1. This thing devours all, birds, beasts, trees, flowers, gnaws iron, bites steel, grinds hard stones to meal, slays kings, ruins towns, and beats high mountains down. What is it?
Explain what you think is the meaning of these sayings:
Time goes, you say? Ah no!Alas, Time stays, we go.
Time wastes our bodies and our wits, but we waste time, so we are quits.
The clock talked loud. I threw it away, it scared me when it talked.
Who forces time is pushed back by time; who yields to time finds time on his side.
Time is Money. Which do you think is the most important, time or money? Provide the reason for your choice.
2. Make a Venn diagram to compare money and time. If you have some difficulty distinguishing between the 2, ask for some ideas.
3. a. List your activities (club meetings, church, sports, practices, etc) that you have planned outside of school.
b. What do you do for fun when you leave school (not including the above activities)?
c. How do you stay organized? Do you keep planners, agendas, calendars?
d. What type of organizational tips would you offer other students? Do you have tips that help you? (Example: Do you schedule the easiest task for last? Or the hardest? Why?)
e. Do you feel you have enough time or do you think your lack of time makes you feel stressed or overwhelmed? If you are feeling stressed from a lack of time, what techniques might be helpful?
f. If you think of time as money, do you think you spend your time wisely? What are some changes that you might make?
g. If someone gave you ten extra dollars today, how would you spend them? If someone gave you three extra hours today, how would you spend them?
4. Think of time as money as you answer these questions:
a. Are we ever guilty of freely giving away our time? Should we be so free with time and/or money? Think of ways that you “waste” time and/or money. Are there similarities and differences in the ways we spend or save our time and money?
b. Should you and can you “bank” time much like money? What would you do would do if they could find time or money?
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Appropriate workplace behaviors - you decide
As you enter into the world of work you will find that various situations begin to test your ethical inclination. What follows are some general reminders.
How to Identify Inappropriate Behavior in the Workplace
Some types of behavior are always inappropriate when in the workplace. However, you may be wondering how you can identify these types of behavior and know when you need to report them. Keeping inappropriate behaviors out of the workplace will boost employee moral and increase productivity.Companies have behavior requirements for those who work in office. Employees who go against the grain are considered to have inappropriate behavior, which can have a negative affect on the work atmosphere and the employee themselves.
Definition
- Inappropriate employee behavior is when an employee behaves in a way that is discouraged by the employer. Most companies outline acceptable and unacceptable behaviors in their employee handbook or code of conduct.
Types
- Inappropriate behaviors can be put into different classifications, such as those having to do with ethics, relationships, conflicts of interest and professionalism.
Features
- Employees who exhibit inappropriate behaviors may be guilty of breaching ethical codes, dressing unprofessionally in the workplace, having inappropriate relationships with coworkers and disrespecting authoritative figures, like their supervisors.
Significance
- Inappropriate workplace behavior needs to be corrected because they can be disruptive to the work environment. Co-workers may find it difficult or uncomfortable to work with inappropriate people.
Resolution
- According to the Worcester Polytech Institute, there are different kinds of warnings that can be given to inappropriate employees, such as oral and written warnings. Some inappropriate behaviors, such as harassment, may not be tolerated and can lead to immediate termination.
General Examples:
- Know that jokes about someone's gender, race, cultural background, religion or other personal characteristics are very inappropriate. This is true even if it seems that the person is poking fun at himself, as it could also hurt the feelings of someone else. If this happens to you, try respectfully asking the person to stop making jokes about the particular subject. If the behavior doesn't stop, then you should bring it to your supervisor's attention.
- Remember that touching someone else's body or making comments that are sexual in any way are always inappropriate behaviors. This type of behavior, both in and out of the workplace, could result in a lawsuit. If you are on the receiving end of uninvited touching or sexual comments, report them to your supervisor immediately.
- Understand that dating among colleagues is usually inappropriate. However, this often depends on the company. In most cases though, relationships between a manager and an employee are inappropriate because they can cause problems in the workplace.
- Consider possible instances of discrimination. Discrimination based on age, gender, disability, national origin, race and religion is always inappropriate in the workplace. An example of this might be when a company only wants to hire men for manual labor jobs because they assume women can't do them because they are women.
- Realize that pushing religion in the workplace is inappropriate. For example, if a Christian manager is trying to share his religion with a new employee to make him feel welcome; this could make the employee uncomfortable. He might feel like he can't voice his feelings and discomfort to his manager for fear of losing respect. If you feel that a supervisor or coworker is pushing unwanted information about his religion, you should ask them to stop. If they don't, make a report of inappropriate workplace behavior.
Tips & Warnings
- Sometimes people just don't take inappropriate workplace behavior seriously, and the only way to get them to stop is to report them to a supervisor. If someone's behavior hurts your feelings or makes you uncomfortable, you don't have to put up with it in the workplace. There are laws regulating workplace behavior to protect workers.
Now let's look at some scenario's. I want each of you to respond to the scenario via email to me. In your response, tell me if the behavior is workplace appropriate or not and why. If you feel the behavior is okay in the workplace, state your reasons. If not appropriate, state why and what alternatives might be sought to make the situation more workplace appropriate.
1. All employee's are expected to be at the job and ready to go by a specific time. 95% of the workforce arrives at their job, ready to do what is expected of them. On the other hand, the same individuals seem to arrive late several times per week or month, often appearing unsteady, not ready for the tasks at hand. How do you view this situation? Appropriate or not? Why?
2. Timelines & deadlines need to be attended to. If one person lags behind it can endanger production deadlines for the entire crew. Unfailingly, 2 team members seem to miss the deadlines, pushing other members of the team toward disaster. When approached on this issue, the response is the same - we do get it done, it just takes us a little longer. How do you view this situation? Appropriate or not? Why?
3. The workplace is a sterile environment. Specific clothing, eye wear, shoes and more are required. Skinny Jim knows this but he is always hunger, bringing food into the work environment and eating while he is supposed to be completing his tasks. Others follow the company policy, he doesn't. How do you view this situation? Appropriate or not? Why?
4. You and the other members of your work place are all assigned tasks. Somewhat similar in nature but each person is supposed to be able to complete the task without overt assistance from other members of the crew. In order to complete their work, several crew members are continually asking for assistance or outright asking for your work, which they will reorder and make it appear as if the product is work of their own. How do you view this situation? Appropriate or not? Why?
5. You work in a casual environment. There are several situations where employee's have the opportunity to work closely together. You've noticed though that a supervisor is always meeting with the same employee, often finding them sitting close together, holding hands and snuggling as they work. They get their work done but it seems as if there are other concerns they are attending to. How do you view this situation? Appropriate or not? Why?
Monday, October 24, 2011
In a down economy
As I have read through your 10 year plans, with great joy I might add, I do notice a theme. Uncertainty paves your path, perhaps as well it should. My question for you is "Are things worse today than they were 30 plus years ago when I graduated from Maryvale High School?" For a glimpse into the world then and now, take a look at this:
http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Articles/2000_vs_1970s.asp
Next, let's talk about inflation. Yes, things do cost more and yes, they do eat away at your precious pocket change but how are we in the USA fairing with regard to inflation? Are the costs for things today rising expotentially like they are say in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Greenland? Take a look at this site and then tell me where you'd rather be.
http://www.indexmundi.com/map/?v=71
Now for a little light reading:
US Income Gap widens
Half of U.S. workers earned less than $26,364 last year, reflecting a growing income gap between the nation’s rich and poor. According to the Social Security administration, there were fewer jobs, and overall pay was trending down — except for the wealthiest Americans. The number of people making $1 million or more soared by more than 18 percent from 2009. There were 5.2 million fewer jobs in 2010 than in 2007, when the recession began.
Jobless claims
Applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 403,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average fell for the fourth straight week, to 403,000, a six-month low. Some economists said the steady decline signals fewer layoffs and possibly stronger job growth in the months ahead. But they cautioned that employers are not yet hiring at healthy levels.
Home sales
Home sales are on pace to match last year’s dismal 4.91 million sold — the worst in 13 years. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that home sales dropped 3 percent last month, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.91 million homes. That’s below the 6 million that economists say is consistent with a healthy housing market.
What say you? Better or worse today than then?
And now for something completely different.
It's time to start sketching out some ideas regarding your connections endeavors. I want you to focus on your current internship or, in some cases, your future internship. You are being asked to identify a challenge in your area. I want you to begin a preliminary sketch of what problem or activity focus is targeted.
Email this idea to me along with the intended effects or perceived benefits. Please include the answer to the question above too, What say you? Better or worse today than then? Give me your opinion, along with the reason for your stance. Tell me why you feel this way.
If you are having trouble please make sure that you talk to me about it. I would like to have this by the end of the day, today, Monday Oct. 24.
Lastly - There is an expectation that you come to school tomorrow, especially if you do not have an internship. There is a scheduled Gallery Walk after lunch. I realize that some of you are scheduled to be at your internships on Tuesday but want to minimize your travels. Rather than have you come here to log out indicating you are going to your internship, use this link to the Internship Sign Out form.
http://inflationdata.com/Inflation/Inflation_Articles/2000_vs_1970s.asp
Next, let's talk about inflation. Yes, things do cost more and yes, they do eat away at your precious pocket change but how are we in the USA fairing with regard to inflation? Are the costs for things today rising expotentially like they are say in the Democratic Republic of the Congo or Greenland? Take a look at this site and then tell me where you'd rather be.
http://www.indexmundi.com/map/?v=71
Now for a little light reading:
US Income Gap widens
Half of U.S. workers earned less than $26,364 last year, reflecting a growing income gap between the nation’s rich and poor. According to the Social Security administration, there were fewer jobs, and overall pay was trending down — except for the wealthiest Americans. The number of people making $1 million or more soared by more than 18 percent from 2009. There were 5.2 million fewer jobs in 2010 than in 2007, when the recession began.
Jobless claims
Applications for unemployment benefits dropped last week by 6,000 to a seasonally adjusted 403,000, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average fell for the fourth straight week, to 403,000, a six-month low. Some economists said the steady decline signals fewer layoffs and possibly stronger job growth in the months ahead. But they cautioned that employers are not yet hiring at healthy levels.
Home sales
Home sales are on pace to match last year’s dismal 4.91 million sold — the worst in 13 years. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that home sales dropped 3 percent last month, to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.91 million homes. That’s below the 6 million that economists say is consistent with a healthy housing market.
What say you? Better or worse today than then?
And now for something completely different.
It's time to start sketching out some ideas regarding your connections endeavors. I want you to focus on your current internship or, in some cases, your future internship. You are being asked to identify a challenge in your area. I want you to begin a preliminary sketch of what problem or activity focus is targeted.
Email this idea to me along with the intended effects or perceived benefits. Please include the answer to the question above too, What say you? Better or worse today than then? Give me your opinion, along with the reason for your stance. Tell me why you feel this way.
If you are having trouble please make sure that you talk to me about it. I would like to have this by the end of the day, today, Monday Oct. 24.
Lastly - There is an expectation that you come to school tomorrow, especially if you do not have an internship. There is a scheduled Gallery Walk after lunch. I realize that some of you are scheduled to be at your internships on Tuesday but want to minimize your travels. Rather than have you come here to log out indicating you are going to your internship, use this link to the Internship Sign Out form.
Monday, October 17, 2011
What do you want from life?
As you move through this year you are getting closer to a new phase in your sojourn. In order for you to get what you want from life, you need to start visioning where you will be and what it will take to get you there. Think about yourself 10 years from now. Kind of scary for me too. It comes on faster than you think. 10 years seem to go by slow when you are young but once you hit the far side of 30, it goes much faster. Remember this when you hit 30. In order to start you moving let's engage in a planning exercise.
Respond to each of the prompts as fully as you can. I want these responses emailed back to me by Oct. 20, 2:30. This is designed to start you thinking and planning for your future. You all have dreams, aspirations, goals, desires. Here is how you chart a path to navigate through uncertain times.
1. Where do you see yourself one year after graduating from Bioscience? Where will you be living, what will you be doing? How will you be meeting the needs and demands placed upon you by life now that you are out of high school? Food costs money, so do utilities, housing, clothing, transportation. You know all this but now it is starting to fall into your lap. How are you going to step up and face life? Tell me about it.
2. Now jump to 3 years further down the road. You are in your 20's. Hopefully you are 3 years into your college experiences. Where are you, what are you facing in respect to challenges? Are you in a dorm room or driving your parents crazy? Have a place of your own? Where and what are the costs? How is transportation going? Realize the more you dream and desire, the more this will cost. Limited resources and opportunity costs suddenly become dominant themes in your existence. How about marriage? Children? These are realities you need to address.
3. Move into 5 years after high school. Perhaps you have finished the 4 year degree by this time. If so, have you established yourself in the work place? Where? Salary or hourly? Do you know the difference? Are you still in school working on the first degree or moving into the second degree? Housing once again is a concern. You are in your early 20's. Living alone or with some one else? Sharing expenses or are you the sole income provider? Let's get realistic again. What do you think your monthly bills will amount to? How much does this leave you after paying for the day to day existence?
4. Now it is 7 years from your last year at Bioscience. Some of you will definitely be married and I hate to say it, some may also be divorced. Where do you stand here? Children? Some may have more than one. Some none. Where are you in our quest for ZPG? Same questions. Still in Arizona or living elsewhere? What are you doing and where are you heading? How do you meet the demands of life once again? How much are you making and what multiplle challenges do you have to face?
5. Little detours are along the road of life. Most are unplanned. How will you deal with these? For instance, losing a job, losing a love, losing a close family member all can cause you to make a hard turn and move in a new direction, totally different from where you saw yourself while at Bioscience answering these questions. What kind of contingency plans can you make to try as best possible to deal with the unforseen challenges in life? How would you deal with a situation where your employer (hopefully you all have one 7-8 years after high school) presents you with the option of moving, say to Hidden Valley, Nebraska for a $5,000. raise? Do you uproot a family, sell a house and take the money? Tell me how you can face the unforseen and still get what you want from life.
6. 10 years have now gone by. The 52 of you that graduated in 2012 are now planning a reunion. Where will you be as you approach your 30's? What you saw in your late teens is now a distant vision. Tell me about your life and answer the same questions as before. For comparisons sake, use younger (than I) staff members at Bioscience as models. How do you think life has moved for them? Are they where they thought they would be, looking forward as Seniors during their last year in high school? Maybe you can ask them for a little insights in the travels they have had through life. Are there any bits of advice to be garnered from their journeys? How can you use these to move you toward your goals?
Respond to each of the prompts as fully as you can. I want these responses emailed back to me by Oct. 20, 2:30. This is designed to start you thinking and planning for your future. You all have dreams, aspirations, goals, desires. Here is how you chart a path to navigate through uncertain times.
1. Where do you see yourself one year after graduating from Bioscience? Where will you be living, what will you be doing? How will you be meeting the needs and demands placed upon you by life now that you are out of high school? Food costs money, so do utilities, housing, clothing, transportation. You know all this but now it is starting to fall into your lap. How are you going to step up and face life? Tell me about it.
2. Now jump to 3 years further down the road. You are in your 20's. Hopefully you are 3 years into your college experiences. Where are you, what are you facing in respect to challenges? Are you in a dorm room or driving your parents crazy? Have a place of your own? Where and what are the costs? How is transportation going? Realize the more you dream and desire, the more this will cost. Limited resources and opportunity costs suddenly become dominant themes in your existence. How about marriage? Children? These are realities you need to address.
3. Move into 5 years after high school. Perhaps you have finished the 4 year degree by this time. If so, have you established yourself in the work place? Where? Salary or hourly? Do you know the difference? Are you still in school working on the first degree or moving into the second degree? Housing once again is a concern. You are in your early 20's. Living alone or with some one else? Sharing expenses or are you the sole income provider? Let's get realistic again. What do you think your monthly bills will amount to? How much does this leave you after paying for the day to day existence?
4. Now it is 7 years from your last year at Bioscience. Some of you will definitely be married and I hate to say it, some may also be divorced. Where do you stand here? Children? Some may have more than one. Some none. Where are you in our quest for ZPG? Same questions. Still in Arizona or living elsewhere? What are you doing and where are you heading? How do you meet the demands of life once again? How much are you making and what multiplle challenges do you have to face?
5. Little detours are along the road of life. Most are unplanned. How will you deal with these? For instance, losing a job, losing a love, losing a close family member all can cause you to make a hard turn and move in a new direction, totally different from where you saw yourself while at Bioscience answering these questions. What kind of contingency plans can you make to try as best possible to deal with the unforseen challenges in life? How would you deal with a situation where your employer (hopefully you all have one 7-8 years after high school) presents you with the option of moving, say to Hidden Valley, Nebraska for a $5,000. raise? Do you uproot a family, sell a house and take the money? Tell me how you can face the unforseen and still get what you want from life.
6. 10 years have now gone by. The 52 of you that graduated in 2012 are now planning a reunion. Where will you be as you approach your 30's? What you saw in your late teens is now a distant vision. Tell me about your life and answer the same questions as before. For comparisons sake, use younger (than I) staff members at Bioscience as models. How do you think life has moved for them? Are they where they thought they would be, looking forward as Seniors during their last year in high school? Maybe you can ask them for a little insights in the travels they have had through life. Are there any bits of advice to be garnered from their journeys? How can you use these to move you toward your goals?
Monday, October 3, 2011
Day 1 - New expectations
Hello Seniors,
By now I hope you understand that there is a new emphasis and importance with your efforts in regard to Internships. During the next 28 weeks (that is a rough estimate of how much longer you will be here at Bio as a Senior) we will be exploring a new learning frontier together. I acknowledge this is a quick change for you as much as it is for me. I've briefly spoken to you about expectations as I will continue to do during the year. My goal is not to hammer you and make life more difficult but hopefully to prepare you for the long journey that begins after high school, when your new life takes root.
You have already heard me speak about the need for a resume and a letter of introduction or a letter of interest. Quick question - what is the difference? Yes, there is a difference between the purpose of these 2 letters. Can you distinguish between them? If not, stop by. Let's talk. I expect all of you to have a professional resume by the end of the year. This will be a work in progress. I expect each of you to have letters of introduction ready by the end of the year and much more. As we progress through the year you will be told more about expectations and when things need to be submitted. My aim is to not make your lives more difficult but instead prepare you as best I can for what comes later. If you think things are tough now wait till you are 27.
Yesterday I asked that each of you register an account with Internships.com, explore the site and minimally go through the Internship predictor. Send me 2 of the things that you may have learned about yourself after going through the predictor. Do these mesh with what you view with respect to your future? Why or why not?
Here are some general questions I want you to answer for me with respect to your internships. Send the response back in an email to bhsinternships@gmail.com.
1. Where can you find a written description of the Bioscience internship program?
2. Is there a list of recommended internships related to your field of interest?
3. How many hours do you need to complete during the school year for your internship?
4. Who will evaluate your internship performance?
5. Is the internship for credit? What type of credit?
6. Who arranges the internship details?
7. Is the internship parallel with regularly scheduled classes or alternating?
8. Does the internship involve learning contracts - documents in which you, the employer, and I as the coordinator acknowledge agreed upon objectives?
9. Can you expect on site visits from your internship coordinator?
10. Is there a required class along with the internship where there will be assignments, papers, responses or presentations?
11. Can I be paid for my time with the employer?
12. Do I need to have a signed agreement between myself, my parents and the school to engage in an internship? How about with the employer?
13. Who makes the transportation arrangements for my internship?
14. Can I have more than one internship experience?
15. Do I have a goal for the internship? What is it?
Copy and paste the questions above into word and submit your answers to my email - bhsinternships@gmail.com
This is due by Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.
By now I hope you understand that there is a new emphasis and importance with your efforts in regard to Internships. During the next 28 weeks (that is a rough estimate of how much longer you will be here at Bio as a Senior) we will be exploring a new learning frontier together. I acknowledge this is a quick change for you as much as it is for me. I've briefly spoken to you about expectations as I will continue to do during the year. My goal is not to hammer you and make life more difficult but hopefully to prepare you for the long journey that begins after high school, when your new life takes root.
You have already heard me speak about the need for a resume and a letter of introduction or a letter of interest. Quick question - what is the difference? Yes, there is a difference between the purpose of these 2 letters. Can you distinguish between them? If not, stop by. Let's talk. I expect all of you to have a professional resume by the end of the year. This will be a work in progress. I expect each of you to have letters of introduction ready by the end of the year and much more. As we progress through the year you will be told more about expectations and when things need to be submitted. My aim is to not make your lives more difficult but instead prepare you as best I can for what comes later. If you think things are tough now wait till you are 27.
Yesterday I asked that each of you register an account with Internships.com, explore the site and minimally go through the Internship predictor. Send me 2 of the things that you may have learned about yourself after going through the predictor. Do these mesh with what you view with respect to your future? Why or why not?
Here are some general questions I want you to answer for me with respect to your internships. Send the response back in an email to bhsinternships@gmail.com.
1. Where can you find a written description of the Bioscience internship program?
2. Is there a list of recommended internships related to your field of interest?
3. How many hours do you need to complete during the school year for your internship?
4. Who will evaluate your internship performance?
5. Is the internship for credit? What type of credit?
6. Who arranges the internship details?
7. Is the internship parallel with regularly scheduled classes or alternating?
8. Does the internship involve learning contracts - documents in which you, the employer, and I as the coordinator acknowledge agreed upon objectives?
9. Can you expect on site visits from your internship coordinator?
10. Is there a required class along with the internship where there will be assignments, papers, responses or presentations?
11. Can I be paid for my time with the employer?
12. Do I need to have a signed agreement between myself, my parents and the school to engage in an internship? How about with the employer?
13. Who makes the transportation arrangements for my internship?
14. Can I have more than one internship experience?
15. Do I have a goal for the internship? What is it?
Copy and paste the questions above into word and submit your answers to my email - bhsinternships@gmail.com
This is due by Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011.
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