Quote-A-Day: Day 253

While you won't always get the answers you want, you should always want the answers you get. #QuoteADay #Day253 #edchat #edu #ASCDL2L

I’m waiting to hear back on something that could be quite interesting.  But, I won’t hear about it until the end of the month.  I’m a very patient person, but I’m anxious and nervous about the feedback I could get on this item.

I had emailed my contact for an update, and was told that talks were still in progress, and while it was hoped that I would receive feedback and information by the beginning of this month, it is likely that I won’t hear until the end of September.

While I would have loved to get a different answer during this update, I was thankful for a number of things.

First, my contact openly shared where her team was, and what the process would look like moving forward.  This openness, and willingness to provide me with an update (even if there wasn’t much information to give) provided me with a deeper understanding of how the project is moving forward.

Second, it gave me the chance to continue to work on building my patience.  After hearing from her, I immediately wanted to respond and ask a number of follow-up questions, to see if there was any, even a small tidbit, of information that could lead me to conclude one thing or the other.  But, after giving it a night, I realized that a response of “Thanks so much for the update; I’m looking forward to hearing from you” was exactly the type of (and really the only) reply I should give.

Finally, it made me realize the true power of answers.  Often, when there’s a question asked, we hope to receive a certain response.  But, realistically, it should rarely be about the answer we receive, and should always be about how we utilize the answer that is given.  The response I got from my contact allowed me to get a better sense of how the organization was proceeding, and made me further confident about the thorough nature of the review my idea was getting.  It also helped me to see the power of patience, and to realize that at this point, the idea is out of my hands, and I’ll just have to wait it out.

While we often don’t get the answers we’re specifically looking for, we should embrace the answers we do get.  There is learning in everything that we’re told; we just have to think about how to apply it.

Quote-A-Day: Day 252

It's always okay to be wrong, as long as you admit when you are. #QuoteADay #Day252 #edchat #edu #ASCDL2L

I tend to be wrong a lot.  My last “wrong” scenario was in predicting who in our Fantasy Football league would do well yesterday.  Not a big deal, I know.  But, it speaks to a point.  We’re never as right as we tend to believe we are.

Since I had spent a small portion of the day yesterday talking trash with league mates (very lite trash, after all, the season has just begun J), this morning I left a message with some league owners that I was wrong in my predictions, and I then congratulated one of the people who I had predicted would have a bad week.  In fact, this person’s team has already outscored mine. J 

The important point is that we always make sure that we’re willing and able to admit when we’re wrong, and that we actually take pride in the fact that this can happen.

At the same time, we have to make sure that our wrongs can be righted.  While most incorrect statements or actions are reversible, some can never be overturned.  We need to make sure that we do our homework and stay true to ourselves to make sure we don’t find ourselves in positions where we’ve wronged a little too much.

I’m proud to say I’m wrong, and wrong often.  It’s a trait of mine that keeps me remembering that I don’t know it all, and I never will.  And that’s a great thing.

Quote-A-Day: Day 251

The only true sign of "failure" is giving up. #QuoteADay #Day251 #edchat #edu #ASCDL2L #NeverGiveUp

This morning I spent about three hours taking down  a chandelier, and then installing a new light.  To say it was a challenge would be putting it lightly.

Taking the chandelier down was actually fairly easy.  In fact, it took me little-to-no time to do, and once the chandelier came down, I assumed that it was going to be smooth sailing.

Unfortunately, I was totally wrong.  The new light was a beast to put together, and once it was up, working out the wiring, which should have been incredibly easy, was incredibly tough.

I enjoy doing work around the house, but this work, this work was incredibly challenging, and incredibly frustrating.

There were a number of times where I truly wanted to give up, where I wanted to throw my hands up and say, "Forget it."  But, giving up is the only time when failure is actually a bad thing, and I would rather see myself succeed over a very long time, then walk away and "fail" in a negative way.

We need to make sure that in all that we do, we're never giving up.  That doesn't mean that we have to do everything by ourselves.  But, it does mean that when we encounter those challenges we can't handle on our own, we need to make sure that we're asking for assistance,

The other option, simply giving up, isn't really an option at all.

How can we hope to ever succeed if we just stop trying?

Quote-A-Day: Day 250

We must #lead for those we can have an impact on, not for those who we cannot. #edchat #edu #QuoteADay #Day250 #MakeADifference

Last night, a few minutes before I went to bed, I spent some time catching up on Voxes.  I enjoy using Voxer quite a bit, but am still struggling with how I can engage in the active listening necessary to truly stay involved in the conversation.  The fast-forward button can be helpful, but at times it can feel like you're using fast-forward just to catch up, and that seems to discount the power of true conversation.  But, that's a topic for another post.

As I was catching up on a number of Voxes, one of our group members shared a deeply heartfelt Vox, that shared both personal and professional struggles, as well as important victories.  In short, my colleague was dealing with the age-old struggle of how to remember that we can't please everyone, and how to make sure we don't take personal attacks personally, and instead, focus on those who need us most.

This has always been a tough area for me.  I find that I desperately want to please everyone, and get frustrated when I can't.  I then spend time trying to multiply my effort to please these folks, often at the expense of those who can benefit from my time the most.

And that's not okay.

My colleague's story, and her epiphany, reminded me that it is never about the people we can't reach (because we'll never be able to reach them, no matter what we do, or how hard we work).

Instead, it is always about those who we can reach, and those for whom we can have the most impact.
 No longer should the squeaky wheel get the grease.  Instead, we should remove the wheel (or remove ourselves from the situation), and replace it with one that is happy to be a part of the vehicle.

Quote-A-Day: Day 249

#Assessments aren't inherently bad. However, how we use them, can be. #QuoteADay #Day249 #edchat #edu #Data #Learn #Lead #edtherapy

Last night I had the opportunity to participate in a short portion of a new education chat, #edtherapy.  The topic was assessments and how we are dealing with them (and how we should be), and it got me thinking about the bad rap that assessment measures have gotten recently.

Many seem primed to attack tests, without having a deep understanding of what they could do for us, if they were used properly.  Blaming the tests (or along the same lines, standards) takes the responsibility off those who use them, us.

The tests are never inherently evil, and by themselves, they aren’t “bad.”  However, in many states, how we are using them, and how they are impacting our learners, is a problem.  We need to make sure that if we are rallying against the tests, we’re actually rallying against how they are being used.  Assessing learners is a necessary part of education.  But, it has to have purpose, and data needs to be easy to interpret by all.

The worst effect tests can have is to make those who take them (or who administer them) further confused by their results.  If a measure results in less clarity after it is used than before, then we need to rethink how and why we’re utilizing that tool.

Like curriculum, a test should never be blamed for poor performance, or lack of usable data.  Rather, we should accept the blame for our poor use and implementation of devices that are, simply, just tools.

Quote-A-Day: Day 248

It isn't just the words you say, but how you say them, that makes all the difference. #QuoteADay #Day248 #edchat #edu #ASCDL2L

Sure, the words we say are important, but often, it is how we say them that truly makes a difference for people.  Here’s a quick example.

This morning, as my wife and I were leaving for work, my wife pulled me aside and said, “You better run in and get something for Sydney to sleep with.”  I was taking the girls to daycare today, and our oldest likes to bring a “friend” to nap with.  So, I turned to Sydney and said, “Hey Syd, who do you want to bring to nap with today?”  Sydney then responded that she wanted to bring “bear.”

Now, time out.  Sydney has two different stuffed bears that she loves.  One is called, “Bear.”  The other is called, “Bearie.”  If I bring the wrong one, it is going to be a problem, likely.  So, I say, “Sydney, I’ll go and get your bear.  But, do you want to bring ‘Bear’ or ‘Bearie?’”  She looks at me and says, “Bearie please, Daddy.”

“Bear” is a very simple word.  We get what it means and what it should represent.  The problem is that to others, “bear” may mean different things, and in the case of my daughter, “bear” can represent either of two very different stuffed animals.

Part of “saying the right thing” is understanding that the words we choose and how we express them makes a big difference, and as such, we always need to be thinking about what we are going to say (and how) a turn before we actually say it.  So, when I asked my daughter which friend she wanted to bring to school, I was already thinking about potential questions to clarify her response to make sure we were both on the same page.

Having a conversation while you’re also thinking ahead to the conversation in the future isn’t easy, but it is necessary if we hope to share information in a way that makes a difference for people.  It also allows us to “preflect,” which is the idea that we should be thinking about what happens (or what could happen) even before it does.

Remember that our words are important, but how they come across means just as much (if not more).  So, make sure you always think before you speak, both for the words you say and how you say them.

Quote-A-Day: Day 247

If you're constantly running on empty, then you'll never have time to slow down and enjoy the scenery. #QuoteADay #Day247 #edchat #ASCDL2L

Last night I had the opportunity to participate in a Twitter chat facilitated by my colleague Amy Murphy and writer Robyn Jackson.  The question I came in on (I arrived quite late) was tied to preparedness and taking care of ourselves.  Many of the responders mentioned the challenge of getting enough sleep.  To that, I can relate. 

I need about 7.5 hours of sleep to feel at my best.  And yet, even knowing this, I find myself falling asleep later than I need to be.  Most of this is my own fault, as I want to have some time, even if it is thirty minutes, to just relax.  Life is challenging at many times, and because of that, we all need an opportunity to reflect and “veg out.”  And, if we’re going to always be the best at what we do, we need to feel relaxed (and therefore less stressed), and aware (and therefore less tired).

And that’s tough, because we are so busy in our lives that we often feel like the only way we can find the time to relax is at the expense of giving up time for sleep.

When given the option, I always happen to choose relaxation time, because I know that it is something I need, and figure that seven hours of sleep will still work for me.

Often it does, but I still know I need more.  So, what’s a person to do?  Here are two steps I’m taking to try and balance my need for “me” time and my need for sleep.

First, I’m rolling back my sleeping time by about ten minutes each day.  So, since I’ve been going to be by 10:30, and my goal is 10, last night I was in bed, with lights off and devices put away by 10:20.  Tonight’s goal is 10:10.  Tomorrow’s will be 10:00.  Every time I find myself back at 10:30, I have to roll back a bit the next few nights.  For me, it is easier to try and “save” ten minutes than it is to “save” thirty.

Second, I’m adjusting the “when” and “where” of the work I do and life I lead.  Some aspects, like engaging in Twitter conversations, I’m cutting back on in the evening, and placing into other times, like lunch, at work.  I’m also working to slowly put our girls to bed a bit earlier (maybe just ten or fifteen minutes) because they need more sleep as well, and because that extra ten or fifteen minutes can be used to allow me to get to bed earlier.

Time-management is never easy.  There is never going to be that twenty-fifth hour.  But, we can work more efficiently with the time we have.  The less we feel like we’re running on empty, the better we’ll be at all that we do.