spring 07
- Information needed Zana Borisavljevic
A Welcome Note by the Editor
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Here is the May edition of the TACTics
Journal. I don’t know how it is in the other parts of the world, but here in Seriba, May and the beginning of June are the busiest
months for anyone working in education. The school year ends on June 22nd
and everything to do with tests, admin work etc. gets crammed in these two months.
So, I will be short this time!
I hope you are all well and enjoying life. Till the next time….
Zana Borisavljevic jana.b@talk21.com
10th TOCfE International Conference – Reminder
10th TOCfE International
Conference
Keynote: Dr. Eli Goldratt
Airport: VPS: (Valparaiso, Florida, USA)
Venue:
Group Rates Block Until
Double occupancy from: Standard $119 to Gulf Front $149. All rooms
with refrigerator, coffee maker, hairdryer, personal safe, iron
& board, TV www.ramadafwb.com
Reservations: 1.800.874.8962. Must mention TOCfE
to receive block rates.
Conference Fees: Includes all lunches, coffee breaks and
materials 50% discount to k16 educators
By
Sept 1: Per day/$100; full conference (4
days): $300 ($50/day $150/full conference for k-16 educators)
After Sept 1: Per
day/ $150; full conference: $400 ($
75 day/$200/full conference for k-16 educators
Register now: www.tocforeducation.com
Questions:
Odyssey
2007- The
Odyssey 2007- The
Netherlands
A Program for our family and
friends to experience the
Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes.
Freshman: July 22 – July 27 (Arrive on
July 22 before 5 pm, depart on July 27 after 5 pm)
Alumni: July 27 – July 30 (Arrive on
July 27 before 5 pm, depart on July 30 after 4 pm)
Register Now: http:/toc-goldratt.com/odyssey/register
Odyssey
highlights:
POOGI – A Process Of OnGoing
Improvement, as a basis for security and satisfaction.
Inherent
Simplicity - Simple vs. Complex, demonstrate that Complexity is many times
of our own making and how we can apply this understanding to our daily
decisions and choices:
Generic Root Cause
- Understanding Cause and Effect.
Win-Win Solutions
- Understanding
conflicts and developing better resolving skills.
Decision making
and Personal Ambitious Target – Defining individual Ambitious targets and overcoming obstacles.
GUEST SPEAKER – Dr Eli Goldratt
Student Requirements:
Freshman: Freshman are required to have a
TOC-trained mentor. The mentor is expected to support the student in applying
the tools learned in the Odyssey. Minimum age to attend this course is 18.
Alumni: Alumni are required to have attended the
Freshman course or any past Odyssey or Academy course.
Cost: Freshman: US$ 800 Alumni: US$ 600
Venue: De Baak, Conference Center in
Noordwijk situated in an exciting beach town in the Netherlands 45km from
Amsterdam. See http://www.debaakconferentiefaciliteiten.nl
for a virtual tour.
For more information about Odyssey 2007 please email: Odyssey@goldrattgroup.com
Metropolitan Police Cadet Introduction Evening Spring 07
This spring Emma and I finally
ran a trial introductory evening for The Metropolitan Police. I say
finally as it had been many months since Emma first introduced herself to
the Deputy Commissioner, stuffing a letter in his hand at a conference they
were both attending and asking if he would please take the time to read
it. In the letter she introduced herself and TOCfE
and asked if he would consider meeting with her so she could tell him
more.
That meeting took place in December,
Emma,
We were very excited. It had not
been an easy meeting so we were very happy to have accomplished what
we had - the chance to run an event on a voluntary basis to ascertain its
suitability and relevance to this and other areas within the Force.
We adapted our marketing and
workshop material to fit the time restrictions, added a few more jokes,
deleted some of the fairy story references - basically made the frilly bits
around our approved workshop more suitable for this much older and savvier
audience.
To make an abridged version
of a workshop that normally takes three days but still has its integrity intact
is an interesting challenge.
Our first objective was to
provide a workshop that was fun and engaging, that could stand alone or, be
extended. I won’t pretend that we were not very conscious that this was a
trial. - As I have mentioned this
several times now, dear reader, I would not want you to think that we don’t give
110% every time we give a presentation or workshop, but I am sure you
understand the pressure, We were not just representing ourselves and Talk-Toc
but far more importantly - TOCfE - IT HAD TO BE
PERFECT.
We were confident that the time allowed for us
to provide a good understanding of who and what TOCfE
is, how it came about and what the ethos and core values are. We felt it was
important that we maintained the interactive parts of our workshop plus actual
guided practice. With such a short time available we could never hope to fit in
and do justice to each tool. So scenarios were used to demonstrate each tool.
And for guided practise, well, with a group all aiming to join the Police Force
the only sensible choice was to use the Ambitious Target Tree.
At the start of the evening we
asked everyone, Cadets and Officers, to fill in pre workshop
questionnaires. This was of course followed with post w/shop
questionnaires. We wanted all the attendees to really notice any changes in
their thinking.
It was very useful and
showed some real changes in viewpoints.
Most cadets seemed to be very
engaged and very interested in what we were showing them. HOWEVER, to date, we
have not had an opportunity to meet with them again and none of the cadets have
contacted me independently (which they were invited to do should they wish to
continue independent learning) I cannot say if a paradigm shift occurred for
anyone however the post workshop questionnaires as detailed below show that the
vast majority changed their view on how they would deal with conflict and their
understanding or related issues.
Stats:-
22 questionnaires were
completed. Of those:
17 said they would now handle
disputes differently (77%)
16 said what they had learnt would be of personal
benefit
(72%)
19 said they felt confident in using what they had
learnt (86%)
13 said they would like another workshop either to work
on their new skills or
extend their knowledge further
(59%)
They were asked if, in their
opinion, there was a use for these TOC tools in other areas of the
Force and which areas they felt would benefit most.
15 felt other cadet groups should
be exposed to TOC.
16 thought the Police Force
generally
18 thought Restorative justice
would benefit
19 felt Community Police Officers
should learn TOC
15 suggested other areas,
schools, family, life etc
One of the Officers present
remarked that he thought our workshop was particularly useful because we dealt
with some of the areas the cadets would cover at Hendon (police
training Centre) but in a fun and interactive way, allowing us
to present powerful ideas in a light and accessible manner.
The Cadets were wonderful -
and I would like to share with you what for me was a very exciting part of the
evening.
One young man told me that his
friends were a potential obstacle because they were unsure how to react
around him, was he to be trusted? Was he still a real friend who could put them
before his job, was he a bit of a nerd as they did not understand his
ambition? He said he had always ignored the problem but now he
felt able to deal with it and thanked me.
He decided it was not an obstacle
that would prevent him joining the police but it was a negative aspect he now
realised he could and had to deal with.
Everyone was asked to share
an obstacle with the group, the same cadet told the room about his
friends. I then asked, “Is this a problem for anyone else?”
Every Cadet put up their
hand!
Intrigued, I then asked, “Did
anyone realise this was a problem for anyone else?”
Every cadet said “No”
But they do now.
As Police Cadets this is, by
definition, a training and mentoring group. Hopefully they will take this
opportunity to build on this and create some support networks and initiate
some peer mentoring related to this revelation, particularly as the
Officers present also related very much to this problem.
The young cadet who had
continually pushed to the back of his mind the issue with his friends was able
to look at and decide how he felt about it and think about how to
deal with it.
Here are a few of the
testimonials we received from the workshop.
“I thought the negative branch
was very useful and can help you think of consequences in all
situations.” Chloe Ward: Age
18.
“I think that what I have learned
tonight will help in lots of different situations. For example in disagreements
where I can take a step back and look at it from a different perspective and
when I want to plan now I can achieve something. However in order to use these
tools to the best affect I think I need another workshop where I can really
understand the cloud.”
Sarah
Newman: Age 15.
“I have learnt so much in such a
little time from both Debi and Emma The slide show was clear and understandable
with a great presentation to back it up. I am very interested and will look more
into this. It's a shame there wasn't more time to learn more. Many
thanks.” Kerrie Anne: Age
17.
“Thank you for the introduction.
I feel this would be very useful for PCO'S working in the community and in
schools” Sylvia Rattrey: Officer
“Maybe it should be taught to
younger children, could teach a better way of thinking.”
We are now in discussion with one
We are just putting the finishing
touches to a presentation for both The Restorative Justice Programme* and
Hertfordshire County Youth Offenders Team. Both of whom are very interested in
TOC
* Restorative Justice is becoming
very big news in the
So seeds are being sown - we will
keep you posted which shoots take off.
Information needed Zana Borisavljevic
A
student of mine, Ivana, is coming to the States in August to spend a year in an exchange program. She is 16, a very smart, talented,
nice girl who speaks excellent English, has been introduced to TOC tools and is
a wonderful communicator.
Both she and her family are, understandably,
nervous about her being so far away from home. So I thought it would be nice if
we found someone from the TOCFE world in the area just so that it seems a less
“unknown territory” to her. She will be going to the
If any of the TACTics readers live
in that area (or you know anyone else who does) and if you wouldn’t mind
writing a few words about it, please write to me and I will pass it on to Ivana.
Thanks!
Zana Borisavljevic
jana.b@talk21.com