BFTP: Top 10 Social Media Competencies Infographic

It's always a happy day when I see something I've written improved upon by another person. Embellishment, re-mixing, re-design, whatever, it's wonderful - and Med Karbach's inforgraphic on his Educational Technology and Mobile Learning blog is no exception. (You can find my original post here.) Enjoy!

 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/01/10-social-media-skills-for-21st-century.html

Original post January 14, 2014.

It's always a happy day when I see something I've written improved upon by another person. Embellishment, re-mixing, re-design, whatever, it's wonderful - and Med Karbach's inforgraphic on his Educational Technology and Mobile Learning blog is no exception. (You can find my original post here.) Enjoy!

 

http://www.educatorstechnology.com/2014/01/10-social-media-skills-for-21st-century.html

The subversive retiree

Johnson’s Moral Imperative: Subversion in the creation of a good school is not a vice.
(Johnson's Little List of Library and Technology Rules)

My favorite retirement card

Next week is my last of full-time professional work. I am still not certain about what my life starting April 1 might look like. (See Going to work every morning for 49 years.) But what I am beginning to think is that I might possibly continue to be subversive. It's a talent I've enjoyed using throughout my career - so why not after?

What might a subversive retiree do to continue to make change in education? Or to at least be a pain in the ass of former colleagues?

• Run for school board. Or at least attend and be annoying at school board meetings. (Frankly, being on a school board looks like way too much work.)
• Research the people after whom school facilities are named to see if they committed racial or sexual acts no longer acceptable in today's society. Lobby to have the names changed (My favorite).
• Sit in the coffee shop every morning with other geezers complaining about education in general. 
• Add cranky opinions to the district's official or unofficial Facebook discussion groups.
• Write long-winded letters to the editor of the local paper about the stupidities of the current administration.

OK, the ideas above are more vindictive than constructive. While I do fantasize about real and imagined slights from a few of my colleagues, the vast majority of those with whom I work are good people. None of the actions above would help them - or the kids they serve. 

There may be some other ways, though, to stay involved and subversive in more positive ways...

• Participate in citizen focus groups/committees sponsored by the school. There are always committees that included citizens.
• Substitute teach and/or volunteer - especially in the library. 
• Teach for Community Education.
• Work on funding referendum campaigns.
• Attend and support school events and fundraisers.

The key, for me at least, will be trying to keep a focus on helping my local schools improve. I love public education too much to tear it down, despite not always loving some of the people in it.

I'll let you know how that goes...

My partially-eaten retirement cake.

An inheritance of experience

Recent research from San Francisco State University found that people who spent money on experiences rather than material items were happier and felt the money was better spent. The thrill of purchasing things fades quickly but the joy and memories of experiences, from epic adventures to minute encounters, can last a lifetime. Pozin, The Secret to Happiness?, Forbes, Mar 3, 2016.

Wall Drug, 2011

I will never be able to leave my grandchildren a large financial inheritance. No trust fund babies in this family. But what I do hope they will inherit is a taste for adventure, a love of travel, and the courage to try new foods and experiences. 

For the past eight years, since the youngest of the two boys was five, I've had the good fortune to take them on a trip each year. We've hiked Black Elk Peak (then Harney Peak) in the Black Hills, visited Mayan Ruins in Mexico, ridden roller coasters in Six Flags over St Louis, seen Broadway Plays in New York, hiked to the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon, ridden the Ducks in the Wisconsin Dells, and visited the depths of the Soudan Mine on the Iron Range of Minnesota. Hikes, caves, and bike rides usually figure somewhere into the vacation. Very little relaxing on a beach.

This year, Paul's senior year of high school, I decided needed to be a special trip so we spent a week in Costa Rica - high adventure combined with ecotouring. A few pictures...

 

Class III and IV whitewater rafting on the Pacuare River near Turrialba. 

Eating iguana at the Pacuare River Lodge where we slept in casitas resembling screen porches.

Zip lining near the Arenal volcano. Miles was a champion on all 13 that stretched high above the rainforest.

The Tarzan swing. Scarier than it looks. Of the dozen or more people in our zip lining group, only two had the nerve to swing.

Waterfall rappelling (and something called the Monkey Drop) took skill and courage. Again, both boys were amazing.

A hike on the Mistico hanging bridges near Arenal volcano gave us our first glimpses of sloths, butterfiles, amazing birds, reptiles, monkeys, frogs, and coati. Evenings spend soaking in thermal springs.

Snorkelling near Manuel Antonio Park the day after visiting the busy park itself and taking a night boat tour of nearby mangrove swamps.

Grandpa, of course, was a calm and steady influence for the whole trip...

I hope that

• the boys will work to make sure their grandchildren have the chance to visit beautiful wild places like Costa Rica.
• they understand you cannot ask someone to do something, you are not willing to do yourself.
• they learn age should not define what one can and cannot do.
• they realize experiences, more than things, are the source of happiness in one's life.
• they want to go on more trips with me.

Oh, I did the Tarzan Swing as well. I was only screaming in imitation of Tarzan. Or maybe Jane. Or Cheetah.