The Three Elements of Effective eLearning

Would you move for a job?

Here’s the scenario: After a conversation with your sister where she expressed interest in moving out of state you turn to your husband (or significant other) and ask “would you move out of state”?  The quick answer for us was yes.  Instead of the normal parameters of sticking within the state I changed my sights to the whole United States (and dabbled with the idea of moving to some where in Europe) and started searching for jobs in areas that I felt we would be most likely to succeed. That’s when it sank in.  Were we taking the right things into consideration?  Were we ready?

Depending on your personal situation the questions you could be asking are endless and at times feel more like soul searching.  Here are a couple questions that I feel are important to ask yourself, your significant other, your children or your potential employer:

• Do we have permanent ties?  This boiled down to do we have legal reasons why we can’t move away (i.e. child support, court order and divorce agreement). Give you self plenty of time to settle this issues.
• Can we afford it?  I’m sure others are in my situation where the economy hasn’t been kind to your bank account.  This question turned into “how much can we afford to lose” and “what will be gain”.  Be smart about financial planning and give yourself enough time to stock pile if you can.  Talk to employers up front about who will take care of relocation costs.
• Will the children be okay with the move?  I think my children are more pumped about the idea then we are!
• Is the economy worse or better?  If the economy is better than that’s great!  If it’s worse see if other aspects will outweigh the disadvantages.
• Is the job aligned to your professional goals? Knowing where you are and where you need to go in your career is important to know at all times, so if you haven’t done this in a while, do it now. Being able to gage if this opportunity will help you get to the next step is what you should focus on.
• Is the company reputable, reliable and set up for long term growth? Research the company’s website, blog, and social media.  Search their name in reputable publications like Forbe’s, The Wall Street Journal or the “it” magazine in your profession.  A plain old search in Google is a good place to start.
• Will I like the jobs location?  Opportunities can come to you from all across the globe so you’ll want to take into consideration the language barrier, climate, amenities and culture.  Again a plan old Google search will help you start collecting data.
• Am I forgetting anything?  Be sure to think of all the aspects of daily life that affect you, talk to family and friends and don’t stop researching even after you move.  After a conversation with my family I realized that I hadn't taken a couple things into consideration.

Remember: Don’t make a decision until you’re comfortable and ready!

Make a list, spreadsheet or any other type of document to look at the pros and cons, asses your expected budget or create a listing of the local schools, communities, and rates of important items.

The Burrito Face and Other Office Oddities

I was recently offered a position with a new company and announced my resignation. I've spent three years at this company and over the years developed friendships, shared memories and we've experienced life together.  These people have made laugh, cry and everything in between.  Quite a few of them I'm glad to call friends and hope we can stay in touch.  I'd like to share with you some sayings and conversations that I will take with me when I move onto my next employment.

 

• It’s quarter after one and your sitting at your desk.  Your stomach starts to rumble and that’s when it hits you….You haven’t even had lunch yet!  You hastily make your way to the office refrigerator/freezer to retrieve whatever you grabbed from home before rushing out the door.  You heat up your item, a burrito, and sit down at your desk eager to finish up a project.  As you sink your teeth into the morsel the taste develops and rolls, cascading flavors over your tongue.  This burrito is now THE most heaven sent thing you have ever tasted.  You get lost in the moment as you savor every piece.  You close your eyes imagining the flavors as waves of color cascade past.  When you open your eyes you’re greeted by a co-worker who has watched you inhale your burrito while making loud grunting noises and a face she refers to as a food “O” face.
• Oh look a Ferris wheel!
• I <3 lectora="" li="">
• I need Starbucks and I need it now (said like Chris Farley during the French fry skit on SNL)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• Cupcakes!
• What are you doing?  Oh you know, just waiting for my bunny phone cover.
• I woke up early, showered, got dressed and headed out door.  Class would be started soon and I didn’t want to be late and get a tardy.  When I arrived at my locker I shoved my backpack and lunch in and ran after a group of friends heading to first period.  We sat and chatted for a little while before the first bell rang.  In my first period was Jenna, Tamara and Ming from the MTV TV show Awkward.  For some strange reason they were calling me over like they knew me.  I slowly made my way to the empty desk, sat down and they began what seemed to be a daily conversation.  All of the sudden Matty, Jake and Collin (also from Awkward) walked into the room and sat directly behind us.  The official bell rang and it was time for English class.  The next thing I knew it was third period and someone was having a baby.  Lunch came and went without event. Fourth period was Biology and as I filled into the classroom I looked around to see the cast of Awkward and my co-workers buddied into pairs ready to start the next assignment.  I joined with Matty (uh yes please) to start our Biological Scavengers Hunt Extravaganza (the teacher was reminiscent of a science teacher I had in Middle School who’s lame attempt to make things cool really made him cool).  As we walked outside I scanned the buddies walking through the swap.  They pairs were selecting items and writing down there findings.  Suddenly there was a scream and splash coming from the other side of a small hill.  As well all ran to see what happened I saw Jon elegantly dive into the pool of clear water.  An uncomfortably long pause without bubbles or movement happened before two heads triumpently emerged from the water.  He had saved her life.
  
  All the sudden things went black…..I woke up early and realized it was a dream.  Shortly after I got to work I shared the story of heroism.  “So you DO dream about me?”  I gave him ammo.

• It’s Jelly time!
• So I was on Youtube last night.......
• Happy Fri Pay Eve!
• Some twins develop a method of communication that only the other can understand.  For myself and this co-worker we master the art of speaking only in song.  Be it the lyrics or titles.  From that point on…..”That’s just the way it is.  Things will never be the same.  In the circle.  The circle of life."

• Administrator of Sarcasm and Sass (ASS)
• Waves hands wildly....I know exactly what you mean! Makes gesture....in the car...
• First comes Manic Monday than TMI Tuesday than WTH Wednesday than TMI Thursday and finally Fun Friday.

How to Raise a Gentleman (woman)

Is your son/daughter a rude and crude dude/sassy lassy? How about a mannerly lil' man/polite Penelope? Depending on how old you are and where you’re from the term can mean different things. Here’s my definition:

A gentleman is a child or adult who uses their manners and does kind things for others. 



Plain and simple on paper but a little harder to teach. Here are my 3 steps to raising a gentleman (woman): 

1. Create expectations
   Talk to your child about what manners and respect are. The more they know the better. Be sure to change your conversation tactics depending on the age and mentality of your child. Put out clear objectives like “You’ll say please and thank you when asking or receiving something”, “I want you to ask to be excused from the table”, “When we are out in public I think it would be very respectful if you open the door for others”.
   
2. Enforce
   Once you set the expectations enforce them. Don’t let you child have something until they've used there manners, ask opened ended questions to get them use to the idea of including words like please and thank you on requests and suggest good deeds until they get the jest.
   
3. Reward
   Yes, I said reward not reward or punish. This is just my personal opinion but what’s the point of teaching respect to a child when you can’t even respect them enough to explain what they did wrong and offer them the opportunity to grow. A good deed should not go unnoticed but a gentle reminder when it doesn't happen naturally can go a long way. 

Comment below on how your raising you little gentleman (woman).

Why I wouldn’t survive a zombie Apocolyps

Run! Run away! Flesh eating zombies are coming……Ahhh!

I have a hard time believing in a chemical agent or mutation that would cause the afflicted to not die yet none the less after watching yet another preview for The Walking Dead a strange thought popped into my head.....

Could I too survive?

The first thing I thought of was the fact that I wear glasses.  How many movies do you see where the unsuspecting sexy spec wearing man or woman fumbles and loses their glasses only to have them be stepped on or become an instrument in their doom (Mummy, Jurassic Park)?  I definitely would lose my glasses and die shortly afterwards.

I’m not trying to dog on myself but I am not in peak physical condition.  I’m over weight, run slowly and have hard time breathing.  There is no way I would out run an enraged zombie.

The idea of drinking my own pee or bandaging my own wound makes me want to hurl (I still squirm from that scene in Castaway where Tom Hank’s character crashes against the reef and pops that nasty tooth).

I am a pro-gun country girl from Michigan but I still struggle with pulling the trigger.  I go hunting but normally just to spot and I have yet to skin/field dress anything (see previous paragraph).  However, in the heat of the moment who knows; I at least know how to shoot a gun.