Philosophy of a fun, passionate, effective teacher

Daniel Butler, Auburn University 2008 recipient of the Gerald and Emily Leischuck Endowed Presidential Awards for Excellence in Teaching, has incredible and fun stories tell.

He tells this one story best -- be sure and watch the 2.5 minute video.

I've listed a few points that describe his role and philosophy in teaching--and the little that I know him--I believe he lives his life this way, too.

• Never forget what it's like to be a kid, they don't know things. You have to figure out what they don't know.
• Use humor and make teaching fun.
• Make a difference one student at a time.
• Treat all students like each one will be the one to save us all.
• You can do whatever you want to do as long you get someone to show you how--that's what teachers do.
• It's all about people.
• It's about people who work hard, care, and encourage each other
• How do we make this a better a place? ....one (War Eagle) at a time.

He learned these principles from very important teachers--his parents--a professional clown and kindergarten teacher.

 

 

Technorati Tags: Education,Humor,Teaching,Auburn University

Email vs Twitter

Yesterday, I had the privilege to have several conversations with Auburn University President Jay Gogue. During one of these conversations, I mentioned Twitter and President Gogue asked "What's the difference between Twitter and email?"

My answer centered around several characteristics of Twitter including:

• Receiving Tweets are more about choice, rather than be forced by the sender. (I choose who I follow and people choose to follow me). Unlike Facebook, the followers and friends do not have to be reciprocal.
• Twitter is fast.
• Twitter is more free-flowing.

I did not feel I did a very good job in my explanation so I did what I often do. I ask Twitter followers what they thought.

Through Twitter, I sent a message asking "What is the difference between Twitter and email? As I read messages as they evolved (in about 3 hours), I was wondering what would be a better way to get immediate discussion from a broad spectrum of people?

The first tweet came from a University of Alabama student (see 340) was someone I have never met. More than 65 % of the responses are from people outside of Auburn University. Thus, indicating the ability to hear from a broad spectrum of people.

Interesting too, I was able to "listen" in on the conversations, in particular, one between the University of Alabama student (340) and University of Alabama alum (2,057) who lives in North Alabama. Twitter offered a way for me to listen in ways I would not have a mechanism to do.

The investment (asking the question and reading the tweets) was minimal. Thus, indicating Twitter is very efficient.

Below is my summary of the responses.

• Twitter is public.
• Twitter is less formal.
• Twitter is more analogous to people subscribing to e-newsletters.
• Twitter updates are brief and succinct.
• Twitter is faster, spreads messages  more quickly, and are more efficient.
• Twitter is more like texting (SMS), chatrooms, and forums.
• Twitter is more about choice. Twitter does not push messages like email.
• Twitter creates an online community, a social network.
• Twitter allows members to receive updates continually and more frequently.
• Twitter users can be anyone.
• Twitter applications make messages more automatic, like a stock ticker.
• Twitter makes sharing and being open easy, thus creating opportunities for more open discussions.

Below, I listed the responses and conversations. Instead of using Twitter usernames with each response, I used the number of people they follow. The @ sign is indication that they are replying to a person, but the reply is public.  

• My Tweet that started the conversation (587) aafromaa Yesterday, AU president asked what is the difference in Twitter & email. I am wondering: how would you answer in 140 char or less, of course
• (340) @aafromaa Twitter is more like public texting with a community. Email is intimate (usually) 1-1 conversations. T is v effective for campus!
• (76) @aafromaa 15 years.
• (587) aafromaa @(340) Thanks & good explanation. It's interesting that 1st reply came from Univ of Ala student. 2nd reply: @(76). Anyone else?
• (42) @aafromaa The audience is different. Most Twitter posts are publicly accessible (without the need for a FOIA request, of course
• (32) @aafromaa A social network allowing members to receive updates from other members about events and self as they are updated all day long.
• (32) @aafromaa Had a grammar error in the first one
• (220) @aafromaa Twitter is analogous to people subscribing to e-newsletters, except updates are often, succinct, and the provider can be anyone.
• (2,057) @(340) That's a good point, I always think of Twitter similar to a chatroom with controls, but for GenY, you grew up texting.
• (220) @(340) I disagree about 1-1. See my explanation. Similarities between e-newsletters, newsgroups, and Twitter.
• (69) @aafromaa While both are forms of electronic mail, Twitter is briefer and less formal, and it creates an online community.
• (340) @(220) I disagree (back :p) because I see it as personal communication. I like to think there's a person behind the emails I receive.
• (32) @(220) fancy language, but I like it.
• (340) @(2,057) That's interesting - i've never considered it as a chat room. I usually think of texting or of a fast message board/forum
• (340) trying to decipher an email someone sent expecting it to magically morph into a press release. not quite as magical as that, though :p
• (74) @aafromaa concur w/(220) and (69). but use of app like twirl makes twitter like a stock ticker. don't have 2 open tweets--does it 4 u—
• (74) @aafromaa these apps actually make it faster for me than email
• (340) @(2,057) age is a state of mind ;)
• (220) @(340) You just made my point even better. Your @reply is exactly like somene using "Reply all" in an email. Personal schmersonal ;-)
• (340) @(220) nope:) directing message toward you. may be seen (like if you forward or cc/bc in the reply) but not everyone is going to read
• (220) @(340) Not everyone is going to read your tweet either. I've had plenty "reply all" discussions via email. There are small differences.
• (340) is wondering if there should be a UA-AU tweetup? :p
• (340) @(220) that's MY point. its out there for people to read if they so choose. thus, the public vs. targeted 1-on-1 :p
• (31) @aafromaa - brevity-triviality-audience. email is "1 to 1" or "1 to many" & "push info". twitter is "many to many" & "share info".
• (68) @aafromaa email is direct closed discussion, twitter more broadcast open discussion with greater potential for 2nd hand distribution. .
• (111) @aafromaa Brevity sets it apart. SMS fosters its spread. Otherwise differences are perception & ease of use.
• (78) @aafromaa On Twitter, I send msgs to people who choose to hear from me. In email, I send msgs to people who I think want to hear from me
• (47) Digging tweets to @aafromaa's question. Much better definitions than other sources.
• A comment on my Facebook page: "I would explain it to him in a way he can relate: Usually a 30 minute meeting can accomplish just as much as a 60 minute meeting. Similarly, usually a 140 characters can send the same message as a 2-paragraph email."

How would you describe the difference in email and Twitter?

Technorati Tags: Twitter,Auburn University

Auburn University High Definition Board and Twitter

What do you do when you are supposed to provide excitement and a service to more than 80,000 football fans? You use Twitter, of course.

Bo Cordle (@sailingbo) takes his job of running the High Definition Board at Jordan-Hare Stadium very seriously, paying attention to details and orchestrating the production of the HD system 2 hours before the game to almost an hour after the game.

From a closed room within the stadium, Bo and his crew push images, camera shots, statistics, plays, replays, and pre-made videos to HD without actually seeing the board. Interestingly last year, the orange jerseys on the first game of the season looked red on the HD board. But, Bo and the crew did not know it until after the game when friends and university representatives told him. Needless to say, they adjusted the system so orange looked orange on the screen.

In his 2nd year running the system, Bo improved the system and the production of the videos, stats, presentations, camera shots, and still meeting any new expectations of Auburn University administration and coaches. 

This summer Bo set up a Twitter account @AUHD. He asked the AUHD followers to give him feedback. And we did. Look at Summize search to see some of the comments (there were other messages from people who protect their Twitter accounts that do not show up in the search). 

Additionally, Bo let us know what was happening. For instance, AUHD tweeted:

Took us a little while, and we had a bit of a visual glitch, but we finally got the "Scoring Drive" stat graphic up.

The tweets from @AUHD added to my ability to understand what was happening and of course, I appreciate @AUHD asking for my opinion.

Bo used the @AUHD Twitter account to get feedback and to listen to what others were saying about his work, and to give us updates. During the game, I watched the plays on the field and then, the replays on the HD board. I also conversed with others, as well as @AUHD during the game. I did not miss a thing and had a great time at the ball game.

Now, what happens if the number of @AUHD Twitter followers grew and @AUHD continues to give us updates? My guess is there will be more improvements, but time will tell.

Often people who want to use social media look as these tools as another way to disseminate their information. Social media tools, like Twitter and Friendfeed, are much more than pushing information out. Social media is about participating in the conversation--listening and responding. Doing both means you are fully participating, listening only or "talking" only means you are participating in only one side of the conversation.

Congratulations to Bo and his crew to providing fantastic service and production in the first game of the season, but more importantly, thank you for asking and listening to our opinions!

What would happen if you used Twitter and other social media in your next big event?

 

Note the picture above was taken by chsibley at the Auburn vs Alabama game 2007.

del.icio.us Tags: twitter,Auburn University

A young humble hero

This story was originally reported in articles, Auburn student honored for bravery in Opelika-Auburn News and Rep. Mike Rogers honors AU student for heroic act in Wire Eagle ,and is paraphrased below.

Yesterday, Congressman Mike Rogers presented Auburn University student Daniel Brinson with commendation of bravery. In September 2007, Daniel and his friend, Terrell Webb, encountered a car accident and tried to save people in the burning cars.

Daniel, a former volunteer firefighter, said "You just can't pass burning cars and not stop. You just can't."

They were too late to help some of the victims. However, they heard screams from one vehicle. Putting their own lives at risk, they pulled a young lady trapped in one of the burning cars. Daniel said, "And I knew it was more important for her to live and go on than myself."

The young lady later told Daniel's family how someone was looking out for her and how she was meant to live her life for her little one at home. Since the accident, she has started rehabilitation and is enrolled in a community college.

During Monday's presentation, Congressman Mike Rogers said, "Anytime we see extraordinary bravery, we should acknowledge it."

Yes indeed, we need to recognize these young men's efforts and bravery. We also need to hear stories like these so we can be inspired. We need to hear them so we stop to appreciate those who put their own lives ahead of others.

del.icio.us Tags: bravery,life's lessons,Auburn Unversity

Social media and building experience among public relation college students

Robert French is a public relations instructor in the Department of Communication and Journalism at Auburn University. He has used social media in his public relations classes for awhile now. This semester, he and Karen Russell, an associate professor of Advertising and Public Relations at University of Georgia, are creating a community of public relations college students by using Twitter and other social media. These two instructors have also engaged public relations professionals to interact with the students.

As an outsider to the process and to the public relations arena, I am thrilled to watch the learning and the interaction between the students and PR folks. These students are using blogs, video blogs, wikis, and Twitter.

Karen's interview with Robert shows how using social media in the classroom develops learning by doing. Auburn PR student blogs and Twitter id can be found on the Loveliest Village blog.

The students are quickly "getting" Twitter. PR student Brett Pohlman blogs about his initial excitement with using Twitter. He also provides some links that are helpful to understanding Twitter. Here are some other Twitter perceptions and references that they may find helpful.

• Advantages of Twitter
• Twitter is My Village
• Why is Twitter Exploding? Because it's A Conversation Ecosystem
• The Big Juicy Twitter Guide
• Can Twitter Be Used For Business?

I look forward to lurking at their process and I hope to learn as well.

When leaders admit mistakes

When this football season started, Quentin Groves was 4 sacks shy of beating the Auburn University's record of 26 sacks held by Gerald Robinson. Quentin made 2 sacks during the Kansas State University game--the 1st game of the season.


Two games later at the Mississippi State University, Quentin was still 1 sack away from tieing Gerald Robinson's sack record. MSU was able to produce on Auburn's mistakes throughout the game, handing Auburn a very disappointing loss on Auburn's home field. Simply, MSU did what they needed to do to create a win. Coach Sylvester Croom who has had his share of growing pains in developing the MSU Bulldog team is improving each year.

During the MSU-AU game, Auburn fans booed the quarterback and coaches. Geez, I will never understand why fans boo college players. What makes any fan believe booing his own team will make the players play better?

Fans continued to spout lots of blame and disappointment toward the Auburn quarterback and coaches during the following week. The one who stepped up to the challenged and brought a light of leadership to the team and to the public was senior defensive end Quentin Groves.

Quentin publicly blamed himself for the lost. Auburn led 14-13, MSU had the ball in the final few minutes of the game. Stopping MSU could have forced a long field goal attempt. On a draw play, MSU carried the ball 18 yards, setting up a touchdown. MSU won 19-14.

"It’s my fault," Groves said Saturday. "Shame on me."
Groves admitted he was more focused on pass-rushing than covering the run in that situation.
"Being the great pass-rush mind that I am - God forgive me - I lined up too wide," Groves said. "It hurt our team."
"It was third-and-12, and I was just like, ‘I know it’s going to be pass."
Groves said. "I should have been thinking like a coach: They just wanted a field goal to go up."
"I was being selfish."
Defensive coordinator Will Muschamp said Groves went overboard in putting all the blame on himself. But that’s the kind of leadership the coach likes from his seniors.

I believe, like Will Muschamp, Quentin was too hard on himself. I also firmly believe that any game cannot be lost by one single play. Many plays--many decisions--could have resulted in any number of outcomes.

However, admitting the mistake seem to bring a new level of respect toward Quentin. It also challenged others to evaluate their own plays and decisions.

Why is important for leaders to admit their mistakes?
Leaders who admit mistakes:

• show they are real humans too, increasing trust and loyalty.
• relate to others by the admission.
• give opportunities for others to do the same.
• reduce the likelihood of anyone making the same mistake in the future.
• provide opportunities for others to learn from the mistakes.
• provide opportunities for discovering improvements and for making better decisions in the future.

Finally, in the book Good to Great, Jim Collins describes that leaders of the "great" companies take responsibilities when things are not going well and share the credit when things are going great. In contrast, the leaders of the "good" companies (sometimes companies that eventually become poor companies during the 30 year study period), the leaders blamed outside sources for failures and took much credit when things did go well for the companies.

My favorite quote on mistakes is found in the book, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Dale Carnegie.

When we are right, let’s try to win people gently and tactfully to our way of thinking, and when we are wrong - and that will be surprisingly often, if we are honest with ourselves - let’s admit our mistakes quickly and with enthusiasm. Not only will that technique produce astonishing results; but believe it or not, it is a lot more fun, under the circumstances, than trying to defend oneself.”

The rest of the Quentin Groves story
Quentin missed a few games because of an injury, but was able to tie the sack record during the Louisana State University game.

Quentin Groves has been awarded Bronko Nagurski Trophy, and the Pat Dye Leadership Award Chuck Bednarik Award (to name a few of his recognitions). At the end of the 2006 season, Quentin had the opportunity to play professional football during 2007, but instead he chose to stay at Auburn and finish his final year of eligibility. He finished his undergraduate degree in Fall 2006, and is currently taking graduate classes while playing his last year at Auburn University. Coach Tommy Tuberville describes Quentin as a skinny kid when he came to Auburn, he became a good player, then, became a great player during his college tenure.

We wish him well in his professional football career and wherever his future takes him.