Returning to my blog after a long break.

I am returning to my blog after a very long absence.

I went away so to speak. Buried my self by working full time as a CPA, finishing up a Master of Art in Educating Adults on the weekend and then topping that off with a MBA with some additional Master work in Accounting. I was overbooked and overworked. I managed to finish the program to change from a career in accounting to teaching accounting. I managed to see, nearly blind, my way through one of the most difficult relapses of my mild MS situation. Recovered and thanks be to God, I am back to full steam ahead. Well at least for another 7 to 8 years.

Looking back on the blogs from 2010, there are still postings that are very true and relevant still in 2015, 5 years later. Mom is now 85 and still the most devoted  lifelong learner I know. My electronic subscription to the New York Times came with a free Sunday delivery. You know that print version. I took NYT up on the deal and had the newspaper delivered to mom in Florida. She is a long  lost New Yorker and so far loves the Sunday edition. Mom considers the fashion section to be her "comic section."

Five years ago I entered the world of online learning with enthusiasm. Over the past 5 years, I have taught online and in person. Both are worthy of being legitimate learning  platforms. I took a MOOC from a Harvard Professor and had fellow students from all over the  world. Online learning is great for credentialing learning  from the informal world to the  formal world.

My research eventually supported the 80/20 rule relative to informal and formal learning. We actually do learn 80% of what we know from informal resources. Freebies if you like. We learn 20% of what we know from formal credentialed learning. Mostly paid for and sometimes overpaid for education.

It struck me that five years ago I said" If I were to really make an honest assessment I would say that character was a winner this year.  In the end, people can lose their business, lose property, lose wealth in a time like now.  But one thing is certain, the character, will and the intelligence that is the backbone of so many entrepreneurs in America is never lost.  Small business owners were smart people when they built their successful businesses and after these "Loss Years" , small business owners will still be smart capable people." This has become so true, so true. Some people might not see it that way and still maintain discriminatory practices against people who have experienced failure. But they will learn, hopefully, that what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Till then, you have a  stronger case than those that discriminate.

Reflecting on the past year and the past five years, so much growth, so much learning, so much yet to do! I became the educated teacher of accounting and began to practice as a teacher. Funny how we say we are practicing a profession like Certified Public Accountant. We build a practice when we build our business or book of business. But to say we are practicing as a teacher, well that seems unprofessional. Should we practice on the lives of our college students?  I think that is why we like to call it research. Sounds more academic to research and employ continuous process improvement in the accreditation process.

Well this has just been an update to let you know I am back and do intend to keep posting my reflections on teaching and learning in accounting in this blog space. I will address topics like lifelong learning, problem based learning, competency based models, online learning, CPA Examination programs, and numerous other topics in accounting.