QS PRN

Summer reading: several books on ethics, books on writing, & one dark crime novel by Norwegian novelist Jo Nesbø (for fun!).  

Not pictured: two more ebooks on researching and writing a doctoral thesis, along with one spiral-bound APA Publication Manual, 6th edition. 

#alwayslearning #nevernottired

Did I mention this is only the first half of the summer reading list‽ Here is a partial list of books I will be reading in the 2^nd half of the summer:

• The Craft of Research
• They Say / I Say
• Transformative Dimensions of Adult Learning
• The Literature Review: 6 Steps to Success

Bonus! 

• The Power of Habit
• Insight
• The Power Paradox  
• Willpower Instinct: How Self-Control Works, Why It Matters, and What You Can Do to Get More of It 
• Black Box Thinking

But, wait...there's more! 

I'm sure there will be countless PDF articles, several ebooks, and videos with transcripts! I'll update this post once the syllabi for the next two classes become available later this month: Transformational Learning & Scholarly Writing/Style

I enjoyed a short, 3-day trip to Laguna Beach this past weekend. The week prior, I hustled as hard as I could to "get ahead" of my assignments in the doctoral program. And, I realized that I may never get to a place where I have successfully worked ahead of the agenda, and course outline. At least, I may not know the joys of feeling like I deserve to relax for the next 2.5 years. 

This is not necessarily a bad thing. I knew going into the doctorate program that I would be giving up a lot. A lot of time. Time that I would otherwise spend with family, traveling, or enjoying other pursuits. I have learned quite a bit in these past seven weeks, about myself and about others, and I look forward to learning more. Trust that it is not a lost point that my coursework is only beginning. 

The knowledge gained is almost enough ease the sting of time lost, the ache of academic rigor, the twinge of lonlieness, the stab of anxiousness, the pang of frustration, the spasm of sleeplessness, the cramp of existential flashes...

Sorry. I got lost there for a moment. Here are some pictures from my Laguna Beach this past weekend, where I worked to complete a 3-4 page paper and complete approximately 200 pages or reading.  

Is feedback the breakfast of champions? I've been thinking a lot about feedback lately: feedback I've received on work in my doctorate program, feedback from students and teachers I've worked with this past school year, feedback from my presentation at Spring CUE in March. There's a lot of feedback happening in my world these last few weeks.  

Feedback can certainly help one grow. It can also be detrimental if you let it. Maybe that is why I've given it so much time in my mind lately...I can't stop thinking about ways I can improve in those areas where I missed the mark. Thankfully, that has not been frequent and I'm not trending downwards. And, those positive comments boost my spirits. However, there are a few times when the ratings or the comment stings a bit. 

Questions I ask myself about feedback that is less than stellar: 

• Where did I miss the mark? 
• When did the wheels come off? 
• How many other people felt the same way? 
• How many decided to skip the feedback or give a biased rating? 
• Why was I unable to meet the needs or requirements?
• What can I do better next time? 

 #alwayslearning