Wow Now I Know How it Feels....

Just got back from the Deaf Commission meeting in Urbandale.  Yet again it was hard to concentrate on the conversation due to the fact I am the only Commissioner that can hear.  I have to wait for the interpreter to speak to me and when multiple people are signing (let me tell you they can sign faster than a person can talk) it gets very confusing and taxing. I actually get headaches trying to watch the speaker and then the interpreter. When someone in the public audience signs I never know since I can't see them and conversations get lost.  Don't think I will ever get used to it and hopefully this will force me to learn to sign. 
So here is what the post is about.  I had a member of the community ask why I was selected as a commissioner.  Her comment was 'She is from the northwest part of Iowa but she isn't deaf, I want to be represented by a deaf commissioner, the rest of the state is."
I felt bad, because I was not deaf and everyone else was. I felt like I was missing something and I was being judged because I was a hearing person.  I assume that is not how it was intended.  If that is how deaf and hard of hearing people feel in public it is not a good thing. 
This appointment is changing my life.  Never thought it would be like this.
Thank you Governor Brandstad and the committee for this opportunity.

What is the new definition of Cheating?

Talking to some high school students who are taking on-line courses.  They have on class period a day that they all get together in the same room and work on their on-line class.  The purpose of this may not be evident. It is a scheduling situation that is trying to remedy students who do not work independently out of school on on-line classes.  Many students, and often the best students, do not budget their time effectively so as to complete the on-line class on time.  When they find they are two weeks away from the completion of the course and they haven't even finished two chapters, they drop the course.  The school is still paying for the dropped course since we can't use the past practice of charging the student if they fail or drop the class too late.  A big waste of time and staff effort.  So now they all get together to encourage each other and help each other.  There might be up to 8 different on-line courses in the classroom with up to 15 students working at one time.  A staff member or associate is assigned to assist if needed.  It is more like an on-line study hall. So now that you know the make-up of the class here is the dilema.  On-line courses through the area college may or may not have a college teacher on hand to help with questions.  Often times when they are available it is through phone or email, both of which involve time and can be bogged down due to technology.  The students have decided to help each other.  Tests are taken on line and none are required to be proctored.  So the students again help each other.  The students explain that the tests are open book so using each others resources and computers is their definition of open book.  They also take pride in the concept that they might be signed up for one class but in the study hall situation they are learning at least three or more topics.  Is this a technoligal natives interpretation of 'Open Book Testing and On-Line Classes" ?  Or is this cheating the technology way?  I can see points either way.  How about you?

Really 18 months old?

Tenley and Delaney came over today. They are my granddaughters and they are 18 month old identical twins.  Lots of fun and lots of energy.  They both know how to operate a cell phone and get pictures up and even texted once, but the spelling was bad.  Today I go a text and they ran for the phone, they know what it is by the ring tone.  Avery my other granddaughter who is 2 can get her movies up on her Mom's phone.  My ten year old son has been working on my computer for years and can make it do things I can't seem to bribe it to do.  Now I will say that I am not a tech dufuss and feel that I can do a lot with computers and tech gadgets but I am not 18 months old.  The future is really going to be interesting, can't wait to see what even the next 20 years brings.  I am not afraid of the change at all and niether are my kids, and grandkids!!!!