It has been far to long since I have posted in my blog (as my dear friend Julie reminds me on occasion). Oddly enough, I find myself not wanting to post because I feel pressure about what to say. In reality, so few people follow this, and all that follow are close friends, I should not feel pressure at all. I should just share.
Life has been a bit busy lately. I have been on an emotional roller coaster with work - oscillating between feeling the need to find my next challenge and reengaging into the great things about my company. I am currently at the latter state. In addition, this semester has proven to be far more challenging than the last. Honestly, I am thankful though. Last semester was too easy for a doctoral program. I would not have held my degree in high regard if the entire program would have continued in that manner.
This semester the work load has stepped up considerably. We are reading roughly 100- 150 pages per week and have papers almost every week. Last week, I read a 200+ page doctoral dissertation and had to summarize it in 7 pages. Sounds relatively easy, but it was quite difficult. Now I am working on a 20 page literature review of leadership in business. I am finding myself in a sort of "analysis paralysis". I am quite concerned that I am not doing enough literature review... Leadership in business is SO HUGE! Well I have to get over this stage, because I must begin writing to hit 20 pages in a week and a half.
Personally, Ann and I are doing VERY well. Having so many things on my plate makes me value her company and presence in my life even more. We try to carve out time together whether having dinner together, watching a TV show (quality time folks!), or staying in bed a little longer in the morning, so we can talk. All of it is more and more precious to me.
My promise to myself is to write in this a bit more. Sharing my thoughts and frustrations not only gives you insight into what is happening, but provides clarity for me as well. Off to do more reading, but first, I am taking an hour for myself with a massage!
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Sunday, December 20, 2009
One Down, Five or Six To Go...
Yes, the first semester of the doctoral program is done! While it ended with an intense level of stress, I made it through unscathed. This past week and a half/ two weeks, I was a bundle of paper writing nerves. My wonderful wife of 13 years was an amazing support through this time.
First, we had to construct a Personal Leadership Development Plan (PLDP) for our personal leadership class. We were provided with a series of questions that would outline our paper based on our personal thoughts/ideas AND the theories covered in class and how we will apply them to our own lives. No page limit.
My PLDP was long at 20 pages, but I felt like it was a good honest representation of what I have learned about myself over the last semester and goals that I am setting for the future (which was probably the best part of writing that paper).
The second major assignment was a research paper applying a theory learned in class to a topic of our own selection. I focused on using Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and applying to veterinarians' behavior in the exam room. I did weeks of research on the topic and ended up realizing that applying emotional intelligence to veterinarians in the exam room is more of a dissertation topic than a simple research paper. I managed to pull off the paper, but did a disservice to the depth of research that COULD be done in this area!
The final challenging part of this last week we had to write a 10, oh strike that, 5 page paper in class. Thank goodness the prof cut it to 5 pages, because in 2 hours most of us BARELY got it done. Although after talking with the prof after submitting the paper, she was expecting less from us than we were expecting of ourselves. I personally cited four different works to address the question. She was only looking for a review of ONE work - well that would have been easier!
Anyway, it is over and now my role is to rest for two weeks (yep, that is all we get off) and clean up my desk area, which looks like a paper mill blew up!
Thanks for hanging with me on this first semester journey, next semester looks like it will definitely be interesting - stay tuned!
First, we had to construct a Personal Leadership Development Plan (PLDP) for our personal leadership class. We were provided with a series of questions that would outline our paper based on our personal thoughts/ideas AND the theories covered in class and how we will apply them to our own lives. No page limit.
My PLDP was long at 20 pages, but I felt like it was a good honest representation of what I have learned about myself over the last semester and goals that I am setting for the future (which was probably the best part of writing that paper).
The second major assignment was a research paper applying a theory learned in class to a topic of our own selection. I focused on using Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman and applying to veterinarians' behavior in the exam room. I did weeks of research on the topic and ended up realizing that applying emotional intelligence to veterinarians in the exam room is more of a dissertation topic than a simple research paper. I managed to pull off the paper, but did a disservice to the depth of research that COULD be done in this area!
The final challenging part of this last week we had to write a 10, oh strike that, 5 page paper in class. Thank goodness the prof cut it to 5 pages, because in 2 hours most of us BARELY got it done. Although after talking with the prof after submitting the paper, she was expecting less from us than we were expecting of ourselves. I personally cited four different works to address the question. She was only looking for a review of ONE work - well that would have been easier!
Anyway, it is over and now my role is to rest for two weeks (yep, that is all we get off) and clean up my desk area, which looks like a paper mill blew up!
Thanks for hanging with me on this first semester journey, next semester looks like it will definitely be interesting - stay tuned!
Friday, December 11, 2009
Learning is Everyday
I was reading through several of the blogs that I follow today on Google Reader. Several thoughts struck me. A year ago, I did not know about Google Reader and other than my best friend, I did not know anyone that blogged. When I started class in the doctoral program, I learned about Wikis, Twitter, Blogs and Google Reader. Now, I really enjoy opening my Google Reader and reading blogs written by people that I do not know, but whom write about corporate learning. Some days it is just a simple "yep, know that" kind of day, but other days, I am fully engaged and really expanding my own knowledge of technology or social learning or elearning methodology. For someone that loves learning, like me, opening Google Reader is like finding the prize in a Cracker Jack box! I love being able to learn something new every day (and I am not even in school!). Doesn't get much better than this!
Friday, December 4, 2009
Connections
Okay this is an odd post. I just allowed my brain to flow....
The lessons learned are woven throughout our lives. As I learn about communication through attending the Pfizer FRANK workshop, I learn about impact of communication in an exam room and how to raise awareness of communication skills through sharing and evaluation with peers. I begin conversations about Emotional Intelligence with a colleague after seeing a presentation he created. I begin my doctoral program at Pepperdine and am asked to read Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence at Work and how that can have an impact on the way that veterinarians connect with clients. For a class assignment, I am asked to develop an online course. The course that I developed is Communication in the Exam room and will be rolling out this course in another month. My research paper this semester will actually look at how Emotional Intelligence might enhance doctor’s ability to connect with clients and therefore practicing better medicine. My worlds are crossing over and interweaving to the benefit of all.
In class this evening, we discussed different learning theorists. It became a very interesting discussion around how their theories flow into and out of each other. From Piaget’s stage theory to Montesori to communities of practice from Lave and Wegner, and so on.
The lessons learned are woven throughout our lives. As I learn about communication through attending the Pfizer FRANK workshop, I learn about impact of communication in an exam room and how to raise awareness of communication skills through sharing and evaluation with peers. I begin conversations about Emotional Intelligence with a colleague after seeing a presentation he created. I begin my doctoral program at Pepperdine and am asked to read Daniel Goleman’s book Emotional Intelligence at Work and how that can have an impact on the way that veterinarians connect with clients. For a class assignment, I am asked to develop an online course. The course that I developed is Communication in the Exam room and will be rolling out this course in another month. My research paper this semester will actually look at how Emotional Intelligence might enhance doctor’s ability to connect with clients and therefore practicing better medicine. My worlds are crossing over and interweaving to the benefit of all.
In class this evening, we discussed different learning theorists. It became a very interesting discussion around how their theories flow into and out of each other. From Piaget’s stage theory to Montesori to communities of practice from Lave and Wegner, and so on.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
How time flies and oh, the things we learn
I am amazed at how quickly time flies! There are only two weeks left in the semester and I still feel as though I have so much more to learn. How can we be done already?
Anyway, I am feeling very accomplished right now. I decided as a part of an assignment for my eLearning class that I was going to build my personal website. Initially I did not think it was going to be nearly as difficult as it turned out to be, but hey, I am the one who purchased Dreamweaver and did not do it the "simple way". Needless to say, I have been glued to my computer and one of those learn everything in a book with pictures trying to learn the basics of Dreamweaver. Well...
I am definitely no web designer AND I am still a little leery as to whether or not anything I produce is web worthy (hey, wait - I know firsthand some of the "stuff" that is on the web - mine should be good enough), but I am days away from posting it on the web...
Keep your eyes peeled: www.christyritchie.com Original huh? I wanted people to be able to find me. Watch out Google - here I come... This should be interesting to say the least! All in the name of education!
Anyway, I am feeling very accomplished right now. I decided as a part of an assignment for my eLearning class that I was going to build my personal website. Initially I did not think it was going to be nearly as difficult as it turned out to be, but hey, I am the one who purchased Dreamweaver and did not do it the "simple way". Needless to say, I have been glued to my computer and one of those learn everything in a book with pictures trying to learn the basics of Dreamweaver. Well...
I am definitely no web designer AND I am still a little leery as to whether or not anything I produce is web worthy (hey, wait - I know firsthand some of the "stuff" that is on the web - mine should be good enough), but I am days away from posting it on the web...
Keep your eyes peeled: www.christyritchie.com Original huh? I wanted people to be able to find me. Watch out Google - here I come... This should be interesting to say the least! All in the name of education!
Friday, October 30, 2009
Insight
Thursday morning this week (yesterday), I got up EARLY to take a friend to the airport. So by the time I got home it was 5am and I was awake, so rather than climbing back in bed and catching a few hours of additional sleep, I worked on school work. I gathered up my computer and books and headed downstairs, so as to not disturb the rest of my family.
Once down there, I sat down and found myself marveling at the silence. Funny how odd silence becomes in such a busy world. I sat down and wrote my journal entry for my leadership class and actually was able to contemplate some of the theories that we were studying. This is what I came up with:
We spend so much time talking about leadership and different theories of leadership and the names of all of these people that everyone recognizes, but we forget that leadership doesn't start ONCE someone is famous, it starts now, today. Honest leadership begins with you and I. The world is like a still lake and you and I, we are the tiniest of raindrops, but even though we are small, we will make ripples on that lake that will continue to ripple. We may be small, but we make an impact on and act as a leader to those around us every day.
See what a little bit of silence at 5am does for me? Honestly though, for the first time in quite some time, I worked in a state of "flow" for three hours that morning. It was the most exhilirating experience. I hated to end it to go to work... Oh, well, maybe I will have to get up earlier more often!
Once down there, I sat down and found myself marveling at the silence. Funny how odd silence becomes in such a busy world. I sat down and wrote my journal entry for my leadership class and actually was able to contemplate some of the theories that we were studying. This is what I came up with:
We spend so much time talking about leadership and different theories of leadership and the names of all of these people that everyone recognizes, but we forget that leadership doesn't start ONCE someone is famous, it starts now, today. Honest leadership begins with you and I. The world is like a still lake and you and I, we are the tiniest of raindrops, but even though we are small, we will make ripples on that lake that will continue to ripple. We may be small, but we make an impact on and act as a leader to those around us every day.
See what a little bit of silence at 5am does for me? Honestly though, for the first time in quite some time, I worked in a state of "flow" for three hours that morning. It was the most exhilirating experience. I hated to end it to go to work... Oh, well, maybe I will have to get up earlier more often!
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Long time...
Okay, JDC, I will give you credit, it has been WAY TOO LONG since I posted. Not because things have not been happening, but rather because so many things have been happening. Over the last month, I have written a research paper on the psychologist that created the FLOW theory, traveled to ABQ to review all 120 of our training presentations, so they could be loaded into our new LMS AND managed to do my training run of 10 miles in preparation for a half marathon. Oh, I failed to mention that I worked full time and attended school full time! Whew!
Things seem to be slowing somewhat now and I actually have some time to reflect. Some of what I have been reflecting on are that in order for me to truly gain the most out of the concepts and theories that I am learning about, I need to take the time away from the hustle and bustle to actually thing through how these things impact my life and the lives of those around me. All of this is fine and good, but if I cannot apply what I am learning (or even remember it), then what is the use. I have promised myself that I would carve several 30 minute quiet time sessions to allow me to review what I have taken in and really think it through, so I can use my knew knowledge.
Funny, I researched FLOW and learned about the 8 things that create an optimal condition to create a FLOW experience and realized that school many times creates a true flow experience. I just loose myself in research or reading or typing or just learning and time flies, I have no sense of any bodily needs such as hunger or needing to visit the bathroom; everything just comes together and connects. That, my friends, is the definition of FLOW. Maybe I really did learn something important from that paper.
Now I am looking forward to another evening of class tomorrow. I get so jazzed for the discussions that we have and the time FLIES!!! Seriously for a 5.5 hour class, it is over in what seems like an hour, maybe two on a slow night. It is really great! Hasta luego!
Things seem to be slowing somewhat now and I actually have some time to reflect. Some of what I have been reflecting on are that in order for me to truly gain the most out of the concepts and theories that I am learning about, I need to take the time away from the hustle and bustle to actually thing through how these things impact my life and the lives of those around me. All of this is fine and good, but if I cannot apply what I am learning (or even remember it), then what is the use. I have promised myself that I would carve several 30 minute quiet time sessions to allow me to review what I have taken in and really think it through, so I can use my knew knowledge.
Funny, I researched FLOW and learned about the 8 things that create an optimal condition to create a FLOW experience and realized that school many times creates a true flow experience. I just loose myself in research or reading or typing or just learning and time flies, I have no sense of any bodily needs such as hunger or needing to visit the bathroom; everything just comes together and connects. That, my friends, is the definition of FLOW. Maybe I really did learn something important from that paper.
Now I am looking forward to another evening of class tomorrow. I get so jazzed for the discussions that we have and the time FLIES!!! Seriously for a 5.5 hour class, it is over in what seems like an hour, maybe two on a slow night. It is really great! Hasta luego!
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