WiFi is here

This post represents milestone for me: it is the first post made by a wireless connection to the Internet.

A shared cable modem to the trad 3G, and a link to a router (D-Link) and from there via Airport to this G5Mac. No wires or tower. All rather smart.

Blogs, 'ba' and care: Coaching for Shalom

So why am I taking the Learning Coach role so seriously?

One reason is that it should give students "peace of mind" (i.e. Shalom). (Perhaps I need to check that out by a short online questionnaire to them.)

A second reason is that talent should be nurtured: we can no longer afford to develop a "sink or swim" attitude. In fact on the Multimedia MPhil it has all been about sinking. Nobody has gained the qualification since it started with Spiros in 2002-03. Students doing this MPhil have not been nurtured, and there have been three a year - and most have had a first! So it is not as if they were incapable...

I am struck by the comment Professor Pat Rice made to me about a research student, who was working brilliantly on a study of working class life. Pat said "People like that need to be protected from interference by government bureaucracies. We will have to fill these forms in for him." (Ealing restaurant, c. 2003)

A third reason is that once a person can become self-organising and have learned how to learn, they no longer need a Learning Coach. They are more independent, and will know where to go to get help. They are no longer dependent and helpless. And they will shorten Howard Gardner's conjecture that original researchers will need TEN Years support before their standing in the field is acclaimed.

Being and Requisite Variety

Robert DILLES has written (quoted in Cesarani, J. (2003)) on the logical levels of influence for "being":

Spirit: Silence
Identity: You can't do that here.
Belief: You can't do that here.
Capability: You can't do that here.
Behaviour: You can't do that here.
Environment: You can't do that here.

Cesarani (2003) gives his version of the Law of Requisite Variety:
1. As environments and context change our actions will not always produce the same results. A minimum of flexibility is required.

2. The amount of flexibility will depend on the flexibility and uncertainty in the system. As the system becomes more complex, more flexibility is required.

3. People with the most flexibility have the most chance of success. The part of the system that has has the greatest variety of possible responses will be the controlling element.

4. If what you are doing is not getting the result you want, then keep varying your own behaviour until you do.

On Quality

In their book "The End of Management" Cloke and Goldsmith (2002) say this:

Aristotle wrote that "quality is not an act, it is a habit." More than this, it is a state of mind. It is an act of consideration and respect for those who will eventually use the product or service ... At its highest level, quality is an application of the Golden Rule to work, a recognition that the producer or provider is the the consumer; client and citizen; that every product and service is a work of art to be created with pride, polished with love, and received with gratitude. The strongest motivation to produce high-quality goods and services is the sheer pleasure of doing so. .... For this reason, quality is an expression of respect for oneself as a creator.

Quality cannot be successfully managed, though it can be facilitted, inspired, and led. The desire to always do better and continuously improve - not only the product but the process of creating it, the relationships involved in producing it, and the level of satisfaction derived from producing it well - cannot be controlled or directed from the outside. Quality means meeting one's own high standards, along with consumers and co-workers. It means discovering what it is possible for human beings to achieve.
(End of extended quote ibid: p. 62)

The words in bold (my emphases) motivation, oneself as creator, desire to do better, cannot be controlled from the outside, are all linked to the Golden Rule: (1) Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength and (2) Love others as you love yourself.

In short, be open to your environment and be live.

Dr Brian and His Thoughts

My twelve MMTD supervisees have "survived the interim" on 13-14 December 2005. Some did not enjoy their assessors talking over them, at all! They were assessed on their own by two assessors. The words intimidating and viva voce come to mind. Some actually enjoyed it.

But not as many posted comments to their blog as I would have hoped. It is a pity we have not been able to meet to debrief ourselves of the interim event

I notice the ENG Interim students were present in their hour slot: four present during an hour and they presented in turn. Tus they observed for 75% of the ytime, and performed for 25% of the time. They were given their grade at the end, but not much else. Which is better than the MMTD approach of centralising everything through Stuart Currie the Interim Coordinator.