A500.6.3.RB-White Tyronn

Qualitative Research

   Qualitative research uses a naturalistic approach that seeks understanding through a context of specific settings.  This approach seems the most comfortable to my way of doing research.   I am able to look at the information and dissect it to determine the data I need for my research.  Once I am able to determine the data collected, I will be able to relate the information and apply it such a way that can benefit me for the rest of my life.

Features of qualitative research:

     The feature of qualitative research gives the researcher a guide to covering all basis of their research.  Qualitative research uses the natural setting as the source of data.  The researcher acts as the human instrument of data collection, determining what is and is not important to their research.  Qualitative researchers use data analysis to break down and make sense of the data collected.

      Qualitative research reports are descriptive, incorporating expressive language bringing a human presence to the reporting.  The qualitative researcher has an interpretive character which discovers and illustrates the events and meanings. 

     Qualitative researchers pay attention to idiosyncratic as well as the pervasive, seeking uniqueness of each case.  Qualitative research has an emergent design and focus on this emerging process as well as the outcomes or product of the research.  Qualitative research is judged using criteria for trustworthiness.

     Qualitative research means any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedure or other means of quantification.

     Quantitative research means to seek casual determination, prediction and generalization of findings; qualitative researchers seek instead illumination, understanding and extrapolation to similar situations.

     I lean towards the side of adapting qualitative research to be used to better understand a phenomenon about which I know little information about and also learn new things about content I am already familiar with.

A500.5.3.RB-White Tyronn

                                   

Critical Thinking about Critical Thinking

 The method in which think about things has not changed much since taking this course.  However, the way I analyze my thinking has changed.  I have always been a deep thinker, always reflecting on the events of the day, the people I come in contact with, the challenges I face every day.  I often replay things in my head to determine if a situation, event or problem was handled the right way.  What I mean when I say if I handled a situation the right way, is that I was democratic in my decision, making sure I made the best choice for all parties involved. 

     My analytical thinking has improved dramatically since taking this course.  Having a method to reflect on issues, problems and circumstances professionally and personally can be a huge asset to have when in a leadership position.  It is my belief that true care for the organization and its people should generate some type of reflection to foster the best optimal situation for the organization and its people.

     Thinking analytically, gives leaders the opportunity to develop rules and strategies to deal with the day to day operations of an organization.  Thinking analytically, while dealing with different personalities in an organization is a tough task.  Thinking analytically is the method I have adopted while taking this course.  Analytical thinks allows me to take a deeper look at things from a different perspective.

     To make a lasting positive change in the way I think, it would take continuous reading, watching TED videos, posting my assignments, communicating with classmates and the professor on our post.  I enjoy the opportunities to experience different real world scenarios that having meaning for our assignments.  These real world, real life scenarios allows for authentic thinking and applying those thoughts to real concepts.    Continuing to learn from my classmates by reading some of their experiences in dealing with circumstances they found themselves in is a great benefit.  The more opportunities I have to go through the modules, communicate with classmates on their experiences, share some of my experiences gives me a good background to develop multiple strategies in dealing with analytical thinking.

A500.7.3.RB-WhiteTyronn

Quantitative Research Reflection

   Qualitative research uses a naturalistic approach that seeks understanding through a context of specific settings.  This approach seems the most comfortable to my way of doing research.   I am able to look at the information and dissect it to determine the data I need for my research.  Once I am able to determine the data collected, I will be able to relate the information and apply it such a way that can benefit me for the rest of my life.

Features of qualitative research:

     The feature of qualitative research gives the researcher a guide to covering all basis of their research.  Qualitative research uses the natural setting as the source of data.  The researcher acts as the human instrument of data collection, determining what is and is not important to their research.  Qualitative researchers use data analysis to break down and make sense of the data collected.

      Qualitative research reports are descriptive, incorporating expressive language bringing a human presence to the reporting.  The qualitative researcher has an interpretive character which discovers and illustrates the events and meanings. 

     Qualitative researchers pay attention to idiosyncratic as well as the pervasive, seeking uniqueness of each case.  Qualitative research has an emergent design and focus on this emerging process as well as the outcomes or product of the research.  Qualitative research is judged using criteria for trustworthiness.

     Qualitative research means any kind of research that produces findings not arrived at by means of statistical procedure or other means of quantification.

     Quantitative research means to seek casual determination, prediction and generalization of findings; qualitative researchers seek instead illumination, understanding and extrapolation to similar situations.

     I lean towards the side of adapting qualitative research to be used to better understand a phenomenon about which I know little information about and also learn new things about content I am already familiar with.

A500.8.3.RB_WhiteTyronn

Hans Rosling: The Best Stats You've Ever Seen

     Hans Rosling’s presentation was interesting in the way he took various amounts of statistics and information and applied it to his PowerPoint presentations.  As a high school teacher, there is an ever evolving interest in the way we present information to our students in an innovative, entertaining and interactive way.  We have opportunities to attend various training on how to incorporate different types of programs that use interactive presentations to our students to keep them engaged.  Essentially, we are competing with the ever growing innovation with cell phones and tablets.

     Yes!  Statistical data and complicated information can be presented in interesting was.  More and more companies and organization have become really efficient in using presentations incorporating different types of presentation technology to keep adults alert and engaged when attending meetings.  Because of what I have personally witnessed in all my years as a teacher, seeing a dramatic jump in the way technology is used in presentations, I do not think that most business presenters are terrible.

     From my point of view, the three essential elements of a good presentation are one, know the information being presented, two be passionate about the information presented and three have a presentation created that illustrates the information presented that has a style and personality of the presenter.  In order to engage the audience with the information, the presenter must be knowledgeable about the information presented in a way that they know what they are talking about and articulate that information to the audience in a way that they can understand and curtail that information to fit whatever type of audience the information is being presented to. 

     The presenter needs to be passionate about the information being presented.  If the presenter is knowledgeable about the information, that presenter can be allowed to add their style and personality to the presentation which can add flare to the presentation which will also keep the audience engaged.  keeping the audience engaged is the key.

     The presenter must create their presentation in a way that that matches their personality so that the presenter can be emotionally attached to the presentation which will keep the audience engaged and allow the presenter to be entertaining as well as informational.  The style of the presentation must also match the style and personality the presenter so everything matches. 

     When all of these elements are in place, the presenter is presenting the information as if he is not presenting, but has a conversation with the audience and using the presentation to beautifully illustrate the factual information being presented. 

     According to my reading this week, the elements needed to be a good presenter are:

*Use multimedia effectively.  The presenter must design the presentations surrounded by how society access information on the web.  This type of reliability keeps the audience engaged.

* The presentation must be great in both visual and verbal detail.  Have a story to have the audience relate to the presenter or the information to have an emotional connection to the audience. 

*Reduce the amount of information on each slide.  Use the information on the slide to activate the information that the presenter wants to talk about. 

*Use high quality graphics including videos, photos and audio.  Remember that most people in the audience use high quality technology at work, in their home and when they are mobile.  If the presenter does not use high quality everything with the presentation, no matter how good the information is, the presenter will lose most of the audience.

*Be mobile.  Move around the room to connect with the audience will presenting the information.

*Use a remote control to control the presentation.  With the ever growing market on technology, no 

  one in the year 2014 should have to walk back and forth to their computer to change to the next slide.

It is my belief that many presenters fail to have great presentations due to design issue can be for three reasons:

1.        The presenter is not knowledgeable of computer technology or knowledgeable of PowerPoint or presenter technology.

2.       The presenter does have knowledge of computer technology and PowerPoint or presentation technology but does not have the vision for high quality graphics and sound.

3.       The presenter misses the mark or is out of touch with the technology of today and has an issue with adapting to new technology innovation.

A500.5.3.RB_WhiteTyronn

Tyronn White
                                   

Critical Thinking about Critical Thinking

 The method in which think about things has not changed much since taking this course.  However, the way I analyze my thinking has changed.  I have always been a deep thinker, always reflecting on the events of the day, the people I come in contact with, the challenges I face every day.  I often replay things in my head to determine if a situation, event or problem was handled the right way.  What I mean when I say if I handled a situation the right way, is that I was democratic in my decision, making sure I made the best choice for all parties involved. 

     My analytically thinking has improved dramatically since taking this course.  Having a method to reflect on issues, problems and circumstances professionally and personally can be a huge asset to have when in a leadership position.  It is my belief that true care for the organization and its people should generate some type of reflection to foster the best optimal situation for the organization and its people.

     Thinking analytically, gives leaders the opportunity to develop rules and strategies to deal with the day to day operations of an organization.  Thinking analytically, while dealing with different personalities in an organization is a tough task.  Thinking analytically is the method I have adopted while taking this course.  Analytically thinks allows me to take a deeper look at things from a different perspective.

     To make a lasting positive change in the way I think, it would take continuous reading, watching TED videos, posting my assignments, communicating with classmates and the professor on our post.  I enjoy the opportunities to experience different real world scenarios that having meaning for our assignments.  These real world, real life scenarios allows for authentic thinking and applying those thoughts to real concepts.    Continuing to learn from my classmates by reading some of their experiences in dealing with circumstances they found themselves in is a great benefit.  The more opportunities I have to go through the modules, communicate with classmates on their experiences, share some of my experiences gives me a good background to develop multiple strategies in dealing with analytically thinking.

A500.9.4.RB_WhiteTyronn

A500.9.4.RB - Course Reflections

     Professor Watkins did a wonderful job balancing out his demands and expectations of the students’ progress in this course along with understanding that the students participating are all adults and have families and schedules that sometimes may not allow us to meet every deadline of every assignment.  The professor gave great feedback and was patient with the students allowing them to self-correct some of the issues and problems students had with support.  The professor’s lines of communication were always open and inviting. 

     My perceived value of the course was that this course was the beginning me getting back acclimated to a school setting, trying to learn something new to better myself and progress to high level positions  within my current profession or outside my current profession to better my way of life and my families way of life in years to come. 

     The negative aspect of this course, I would say is that some of the assignments are a bit tedious.  I do understand that there are some concepts and procedures that the students should learn but some of the assignments were a bit long or there were many steps to complete an assignment.  Also the price of the Brain program in my opinion was a bit much even though, we are supposed to use this throughout the duration of our master’s program.   

     Positive aspects of this course, I would say has and is a great experience for me.  This course has allowed me to develop some perspective about going back to school after several years of earning my bachelor’s degree.  Some of the assignments have allowed me to reflect on many aspects of the journey I have been on in my lifetime.  This course has made me reflect on how my way of thinking was in high school and college vs my way of thinking today.  This course was a good introduction to returning back to college and getting acclimated to adjusting my schedule at home to be able to keep up with the assignments.  I have run into some road blocks from time to time with keeping up with my children’s extra-curricular activities such as their practices and games.  All in all I have had a good experience with learning something new for a subject area I am interested in.

Thank you Dr. Watkins for your input, hard work and understanding. 

A500.4.3.RB_WhiteTyronn

Are the Ballet Slippers Adorable

     The video of Dr. Sheena Iyengar was very informative on our differences of culture and how that relates to our lives and how we interaction with one another.  Because of my involvement in sports, I have had an opportunity to travel to parts of the world and experience firsthand some of the cultural differences we have with other parts of the world.  I remember while traveling around the world, making different stops to play with different interaction teams, I noticed that there were few to no choices for each culture I experienced.  Financially, there were not poor, middle class, and wealthy.  There were those that had money and those that did not.  In terms of buying goods for one self, there were very little choices to choose from, very little variations in companies that were different but sold the same goods.  For example if I wanted lotion, there would only be one type of lotion.  There was no lotion for sensitive skin, dry skin, and oily skin.  There was just lotion. 

     Being 21-22 years of age and having the opportunity to experience these differences, I noticed right away all of the luxuries that we have in the United States were luxuries that I have taken for granted for a long as I can remember.  Simple choosing shampoo in the store, there are rows and rows and rows of shampoo, all different shapes and colored bottle as well as the actual shampoo itself.  While in other parts of the world, there are only one or a few types of shampoo to choose from.

     This made me realize that the opportunities we have I the United States, the options and choices that are afforded to us have a major impact on our culture.  The culture in the United States is and has always been about choice.  Were as in other countries and cultures, the choices can be dictated or limited.

     I recall going on a cruise with my family and on the first night at dinner, we had options for dessert.  There were only two options but they were options.  One option was a chocolate dessert in which I had never tried but wanted to try it.  I was in an experimental spirit given that I was on a cruise.  I did not like the chocolate dish and changed it for the fruit plate.  The waitress thought that I did not like chocolate as a whole, but I tried to explain to her that I did like chocolate, just not the way my chocolate dish was prepared.  For the rest of my cruise, the waitress asked me every day “why did I not like chocolate.  My family and I got some laughs out of it but it made me realize how profound the smallest things can be a big deal in different cultures were choices may not be as profound. 

     I agree with Dr. Sheena Iyengar in that we all have a responsibility to open ourselves up to an array of opportunities that choices give us.  I mentioned in a previous lesson that good leaders will allow people in their organization to have choices which will foster creativity and success.

Tyronn White

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                                                                                                                         Tyronn White

Hunt Library

     When I was in college as a teenager, before I went back to finish after my basketball career ended, the internet, although in its early phase was information that I did not rely on that much, because at the time, there was so much information being pumped into the web, it was difficult to figure out was information was reliable and what information was not reliable.  With the early stages of the internet, the information we have now is nowhere close to what we have presently on the web.   Books and researching books in the library was still a key factor in research or using for information for a research paper or a project.  If students wanted updated information about a topic, research paper or project, newspaper and magazine articles were the way to go to obtain current information.

    

  Today with the boom of the internet, there is virtually no information one can’t get their hands on if you have any knowledge of how to use the computer.  Students today have virtually no barriers as to the information available to them.  Students may research historic information as well as current events.  Magazines and newspaper article are all on line as well. 

   

  Social media has been booming over these past several years.  Facebook, Twitter to name a few are millennials' source of news and don’t use any other outlets for their new updates and information. As we are in the age of technology and instant access, younger people and older people are busier now days and want everything microwavable for their fast pace lifestyle.

   

  Media outlets are a source of information now and are more powerful than ever.  They use virtually all of the technology based social media sites to home in the narrative and the messages they want to get across to the public.  It gives the general public to have a voice and an opinion on our social issues today.  This is a powerful tool for instant information and gratification for their opportunities to have discussions over social media networks about a disaster or an event in society dealing with political issues sports, tragedies in society. 

   

  Unless our authors can create books more frequently about what is going on in today’s society, and are able to write openly about some of our social issues, political issues and disasters in the world, there is no way that books will be able to compete with the internet in the future.  Things a moving too fast for our author’s to create interesting literature to keep up with the events of today.

   

       In regards to the Hunt Library, I have noticed a shift in technology in recent years.  Libraries are now becoming more technological advance in how the obtain content for their customers.  Because of the online technology, the Hunt Library lends itself to an online data base that allows customers to search for content located at The Hunt Library and also any libraries connected to their online network in the area.  The ability to order and reserve media content and books is a nice feature that has been implement recently the last few years.  If the technology continues to grow and improve, the public library industry can be a major competitor in how we obtain the newest content and information to compete with our fast growing pace of digital media.

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A500.2.3.RB_WhiteTyronn

Tell your Story

(Standards in Life)

     I believe that in order to steer a life in a particular direction, on must incorporate standards and beliefs as a foundation to live by, especially in times of uncertainty.  These standards in life are what you believe in and for the most part are unchanging.  I come from humble beginnings.  I was raised in a single parent home, not much money, struggling to make ends meet.  Although my mother did not graduate high school and could not help me with my daily school assignments, she valued education and understood the opportunity it brings.  So from the beginning, my mother always pushed me to do well with my academics and graduate high school.  I remembered that even in my young teenage years, I knew I wanted to be successful.  I remember that I wanted to live a better life as an adult that my mother did and if I had children, I wanted a better life for them as well.  There was no blueprint for me to follow for success because there was no one around for be to imitate and observe what success looked like.  

     I was a basketball player in high school.  I remember having been invited to play basketball on a travel team and spent the night at a teammates home the night prior to traveling to the game.  My teammate's family was a hard working educated family that lived in a nice home that was well maintained.  I knew from the outside looking in that this family was not materialistic, but valued everything that they had earned.  This was an opportunity for me to see what success looked like first hand.  That night at the dinner table, I told the family that they had a nice home and when I became an adult, I wanted to experience some of the same successes they have enjoyed.  My teammate's father explained to me that they were by any means rich but they worked hard a cherished all of their accomplishments and valued family.  That night at their home was a great experience and changed my life forever, giving me an opportunity to develop some concepts to allow me to move forward in my life and work towards being successful.

     At this present time in my life, I am still working towards continued success but I also want to be an awesome husband, father and friend.  I want to be a productive citizen in society always being curious to learn new things and grow socially, spiritually, economically and keeping my mind open to changes in our society and adapting to them while still maintaining my core principals in life.  I would like to continue to grow professionally and have an impact on the students and co-workers I come in contact with.  I am striving to be a living role model for my children, while also pushing them to levels above where my wife and I were in various points in our development in life.  I want our children to be better prepared for the future and position themselves to be strong leaders in their communities and in the workforce.

     Right now, while our children are young, my wife and I are balancing our own needs and wants as well as making sure our children have all of the resources they need from us to give them the best chance for success.  

     I would say that I have developed three different personalities in my lifetime to adapt to the three stations in my life.  About every 5 years, I have had to recharge my thinking based on my experience so far , each time, editing my philosophies to fit my aspirations and the station in my life to be successful while not giving up my core principals.  

     I am almost certain that after my experience with The Master's In Leadership program, that my philosophies will change drastically with the knowledge obtained over the next couple of years.

     

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Intellectual Perseverance

     As an educator over the past 11 years, I find that having a high level of intellect is something that you must have or develop over the course of the teaching profession.  Perseverance is also a key ingredient one must have to progress and continue to grow, implementing new ideas and laws that are past down to administrators and teachers from year to year.  In order to be committed to high levels of teaching and instruction over a long period of time and the changes that come with it from year to year, it takes a great deal of intellectual intelligence to not be frustrated about changes but look at it in the perspective as an opportunity to focus on how to implement new policies and procedures, while others decide to focus their energy attention on complaining about the changes.  Intellectual intelligence is having the capacity to evolve and continue to grow over a long period of time understanding that learning never ends, but is a life long adventure.    

     Intellectual perseverance will be extremely important for me as I process through my Master’s Degree in Leadership program.  It will be a constant practice to be a persistent and consistent student in obtaining knowledge, understanding, asking continuous questions and being curious in all phases of life, while bettering oneself are all attributes of Intellectual Perseverance.  Most of my colleagues and myself, in this leadership program have families and or extracurricular activities that we are involved in.  It takes a great deal of effort, determination and a high level of consistency to manage work, school, family and all other activities that we enjoy in life but adds a heighten sense of drive and determination to continue to pursue our ultimate goal, which is to complete the master’s in leadership program at a high level.

     As it pertains to being a god leader, intellectual perseverance will be an essential tool for leadership.  Learning to have the mental capacity, knowledge and understanding of people and the patience of dealing with multiple personalities are all good attributes.  A good leader with intellectual perseverance understands the individuals they work with and encounter daily.  A leader with intellectual intelligence has a good understanding of what drives the individuals they encounter in the work force and in casual circles.  Depending on the work environment, a good leader with Intellectual Intelligence is able to deal with their own demand and expectations of the work load and manage the other individuals you work with.  We must take into account the needs and wants of others while at the same time maintaining a level of productivity that everyone is accustomed to, as it pertains to the work environment.    

     I define intellectual perseverance as an ongoing drive and determination to be highly motivated and passionate in the involvement in the development of one self on an intellectual level.   While using critical thinking as a tool for solving problems in the workplace and in dealing with life’s daily challenges, Intellectual intelligence is also needed to combat individuals who challenge you as an intellectual thinker a lifelong learner.  

Sincerely,

Tyronn White