Over the last couple weeks, I have had the opportunity to attend two interesting workshops/trainings. The first was held by Mrs/Ms. Vicki Stapleton, who has worked with the Cara Program, called "Understanding Your Communication Style" while the other was put on by the Wright Institute and called "Boosting Your Social and Emotional Intelligence." Both dealt with ways of looking at yourself to enhance interpersonal communication. This first part will focus on the topic of "Understanding Your Communication Style"
Mrs./Ms. Stapleton brought up many important points about communication. Things important to consider when dealing with first impressions: "What you show me is what I give you." Basically, how you enter a room, the way you sound when you talk, and how you appear to be all impacts the way others will respond to you. People are naturally inclined to be social and part of being social entails understanding how others are feeling. If you walk into a room feeling self-conscious and unenthusiastic, the interactions you have with others will very likely end up being in more of the negative spectrum or will at least be unpleasant. Also, when interacting with others it is important to be sincere and authentic. If you are not true to yourself, how can you represent yourself positively to others?
A few ideas mentioned in the communications training, stuck with me. The first, "If you don't want this for yourself, you will not be happy in life." This idea is in line with intrinsic motivation. One must be personally invested in what they are doing in order to find value in it. I can think of a few jobs that I talked myself into liking initially ("It will helping me improve my counseling skills." or "I love music and other entertainment subjects so I will like this job") that I grew to dislike in the long run. I just wasn't personally invested in them. One particular job at a call center would make me unhappy and cause me to feel physically ill when I went. As Ms./Mrs. Stapleton mentioned, we have to learn when it is okay to leave. There are other options out there in life. If you quit a job, eventually you will find another.
Another idea that stood out was that your personal and professional life go hand in hand. This is very different than what my counseling training has said. So often in graduate school, professors and other staff would emphasize the importance of separating your work life from your home life. I guess in a helping profession like that you have to teach yourself to separate as a way to keep your head as clear as possible. However, being human means realizing we are not perfect. No matter how hard we try, sometimes your personal life creeps into your working life and vice versa. In counseling this is referred to as transference and counter-transference. There are just some people or situations in life that will remind you of someone you know or a situation in your own life. It will also evoke strong emotions. It is important to know yourself enough to recognize when this happens so you can work through it. Also, in order to have a well rounded life, one must be balanced. You must find peace with the ups and downs of life and embrace them for what they are. Mistakes and problems are opportunities to grow. Without them, we would all be stagnant. Ms./Mrs. Stapleton also mentioned that people you interact with in your job are like a second family. You will be impacted by them on a day to day basis whether you are close with them or not. It is important to choose your job carefully to ensure that they are a family you want to be around or a part of.
I have to say that the training with Ms./Mrs. Stapleton was very thought provoking. She brought up a lot of key ideas which are very important to consider throughout our day to day lives. I can only hope that this year does provide me with the opportunity to really analyze who I am more fully and what direction I want to go in. I also hope it allows others to reflect on themselves and think about what direction they are headed too.
Final Food for thought (via Ms./Mrs. Stapleton): Think about the mask(s) you wear....
Next post: Communication, what is that? Part 2.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Monday, October 3, 2011
More Initial Insights
Along with the goals of self-confidence and follow through, another goal is to become immersed in as much information as I can surrounding Virtual Education. I want to be able to be a meaningful contributor at CPS. I just found out recently that while there are a couple policies regarding virtual education, there still needs to be a full policy written regarding the ins and outs of virtual education at CPS and how it is to be operated and run. Without these policies in place, I imagine the schools who have yet to try their hand in the online courses feel a little lost as to how to begin. My hope this year is to be able to assist those schools is understanding how the process works. Who knows, maybe I will even be able to help assist writing the policies surrounding virtual education by the end of my ten months here.
While a majority of the work I have been doing is research based, I do feel like this past month was quite a conductive one. I managed to compile 30-40 documents consisting of articles, policies, rules and regulations for various virtual schools, and documents which talk in detail about what other virtual schools/programs are up to. From these articles, I have managed to write or create a number of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint documents which go over best practices, implementation ideas, Twitter information, a list of useful websites, and a list of virtual programs organized by state. I have also watched and written notes on a webcast of a 2003 panel on Virtual Education put on by the US Department of Education, three PBS programs on Virtual Education and the online world's impact on youth, and numberous blogs/videos posted on MSNBC's Education Nation. All of this information has helped me begin to piece together a foundation for what I am hoping to accomplish over the year at CPS. I also assisted with editing the best practices guide which mentors will be using at CPS.
My current projects I am working on include summarizing the local, state, and national policies surrounding virtual learning, adding more content to the intranet website, preparing to work with the continuing education department at CPS, and preparing materials to send out for various schools. Future projects that I am looking forward to include: working on the newsletters, going out to the schools to view the online courses in action, helping to organize and facilitate the three trainings during the year, and building a substantial website for the mentors to utilize. I am also hoping that I will be able to assist in creating resources for onsite teachers to help make their classes blended.
By the end of this month placement wise, I am hoping to add at least two more resources (one resource does not equal one content piece added, it is more like a section of content added.) I am also hoping to have a firm grasp of what the policies are currently in the US, Illinois, and Chicago regarding Virtual Learning. I would like to have worked with at least one other department. Finally, I would like to have visited at least two or three schools. We will see where my actual progress lands in terms of these goals.
In terms of my TSP, I am really excited to find out where my group will be working with. It is pretty amazing that we only have one more month before we have to have our contract and research completed. Fingers crosssed that we know our communities by Friday. Once we find out, I plan to venture out and see what assets and needs I discover about the said community. My TSP group seems pretty great. I am hoping the project we implement makes a positive impact in the community we go into. I am looking forward to assisting a community or organization accomplish something they have been wanting to do but have not had the manpower to make happen. My goal with the group is to make sure that I keep my mind focused on what the community/organization really wants to happen. I just hope that wherever we go, said organization/community will be open to our suggestions and project ideas. I think the hardest part of the TSP experience will be to organize a time we can all meet. Due to the nature of Public Allies, we are all quite busy with our placements and with training. There are only so many hours in a day sadly. I am considering compiling a list of possible ideas for various types of findings my group may come across, but I am hesitant to do this idea as well because I really want to put first what the community wants first. There is a lot of work to be done with the TSP over the next nine months.
Well that is all for now. Next post: Communication? What is that?
While a majority of the work I have been doing is research based, I do feel like this past month was quite a conductive one. I managed to compile 30-40 documents consisting of articles, policies, rules and regulations for various virtual schools, and documents which talk in detail about what other virtual schools/programs are up to. From these articles, I have managed to write or create a number of Microsoft Word and PowerPoint documents which go over best practices, implementation ideas, Twitter information, a list of useful websites, and a list of virtual programs organized by state. I have also watched and written notes on a webcast of a 2003 panel on Virtual Education put on by the US Department of Education, three PBS programs on Virtual Education and the online world's impact on youth, and numberous blogs/videos posted on MSNBC's Education Nation. All of this information has helped me begin to piece together a foundation for what I am hoping to accomplish over the year at CPS. I also assisted with editing the best practices guide which mentors will be using at CPS.
My current projects I am working on include summarizing the local, state, and national policies surrounding virtual learning, adding more content to the intranet website, preparing to work with the continuing education department at CPS, and preparing materials to send out for various schools. Future projects that I am looking forward to include: working on the newsletters, going out to the schools to view the online courses in action, helping to organize and facilitate the three trainings during the year, and building a substantial website for the mentors to utilize. I am also hoping that I will be able to assist in creating resources for onsite teachers to help make their classes blended.
By the end of this month placement wise, I am hoping to add at least two more resources (one resource does not equal one content piece added, it is more like a section of content added.) I am also hoping to have a firm grasp of what the policies are currently in the US, Illinois, and Chicago regarding Virtual Learning. I would like to have worked with at least one other department. Finally, I would like to have visited at least two or three schools. We will see where my actual progress lands in terms of these goals.
In terms of my TSP, I am really excited to find out where my group will be working with. It is pretty amazing that we only have one more month before we have to have our contract and research completed. Fingers crosssed that we know our communities by Friday. Once we find out, I plan to venture out and see what assets and needs I discover about the said community. My TSP group seems pretty great. I am hoping the project we implement makes a positive impact in the community we go into. I am looking forward to assisting a community or organization accomplish something they have been wanting to do but have not had the manpower to make happen. My goal with the group is to make sure that I keep my mind focused on what the community/organization really wants to happen. I just hope that wherever we go, said organization/community will be open to our suggestions and project ideas. I think the hardest part of the TSP experience will be to organize a time we can all meet. Due to the nature of Public Allies, we are all quite busy with our placements and with training. There are only so many hours in a day sadly. I am considering compiling a list of possible ideas for various types of findings my group may come across, but I am hesitant to do this idea as well because I really want to put first what the community wants first. There is a lot of work to be done with the TSP over the next nine months.
Well that is all for now. Next post: Communication? What is that?
Thursday, September 29, 2011
First Month Insights
This opportunity has been an eye opener so far. It has provided me with an opportunity to start with a clean slate of sorts. I have been trying to refine the way I interact with others, especially when making first impressions. I have also set my first two goals to work on over the year.
The first goal is to follow through start to finish on a task before fully immersing myself in a second task. This has been trying sometimes as I am very much an ideas person and have been brainstorming like crazy in regards to Virtual Learning and CPS. What I have been doing to help keep myself in check is to keep a list of all the ideas I have so I can get back to them later after finishing other priority tasks as well as printing out any articles that deal with virtual education so I can read them later on when I am ready to write about them. Over the past few weeks, I have compiled well over 30 articles/government documents to read through and process. I have also been watching videos and reading content on the website for NBC's Education Nation. I also found a few PBS videos discussing learning in the 21st century and the internet's influence on today's youth/nation which I imagine would be good for the Mentors at each school to see.
My second goal is to really build my self-confidence. In order for others to trust and rely on me, I have to be able to feel good about myself. Some of this self-confidence building has been through external means such as purchasing new clothes that make me look more professional, getting a haircut, singing in front of others, and eventually will include a change to a healthier diet as well as an exercise regiment. I have also decided to start attending more professional development workshops as well as volunteering more out in the community. My first volunteer excursion happened this past Saturday when I chose to help out with the 33 hour adoption event in connection with Petsmart and Chicago Animal Care and Control. I plan to keep helping out there when I can and also volunteering for other types of events as I find out about them. Right now I am considering volunteering for the Ted talks going on October 14th. We shall see what happens with that...
More on other topics later.
The first goal is to follow through start to finish on a task before fully immersing myself in a second task. This has been trying sometimes as I am very much an ideas person and have been brainstorming like crazy in regards to Virtual Learning and CPS. What I have been doing to help keep myself in check is to keep a list of all the ideas I have so I can get back to them later after finishing other priority tasks as well as printing out any articles that deal with virtual education so I can read them later on when I am ready to write about them. Over the past few weeks, I have compiled well over 30 articles/government documents to read through and process. I have also been watching videos and reading content on the website for NBC's Education Nation. I also found a few PBS videos discussing learning in the 21st century and the internet's influence on today's youth/nation which I imagine would be good for the Mentors at each school to see.
My second goal is to really build my self-confidence. In order for others to trust and rely on me, I have to be able to feel good about myself. Some of this self-confidence building has been through external means such as purchasing new clothes that make me look more professional, getting a haircut, singing in front of others, and eventually will include a change to a healthier diet as well as an exercise regiment. I have also decided to start attending more professional development workshops as well as volunteering more out in the community. My first volunteer excursion happened this past Saturday when I chose to help out with the 33 hour adoption event in connection with Petsmart and Chicago Animal Care and Control. I plan to keep helping out there when I can and also volunteering for other types of events as I find out about them. Right now I am considering volunteering for the Ted talks going on October 14th. We shall see what happens with that...
More on other topics later.
Welcome Post
Hello Everyone,
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Kaleena Marquez. I am currently part of the Public Allies 2011-2012 Chicago class. The organization I am partnered with is Chicago Public Schools where I am working in their Virtual Learning Program department. The intention of this blog is purely for professional development and reflection. These next ten months are going to be a big growing/learning experience for me as I do a lot of soul searching and leadership development.
Public Allies is a part of one of the many AmeriCorp programs offered throughout the United States. Their focus is to train youth by developing their leadership and service skills. All the organizations that Public Allies classmates work with are Not-For-Profit. The program is a 10 month committment that requires 1700 service hours. These hours are accumulated primarily at your placement with your Partner Organization. The rest of your hours happen through fundraising (no more than 10% and not required), Friday trainings/retreats (also no more than 10%), service days, and your Team Service Project (aka TSP.) Public Allies does have programs in many other cities throughout the US (including San Francisco, Milwaukee, Washington, DC., and Miami)
There are three required service days and three required retreats throughout the year (beginning, middle, and end of the year.) The Team Service Project is where you are set up with a subgroup of allies. The project is ongoing and is the second/third largest portion of your service over the 10 months (first largest is being at your placement.) Each TSP group is assigned either a community or organization to work with. They then build an assets and needs map to determine what type of program to start up for said location. It starts with contracts, plan outline, and other documents and then ends with implementation of the project along with a final report. This part of the ally experience can be the most difficult yet the most rewarding. Past allies have reported the most growth happening from their TSPs. The PA year also requires presentations for your TSP, POL (about all you learned from the year,) and ally led trainings. Along with all of this, you also have contact with a program manager who helps you on your personal journey throughout the year. You set goals and strive to accomplish them.
PA Chicago does give ally participants a $1600/month stipend and should you successfully finish your ally experience a $5550 education award to put toward loans or further education. Many who have participated in the program have gone on to do wonderful things within their communities. There is a large network within Public Allies that provides support. It is truly a large family of individuals.
Training began for the Public Allies program on September 1st. It consisted of understanding the ins and outs of what PA entails and also featured our first retreat. The next big events coming up are our first service day on October 22nd and opening day in Springfield on October 13th. As you can tell from all of this, the Public Allies experience is a very intense one. One must be highly committed to achieve, work hard on their time management skills, and really make sure you take good care of yourself over the year. An ally can easily serve 50-60 or more hours a week once the TSP really gets rolling. It is not recommended that you work another job during the experience.
Next Post topic: Public Allies-First month insights.
Let me first introduce myself. My name is Kaleena Marquez. I am currently part of the Public Allies 2011-2012 Chicago class. The organization I am partnered with is Chicago Public Schools where I am working in their Virtual Learning Program department. The intention of this blog is purely for professional development and reflection. These next ten months are going to be a big growing/learning experience for me as I do a lot of soul searching and leadership development.
Public Allies is a part of one of the many AmeriCorp programs offered throughout the United States. Their focus is to train youth by developing their leadership and service skills. All the organizations that Public Allies classmates work with are Not-For-Profit. The program is a 10 month committment that requires 1700 service hours. These hours are accumulated primarily at your placement with your Partner Organization. The rest of your hours happen through fundraising (no more than 10% and not required), Friday trainings/retreats (also no more than 10%), service days, and your Team Service Project (aka TSP.) Public Allies does have programs in many other cities throughout the US (including San Francisco, Milwaukee, Washington, DC., and Miami)
There are three required service days and three required retreats throughout the year (beginning, middle, and end of the year.) The Team Service Project is where you are set up with a subgroup of allies. The project is ongoing and is the second/third largest portion of your service over the 10 months (first largest is being at your placement.) Each TSP group is assigned either a community or organization to work with. They then build an assets and needs map to determine what type of program to start up for said location. It starts with contracts, plan outline, and other documents and then ends with implementation of the project along with a final report. This part of the ally experience can be the most difficult yet the most rewarding. Past allies have reported the most growth happening from their TSPs. The PA year also requires presentations for your TSP, POL (about all you learned from the year,) and ally led trainings. Along with all of this, you also have contact with a program manager who helps you on your personal journey throughout the year. You set goals and strive to accomplish them.
PA Chicago does give ally participants a $1600/month stipend and should you successfully finish your ally experience a $5550 education award to put toward loans or further education. Many who have participated in the program have gone on to do wonderful things within their communities. There is a large network within Public Allies that provides support. It is truly a large family of individuals.
Training began for the Public Allies program on September 1st. It consisted of understanding the ins and outs of what PA entails and also featured our first retreat. The next big events coming up are our first service day on October 22nd and opening day in Springfield on October 13th. As you can tell from all of this, the Public Allies experience is a very intense one. One must be highly committed to achieve, work hard on their time management skills, and really make sure you take good care of yourself over the year. An ally can easily serve 50-60 or more hours a week once the TSP really gets rolling. It is not recommended that you work another job during the experience.
Next Post topic: Public Allies-First month insights.
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