Procrastination

I must confess I am a procrastinator. It is such a bad thing, and I don't even remember when I became one. 15 years ago I was obsessively keeping my tasks ahead of schedule, but meanwhile I became a big procrastinator. I know the theory, and I know the self-help tips. As we all know there are times when knowledge and performance are at odds. Knowing what I am supposed to do, or at least what I should do, does not make me do it!

I submit papers and projects the day of the deadline, I respond e-mails at last minute, I do shopping when my fridge is almost empty, and I read books on other topics than I must read for my research project. I kind of like to work under pressure. Then what I do is to fill my calendar with projects and deadlines. Resulting only in a overload that will only perpetuate the procrastination and run into last minute deadline submissions.

Yes, I know I should plan and manage my schedule and take from the load and leave some open spaces. Perhaps writing into my calendar all the little notes I stick to my computer would be a good start. Just to not have the impression my schedule is not as loaded, when in fact the load is split in two parts: one is in my calendar the other is on little Post-it notes on my computer at home. Organizing and selecting. Classifying into emergent and important tasks. Make notes before the deadline that the deadline is approaching, like little signs on the road that a major Exit is approaching on the highway. And most of all setting time for "doing nothing." Time to relax. With all the pressure and deadlines I will take time to play with Taylor, so why should I not put that in my calendar, that is "program" also.

There are tons of books and articles and even a special web site for procrastinators where we can buy T-shirts. Ok, now back to wrok :-)

Midterm choices

Today my students were presented the two choices to complete their Midterm exam:
Midterm paper or Midterm technology.
The paper should be a 10 page essay on two given topics.
The technology is a personal blog with six postings on specified topics.
Both forms imply the same amount of work, and the same professionalism. Students are supposed to write short presentations of the topics they choose, and continue with a reflection and examples of how they would apply the theory in practice.
In the beginning I asked them that the paper format be of 15 pages, but they complained so much I reduced to 10 pages. Perhaps it is not the most fortunate way of setting up an exam by bargaining. I just tried to put myself in their position and think which format of completing this midterm I would choose? Definitely I would choose the blog. I feel it is more fun, more active, more dinamic. I can make easily links to an article I found on Google Scholar (like this: teaching with technology) . I don't feel constrained by a format (APA style), but I know it is important what and how I write. I will see by next Monday how many choose the Blog vs. Paper.

I really love my students (even though I was kind of dissapointed that they complained about a 15 page midterm exam; arguing that they never had to write such a long paper in their entire student life). They try their best, I have a couple very bright and smart, making very deep comments and thinking bejond the text. In the end this is the purpose of education, to make then THINK not only memorize information.

My colleagues assured me that they had the same trouble "customizing" their courses to the student body at SIUE. The key to success is to not take it personally when something does not wrok as I would like it. And to not forget that there are many choices, and the decision is mine. I can choose to complain forever, and to be upset that my students don't want to be the best in the country. Or I can choose to push them a little bit, as much as they don't scream or yell, and that they try harder but they don't learn helplessness because they never succeed. I can choose to be upset and mizerable, or I can choose to be happy for what I have and make the most of it.
Now, if I am wise enough it is obvious what I will choose.

We always have choices.

Perseverance

This week I found out one of the reasons why so many give up as soon as January on their New Year's Resolution for exercising...
Finally this week (since next week is already end of January!) I decided to go to swim. I went to the SIUE Y just to find out that the night before the pool pump collapsed and... A new pump will come but no sooner than February 3rd, 2006!
I was so disappointed, ready to give up for "bad luck" but then on my way to my car I remembered my Middle School Math teacher.
Our math teacher was a tough and very demanding teacher and we were very afraid of him. His motto was "Perseverance in the key to success." He taught me that when I don't get the correct result to a math problem to not give up but try harder, "A mistake is a reason to try harder." He taught me to search in my notes and book, ask for help, and try to solve the problem again. He pushed me till I really loved and was good at geometry (my favorite math topic :-)).

Remembering him I told myself that the "dead pump" means nothing but that I have to find another pool till this one is back in function. I tell myself that this is a challenge to keep my promise of 1 swim/week! And just because the SIUE pool is not in use that does not mean that I can blame bad luck and give up on my goal.

I checked the YMCA schedule when the pool is available to the public, and will go next week when I don't have school in the morning.
Perseverance is the key to success, and to keep any resolution!

The irnoy of technology

I like to use short instructional videos in my teaching. I consider useful that my students see Freud, Piaget, Erikson, Kohlberg, etc. There are pictures of the classics in books but seeing the person, walk and talk, and teach about his/her theory I think has more impact than if I teach their theory.

Last Fall when I went to the Lovejoy library here at SIUE to get a video I discovered that I cannot just get the video from the shelf and self check out (as I was used to do at U of A). I had to go in person to fill a form, at least two hours before I intended to pick up the VHS, or call in to the Media library no later than 24 working hours before pick-up. Then two hours later I had to go to another office to fill out one more form and pick up my video (I can borrow for a maximum of 7 days). It's ridiculous to waste so much time just to be able to use technology. Each time I borrowed a video I had comments to the clerk. One library assistant then told me that I can complete an internet form to not make the one extra travel to the library.

So, last Wednesday I completed on-line the media form for five videos I intend to watch over the weekend (to know what I present my students) and submit it. Friday afternoon (two days later) one hour before the Media Library closes I go to pick up my videos, just to find out that my on-line submissi0n did not work and everyone blames the software (sic!). Don't even ask me how upset I was. I did a new search and I completed personally a form and since it was less than two hours to closing time I had to go back Saturday morning to pick up my videos! Guess what did they stick to my VHS package: a printed page with one highlated line which reads: "if on-line form is completed please allow 72 working hour before pick up of the requested media."

Daaaa..... One would think the use of internet would speed up the process? Wrong! 72 working hours meens exactly ONE WEEK ahead of time one would like to pick up the videos. This is the irony of technology.
Now, of course if I don't procrastinate and plan well I can do that. My question here is why in the first place the internet modality when it is one week slower than going in person.
It seems I just have to accep that here at SIUE we are way behind of technology age :-(

Miss my Toy

My friends sung me "Grandma' got run over by a reindeer" and the mechanic told me "that deer really run you over, it seems she hit you not the reverse." Well, at least I feel good knowing I did not hit the deer but she hit me.
I returned the Entreprise little red Chevrolet and got from the body shop a gold color Pontiac Grand AM, here in the picture. The previous drivers were heavily smoking in the Cevy, I even could not use the heating since the smell was worse. I had to drive in the middle of winter with my window open to get some fresh air and not through up. I am allergic to smoke :-(
I miss so much my Toy now for more than two weeks in repair...

I was thinking that driving cars is like being in a relationship with a person.
Cars are like people, you get used to one and miss it when not around. I developed a relationship with my Toyota, I feel good driving it. It's part of my personality, I really love my Toyota. Driving Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, and Toyota I would not trade the Toy for another car.
They promised me the repairs will be done by the end of this week. That is great. Can't wait to feel myself again.

Blessed New Year

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Boldog Uj Evet!
Bonne Année !
La Multi Ani!





This morning, the first day of the New Year 2006, going to church I was praying that God gives me a Blessed New Year. The first reading was one of my favorites: Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you, the Lord make his face shine upon you , and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace."
This is the most wonderful blessing in the Bible.

At the end of mass the priest asked people to extend their hands and bless especially their spouses. A very heavy lady was next to me and smiling we looked at each other and I said "No husband :-) " and then she said "Well, I will bless you." The priest read the blessing, and after finishing the lady smiling told me "Now you will remember that you were blessed."

What other thing could I ask for the New Year?! I am blessed: to be healthy, to have my parents both in good health too, to have a home and a job, to have a little dog who keeps me smiling and happy.

I was reading my old New Year Resolutions... all have ten points, like the Top 10 things I need to look for in the coming year. Honestly I kept perhaps half. So, this year I decided to cut it half and set only five points to look for:

1. Trust God’s plans for me, and remember I am blessed!
Only through God's blessing I am who I am and where I am today!

2. Find one thing every day to be thankful for;
I have a slightly pessimistic feature. I worked so very hard to accomplish my dream. I focus so much on hard work and am "in pain" when life is so hard. Being thankful each day for something will help me see the half full of my cup, and focus on the good more than on what I miss or lack.

3. Listen to people when they talk;
I am impatient and want everything fast. I do not wait till the other person takes time to think and I jump giving my opinion. I want it all and I want it fast.

4. Don't buy things, instead save 100$/month each pay check.!
I am so broke to pay only for food; I am a pack rat that never trashes anything, I really do not need more junk! Not sure how I will save the hundred/mo. I will give it a try :-)

5. Keep eye on schedule, don't procrastinate.
This will be hard, I am working on it for many years. God help me!