Presenting in class this week made me feel more like a salesman than anything I've done. It was fun using the flip-charts too. I thought the whole setup was great, class was really enjoyable. Class was not just fun, but I also learned how important it is to stand out.
Jeff had an awesome guitar bit as part of his presentation. His performance is the thing I remember most about the entire event on Thursday. The reason his performance was so memorable is that it was unique. Most of our presentations were very similar; we talked, wrote acronyms, and flipped pages. Even though there was a lot of great information, it has mostly melted together into one indistinguishable blob in my head.
So what? I’m going to be more like Jeff. When I am teaching, I will consider using unique methods at key points in my lessons to help my students remember the most important things. p.s. watch general conference: https://www.lds.org/general-conference/watch?lang=eng
The last week of my life was consumed by preparing for our report and presentation. I am becoming an Mcom prisoner! I want to describe what my experience was like this week, and talk about what I learned.
The project was on my mind all week. Because I knew there was more work to be done before a rapidly approaching deadline, I couldn’t stop thinking about Mcom. When I had a spare minutes and wanted to relax, I couldn’t! I either had to be working on our project or feeling guilty for not.
I learned a gospel lesson from this week. I don’t think I should feel stressed, but I think I should have at least somewhat of a sense of urgency about completing the project of my life. If I spent as much time thinking about the state of my soul as I spent thinking about my Mcom assignments I might be living with Enoch by now.
So what? Keep thinking about Mcom, but think about my soul more too.
So, this is super late, but I have a good excuse. When I first tried to access my go-react video from our first team presentation, I was denied access. I checked back regularly waiting to have access, and then stopped checking until this week and found my video there. Here's what I think after viewing the video:
I had no idea how much I use my hands when I talk. I'm more like a video than a speaker! I was so distracted by my hands the whole time. I can see value in some of the gestures, and think when used correctly they add great emphasis, but I overdid it.
It was also pretty clear that we didn't prepare as much as we did for our second presentation. We didn't interact as a team very well, and it was good to be able to see that on the video. I think we did a much better job of supporting each other the second time because of our preparation.
Cupertino Consulting met together via google hangout to fulfill our remote meeting assignment. It was a very similar experience to other remote meetings I have had. I'm involved with some summer camp programs out of the state, so google hangout is our preferred method of coordination when camp starts getting close.
I appreciate the ease and efficiency of video conferencing. I also miss the feel of meeting with someone in person. One of my teachers told me that at IBM, they have conference rooms with great cameras and projectors that allow for a better experience than a conference on a laptop. I would like to meet in one of those rooms to see what it's like.
When Prof Middleton told us she was going to teach us how to use a flip chart I thought she was joking. I thought it might be a little less useful to learn about flipcharts than it would be to learn how to use Fred Flintstone's car. Though I am not completely sold on the idea yet, I saw value in the flipchart for classroom excursions and group projects.
I love using the whiteboard while I am teaching, but I also love walking around outside while I am teaching. The flipchart might allow me to have my cake and eat it too. While Prof Middleton was demoing the chart, I imagined a nature walk with my missionaries where we were able to sit in the grass and do group work on our flipchart.
I also liked the idea of being able to write on a page, stick it on the wall somewhere, and work on another page at the same time. I think this could still be done on a whiteboard, but sometimes it’s nice to write on paper.
So what? Rather than converting to using a flipchart, I am going to invest in a large sketch book. I’ll have the paper available for the uses I want, and stick to Prezi for presentations.
Working on my briefing article has been like trying to tame a wild beast. I am struggling to sort through vast amounts of research and to focus on the most important aspects of my topic. I’ll explain what I am learning and thinking, and if you feel kind, you can give me some suggestions.
My research question is, “Why does the debate about legalizing same-sex marriage matter?” I chose this topic because I am a Family Studies major, it’s a hot topic, and I have been surprised by how many of my peers in the School of Family Life have responded to the issue. I am not going to make an argument for or against legalizing ssm. I want to explain why the decision matters.
Some major considerations about legalizing ssm are that: (1) government has a legitimate interest in protecting the vulnerable citizens we call children, (2) government interest in marriage is about social stability, not personal love life, (3) law is rooted in morality, and it is ok to consider moral values when determining laws, and (4) expanding the definition of the term, “marriage”, could make the word meaningless.
Because children are unable to protect themselves the way we expect adults to protect themselves, government has a legitimate interest in protecting them. Marriage laws should consider outcomes for children, rather than only considering the desires of adults. The debate about ssm is largely focused on the rights of consenting adults and neglects the consideration of children.
Why is government involved in any marriages in the first place? Why is marriage a legally recognized status? Government’s interest in marriage is about social stability. Marriage is a way to connect children with parents who will care for them and help them become competent adults. If marriage laws are changed to reflect other standards, the government should get out of the marriage business altogether. We don’t need a government friendship registry.
A common argument when discussing ssm is that moral or religious values should be kept out of the discussion. That is stupid. Why do we have laws against killing and stealing? Who says those things are wrong? Those are moral values of the majority. If most of the world’s population thought that it was moral to steal and kill, those things would not be illegal. Citizens who have moral arguments about ssm should not hesitate to use those moral arguments-all laws reflect moral codes.
All words are meaningful because they are more exclusive than inclusive. If the definition of, “spoon”, was expanded, it could refer to a chair, a tree, a person, a fork, or anything else. “Spoon” means something because the definition excludes most of the other objects in the world. If the term, “marriage”, is expanded too far, the meaning of the term will be lost. The term is becoming increasingly synonymous with “friendship”. We already have a word to describe that concept, we don’t need another word to say the same thing.
So what? Give me some ideas or suggestions if you care to!
The internet is huge! I don’t understand where it keeps itself and puts all of its stuff. In class, as we were learning going through the library’s MCom website, I was amazed by the quantity of information available. Reflecting on the vastness of information that is so easily accessible to us, I think of a statement of T.S. Eliot as quoted by Elder Oaks: “‘wisdom’ is ‘lost in knowledge’ and ‘knowledge’ is ‘lost in information’” (https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2001/04/focus-and-priorities?lang=eng).
Information
Information is abundant. We have the resources that would allow us to acquire new information every waking hour of the day and still not make a dent in what is available. It has been estimated that it would take around 60,000 years to read only the books cataloged in the library of congress (Stefani, http://somanybooksblog.com/), and there is a lot more information available than in just those books!
Knowledge
Knowledge is like nourishment derived from a wholesome diet. As we analyze, ponder, and mentally digest information, we can obtain knowledge. Often, action and application will be required for information to be transformed into knowledge.
Wisdom
Wisdom can be defined as the ability to apply knowledge properly. Having the knowledge to do a homework assignment is not the same as having the wisdom to complete it. Likewise, having knowledge about the gospel and the purpose it brings to our lives does not necessarily mean we are wise. Wisdom is a choice.
So what?
As I study my scriptures this week, rather than gathering loads of information and insights, I will spend more time planning how to develop and apply the insights I gain.
Success: I felt successful about having stories to share in response to some of the questions I was asked. I felt like I really had experiences that prepared me for the position I was applying for. I felt confident about my qualifications and expected to be competitive for the position. Not-so-successful: I didn't like interviewing online as much as in person. It was hard for me to feel as connected with my interviewer as I would have liked to be. I also felt like I had to pause a lot to think about some of the questions I was asked. I wish that I had been better prepared to answer all of the questions. I think this type of practice is a great way to prepare to be able to answer the huge variety of questions I could be asked in a real interview. Kathryn Taylor did a marvelous job of interviewing me. Score: 6 on a 5 point scale.
Being a boss is fun! Doing mock interviews in class was not only fun, but educational as well. I have been interviewed plenty of times, but have never conducted a job interview. I learned that interviewing for a job is kind of like the judgement bar at the end of life. Getting ready for the interview has a lot more to do with the way I live my life and what I do with my time than it does with any sort of “interview prep” that I could do.
While conducting interviews, I did not feel like I was judging the value of the person in front of me, but their fit for the position I needed to be filled. I can understand how it is possible to be a great person but a lousy candidate for a specific job.
As I was being interviewed, a billion stories came to my mind in response to each of the questions of my interviewers. I hadn’t recognized how many experiences I have had that qualify me for the position I was applying for. Because of the experiences that came to me as a result of the path of my life, I did not have to try hard to sell myself to my employers. I felt confident and in control, and thought that it would ultimately be my decision to take the job, because I knew they would want to offer it to me.
Now what? Get ready for The Interview now! I want to approach the judgement bar firm in the hope of a glorious resurrection. I am going to live my life in such a way that I can stand confidently in the presence of God. I am going to start by a serious study of D&C 121:45.
“For all sad words of tongue or pen,the saddest are these: ‘It might have been!’”-Maud Muller John Greenleaf Whittier I have some sad words this week. I submitted an application to Teach for America before we learned about resumes in class. During the lecture, it became increasingly apparent that my resume could have been much stronger than it was. From this experience I have learned a valuable lesson: “Don’t do today, what you can put off til tomorrow”. Though contrary to the more popular version of the statement, I think it is better to “put off til tomorrow” for at least two reasons: (1) returning to a project with a fresh set of eyes often reveals what previously acclimatized eyes missed, and (2) it is possible to learn something new that will affect the project of yesterday. The story of a frog being dropped into a pot of boiling water, though quite rude, illustrates why it is wise to put fresh eyes on an old project. After slaving over a paper for days, it is as if I started that paper in a pot of warm water that gradually reached a critical boiling point and cooked me as done as a nun’s romantic life. Taking a break and returning after a couple of days allows me to experience the paper like a frog being dropped into the already boiling water. I always see things I didn’t with my acclimatized eyes. Rather than submitting a paper immediately upon completion, it is best to “put off til tomorrow”. As was the case with my resume, it is possible to learn something tomorrow that will affect my work today. If I had waited to submit my resume, I would have been able to use my new knowledge to dramatically improve my work. Again, for this reason, it is best to “put off til tomorrow”. I do not mean for my advice to be taken as an extreme. Obviously, it would be unwise to postpone action indefinitely because of a hope of clearer vision or increased knowledge that would benefit the work at hand. Someone could argue that if I wait 20 years to submit my resume it could be much stronger because of the added experience I would be able to include in it. I am not suggesting postponing action indefinitely. I am suggesting that it may be wise to exercise patience and “put off til tomorrow” when circumstances permit, such as in the case of my resume. Now what? Don't do today, what you can put off til tomorrow.
“No one has ever become poor by giving” (Anne Frank). What did Anne Frank understand about wealth and poverty that the consumer world seems to be ignorant of? Take a couple minutes to think about what it means to “give” and what it means to be rich or poor. Here are a couple scriptures to consider as you ponder: Moroni 7:6-10; D&C 11:7. I hope you have an enlightening study : ).
So, what does this have to do with MCom? During team presentations, Jeff started for his team by saying, “Today, we are going to help you to...” That was impressive to me! I felt a desire to listen to his presentation because he told me that his purpose was to help me. Jeff helped me to learn that helping people makes us rich.
Now what? I am going to try an experiment this week. Every morning I am going to ask Heavenly Father to provide me an opportunity to give somebody a gift. I will look for opportunities during the day, and if none seem to present themselves, I will choose the person and the gift myself. I’m not talking about wrapped in paper gifts, the gift might be a note, a helping hand, an invitation, or something along those lines.
“"We scheduled zone conferences. For each one, Sister Packer baked a three-tiered cake, … decorated beautifully—thick, colorful layers of frosting, trimmed beautifully, and with ‘The Gospel’ inscribed across the top. When the missionaries were assembled, with some ceremony we brought the cake in. It was something to behold! “As we pointed out that the cake represented the gospel, we asked, ‘Who would like to have some?’ There was always a hungry elder who eagerly volunteered. We called him forward and said, ‘We will serve you first.’ I then sank my fingers into the top of the cake and tore out a large piece. I was careful to clench my fist after tearing it out so that the frosting would ooze through my fingers, and then as the elders sat in total disbelief, I threw the piece of cake to the elder, splattering some frosting down the front of his suit. ‘Would anyone else like some cake?’ I inquired. For some reason, there were no takers. “Then we produced a crystal dish, a silver fork, a linen napkin, and a beautiful silver serving knife. With great dignity I carefully cut a slice of the cake from the other side, gently set it on the crystal dish, and asked, ‘Would anyone like a piece of cake?’ “The lesson was obvious. It was the same cake in both cases, the same flavor, the same nourishment. The manner of serving either made it inviting, even enticing, or uninviting, even revolting. The cake, we reminded the missionaries, represented the gospel. How were they serving it?" - Story of President Packer as published in Teaching, No Greater Call Presentation matters. If I care about my message, I need to work to present it in a way that will be received well. Now what? Most of the preparation I do before I teach has to do with my persoanl understanding of the message I will share. In addition to this important form of preparation, I am committed to spending at least 20 minutes preparing how I will present before teaching this week.
I missed class this week for a meeting at the MTC that promised a “special guest.” I was hoping for an apostle, wishful thinking, but was only slightly disappointed to listen to Brad Wilcox. He began by asking us why we had needed to serve missions and shot down the common answers. He compared the common responses to when missionaries teach people that the purpose of the Plan of Salvation is to return to live with God again. He asked, “If our purpose is just to return to live with God again, why did we leave in the first place!?” After helping us to feel a thirst for more knowledge, he taught us what it means to be “children of the birthright.” The fact that we have a change of shoes, extra clothes, electricity, and college education distinguishes us as some of the most richly blessed people on the face of the planet. The abundance we have been given is accompanied by expectations and responsibilities to bless others. We are responsible to prepare the earth for the return of our King. However, it is easy to get distracted by countless other important things. Now what? I am recommitting myself to daily, morning scripture study so I can remember what matters most throughout the day. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/04/we-are-doing-a-great-work-and-cannot-come-down?lang=eng
I have conflicting feelings about our class discussion on networking. I recognize the obvious benefits of intentionally networking. I understand it is an important business strategy. I hate the idea of getting to know someone or doing nice things for a person with the hope of getting a return down the road. It would be irritating to me if other people viewed me as a resource rather than a person. It seems base to perceive people like mines, like possibilities to profit. Will I be as successful if I maintain this attitude? That depends on who is asking. I might miss out on business opportunities, but to be honest, I would rather sleep in a box and view people as people than to snag a great job and confuse people for profits. I think I would rather sincerely seek to bless others than seek a reward. Maybe I am naive, but I am happy. If you are reading this, know that even if others do not agree with me, I think you are a person. Now what? I am going to try to reach out to at least one person everyday to try help them in some way, and I will try to be anonymous if possible.
Those quizzes last week were bu** kickers! Something that was surprising to me was that there were hardly any questions that were keyed as "correct" being the correct answer. I have been conditioned by years of test taking to suppose that there should be a roughly even distribution of correct answers, and was manipulated by this paradigm while taking the test. I would look at the long sequence of “incorrect’s” on my answer sheet, and assume that there had to be more that should be marked as “correct.” Falsely believing in an equal distribution of answers influenced me to ignore the substance of the questions being asked. I stopped answering questions and started trying to make an even distribution of responses. I think that life can be like this too. Sometimes I attempt to judge between right and wrong by comparison to the standards of others. My only standard should be Christ’s. I cannot excuse myself from doing what is right just because others are mistaken. I think this concept is easy for me to believe and apply when thinking of the standards of Hollywood, but I have more difficulty when I try to discern the right action for myself to take by comparing with my friends and family. My friends and family are stellar, I love, respect, and admire them. That does not mean that I am justified in conforming to the standard instead of Christ’s. “Therefore, be very careful. If you judge your actions and the standards of the Church on the basis of where the world is and where it’s going, you will find that you are not where you should be” (Elder Hales). Now what? I am recommitting to do what is right and let the consequences follow, especially in regards to the activities I do with my friends. http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2013/04/stand-strong-in-holy-places?lang=eng
I enjoyed the part of the "getting to know you" game we did in class when someone was asked to describe another person based on their initial perception. I have been thinking about the messages I might be sending strangers based on my appearance. My pondering mind took me to Mosiah 18:9 in the Book of Mormon: "stand as a witness of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in." I want other people to be able to know God better by knowing me. On Sunday, I plan to take time to figure out what changes I might need to make to better represent Heavenly Father. After I figure out what I can do, I am committed to making the changes that I identify as necessary, and look forward to being able to better participate in doing God's work.
