My Dream Job

Last year I wrote that my dream job would be outdoors in Hawaii possibly on a catamaran. I would have 3 classes a day. We would take our water proofed Ipads out work on curriculums laugh have a few "liquid beverages" and somehow change the world in the process. Of course these would be adults, of course we would be collaborative, six sigma experienced project managing real world educators/trainers/life coaches and subject matter experts working on making a difference in the education arena from the middle up and down. I think that is the only way it can be done. And of course I would be the head SME and lead facilitator.

"I am really not joking. This to me would be fantastic."

Those were my exact words.

After some retrospect I find that my most exciting job would have to be continuing to work social media technology educating adults.  I enjoy finding new tidbits of information, tools and trends and helping adult population learn to use and adapt these tools for themselves particularly when it comes to social media technology and adaptability. I have especially become interested in adaptability for learners covered by the American Disability Amendment Act 2008, although other legislation has been passed with more coverage for this population. The opportunity for more workers with disabilities are out there for "meaningful" employment.

I met a young man with cerebral palsy who writes gaming code. I also met a ward nurse who happened to be paraplegic. Someone had to teach them to intercept the world they live in with the world they work in and I think that is pretty cool.

Now for that catamaran, it will have to wait for my vacations, sabbaticals and times for deep reflection. Otherwise, I will be working with those SME's, working on training or curriculums for corporate, there probably won't be any beverages but triple expresso late with whipped cream, but we will still work to change the world that someone will live in without being limited.

Veteran College Bound Population II

Last a few weeks ago I posted about my overall concern for Veterans returning to school and college campuses not being prepared for this sudden influx and the unique challenges which they face. Currently, the Veterans Administration has prepared for the influx of student veterans and the psychosocial challenges that they face in academic settings. VA public affairs has announced a new website for college counselors. This website gives essential information to college counselors and students for multiple concerns including PTSD and Suicide Prevention. These resources assist the counselors with tools to work with the student and gives them information so that they can have preventative services as well. Universities and other organizations are extending their services to meet the demands and needs which Veteran students have. For the short term these services are developing and in the days to come, with more quantitative and qualitative research for vocational rehabilitation for Veterans, we will see a marked expansion of services to help Veterans with technical education and training for career advance as well. Educational assistance will ensure that students who begin programs of higher learning will not only complete them but have more success in their fields of study for the long haul.

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/127814/sdsu_veterans_face_challenges_of_going.html?cat=9

http://www.ur.umich.edu/0809/Feb16_09/38.php

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18532806

Student Veterans of America serves Veteran students across the nation both online and on campus with vital information and assistance to assist the veteran or Servicemember's through their college experience.

National Resource Directory has multiple links to various websites which facilitate educating Veterans and Services Members about the services and benefits which are available to them and their family members in different situations.

Veteran College Bound Population

Today, I would like to point out something many educators probably over looked. It has been in the media, political speak and on the street. Just this year more money has been given to Veterans for educational purposes. The new GI Bill post 9/11. This bill is packed with cost of living, school tuition and fees up to the maximum for a private institution in pretty much any state. (California is having some issues) What this will mean is that an influx of the soldiers who served after 9/11 will have at least 10k a year to go back to school. What that has done in the last 30 days is that the VA has processed more than 25,000 applications for benefits in the last two weeks. This is huge what this says is that of course there will be more veterans going back to school and more students at schools, but what it doesn't talk about is a large influx of students coming to school who have very unique challenges to completing their education. Universities need to have a greater veteran college group presence on campus. Organizations which understand the diverse challenges that veterans students face will be instrumental in assisting with positive matriculation. Also, the need for counselors who are veterans is most definitely needed to help guide veterans through the quagmire of challenges that becoming a student, again, can cause. Don't throw into the mix any special needs like medical or physical disabilities which can really challenge a student. I know these things because I am a service connected disabled veteran and I understand there are some very unique challenges which most wouldn't begin to understand. Coordinating with the Veterans Administration for benefits or just going to the VA hospital or the CBOC (community bases outpatient clinic) can put a curl in your hair and require the use of most of a 8 hour day to get anything completed. Eligibility and actually receiving the benefits on time for payment of school fees will be an interesting achievement and coordinating programs eligibility will be another beast. Although it may not sound like it I am very hopeful and excited to see more student veterans on campus. I am very excited about this. This will help to build our defense ranks and our DoD civilian ranks with workers who are dedicated, fresh, and have initiative to get things done. With Troops to teachers in place it will also produce "can do soldiers" who will be "can do" teachers. This will require more master teachers to step up to the plate and help transition these "new educators" the ropes of education in k12 arena. This will also help to bring a fresh perspective to learning and more creative tools for the desperate times we are having in the education field. This will also produce more jobs for educators either part time or full time to train and educate these new learners and it will also require more administrative staff. This will bring more revenue to schools and help to create better communities. (when veterans go to brick and mortar schools)

All in all the next 5-10 years will be a tumultuous time but it will also be the best of times because we will have no shortage of talented people to strengthen our economy and no shortage of creativity to bring us back to the country we once were. I believe that this event, although it had very little coverage, will very quickly change some demographics in ways we never expected.