Standing at just shy of six feet tall, the smallest of my children now casts a long and dark shadow over his old man. With shoulder pads, another three quarter inch for cleats, and stiff posture, he smiles down at me from his lofty height. Grinning from ear to ear, this once tiny toe-head beams because he knows he still has more to grow, whereas I will stay as I am, looking up at the young man he has grown to be.
Just days away from his first high school football game, he explodes with enthusiasm. I look over at him on the way to practice and he is fidgety, not in the nervous mousy way of some, but more like a tiger twitching his tail, scanning the horizon for prey, anticipating the attack with every fiber of his being. The muscles along his arms and shoulders ripple under his t-shirt. The hot summer months have tempered and transformed his body from iron to steel.
I watch him as he defends his position. On the "O"-line, he protects the quarterback's right flank as tackle, overpowering defenders larger and older than himself. He is eager to use his power, yet controlled and precise in its application. From novice to starting line, he is learning to master this game one down at a time. Leveraging the experience of each play to improve his performance and provide the teamwork required to move the ball across the goal line.
The transformation has been all encompassing. He no longer looks at our geographic migration as a penalty of life. Joining the grid iron fraternity has made him a part of something bigger than himself. Any time spent away from the field and his teammates is now seen as a deficit. And his past relationships remain strong over the distance courtesy of modern day communications and the knowledge that he is only one hundred and eighty minutes away by rail.
The hours of practice have not been limited to forging steel alone. Where the field of battle may have made him stronger, hours of rehearsing have continued to hone his musical skills into instruments of the finest qualities. He has set his sights on lofty goals and his talent and ambition will take him to heights I have only imagined. As he finds each new pursuit, I look forward to finding other shadows in which to stand.
Graduation from junior high school was both exciting and distressing. The calendar mocked him daily through the months of June and July. August has enjoyed the benefits of his stature and new social network and he is eagerly counting down to the first day of classes. This fall he starts his freshman year wearing his football jersey in the company of new friends with nothing but opportunities in front of him.
One might think to build him up this way is to unfairly set unrealistic expectations. In actuality I expect nothing. I am merely reflecting that at this time I have the wonderful opportunity to be there to enjoy the cool shade while sharing these moments with him. And I know that wherever he goes and whatever he does, I get to look up to see where he is going and he knows I am there taking in the view.
- Ken
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Like a ferret on caffine...
There are times being passionate about your work can be both a blessing and a curse. Having others want you to be a part of their projects is the blessing. Having the patience to wait for them to decide they need you and your ideas is the curse. And this curse can cause great consternation for everyone including me.
I have a tendency to rapidly connect the dots when analyzing problems and mentally half way through the project before many are even aware of what the problem is (the blessing). This does not in any way mean that my solution is the only solution or even that it is the best, it just means that I have one and therefore I need to share it or I might explode (the curse). The internal battle that wages within me is how to control this desire to be first with the breakthrough, first to the table, and then have to spend the balance of the time explaining and convincing why the idea was valid in the first place.
This is not to say I am not a team player (sorry for the double negative). On the contrary, I enjoy sharing the expertise of others inside and outside of my field. Where I experience difficulty is in not steam rolling the direction of a project just because my ideas jelled more quickly.
My boss calls it being "like a ferret on [caffeine]" (actually, she uses the work crack, but given its connotations, I decided to change it for this entry). She watches me with curiosity these days to see when I go into ferret mode. Fortunately, with her help, the ferret is becoming more manageable. It's amazing what you can learn even as old as I am.
So what am I learning? Well today was a perfect example. We were outlining initiatives for 2012 we want to act on to improve our learning deployment. Everyone on the call had items to contribute including me. As each person went through their lists, I could feel the passion rising, the need to put mine out there, all of them, and quickly. This morning, however, I elected to be patient. And, not only patient, I also decided to contribute but not dominate the process. This of course meant holding a few ideas back for another time or even better, for another person on the team to be able to contribute.
This was a major step for me. To put a few and not all on the table and then sit back to see what else might come. And come they did. And from their ideas I could add to them without owning them myself. And, after so many years, I was liberated in the knowledge that I would benefit from being patient and sharing the ideas of others.
This is especially important as my role is changing to be more and more strategic in nature. Transitioning from a historically tactical position to strategic means looking at the larger picture without being trapped by the nuances of the solution of "how" it will get done before painting the vision of "what" and "why" it is at all. This new found behavior of patience is critical to my success. Fortunately I have a mentor willing to help me recognize my flaws and develop the skills to manage my passion without losing it in the process.
- Ken
I have a tendency to rapidly connect the dots when analyzing problems and mentally half way through the project before many are even aware of what the problem is (the blessing). This does not in any way mean that my solution is the only solution or even that it is the best, it just means that I have one and therefore I need to share it or I might explode (the curse). The internal battle that wages within me is how to control this desire to be first with the breakthrough, first to the table, and then have to spend the balance of the time explaining and convincing why the idea was valid in the first place.
This is not to say I am not a team player (sorry for the double negative). On the contrary, I enjoy sharing the expertise of others inside and outside of my field. Where I experience difficulty is in not steam rolling the direction of a project just because my ideas jelled more quickly.
My boss calls it being "like a ferret on [caffeine]" (actually, she uses the work crack, but given its connotations, I decided to change it for this entry). She watches me with curiosity these days to see when I go into ferret mode. Fortunately, with her help, the ferret is becoming more manageable. It's amazing what you can learn even as old as I am.
So what am I learning? Well today was a perfect example. We were outlining initiatives for 2012 we want to act on to improve our learning deployment. Everyone on the call had items to contribute including me. As each person went through their lists, I could feel the passion rising, the need to put mine out there, all of them, and quickly. This morning, however, I elected to be patient. And, not only patient, I also decided to contribute but not dominate the process. This of course meant holding a few ideas back for another time or even better, for another person on the team to be able to contribute.
This was a major step for me. To put a few and not all on the table and then sit back to see what else might come. And come they did. And from their ideas I could add to them without owning them myself. And, after so many years, I was liberated in the knowledge that I would benefit from being patient and sharing the ideas of others.
This is especially important as my role is changing to be more and more strategic in nature. Transitioning from a historically tactical position to strategic means looking at the larger picture without being trapped by the nuances of the solution of "how" it will get done before painting the vision of "what" and "why" it is at all. This new found behavior of patience is critical to my success. Fortunately I have a mentor willing to help me recognize my flaws and develop the skills to manage my passion without losing it in the process.
- Ken
Saturday, August 6, 2011
Two Down, Ten to Go
While the summer is rapidly coming to a close, my son and I are racing towards the school season with great anticipation. After acing my first two graduate school classes and registering for the next round and watching Isaac rise to the challenge of making the JV football team and register for his high school this summer, our fall schedule is laid out before us in great detail. It is amazing how full a calendar can become in such a short amount of time.
Not that our world is totally consumed by football metaphors, but in our case, the title fits. Grad school for me consists of two classes per semester for six semesters (or 12 classes in all). Isaac has completed summer workouts and football camp with the Crimson Tide of Alabama and is rounding it all out with the last ten days of try-outs. Of course, completion of the last ten for both of us means the start of the next down.
This is not to say the first ten haven't been without their challenges. Sometimes you have to lose a few yards here and there to gain more later. The migration from Raleigh to Davidson has been just that for my son. Parting with his friends has not been an easy transition. We spent the first several weekends racing back and forth between cities to help maintain the ties that bond. Fortunately, as a result of his immersion in football, he has found new friends on the football field.
My challenges are more mundane. Scheduling, mapping the plays and making sure the players are fed seem to consume my hours (not to mention performing my day job activities). It never ceases to amaze me how my wife managed to do this for so many years and with two additional players. In acknowledgement of all she has done, the football team is hosting a Mom's Football 101 brunch and football game (note: there is no father's equivalent - there is no comparison for what a mom does).
All I know for certain is this fall will be like no other. The gridiron, freshman year, fall semester and life in general will provide an environment for our father son bond to continue to grow. There will always be a goal line and another touchdown to make. It's the plays in between that are what makes the game exciting. I am just happy we get to share the field.
- Ken
Not that our world is totally consumed by football metaphors, but in our case, the title fits. Grad school for me consists of two classes per semester for six semesters (or 12 classes in all). Isaac has completed summer workouts and football camp with the Crimson Tide of Alabama and is rounding it all out with the last ten days of try-outs. Of course, completion of the last ten for both of us means the start of the next down.
This is not to say the first ten haven't been without their challenges. Sometimes you have to lose a few yards here and there to gain more later. The migration from Raleigh to Davidson has been just that for my son. Parting with his friends has not been an easy transition. We spent the first several weekends racing back and forth between cities to help maintain the ties that bond. Fortunately, as a result of his immersion in football, he has found new friends on the football field.
My challenges are more mundane. Scheduling, mapping the plays and making sure the players are fed seem to consume my hours (not to mention performing my day job activities). It never ceases to amaze me how my wife managed to do this for so many years and with two additional players. In acknowledgement of all she has done, the football team is hosting a Mom's Football 101 brunch and football game (note: there is no father's equivalent - there is no comparison for what a mom does).
All I know for certain is this fall will be like no other. The gridiron, freshman year, fall semester and life in general will provide an environment for our father son bond to continue to grow. There will always be a goal line and another touchdown to make. It's the plays in between that are what makes the game exciting. I am just happy we get to share the field.
- Ken
Thursday, June 30, 2011
And the rockets red glare...
Independence Day is fast approaching and I have managed to schedule and prepare for a vacation sans work and homework. Last week was the conclusion of my first graduate school class. It was exhilarating waiting for the results of my final exam. An open book experience that took days not hours to complete. In the end, I succeeded and earned an A.
Now I can focus on my second course. Whereas my first class was mostly online discussions and papers, the balance of my summer will be spent completing five labs - each covering a different type of Web learning technology. My first was a review of Second Life as a potential learning environment. Not very exciting, but a chance to write on a topic of interest in a formal setting.
The next two projects are currently in summative evaluation (pilot testing for the rest of the world). One is a Prezi presentation on the topic of Gamification. For those of you wanting to know a little more about this popular topic, take a look and learn a little. Feedback is welcome.
In four days the USA celebrates its independence and remembers what it means to be free. A lot of that freedom is due to our ability and privilege to learn and grow. With this in mind, I elected to produce a digital video learning program focused on teaching Newton's 3rd Law of Motion through the experience of building a simple, but effective, matchstick rocket. I invite each of you to carefully watch this video with your friends, your children (middle and high schoolers only), and anyone else that enjoys home-built fireworks. So just click here, start building, and this 4th of July let your own rockets red glare.
Have a happy and safe weekend!
- Ken
Now I can focus on my second course. Whereas my first class was mostly online discussions and papers, the balance of my summer will be spent completing five labs - each covering a different type of Web learning technology. My first was a review of Second Life as a potential learning environment. Not very exciting, but a chance to write on a topic of interest in a formal setting.
The next two projects are currently in summative evaluation (pilot testing for the rest of the world). One is a Prezi presentation on the topic of Gamification. For those of you wanting to know a little more about this popular topic, take a look and learn a little. Feedback is welcome.
In four days the USA celebrates its independence and remembers what it means to be free. A lot of that freedom is due to our ability and privilege to learn and grow. With this in mind, I elected to produce a digital video learning program focused on teaching Newton's 3rd Law of Motion through the experience of building a simple, but effective, matchstick rocket. I invite each of you to carefully watch this video with your friends, your children (middle and high schoolers only), and anyone else that enjoys home-built fireworks. So just click here, start building, and this 4th of July let your own rockets red glare.
- Ken
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer
This summer is turning out to one of the busiest our family has experienced yet. The craziness actually started with the month of May. Between the school production of the musical "Oklahoma" and Isaac's eighth grade graduation followed by Darby's trek to Grammy and Grampa's place for another year of drama camp, preparation for the rest of the summer has had us all spinning around and around.
What started out a in January as a question of what the kids will do this summer has turned into quite the adventure for each.
Darby has one of the lead roles in her summer theater performance. Then she travels to Jeckle Island to enjoy a week at church camp (really camping) and then a week at the beach with our immediate family and all the cousins. She rounds out her summer with a trip to New York City with one of her best friends.
Isaac is taking a week off after graduation. He then moves west to join me a start football practice at the high school he will be attending this fall. One exciting aspect of football this summer will be a week spent at the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football camp. All that and the "man cave" should make for a great father/son bonding time.
Alex has already kicked off her summer with a performance at the Burning Coal Theater in Raleigh. She got to experience a stage combat role in which she shot someone and then died. Her goal for the season is to perform as much as possible, babysit as many pets and children as she can, and go on as many hiking trips and other adventures with her friends in the remaining time.
As for Trudie and I, Trudie will enjoy a well earned respite from the busy year. Hopefully taking a few trips out west to Isaac and me when she comes to visit her friend in this area. We all will take our week at the beach and then I will be spending the rest of my time working out with my new personal trainer, Isaac, working and completing my summer courses for graduate school.
The greatest part about the kids reaching the ages they are now is the freedom we feel in letting them experience the world in their own way. Our hope is that they bring back lots of memories to share so we can all enjoy their experiences.
As for the hazy and lazy part of summer, the hazy comes from the North Carolina summer humidity and the lazy comes from any time Trudie and I can take a moment together and relax.
We wouldn't have it any other way!
- Ken
What started out a in January as a question of what the kids will do this summer has turned into quite the adventure for each.
Darby has one of the lead roles in her summer theater performance. Then she travels to Jeckle Island to enjoy a week at church camp (really camping) and then a week at the beach with our immediate family and all the cousins. She rounds out her summer with a trip to New York City with one of her best friends.
Isaac is taking a week off after graduation. He then moves west to join me a start football practice at the high school he will be attending this fall. One exciting aspect of football this summer will be a week spent at the University of Alabama Crimson Tide football camp. All that and the "man cave" should make for a great father/son bonding time.
Alex has already kicked off her summer with a performance at the Burning Coal Theater in Raleigh. She got to experience a stage combat role in which she shot someone and then died. Her goal for the season is to perform as much as possible, babysit as many pets and children as she can, and go on as many hiking trips and other adventures with her friends in the remaining time.
As for Trudie and I, Trudie will enjoy a well earned respite from the busy year. Hopefully taking a few trips out west to Isaac and me when she comes to visit her friend in this area. We all will take our week at the beach and then I will be spending the rest of my time working out with my new personal trainer, Isaac, working and completing my summer courses for graduate school.
The greatest part about the kids reaching the ages they are now is the freedom we feel in letting them experience the world in their own way. Our hope is that they bring back lots of memories to share so we can all enjoy their experiences.
As for the hazy and lazy part of summer, the hazy comes from the North Carolina summer humidity and the lazy comes from any time Trudie and I can take a moment together and relax.
We wouldn't have it any other way!
- Ken
Midway through first semester
I have decided trying to juggle a full time job, grad school, tweeting and blogging simultaneously is dang near impossible. Sleep has to take place sometime, so this blog has taken a back seat for a bit. Now that we have reached the midpoint of the five-week course, I realized I owe everyone an update. All excuses aside I have found the experience quite exhilarating and not nearly as difficult to get back in the swing of as I feared.
Distance learning is a great. My professors have two different styles of teaching. Both conduct their courses asynchronously, however, one maintains a more rigid schedule of deliverables while the other outlined the projects we must complete within the period of the semester at our own pace. Given the different topics and focus of each course, this seems to be working well.
The more rigid schedule is conducted in an interesting format. Prior to each assignment, we provide initial thoughts on the topic about to be covered in class. Then we participate in the assignment and conclude with more thoughts either updating our original ideas or indicating why our opinions have changed. This sequence allows us as students to draw initial conclusions with which to frame our learning.
I was concerned the forum structure of the class would be a hindrance to the normal classroom environment of real time feedback. This concern has proven to be unfounded as the discussion boards are actually a better solution in that many of us take more time to consider our responses to each other. I know the feedback I have received has definitely helped me improve the quality of my work.
In addition to adopting the new style of learning, I have discovered that writing for graduate school is a lot different than anywhere else. The APA format is required for all submissions. I actually had to Google APA to even know what it is. Now that I have been using it for a couple of weeks I find that the format actually lends itself to improved reporting for experimental work. I may attempt to use it for my professional research and development work as well.
So far I am doing well in both classes. I will post again at the end of my first course this month.
- Ken
Distance learning is a great. My professors have two different styles of teaching. Both conduct their courses asynchronously, however, one maintains a more rigid schedule of deliverables while the other outlined the projects we must complete within the period of the semester at our own pace. Given the different topics and focus of each course, this seems to be working well.
The more rigid schedule is conducted in an interesting format. Prior to each assignment, we provide initial thoughts on the topic about to be covered in class. Then we participate in the assignment and conclude with more thoughts either updating our original ideas or indicating why our opinions have changed. This sequence allows us as students to draw initial conclusions with which to frame our learning.
I was concerned the forum structure of the class would be a hindrance to the normal classroom environment of real time feedback. This concern has proven to be unfounded as the discussion boards are actually a better solution in that many of us take more time to consider our responses to each other. I know the feedback I have received has definitely helped me improve the quality of my work.
In addition to adopting the new style of learning, I have discovered that writing for graduate school is a lot different than anywhere else. The APA format is required for all submissions. I actually had to Google APA to even know what it is. Now that I have been using it for a couple of weeks I find that the format actually lends itself to improved reporting for experimental work. I may attempt to use it for my professional research and development work as well.
So far I am doing well in both classes. I will post again at the end of my first course this month.
- Ken
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
First Day of School
My daughter Alex completed her freshman year of college last week. I am not sure who had the bigger shock at the fact that the year went by so quickly. What resonated loudest was her feeling of "what do I do next?" Now obviously she will return to classes in the fall, but her real question was more of "wow, I finished my first year of college, what are the expectation of me now?"
I have had that same feeling for the past 23 years. Once leaving the safety and security of the university, there has always been an unspoken question of "what do I do now?" "What is my next step?"
Well, today I can tell you I know the answer (at least for the next two years). Because today is my first day of graduate school. Talley-ho!
As I accessed the distance learning Blackboard page, it was almost reminiscent of my freshman year. And although I have been developing distance learning programs and technology-based instruction for over two decades, being on the learning side is still very exciting. Why, you might ask? Simply stated, "someone else is in control."
I am the participant, the learner, the partaker of the experience. And while I know there is much work to be accomplished, I relish the chance to learn something new. Take chances where in the business world I am not always able.
So today I "open the doors" and answer "what do I do next?" with one word: learn!
- Ken
I have had that same feeling for the past 23 years. Once leaving the safety and security of the university, there has always been an unspoken question of "what do I do now?" "What is my next step?"
Well, today I can tell you I know the answer (at least for the next two years). Because today is my first day of graduate school. Talley-ho!
As I accessed the distance learning Blackboard page, it was almost reminiscent of my freshman year. And although I have been developing distance learning programs and technology-based instruction for over two decades, being on the learning side is still very exciting. Why, you might ask? Simply stated, "someone else is in control."
I am the participant, the learner, the partaker of the experience. And while I know there is much work to be accomplished, I relish the chance to learn something new. Take chances where in the business world I am not always able.
So today I "open the doors" and answer "what do I do next?" with one word: learn!
- Ken
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)