Don't ask me how

I finally got my concept map to post. I changed to no setting and small image. It ain't pretty, but it is there.

Concept Map

I have exported my concept map as a jpeg and a bmp whatever any of the means, but I just get the same error message when I try to add the image to my post - This image could not be uploaded due to an internal error. Clueless how to fix this.

Don't get me wrong

I think concept mapping is a create tool and I was able to download the software on a different computer so now I have an Excel concept map and a legitimate Inspiration concept map that I will post in my blog when I figure out how. Everything seems to be a challenge for me, but I tell my students that the more you have to work at something the greater the learning.

Concept Mapping

I continue to frustrated by technology challenges. I have so far been unable to load the required software for concept mapping. I understand the concept mapping process and have created them in Excel. I think sometimes we let the technology drive the train rather than letting the train be driven by what is really important - think WIDS, Manugistics, etc. I am as guilty as others. I once spent 8 hours creating a spreadsheet that saved about 30 seconds an entry. We made at most 20 entries per year, but it was a heck of a spreadsheet.

Developing a habit

I do not want to become one of those people who think everybody is interested in what they have to say, butI want to get in the habit of writing on a daily basis and this blog looks like it will give me that opportunity. Fortunately, I doubt anybody is reading it, so it should be ok. I have accomplished most of what I have wanted to in my life short of being a professional basketball player and being a published author. I have been published, but not in a legitimate sense. If I keep writing in my blog, maybe I can get in the habit of writing on a daily basis.

Can't wait to tell my kids

That they're dad has a blog. I'm sure they will rethink the preception on how cool of a Dad they have. It will be like when they were young and I was the smartest guy in the world. Then my daughters became teenagers and I became the dumbest most embarressing man on the face of the earth. I'm sure they will be impressed. I can hear them now.
"Whatever"
"Sure Dad"

Reflections of first week in class

I am from a generation long before computers so computer technology concepts do not come naturally to me. I started using Excel (actually Lotus) many years ago for work and I am comfortable with it. E-mail is pretty simple and I use it quite a bit as well. I can surf the web relatively painless. I teach classes which utilize an online component and am becoming fairly comfortable with Blackboard. Web design, Wikiis, Blogs etc.. appear to be simple, but will take me some time to gain a comfort level. This is my second class in UW-Stout's E- Learning certificate and my last class exposed me to some of the latest web technology. My first week in this class was similiar to my first week in my first course, only less so. I'm still trying to get use to UW-Stout's learning management system and simple things like where to find the post button on my blog are causing me some problems, but I am confident I will get there. The amount of posts and the length of the posts on the discussion board are a challenge for me. I am a man of few words and have a short attention span. I am missing the old paradigm of education - face to face, read the book, write a paper, take a test.

However, I do believe you can teach an old dog new tricks. My struggles in this class are less than the struggles in my first class so I must be learning something.

Bow-wow.

More about me

I am an Associate Dean in our Business Division at MSTC. I also have responsibility of our Apprenticeship programming. I do teach, but not for Mid-State. I teach as an adjunct for Lakeland College. Lakeland classes are delivered Blend Ed, which means you teach the same class face to face and online at the same time which makes it a challenge. I do enjoy teaching more than administrating though. I spent the majority of my career in management in the grocery distribution industry. I was running a distribution center for Fleming when the company went under 6 years ago and MSTC gave me the opportunity to get into education. My goal is to retire in next 5 years and teach online. This is my second class from UW Stout. I working on my EdS. and E-Learning certificate.

I've been married for 30 years. My wife Becky and I just celebrated our 30th a couple of weeks ago by taking a train to Seattle and Vancouver. We were also celebrating getting our second daughter through college. She just graduated from the University of Dubuque with a degree in Aviation. She is a pilot. My oldest daughter graduated last year from MSOE and is now an engineer.

This is my first post of my first blog. I am way out of my comfort zone. This has been enough stress for one day.

Deltat