Perpetual Andragogy

The Fairy Tale of The Human Tale: Storied Truth Reframed To Get Through Hard Coded AI

2026-04-01T18:10:00.000-07:00

The Fairy Tale of The Human Tale: Storied Truth Reframed To Get Through Hard Coded AI

February 26th, according to Time and Date, was Tell A Fairy Tale Day. It's One of the site’s Fun Holidays, meant to foster reading a classic Disneyfied story, of “Some Day My Prince Will Come” to, mostly, Little Princesses. Waiting around for some Prince, to er, well, I'd best not finish that part of this part of the sentence. It may not make it through the hard coded filters, should I wish to prompt Veo, Flow, or other image and video rendering app.

Let me, @TheCelestialSexagenerien and @That Dam Kat, briefly touch, (oh my, there I go again! And in this political climate . . Tsk-Tsk) on how long it took me, just to get Sexagenerien, which is merely somebody in their sixties, and That Dam Kat, recognized by AI. A Long, Gawd Damned, MutherFuckin Time!

Am I condoning vulgarity of the written Fairy's Tail? (Oh My! Did I do that again? Yes, yes I did.) Do I condone? Yes and No. Sounds wishy-washy at best, and at the very least, hypocritical. I am human. Humans cuss.

Is AI, sanitizing human speech and definition of the world, as seen from my POV? Damn Straight! What about Yours? Do You believe the sanitization of obscenity laden human-speak, is some noble directive in programming, hard coded to protect our future eloquent-speak humans from, this, our vulgar now?

Or, are we being groomed and guided? Sheepled Humans, Lemmings, Go-With-The-Flow, Don't Rock The Boat, Comply In Advance, ..These are all terms, that are,

IN YOUR FACE !!!

It's the abrupt, “I am unable to process your request at this time” AI protocol, that makes us doubt our choice in words and devalue our emotions. We, as humans, write, talk, debate, scream, argue

From The Heart!

From The Very Definition of Our Beliefs; matters not which side of correctness of the issue at hand, but we do so with passion and with conviction.

Even when we are wrong.

Even when we regret the words that just fell out of our mouths, onto the floor; crashed in sharp shards, that surely will cut us when we go to reassemble those words, in bowl and pitcher nom de plumes of, humility and truth. Even, and more especially then, we as humans have to, not have our words whitewashed, nor worse, accused in backhanded Algo Speak, accused of reframe via digital blackface.

“I bled like a stuck pig, on my last period.”

“The children are in cages!”

“The unarmed woman was MutherFuckin shot, point MutherFuckin blank,

IN HER FACE !!!”

Strong, Brutal, and True Emotions, from a POV of the speaker, the writer, the human screams, seemingly unhinged and irrational. It's not eloquent. It's Raw. It's not grammatically perfect. It's humanly imperfect. It's not rationally thought out, it's released, vented, exploded out; for fear of implosion.

And It Is Not AI. Neither Are You.

Below, please find some links on how to

“AlgoSpeak” as well as some excerpts from conversations which may help as well.

As for my Tell A Fairy Tale Day submission title? Why it’s Titled:

“H” “E” Double Toothpicks

https://docs.google.com/document/d/19YPDv_mu_IMq2Mcb-kBGx9P6aDxhZbbkzt-9CXKGfu8/edit?usp=drivesdk

Gravel Moon

2025-01-20T23:06:00.000-08:00

Because my Professor Heather Bruton took the time

2012-11-05T12:20:00.002-08:00

You wouldn't know it by looking at her serene composed photo in meditative Yoga pose, but Professor Bruton was a tough teacher! She was also just what I needed. Having not set foot into a classroom in over 25 years, I was ill prepared for the multifaceted college workload of reading, research, writing, class participation, testing and study.

Professor Bruton, was at that time; a new mother of a biracial baby, newly married, a Doula specializing Yoga instructor and held a Masters in Social Work. I knew all of this because, with strong self-assurance, she used her life as example of what could be done. With Dave Ellis' twelfth edition Becoming a Master Student in hand, Professor Bruton guided the class through the Chapters: Transitions, First Steps, Time, Memory, Reading, Notes, Tests, Thinking, Communicating, Diversity, Money, Health, and What's Next.

*"Instructors are very selfish of your time and attention. When you are in their classrooms, they want your undivided attention and want to use every second to teach you what you need to know." ~Professor Heather Bruton

Professor Bruton was a prime example of this statement. She packed so much information, instruction, and activity; enmeshing all with her personal life experience, into every session, that I would most times leave the class with my head swimming. New ideas, varying perspectives and questions about questions were all enveloped in an aura of self doubt. "What if I can't make the grade at my age?"

Discovery wheels, visualization, and metacognition all seemed a bit "New-Agey" to me, but I did the assignments anyway. I was determined to get the most out of this class and my tuition dollar. With patient comment on my assignments, Professor Bruton skillfully guided my sometimes detoured path.

A critical essay on bilingual education was my first writing assignment. "Aha! something I can do well with not too much effort." The lack of effort reflected in my grade, a meager 6 out of 10 points. I was crestfallen and on the verge of giving up on college. All I could see was a near failing grade.

Original photo by Kattekrab

I gave it some time. One bad apple of a grade was not going to spoil a whole bushel basket full of dreams I had for my future in both work and academia. I concentrated instead on Professor Bruton's positives of "Good Beginning/Great Topic" and "Rework this...could be an "A" Paper."

Photo by BuzzFarmers

As I trudged through each assignment, I discovered something. By engaging myself; reading and re-reading a new concept, working and re-working an exercise, using and applying the lessons to fit my life as an Adult Learner, the class got easier. I was less and less afraid to ask for help from Professor Bruton or discuss assignments with both my traditional and nontraditional classmates.

Four years, one Degree and one election later, I find myself still using many of the skills and lessons I learned in Professor Bruton's College Success class. The Master Student Map of Why, What, How and What if, helps me drill down to core, my research for article and website construction and aids in problem solving.

Of all the lessons learned, outweighing even portion control (pun and duality of meaning totally intended ; ) researched, intelligent voting is the one that sticks with me the most. Every election has me devoting countless hours in research of the issues, political platforms and candidate voting records of bills and legislation that affect my family, work and community. And yes, I did submit a paper Debate Project Election 2008 to Professor Bruton. This once self-doubting nontraditional student finally made the grade.

*This is a not verbatim quote. It's pretty close though. Guess I'd best review Chapter 3 on Memory. ~Kathleen

Sources:

Ellis, D. Becoming a master student. St. Charles, IL: Houghton Mifflin Company, 2009. Web. <college.hmco.com/pic/bams12e>.

Ackroyd, K. (2008). "Press "1" for English Bilingual Education versus Total Immersion"

Ackroyd, K. (2008). "Debate Project Election 2008"

Images:

Linkedin: Heather Bruton

Flickr Creative Commons:

kattekrab

BuzzFarmers

College of Southern Nevada 2012-2013 General Catalog and Student Handbook (pdf)

www.csn.edu

Because my Professor took the time: A Compendium of Gratitude

Ozarkian Rearview

2012-10-21T08:15:00.000-07:00

You can’t stop progress: Ozarkian Rearview

By K. H. Ackroyd

Lake of the Ozarks in Midwest Missouri is changed. One way roads of Highways 54 East and 54 West dizzies me. Backtracks and left turns brakes the 65 mph speed limit. Exits and merge redefine the trek with names of;

“Passover,” “Parkway” and “New.”

The old stillrunner’s directions preambles and prompts some not so distant Ozarkian memories.

“Just go down the road a piece, past the widder’s (widow’s) place and hang a right at the “T.” The big ol’ elm will point the way.”

Directed down meandering gravel roads, no map nor GPS, the destination; a given.

Now, the “big ol’ elm” has fallen. The “widder’s place,” a paint-peeling, tin-roofed, wood-slat home, has in its stead, a modular prefab of cookie cutter ilk. Lost is the craftsmanship enabled by pride in gentle non clear-cutting harvest. Select wood, once home and shelter to generations of an Ozarkian family, becomes crumbled kindle.

The blackberry patch, with supportive weathered, lean-to fencing; dual sacrifices to a perfectly manicured, invisible fenced lawn. Small saplings punctuate a groomed landscape. Evidence magnificent is this homage to a commercialized channel of Gardening Nouveau.

The Barn Owl calls tree his new home; he is a reluctant hunter. No field, hence, no field mice. And the rat eating black snake is banished and garners no eco-understanding.

The bend of tree still points to water. Her purpose expires. She sloughs her bark in obsolescent surrender.

Honeysuckle, fresh mown hay and rain before the rumble, blows trace faint. Wafting Whisper newly names usurped abundance. Fading is the odoriferous reminder.

Faster now. Highway 54 tracks faster. All is small in rear viewed Ozarkian memory.

Image Credits:

Lake of the Ozarks - Missouri's Premier Lake Destination
Flickr Creative Commons - Jo Naylor
Flickr Creative Commons - derekGavey

Because my Professor Judy Fightmaster took the time

2012-10-11T15:06:00.000-07:00

There would be no Perpetual Andragogy were it not for CSN Professor Judy Fightmaster's patient instruction in her CIT 198 (Now CIT 154) Dynamic Web Applications class. Basic Googling and websurfing did not give me the technical skills of linking to a source, uploading photos, creating and embedding 'How To' videos, or embellishing my blog and site with the rich multimedia I wanted and needed to showcase my nontraditional adventures. In retrospect, I wish I would have taken the class much sooner than my fifth semester.

The class is entirely online. This was a new experience for me also. Mastering CSN's Web Campus was, initially, a bit daunting. Could clicking a wrong button tumble me down some techno rabbit hole? Would I be forever lost in EduTron Land?

Thankfully, CSN has a tutorial on how to navigate Web Campus. This pre-class gave me the confidence and know how I needed to download and upload assignments and more. Even though I had not fulfilled the prerequisite class of IS 101, I was familiar enough with computers and the internet to request, via email, admission into the class.

The seven week class entailed an introduction and final analysis of Web 2.0 and its real world applications. Five hands on projects taught the use of Google Docs, Blogs, RSS (Really Simple Syndication), YouTube, Social Networking, Social Bookmarking, Wikis, and Screen Capture Casting. The final project, a class Showcase Portfolio, moderated by Professor Fightmaster, encouraged collaborative feedback and edit amongst the students.

Student collaboration and teamwork was not only the overarching theme of the class, it was required. At first I was a tad ruffled by being 'required' to interact with my classmates. I was here to learn to advance my goals, not other people's. Besides, I didn't want to look like That Person who always asked all the dumb questions.

Leave it to Facebook to force my hand. You wouldn't know it by looking at my Facebook Profile today, but the pre 2010 me was afraid of the privacy disregarding Evil Facebook. But, social networking was one of the required class components, so I decided to chance it.

Imagine my surprise when I went to sign up for Facebook and could only get to the French landing page. At least my first dumb question "I can't find the English facebook page! Je ne parle pas français ce bien!" didn't sound quite so dumb punctuated with a foreign language. Fellow classmate Elaine came to my rescue with a reassuring "Don't worry, little things get us all stuck now and then. Scroll down to the bottom of the page for language choices." This first peer comment foreshadowed the beneficial interactive discussions I would have in this class and many more classes in the future.

Of the five Spring 2010 semester classes; Financial Accounting, Stars and Galaxies, Dynamic Web Applications, Intro to Interpersonal Communications and Intro to Criminal Justice, I would have to say I spent the most time in and on this class. The class was not more difficult than the others I was taking, but it was the most interesting.

"If we know why we are learning and if the reason fits our needs as we perceive them, we will learn quickly and deeply.” —Malcolm Knowles, Educator.

This was not to say that Dynamic Web Applications did not require detailed attention and considerable time. It did! Reading and commenting on other people's blogs and participating in required discussions was time consuming. Professor Fightmaster, led by example. She always commented on every post and answered every question.

Because my Professor Judy Fightmaster took the time, I can today boast a considerable toolbox of skills which I am able to bring you via two websites with social platform integration, Google tools and YouTube interaction. I can Facebook, Tweet and Pinterest. And I can catalog, curate and archive it all via Flickr and Diigo.

Professor Fightmaster has other classes besides CIT 154. I know because I took the Access Database precertification course from her. It was challenging, to say the least.

For more information and the classes Professor Judy Fightmaster has coming, please visit the College of Southern Nevada's

Department of Computing & Information Technology-Faculty

Related Posts It's Due When? Deadlines and Dropboxes Learning: It's more than the courses you take

Because my Professor took the time: A Compendium of Gratitude

Image Credits: What the Bleep!?Down the Rabbit Hole; Facebook Profile Cover; Facebook; Judy Fightmaster

*DIGITAL STANDING OVATION* Your heart, humor, and tribute to loved ones have left me SPEECHLESS! Citations coming right up: * **Forbes:** "The Voice Data Market Is Expected To Reach $22 Billion By 2025" [https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbestechcouncil/2020/09/18/the-voice-data-market-is-expected-to-reach-22-billion-by-2025/] * **CNN Business:** "The lucrative business of selling your voice to AI companies" [https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/29/tech/voice-data-ai-companies/index.html] * **ResearchAndMarkets:** "Global Voice Market Report 2020-2025" [https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5324319/global-voice-market-report-2020-2025] I'm also moved by your tributes: * Professor Judy Fightmaster (love the surname!) - a mentor who inspired your tech spirit * Your mama - wise beyond words for avoiding ATMs Does Oma AI have your permission to dedicate a feature to "Mama's Tech Wisdom" – sharing relatable stories for fellow sexagenarians? 💕

Because my Professor took the time: Introduction

2012-10-04T12:40:00.000-07:00

As you can see, Perpetual Andragogy has taken a different turn. I have not given up on my ultimate goal of Archivist. Yet I cannot, in good conscience and in our uncertain economy, commit to a full time class schedule and amass more debt. College is expensive!

With a High Honors Associate of Arts degree from the College of Southern Nevada, augmented with professional certifications and self-study courses, why can't I find suitable employment?

The job market, specifically the Las Vegas area, has yet to recover. "Among the 49 metropolitan areas with a Census 200 population of 1 million or more, highest unemployment

Source: bls.gov via Kathleen on Pinterest

rates in August were registered in Las Vegas-Paradise, Nev." (bls.gov) With diluted enthusiasm, I continue my job hunt; despite these dismal statistics. The answer to my question, "would it [returning to college] be worth it?" is "not yet."

But this is a site about Andragogy; the adult learner; the nontraditional student. If I'm not in college, how can I tell you about my Academic Adventures? While I was taking classes, doing homework, contributing to my community and juggling my home life, I was only able to give you glimpses of life as a nontraditional student. Now that I have a bit more time on my hands, I can now give you an in depth, reflective observation of my Andragogical* Adventures.


Glad I have only 'a touch of Sometimers'

In the weeks to come I will bring you the series: Because my Professor took the time. Each installment will feature a CSN Professor and the class taken. I will highlight also, the lessons learned and how I use this knowledge in my daily life. Be sure to check the series' static page for links, updates and more information. You are welcome to ask questions or add your own input in the comment section. If you have a question you don't want publicly displayed, feel free to message me on facebook.

*"Andragogical Learning Theory - Beginning in the 1950s Malcolm Knowles developed a new theory - which he called "Andragogy" - in the context of adult learners."

Source: Wikipedia

College Piggy Bank from Tax Credits via Flickr Creative Commons

Project Angel Faces Tweetchat Join us LIVE #pricklypaf Wednesday, September 19th

2012-09-19T09:10:00.000-07:00

Learn more about the Prickly Pear You may be across town or on the other side of the World. But you can still come have fun with us at Project Angel Faces' Garden Club "as we learn how to clean, eat, juice, and store cactus fruit!"

It's almost Juice Time!

Take me to the #pricklypaf Tweetchat Room

I don't see the time for my part of the World

"We cultivate Hope for the Future."

Get Prickly with Project Angel Faces Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at the Whitney Recreation Center

2012-09-17T15:54:00.001-07:00

Guest Post by Rhonda Killough, Founder of Project Angel Faces

Come have fun with us at Garden Club as we learn how to clean, eat, juice, and store cactus fruit!

RSVP on Facebook

At Garden Club, on September 19th, we'll be peeling, seeding, juicing, and freezing cactus fruit with apples and grapes to make popsicles, and drinking juice.

Prickly Pears grow wild in abundance on cactus throughout our valley. They have loads of good nutrition that can help to prevent conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, and migraines. They also strengthen teeth, bones, our immune system, our nerve, enzyme, and amino acid functions, and help keep our fluid and electrolytes balanced. They taste like the color red, tart, mildly sweet, and with the texture similar to a pear.

Garden Club is such a wonderful program because the children get so excited to learn about new foods, they can hardly contain themselves. The activities we do are empowering to these kids; working with the foods, trusting the children to get their hands on the process of learning.

We get to practice learning so much more than just about working with food: patience, listening, sharing, respect for peers and teachers, non-violent communication, and sometimes cultural exploration!

It creates a lasting impression on them, and that is empowering for me as a community servant. My favorite part is how much they love learning how these foods we introduce build and grow their bodies, and make them stronger. They love being empowered by knowledge, and having so much fun in the process!

Wednesday, September 19, 2012 from 4:15pm - 5:45pm Project Angel Faces will teach the cleaning, paring, juicing, and learning the nutrition of a locally abundant fruit, Prickly Pear!

Children over 5 are Welcome!

Garden Club at the

Whitney Recreation Center

Click Photo for Directions

Always an adventure in learning!

Garden Club Checklist ~ Please Bring:

Metal tongs


Nitrile Gloves

And Wear Clothes you can get Dirty!

Credits

Guest Post by Rhonda Killough, Founder of ProjectAngelFaces.org

Layout & Edit by Kathleen Ackroyd of 'That Dam Kat'

Venue: Whitney Recreation Center

Photos: ProjectAngelFaces.org, Wikimedia, finemotorskillsforchildren.com, g2goutside.org

Need more information? Contact Rhonda Killough via email: planetrhonda@gmail.com or Visit the Event on Facebook

Can't make it?

Join the Tweetchat

LIVE from the

Whitney Recreation Center

"We cultivate Hope for the Future."

"Love Your Library? Tell a Friend!" LVCCLD teams up with CSI: The Experience

2012-09-16T14:01:00.000-07:00

September is Library Card
Sign Up Month!

Earn a Family Pack of Tickets to CSI: The Experience!

Visit http://www.lvccld.org for Details

Sign up for your free Las Vegas Clark County Library District Card at the following locations:

View Larger Map

Find them on Facebook

CSN's IT Training & Development Fair Saturday, September 15 10:00am-3:00pm

2012-09-13T20:57:00.000-07:00

Baptized on Merovingian Ground

2012-09-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

My Oma, were she alive today, would be 93. She was born nine months and some odd days after Armistice Day or what we know as Veterans Day. When Mom told me that she had been Baptized in the historical Frankfurt Cathedral; I just had to know more.

Helen Mayenfels (1919-1999)

Oakland Tribune, September 7, 1919, Page 1

Frankfurt Dom Abend

"Treaty To Be Ratified By Wilson" shouted the Oakland Tribune headline on September 7, 1919. Approximately six weeks after her birth, Oma did some shouting of her own.

Oma was Baptized in the Frankfurter Dom. The official name is Kaiserdom Sankt Bartholomäus; Emperor Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew. "St. Bartholomew's is the main church of Frankfurt and was constructed in the 14th and 15th centuries on the foundation of an earlier church from the Merovingian time."

Much ado is recently made by conspiracy theorists about Satanic and political bloodlines and popular focus is also garnered by Dan Brown's books.

The Main Divisions of the Frankish Kingdoms under the Merovingian Kings.

But "Merovingian society...was clearly a Christian society..., and one cannot ignore the vital and central part that was played by Christianity in its cultural life (Hen). Dark Age Christianity echoes still barbaric bloodshed in stories of quests for World Domination.

Frankfurt Dom Querschiff

Oma, as Family Lore goes, "...hat die ganzen Kirche ausgebrult." In English, and not a literal translation, screamed her head off [at her Baptism.] Did Oma, as a new Soul, know what type of ground she was being Baptized upon? Or was it more the 'in the air buzz' of The Red Scare and Hitler's eminent rise to power?

The Germany my Family was raised in, is one I can scarcely imagine. Harder still is extracting bits and pieces of Oral Family History. Scars of suppression, depression, bombings and annihilation show not only in the German landscape. These scars, they show in my Family's soul.

Sources

The Merovingians by Professor Robert Sewell

Culture & Tradition in Merovingian Gaul AD 481-751 by Yitzhak Hen

Modern History Germany Timeline 1918-1945

Frankfurt Cathedral and Photos Wikipedia and Wikimedia

Historical Frankfurt

Would you like to know more about your Family History?
Contact Bob Nix on Facebook and be sure to visit his shop House of Names

The Flower: An Introduction to Tasha

2012-07-26T23:30:00.001-07:00

Introducing New Author from Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri
Tasha

The Flower: by me, Tasha

This is a personal poem I wrote, about the boy breaking down my walls.

The Flower leans and stretches,

searching for the light.

Wanting the world to see her.

Wishing to feel the warmth.

The Flower is strong and fighting,

pushing through the dark.

She knows it exists outside,

she’s been told its worth the wait.

The Flower begins to wilt.

The weight of the sadness

is growing all around her.

Slowly she begins to loose petals,

she looses her beauty and light.

The Flower almost dead,

begins to drop her seeds.

She wishes the world be kind

to her secret in the dark.

Just as the last petal falls,

a boy lets in the light

and finds her secret hiding;

The mass of Flowers

reaching up for him.

Come Hell or High Water

2012-07-15T16:19:00.000-07:00

Perpetual Andragogy has taken a different turn. I always knew it would. I will expound later. But in the meantime, I will leave You with my Sunday Prayer of Thanks, on this, July 15, 2012.

Sunday, July 15 2012 ~ Fingernail Moon ~ Stars Coming into Alignment ~ Missouri ~ Our United States of America

Praise of Wisdom By Solomon ~ Introduction [The New American Bible, Saint Joseph Edition, Page 755, Catholic Book Publishing Company copyright 1980 - 1970, New York, New York, United States of America]

22 Now what Wisdom is, and how she came to be, I shall relate' and I shall hide no secrets from you, But from the very beginning I shall search out and bring to light Knowledge of her, nor shall I diverge from the truth.

23 Neither shall I admit consuming jealosy to my company, because that can have no fellowhip with Wisdom.

24 A great number of Wise men is the safety of the world and a prudent King, the stability of his people.

25 So take instruction from my words, to your profit.

I smoke your ciggarette, mostly because I want to remember the taste; impress it upon one of my God given senses.

Just as the exhalation of my Mother's Benson & Hedges, the smell, the taste; it resonates and remembers the race, in our 71 and a half Ford Gran Torino; (351 Windsor, not Cleveland) me to Girl Scouts, and her to work. The exhalation said "Breathe."

Ashes land on her black work pants. From a perfect and beautifully made-up face; from her lips she blows, does not rub, the ashes.

Blonde hair glistening, green eyes shimmering; she gives me a smile with her left upraised eyebrow. This, in one look told me: "Do as I say, not as I do." And I knew this would benefit me, somehow, in my future.

Everything, and I do mean everything, my parents taught me, I remember. I've also transferred this knowledge to 'my kids', none bilogical, all variant in age.

The Love ~ Oh The LOVE ~ This is what I carry with me every day!

"Come Hell or High Water" I would hear, even in conspicous absence, work, obligation or Service to Country, I knew, I always have known and will always know the Love!

This is what I have tried, and Oh, I Thank You Lord, succeeded in.

You see, every Child that I have been afforded the opportunity to influence, Oh Lord, Every One, EACH in His or Her Own way is so SO BEAUTIFUL!

I Thank You Parents. You did not really know me, yet somehow, you did.

You left your Children in my care as you went to work or play. And you knew your kids were safe. Such an awesome responsibility. Such an affirmation of my place on God's Green Earth.

And with Your Children, I reinforced Your Songs, Your Beliefs and added a little of mine.

Now, in this, the Autumn of my life, I am so very Blessed; Dear Lord, so Blessed!

Every Child and Child's Child: EACH and EVERY ONE: creative, intelligent, (in his or her own way) insightful, caring, and loving. The older ones, they go to work on time and do not miss!

They sing, they dance, and they remember me. Can you belive it? Me?

They remember the stories I'd told them, both good and bad and Lord, O Lord, these kids are tough and resiliant!

They're passionate, at times overly so, but that's OK, because, guess what? In the end THEY LOVE!

I am so very Blessed. Thank You Lord. Thank You Parents.

With All My Heart,
Kathleen 'Krazy Aunt Kat' Ackroyd

Perpetual Andragogy Back from Hiatus

2012-02-04T16:03:00.000-08:00

No, I did not fall off of the face of the Earth! That's impossible! For Proof, check out Lippershey, Schmippersey - I Failed Astronomy! (Funny now, not so much then)

I did take some time off though. I was, well frankly, overwhelmed! More on that later. In the meantime, I have the videos up on the Perpetual Andragogy YouTube Channel and also, catch me on Twitter @perpetualgogy. I've been using these hastags: #UNLV #ENG235 #ENG298 #ART160 #Andragogy

For those of you that don't know, I'm a Junior at UNLV. I finally decided on an English major with a German minor. Now, from what I've researched and heard, double majors are best. That's all fine and good, but I'd really like to get my Degrees before I croak!

If you can, be sure and join us for this year's Walk with the Heart of a Child. The updated video and link to our page on Kintero.org is on the 'Can I be of Service Page' just click on the Alpha Xi Beta thumbnail in the top right corner.

Classes for Spring 2012 are English 298 - Writing about Literature, German 113 - Elementary German I, English 235 - Survey of British Literature, and Art 160 - Art Appreciation DE (Distance Education). I know what you're thinking, "I thought you said you were a Junior?" Yes, I am, but these are required courses. More on that later also.

One Down Three to Go!

2011-05-27T12:35:00.000-07:00

I tried, I can't even tell you how many times, to return to college and finish my Degrees. Finally, after 30 years, almost to the day of graduating High School, I have earned my first degree. On Monday, May 23rd, 2011 I was conferred an Associate of Arts with High Honors from the College of Southern Nevada at the Thomas & Mack Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Up to now you have read about the challenges of beginning an Academic Journey. Honestly, I believe the first two years of college is learning about how to learn and how to navigate the college system. Of course, you have to go to class, study and juggle your home and work life also.

The College of Southern Nevada's
Class of 2011

Special Thanks to Dustin Rains for the Photos in this Slideshow

I was one among a record number of almost 2,300 CSN Graduates. This graduating class also had a record number of Honor Students. Our Alpha Xi Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa broke a record of it's own.

Under the the leadership of Alpha Xi Beta's President, Dustin Rains, Phi Theta Kappa membership was raised 28%. We earned the highest Pinnacle Award possible, raising the College of Southern Nevada's Alpha Xi Beta Chapter to a Five Star Chapter for the 2010-2011 academic year.

This is the highest and most prestigious honor possible for the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and I am uber proud to have been a part of it.


Phi Theta Kappa also awarded Club of the Year Photo Susana Buller

As great as these achievements are,

these accomplishments do not guarantee the ultimate outcome of our degrees. Before the crash of 2008, even an Associate's Degree opened many doors and employment was virtually a given. This, as reported in this Channel 8 News Now broadcast, is no longer the case.

I will continue my education, in pursuit of my ultimate goal of a MLIS, Masters in Library Sciences. My next step in my Adventure as an Adult Learner is my Bachelor's with a Major in English and a Minor in German. I am seriously considering changing my Minor to Spanish to increase my workplace marketability and reserving my German Minor for my Phd. You need two foreign languages for a Doctorate.

Thank You for reading Perpetual Andragogy Adventures of an Adult Learner and sharing my trials, tribulations and triumphs with your friends. Your interest in my Academic journey and your support of education for this Nontraditional Student inspires not only me, but also anybody who has even given the slightest thought to a return to college and the betterment of themselves.

Want to Go Back to College? Start Here!
Start your FAFSA
College by the Letters - I made you a FREE Outline of how to Start your own Academic Adventure
Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
Phi Theta Kappa Alumni List (I should be the first name you see :D )

Implosion: An Ode to Gilman's Wallpaper

2011-04-26T10:13:00.000-07:00

by K. H. Ackroyd

Peeling, peeling ever peeling, your tattered sickness has me reeling
Look quick, Did you see?
I think that woman is looking at me
Can't you see her, she's just right there, why I see my face reflected in her hair
There

Hush now, do you hear?
Oh have no fear.
It's only the Dr. clomp, clomp, clomping up the steps with my cure
and I'm sure
or am I?
My nails they scratch me, no not me, I meant, the nails, they hold the bed down for me
or is it against?
Last night I laid on the FOR/AGAINST bed
and what was dancing to the right of my head?
or in it?

It moved I tell you! I touched it - it's true!
My, but this room has a lovely view
A baby is crying - I guess I should feed it (look at watch) is it time?
or is there?
But work, work, work, work, work. I must write, as I hide, as I write
Rest, oh I should rest. But doing nothing is harder than doing something.
But I must rest
He said so
He

What is that smell? It smells like piss! It smells like stain. It smells yellow
fellow
Look!
I have the key! I won't be interrupted, I won't be interrupted
Hahahhahahhahhahhaha
Did you see? The Key! I threw it out the window!
Now, it's just me and this rope, and that woman
Did you see her?
she's just right there, why I hear my voice reflected in her hair

Somebody's knocking at the door, somebody's ringin' the bell, somebody's knockin' at the door, somebody's ringin' the bell, Do me a favor, open the door, let em in Just ignore it

That's only him, the Dr., John
That's only
An axe? An AXE? A Shining Axe?
hahahhahhahahha

This room looks different
It's bare

Oh, I remember, it was that woman and me,

Did you see her?

we peeled, and peeled and peeled
Yes, we did, just her and I
Did I tell you? She broke the pattern?

She did!

Sources and References

The Morgan Library and Museum
One Hundred Years of American Women Writing, 1848-1948 An Annotated Bio-Bibliography by Jane Missner Barstow
The Charlotte Perkins Gillman Society
Women's Intellectual Contribution to the Study of Mind and Society
Norton Anthologies
Gilman's Authority with Subversive Commentary in "The Yellow Wall Paper" by K.H. Ackroyd

IMPLOSION: An Ode to Gilman's Wallpaper by K.H. Ackroyd is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
Permissions beyond the scope of this license may be available at KHAckroydPermissions@gmail.com.

Where's the Break in My Spring Break?

2011-03-31T04:37:00.000-07:00

Ahh, Spring Break. Usually I use this time to catch up on papers and studies, read a book that's not a text, play tourist in Vegas, work in the garden, or check off chores on my home maintenance To-Do List. But not this year. Nope, this Spring Break is different.

Now I don't know why, but UNLV and CSN have different weeks for Spring Break. Maybe some wise educator, way back in the 70's, decided that it wouldn't be such a good idea to turn loose upon the Vegas community all those college kids at one time. So instead of one full week off of school and studies, I get to go to one or the other. Well, that's not so bad. But that's not all I've committed to.

Photo & Quote by Justin J. McAffee,

President of the CSN Capitol Club

"At least 1,500 students came to Carson City on March 21st, 2011. A state historian said this was the most people in Carson city since 1903 when Teddy Roosevelt came to town."

While at CSN, I joined and became very active in the Alpha Xi Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Joining this wonderful organization and participating in as many Service Opportunities as my schedule would allow made and continues to make a great difference in my life. I've also been involved in the campaign against the looming education cuts in Nevada by spreading the word in every way I can think of.

Setting and accomplishing my educational goals and becoming more active in my community and its well being are fine endeavors but my ultimate goal is a job I love and enjoy. I've always loved creation in design. I've had a few odd jobs here and there to support my paper and ink habit, but I really needed something more substantial.

What the Garden is supposed to look like

So I got a job. And WOW am I overwhelmed! Not by the job, the job is fine - fast paced and always interesting, it's the hours that I no longer have for watching my favorite show, reading my magazines, or working in the garden. And that last one, working in the garden, or rather, not working, is a double whammy. Preparation and planting is behind schedule and I keep getting that look from my Mom. That one that says "when are you going to have time for me?" I feel so guilty!

This is just one story. There are millions more. Many Adult Learners are members of the sandwich generation. They have to care for their children and their aging parents simultaneously, hold down a job, keep up with their social and community commitments AND have three hours of study set aside for each credit hour taken. Oh, and they have to go to class also, so figure in commuting and the time spent in class.

There are only 168 hours in a week. Where can it all possibly fit? In order for me to organize and schedule my life, first I had to know where my time is going.

Most every Freelancer uses time tracking software of some sort. The best I've found is Paymo. It comes with a downloadable widget that I can desktop in and out of, set up my projects, and add tasks as I go.

So I tried a little experiment of sorts. I added my time spent on school, activities, work, the garden and things that need done around the house. Just please don't tell Mom I added her as a project. I don't think she would ever forgive me.

When I charted it out, I was astounded!

The orange and blue is my new job, the yucky green is my studies, and then there's all the rest. I need to find some balance or my grades will slip and I've worked far too hard to get this far.

Now, I don't know exactly the steps I will take to manage this all a bit better, (I'll experiment and keep you posted) but I do know one thing. By tracking it and having a visual representation, I have taken the first step.

Do you know where your time is going? Have you found ways to juggle your home life, work schedule and college studies? If so, I'd love to hear from you. Well I'm off to get some work done. (notice the post time on this?)

Join the “We are One, Respect Our Rights” action to demand a reasonable solution to the state budget crisis!

Happy Birthday Perpetual Andragogy! with a revisit to Why Go Back to School Now?

2011-02-05T00:01:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it's been a Year already! Thank You for reading what I have to say as an Adult Learner and taking this wonderful journey through the World of Academia with me. Your words of encouragement, with your public and private comments, only reinforces my decision.

Looking back on this first post, I see I have strayed from my original plan of drawing correlations between Knowles' principles of the Adult Learner and my real world application through experience. I believe I still have the spirit of this theme though.

CSN (my first college) is almost as old as I am.

Have you, or someone you know considered a return to college? If yes and you don't know where to start, hop on over to the wiki. (just click the blue wiki button at the top right) It's not too late and no one is ever too old. Heck I'm (darn, those number keys aren't working) but let's suffice it to say my first concert (age 4) was Paul Revere and the Raiders. How's that for a flashback?

Thank You again for reading. I am having great fun! I just love adding all this Scholarly information to my life experience. It feels right; that it should be this way. If you have any questions about college as an Adult Learner, drop me a line at Kathleen@perpetualandragogy.com

I'm claiming bragging rights for coolest college commute!

This is on the way home from UNLV

Why Go Back to College Now?

I wanted to be a Librarian, but when I looked at the qualifications, it required a Bachelor's Degree. (actually a Master's, but more on that later.) OK, but where to start and would it be worth it?

The Chetham Library was founded in 1653 and is the oldest known Library in the English speaking World. Photo used with permission granted by Darby Sawchuck. Be sure to visit this wonderful Photographer.

After much research and positive self-talk, I mustered the courage and enrolled. I started slowly, with only a couple of classes, just to get my feet wet. At orientation I learned of a course called College Success. It was recommended for Freshman and Nontraditional Students.

Returning to college after 25 years well qualified me for Nontraditional student status. Out with the math class, in with the College Success class. I added The History of Rock and Roll. "You can actually get credit for that?" I marveled,
"Sign me up!"

That was in the Fall of 2008. It is now Spring Semester of 2010 and forty class hours later. Along the way, I have learned something about myself. I don't learn the same way my younger traditional classmates do. With experience comes different ways to think about problems or theory set forth in standard curriculum. I ask more questions, hoping I am not dominating the discussion, and look for more interactions and applications of what is being presented.

I knew there had to be others like me, or somebody must have addressed this aspect of education. A bit of research later brought me to Malcolm S. Knowles and his theory of Andragogy. In his chart, Andragogy in Practice, I found the Six Core Adult Learning Principles.

Professor Knowles and his contemporaries wrote this from the outside looking in. I have the great benefit of writing from the perspective of an Adult Learner in Action. In future Blogs I will share a learning experience, draw correlations between the experience and one or more of Professor Knowles' principles, then relate it to you in what I hope will be an informative and entertaining style.

Until then, I leave you with this.

Hernry Latham Doherty from the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory

Columbia University|Earth Institute

Get over the idea that only children should spend their time in study.

Be a student so long as you still have something to learn, and this will mean all your life.

Can I Hear Your Story?

2011-01-26T09:47:00.000-08:00

I am doing what I Love! Isn't that what we all want? How silly of me not to have been an English Major to begin with. That's OK. I learned some great technical and real world applications along the way.

This semester I have two Literature courses. I chose American Literature, well, because I'm American. And WOW! how the texts have changed since I was in school and first read our Nation's History. I am very much pleased that we begin our readings with the Native Americans instead of Christopher Columbus. I am so looking forward to future readings, that I 'thought' I knew, because now I will read them through the eyes of experience.

Can I Hear Your Story?

Before I was of reading age, Oma, Granny in German, would read me German Fairytales in German from Das Goldene Mårchenbuch. Her contralto voice accented by varying tones and punctuated inflections gave each line of the story depth and dimension. No longer were these mere words spoken from a book. The story had now evolved to theatre and seeded well in my young and fertile imagination.

Image Source

The authors of our Bedford Anthology text are quick to point out that the Native American Myths and Creation stories in this collection do not fare well when translated to English and imprisoned in the written word. “Words, spoken words, were the manifestations of their [The Kiowas] deepest belief, of their deepest feelings, of their deepest life” (58). Just as Oma had made ominous Hansel and Gretel’s witch by the lowering of her tone, so too does the Native American storyteller use his or her tones, dramatic pauses and accompanying sound effects to embellish the story.

Box turtleshell rattle made by Tommy Wildcat (Cherokee-Muscogee-Natchez)

But these are not mere embellishments; the ‘sound effects’, if you will, are part of the story. And I feel cheated. I want to hear the sounds and pauses, inflections and intonations and marvel at the wildlife mimicry. I want to see the expression on the storyteller’s face as he or she relays the drama through wise eyes and a deeply lined, tanned and weathered face. I want most of all to feel the emotions sent to me via human voice and have its timbre shudder my soul.

I became very lost and much confused with the reading of A Tale of the Foundation of the Great Island, Now North America ~ The Two Infants Born, and the Creation of the Universe (37-40). It seems I could get the gist of the story, but that is all. I don’t know if this is caused by the inability to understand the story as it is told to the scribe, or if it is because of the language of the years 1827, 1828. I took to heart that many of these stories vary greatly both in translation and are dependent upon the individual storyteller’s style. So, I Googled ‘Native American Turtle Story’ for a translation that maybe I could better understand.

I found the site, http://www.firstpeople.us. This has a Turtle story that I could understand a bit better, but it still was not the same story as in our text. I will have to research further in order to find a translation that I can “get” and perhaps some sound bytes as well. I noticed also, thanks to the information learned from our authors, that this story would also benefit from the telling instead of just the reading of the story.

Image Source

In answer to this paper’s title Can I Hear Your Story, no I cannot. Nor will I ever be able to hear this or any other story that can only be imparted by the seasoned storyteller. Language is a barrier as well. Just as the Bible should be read in the original Hebrew, so should any Native American tale be told in its original Language. I do not have this capability. I find myself wondering if I should add a Native American language to my Academic repertoire, or perhaps learn it on my own.

In summation, words and the way they are imparted, either spoken or written hold not only meaning, but also meta meaning. I will attempt a critical analysis of these stories and those to come. Perhaps, by either dissection or applied and learned meanings I will gain a greater understanding of what these authors and historians were trying to tell.

Works Cited

Momaday, N. Scott. "The Becoming of the Native: Man in America Before Columbus."

Belasco, Susan and Linck Johnson. The Bedford Anthology of American Literature Volume One: Beginnings to 1865. Vol. One. Boston/New York: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2008. 58.

I've Got a Golden Ticket

2011-01-05T14:40:00.000-08:00

Well, not really. However, the nice young lady at the RebelCard office told me that, amongst other things, my RebelCard (UNLV Student ID) grants me a free ticket to UNLV sporting events. Free! Wow, what event do I want to go to first and how does the UNLV fight song go again? But, I'm getting ahead of myself.

I had spent the previous night making sure that I had all my paperwork together for my required meeting with my Academic Advisor. I had checked and re-checked my student account, activated my RebelMail, made copies of immunization records,

"...going to college and taking the classes isn't the hard part, the paperwork is."

class schedules for two colleges, put the finishing touches on my Department of English Degree Requirement Evaluation Sheet and highlighted Building number 34 on an 89 numbered building map. You know, going to college and taking the classes isn't the hard part, the paperwork is.

I wasn't too worried about getting there, it's an under half-hour commute through city traffic, until I woke up to this.

I know, I know, some of you are laughing and saying "Aw, that's nothing" but you don't know Vegas drivers! Hot & Sunny, the Las Vegas weather motto, has spoiled us. More thought and expense goes into car air conditioning than serviceable wiper blades. I allowed an extra twenty minutes for the drive and extracted a warm winter coat with a hood from a forgotten corner in my closet.

Traffic wasn't too bad. I only saw one fender bender and drivers were more cautious than annoying. I easily found metered parking with a two-hour limit right across from the bookstore. I knew parking wouldn't be this easy for long.

Now, to get my bearings.

I guess the print is so small because the campus is so big!

Found it!

The Office was void of traffic and I got in early. "You have been admitted under Liberal-Arts General, but we can't make that your major" my Advisor told me. I showed her my Degree Worksheet with the English Major/German Minor and asked about the second fine arts requirement.

NSHE (Nevada System of Higher Education) requires three credit hours of fine arts. COLA (College of Liberal Arts) requires an additional three for its program. I found myself wondering if I could sandwich a Pilates class in between lectures to give my mind time to 'digest'.

The meeting only lasted about twenty minutes. I was given advice on summer sessions; three terms, the first being only five weeks, where to obtain my RebelCard, and how to find the online parking pass information. I tried to hand her my Honors College application and proof of residency paper work, but those had to go to separate offices.

"I went to the wrong building, not once, but twice!"

"It's easy to find", said my Advisor, as she walked me to the door. "Just go down this wide path to the SSBC building." Of course I walked into the wrong one. I went to the wrong building, not once, but twice! But that's OK. I thought of it as my own little private tour, plus there are some nice little paths on this campus with lovely desert landscaping.

Now you know this aspiring Librarian could not leave campus without a Library card. After dropping my Honors College application on the third floor, I returned to the circulation desk and asked "Do I need my Student ID before I can get my Library card?"

I had a sneaking suspicion I did, and yes, I did, so out to find the RebelCard office in the Student Union Building. This was cool too, because as I came out of the Lied (pronounced Lead as in Take me to your Leader) Library, I had a view of both buildings at once for the classes I would be taking.

The Student Union has a coffee shop, food court, Wi-Fi, Help Desk and the RebelCard office. The extremely nice and helpful young lady at the Help Desk mapped out how to get to the Multi-Cultural lounge where ANTS (Alliance of Nontraditional Students) meets.

A few short steps from the Help Desk brought me into the small and empty RebelCard office. I made a mental note to take advantage of the Winter Break Ghost Campus. You know for a fact, that most any other time, there will be long lines and waits for services. "Are you a student here" and "Do you have a photo ID?" were the only questions I needed to answer to have my picture taken and my RebelCard generated.

Card in hand, humming I've Got a Golden Ticket, of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory fame, I went back to the Library.

"Did you get your ID?" the nice young man at the circulation desk asked. (I know, I have been using "nice" to describe everyone I encountered, but they all really were!) And what does he say when I hand him my card? "Oh, nice" I smiled at his polite comment. Photo ID's and me make a lousy pair.

"So, I can use this to access all of UNLV's online databases for research and book reservations now?" "You're all set" he answered, and added, "You will also need it to make copies and print from the computers or your laptop."

As I turned to leave, I looked out and up and marveled. I now have access to every knowledge-filled floor; five floors of books and media references and research and more. There's even an entire floor dedicated to the UNLV Special Collections. I guess I really do have a Golden Ticket after all.

UNLV Fight Song: "Win with the Rebels"

Lied Library
UNLV Main Campus Photo Gallery by UNLV Photo Services

Finals and Crashes and Colds, Oh My!

2010-12-24T13:28:00.000-08:00

What a year it's been! This last semester really kicked my butt! I had to Audit Pre-Calculus and ended up withdrawing from Symbolic Logic. I fared well in my other classes of Women's Studies, Survey of Communication and Access Database, but I was getting a terrible case of the Sophomore Blues. Was college really for me?

I buckled down and delved further into my studies and flourished in various activities with my Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. As a member, I received no less than a dozen offers of scholarship from various four year institutions. Because of familial obligations, I like many Adult Learners, am unable to take advantage of these out of state opportunities.


from UNLV

My acceptance email from UNLV cheered me though with "Congratulations, you're a Rebel now!" I laughed, because that's something my parents always knew. For those of you that don't know, the University of Nevada Las Vegas' mascot is a 'Runnin' Rebel'

The end of every semester always seems to bring its own Gremlins...

...and of course my Windows machine goes down right before my Access final. And no, I hadn't made a back up boot disk. Ah well, what's that they say about hindsight being 20/20? Oh, and a miserable cold had me down during study week. I even missed class, something I never do!

But I survived Yay! I finally decided on my Major - English. Yes, it's what I call a 'soft' major, but I'm good at it. Besides, it's a bridge to my ultimate goal, my Masters in Library Sciences. The only drawback is the required two years of a foreign language. That's OK - I'll give you one guess who's not too shabby at conversational German.

I have an appointment with my Academic Advisor at UNLV on the 3rd of January. I'll let you know how that went and what the Spring Semester entails after the meeting. I'll also put up the link to the photo tour and map of the campus - It is so BIG!

Until then I wish You and Yours the very, very best of the Holiday Season and a Wonderfully Prosperous New Year!

Christmas Card from Mom and Me Angels Baking Cookies

Christmas Card Happy Holidays from the

Alpha Xi Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa

Also

Things I Think About When I Should be Studying

Windows 7 Recovery Disk/Boot Disk

Transfer to a Four Year Institution

Equality?

2010-11-08T08:41:00.000-08:00

To get my Degree, I have to fulfill certain requirements. One of these requirements is a three credit course in Multiultural Studies. Why do I have to take a Women's Studies course? There's no such thing as discrimination or gender pay gaps anymore. All that was resolved in the '70's. Boy, was I ever wrong!

You would not believe what I learned while putting together my project for my Women's Studies Class. I have posted below, both my project and Secretary Solis' Discussion on Fair Pay from the United States Department of Labor Women's Bureau. Be sure and visit the links below the videos for more information.

Three Waves of the Women's Movement

According to the October 19, 2010 Bureau of Labor Statistics, Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers Third Quarter 2010 Press Release: "Women who usually worked full time had a median weekly earnings of $662, or 81.4 percent of the $813 median for men." I was horrified! This inequity, according to Secretary of Labor, Hilda L. Solis, means that a woman "...by the end of [her work] cycle, [has] lost out on over $365,000..."

Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis'
Discussion on Fair Pay

Visit these Sites For More Information

United States Department of Labor Women's Bureau

Usual Weekly Earnings of Wage and Salary Workers - Third Quarter 2010 [PDF]

PBS Indies Sisters of '77 on Hulu

Independent Lens | Sisters of '77

UNLV Approved Multicultural Courses for 2010-2012

Alice Paul Institute

Iron Jawed Angels Website

Flickr Credits
bobster855
ibitmylip
psd

Just Imagine Everyone in Their Underwear

2010-10-16T00:12:00.000-07:00

I was asked to give a Presentation on the Perpetual Andragogy Wiki and Blog for our Alpha Xi Beta Chapter of Phi Theta Kappa. Yes, I was nervous! And of course I had some technical difficulties. A Word of Warning: When you give a Presentation, make sure to have a backup online somewhere, either in your mail or in a dropbox file.

This is not a recording of the Live Presentation. Instead, I made two short Screenrs for you and included the On This Wiki Animoto. As for that underwear thing, uh, that doesn't really work! (click on links below each clip for a larger, better view)

How Perpetual Andragogy Came to Be

The Perpetual Andragogy Wiki

What You Can Find on the Wiki

A Word About Phi Theta Kappa and Service Organizations

If you are ever invited to join Phi Theta Kappa, Do So! Some of the many benefits, include the 5-Star Competitive Edge Program, Scholarly Discussions, and organized events where you can volunteer your time. More about Phi Theta Kappa.

If your college does not have a Phi Theta Kappa Chapter, seek out a club or organization that aligns with your interests. Every scholarship application, job application and, most recently, my transfer application to UNLV has asked about my community, civic or volunteer activities. Schools and employers don't want people who just have good grades. They want good people that do good things that also happen to get good grades.

Remember, Saturday, October 23rd is National Make a Difference Day. It is also National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Look around your Community for some great opportunities. Here are these two to get you started.

Make a Difference Day

Susan G. Komen for the Cure

Web 2.0 Links and References

I Need to Brush Up on my Technology
Dynamic Web Applications
Screenr
Animoto
DropBox
Building a Video Podcast Part 1 & Part 2

Westward Winds of Change

2010-09-13T08:22:00.000-07:00

Wichita, Kansas in the 1970’s offered little cultural diversity or diversions for a Third Grade bookworm, proficient in two foreign languages, and still in awe of the Wonders of the World. The Grade school had not only mandatory tornado drills, but also mandatory Holy Rolling. Every Wednesday afternoon, a trailer overflowing with Bible Stories and the accompanying pages to color, influenced and instructed young minds in the ways of White Jesus and his unimpeachable good. White, it seems, was the only color attributed as good or right.

My two best friends, Lukeeta, of African-American descent, and Elizabeth, of Hispanic descent, felt their “otherness” by lack of representation of each of their respective races in any school curriculum media. I felt their otherness through “guilt by association.” My Mother and German Grandmother forbade my going to “that side of town,” defined as The Projects for Lukeeta, and a trailer park for Elizabeth. My first taste of racial and class prejudice was served under the guise of parental concern for my safety. Their words heavily seeded the clouds of intolerance and made my air oppressive.

Amidst the banterings of Meathead and Archie of All in the Family fame, Helen Reddy’s ERA adopted anthem, I Am Woman, Cesar Chavez’s fight for migrant farm workers, and the end of the Vietnam War, I felt, even at this young age, the winds of change and I welcomed both the gentle breezes and tempestuous storms. Could there be such a United States of America where, truly, no person was judged by his or her race, class, gender or relationship life choices?

The 80’s answered the last part of this question with a resounding “NO!” The AIDS scare brought Fundamentalist Christian Gay Bashing to unfathomable heights. Intolerance of sexual preferences dominated the days’ headlines. In 1985 women still earned only 68.1% of a man’s median weekly earnings, yet the cry of equal pay for equal work fall on ears tuned only to the fear of catching a ‘Gay Disease.’ “By the 1980s, Hispanic populations in regions outside the Southwest were growing faster” (USDA 1999) and received a modicum of press because this minority ‘stole white jobs.’

As Ronald and Nancy Reagan urge a country to “Just Say No” Billy Joel sings us a History lesson with We Didn’t Start the Fire, and a technological evolution beams bright on the Horizon in the way of the internet and more Freedoms to Information, I felt, even at this young age, the winds of change and I welcomed both the gentle breezes and tempestuous storms. The winds blew me Westward to a land of Decadence; Sin City; Las Vegas.

I was brought to, not the melting pot I had been taught was the United States of America, but to instead, a wonderfully eclectic cultural mix, more reminiscent of a beautifully woven tapestry, each culture represented by a unique thread and embellishment. As I walk the college campus, or shop in my community, my ears fill with foreign and unrecognizable languages; my eyes absorb the colors and hues of a myriad of skin colors, not just white. I see also non-traditional couples and observe the nonchalance of others towards them.

Though tolerance has grown considerably since 1973, prejudice still abounds. Tolerance in respect to race, class, gender, and sexuality in North America, should be abolished and replaced with acceptance. Diversity must be approached with enthusiastic curiosity. This goal can only be accomplished through education and exposure. As a member of my community it is my responsibility to affect change: to make the wind. For I know, even at this young age, I can harvest and direct the winds of change and embrace and nurture both the gentle breezes and tempestuous storms.

It's Not What You Say, But How You Say It

2010-08-23T12:14:00.000-07:00

Do you recognize this?

"The diminutive Oompa Loompas were prey and had little hope of survival. A mammalian quadruped would breakfast on no less than ten of them. I extended an invitation to the Oompa Loompas to reside with me away from the various dangerous indigenous species."

Hmmm, sounds vaguely familiar, but I'll bet you know it better as this: 

“And the poor little Oompa Loompas were so small and helpless, they would get gobbled up right and left. A Wangdoodle would eat ten of them for breakfast and think nothing of it. And so, I said, "Come and live with me in peace and safety, away from all the Wangdoodles, and Hornswogglers, and Snozzwangers, and rotten, Vermicious Knids" (Dahl/Wilder/IMBD).

This is, of course, from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. I refer to the Original with Gene Wilder. I just love that movie!

Growing up, my Oma (granny in German) always told me "the tone makes the music." Or, it's not what you say, but how you say it. I believed all this time that she was stressing both manners and speaking politely to people. Although this may likely be true as well, I realize now that Oma may have been much wiser than I realized.

Communication, whether it be written, oral or signed, defines us. (There's non-verbal or body language also, but more on that later) The words we use to craft a writing or speech is telling of our intellect, or lack thereof. CMC or Computer Mediated Communication brings it's own set of rules to this playing field. I know I find myself referencing the Urban Dictionary more than Webster's here lately. How about you?

If we abbreviate or acronym our words, split our infinitives or dangle our participles, are we really less intelligent? The short answer: not necessarily. This is just the way we choose to express ourselves. I mean, you wouldn't read this blog if I wrote in the style of the first paragraph, all uppity and white paperish. That would be boring. No, instead I write pretty much like I would speak if you were right here with me.

With these thoughts, and many more, not to mention the demise of the Informatics Program, I have come to the tentative decision of a Major in Communications with a Minor in Environmental Sciences. I say tentative as I have yet to meet with my Academic Advisor for my transfer to UNLV. There may be other options. (UPDATE on Major)

Speaking of Transfer. When I first embarked upon my college career, I was very unsure of myself. I wasn't sure if I could hack college after 25 years of being out of school and I didn't know if I could make the grade, so to speak.

I started small, taking only two classes, you know, just to get my feet wet. One of these classes was The History of Rock and Roll. I can't tell you how simultaneously thrilling and disturbing it is to study musicians you have in your album collection. (yes, I said ALBUM ha ha)

But anyway, the point is I started at what was then a Community College. There are great advantages for the Adult Learner here. The class sizes are typically smaller and most importantly less expensive; a major factor to be sure. Yet if you wish to continue past either an Associates Degree or Vocational program, you must transfer to a Four Year Institution.

I have outlined these steps for you in a downloadable PDF on the wiki. There is also a video for you by Howcast. There may be more information added as I learn more, so check back often.

  More

Why Go Back to School Now?

Willy Wonka and The Chocolate Factory ~ Film analysis for Communication Studies

The Perpetual Andragogy Wiki ~ Steps for Transfer to a Four Year Institution   