What a wonderful, inspiring presentation you gave yesterday about classroom management. I loved how you referred faculty to our own policies! You did so in a way that is much more effective than administration refers faculty to College policy.
I also appreciated how you made it absolutely clear that classroom management boils down to the interpersonal skills of the person in charge of managing the classroom! You did this with amazing performance and humor techniques, and plenty of examples and anecdotes. I laughed out loud quite a few times at your antics and the way the three of you played off one another.
Your skill at making the audience members recognize their own human foibles was very clever. Nothing like a little self-reflection, self-deprecation to put everything in perspective. Your sharing of practical skills and language to use in the classroom was helpful, too. I saw a number of people writing down particular expressions you gave the faculty to use. Much of what you said is transferrable to other realms of life, of course. Thank you, thank you.
I feel as though I have been to a great, thought-provoking performance given by three very smart, talented gentlemen. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and experience.
You offered your power point presentation, and I would love to have a copy.
Best,
Wendolyn Tetlow, Ph.D. Vice President of Instruction & Student Learning Bay de Noc Community College 906-217-4024
The training provided by Dan, Mike and Steve was very informative, interesting and to say the least enjoyable. The chemistry and choreography these three men displayed to their audience was definitely attention getting as they made this course entertaining yet serious. I would take another class in a heartbeat.
Manton Michigan Attendant training for children in secure and non-secure setting. RDSS
I have never attended a group training session before but the concensus among the group was that this (RDSS Training) was the very best. Steve Dan and Mike were outstanding in their presentation of the material...they kept me interested and absorbed for the entire two days. Leelanau Mi
Most enjoyable, information packed conference I have ever attended! Probation Officer Lake County Michigan
BDD provided an informative educational and entertaining presentation. The topics and subject matter was relevant and helpful to court workers. The guys did a great job of involving the group in activities throughout their presentation. Great job! Probate Court Mishawaka Indiana
I have been in education all my life this was the best three day training program I have ever attended. I would recommend these gentlemen without hesitation. St Clair County
Shoreline~ 230 Ludington St, Escanaba, Mi
49829,
• www.deltami.org.
Vickie is taking this month off from writing this column to give
readers a chance to hear first-hand about Delta Force, I am Alyssa Nugent, a
former teacher, and I work for the Commerce Center. I first heard about Delta
Force as a member of the Delta County Jaycees, Many Jaycees had participated in
the past and spoke highly of the program, I didn't make the cut in 2010, having
applied late and didn't think a lot about the program until April, when I was
hired by the Commerce Center, I was able to photograph and interview
participants on Education Day. Some folks hadn't been in a classroom in years,
even decades, and were being allowed to reconcile the reality of education now
with their memories of education past I was impressed that day when someone
brought up a view she had picked up from a friend of a friend-that all teachers
get their lesson plans from Google (For anyone wondering, we don't We research
online, but lesson plans are a pretty involved process), I remember thinking
how brave it was to voice that thought with all the educational experts in the
room, but no one got angry or made fun of the idea, Instead, the group took
that idea up and talked about it; they even began bringing up other views of
what they thought happens in schools, and then learning about the processes and
procedures from the facilitating professionals who work there every day. After
hearing the conversations the group was having, I wanted to take part in the
exercise-I'm a teacher at heart, and I'm a sucker for any opportunity to learn.
Now, after just the opening weekend, I know that I'll have to confront some of my
previous learning and beliefs about the world, too, to take in all that Delta
Force offers.
On Friday night, the class of 2011 and its facilitators met at the
Bonifas and enjoyed a dinner reception to meet each other, as well as learn a
little about what would be expected of us this year, We created a circle of
trust, sharing one secret each to begin a foundation together, and got a
preview of the year's events. From my time in education, workshops like these
are plentiful and it's easy to go in thinking you know what to expect-again, I
was wrong. The facilitators are passionate and informed people with a wide
breadth of knowledge to share. I was pleasantly surprised at how easily people
gathered and talked, even at times when we were supposed to be working on
something else. I enjoyed seeing this group of people who didn't know each
other engaging in conversation without any expectation of who the other person
is or what they have to say-just talking and listening as equals with the same
goal of a better community.
On Saturday morning, we gathered at Bay College for opening
activities with BDD Training. BDD Training is Stephen Buckbee, Daniel Doyle and
Michael Dupont, all licensed social workers who have worked in varied
counseling and human services giving them an interesting view of the human
condition. BDD stands for Buckbee, Doyle, Dupont, and they describe their job
as looking at and developing programs to help people address the constant
changes and stress that come with human interaction. For someone in need of an
influx of inspiration, as I was feeling when I committed to Delta Force, this
day certainly met that need. The creative use of language and humor that these
three pepper throughout their presentation got some muscles in my head moving
that hadn't in some time, Judging by everyone's attention and laughter, that
was a common feeling, Continuing on that feeling from Friday night of engaging
each other just as we were, BDD encouraged us to meet all people in our lives
where they are, not where we'd like them to be, They spoke about human
behaviors as a
collection of patterns, about the importance of being present and
attending to one person at a time and how to treat each other better to enrich
the lives of everyone. These three are very entertaining, and learning with
laughter makes it easier to understand and retain ideas than dry information
would be, They explained that "Nothing is so simple that it cannot be
misunderstood," and that, "you cannot not communicate.”
They reminded us not to "should" on each other (how's that
for a turn of phrase?), bringing the old adage about only being able to change yourself
to mind. After this session, I felt much more open to learning about my fellow
participants and had an urge to sit around and keep the conversation going with
everyone for hours. It was the type of learning that dared us to talk about it,
to figureout where I am in each dimension of life and then speak with others
about their achievements and positions in each dimension as well. I fear I haven't
done the day the slightest bit of justice in this training alone was worth more
than the time that I dedicated to it. BDD Training is available online at www.bddtraining.com.
While the first "official" Delta Force day comes a bit too
late for printing deadlines in Shorelines, I will get to describe the Disc
assessment and Leadership Day for February, taking readers along for the 2011
Delta Force journey, For the beginnings steps of a long adventure, it was a promising,
engaging start and has set my expectations for the year very high.
