Sharing a lot of information, some knowledge, and a little bit of wisdom
On My Mind

EXCO - Free, community-led education

Learning is a life long process. I believe everyone should continue education no matter what state they are in their life.

Nowadays, many ways and opportunities exist out there that help us continue the life-long learning.

If you don’t care about getting a degree and a piece of paper to advance your career and financial life, if you simply want to learn for the joy of learning, if you are interested in taking some free classes in Twin Cities, check out the Experimental College of the Twin Cities (also known as EXCOtc) and its website.

“Everyone can teach or take classes, and all classes are free!”
This is the motto of the EXCOtc.

The Experimental College Movement started in the 1960s by college students in search of equal access, social justice and democratic education for social change. It aims to bring alternative voices to the University culture and to provide a forum for learning and teaching in an informal, cooperative setting.

ECXO is generally a school within a school, based out of a college or university that offers classes taught by not just traditional professors, but students and community members as well, often without grades and free of charge.

EXCO has a community-based emphasis. It welcomes members from the community to teach and learn.

EXCO provides an outlet for individuals to share their interests and skills. It provides opportunities for lifelong learning.

EXCOtc was a relatively new establishment. It started by Macalester students in 2006.

EXCOtc is expanding to other college campuses and community groups.
The University of Minnesota (Twin Cities Campus) chapter was created 2007.

A wide variety of classes are offered through EXCOtc by a wide variety of individuals, from professionals to amateurs.

There's something for everyone at EXCO. From theoretical to practical, from politics to languages, from health to spirituality, you will probably find a class that interests you.

If you are interested in teaching or taking a class with EXCOtc, submit an application or sign up a class online at www.EXCOtc.org. To contact EXCOtc, you can also call (651) 998-9268, or send an email to excotc@gmail.com.
 

Posted by: Qin Tang on Friday, March 12 at 10:35 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: continuing education, exco, excotc, experimental college, life long learning

Education opportunities in Woodbury

Education was the topic of today’s session, the session six of Woodbury Citizen’s Academy, held at Woodbury High School.

The following school principals and administrators from local schools gave presentations about birth to adult education, school choices (public, charter, private) and brief introduction about individual schools.

Alison Canty, Recruitment and Retention Coordinator at School District 833, shared her experience as a student growing up in Woodbury.

Woodbury is a growing community with a variety of education opportunities. Having high quality education and different choices of schools have certainly contributed to the growth of the community.

I can't believe we have already been more than half way through with the 10 week program offered by the Woodbury Community Foundation. I look forward to every session to learn different things about Woodbury. When you have fun, time just goes by so quickly.

Next session's topic is about local media. As a writer, that certainly will be my favorite topic. I look forward to meeting with editors and publishers of the local media. 
 

Posted by: Qin Tang on Thursday, March 11 at 11:20 PM | Comments (1) | Permalink

Tags: education, local community, schools, woodbury, woodbury citizens academy, woodbury community foundation

Reading Rivalry at Middleton Elementary

Reading Rivalry Competition was held at Middleton Elementary School in Woodbury today. The 3rd, 4th and 5th graders had separate competition at the grade level. I watched my daughter’s 4th graders competing.

Amy’s team got the 3rd place. They lost the 2nd place to a boys’ team when they didn’t answer the 2nd tiebreaker question correctly.

Nice job, boys, for winning the reading competition. It shows you are not only good at sport (they were all wearing some kind of sport team shirts), but also at reading.

It was a fun and exciting event.

Each team had to read 12 books in order to participate in the competition. They had practiced with a parent coach since mid January. Amy was one of the few who read all 12 books.

Thanks Brenda Erikstrup for coaching Amy’s team! And thanks to all teachers and parents involved who made this event possible.  

 

Posted by: Qin Tang on Wednesday, March 10 at 10:59 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: amy, middleton elementary school, reading, reading rivalry competition

Winter band concert at Lake Middle School

Today the 6th grade band students at Lake Middle School performed the winter concert, their second concert in the school year 2009-2010. Their first band concert took place on Dec. 3, 2009.

About 150 students participated in the performance in three groups, one for the first year band students, and two for the second year band students. They also played together for the last piece “School spirit.”

My favorite from all 12 pieces performed today was “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” by Mozart.

The concert was conducted by the Band Director at Lake Middle School, Mr. Roderic VanScoy.

My son plays clarinet in his second year. I wish he could treasure the opportunity of having band lessons at school and spend some time practicing at home.

Practice makes perfect. It's especially true when it comes to playing an instrument.
 

Posted by: Qin Tang on Tuesday, March 09 at 11:24 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

Tags: 6th grade, andy, band concert, lake middle school

Making comparison - cause of trouble

Yesterday I read a biography about Michelle Obama. It was one of those books I checked out for my kids to read, but I ended up reading it myself.

Michelle grew up in a working class neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. She graduated from Princeton University and Harvard Law School. She worked at the law firm Sidley Austin, where she met her future husband. And the rest is history.

Since becoming First Lady, Michelle Obama is a role model for many women.

I found her life story inspiring, the same way I feel when I read most biographies.

But I have to admit I had some unexpected, mixed feelings this time.

The simple fact that I was born in the same year as Michelle, went to college and graduated from college in the same year as Michelle, also lived and worked at a law firm (not as a lawyer though) in Chicago as Michelle, caused me to make comparisons between her and myself, which was unusual for me. I am very content in my nature. But somehow I couldn’t help it after reading the book and realizing that we have something in common. It didn’t matter, that something is not important at all.

I didn’t go to Harvard Law School. I probably could have if I were born in this country like Michelle.

I didn’t make so much money as Michelle did. She actually made more than her husband.

I didn’t marry a famous man as Michelle did.

I didn’t …

I could have …

I would have …

I wish …

Pretty soon, I was feeling like a failure.

I caught myself as I was feeling sorry for myself. I should have known better.

Just three days ago I shared the story “Lessons from hot chocolate” on my blog.

“Life is the hot chocolate; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain life. The cup you have does not define, nor does it change the quality of life you are living. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the hot chocolate God has provided us.

The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything they have.

And remember, the richest person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least.”

As human beings, we have the tendency to compare ourselves with others and to envy others for things we don’t have. And it is really easy to fall into the trap of comparison and envy!

When we begin to eye one another’s cups instead of focusing on the content in the cups and enjoy the hot chocolate God has prepared for each of us, we soon become dissatisfied, depressed and unhappy.

As I brought myself back to my normal state of mind, I reminded myself, “Enjoy your own hot chocolate, Michelle’s cup may look prettier, but she has the same hot chocolate God has prepared for each of us.”

 

Posted by: Qin Tang on Monday, March 08 at 11:48 PM | Comments (0) | Permalink

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