Hike Up (Part 2)

Hike Preparation

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

We Are Going Hiking! We have made a decision and we are going to go hiking.  We are going hiking and we have decided that we are going here.  To this place that we have decided would be good for us to go hiking at.  We have also decided that we are going hiking on a set time.  This time will give us the opportunity to make the necessary preparations, encourage participants, gather the gear needed for the hike, and then go on our hike.

Preparation for the hike must be done in the time we have from the moment the decision is made, to the moment we go on our hike.  Preparation is necessary as we need to think of what possible events and outcomes we expect to take place as we go hiking.  Preparation is to be done by the participants, so that they are ready for the mental, physical, and spiritual needs that are anticipated in the hike.  The gear must also be prepared for the hike, as it is the supporting tool in which we may come to depend if the need arises.  This is why the gear we use for the hike must be in a ready condition which allows it to be used by the participants.

Go.  The time has come, and we must go on the hike for which we have prepared for.  The gear is ready, the participants are gathered, the path has been planned, council was seek from the start, and now we take action.  We begin to hike together, as we planned, toward our goal, prepared for obstacles, and overcoming challenges, until together, we all reach our goal and return back safely and secure with the knowledge of the experience that we have learned.

 

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Hike Up

Hiking Up

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

We have sprung into action, seek council, set goals, done path planning, and now it is time to hike up, toward our goal and back.  It is now time to take our place on the road.  It is now time to begin our journey toward that educational goal that we have set and plan to reach.  It is now time to take action, and hike.

As we hike we can begin to see if the path we have planned is  clear and defined.  We can begin to see how good our road-map is.  It is now when the obstacles and challenges that we have and have not prepared for may appear.  We must do what we can to continue hiking up to our goal.

One last chance is presented to us just prior to setting off on a hike.  Do we go?  If we are ready, and we are sure, and we are confident that we have done all that we can to prepare, then we should go on with our hike and toward our goal.

Did we reach our goal?  Were we able to succeed in reaching the goals that we set and planned?  and if we did not, what can we do to reach our goal? do we need to seek more council? do we need to plan another path? As we go on with our hike, these are some of the concerns that we must maintain in mind.  There are many others that we may come across, and some that we cannot anticipate to accurately predict in the future.  But we must hike up to our goal, even if we need to stop.

If we were able to reach our goal, then we must also be able to return back safely to our place of origin, this will consist a successful hike.  We now evaluate our hike and learn from it.  We can now decide if the hike was indeed successful.  Was the hike a good path to reach our goal?  How was our hike? We learn from each individual experience, the experience of the whole, and what we learn, we share again in council, a council in which we can also decide if we are going to hike again, and if so, when.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Path Planning (Part 2)

How Do We Plan A Path?

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Once we have met the needs of path planning, we can begin to plan a path by addressing the following areas: Where Do We Start? When Do We Finish? How Do We Get There?  Meeting the needs of path planning allows us to address the design and creation of the path. 

Where do we start?  We should start with organization, inventory, and structure.  Path planning requires organization.  We must get organized to start planning a path.  Organization requires us to take an inventory of what we have available from those things that are concrete, as well as those which are abstract.  

When we have become organized, and taken inventory, we must develop a structure that will support our organization, and secure our inventory.

A structure gives shape and helps hold form.  Without it, all the organization and inventory would just remain a mound of possibilities and what if's.

When do we finish?  We finish when we have achieved a successfully planned path which leads toward goals, accomplishments, and rewards.  The goals we set out to fulfill should be specific, developed, researched, and flexible enough to accommodate all possible needs.

Accomplishments will arise and come to light all throughout the path.  Each accomplishment should be acknowledge at the proper time, and should be celebrated by all those who have participated in the realization of the accomplishment.

It is also a good idea to create rewards which can be reached by completing tasks and stages of different magnitude.

How do we get there?  We get there by developing and creating direct, alternate, and staggered paths which allow for all to reach the same goal, at a pace that is appropriate, while allowing us to set challenges which can be overcome with determination, perseverance, and creativity.

A direct path will have the benefit of maintaining the end in sight.  For those who do best when they forge on ahead, without the need to look back, this can be the path that leads them to success.  

An alternate path has the benefit of reaching the end by taking turns and side-paths which present a unique and flexible path which helps us reach the same end that he direct path maintains in sight.  For those who do best when allowed to wonder and explore beyond the linear straight forward approach, the alternate path would be the most efficient path toward success.

A staggered path can be the most efficient path toward success for those who require many multiple stages with specifically defined transition stages where progress and improvement takes place.  A staggered path reaches the ending that the direct path maintains in sight, and the alternate path reaches through turns and side-paths that are explored as we wonder.

There may be many paths, but they all should end equally and fairly.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Path Planning

What do we need to plan a path?

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

To plan a path we must meet the following needs: As starting and ending point, participants, and supplies and support.

The path we plan must be defined by a starting point and an ending point.  If we do not have a starting point, many of us will be at a disadvantage.  For we may start at undefined points which could make our path last longer than needed, be more challenging than necessary, and requiring more energy to be invested.

If we do not have an ending point, though we may have a common starting point, we will not have an ending point toward which we can plan our path, and we will wonder aimlessly through a path that has no end consuming energy without a purpose.  

If there is neither a starting point, nor an ending point, then each one of us will walk a path that has no aim, or goal, or purpose.  A path that will start unevenly, require a great amount of energy and investment, and end in a chaotic disarray of cross-cutting, interconnecting, and overlapping paths which lead to nowhere but turns and dead ends.

Therefore, it is a must that we have a starting point and an ending point if we are to plan a path for those who are going to participate in our path planning.

Only those who participate can plan a path.  We cannot not participate, and expect to have a say about our needs and concerns as the path is planned.  It is only by participating that we can plan a path that can be traveled by others, addresses the needs and concerns of others, and creates secure footing for those whom we expect to successfully travel the path from start to finish.

Participants are needed to plan a path.  Participants who are able and willing to share their knowledge and skills from start to finish.  Participants who are understanding, dependable, and capable of planning a path from beginning to ending.  Participants who believe in the purpose of the path that is to be planned, and understand the self - sacrifice that is  takes when planning a path.

Once we have a starting point, and ending point, and participants, we need supplies and support.  These can help us in planning a path that is secure and long lasting.  The supplies and support that we need will vary depending on the path that we are going to plan.  They become needed tools that allow for the creation, development, and maintenance of the path for as long as we make the path a priority.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Set Goals (Part 2)

How To Reach Set Goals

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Reaching Set Goals

Once a goal has been agreed to and set by those who will be participating in the process
(Educators, Learners, Support Staff, Related Adults, etc.) the following two steps should then take place: Establishing a Starting Point, and Developing a Pathway.

Establishing a Starting Point

We must have a starting point from which we can begin to travel toward a set goal.  If we are fortunate enough to have all we might need, then our starting point can be as soon as right now.  Most of us, however, might not be so fortunate, and will need some time to prepare before beginning on a journey that will take us to the goal that has been set.  How much time we have to prepare can also be affected by the needs of the learner, the resources available, the urgency of the individual situation, and the proximity to the conclusion of the end of the school year.

Developing a Pathway

If we are to reach a goal, we must be able to go to it.  By developing a pathway, we can plan and develop a road-map which will guide us through to our set goal.  This will also allow us to evaluate for possible obstacles which may be encountered along the developed pathway, and in turn, let us also develop alternate road-maps to circumnavigate such obstacles.

A well developed pathway should allow the learner to reach the set goal.  It should also be the learner who travels the path on their own merits of education and learning, not carried by those who are there to guide and help. If the learner is having a difficult time traveling the path, it is our responsibility to encourage, train, and allow them to go on toward the set goal.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Set Goals

Why We Need to Set Goals

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

The Need for Setting Goals

There is a need in education to set goals for students to aim for and achieve.  Goals need to be set, not just to have a reachable objective, but to establish a starting point, from which a path can be built, that will allow students to reach the set goals.  We need to set goals for our students so they can have a target to aim for and achieve.

In addition, set goals, allow us, as educators, a way to measure the academic and learning progress that students make, as well as, to correct and/or recalculate-reroute the path of those students who may be having a difficult time achieving the set goals.

What Goals Do We Set?

There are many types of goals that can be set for our students.  Some of the goals that can be set for our students can be categorized as follows:  Individual Goals, Grade Level Goals, Age Appropriate Goals, Group Target Goals, etc.  

Other examples of goals that can be set for students are as follows: Improve vocabulary by 20 words.  Understand the relation from side to perimeter to area in 5 regular geometric figures.  Identify and discuss the similarities and differences in World War I and World War II.  Be able to sketch three 3-dimentional polygons from three distinct view points.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Seek Council (Part 2)

How to Conduct an Educational Council

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Nature of Knowledge

It is only natural that we, as educators, seek council from others.  That we seek advice and input from those, like us, who are experienced and have experience in education.  We do not possess all knowledge.  If we were to be able to possess all knowledge we would be divine.  Even if we were to possess all knowledge, we would still have to share it with those who want to learn, and we would have to share that knowledge equally and successfully in order for knowledge to grow and expand.

On Knowledge

Knowledge grows and expands.  It can be stored and it can be forgotten.  Knowledge can become lost long ago and found ages from now.  It can be rediscovered and it can be reapplied.

Knowledge, like matter, can change from state to state, time to time, and place to place.  One of the better ways to share knowledge with others is through the conduction of an educational council.

Council Example

Many cultures have developed a suitable method of conducting council meetings in which knowledge is shared.  The Maya, for example, in their ancient book of council, the Popol Vuh, describe how the first council took place.  The council was called, in the darkness, to address an issue.  In the council, the participants share their thoughts, and express their concerns.  In the council, the participants reach an accord, and knowledge became clear, and the participants became enlightened.

Conducting a Council

In a similar matter, Educational Councils should be held regularly as a way to share knowledge.  They can help us solve problems and issues we face.  Councils can be held with as few as two learners, or as many as a whole classroom.  A council should be a place where learners can exchange knowledge, express concern, and reach solutions that illuminate the learners' educational problems.  Some guidelines to keep in mind when conducting a council should be: What is the purpose of the council?, How will the participants share their knowledge?, How will the participants share their concerns?, and What is the agreement reached by the participants?  Educators should encourage their learners to share and exchange knowledge in the classroom.  Allowing learners to seek knowledge is a suitable method of education which should come natural to us as educators.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Seek Council

Seeking Educational Council

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

Time
We are now just three months away from graduation.  It is the end of the 2012- 2013 school year.  It is time for end of year testing, evaluation, promotion, graduation, and/or retention.  Soon the days will become longer as there will be more daylight.  As educators time is coming to an end.  The school year is closing, and stress can be created by the pressure of the end that is approaching, but there is still time.  We have gone past the half-way mark of the school year.  We are close to the 75% completion point, but that should also serve as a reminder that there is still 25% which has not yet happened.

Council

As we begin to feel the pressure applied by the passing of time, and the changes that have taken place, in our places of learning, we should also feel the need, to seek council with our peers.

Seeking council should never be viewed as a failure or weakness, but rather an opportunity to exchange advice.  Seeking council gives us a chance to present a concern and received advice on how best to solve it, as well as receiving concerns others may present to us, and counsel them on how best to solve them.

Seek Council

Talk regularly with your colleagues and meet with them specifically for the purpose of having a council.  Choose a place and a time in which to have council, for example: Before school at a coffee house, during lunch in the cafeteria, after school in the library, or other time and place that is suitable to all participating in the council.

Talk about and brainstorm ideas that can be used to face the challenges that are present before us.  The council can be used to create lessons, plan field trips, address basic skills, and review standard knowledge.  Seeking council will also help create an environment of social interaction and friendship, as well as professional collaboration.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Spring Into Action

Spring Into Action

Author: Manuel R. CortezRodas

What is Spring?

Spring is a time of rebirth,

and regrowth,

as well as sprouting.

What is Action?

Action is Movement,

that is fueled by energy,

and driven by dedication.

How do we Spring Into Action?

We spring into action by moving toward rebirth.

We spring into action by regrowing energy.

We spring into action by sprouting dedication.

Copyright 2013.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.