PATINS PROJECT -Rapid Fire-

Daniels Brussels Sprouts

As you’ve  likely noticed, I failed miserably to follow through on my intentions to post every Friday over the Summer to this blog.   My intentions were honest.  My inspiration over the summer was lacking.  I realized tonight that this is entirely my own fault and I’m embarrassed and apologetic.  For 3 days this week, I’ve been participating in daytime activities that have been rather trying of my abilities, followed by evenings full of several of my most favorite activities in the world.  Tonight, 3 days into this process of rigor followed by revitalizing evening therapy, with another day to follow in the morning, I realized I had no time to even think about making dinner.  Long story short, I quickly steamed a handful of Brussels Sprouts at 10pm in my effort to avoid starvation.  As I enjoyed my sprouts, two things happened;  I began to relate them to other aspects of life currently (no, I don’t often do this with vegetables).   Also, conversation with a friend while consuming my sprouts reminded me that many people not only have an expressed disgust for Brussels Sprouts, but also that many have never even tried them!

Let me tell you a few things about Brussels Sprouts before I go on.  They grow in cooler, milder temperatures.  They start as seeds in green houses and are eventually transplanted to growing fields.  They tend to take about 180 days to be ready for harvest and are said to be sweetest when harvested right after a stiff frost.  With those facts in mind, I continue…

During conversation, my friend mentioned that Brussels Sprouts would in fact be going on the next grocery shopping list regardless of preconceived opinions of them.   This inspired me.  All it took was me conveying that I was eating them for dinner and my friend decided there was little point in continuing to avoid them and only experience to be gained by looking for them next week in the store, regardless of whether or not the taste would ever be described as pleasing.  The final product/taste was less important to my friend even given any assumptions already in existence.  Rather it was the PROCESS of accepting the potentially uncomfortable in hopes of learning along the way that seemed to be more important.  I liked this a lot about my friend.

Immediately, this reminded me of the one slide I include in almost every workshop or presentation I give.   It reads, “Greatness Rarely Happens When You’re Comfortable.”  “Go With The Choice That Scares You Most.”  While this may seem a little extreme, I think it’s important, especially for educators to grasp.   Even though I include this slide in so many of my own presentations, I think I may have partially lost grasp of it’s real meaning for myself in recent weeks.

So, as we begin this new 2009-2010 school year, hopefully refreshed and ready, I’d like to  encourage you to put “Brussels Sprouts on your shopping list.” Including every student in every aspect of your curriculum and assessment is a task more demanding than most people really understand.  Yet, you return year after year to tackle it.  Universal Design for Learning concepts and assistive technology tools have a tendency to make many of us uncomfortable.  They are constantly evolving and incorporating new terminology like, Glog, Blog Wiki, and digital rights manager!   Our students tend to have an earlier understanding of these types of tools than we do.  Many of these tools and concepts might require funds we do not have and present a large learning curve.  They are not comfort foods! Use the PATINS staff when your discomfort starts feeling more like pain!  We’re already eating our sprouts and would love to assist you!  Keep in mind that the process can often matter more than the final product.  Strive not to get there, but rather to absorb, rebuild, and pass on everything along the way.  An epic ride doesn’t always have to be made up of 1000 miles far from home in a breath taking environment.   Sometimes, the epic nature of the ride has more to do with having the courage to take a deep breath and saddle a horse that looks too big, too wild, or too new, even if the two of you never make it out of the barn.

PATINS-Project Assistive Technology Overview Course Fall 2009: As always, this course is free, provided by the PATINS Project and will run from 9/28 through 11/6.  More info here:
2009 AT Overview Coarse FAQ
2009 AT Overview Course REGISTRATION FORM

UDL Training:
See here for a unique FREE professional development opportunity about Universal Design for Learning (UDL):
BCSC UDL Flyer

Next Week: A Great Indiana Teacher Featured, LOTS of Tips & Tricks and more!