Crack of a bat
Clouds of dust at homeplate
Mesquite barbecue
Kaboom of fireworks
Bright sparkles of fireworks like stars falling through night sky
Stars and Stripes Forever marching through town
Children giggling in their play pool
Skidoos on the lake
Waves lapping on the beach
Suntan lotioned bodies
Sleeping under the stars
Pungent scent of pine
Flight of red cardinal and blue jay
Quiet slap of a fly at the end of the line on the water
Leaping trout
Crunch of corn on the cob
Loud laughter of recalled memories
Slow walk through the veterans cemetery
Freshly mowed hay
Juice of fresh peaches dripping from the chin
Family regathering
Barefeet running through hot sand and cool grass

(c) 2009 Ronald Friesen

What are yours?

I teach at a local university on a part-time basis. Because I have endured about 15 years of post-high school education, I think I have a pretty good grasp of what makes for a good teaching and learning environment for adult learners.

The students I teach are all people who are pursuing degrees in order to enhance their careers or set themselves up for a career change. I am amazed how many students have already accomplished astounding achievements without the presumed mandatory Bachelor degree. I admire their desire to not let their lack of a formal degree stop them being high achievers. Past students have included CEOs of small but very successful businesses and mid-level managers in government and industry. Some students have successfully completed a lifetime of service in the military. Others have been active parents and grandparents who have balanced family life and careers who now have the time to formally complete their education.

Teachers of adult learners have to make a serious change in their teaching style if they are going to be successful educators. The key issue for teachers of adults is to appreciate and welcome the adult learner's goals into the learning experience. While there is a general goal for the class, within that goal there is room for exploring nuances and topics which interest the student.

The second and perhaps most serious challenge for the teacher of adults is to welcome the real world experience the adult learner brings to the classroom. "Professor Know-it-all" will not make it with adult learners. (I am amazed how many teachers of adult learners do not get this. Many of my students complain of this even at the university where I currently teach.) This doesn't mean that the teacher may know a lot more than the student on the topic, however, the teacher must have an open stance to receiving what the adult learner brings from his or her life experience to the classroom. In many of my classes I have at least one assignment which requires the student to bring his or her life experience to the class - usually in the form of a reflection paper and a presentation to the class. If the material is new and outside of the usual working world of the student, the adult learning model requires the teacher to ask the student to think about how the ideas discussed might fit into his or her everyday life. Encouraging the student to think about the application of the present learning moment enhances the experience for both teacher and class.

I love teaching eager adult learners.

I grew up in Canada. Today Canadians celebrate Canada Day - the founding of their nation in 1867.

When I was growing up, it was called Dominion Day. I am not sure when it went from Dominion Day to Canada Day.

Canada is heavily influenced by its modest, low-toned British manner. When I was growing up I don't remember any big celebrations. There were no fireworks or even picnics. Growing up on the farm, July 1 arrived in the middle of strawberry and rasberry harvesting season. We were also busy making hay and silage as well. There was little time to stop and wave a flag or watch a parade if there was one.

Living close to the US, most Canadians used to watch the fireworks across the border on July 4th and thanked the Americans for celebrating Dominion Day for them - just a few days late :). Canadians have a nice understanding of vicarious experience. Besides many Canadians think that the US believes Canada is the 51st state and Americans being a bit lax on their history just forgot to celebrate Canada day late :)

Most Americans don't know that Blackberry is a Canadian invention. Nor do they know that basketball is a Canadian sport first. Nor that the robotic arm on the space shuttle is the Canadian contribution to US space program. Nor do most Americans know that the International court in Hague fined the US $6 billion for violating the softwood trade agreement and that the US has yet to pay one cent on this fine. Of course, Americans forget that Howie Mandel, Celene Dion, Rich Little, Vincent Massey, Raymond Burr are Canadians.

The population of Canada is smaller than California. Yet in land mass, it is only surpassed by Russia.

I lift a toast to the country north of the 49th parallel.

Happy Canada Day!!

What do you think of 'stream of consciousnessness'?

It was a term made popular in the 60's - coming out of Haight Ashbury and the free-love, pot-smoking time. Whenever I am reminded of the term, I think of Tom Wolfe and his book, The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test which was required reading at the university I attended in the early 70s.

In literary and psychological literature the term comes from an earlier time:

"May Sinclair was the pseudonym of Mary Amelia St. Clair (1863 - 1946) was a popular British writer, who wrote about two dozen novels, short stories and poetry. She was an active suffragist, and member of the Woman Writers' Suffrage League. She was also a significant critic, in the area of modernist poetry and prose; the literary term 'stream of consciousness', is attributed to her." (Wikipedia)

People who know me well and have ever had a converstion with me know all about my 'stream of consciousness' communication style. No conversation ends where it started with me. Of course, people listening to me having a conversation with someone quickly figure out that I can cover 10 topics in about 20 minutes.

Stream of consciousness is really about an internal dialogue - the conversation you are having in your head at any given time. Blogging works well for many people who 'suffer' from this 'affliction'. You notice I put quote marks around suffer and affliction because I don't think of my suffering or afflicted by my stream of consciousness. Of course, listeners will have to decide if they are suffering and afflicted by my free-flowing communication style.

Which leads to the question of the day: "What is on your mind today?"

(c) 2009 Ronald Friesen