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 Kathy Suerken

- Odyssey 2007- The NetherlandsAnnouncement Kathy Suerken

-  Metropolitan Police Cadet Introduction Evening Spring 07

                                                                                  Debi Roberts, UK

- 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 

October 11-14, 2007

   Ft. Walton Beach Florida, USA

Keynote:    Dr. Eli Goldratt

 

Airport:          VPS:  (Valparaiso, Florida, USA)

Venue:          Ramada Plaza Beach Resort

                        Group Rates Block Until September 10, 2007:

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:   Kathy Suerkensuerken@cox.net

 

Odyssey 2007- The Netherlands - Announcement

 

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                                  Debi Roberts, UK            debiroberts@hotmail.co.uk

 

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, Linda Trapnell and I attended a very busy and security conscious Central Police Office in London.  We spent a couple of hours discussing the virtues of TOC and in what areas we felt the Police might find them useful. By the end of the meeting we had an agreement to run the aforementioned two hour introductory workshop.  The evening had to be as wonderful as possible for its own sake (obviously) but so much more was riding on its success - this was is a trial, a test if you like, a chance for us to get a foot in this normally firmly shut door.  

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 London area Police Force who are thinking of using the tools with their Officers. 

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 UK.  TOC fits this programme like a glove.  Smart Justice is an organisation that is a national voice for Restorative Justice Programmes and they have seen this and have said they are happy to advocate it for their clients. 

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 

Mountain Vista High School,  Mountain Vista Ridge, Highlands Ranch, Colorado. 

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