ALHRD/ IDEAS - Northern Virginia Center - Virginia Tech

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Success Stories Page 2 ? Dr. Marcie Boucouvalas has been quite on the go these days, and has made several key presentations recently. In November 2000, she and her students in International Adult Education class including Marge Battaglia, Vanviva Bhumibanit, The Reverend Margaret Ann (Sam), Mary Falkey, Gale Kamen, Fernanda Mota, Katie Munive, Helen Bond Peters. Mary Repass; Charlan Smith made a presentation entitled “ The United Nations and Human Rights: An adult education perspective”, at the International Pre Conference of the American Association for Adult and Continuing Education, Providence, Rhode Island. In addition, Dr. Boucouvalas has also presented "Dialogues in Andragogy (International)" to the commission of profession of Adult Education. She has also been active in serving as Chair of Malcolm S. Knowles Memorial Committee, and currently speaks about the ongoing activities underway by the committee. If anyone is interested in becoming involved with the aforementioned committee, please contact Dr. Marcie Boucouvalas (Tel: 703-538-8469) or email at marcie@vt.edu. ? A research paper by Mary Repass & Letitia Combs was selected for the International Congress held in Finland, August 21-22, 2000. The title of the p aper was Retirement in Japan and Resulting Challenges for Japanese Adult Education. The conference was sponsored by Northern Illinois University and the University of Finland. ? The Episcopal Preaching Foundation has selected Fondy Sam’s Sunday sermon ( Sam Faeth) as one of the outstanding sermons of the year. It will be published in “Preaching through the year of Matthew - Sermons that work” ( available next fall ) ? Dr. Letitia Combs has been promoted to the position of Director of Learning Strategies for VERTEX Solutions, a Falls Church firm that works with organizations to build effective learning solutions. Vertex specializes in designing, building, and integrating the multiple dimensions of enterprise learning solutions. The goal of the company is to increase human performance, augment knowledge capital, and improve the way individuals and organizations learn. The Learning Strategies Practice provides effective, integrated learning solutions to VERTEX customers that enhance individual, team, and enterprise performance. To compliment her work at VERTEX Solutions, Letitia will continue her adjunct faculty appointment at Virginia Tech. She teaches Knowledge Management, Distance Learning Theory and Practice, Facilitating Adult Learning, and Designing Adult Learning Experiences ? Have you ever wondered why Dr. Jamie Callahan has been working late in her office these days? Don't be surprised to learn that with Have you ever wondered why Dr. Jamie Callahan has been working late in her office these days? Don't be surprised to learn that with numerous publications in process, Dr. Callahan is preparing for two presentations for the AHRD conference at Tulsa, Oklahoma in March numerous 2001. At the publications conference, in process, Dr. Callahan Dr. Callahan will be presenting is preparing a paper for two entitled presentations “Mary Parker for the Follett: AHRD A conference Philosopher at of Tulsa, HRD”, Oklahoma which was in March also 2001. co-authored At the by conference, Leslie Wheelock, Dr. Callahan and will will serve be presenting as one of two paper keynote entitled speakers “Mary for Parker the “Toward Follett: Forum Philosopher Opening of Ceremony” HRD”, which presentation. was also co-authored Aside from her by Leslie hectic Wheelock, conference and preparation will serve schedule, as one of Dr. two Callahan keynote has speakers been active for the in “Toward other various Forum projects. Opening Just Ceremony” recently, Dr. presentation. Callahan Aside was appointed from her as hectic an editor conference for a special preparation issue entitled schedule, “Emotional Dr. Callahan behavior: has been A Leverage active in other Point various for Organizational projects. Just Change” recently, in Advances Dr. Callahan in was Human appointed Resource as an Development. editor for special What's issue more, entitled Dr. Callahan, “Emotional along behavior: with co-author, Leverage Jerry Gilley, Point for has Organizational been writing an Change” article in entitled Advances in Human “Transforming Resource supervisory Development. practices: What's A more, performance–based Dr. Callahan, along approach with for co-author, faculty and Jerry staff Gilley, development”. has been writing This interesting an article article entitled will soon “Transforming be published in supervisory the International practices: National performance–based Reform. And last approach but not least, for faculty she has and also staff completed development”. co-authoring This interesting with Eric McCollum article will the soon be article published entitled in “Conceptualizations the International National of emotional Reform. contexts: And last A but framework not least, for she understanding has also completed of HRD co-authoring research & with practice. Eric Wow! McCollum What the a article success! entitled “Conceptualizations of emotional contexts: framework for understanding of HRD research practice. Wow! What success! Marjorie Battaglia presented a paper at International Dabrowski conference The fourth Biennial Advanced Symposium The fourth on Biennial Dabrowski’ Advanced s Theory Symposium held July 8– on 11th Dabrowski’ , 2000 in s Quebec, Theory held Canada July was 8– 11th an experience , 2000 in Quebec, Canada in another was world an experience or on another I shall planet. never I forget. had never It was before almost met like any landing of the participants in another yet world I felt or a on part I shall never forget. It was almost like landing of the group and I was greeted with another open arms. planet. I sort I had of floated never before through met the any four of days, the participants just soaking yet it all I felt in. a The part participants of the group were and I all was deeply committed to and involved in Dabrowski’ greeted s with theory open of Positive arms. I sort Disintegration. of floated through About the half four were days, psychologists just soaking who it all apply in. The the theory participants clinically. The other half were educators were of the all deeply gifted who committed apply theory to and involved to teaching and Dabrowski’ counseling. s theory All lived of Positive and exemplified Disintegration. the theory About personally, emanating empathy and concern were psychologists for others. The who experience apply the was theory much clinically. more a spiritual The other retreat half than were an educators academic of conference. the gifted who half The title of the conference was “The apply Labyrinth: theory to teaching Safe Journey and and counseling. Homecoming.” All lived Hence, and exemplified many presentations the theory revolved personally, about emanating myth and meditation. Most were very creative. empathy I felt like and mine, concern “Historical for others. and The Spiritual experience Origins was of much Kazimierz more a Dabrowski’ spiritual retreat s Theory than of an Positive academic Disintegration” would come across as exceedingly conference. boring and academic. Yet the room was packed and my presentation was very well received. Many thanks from the attendees ensured The for title embracing of the conference the topic. was Everyone “The Labyrinth: felt historical Safe research Journey on and Dabrowski Homecoming.” was badly Hence, needed. many I received many additional references and entations suggestions revolved for about further myth research and meditation. paths. The contributions Most were very of creative. the group I are felt still like arriving mine, “Historical via my e-mail and pres- Most important to me was my introduction Spiritual and Origins acceptance of Kazimierz in to Dabrowski Dabrowski’ ’s “inner s Theory circle”. of Positive These Disintegration” are Dabrowski’ would s closet come friends, across students and coauthors. Each knew Dabrowski as exceedingly very boring well, and each academic. form a different Yet the perspective. room was packed I gain and insights, my presentation stories, remembrances was very well and received. opportunities for future correspondence. What Many a thanks precious from gift! the What attendees a way ensured to begin for a dissertation! embracing the topic. Everyone felt historical research on Dabrowski was badly needed. I received many addi- I was almost like landing in another world or on another planet… what a way to begin a dissertation” tional references and suggestions for further research paths. The “ I was almost like landing in contributions of the group are still arriving via my e-mail Most important to me was my introduction and acceptance in to Dabrowski ’s “inner circle”. These are Dabrowski’ s closet friends, students and coauthors. Each knew Dabrowski very well, each form a different perspective. I gain insights, stories, remembrances and opportunities for future correspondence. What a precious gift! What a way to begin a dissertation! another world or on another planet… what a way to begin a dissertation”
Page 3 Redefining the Information Technology Workforce: A New Horizon for Adult Education By Milton Lawler When I started the ALHRD program, I created a spiritual based training program called the Church Based Computer Training (CBCT ©) program. The CBCT © helped 65 members from a local church prepare for positions in the computer industry. At the time there were 28,000 vacant computer positions in the Washington metropolitan area. The participants of the CBCT © realized at least one of the following three results: 1. They overcame their apprehension of computers. 2. They received training to pass certification examinations for the Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer (MCSE). 3. They became self-directed learners and continued their education at a local community college or on the job. These results gave the participants the confidence to change their personality and become true adult learners. The CBCT © was a success because the training was based in the spiritual doctrine of our church. Faith Based Training © (FBT©) is the driving force behind my latest initiative in adult education. Portions of American society are faced with the reality of caring for their grandchildren or elderly parents. Some Americans in this situation are either retired or preparing to retire. My latest initiative in adult education will help members from my church prepare for the GED and receive basic information technology training. By helping them qualify for information technology positions they will gain skills to become telecommuters. As a telecommuter they can care for their parents or grandchildren while working from their home. This initiative compliments information technology initiatives in the private and government sectors. As of June 2000, there have been initiatives to find ways to increase the number of minorities and women in information technology careers. These initiatives have included defining the digital divide. This definition highlights the number of households with access to the INTERNET. Also the digital divide definition identifies the number of high school/GED holders along with the number of people who have earned a degree or have some college. The INTERNET in turn is the portal to INTERNET Based Trainpopular leg of distance education/learning. IBT is more popular than its stand -alone counterpart; computer based training, (CBT). IBT gives a user access to colleges offering degrees leading to a Ph.D. and school districts, which awards high school diplomas via the world- wide- web. Most IBT is delivered in an asynchronous learning environment. This gives the selfdirected learner the flexibility to receive their training at any time during the day. A just in time learning environment is a perfect fit for the adult learner seeking information technology training. Since information technology changes on a daily basis, the workforce must have access to the latest training to qualify for information ing (IBT), ergo the current “ I discovered during the CBCT © that I teach better when I teach from the heart. When I teach from the heart I am able to share an energy which conveys a lesson better than traditional methods.” technology jobs. As people qualify for better paying positions, they leave information technology positions vacant for entry to intermediate level employees. A problem exists when the entry level to intermediate level positions require a degree or at a minimum a high school diploma or GED. Most employers use this requirement as a screening mechanism while others require their employees to have basic reading, writing, computing, INTERNET and mathematical skills. I agree with the latter and believe these five components are necessary to ensure a literate information technology workforce. This problem is compounded because most students who attend accredited training at 4 -year institutions of higher education use federal funds to finance their education. These institutions require a student to have a high school diploma or a GED in order to access federal funds to receive training in information technology. FBT © will help adults prepare for their GED exam or update their high school education in order to prepare for training in information technology at a 4-year institution or via the INTERNET. FBT © will give enrollees the ability to learn in a non-threatening spiritually enriched environment. I discovered during the CBCT © that I teach better when I teach from the heart. When I teach from the heart I am able to share an energy which conveys a lesson better than traditional methods. The instructional methodologies I employed in the past were lecture, demo n- stration, and facilitation. I employ these methodologies now but the spiritual framework adds a different and exciting dimension to the classroom environment. Along with IBT, faith based training will give participants exposure to state-of-the-art information technology training while they prepare for their GED or update their high school education. Inclusion of adults retraining into information technology not only redefines the information technology workforce but it adds a new horizon to adult education as a practice and a field of study.
Page 1: ALHRD/ IDEAS Juthamas Thongsukmag,
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