Inspired by Catherine (who was inspired by Lorna, who was inspired by Anne-Marie), I’m going to take a few minutes to reflect on 2017.
I’ll start with tangible academic successes – these are the easiest to account for :)
Keynotes/Presentations:
Schopieray, S., Mapes, K., Long, C. P., Thomas, S., Wolf, L.G. (2017, June) Domain of One’s Own at MSU: Promoting Digital Presence and Public Scholarship. Domains 2017. University of Oklahoma. http://domains.reclaimhosting.com
Wolf, L.G. (2017, June) Keynote (virtual). Design Thinking: Going from Practice to Theory and Theory to Practice. JALTCALL 2017. Meijo University, Nagoya, Japan. https://conference2017.jaltcall.org/
Wolf, L.G. (2017, June) Facilitator. Tackling Wicked Problems Using Design Thinking. Educational Technology Organization of Michigan Summer Retreat. http://etom.org/events/etom-spring-2017-2/
Wolf, L.G. (2017, May) Keynote. What is it you do again? Discussing the intents, purposes & vocabularies surrounding learning design. 4TVirtual Conference (Online) Recording: http://www.4tvirtualcon.com/
Wolf, L.G. (2017, February) Stories from #MSUHub: Using Scrum for Innovative Educational Design. NUIGalway School of Education and St. Angela’s College, Sligo. Galway, Ireland.
Papers & Publications
Mishra, P., Gunnings-Moton, S., Wolf, L.G., Berzina-Pitcher, I, & Seals, C. (2017). Introduction: Innovative STEM Professional Development for Urban Educators: Multiple Perspectives on the MSUrbanSTEM Project. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 36(3), 211-217
Seals, C., Mehta, S., Wolf, L.G., & Marcotte, C. (2017). Theory and Implementation of an Innovative Teacher Professional Development Program. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 36(3), 219-235
Rosenberg, J.M., Greenhalgh, S. P., Wolf, L.G., & Koehler, M. J. (2017). Strategies, Use, and Impact of Social Media for Supporting Teacher Community within Professional Development: The Case of One Urban STEM Program. Journal of Computers in Mathematics and Science Teaching, 36(3), 255-267
Horton, A., Mishra, P., Wolf, L., Seals, C., & Marcotte, C.. (2017, November). Developing a Culture of Shared Practice through the use of Personal Learning Networks amongst STEM Educators. Poster presentation at the Association for Educational Communication and Technology (AECT) International Convention.
Seals, C., Mehta, S, Berzina-Pitcher, I., & Wolf, L. (2017). Enhancing teacher efficacy for Urban STEM teachers facing challenges to their teaching. Journal of Urban Learning, Teaching, & Research, 13, 135-146. https://aera-ultr.wixsite.com/ultr/journal-of-ultr
Heintz, A., Hagerman, M.S., Boltz, L.O., & Wolf, L.G. (2017). Teacher awarenesses and blended instruction practices: Interview research with K-12 teachers. Handbook for Digital Learning in K-12 Schools. Springer.
Now, some personal and professional highlights. In February, I was lucky to return to my second home to visit Science Gallery Dublin (and discuss plans for Science Gallery Lab Detroit!)
One more time @gravesle @SciGalleryDub #msuhub pic.twitter.com/mcwH5tvkpj
— Jeff Grabill (@grabill) February 10, 2017
I can’t be in Ireland without stopping by my heart’s home (Galway.) While in Galway I was lucky to meet with my dear friends at the School of Education at NUI Galway & new friends at St. Angela’s College, Sligo to talk a bit about the work we’re doing at the MSU Hub. (Here’s a recap of the talk.)
Sadly, the MSUrbanSTEM fellowship program came to a close in May (it was a 3 year grant) – this was truly a transformational experience for all involved.
Luckily, we have one more year with our Sustainability Fellows!
In July I had the honor of officiating Bill & Joe’s amazing wedding!
After the wedding, we headed back home for two weeks in Ireland. It was my first time traveling there on vacation! I was reunited with these amazing ladies:
and even got out on the links with Scott
When I got home, I was able to have some special auntie time with all of my nieces and nephew!
At the end of October I had a scheduled surgery (in my continuing saga with endometriosis) back at the Cleveland Clinic. Unfortunately they found that the endometriosis had become incredibly invasive and 5 inches of my colon (in addition to my uterus) had to be removed thanks to the disease. I will need to go back in a few months for one more surgery, then, all will be fixed with the main offenders now gone!
The last few months have been a blur of recovery and getting back to work. I was lucky that Mary Carty came by for a special visit after I returned home <3
Those are some of personal the highlights of the year. I will leave you with Beannacht: A Blessing for the New Year from John O’Donohue to start 2018 (a poem I frequently referenced to get through 2017):
On the day when
The weight deadens
On your shoulders
And you stumble,
May the clay dance
To balance you.
And when your eyes
Freeze behind
The grey window
And the ghost of loss
Gets in to you,
May a flock of colours,
Indigo, red, green,
And azure blue,
Come to awaken in you
A meadow of delight.
When the canvas frays
In the currach of thought
And a stain of ocean
Blackens beneath you,
May there come across the waters
A path of yellow moonlight
To bring you safely home.
May the nourishment of the earth be yours,
May the clarity of light be yours,
May the fluency of the ocean be yours,
May the protection of the ancestors be yours.
And so may a slow
Wind work these words
Of love around you,
An invisible cloak
To mind your life.