Example speaks louder than words

Thursday, July 1st, 2010 | e-Learning pioneers | 3 Comments

The e-pioneer leads by example.

When e-pioneers feel they are not reaching the hearts and minds of teachers, they should first examine whether they themselves are practising what they are preaching.  Aesop’s fable of the crab and her son drives the point home:

A Crab said to her son: “Why do you walk so one-sided, my child? It is far more becoming to go straight forward.”

The young Crab replied: “Quite true, dear Mother; and if you will show me the straight way, I will promise to walk in it.”

The Mother tried in vain, and submitted without remonstrance to the reproof of her child.

The moral of the story is that example is more powerful than instruction.

One way in which an e-pioneer can set a good example is in the manner of communication.  Perhaps teachers are reluctant to use e-mail.  There is no better way to encourage them to use this form of communication than using it yourself!  Principals who stopped sending out notices and instructions on paper and used e-mail instead have found this an excellent way of motivating teachers to adopt this mode of communication.

The e-pioneer never has the attitude of “do what I say; not what I do”.  Leading by example is the best way to make sure others are following.

Click here for more food for thought for e-pioneers.

Tags: e-mail, e-pioneer, teachers

My e-mail in-box – a Pandora’s box?

Saturday, May 15th, 2010 | communication | 3 Comments

In Greek mythology, Pandora was the first woman on earth. The gods endowed her with many talents, amongst others beauty, musical skills and the art of persuasion.

One of her gifts was a box, which she was not allowed to open under any circumstances but curiosity got the better of her and she opened it. The result? All imaginable evils escaped and spread over the earth. She tried to close the box, but everything escaped, except one thing which was left at the bottom of the box …

I have a box which I simply have to open each day – curiosity impels me to open my e-mail in-box the moment the computer is switched on. And then out flies everything that has been boxed in overnight – all 187 of them. Circulars; newsletters; invitations to get rich very quickly (I have been specially selected to help a poor widow from Gabon to bring her millions out of her country and into my bank account); remedies to beautify and enlarge all aspects of my physique and improve my psyche; jokes – most of these have been circling the globe a couple of times over the past day. My colleagues insist on copying me in on all their correspondence – perhaps they feel I will be offended if they leave me in the dark, or otherwise they try to impress me with their diligence.

I am overwhelmed by emails; it takes an awful lot of time just to sift through them to find the ones that are of real importance.

At the bottom of the box there remains the one thing that did not fly out of Pandora’s box: hope.

I hope that we will eventually find a way to use this tool as a time-saver rather than a time-waster.

Tags: communication, e-mail

e-mail, e-book, e-learning …. e- pioneer

Wednesday, February 24th, 2010 | e-Learning pioneers | 4 Comments

What is the correct way to refer to electronic mail in writing?  Is it eMail, email, e-mail or electronic mail?

It seems as if most dictionaries, publishers and writers have standardized on e-mail.  The same is true of e-book, e-learning, e-literate, e-commerce and any other e-thingy.

Don’t forget the hyphen (-). Get into the habit of using it when you write reports or e-mails.

Dear John,

Thank you for your prompt response to my e-mail …

In view of this convention in writing, I believe it will be in order to talk about an e-pioneer – using the term e-learning pioneer seems so long-winded.  And perhaps e-pioneer is a more apt term to describe those people who go into schools to encourage the use of digital resources, including e-books and e-mail – their work is not only about e-learning.

Viva, all e-pioneers.

Tags: e-book, e-learning, e-literate, e-mail, e-pioneer