Kymm Ballard Consulting
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  • Kymm's Bio
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Kymm Ballard Consulting

November 25th, 2016

11/25/2016

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Using Voxer in Higher Ed

I have been exploring with voxer in my higher ed courses and so far, its been a tough go of it.  I am open to ideas and suggestions of others as I share how I have tried to introduce voxer to my students.
I usually begin asking my college students if they ever heard of voxer and the response has been so far, "Yes Dr. Ballard, I used it when I was 14."  Yikes!  Why had I not heard of it when he was 14?  Maybe I was not paying enough attention (lesson #1 - let the students tell you what technology and apps they use).  The second question I asked my self was how can I show them how much I love this app and how much they will need it once they are teaching?  Well, that's a hard one because they don't know - what they don't know.  Its hard to relate to something you have never seen, felt or experienced.  I tried first to use it to communicate with them, but honestly, text was easier and they received the info immediately where they had to go look at voxer (lesson #2 cut off notifications).  The next thing I tried was to add some voxer teachers who were willing to help me advise etc.  I had some great volunteers, but my students didnt respond well and I had to recommend them to go and answer responses by the voxer volunteers.  Next, I gave an oral test so that they would hear each others answers (more like a quiz)  That worked better and was set up at a certain time and date to respond (lesson #3 - provide a specific assignment on a date and time).  Finally, I had a new group this year where I had them video themselves discussing that the SHAPE America standards are and then discuss on voxer so the experienced teachers could chime in also.  This really worked well - except the video was a little tough to show if they truly knew what the standards mean (lesson #4 having them reflect on their work with experienced educators to assist was excellent!) 
I am not sure where I will go next - I would like to establish more of a presence but if they are not interested, I feel at least if I introduce them to it, one day they may return.  Thoughts or comments? 
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November 25th, 2016

11/25/2016

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New Beginnings

Starting over is often hard.  However, in some cases its a blessing.  Many wonderful things have happened during a very difficult time of my life.  The PE community has shown its heart to me and it leaves me speechless.  I know, give me a glass of wine and that speechless part will go away! LOL!  Seriously, I have seen the hearts of so many people; how giving people are by sharing everything with others, supporting each other at the drop of a hat on voxer or Twitter.  Once, I heard a young panic voice on voxer saying they had to move their field day inside and had no idea what to do!  In less than an hour, veteran PE teachers shared ideas and a new field day was quickly created which eventually turned out to be the best day they had ever created!  Its a place to sometimes rants about the lack of time or respect our profession receives, but they usually finish the conversation knowing there are hundreds of others listening going through the same thing and supporting them.  There are hundreds of stories of these amazing hearts.  Is it any wonder?  Our profession is about building strong hearts! 
I identify myself with my work.  Its one reason I work so hard.  So when something changes beyond your control, its personal to me.  Now this doesn't mean someone did something wrong, in contrary - I believe I have received a blessing!  I work so hard I neglect myself and because I am so committed to my work, I often stick in there without acknowledging things change.  This is not courageous but cowardly. My dear friend shares with the world about "moral courage" and as much as I tried, it is difficult in some situations.  There are things I should have done but I won't discuss. I wont discuss because of respect and grace.   I only work where I know can make a positive and meaningful change in physical education, regardless if that's through advocacy, working for a company, or the courses our students need to have a degree to teach.  I have done that all my life. 
Upon leaving NCDPI, I wrote a job description based on what I thought was needed to propose to a company.   The position wasn't one they had seen before and they took it to find something close to edit, and took a chance on me.  Currently, I am preparing another one of those descriptions to see how I can make effective change in our profession.  I still believe the same and in the same things, changing roles doesn't change that.  But a special friend shared one day this quote and I remember it at all times:  "The standard you walk past is the standard you accept."  I am not walking past the standard, but I will do something about it.  My journey is not complete, I am just taking another turn.  More to come.....
Much love to my PE community who have reached out and supported me.  I intend to always be there for you just the same! 
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    Kymm Ballard
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