Non-Formal Education Centers. It all came together today, I shared what I knew!

12/27
I prepared for my presentation to the Non-Formal Education Department on Thursday. I created a web site to organize my presentation and collected files to take. I want to leave all the relevant information and documents so that the people, at the presentation, will have all the tools to explore the idea I am sharing. I also did some in-depth exploration on Photoshop CS2's new features. I can not really use The Bridge and Photoshop at the same time, I do not have enough memory and my notebook slows way down. I explored the new Sharpening Tool and the Raw Converter.

12/28
Many people in Thailand are very honest, when we ride back from the dock on motorcycles we usually pay 20 Baht, most people pay 15 Baht, and even if we do not ask, people return the 5 Baht difference. One person did not have change, so we gave her 100 Baht, she is keeping track of it and she makes sure we do not pay until the 100 Baht is covered. These are small example. Another is when I got out of a taxi I dropped my pen, I picked up the pen, but could not find the cap, a person saw the cap, picked it up, and gave it to me. These are not exceptional experiences, they are common experiences of honesty and thoughtfulness. There are some exceptions, Taxi drivers keeping more then the normal amount of change, with out communicating about it, but that is rare.

At STOU today we attended another session of Dr. Leslie Richard's workshop on rethinking learning. It was similar to the previous session, and it was practical and useful. I will apply his idea of task based teaching when I create my new courses in Alaska. During lunch we went over to the STOU Continuing Education Department. They were having their year end party with wonderful food and Karaoke. I also got a clearer idea of what I will be doing. I will be helping one of the Continuing Education Staff people to create a database to track resource people. I will also be helping to create worksheets to track expenses and reporting to make sure that the STOU reports are accurate. Talking with Tuk, she mentioned that I might also get to develop a continuing education course, which could be fun. It sounds like I will be busy.

On the way back to the seminar we stopped by the Counseling section to visit with Nednapa and the other people we know at the Counseling Center. Giving gifts for New Years is a polite thing to do, and Jit has been giving people medallions of the King. There are many people at STOU that I enjoy meeting with and visiting.

We had a wonderful meal at Juke and Star's. The family was gathered around a charcoal heated meat cooker, people were cooking individual pieces of pork, there was fruit and vegetables and a very good soup. Just sitting on the floor, cooking, laughing, sharing food, kidding each other, it was a special time. Family time in Thailand, the families that I have shared with, is special and for me some of the deepest experiences that I have had. I can not say that my family experiences in the United States are as much fun.

12/29
One of my goals in coming to Thailand was to share the curriculum and competencies that we have developed for the Information Support Specialist Associate of Applied Science Degree. I have spent the last 14 years developing and teaching practical computer skills courses. The Non-Formal Education Department is the educational institution that provides practical training to the people of Thailand. Today I got to present our curriculum to the Non-Formal Education Department. The meeting lasted for three hours and ended with a wonderful lunch. I felt a rapport with the people, we shared a common vision and set of experiences in working with adults. We have been invited to go and visit different Non-Formal Education Centers and to provide support and advise. The link to the resources that I provided in my presentation is here www.cysewski.com/sabbatical/ITSComp/ . The questions were deep, subtle and relevant, I am elated. Jit translated and she did a very good job. There was laughter, and we shared struggles, dilemmas, and analogies. I felt that I was with people who shared a common vision of teaching adults. I left all the relevant materials so people could copy, adapt, modify, or ignore what I provided. My major goal, what I came to Thailand to share, has been accomplished. The door is open to collaborate and work together. I have had many good experiences in Thailand, and have been able to share many skills and ideas, but I have now found the place where I fit, where my skills match. I am excited.

In the afternoon we went by Pantip Plaza, I bought a USB key and an extra battery for my digital camera, we explored some and then went home.

Tomorrow we will stay around the house and I can reflect upon and digest some of my recent experiences.

It was a very good week!