Laura+F.

Phase I: Who Am I? What's My Place?

Growing up my family and later my friends, helped me establish my core beliefs. These beliefs are now reinforced by my faith community which shares similar beliefs. My innate abilities and those I have chosen to develop shape the way I am perceived by the world and how I interact with others. My values drive how I choose to channel my talents. Together my beliefs and special talents define me.
 * What __really__ makes up your identity?

My sense of place is created by the experiences I have in a physical location and the people I interact with there. I feel most at home when my relationships overlap. When I am watching my daughter participate in a sporting event and I notice she is competing with a student that I teach, I feel how different aspects of my life are knit together. These places where interconnections happen feel like they belong to me more than places where I only see people I work with or people I socialize with. I often gain unique insights when I take time to connect with people that I meet in these interconnected places. For example when I talk to my students outside the classroom I learn how my teaching affects them. I know what type of tasks I am well suited for based on my identity. I can also appreciate the skills that others bring to the group. I am grateful for people who handle conflict and interpersonal relations because I know they are not my strengths. My “sense of place” comes with me to a group project. My previous connections influence the new connections I am making. I anticipate how the project will integrate with my previous experiences.
 * What __really__ makes up your sense of place?
 * What roles do your identity and sense of place play when you work with others in a group project?

I am optimistic and hard working. I believe the world can be a better place and I enjoy putting forth effort to improve it. I am a natural organizer and strive to understand complicated problems through methodical analysis. I like helping people solve problems especially when technology tools can be used effectively in the solution.
 * What are the qualities that you bring to the GLIP conversation that will help you make a contribution to your global group?

Children are spending less and less time reading. My students spend more time watching TV and playing video games. Very few of them read on a regular basis. I would like to start an e-reader program at my school where some students get an e-reader from the school so they would spend more time reading.
 * What is one local problem (where you live) that you believe needs to be addressed? Suggest some steps could you take to try to solve it?


 * Finally, some problems have been around for a long time. What qualities do you think a person must have to step up and try to solve them?

Change is always difficult and initiating change can seem dangerous. Moral conviction about the need for change gives an individual courage to speak out and risk ridicule. Successful change agents know how to rally supporters to their cause and explain their goals in terms others can understand.

Phase II: Sense of Place

1. I have three different pictures. This is the West Point at the Eno Park. The Eno River is a beautiful natural resource in our community. People enjoy fishing, canoeing, swimming and wading in the river. Our city's most famous festival, the Eno River Festival is also held here. (photo from Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau) This is the Duke Chapel on the campus of Duke University, which is in Durham. The chapel is a recognizable landmark that you can see on the horizon from many points around Durham.

2. Three facts The last surrender of the Civil War was negotiated in Durham. Durham grew quickly after the Civil War due to its production of tobacco. The Research Triangle Park is located in Durham County and is supported by universities and businesses. 3. Charitable work Duke Children's Hospital (from Duke Children's Web site) Durham is home to the Duke Children's Hospital. The hospital has its own charity organization which provides care to children and families who can't afford it otherwise. Children come from all over the world to be treated by the medical teams at Duke. I have known several families that have come to live temporarily in Durham so their child could receive medical care for a life threatening condition. Each year a local radio station hosts a telethon where people call in to donate money. They raise millions of dollars for Duke Children's Hospital in a few days. 4. Cultural aspect (photo from Durham Bulls Web site) Wool E. Bull (seen in the foreground) is the mascot for our baseball team, the Durham Bulls. In the spring and summer people from all over the area come to see our team play. A movie was even made about our team, Bull Durham. I especially like this picture because it shows the diversity of our population and how much fun we have!

Phase III: Identify Local Issue:

What is your local issue?

Declining reading rates - Children are spending less and less time reading books magazines. My students spend a lot of time outside school watching TV and playing video games. Reading is not perceived by many as an attractive activity. Very few of them read for pleasure. Statistics show that time spent reading dramatically increases a student's performance in school.

What can you do to address the issue?

I want to encourage students to balance the use of their free time. When I talk to students about healthy online habits in my class I can mention limiting "screen time".

In conversation I ask students about what they like to read. I share names of books that I am reading and model reading for pleasure in front of my familly and friends.

I would like to start an e-reader program at my school. I have talked to one of our reading specialists about the potential for this program. We would identify students who need to improve their reading skills. These students would get an e-reader from the school and be able to download books onto it for pleasure reading. The e-readers are popular technology tools so would be more willing to spend time reading if they had one. They could make reading "cool" again.

What is the global impact of your local issue?

Reading rates among people under 25 are declining across the United States. Technology usage rates are climbing this project could be a model for using technology interest to drive up reading rates among young people worldwide.

Add these thoughts to your Group's Discussion Forum on Local Issues