Multiple Intelligences Presentation and Wordle

Alright, you do NOT, I repeat NOT want to read this paper but at least it is over and done with. Some adjustments will be made tomorrow but it is now 7:16 pm and i have been here in the library all day and I am tired! I had to take a summer course and decided to take this course that deals with management in higher education and new faculty. Great! Should really spark many ideas and at first it did. However, after realizing quickly that an assignment required us to create, develop and carry out a complete research project, my 4 weeks of summer turned out slightly different. During the 4 weeks I also had to allot one week to go to Canada to defend! That was as mentioned before an amazing experience and I will never forget that. But really, how can one do a complete research project in 4 weeks? I thought it would be a great challenge and maybe at first it was but finding out that survey research would be the only way to get fast answers was one thing, doing the analysis and understanding the statistics was another. You really can't learn stats in one week! You just can't and it frustrated the heck out of me. I just have to be honest in my defeat and acknowledge that this is the worst paper I have ever and hopefully will ever write. I don't want to take another summer course anymore ever just because I believe students need a break just as profs do. But unfortunately that may not happen so I will continue, step by step. I know this project created a period where emotions ran high and confusion controlled my thoughts, however, I did learn that I still have lots to learn and if anything, this project did inspire me to learn more. I always thought I wanted to be a professor that was well-rounded, so I must begin my quest to understand both qual and quan research and how perhaps the two can be combined. Many thoughts run through my head and these often keep me awake at night so I must also learn to let go, quiet my mind and relax. I have promised myself that I will take it easy the next few weeks before classes. Taking time for myself, taking care of my body and exploring the horizon! Well, especially the web 2.0. world. : So I jut keep in mind my motto: just keep swimming, just keep swimming and everything will be alright.

A new low

I hit it again. One of the lows on my roller coaster ride. I have been in Fayetteville now since July 10th and have realized that too much change too fast is not good. Moving, running, new place, new people, new courses, finishing thesis,... I believe that taking this summer course was probably the biggest mistake ever. I am sure I may change my mind as I get credit for the work that I do but for my mental state it was not the best way to go. Then again, it was not my choice so however I turn it, a course had to be taken. I don't know why they wouldn't let me start Aug. 25th as that is when I start the classes I teach. Perhaps I should have requested that. I always thought the start date was Fall but this change in plans affects a lot, it specially affects my mood. Summer, between two programs, a time to relax and reflect, brainstorm and search for ideas, a time to just calm down. I think it is important to have the opportunity to shut the brain off for a bit. I still don't know how to do that and perhaps that is THE one thing I must learn in this process. I have so much stuff on the go that I get overwhelmed and end up doing nothing but bite my finger nails. Perhaps writing this blog post with help. I was doing fairly well last week but it is difficult to be alone. I believe that this may just be the toughest transition I have ever gone through. And I don't quite know why. Is it because I don't know that many people yet and have to find my way around? Is it because I miss my friends and I am having difficulties connecting with them over the phone due to poor Internet connections? Is it because I have too many things on the go? Or maybe it is just the heat? I don't know, but whatever it is, I need, NEED and WANT to get out of this mood and be happy with where I am and what I am doing. The worst part is that for the first time in my life, I had doubts about the future. I had doubts about my desire to become a prof. I also have too many interests and can't focus my research ideas. I know what I must do, take one day at a time and go with the flow. It will get to you when it is time. Wanting too much too soon is never good but I was hoping to find and formulate my dissertation early in my program. I must be patient. I need to make a to-do list and go one step at a time. Paper, presentation, exam, prepping for classes.
So quiet here in my apartment, too quiet, I need people, friends,...contact. The only sound I hear the my head pounding and sending shocks through my body. When I watched "Into the wild", the character in the movie wanted to live alone of nature. He explained that was truly living. I was sceptical and envious and the same time of him. Could I learn to enjoy myself when I am alone? Can being alone give me pleasure and ensure happiness. Well, by the end of the movie, before he died, he wrote that true happiness can only happen if it is shared. Or something like it. A shift in his thinking? A need for human contact. Some people need it more than others. Relationships,... discovering, building and maintaining relationships is intriguing to me. I don't need many good friends, I just need to be able to listen en talk with others, be around other people. I think that is probably the biggest need in my life right now. Next week, orientations begin and i am sure I will meet lots of people, but till than, I am hoping to finish this coursework and go to Little Rock. I need a different focus for at least a few days. I need a holiday... well, a small one. To calm down. I need to be outside, being active. Walking, running, biking, swimming, whatever it is, I need to do something with my body, in nature, away from the city.
Can I ever be truly happy, or will there always be something? Why can't I just enjoy my life. Why do I always want to make things more challenging?
Many questions,... no answers needed... just thoughts in the moment.

Web 2.0.

At the moment, I am attending an online summercamp, see Pbwiki.com. This summercamp is for those teachers who wish to design and implement a wiki into their course work. I will use the wiki http://peforever.pbwiki.com to organize all my courses and get my students involved in Web 2.0. So far I have learned many new tools, almost too many. I am trying to catch up on all the reading while attempting to try out all these new tools.
One thing is for sure: this summercamp is worth it! I am developing my coursework during these 3 weeks so it is great timing. I have a few more days to go before my university course is completed and than I can focus on the design of my course wiki.
I get really too excited about all of this. At times, it is difficult to shut my mind off at night and I feel I move from one computer to the next throughout my day. I guess it is my choice to focus on wikis within my research, so I just have to deal with it. I love it though.
I have been twittering all day. Started to twitter last year but did not really get into it too much. Now that I am connecting with people who have similar interests than me, it is becoming a highlight of my day!
So today I created that video below, used twitter, installed tweetdeck, listened in to a web seminar on using digital storytelling, did my homework for week 2, went to a 3 hour class, worked out for 40 minutes, went to Walmart to get food, walked for 40 minutes, created a new wiki, checked email, read my course work material for my night class, and I can keep going. I did do a lot of multi-tasking! Now I am exhausted! Good night!
I can't wait till tomorrow! I am actually not lonely anymore, if anything, this summercamp has given me people to talk to during the day! Thanks!

Becoming Canadian

Trying out new Web Tools! This is Animoto, creating videos in a snap

A new beginning... an exciting ending

It has been awhile since I reflected on here but yet I do have my reasons. I initially thought my summer would be relaxing. However, it turned out that I am more busy than ever. My quest of becoming a scholar has turned myself into a whirlwind of ideas that keep my mind so occupied I miss out on these vital reflective notes I wrote each night. IN fact, I know that writing on my blog is meditative for me, very relaxing, so I should be vigilant about it!
Anyway, during the summer, well let's say June/July, many things have happened. Here is the short version!

1. My thesis: writing writing writing! And when I was finished the writing and my advisor gave me the ok to send it out to my other committee members I felt totally excited. Wow, what an amazing experience it has been. I actually enjoyed the entire process even though there were many ups and down. I learned so much and will never forget my time at the University of Manitoba. My thesis titled: wikis and TGfU: a collaborative approach to understanding games education has brought me on a different path. Web 2.0 has been on my mind ever since and now, as I embark on my PhD, I somehow wish I could design a research plan to combine the wiki and PE once again, or if not, web 2.0... The problem is once again that I have too many ideas and interests so if anybody out there has any advice, feel free to twitter me. ok, twitter, a web 2.0. tool where you can let people know what you are doing at any point in time, kinda like instant messaging. My twitter name is helenabaert so find me and be my friend!

2. The big move! As I leave Manitoba, I decided to begin a PhD program at the University of Arkansas. So as I am about to write my thesis I had absolutely no time to think about moving. With conferences, thesis, traveling on my mind I decided a moving company would do it all. And so they did. I really did nothing except for pay too much money. But no stress! And that is great, as I had enough stress. So the moving company got my stuff around June 19th and brought it to Arkansas the second week of July. Meaning I was without any of my stuff for about a month. That was a different experience but I managed even if I had to sleep on the floor for a couple of days. I think the only big thing I was missing was my car. Not that I really needed it but it would have been handy. Now, going back for my thesis defense on July 24th, I picked up my car and drove 16 hours to Fayetteville. I did go two hours further to Little Rock, of course but I actually did not mind it at all. It stressed me out before but I did great I think. I drove from Winnipeg to Sioux City on Friday night, left at 4 pm to arrive at midnight. In the morning I left at 8 am to arrive in Little Rock at 6 pm. Long drive but worth it. Now I have my buggy to drive between Fayetteville and Little Rock. But I swore to myself that only for groceries or in extreme weather will I use my car here in Fayetteville! I rather walk or bike! And that is a deal I make to myself!

3. Thesis defense: July 24th, 10 am. An experience I will never forget. I was nervous for the 30 minutes before I started the presentation but once I started I was fine. I had presented parts of it before I think that helped enormously with my comfort level. I really loved every minute of it, especially the questioning afterwards. All good questions, some difficult, some easy, all challenged my mind, which is what I wanted. When it was all said and done, I can't believe that it is now all over. My thesis has been submitted. That is really a weird feeling. I think it is because I don't really feel it is complete. What I mean by that is the following. I know I have much to learn in that area and I am not ready to put that topic away. I became very passionate about using Web 2.0 as instructional tools and submitting that thesis just seemed so final, which I did not like. Even though I knew I had to in order to graduate! So that is why I am thinking, there must be something I can do to combine my love for teaching PE with wikis or Web 2.0. I am thinking, each day... it will come to me I am sure. The first thing that will spark some type of inquiry may be the fact that I will use wikis with the courses I will teach. I guess we will see. Right now, I am taking a summer camp on wikis and I am exploring different wikis to see which one to use in my courses. What I really want to experiment with is attempting to teach a paperless course. Except for the course outline and exam, I wanted to attempt to save a few trees. Can it be possible? Can learning occur without paper?

4. A new start: I began my program at the university of Arkansas. I thought I would start in August 25th but I was wrong. My GA position started on July 1st and in order to get paid, I had to take a summer course. I remember to have a meeting with my advisor on the Tuesday morning and not having a clue about all of this and by Tuesday afternoon I was sitting in my first class. So weird. The class I decided to take was called management in HKRD, a course on higher education, in particular in the area of health, kinesiology, recreation and dance. I think it was great for me to take that course as it could really inspire me to begin this program with confidence. The book we were required to read is called "New Faculty" and I have now finished it. It is a how to guide to becoming a professor. I really enjoyed the book. It was more the assignment that somehow excited me yet stressed me out. We are required to complete an entire study in 3 weeks, which is too short of a time frame. I think if I would have started with a different frame of mind, I would have relieved some stress but I went into the project with much excitement, thinking I would write a great paper. Soon I realized that with my limited experience in quantitative research and limited time to design and implement a survey I could, should and would not create quality work. Yet, perhaps I am creating quality for where I am right now so it just depends on how you look at it.

5. Research project: the study I decided to do was investigating the Multiple intelligences of college athletes and professors to compare the MI's with the teaching methods used. The data is inconclusive due to the sample size but I do think this topic is worth investigating further. I believe that differentiated instruction could be assessed through this examination so I hope to pursue it further. I now have also found a better, more scientifically based instrument to assess MI's. As a second project, I would like to explore the TPI's, or teaching perspectives of GA's and profs and compare these. I think it would be interested, especially in light of the realization that many GA's teach without prior teaching experience and I believe it may assist in the development of becoming a more reflective teacher. So that is an area I would like to explore as well. I also started to think about using the TPI with profs/GA's and with the students. Attempting to design an inventory based on the TPI for students to fill out so they can reflect upon the teaching style the teacher was using. I think that perhaps, the way teachers perceive their teaching may not be the way it is actually received by the students. And, wouldn't you want to know what your students think of your teaching?

Where am I now? 1 week away from finishing the summer course. 2 weeks away from starting 2 weeks of orientations. and 3 weeks away from starting teaching and learning!

To keep me sane: Exercise! ( I should really evaluate the activity level of grad students, I found it extremely difficult at times to find the time, but I do) My goal is to start with the 25 KM (which I ran in 2'43) and do my first 50 Km next spring. So I would like to create a training plan to do so, combining running with biking and strength exercises.
I can do it! Just keep swimming, just keep swimming.

You know, this is very exciting, I am loving every minute of it and my mind has not stopped. The more I think about whether academia is right for me, the more I think it probably is, so that is a good mind set to have at the start of a new program. I will keep you informed on my state of mind as I progress through this program! I promise!

TGfU Wiki Wordle

Defense Date set!

After hours and hours of writing frustration, it is finally over. My thesis is completed and now I must present it in an oral defense. I hope all goes well. Coordinating schedules with the committee members was not easy but a July 24th date has been set and I am happy I will be able to graduate this year. As a grad student, it seems crucial to be in contact with your committee members throughout the process and especially around the summer so you can organize your defense around their holidays. Not an easy task, especially when they all take holidays at a different time. Completing my 2 year degree in 1.5 years has caused some issues but I am glad these will all resolve itself. One lesson I have learned is to read all the guidelines of grad school and map out the important deadlines prior to beginning the program. No one is going to guide you through it as in high school or undergrad. It is really up to you to know what your program entails, what your rights are and what you must do to complete it. If you don't know! Ask! Don't expect someone to come up to you and do it for you or pointing you in the right direction. Ofcourse it does help to have a good relationship with your advisor. I had a wonderful relationship with my advisor and I am a bit worried about finding a new one for my PhD program. This relationship can be crucial to the success of your program and your choice of mentor must be carefully thought through.

Happy Canada day to all Canadians! I am suppose to start my GA position at the U of A but I am not sure what to do or where to go so I am just waiting it out. I also am waiting for my furniture to come. I can't believe that my Masters is coming to an end and my PhD is going to begin soon. I am very excited.

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

I guess that is what I am trying to do while writing my thesis. Keep going without losing it completely! AH, thesis writing is a time of pressure but it is also a time of closure as the end of a program is near. As this accumulation activity evolves before my eyes, I often reflect on when this process began. Why back in 2004 I wanted to start a Masters but did not just because I wanted to teach for a couple of years in a public school. I thought I would be a hypocrite if I taught teacher candidates how to teach without actually having the experience teaching in public schools. Now I must say that teaching PE, whether I was in a public school, private school, summer camp or after school programming, it is the same. Really, my teaching did not really change just because I taught in a public school. What did change was my experience with administration and politics and all that jazz. Stuff you rather not know anything about but I guess it is part of the deal. Anyway, makes you think that if teaching is teaching no matter where you teach, than that assumption may create more options for student teaching practicum in PETE programs.
However, I must say that I taught sports to large groups before teaching smaller classes. I also did my practicum in many different schools over 3 years. So maybe that assumption was not correct. What the heck am I talking about?
I have no clue, really, I am out of it and should not even be writing anything on this blog as I am writing my thesis. AAAAAAAHHH A couple more days. Finish Chapter 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, now I am writing chapter 6 which is half way done. Really, I have one more day of writing and than editing. Not that bad considering so I should be happy! Right? AH, well, I will be happy once my advisor tells me it's a go! Yes! That is when I will be satisfied! Next, defense, cruel it is, and than holiday? HA! Fat chance! I start work on July 1st. Ohh well, my choice I know... I know...
Just keep swimming....
Just keep swimming...

Wikis and TGfU presentation, Congress 2008

PHETE Night

On a Monday evening, in Banana Leaf Restaurant in Vancouver, on the last evening of the Congress, a team of scholars ( and me), shared a wonderful meal spiced with tales of the past. Being in the midst of these scholars, I felt honored and privileged. As they had many experiences, both in life and academia, I knew they would be a great resource for me as a graduate student. Even though I will read many texts starting September 08, I thought the summer would be a great time to read books that would not appear on my course list but maybe a valuable inspiration to me as a learner, a teacher or a friend. The opportunity to ask experienced writers, scholars and academics to compile my summer reading was the beginning of this quest.

The books above were kindly and purposely listed by the other PHETE members.

I asked the following question:

As a graduate student, I wish for you to each think of a book that would be worthwhile reading within my journey through graduate school. As I embark on doctoral studies, a summer reading list to inspire and ignite questions and perhaps answers which may challenge or sooth my quest for knowledge acquisition at a different level.

For myself, I pose the questions:

- What do these books tell me about myself, life and education?

- How can these books assist me within my graduate work?

- As inspired by scholars in the area of education, why did they provide me with these books What can these books tell me about the scholars who chose them?

- How will these books shape me and how did these books shape them?

The Congress 2008, a worthwhile trip for learning and listening and creating community. Even though I spent most of my visit to Vancouver in my room writing my thesis, I am thankful for the opportunity to meet some amazing scholars.

This summer, as soon as my master thesis is completed, I will read these books and will record my reflections in this blog as I go along. I will also invite the PHETE Committee to join and respond to my reflections.

Sincerely,

PHETE Graduate REP