To be inspired

... my work, my inspiration, my scholars!




www.possefoundation.org

Home Stretch

Penn Pals: Pt. I

Penn Pals: Pt. II

A weekly rendezvous with the Cavanaugh Crew

First, let me start by saying that graduate school is not a game. There are no refs to call a timeout when you need one. Taking matters into my own hands,I set out on a quest to find a place that would serve as a break in my routine of reading, writing, researching PhD programs. My fellow cohorters Morgan and Pat introduced me to Cavanaugh's Restaruant & Sports Bar (its more of a Sports Bar than anything else). Although I find my classes interesting and thought provoking, I thoroughly enjoy the learning moments that take place outside of the classroom. In between the pints of beer and 40 cent wings, we discuss everything under the sun from sports to the inequities that exist within higher education. Needless to say, I found my way to get over hump day...a weekly rendezvous with the Cavanaughs Crew.

http://www.cavanaughsrestaurant.com/

Jam'n On Tha' 1 with Penn GSE Podcasts

Like most college students, undergrad and grad alike, I can't live without my iPod. Some people name their cars or their pets; I named my iPod - Jam'n On Tha 1. The start of my day goes something like this. I wake up, get dressed, grab my book bag, Blackberry, iPod and head to campus. I'm sure those of you a part of the iPod generation will agree with me when I say that depending on the day or how I'm feeling, my iPod is the producer/DJ to the soundtrack to my life. Some days I'll get adventurous and hit shuffle and let Jam'n take me on a journey through her digital universe of hitz. But today was different. Jam'n took me on a journey through the research interest of Penn GSE professors and graduate students. How you ask? Penn GSE Podcasts. I came across the GSE Podcast last year during my application process when I was consumed with everything Penn. The first (and at the time the only) podcast focused on the research interests of Dr. Howard Stevenson, GSE Professor in the Applied Psychology/Human Development department. The narrator, Tom Kecskemethy (GSE Assistant Dean and Director of Communications) guided me through Dr. Stevenson's analysis on the psychological adjustment of children and adolescents. His research has focused on helping young Black males with a history of violence manage their anger and eventually change how they are perceived in society. Dr. Stevenson created a program to effectively address this issue. PLAAY (Preventing Long term Anger and Aggression in Youth) works with high school students who had been removed from school because of acts of aggression.


In addition to Dr. Stevenson's podcast, Penn GSE podcasts offers an introspective glimpse on education and the research of Penn GSE professors and graduate students. It gives the listener an opportunity to gain great insight on some of the innovative research they're conducting within the field of education. Here's a brief overview of what to expect on the podcasts...


Virtual Learning: Dr. Yasmin Kafai
Penn GSE Professor Dr. Yasmin Kafai examines the learning that takes place with video games or what she deems “a virtual environment that can be seen as a viable medium for learning.”

"The Choice" — Transitions to High School in Philadelphia: Ph.D. candidate Clarisse Haxton
As a former teacher in Philadelphia, Clarisse Haxton, a Penn GSE Ph.D. candidate in the IES (Institute of Education Sciences) “knows eighth graders.” Her research explores the Philadelphia public high school application process for junior high students and how they decide which school to attend; a decision that could ultimately have lifelong ramifications, from what college they will get into or what career path they will follow.


The Teachers that City Schools Need: Dr. Kathy Schultz
Dr. Kathy Schultz speaks on the experience and challenges graduate students in the Penn GSE Teacher Education Program (TEP) face as newcomers to urban education. As educators familiar with the Philadelphia public school system, the TEP faculty is committed to developing their graduate students so that they may actively engage in the transformation of urban education by crafting a specialized approach that will consider how and when learning occurs for students in urban schools.

I encourage everyone to subscribe to the podcast, ESPECIALLY if you have an iPod. Whether you're future educators and/or Penn graduate students, it's a great way to keep your finger on the pulse of what is happening in the world around you.

www.gse.upenn.edu/podcast

So far, so good

Hello all,

First and foremost, I want to thank you for taking the time to read my blog. This is the first of many entries that will chronicle my journey as a graduate student at the University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education. Intellectually curious and eager to learn, I anticipate this program will facilitate my growth as a scholar, educator and humanitarian. I hope my experiences will lend itself helpful as you prepare to embark on academic endeavors of your own.

Journal Entry #1: So far, so good!

After a rigorous and at times overwhelming four weeks, I am finally getting a handle on my new life as a Penn student and a Philly resident. I moved to West Philly from Brooklyn, NY and for the most part the transition has been somewhat seamless. Aside from the challenge of adapting to a new environment and the work load, my experience has been a memorable one thus far. The GSE Professors are some of the most sincere, down to earth, compassion individuals I have ever met. They have a vested interest in seeing each student in the program succeed. Aside from the professors, I am connecting with some of the most dynamic, intelligent, committed individuals in my cohort, which is what I was looking for in a masters program. Some of the most enlightening and insightful conversations I have had have been outside of the classroom. Although the last four weeks have been somewhat of a challenge, my experience at Penn is exactly what I was looking for in a masters program. So far, so good!