Goals

Program Goals October/November 2010

//Envision and guide organizational change//

· I believe in the power of change. We should not run or hide from the changes in our lives. I believe that change is a good thing and as educators we should be able to identify change and be able to help organize change to better benefit from the changes we experience. I want to do a better job by improving myself in regards to change in all organizations I am involved in. I want to improve my ability to show the positive implications of change to my fellow colleagues.

//Communicate effectively, engage constituents, develop people and build community//

· My prior experiences have taught me the importance of effective communication. I want to become a better listener. I want to learn to engage all people into a conversation and keep all people involved, engage from beginning to end of discussion based group meetings. I have utilized the power of communication effectively; however I know I need to improve my listening skills. I want to improve my skills to learn to be an active listener rather than a person in one-sided conversation.

//Advocate and promote equity for diverse populations and respect for individuals//

· I’ll admit, I tend to believe that I am well versed in the wide variety of diversity. I feel that I have done well so far as to support and advocate for those who are oppressed. One thing I would hope to improve is to continue to remind myself that there are many more diverse populations that need/desire a voice. I would hope to continue my advocacy for many years to come. I have been or at least assume myself to be an advocate and ally for diversity of all shaped and sizes. I will promise to spread these ideal and beliefs to others. In this program I want to develop my skills to better be an optimistic asset for diverse populations and spread the word of advocacy to others. I need to learn to better myself to promote equity to all diverse populations and not just ethnicity. (Adult learners, non-traditional, veterans)

//Integrate theory, data, research and ethical standards into the context of one’s practice through continuous learning//

· Out of all these goals in the Educational Program, this goal is my great weakness. It is a great goal of mine throughout my post-secondary education plan to become fluent in integrating data and research in to the contexts of my practices through continuous learning. In post secondary education I have believed that we need to always continue to learn, and that is why I am here in this degree program. I will learn to better develop my own sense of integrating what I have learned to what I already now.

Program Goals Seminar Reflection Summer 2011

//Envision and guide organizational change//

Change is a powerful tool, and throughout my professional development I learn to believe in the power of change. I don't run or hide from the constant changes in my life anymore. I now believe that change is a good thing and now as an educator I believe that for an educator to prosper we should be able to identify change and learn to react accordingly. With our students and staff change is everywhere, this program has given me the tools to envision the type of change I want in my life and how to organize the changes in my life the impact those changes in the most positive way.

Real World Examples:


 * I use my new knowledge to improve my own ability to show the positive implication of change to my fellow colleagues.
 * I embrace the changes that have occurred over the past few two years. I accept my actions as a process of change and try to learn from every failure and success that I experience.
 * When job searching, I was offered the opportunity for a healthcare position in Racine, Wisconsin. This was something that I had not original thought of as a potential job position at the current time. However, though this position would cause quite a few changes in my life both personally and professionally I decided to accept the position. I will not allow fear of change impact my life choices anymore.

//Communicate effectively, engage constituents, develop people and build community//

I now understand the importance of effective communication and what skills I have yet to accomplish to become an effective communicator. I have learned to embrace the advancing technology as a way to bridge my skills with current professional development. I use group dynamics to increase engagement in all conversations and interactions. It is important as a group for all of us to be engaged into every aspect of the conversation. The doers, the listeners, and the mediators all have roles in group and all should benefit from conversation. I have improved my development of people and community by becoming an accomplished active listener. I have become an active listener.

Real World Examples:


 * I have realized that there is much more I can do to become better engaged in two-relationships and group dynamics.
 * I have become an active listener, utilizing body language, facial expression, and silence to take active listening as an academic achievement.
 * When my young students and staff come to their administrator for advice on a particular situation I have the tools to communicate with them effectively; listen to what they have to say and respond accordingly. Through the health care system I engage with many constituents everyday and this graduate program has given the ability to articulate to patients in a way that patients understand the complex procedures and how I am going to assist them in their recovery.

//Advocate and promote equity for diverse populations and respect for individuals//

I support and advocate for those who are oppressed. I remind myself that there are many more diverse populations that need and desire a voice. I have made the choice to always be an advocate, to stand up both as a professional and as a person to advocate and be an ally for diversity of all shapes and sizes. I will continuously share diverse values, ideals, and beliefs to others. I will be optimistic, and an asset not a hindrance for diverse populations. Finally, I will continuously promote equity to all diverse populations (literacy, non-traditional students, veterans, first-generation), I will keep my mind broad to endless opportunities for growth and understanding in diversity.

Real World Examples:
 * I became Director of the Women's Advocacy Council, through hard work, collaboration, publicity, speakers, and working together our group of 5 women brought over 300 students to successful feminism program.
 * I now stand up for those who are too afraid to speak, I give a voice to other students on campus. I am unafraid of the consequences by speaking out for LGBTQ or non-traditional students. I feel that this graduate program has given me that tools to become a better advocate. The brown bags that I attended were just a vessel, a tool that I utilized to help make a difference in my community.
 * It was through my personal growth that I volunteered to present at the Unity Conference Stevens Point in April 2011 about sexual assault and resources. I gave the knowledge that I have learned through the volunteer work, if it wasn't for the opportunities given to me by the Educational Leadership department, I know that I would have not been able to learn about advocacy or promoting equity for diverse populations.

//Integrate theory, data, research and ethical standards into the context of one’s practice through continuous learning//

Utilizing theoretical concepts to exhibit one's practice through continuous learning. Integrating data and research in to the context of my practice's through continuous learning. I have learned though having a destination is important, the journey to get there is just as impactful on your life as actually completing your goal.

Real World Examples:


 * Research, data integrating, and continuous learning = it is about the process and the journey.
 * As a professional I now accept the belief that we need to always to continue to learn. Learning is part of the delicate circle of life (No, I don't mean the Lion King) the circle of learning something new, which leads to new questions, new questions leads to the search for the answers, and when those answers are discovered... those answers lead to new questions.