My, how things change in a short space of time

I didn't intend to have such a gap between posts, but there was this thing called life going on. I fell into one of those "I'll get to it" traps, and sort of . . . got stuck.

Lots has happened.

I've traveled a bit
- getting educated in Ohio
- presenting in Georgia
- soaking up wisdom in Florida

I've committed time a bit
- planning to attend a conference in Chicago
- agreed to present at a summit in Arkansas
- and taking on more teaching gigs in Tennessee

And I've rested a bit (no, not really).

Of all the things I have learned, the most impactful is that once we learn something we will remember it best when a situation in which we can apply it arises. I'm talking here about Stephen Covey's plan for life management (see the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People). He identifies four areas into which every event in our lives can fall - Urgent-Important, Urgent-Not Important, Not Urgent-Important, and Not Urgent-Not Important. Once identified, he recommends we spend our time in areas 1 and 3 (it's been a while, but that's the message as I recall it). This post, as an example, is (to me) in the 3d area. It's most helpful to reflect on our experiences and this serves the purpose for me at this time.

Of late, this technique has become oh so important to me, and I realize that he was right when he said that the things in area 2 and 4 will try to get our attention. It seems that the more important something is, the more we tend to put it off . . . why is that?

In the learning realm of my life, I am focused on the study of Ethics, Social Differences, and Critical Thought (topics currently on my radar screen for doctoral work). As a result, it appears these should become the lenses through which I view the various (multiple) events that impact my life I'll begin doing that soon . . .

In the teaching realm, I have been able to meet an experienced and accomplished textbook author, choose a new text for a class I'll begin teaching in a month or so, and look forward to preparing (many) new courses that I'll soon be teaching. If students only knew how exciting it was for professors to prepare for classes they would spend a lot more time learning!

In the learning-technology realm, there are some legal issues on the horizon. More about them can be found at my favorite educational podcast headquarters - EdTechTalk.

Is that all the news for now? I think so . . .