Learn: Check Your Pockets

What did I learn today?

I’m just going to tell it straight and simple. I learned that you should, actually must, check your pants pockets before throwing them in the wash. Why? Because you may have some money, recite, a note, a phone number, coupon or….your cell phone. That’s right, folks. I put my cell phone through the wash. Luckily (I think), I got it out before the cycle finished. Yet when I pulled it out, the screen was flashing “Emergency Download” and flickering off and on. Comforting. I may have had a mental breakdown. Now my poor cell phone is in a bowl of rice, in hopes that the rice will help to dry it out.

We even prayed over the thing. My apartment mate even told me, “God is bigger than electronics”. She cracks me up.

It wasn’t the fact that I was expecting a text message and a phone call, but I do not have the money to buy a new phone. It’s funny how much we, North Americans, rely on our phone. This whole concept made me ponder on that concept for a bit. Anyways, please, Mr. Bowl-of-Rice, make my phone better so my daddy doesn’t lecture me on my carelessness with my electronics.

Bottom line: check your pockets before putting them in wash.

That’s what I learned today.

Genuises With Humility

I'm currently sitting in the library working on my thesis. I never thought that cutting out paragraphs would be so painful. Ironically, I stumbled on this quote. Pretty much set me straight and reminded me that I can do this:

"What the world needs is more geniuses with humility, there are so few of us left." - Oscar Levant

Seek joy.

Learn: Be Human & Seek Joy

What did I learn today?

That even the strongest and smartest people I know, have emotional breakdown moments. Just because I admire and respect a person greatly, doesn't mean that they are not human. No matter their title or experience, they cry or get angry. Great people have emotions too, and they have their weak points too.

In the end, we are all the same: humans with hearts that could easily be broken.

Yet, it's what they do afterwards that makes them strong and great.They pick up the pieces, evaluate, learn, and move on towards the end goal. After the fire hits, they are stronger, smarter and wiser.

One of them told me earlier tonight...."Seek joy."

That's what I learned today.

Learn: No Time for the Blame Game

What did I learn today?

Today I went into the office knowing that I had a full work day of meetings straight to 5pm. I only had an hour before chapel to prepare material for my students and brace myself what kind of news these meeting will bring. Let’s just say that I’m grateful to be working in position where my supervisor knows that this is all a learning experience.

Leadership is an ongoing growing experience. I don’t think there is a time in life where an individual would stop growing and striving to become a better person. Today I learned another aspect of leadership. Whenever planning a major event, each person has their part. From the supervisor to the next set of leader(s) to the next set of people, when one person drops the ball on one thing another has to make up for it. What I had to learn specifically today is that even though the people I am leading did not do their job effectively that does not entirely reflect who I am a leader and person. Granted, it does reflect the communication line or maybe even the relationship with the people I am leading. I had to re examine what I had done wrong. When I apologized in a meeting today, the others were shocked. They stated that I have no need to apologize. They were willing to take the fault. I reassured them that they could not take the entire fault. I’m in a leadership position over them and I have responsibility for their actions. But today I decided that we shouldn’t play the blame game with each other and ourselves. Time to evaluate and move on. What’s the backup plan?

From a leader to the followers, everyone has their part. There’s no reason to play the blame game. Also, don’t beat yourself up because you didn’t communicate clearly or you forgot to do that certain thing. Learn from your mistake and move on.

That’s what I learned today.

Learn: Research vs. Research Writing

What did I learn today?

Today in my Advanced Research class (AKA: Thesis class), I learned that I actually like the concept of research. I like to do the reading and find out about the material that is being searched. Yet, when it comes to the writing process of what I’m researching is where my weakness overcomes this desire to research. For class, I’m in a “research consulting group” that is seeking out more of an accurate measurement scale for Spirituality of students. The research team that presented this job to us is hoping to measure the Spirituality both freshmen and seniors for growth. While I was meeting with my group, we were discussing how our thesis was going. Then someone mentioned how much they disliked research. Then another team member voiced that she loves research and numbers. It dawned on me then. I like to research. I like to read as much material as I can on the topic, except when it comes to statistics or number (it’s a little bit more difficult for me).

When I was in undergrad and how I had to write a billion exegesis for all my Bible classes. I would spend hours about hours just chilling in the library just looking up the context and Hebrew/Greek just for one verse. Then when it came to the writing part, I was always scrambling. The similar concept is happening with my thesis. I love my topic and I could probably give a lecture on ethnic identity development, but I’m struggling on how to write, effectively and appropriately, what I researched. In that moment that I realized that I actually like to research but I’m horrible in writing, I signed up for the writing center that Taylor has to offer. The writing center is a place where students can go for tutoring on writing and grammar, but also to review papers. It saved me so many times last year, and now I’m humbling going to go over my proposal. If I’m passionate about my topic and hope to present it at conferences, I must put the same amount of effort into my writing. That will reflect more than if I had ten more sources than the normal.

This may sound nerdy, but research is fun and intriguing....writing it...well, still working on that.

That’s what I learned today.

Learn: Surface Approach vs. Deep Approach

I’m sick today and I’m forced to rest. It’s really frustrating that I have been sick for a week. This is a lesson that I need to learn, but today I’m fighting that particular one. Instead, I’m going to elaborate on a lesson that I have been munching on for over a week.

What did I learn today?

In my Facilitating Student Learning class, we have been covering both surface and deep approaches to learning. The common misconception that happens among students today is the surface level. Due to time, stress, circumstances or lack of commitment many students just gloss over the learning material just to help them to pass the test or write the paper. Thus, leads to the student developing a view of learning of more than a task rather than an opportunity. The problem is not only the student’s responsibility but also the teacher. The surface level approach teacher will just present the facts and throw the material out there for the student to take it or leave it.

The deep approach to learning goes beyond just memorizing the facts, but try to find the underlying reason for what that knowledge is important. Many would say that deep learning is more of a holistic approach. The learner takes it beyond and find ways to make it applicable to life. As John Biggs, author of Teaching for Quality Learning at University, explains it:
“When students feel this need-to-know, they automatically try to focus on underlying meaning, on main ideas, themes, principles, or successful applications. This requires a sound foundation of relevant prior knowledge, so students needing to know will naturally try to learn the details, as well as making sure they understand the big picture. In fact, the big picture is not understandable without the details. When using the deep approach in handling a task, students have positive feelings: interest, a sense of importance, challenge, exhilaration. Learning is a pleasure. Students come with questions they want answered, and when the answers are unexpected, that is even better (p. 24).”

The big picture requires for us to learn the foundation and details. Keeping the big picture in mind, learning the “general education” material is more interesting and there’s purpose behind it all.

This concept really hit home for me at church this morning. Even though I should have stayed in bed to rest and sleep off this cold, I decided to attend the early service. Some would think that I was putting my health in risk, but I would have put more than my health at risk if I didn’t go. This morning’s preaching was about worship. Since I have been a Christian for quite a while, I have heard numerous sermons about the meaning of worship. Yes, God deserves an open heart when we come to sing. Yes, we must leave everything at the altar. Yes, I don’t have to raise my hands to worship. Yes, it’s ok to not know the words. Yes, I know that worship is more than PowerPoint’s and the latest Hillsong song. Yes, I know that what I’m learning at Taylor is worship. Yes, I can worship God anywhere and anytime.

So if you can guess it, I was about to check out with my surface learning approach. I was going to write down the verses that my pastor refers to and promise to be more intentional about worship.

But then it hit me. I was not doing what I’m committed to do. I’m devoted to be a life longer learner. I vowed to look at the world of learning through different lenses. This requires for me to relook at the “life lessons” that I already know and relearn them in a deeper sense. “When we learn we change. We become physically different than we were before the learning experience. The duration and scope of the difference, and how it affect our future choices and behavior, depend on a number of factors (John Tagg, The Learning Paradigm of College, p. 63).” This also means that I must take the deep approach to learning: learn the details for the big picture.

When I switched over my mindset to deep approach learning, my pastor said something that hit the mark: “Worship is a life posture that brings glory to God.”

So what is the deep learning approach of what my pastor is preaching? For me, it’s memorizing the verses. Live out what they say. That whatever I eat or drink must be glorifying God. That I must work (in my job or finishing my masters) for God and not humans. When I’m budgeting my money, am I glorifying God? When I’m cleaning my apartment, am I worshipping God?When I have conversations on the phone with old college friends, am I worshipping God? The movies I watch, am I glorifying God? The list goes on.

Taking the deep level approach is not just for Scripture, but that was just an example of that.

So I would like to leave you, readers, off with a challenge with this video. Take it in with a deep approach to learning. Trust me, it’s for the big picture.

That's what I learned today.

Learn: What are You Dependent On?

What did I learn today?

Something that I have been pondering about lately has come up in my radar in the last 24 hours. As I have been challenged to be open minded about learning in a different forms, I have been more reflective in my choices and actions. One thing that I have been looking (not literally) is my dependencies.

What am I dependent on? Meaning, what do I rely on to receive satisfaction, pleasure, contentment, acceptance or peace? Follow up question: Are the things/people/ whatever-it-is healthy to my life? Better yet, are they glorifying God?

Those are some hard questions to answer, but ones that I cannot ignore. In the past 24 hours (while working on my thesis, other life’s responsibilities and daily chores), I have been making a mental note on what I am dependent on.

This is what I learned that I am dependent on:

• Caffeine—every morning I must have coffee. If not, by noon a massive headache comes around, which leads to me curling up on my couch and wishing I could chop my head off.

• Food—of course, God made me this way. But what kind of food? Yes, that’s a hard question.

• Music—somehow I can’t stand it when there is no noise in the background. I must have music playing or the TV on. The problem with all the constant noise going on, I can’t give myself time to think.

• Water—*Ten awesome gold stars for me*

• Cell phone—Do I really need to be checking every 5 minutes if someone texted or call me? Yes, when I’m sending students out on a community service project. No, if it’s a response to a joke I texted my bff back in Texas.

• Email—Same question as above. Similar answers above.

• Sweets—This includes: cake, hard candy, chocolate, cookies, and etc. Horrible to my teeth and health. It’s tragic for my growing waste line and double chin, and also explains why my jeans are cutting my circulation off.

• Shower—I have great hygiene habits.

• Social media—it’s to a point of a distraction and a great way of getting my daily fill of gossip.
The problem that I find about looking at this list is that I don’t see prayer, Scripture, worship, or meditation. I’ll confess that the last time I did any of those things were a week ago (insert lighting strike here).

It’s kind of eye opening to see what things you are dependent on. Then to evaluate them is a different level. For me, I learned that I must be cautious and intentional on what I should be dependent on. It’s changes your life outcome.

That’s what I learned today.