Losing My Religion? Spirituality vs Religion

Is spirituality a frame of mind?

This blog post is one I have wanted to write for some time. I have been reading, researching, discussing and reflecting about this question of: what is spirituality and how is it different from religion? We've heard the lines before, "Oh she's so spiritual" and "he's really religious." But what do people mean when they say that? What does it mean to be so spiritual or really religious? I've always thought of myself more spiritual than religious. For me, converting from a Baptist to a Catholic was not a choice I made because I felt Catholicism was a better religion, it was more about how the Catholic religion made me feel, the connection between the teachings and how they moved me. We all are on our own journey to improving ourselves as we look into our souls searching for that inner inspiration. I often think, it is spirituality which inspires me or my religion?

I, by no means am an expert on this subject. Rather, I am a humble friend sharing some insightful information to perhaps help you on your spiritual journey.  Last week, I sat down with my priest to discuss spirituality. Father Pat Rush, who is the pastor at Visitation Parish.  Visitation Parish is known for it's faith formation programs, open door reputation in the community and commitment to support those who want to grow and be of service to others. He shared that people of different faiths can feel a different spiritual experience. Is that based on faith or just interests and experiences? What creates this feeling? It’s different for everyone. In a society where people are questioning their feelings more, it is very timely topic.

Georgetown University discusses the big debate regarding spirituality vs religion.

Spirituality defined:

a quality that goes beyond religious affiliation, that strives for inspiration, reverence, awe, meaning and purpose, even in those who do not believe in God. The spiritual dimension tries to be in harmony with the universe, strives for answers about the infinite, and comes essentially into focus in times of emotional stress, physical (and mental) illness, loss, bereavement and death” (Murray and Zentner 1989:259)

“…the search for transcendent meaning” – can be expressed in religious practice or …expressed ”exclusively in their relationship to nature, music, the arts, a set of philosophical beliefs, or relationships with friends and family” (Astrow et al. 2001).

Religion defined:

“an organized system of practices and beliefs in which people engage … a platform for the expression of spirituality…” (Mohr 2006).

religious beliefs – “formed within the context of practices and rituals shared by a group to provide a framework for connectedness to God” (Davies, Brenner, Orloff, Sumner, and Worden 2002).

Here's what I've got for ya:

The Big Debate: 
Much debate surrounds the definition of both terms. As Anandarajah and Hight (2001) explain, “spirituality encompasses such realms as the cognitive or philosophic, the experiential and emotional, and the behavioral”. The wide spectrum of spirituality and religion along with a lack of clarity and agreement on definitions further complicates efforts to clearly define both terms. They further discuss that “sometimes both terms are used interchangeably;  some see religion as the manifestation of ones spirituality, yet a person can be spiritual without being religious.” Basically, a  person can also be outwardly “religious” in performing certain actions, and yet not focus on the underlying principles of spirituality.

Wake Up: 
Spirituality vs religion... how are they different? Father Rush shared there are spiritual awakenings that happen to us whether we are in church or not. However, we need community experiences, socializing an individual to be a spiritual person into society, which we receive from being part of a church.  Our vision that our community provides is God given. Religion can give us a sense of direction and an opportunity to feel spiritual. People who decide not to be a part of a religious organization still tend to be a disciples of someone’s vision. But there are other experiences which can be spiritual for us for a variety of reasons. Perhaps yoga, nature, meditating, drugs, extreme sports, or just being alone is spiritual for you.

 We can feel something during church, maybe it’s the socializing with other members, maybe the music, maybe the message being taught. It’s different for everyone. 

It's About You:
One point Father Rush made was we all go through phases. There are times in our lives, our relationships, our careers and work where we are completely connected to our feelings and positive beliefs about what we are doing. There are times in our lives when we may be disconnected, and that is just life. What brings us back to our faith? He explained there are memories we hold which bring us back to being connected with our faith, our religious beliefs. The Bible discusses in many passages about the "desert experience." This refers to a time where one feels disconnected, walking through a empty wide space. These desert experiences make the connected times feel more real.  They give us a high when we get back to where we need to be, perhaps a more spiritual meaning to how feel towards our faith or relationship.

Should you follow your spirituality, or your religious beliefs? There is an expectation of faithfulness to the church teachings. However, it’s not a bad thing when you go through periods of feeling disconnected.  Mother Teresa shocked the world in her autobiography when she discussed how she went through a period where she did not feel God. The goal is to get through those days and it will come back based on the positive experiences you have had prior. The memories will bring you back and can actually make you stronger in your faith.

Whatever you feel or seek to feel, take time to reflect on your life, your beliefs and what makes you happy. You can have a spiritual awakening without losing your religion.

R.E.M. sings about it...






Sources:

Anandarajah, G. and Hight, E. (2001). Spirituality and Medical Practice: Using the HOPE Questions as a Practical Tool for Spiritual Assessment. American Family Physician. 63:81-89.

http://nccc.georgetown.edu/body_mind_spirit/definitions_spirituality_religion.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/ed-and-deb-shapiro/religion-and-spirituality_b_967951.html

#hashtag:The Power of the Pound Sign

How good are you at the #hashtag game?

What's with all the pound signs? Whether you know what a hashtag is or not, they are not going anywhere.We see them on social media websites, text messages, signs, clothing, and people are even getting them tattooed on their bodies. They are the modern day symbol and they are convincing. In a recent study, 68% of college students reported using social media conversations to influence their enrollment decision. People of all ages are using them to search products, market their business, have a good laugh, make new friends and experience new things. According to Google, hashtag is defined as, "a word or phrase preceded by a hash or pound sign (#) and used to identify messages on a specific topic.

Look and see what this tic-tac-toe board is about...


#TrendingNow: The main reason anyone uses a hashtag is to be trendy, let's be honest. Here are the rules for writing a hashtag. Spaces between words or phrases are an absolute miss. Keep all the letters and words together. Grammar goes out the window here.  If you want to differentiate and make a point between the words, by all means captialize the first letter of the new word. Doing so, will not at all alter your hashtag search. Meaning, whether you type #HashtagsRule, or #HASHTAGSRULE, or #hashtagsrule, it will all post the same when you search for results. Numbers are allowed, punctuation rules are not. No exclamation points, commas, special characters. Again, grammar...out the window.  When you search for your posted hashtag or someone else's, you simply type in the word grouping with the pound sign in front and you're off! Do you want to know which hashtags are the most popular? Check out this website for the latest trending hashtags and track your own:   http://www.hashtags.org/trending-on-twitter/


#KeepItInteresting: Since there are some pretty common hashtags floating around now (i.e. #tbt, #fashion, #food, #selfie, #cash, #business), you want to make sure your hashtag is somewhat unique to draw attention to it. A tweet or post with just hashtags is boring, make it creative. Always use some humor and voice.  Journalist Rebecca Hiscott shares these examples: 

• Wearing socks with Crocs is so stylish #kidding.
• The movie #Gravity is beautiful but so terrifying! #nevergoingtospace.

Be sure to give context, she adds. If you write #BreakingBad is #awesome, you really aren't taking the conversation anywhere.

#Twitter #Instagram #Facebook #Googleplus: all these commonly used media sites support hastags. Here is a quick summary of how they are used, by Mashable: 

#BoostYourBusiness: Toilet paper seems pretty boring, right? I mean, it's a neccesity for the majority of us, but no one is really excited about it. Wrong. Charmin has found a way to put some fun and life into their business. With their hashtag #tweetfromtheseat,  users are now generating and inventing 100s of tweets about Charmin from different social media platforms each day. 

If a toilet paper company can generate this amount of buzz you can too. If you don't have a hashtag strategy for the company own or work for, get on it! Invent one and be creative, you will be surprised and how quickly you will have a following. Find popular users on Twitter and Instagram to follow you and use your hashtags, encourage your friends, employees and clients to retweet or share your posts from your social media platforms. Here are five steps to making a big sale through social media. #goforit!

Now you can see inventing, searching, posting, and tweeting hastags are as easy as playing a game of tic-tac-toe.  

Just be mindful of where you put the X's and where you put the O's.

For those of you who still think hastags are annoying, you'll love this video:




Sources for more info:
http://mashable.com/2013/10/08/what-is-hashtag/
http://www.hashtags.org/platforms/twitter/whats-the-point-of-all-these-hashtags/
http://marketingland.com/facebook-finally-gets-hashtags-48115
http://www.hashtags.org/how-to/marketing-how-to/twitter-marketing-101-what-does-it-take-for-a-hashtag-to-trend/
http://wallaroomedia.com/why-your-company-needs-a-hashtag-strategy/

The Freedom To Act "Like A Girl"

Thumbs up to all those amazing American girls out there!

"You don't have to feel like a wasted space
You're original, cannot be replaced
If you only knew what the future holds
After a hurricane comes a rainbow"

In the past week, two thought provoking videos have gone viral; one from Proctor & Gamble and the other from Verizon. They both send out a powerful message to our society, the negative generalizations we have about girls.

Let’s start with this one. What do you think when someone says, “You act like a girl!”  Now watch:

1. What are you saying?

I think for many, it causes reflection. We sit back and wonder, “Have I projected this type of thinking? How can I support a more positive image for our growing girls?”  This is a great place to be in our society. Awareness. Awareness can bring positive change. We have the freedom to change, to make better choices when it comes to having conversations with girls.

Change doesn’t have to be hard, it can be quite simple.  You can support the girls in your lives to try new things, to feel empowered, build their self-confidence by letting them fall down and pick themselves back up. Show them through hugs and high fives that it’s important for them to be who they want to be, without any type of restraint of just "being a girl".

2. What about the girly girls?

Which brings me to my second point; girls should still be allowed to be girly.  I have to believe there is still a majority of us who want to be feel respected, have a gentleman open a door for us, look feminine, and be powerful. THIS, I think is more challenging. There seems to be this underlying message also being sent to girls that they need to be so tough and maybe "act like a boy". We need to stop this. There has to be a balance. More so than boys, there is an image factor to being a girl. We all come in different shapes and sizes and I feel we are trying to figure out how to be more accepting and less judgmental. As parents and caregivers, we have the responsibility of raising our girls and boys with respect for each other. Girls should be girls, whatever that means for their own self: learning style, talents, skills and thoughts, and the way they express themselves.  If a girl wants to drenched in pink or head-to-toe tomboy, let them! I love to wear heels, cute dresses, fun jewelry, and wear some makeup (even though I have no idea how to put it on). I have friends that live in flats or tennies, jeans or workout clothes, and low key t-shirts who could care less about applying blush. It never crosses our minds to say to each other, “You’re wearing that?!” Don’t get me wrong, I have had others, mainly through my career experiences, give me a look when I enter a room full of black or navy business attire in my pink or orange dress with heels on. I’ve learned that you can’t worry about what others think of what you wear or how you ‘come across’. More importantly, you stick to your guns and share your talents, show through your actions that you are a smart, driven, insightful girl who is going to fail but also comprehends that is all part of growing and becoming a better girl. Yes, girl, I am a girl, not just a person. There is a difference.

3. Where the girls at?

We've come a long way. In the past, it was frowned upon for girls to “act like boys”. Now we understand that there are all types of girls out there. But, what I do still observe over and over is the lack of interest girls have in technology and science. While there's a science to everything, there are still obstacles when it comes to girls being interested in the area of science and technology. We know that so we need to expand that thinking out to fashion, painting, weaving, designing, all girly areas that require much thought and intelligence to be successful in a digital world.

"Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed

So you could open one that leads you to the perfect road

Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow

And when it's time you'll know"

In the last few years since STEM/STEAM initiatives have been on the rise, the number of girls going  into these fields has been on the decline. How is this possible? Well, because these fields have catered to boys. Duh. It doesn't take a brainiac to acknowledge from first glance at the curriculum that it was developed by males and / or by females who didn't seem to be a fan of girly interests. Now watch this. Maybe this has an impact as well? You decide:

As far as the areas of STEM, not all girls are going to be interested, but how do we know if they don’t try? Just like sports, clubs, etc. There needs to be an attraction and until recently the attraction was male driven.  Made with Code is a new program which actually looks girly. Thank you Google!  Check it out and share it withsomeone who can start an after school club or a program during the day at your local school. I am.

Girls still have choices. There is also another program for girls who are interested in the more mainstreamed look of coding through the Hour of Code resources. We now have programs which meet the wide spectrum of girls out there. We are getting there, it’s taken some time, but I am positive that it will just keep getting better.

This week we celebrate our freedom. Our freedom to make choices. Let’s make a choice to be accepting and supportive all the amazing girls out there. Acting like a girl means many positive things. Let’s not make them negative.

"Baby, you're a firework

Come on, let your colors burst

Make 'em go, "Aah, aah, aah"

You're gonna leave 'em all in awe, awe, awe"

There's nothing wrong with girls wanting to wear pink, or blue. Wanting to shop or shoot a nerf gun. You know what's wrong: judging our girls based on their looks and interests instead of supporting them and encouraging them to share their unique talents to build a brighter tomorrow. Let girls have the freedom to make choices about what they want; to do, be a part of, to fail at and then get back up and try again. We just need to offer them opportunities for these experiences so they have more choices. It may take them awhile, so let them have the freedom to experience what life has to offer them. More freedom to act like the girl they are...and want to be. 

"You just gotta ignite the light and let it shine

Just own the night like the 4th of July

'Cause, baby, you're a firework

Come on, show 'em what you're worth"

God bless you and yours this 4th of July and all those that keep our freedom alive!

Sing it Katy!

The Baby Years: Rocky Mountain High

There goes trouble.

Recently our family watched some old videos of the kids when they were babies. After laughing at how funny the kids reacted to seeing themselves as little ones I then noticed the dazed and confused look I had in those videos.  Questions popped into my head like, "is that ME?" and "why don't I remember that?" "we had three kids in diapers?" Sleep deprivation was my constant companion in those days as with any parents of infants. In our digital age of technology advancements, I'm thankful for the easy accessibility to videoing and snapping pictures to secure lasting memories. For me, this has been crucial because within four years, I got married, had four pregnancies, experienced a career change and moved across state to the beloved Kansas City area. To say I was in a haze those days is an understatement.

By no means do I feel I deserve a medal or award for surviving the baby years of my children's lives. There are many married and  single parents out there without the resources and support they should have and end up doing an incredible job. There are many parents who have lost their little ones to SIDs or other fatal situations. Not to mention those who simply cannot get pregnant and birth their own biological children. I recognize and respect all of these sensitive situations. Bearing children is a supernatural phenomenon.

Which brings me to my confession. I didn't enjoy being pregnant, nor did I enjoy those sleepless nights. Before you stop reading and disregard me as a selfish, ungrateful mom, let me explain.  I love my kids. I have always wanted to be a mother. In fact, I wanted a six pack of them! Growing up as an only child with a mother from a family of  five and a father from a family of six lent itself to endless amounts of crazy times, organized chaos, occasional tears with daily hugs and kisses-all of which I couldn't get enough of.  I lived for family gatherings, our revolving front door with my grandparents, aunts and uncles taking care of me and making everything seem like an adventure .  So you can imagine the discourse I felt when I became pregnant and found it overwhelming. Along with some physical issues due to pregnancy, I struggled with "keep calm and carry on."  Long story short, I'm happy to be past that point and where I am now.

Psalms 121: 1-2 (NIV)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains. Where does my help come from?

 My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

I have realized over the years from conversations with my friends and strangers, self-help articles, and much prayer, that parenting is a different journey for everyone. This is such a sigh of relief for me.  Every time I was pregnant in the grocery store, some sweet little 'ol lady would walk up and say something like, "savor every minute, there is a miracle growing inside of you". Guilt would sink in because I would give her a half heartfelt smirk and go back to counting the days until I delivered. Glad to know there are others out there who also struggle with complete bliss as a 24/7 caregiver. 

A few years ago on the 4th of July In Vail. 
Janie looking for...her stroller, binky, woobie, nap time.

When the three amigos arrived safe and sound over those four years, I was more than thankful.  They each came with their own challenges but also with their own amazing personalities. One of my favorite memories is of our middle child, Molly. She loves suckers. We NEVER would have given our first born a sucker at the age of two. But being that she came 14 months after Tommy, it seemed fitting. I mean it resembles a pacifier, right? Naturally, her first word was not "momma, "dada", "ball" or "doll". It was "suckaaaa (sucker)." She would yell it out with this cute little lisp so proud and always right at me. When we watched her on video the other night saying it, I couldn't help but think that maybe she wasn't talking about a lollipop.

Fast forward to today, we are on kidcation in Vail, Colorado and I'm in heaven. My favorite family, yearly vacation since Tommy was a baby. We've made it across the long stretch of flat highway, through the valleys, around the mountain and are enjoying God's country together. No diaper bags, binkies, bibs, strollers, poop attacks or throw up (hope not), middle of the night feedings or scheduled naptimes (well, maybe for me). I have been looking forward to this day of doing what we want, when we want, as we want. It's here!

Now I just need to get all these pics into a photo book.

Let me end with this, several of my close friends are preggo or have just had their babies and I am ecstatic. Those that know me well, know that I am a "baby bandit". If you have a baby, I will whisk it away faster than you can say  thank you, and I've got that bundle of joy for the rest of the night. Confused? Why would she want to hold babies when it's clear she wasn't in love with the baby years of her own offspring? The only explanation I can give you is this: I loved holding my babies and when others held them as well.  I still love watching their infant videos, reminiscing through old baby photos,  I'll always love the sweet sounds and smells of all babies. But I feel it's unrealistic to love every single moment of parenting. I don't believe it means you are ungrateful, it means you recognize that it's hard! I do know that the years ahead will bring more mountains to climb as a parent, but also more breathtaking memories.  

Those little miracles which grow inside of our bodies should be savored.

 I just think each parent savors them at different times. 

Thank you little 'ol lady from the grocery store.

Here are some apps/programs which help you preserve those memories, before you forget them:

• Drop it like it's hot! Dropbox: seriously, how many times do I need to mention this app. I LOVE it. backs up all my camera uploads, video, files... asap. I can retrieve them from anywhere. FREE.
• Laptop Lovers: Laptops are not dead. Don't get bullied into dissing the laptop. If you do like to save pics, videos, etc to your laptop that is completely acceptable. One program I use is MovieMaker (Windows 7). Occasionally I create and produce videos for weddings, funerals, anniversaries, etc. This program is amazing. You can load any photos you want, add  (your own) music from iTunes, time it and upload it to YouTube or burn it to a DVD. (Note: I back up the pics to Dropbox so I don't have to use my hard drive space).

An editing pic from a wedding video I produced in MovieMaker.
It's not hard and actually a lot of fun!

• Mac the Night (or Day): iMovie via Apple is incredible, but it does take a lot of storage and usage from your iPhone, iPad or Mac laptop.
• Usual Suspects:  Vimeo, Shutterfly, Animoto, Vine, Snapfish- all Free and I use them all. Animoto (for videos) and Shutterfly (for photo books)  are my fav. They all are apps and web-based. They come with all kinds of help/step by step tutorials.

When it's all said and done, there ain't no mountain high enough to keep me from being there and lovin' on my kids. ;)

Mr.Mom: The 21st Century Pop

I just want you to ask yourself one thing, if you were me, wouldn't you do the same for your children?
Clack Griswold

Dads, they really are a remarkable species. Father's Day reminds us of the many hats they wear and roles they play. When we think about the past we see how society is changing it's view regarding the father figure.

There has been a pretty progressive shift in the dad responsibilities in the recent years.  Aside from bringing home the bacon, they are now going to the grocery store to buy the bacon after they have carpool and catch the next child's extra curricular activity, then find themselves frying it up in a pan.

According to a recent survey, 75% of dads say they are more involved with their kid(s) then their fathers were. Dr. Charles Sophy, a child psychiatrist explains we need to raise the awareness of just how important fathers are in their child's life to lower substance abuses, depression and other health issues. 

Let's take a look at what dads are doing to make a difference in their kid's lives.

• The Living Years: Dads today are not necessarily looking back, but looking ahead. Many are involved and want to have a positive presence with their children. They read to their kids, bathe them, take them school, help them sort through their problems, sometimes just hug them and don't say anything at all. Dads today don't worry about what their own fathers did or didn't do. They don't dwell on the lack of time maybe their fathers had in their lives. They are creating their own way of parenting and they are doing it right. Dr Valerie King has conducted extensive research on the significant impact fathers have on their child's live and she said it all comes down to: quality. Making the most out of the time they have together is key.

• My Father's Eyes: Males use seven times more gray matter of their brains than females. What does this color have to do with anything? The gray matter is what creates a "tunnel vision" effect when processing information and becoming deeply involved in a task. Because of this, dads have the ability  focus completely on their child, rather than switching from task to task.

• Mr. Mom: There are double the amount of dads that stay at home than in the 1970s. Roughly 550,000 fathers across the US are stay home caregivers according to a 2013 study by the Pew Research Center. They average about 18 hours of house work and 11 hours a week caring for their school aged child(ren), plus the added hours required to complete errands, after school activities when managing the household.

• Just The Two Of Us: We know that children with involved fathers handle stress better and have higher success in school. This positive influence doesn't stop there: increased verbal skills, intellectual functioning and broader cognitive capacities are all a result of involved fathers. Children with dads who take an interest in their schooling are 43% more likely to earn As and 33% less likely to repeat a grade.

• No Mom Jeans: The bottom line is, kids tend to think their dads are more fun and cool! The article, "In Praise of the Fun Dad", points out that there are definite differences in parenting styles of moms and dads.  Dads tend to be more playful and are frequently a better predictor in the child's overall happiness. 

Obviously moms are incredibly important, too. But, we need to continue loving on our awesome daddios out there and remind them how much they are needed 

(and not just to bring home the bacon).

It's the Dad's Life!

Are You Faking It? The Importance of Asking Questions

Summer  =  more questions

When are we going _____? What are we doing today? 

What does ________ mean? Where do I find _________? 

Why can't I _____?  How do I ______?

And these may not even cover the questions you need to answer for your career, profession or other areas of your life!

We've all been asked questions we simply do not know the answers to or maybe we do not want to answer. How do you respond? What do you do?

At Rockhurst University, we are encouraged to integrate the Jesuit pedagogy of answering a question with a question and reflecting.  After all, God gave us brains to use and as educators we strive to support others to think for themselves.  "Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you," (Matthew 7:7.) We want others to unravel the twisted, tangled information out there as they open the door of opportunities and experiences, then gain the knowledge needed. Too often we seek the answer as a requirement to complete the question. Instead, what about asking more questions and finding what exactly makes those answers true, or maybe untrue? My favorite quote from our Rockhurst University Department of Education Conceptual Framework is, "...learners are not empty vessels to be filled...but makers of meaning." 

One of the biggest challenges when faced with a question (that you don't know the answer to) is looking ignorant. No one wants to appear incompetent. Professionally, I think it's important to simply respond with, "what do you think about that?" or  "perhaps, we need more information regarding that topic, idea, opinion or fact... " or how about "honestly, I do not know the exact answer to that question, but I am happy to help you find the answer and/or give the resources to find what you need."  All too often we are quick to provide an answer or fake an answer to appear like we know what we are talking about. 

We recognize through research and observation that we do not learn, understand, or comprehend by merely listening or being told answers. We grow by finding, explaining and defending our answers. Memorization is not active learning. Bloom's Taxonomy (2001) quickly shows us how important creating and synthesizing are to conceptual understanding. Conceptual understanding was originally rooted in the mathematics education, but has been integrated in all subject areas by effective teachers. It is defined as being able to: provide evidence for what you have learned; to apply the facts and information, to reason in settings with careful application.  I think this is pretty powerful stuff. Why? Because,our society has a problem of just spitting out responses without even knowing what they are really saying.

Where do we find the answers? (Million Dollar Question)

• Do the Dewey:  Let's start here. When possible have the person asking the question find his or her own answers. You don't have to (and shouldn't) be the know-it-all. Take the pragmatic approach and let others explore and discover the knowledge they seek. John Dewey coined the phrase, "learn by doing." It's as simple as that.  This doesn't mean you can't be a guide and offer help finding resources to get them started, but why are you answering other people's questions instead of asking some yourself? 

• No Hurry: Que up some Zac Brown Band tunes and slow it down. Learning takes some time. Finding what you are looking for takes some time. We all work and learn at different paces.  Whether it's you or someone else, plan and prepare for time needed to look, read and reflect on what material is being searched and comprehended.

• Wikipedia Is Not Your Best Friend: In the age of GTS, wikis are the first links that pop up when searching for information. Always reliable? No. Most schools ban the use of wikipedias.  However, on most wiki sites, you will find some links to at the bottom under "References" which actually can lead you to valid primary sources. From there you can search for the real deal, but always follow up on what you are reading and the sources of your information for accuracy. Check out this infographic on how to get more out of Google searching. 

• Stop Faking It! One of my treasured book series, related to scientific principles, is Stop Faking It! by Bill Robertson. He finds the humor when explaining everything from inertia to electricity using understandable language in a low stress way.  Find resources that provide the accurate explanations you need. eThemes, is a great internet database. It's basically a one-stop portal which gives you access to thousands of reliable websites. Initially created for educators, it has been a valuable resource for all. More importantly, it is monitored and constantly updated by the University of Missouri-Columbia. Go Tigers!

There will always be questions, we know that. It's what makes life so interesting! Knowing how to answer, when to answer and where to get the answers is something you will need figure out. 

Are you are Jaywalker? Hilarious, but this is what you look like when you fake an answer!

http://www.facultyfocus.com/articles/teaching-professor-blog/do-your-students-understand-the-material-or-just-memorize-and-forget/

http://www.patrickrothfuss.com/content/

http://www.clemson.edu/assessment/assessmentpractices/referencematerials/documents/Blooms%20Taxonomy%20Action%20Verbs.pdf

Sex or Skills: Should You Hire Me Just Because I Am a Female?

What's the right answer?

Yes,  I believe in equal opportunity.

Yes, I am more than grateful for women's rights.

No, I do not want you to hire me just because I am female in a technology career.

What I want you to do is support initiatives which encourage girls to become interested in technology to increase the female applicant pool out there.

Over the weekend USA Today reported about "Testosterone Valley." In the article, Google came under fire because of the disproportionate demographics of it's employees, reporting 83% male and 17% female. The article explains how women and minorities are at a constant disadvantage due to the lack of computer science access and education. Because of this unsettling reality, one has to ask, " should Google (or any other company) hire employees based on their sex and not entirely their skills?"

Honestly, I feel this an unfair headline. We know that scandal sells, so I see why it was front page news. For the record, Google is one of the first tech companies to even report these numbers, so it's apparent that they want to take measures to make some adjustments. But, all in all, this is old news, women have been behind the game when it comes to careers in technology for some time.  While I believe keeping the awareness alive is important, it's more effective to take positive action and promote change.

Here is what I have experienced in my male dominated career and my commitment to STEM/STEAM programs.

• Interest gap: I'm starting with this issue, because the math speaks volumes.  Many girls are not interested in technology. There are reasons for this. I keep reading all these articles which share data about females who view STEM careers as far too masculine and social pressures deter them into other career avenues. Women represent about 24% of the STEM (science, technology engineering and mathematics) workforce (according to the Department of Commerce's Women in STEM.) As far as computer science jobs, women only hold about 27% of the jobs out there, and the number doesn't appear to be growing.  Maybe this is why, male students are 3 times more likely to be interested in STEM majors and careers compared to female students.

• Skills gap:  Despite the fact that girls have been outperforming boys in math and science for some time, there is a discrepancy with girls and their performance in computer science. Even if they take the computer science class in HS, many are still not taking the AP exam. In a recent study, only 20% of females took the computer science AP exam out of 30,000 students.  How can they improve their skills if they do not continue to learn the ever-changing technology curriculum?  Companies cannot hire employees who do not fit the skill qualifications for the job, plain and simple.

• Blame game: Bring about change, not blame. No need to blame Google or the whole male population. Blaming schools doesn't necessarily solve the problem, either.  I hear parents say, "I am so disappointed my school doesn't offer (insert whatever program they want)." Well, then take action! It's the 21st century, folks, there are thousands of resources at our fingertips. Find someone who can start an after school club, seek out funding, create a think tank of people who are interested in developing programs for girls to raise awareness and interest in the areas of technology. Start small and grow big.

• Change is coming: Good news: there are girls out there excited about technology. I think what needs to continually change is offering a wide variety of technology programs for girls. Many schools start with robotics and coding, but for girls who are really 'girly', sometimes that is just not appealing. Having a balance and breaking down stereotypes is key. Making technology programs and clubs diverse enough to the diverse girl population is where it's at! Also having female technology teachers and role models who exert the passion and excitement the digital world can bring, is beyond important. No one wants to listen to a "Charlie Brown" teacher stand up and cover Technology 101, especially not girls.

The technology jobs are there for all. We need to continue moving in the direction of providing opportunities for  girls to see how incredibly interesting our world is through the digital lens.

But, I still don't want you to hire me because I am a female.

I want you to hire me because I am the best person for the job.

If you are a company who really cares about having a gender diverse employee population then back those who are starting and developing programs to encourage our female youth. Open their eyes to see how amazing technology can be now and in their future.

Learning technology should never be this boring!