Saturday, October 25, 2008
Learning Journal - Oct 28
Learning Journal: What does it mean to be a professional? Are students in training to be professionals?
Defination according to Wikipedia: A professional is a person in a profession that requires certain types of skilled work requiring formal training or education.
I believe the biggest aspect about a person level of professionalism is about attitude. A person can have all the training and education, but with the proper attitude - they are not professionals. I think that this lacks highly in my community, where the code of conduct is over looked. There seems to be too much water cooler talk happening in our work areas, and this degrades our level of professionalism that we should have towards work and towards our clients (the community members).
I think most of the business courses, whether its at the College level or at the University level are preparing students to play up to the professional level. I am very impressed, especially at the NBCC Business Degree Program. My daughter is currently enrolled at NBCC, and the level of expectancy is high, her appearance is expected to bring a level of business professional with her to all the classes. Not all education programs impress upon the students the same level of business/professional expectancies.
Learning Journal - Oct 21
Read the article titled "Taboo". What are your reactions to it?
First of all I looked at this personally (because I am native, but then I was able to step away and look at this from a business point of view) then as a International point of view.
Personally I was offended with the frankness of this man from Harvard University. I felt his cultural and historical understanding of First Nation people, historically was very ignorant. Internationally, if you try to do business with other cultures in other countries, you need to understand where the people come historically, their struggles and their values. These values are the bases of how these cultures / countries make business decisions; (Their individual business decisions models). Take for instance the German culture. You must understand their history in order to understand how to deal and make business transactions with them. Without understanding any of their history and their struggles, I would clearly insult them if I choose to do a formal business transaction, wearing flimsy, cheap shoes (or is my shoes are too casual, this would insult them) Because shoes historically in their culture has a deep meaning and the struggles they had to endure. Historically people in general could not afford shoes in Germany, if you had shoes made of leather you were considered well off, or a person of importance. As time has gone on, this value of importance and respect to the type of shoe you wear in business transactions weighs heavy on international business deals.
With this in mind, I feel this man, has not begun to understand our struggles or our values making the statements he did on this article. I feel he was unable to see our people and our country with the proper vision from an International business point of view. I was truly dissapointed in this mans narrow vision, and ignorance of cultures in his own country.
First of all I looked at this personally (because I am native, but then I was able to step away and look at this from a business point of view) then as a International point of view.
Personally I was offended with the frankness of this man from Harvard University. I felt his cultural and historical understanding of First Nation people, historically was very ignorant. Internationally, if you try to do business with other cultures in other countries, you need to understand where the people come historically, their struggles and their values. These values are the bases of how these cultures / countries make business decisions; (Their individual business decisions models). Take for instance the German culture. You must understand their history in order to understand how to deal and make business transactions with them. Without understanding any of their history and their struggles, I would clearly insult them if I choose to do a formal business transaction, wearing flimsy, cheap shoes (or is my shoes are too casual, this would insult them) Because shoes historically in their culture has a deep meaning and the struggles they had to endure. Historically people in general could not afford shoes in Germany, if you had shoes made of leather you were considered well off, or a person of importance. As time has gone on, this value of importance and respect to the type of shoe you wear in business transactions weighs heavy on international business deals.
With this in mind, I feel this man, has not begun to understand our struggles or our values making the statements he did on this article. I feel he was unable to see our people and our country with the proper vision from an International business point of view. I was truly dissapointed in this mans narrow vision, and ignorance of cultures in his own country.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Learning Journal
For my business web site I did a few changes. First I added my sort of cover letter on my website, see blog title..Heidi Simon ~ Technical Consultant (Oct 7th). I added this information to my blog so people viewing my site can have an idea of my background in education and the experience in technology, as well as all the First Nation communities I have had the privilege to work with. Then I changed the title of my main page "Aboriginal Technology Consultant". I also changed the theme color, to a more polished professional, yet simple theme color and design. I added a picture on my Title (Under the banner) I was trying to be creative, if this was truly my business website - I would have put my company logo and mission on this spot. (I googled this picture and placed it there). I decided to keep my profile picture - which is one of my profile pictures , where I am attending a conference. I did not include other pictures - in fact I removed my personal pictures and some pictures of sunsets that I had. I just did not think they represented the professional image I was trying to portray. I am trying to keep a simple technical language in my site. I also decided not to remove any of my past blogs as they were geared to technology in the aboriginal communities, which fits my business image. Most of my previous blog discussed Health Information Technology and Technology in the First Nation Community. I also decided to include links to some of my favorite technology links in terms of resources. But I also decided to leave my personal links as well. I am a practicing catholic and my site reflects this with my links as well hopefully with my values.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Heidi Simon ~ Technical Consultant (Oct 7th)
Heather Simon (Technical Consulting)
27 Hill St
Elsipogtog NB E4W-2V4
Email: heatherheidisimon@hotmail.com
To: Whom it may concern
I am very skilled in the areas of Training and Technology, this is something I have done for the last 10 years and believe that my current education and my strong interpersonal and technical skills are appropriate for any Technical Business endeavour your company may require.
I currently have a Bachelor of Education Degree with University of New Brunswick. I majored in Native Studies and minored in technology. I truly enjoy interacting with people and have a great knack for technology and training. (I love to see the light bulb effect when they get it!) I went to further my technology skills as I was the Training Coordinator, when I worked at the First Nations Help Desk. I also upgraded my technology and have gained CISCO certification, and most recently a Cisco award, please see the link for the CISCO article: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/global/canada/news/2008/pr_07-31.html .
I have worked in all 35 First Nations School in Atlantic Region as the Training Coordinator, under the First Nation Help Desk. We supported 35 First Nation Schools in the Atlantic Region. I am able to provide training in my native language Mi’kmaq. (Either in person or via Video Conferencing.) Prior to this position I worked under Health Canada as a contract and I was the FNIHIS First Nation Coordinator, and was able to travel to all the First Nation Communities and Health Centres in Atlantic region offering them technical support and training in the Health Information system.
I know I would enjoy an opportunity to continue to work in the Atlantic First Nation Communities, attached is a copy of my resume, which more fully details my qualifications for the position.
Please feel free to contact me at (506) 555-1212 or by email at heatherheidisimon@hotmail.com, to answer any questions you may have.
I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.
_______________________
Heidi Simon
First Nation Technical Consultant
27 Hill St
Elsipogtog NB E4W-2V4
Email: heatherheidisimon@hotmail.com
To: Whom it may concern
I am very skilled in the areas of Training and Technology, this is something I have done for the last 10 years and believe that my current education and my strong interpersonal and technical skills are appropriate for any Technical Business endeavour your company may require.
I currently have a Bachelor of Education Degree with University of New Brunswick. I majored in Native Studies and minored in technology. I truly enjoy interacting with people and have a great knack for technology and training. (I love to see the light bulb effect when they get it!) I went to further my technology skills as I was the Training Coordinator, when I worked at the First Nations Help Desk. I also upgraded my technology and have gained CISCO certification, and most recently a Cisco award, please see the link for the CISCO article: http://newsroom.cisco.com/dlls/global/canada/news/2008/pr_07-31.html .
I have worked in all 35 First Nations School in Atlantic Region as the Training Coordinator, under the First Nation Help Desk. We supported 35 First Nation Schools in the Atlantic Region. I am able to provide training in my native language Mi’kmaq. (Either in person or via Video Conferencing.) Prior to this position I worked under Health Canada as a contract and I was the FNIHIS First Nation Coordinator, and was able to travel to all the First Nation Communities and Health Centres in Atlantic region offering them technical support and training in the Health Information system.
I know I would enjoy an opportunity to continue to work in the Atlantic First Nation Communities, attached is a copy of my resume, which more fully details my qualifications for the position.
Please feel free to contact me at (506) 555-1212 or by email at heatherheidisimon@hotmail.com, to answer any questions you may have.
I am looking forward to hearing from you. Thank you for your consideration.
_______________________
Heidi Simon
First Nation Technical Consultant
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