Community College

I had a very interesting visit at Community College. This college is different from other colleges, because they are entrepreneurs; they have their own publishing company within their college. It’s a nonprofit organization, but they produce the most wonderful books and films. They showed me their ‘Instructional center for development’ where they develop all the productions. I was impressed by the fact that they’ve created such a wonderful and professional center without being a profit organization.

Community college also provides distance learning, for example: they have 8000 military among their students. They follow class in Iraq thru the Internet. They can view instructional videos, have telephone or chat sessions with their distance teacher, read their books online, make their tests online.

I asked about the difference in results between ‘normal’ education and distance education. They told me about several PHD researches which show that long distance learning have better results. One of the reasons is that there is more attention for each student and student and for some students it’s more easy to ask for help of ask questions thru the Internet instead of doing that in a full classroom or auditorium.

The center for instructional development uses ‘ Second life’ as one of the instructional methods. A former employee of Disney is now working for Community College and has build really impressive programs.

When I’m back in the Netherlands I’ll show my company these impressive projects they’ve developed, because I think they will be inspired by it.

Educational TV program, produced by
Community College Center of instructional development

Where teachers coach the long distance students 

There are 8000 military long distance students in Community College

Community College have won all the awards for
educational productions and tv

Wall of fame: some productions they did

One of their productions for China

They have their own editing room for films
which looks a lot like the one we have in
our company

Demonstration of their second life account, which they use
for instructions, buit also for other
purposes of learning

Duffy!

Do you wonder what a Duffy is? It's a little electric boat, that's been often used in California. The manufacturer that produces these boats is located in California. Bill and Shelly took me out on a Duffy, which was really fun. They showed me Balboa Island and Lido Island, places where the rich and famous used to have their homes.

We came along the beautiful house where Linda, one of the groupmembers, is staying.
Can you see her standing there like a diva? :-)

Hi Richard Branson!

Sealions taking a rest

My hosts in Newport Beach

My wonderful hosts in Newport Beach: Bill and Shelly. The've been nothing but great and they are such a lovely couple!

Anti bullying

We went to UCI University to attent a class about anti bullying. I was looking forward to this class, since we have a anti bullying project at my company too. I found out very soon, that the program it's approach is so different from our approach. The focus is more on the bully and his punishment and the one that is being bullied is seen as the only victim. Unlike our approach, where we see the bully also as a victim, we try to have a dialoque between the bully, the bullied one and the bully supporters, without pointing fingers and without punishment. I guess a different society requires a different approach...

Having fun @ the campus

Following a class about anti bullying

We still fit in perfectly

Orange Police Department

Sergeant Mike gave us a great tour and showed us the Oranged police dept. Since he is also a SWAT teammember, he showed us some impressive weapons...
We also got to see the 911 room, several detectives and the chief. It was just like on telivision. I asked sergeant Mike why there is always a revel between the FBI and the police. He told me they started a special unit with Police officers, sergeants, luitenants and FBI members, to make the relationship and cooperation better..
We also talked about the murder of a policeman in the Netherlands. Fortunately that doesn't happen a lot in the Netherlands. Mike told me they had ;lost 16 policeman nationwide in the past six weeks. That is sad.

911 room

SWAT van

SWAT van weaponry

Bombs in the SWAT van

Special policecar for the gang department

Do not mess with me, I'm telling you

Christal Cathedral

I'm so proud of this picture, isn't this a nice one?

Serious business :-)

Easter

We had a nice Easter today with Diane's family. The grandkids went out to find eggs filled with surprises like candy, coins and other stuff.
Most people here start their Easter with a church visit, which we already did on fridaynight.

Disneyland

When you study Peace and conflict resolution, you gotta go to Disneyland! There is a place called ' It's a small world after all' which is really peacefull! I had to swear to Thom I wouldn't tell anyone he got in there, but the photos will show anyway.
We had a lot of fun in Disneyland! We had some fantastic rides and we saw an amazing show 'Fantasmic', which was really impressive!

Saddleback church

Diane, Michel and I went to the Saddleback church. What can I say...it was quitte different. One of the mineworkers from Chile spoke about how his believe saved him.

Oh my...I'm gaining weight!

From tuesday on I've been spoiled with food...looooots of food. I'm eating twice as much, and the only work out I have is sitting in the back of the car. I bet you know what I will look like when I get back. Prepare for a trippled Laura.
Eating here means eating out of the house a lot. Hamburgers, pizza, mexican food, icecream...we've been eating it all.

Same sex marriage of Linda and Ellen

Unfortunately this is not reality in California yet...but Spud, our Rotarian friend didn't mind and helped Linda and Ellen get married.