Tag Archive for: Featured

Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

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These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.

In a recent forum presentation, the Living Education-Charlotte students had the opportunity to listen to a video by the New York Times discussing the state of education today. The principles discussed provided an interesting perspective on educators’ challenges in the modern learning environment.

One idea discussed in the video was the fact that in a changing world, there is increasing uncertainty about what the world will expect from the next generation. This is a difficult thing to gauge on the part of the youth, but it is also difficult for parents and educators who have the responsibility for preparing those youth. In light of a changing world, how should children be educated and what should they be educated toward?

The discussion turned to activities that engage youth and create a dynamic atmosphere that encourages them to learn. It is important to find good metrics by which to measure how motivated and engaged kids are, and try to bring out their best. Part of the discussion also addressed the idea of education as a virtue rather than an instrument. While many people today treat education as a tool that you either have or don’t, having the mindset of an educated person who is intent on learning requires restructuring of your approach to what education really means. Treating the state of being educated as a virtue rather than an instrument by which means are achieved changes the way you approach life.

The video discussed different types of learners and their benefits and challenges. One important recurring theme was that if we don’t know what the future will ask of us, it is difficult to be personally instrumental in preparing for it. This can require a change in our approach, not only personally but societally. The tools we have available such as AI can assist educators, but can also impede learning—as our society has to carefully detangle the complex education scene, our efforts are being compounded by the rapid onset of this new technology. Allowing youth to have rampant overaccess to AI is not only unproductive, it is dangerous. Understanding the challenges that affect the learning environment for our youth is paramount as we strive to help prepare them for what an ever-changing world expects of them.

David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.

Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

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These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.

Mr. Michael Keesee is a Project Manager serving in the IT department at the Charlotte headquarters office. In a recent forum to the Living Education-Charlotte students, Mr. Keesee shared some of his background in the project management field, as well as important principles that you can use in your own life.

The Profession of Making Things Happen

Put simply, project management is the process of overseeing and managing projects. Mr. Keesee described project management as the profession of making things happen. This is a basic principle that can reorient a professional tool into a method for approaching things in our own lives.

We use project management on some level every day. Whenever you make a to-do list, create a system for yourself, or take on a task, you’re managing a project. Sometimes the ideas you or I have can be broad, nebulous, and hard to apply to reality – the skills project managers bring to the table helps turn visions into fruition.

Why Make a Project?

There are plenty of instances where you might undertake a project. Whether you’re in school, a career, or being given a particular responsibility in some other area, at some point you’ll likely find yourself being given a major project to accomplish.

Some important first steps would be:

1. Find out who the experts are in what you’re trying to do and get their input.
2. Meet together.
3. Determine constraints such as time, money, and manpower.
4. Narrow the scope of the project as needed. What might contribute to or hinder your success?
5. Anticipate potential roadblocks.
6. Create a timeline for the completion of the project.
7. Build your team.

It’s important to build strong bonds of cohesiveness within your team, and to delegate when possible. Being able to share ideas and work well with people is an important trait of an effective project manager.

Family Weekend Games

Mr. Keesee shared anecdotes from many years of helping to organize winter Family Weekend games. When organizing a Church activity, it’s important to ask:

1. How can we facilitate building bonds of brotherhood in the Church?
2. How can we include everybody?

By applying the steps from the previous point and applying them to these specific questions, it’s easier to keep the big picture in mind, especially with Church activities. An effective Church activity should foster bonds of brotherhood and honor God. Mr. Keesee stated that although he hadn’t expected to help out in this capacity, he has grown to enjoy coming up with ideas for these games, and his experience in project management has helped simplify the process of organizing them.

Lessons From Project Management

Mr. Keesee’s past experience in software development has helped him adapt to his role in IT at headquarters, and like him, we all have opportunities in life to take responsibility for different projects. A project manager is someone who takes a vision and is able to make it happen by using the tools at their disposal, and especially by working well with people. The application of these principles is not merely for working professionals, but can be applied to all areas of life.

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David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.

Author: David Markopoulos | Living Education

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These posts summarize the forums that our Living Education-Charlotte students attend each week.

In a recent forum to the Living Education-Charlotte students, Mr. Jonathan McNair shared key principles of using Powerpoint for effective presentations. These steps can lead to an elevated, more professional presentation that reflects a higher quality of design.

Death by Powerpoint

It’s easy for a good presentation to be sidetracked by too many details. The colors, graphics, images, and transitions you apply to your presentation can either add to or detract from your presentation. It’s important to keep basic design principles in mind, avoiding overly complex or visually overstimulating elements that distract the audience.

The Basics

Mr. McNair offered a few basic points for the students in their presentations:

1. Create your content first and think about your slides last.

2. Create a consistent look and feel

3. With text, less is more

4. Use photos that enhance meaning

When it comes to the more technical elements of Powerpoint, Mr. McNair reminded the students that it’s important to:

1. Use effects and transitions sparingly
2. Direct the audience’s attention in images
3. Don’t use autoplay when embedding videos
4. Use handy QR codes to share your slides for the audience to follow along as you go
5. Reproduce simple charts and graphs

Powerpoint presentations can be powerful tools that can aid in your presentation, and chances are that we all will need to use it at some point in school, our careers, or other areas. Having a firm grasp of basic design principles and knowing how to create smooth, professional presentations is a step to being a more skilled communicator.

David Markopoulos is a Living Education alumnus from the 2023-2025 school years. Originally hailing from Chicago, he currently works for the Living Education program.