Just got back from the GOTA Annual Conference, held in Gainesville, GA. It was a good networking and educational experience. Florence Clark, AOTA’s President-Elect, gave an inspiring keynote address focusing on claiming our power as therapists.

So much new (to me) – finally signed up for Twitter and learned about MyAllTop – a news aggregator that seems quite convenient.

Summer semester is ending; short grace period; new class coming in. I’m planning our Lifespan Development course – wondering how to make it educational, fun, and yet manageable by one faculty with 40 students who usually want their papers back within three days. Finding the balance between individual and group projects is a challenge.

Came across an interesting section in a 1989 article:

“In the last analysis, if we wish to evaluate the real worth of a teacher we must first and foremost observe their ability to learn, examine how they share of themselves and gauge their skill in facilitating democratic processes within individual learners and the group.”*

I strive to be competent in each of these areas, but without really reflecting on the concept that these areas are intertwined in the way they are presented here. It is definitely worthy of reflection. I would hope that anyone in a position of management would employ these skills as well.

*Barber, P., & Norman, I. (1989). Preparing teachers for the performance and evaluation of gaming-simulation in experiential learning climates. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 14, 146-151.

In an attempt to focus (LOL) I’m going to put more energy into developing some class-worthy games. I’ve reviewed the literature and there is actually more being done formally this decade. I believe it is quite viable for OTs to get more visible in this area, using both board-type games, and computer-assisted games (framegames such as Jeopardy which have ppt models available on the Web; and action mazes).

If anyone has suggestions or wants to participate, please join in.

The Annual Conference fulfilled its mission: education, networking, rejuvenation. I got to catch up with distant friends and connect with new people. Encountered some excellent speakers and intriguing ideas. (Not to say it was perfect, but, how much is?)

The major dilemma (that I have encountered my entire life) is that I have too many interests – children, families, mental health, education – and that does not lend itself to a cohesive research agenda. I think I need to just accept that I am a dabbler, not a focused depther (new word).  I really enjoy bringing people together to launch new collaborations.

March 2009 already…impossible.

Despite lots to read and even more to write, this weekend will be an escape into storytelling by renowned tellers at the Azalea Storytelling Festival in LaGrange, GA. Five sessions for a mere $35…cannot beat that…and the auditorium is comfortable. In addition, I’ll be escaping with a dear friend.

Keeping up the leisure side of being a balanced OT can be really delightful.

Time is moving by too quickly – it has been doing this for at least the past 3 years, maybe more…well actually probably the last 15 years as my sons are now 16 and I sure can’t remember how they got that old. I remember when time seemed to move more slowly (at least one example of it) – I was in college, assisting with directing a play and noticed that one crew member was wearing a pin that read “Kiss me, it’s my birthday” and I commented that her birthday had been yesterday, but it was actually the same day as when I had first seen the button. The day just seemed two days long.

But now the weeks fly by in what seems like 48 hours. The semester vanishes. And my children get older; although I do not  .

I suspect people have written about this phenomenon, but I haven’t looked that up (yet). If you have insights about this, feel free to comment.

*Time flies like an arrow, but fruit flies like a banana… (recently learned this is from Groucho Marx)

Our newest class will arrive Monday for the beginning of Fall Semester. I will have them for two classes: Evidence Based Practice and Lifespan Development. I love teaching these subjects. My students tend not to be enthusiastic about anything to do with research – they are totally focused on becoming clinicians – although there is sometimes a rare student who has done research and intends to in the future. I wish all those beginning a new school year (or continuing a school year) the best of attention, concentration, and pleasure in the new learning.

I like wikis. I think we need some “Community of Practice” wikis in addition to our listserves, so I am building one for pediatrics called PedsOT  [pedsot.wikidot.com]. It is still under construction, but feel free to join and help build it.

If you like the idea, please feel free to start others in your practice area and to link them here.