[6899] Onward to Commencement!

Also posted on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/mlpuha

Thesis Update: My thesis received high marks and does not require a rewrite, summarily completing my capstone course and the final requirement for my master's program. Mahalo ke Akua!

Mahalo nui to each and everyone of you that have blessed me with your support, patience, prayers, good thoughts, and aloha these past two and a half years. Of course, I absolutely could not have done it without the love and support of my Sweetie, and the prayers of support from my "very patient and understanding" mother.

Proudly wearing a custom Sig Zane Designs shirt for this occasion, and with regalia expertly altered for me by my hula sister, I will commence at 5 pm on Friday, June 14, 2013 at California State University East Bay in Hayward California as a Master of Science in Education, Option in Online Teaching and Learning.

You will be with me spiritually as I cross the stage to accept my degree. Obligatory celebration(s) will be planned for a later date. ;)
I look forward to meeting those of my classmates and teachers that will be able to attend commencement on Friday, especially at a social get-together sponsored by the MS-OTL program. How wonderful it will be to finally meet face-to-face after all this time being together online.

With love, aloha, and appreciation, --Liko and Toki — feeling Happy, Blessed, and Accomplished.

[6899] Waiting for the Grade and Commencement

Aloha e Nā Hoa,
Greetings Friends,

Been a while since I have posted here. For the past few days I have been anxiously waiting for my instructor of the 6899 capstone course, Nan Chico, to provide me feedback on my thesis paper. Incidentally, Nan is also the director of my master's program.

Reflective thoughts have been leading from one to another and suddenly my neglected blog came to mind. I started the blog two and a half years ago to document this journey (January 2011). During the journey however, blogging frequency has been inconsistent. Reasons vary, but at times it was a choice of energy conservation, and others, experiences that just needed sharing.

This is not a full reflection of the journey--not just yet. I turned the paper in on Sunday. Grades are due on Wednesday the 12th. I continue to work on the paper, finding opportunities for improving grammar and conciseness as I wait. The optimal feedback from Nan would be no rewriting required--good to go. The not so optimal feedback would require a major rewrite that could potentially go beyond the 12th, thus requiring another quarter in the program.

Commencement is Friday the 14th at 5pm in Hayward for which I ordered commencement invitations and thank you cards. I have yet to mail any out. (Yes, that would be snail mail.) Since commencement is on a Friday, with friends and family too far to attend, I will take pictures of the big day and send a photo along with the invitation or thank you card. So many people helped me get this far.

But again, I am still waiting.

More later. So until then, live long and prosper by living pono.

--Liko

[6707] Gratitude

The final assignment for this course was to express our gratitude to those that helped with the completion of this course. I decided to do a short presentation video.

Click on the link EDUI 6707 Gratitude to see a larger version.

EDUI 6707 Gratitude from Liko Puha on Vimeo.

Completing this course makes me one course away from completing the program. I will be enrolling in the capstone starting in a couple of weeks. I have also applied for graduation with hopes of walking at the Summer 2013 commencement on Friday, June 15,at 5pm at the Cal State University East Bay campus (Hayward).

Blessed and grateful,
--Liko

EDUI 6707 Icebreaker

The Assignment

Interviewing a Fellow Classmate

Please choose a fellow classmate, email them and request their participation as an interview partner.  You may also use our "Cybercafe" for this effort.

This assignment will act as an 'icebreaker' in our course.  To read more about the rationale, technology and processes for icebreakers, visit here: http://twt.wikispaces.com/Ice-Breaker+Ideas

For this particular icebreaker, please create an audio or video and then share the url or upload the audio/video to our discussion area. Help us get to know you and your interview partner through this effort!

Liko's Introduction by Atina Delfino

http://portal.sliderocket.com:80/app/FullPlayer.aspx?id=7592930B-8417-924D-B15E-37843D0F9D46

Atina's Introduction by Liko Puha

http://prezi.com/roadism4zwah/introducing-atina-delfino/?kw=view-roadism4zwah&rc=ref-19319114

[6707] Making a Connection

It is a scene played out over and over in Hawaiʻi. A natural face-2-face icebreaker. Two strangers meet and inevitably, through fluid and casual inquiries, a connection is made, placing each other carefully into their individual stream of places, family, friends, acquaintances, experiences—all bound by connections. Note: The language used below is Hawaiʻi Creole English (Hawaiian Pidgin). 

• “Where you from?”

• “What high school you grad?”
• 
“You live Hilo? You know da Pereira’s live Keaukaha?”
• 
“You live San Francisco? Ma cousin Keʻala dance hula wid Patrick Makuakāne guys.”

In Hawaiʻi, we are raised with a strong sense of place, an integral part of our identity that comes from the host culture.

For students of my Hawaiian culture and language courses, ice-breaker questions usually include:

• Where were you born?
• Where were you raised? (Where did you grow up?)
• Where have you migrated since?

Students are encouraged to find a connection with each other beginning with the answers to those simple questions.

Additional Resources

What does a "Sense of Place" mean to you?
http://www.moolelo.com/Sense-of-Place.pdf

Welcome to Hawai'i (Official airline greeting for State of Hawai'i)

In-flight programming for airline usage that welcomes visitors and kama'āina to our islands using the Hawaiian language. This program is part of an effort to create a sense of place at our local airports that authentically reflects the host culture of Hawai'i.

http://youtu.be/kAOAnA1ttjc

Pidgenology
A humorous take on pidgin.
https://vimeo.com/32612024

Hawaii Pidgin The Voice of Hawaii
A more academic approach to explaining the roots of pidgin.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7X9AAeDCr4

Developing a Sense of Place and an Environmental Ethic: 
A Transformative Role for Hawaiian/Indigenous Science in Teacher Education? 

Pauline W. U. Chinn 
http://jan.ucc.nau.edu/~jar/HOH/HOH-5.pdf