I just finished practicing spelling Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, this time I typed it without checking to see if I got it right. First, my thanks go out to Dr. Horan for inviting such a renowned world figure to speak to us. Second, I would like to thank Dr. Csikszentmihalyi for taking the time to visit with us. I found Dr. Csikszentmihalyi (note I do not us he/his when referring to Dr. Csikszentmihalyi, more practice and gives the impression that I am writing a lot) presentation to be inspirational. I found Dr. Csikszentmihalyi’s topics to be highly relevant to the PHD students, who are striving to become very successful qualitative researchers. Dr. Csikszentmihalyi delivered complex concepts in an easy manner and a flawless flow, such as the "Circle of Science" for example. His (oops), Dr. Csikszentmihalyi’s "Circle of Science" showed both aspects of research, the quantitative (scientific) side which employs scientific methods , and the more open and divergent qualitative one.

Although Dr. Csikszentmihalyi's work resides mainly in the more open qualitative side of research, he demonstrated his well rounded knowledge base of the different aspects of research. Although, I used to think of my self as one who belonged to the quantitative camp of research, Drs. Horan and Csikszentmihalyi showed how the camp can in fact be more interesting. They highlighted how qualitative research embodies both qualities of passion and creativity.

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi’s example of his son’s (Chris) study, to try to prove that "grown ups don’t pay attention to kids when the kids are talking," was very interesting to me. Chris at the age of seven was conducting the "shine the mirror" experiment aimed at kids, teens, and grown ups. Chris used the three categories covering all ages in an exhaustive manner. What a smart kid Chris was!

Dr. Csikszentmihalyi went on to discuss the system model of creativity. In this system, there was a distinction between Creativity (capital C) and creativity (small c), and where each applied. The interactions among 1) PERSON, 2) SOCIETY: Field, 3) and CULTURE: Domain, were very informative and relevant. I also found interesting that Creativity is only 1% inspiration, but 99% perspiration.

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My choice of the two research traditions from Creswell's book would be biographies and phenomenological studies. I expect the final project to benefit greatly from these two interrelated traditions. By all means these two are not the only traditions that would be applicable. Any of the research traditions would be applicable and will address the aspect it characterizes. However, these two traditions were chosen as a matter of choice.

First, I find biographies for each of the CGU faculty to be highly relevant to the educational environment at CGU. Each member of the faculty has unique contributions to his/her discipline. The individual faculty members are what makes a university stand out. They are the ones who do the work. Their contributions whether publishing articles, writing books, or teaching and by virtue of their association to CGU, get the name of CGU out and hence build its reputation.

Biographies will tell us each faculty's story. These stories will garner a tremendous amount of interest from us. They will be read with great interest. We will see in one way or another, how we as a students, share their experiences. These faculty members had to go through similar life struggles of making it. We will observe how they were able to juggle what life through at them and how they stayed focus. I am certain that many had to balance their work, family, and studies.

Each biography will present special events and epiphanies in an exciting manner. I can see that how those moments can be both reflective and motivational. The meaning of these stories will be of great interest and inspiration to us.

The second choice will be phenomenological studies. The study of superb education and effective teaching at CGU will be analyzed. The essential structure of achieving such high quality education can be discussed and investigated. This investigation will be conducted by the students, which will give it more value. It will probe a number of students, their faculty, teachers and mentors, and their interactions. The phenomenon of effective teaching at CGU can be studied in great detail.

Both of these two research traditions will be of great value to the research project. Their contribution will be evident to the teaching and research communities, and to academia at large.

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Professor Mihaly Csikszensktmihalyi covered a wide and somewhat exhaustive set of elements in the “flow” concepts.  I thought each of the elements brings a reasonable association that can be clearly and easily envisioned.  I enjoyed the reading and at times there was a nice flow to the reading.  A couple of elements I do not recall coming across, first I would be interested as to the average number of hours of sleep time that the interviewees get per day.  Second, did they get much support and encouragement from their spouses, is it true that as the saying goes “behind every successful man (person) a good women (spouse)?” 

I can highly relate to the elements presented.  I also suspect that many of us at one time or another, had experienced them.    I can relate highly to all of the element, but particularly the 4^th one “The Merging of Action and Awareness.”  I usually experience challenges, but somehow there is a point that I would like to refer to as reaching the sweet spot.  At that point, my focus seems to be at its highest, and words and ideas flow out.  On occasions, when I have to write a paper or do homework, I try to induce that sweet spot, because I feel that when I get there, somehow solving a homework problem or putting words on paper encompassing a coherent argument does not seem that hard.  Unfortunately, my techniques of getting to the flow point do not always work.  But when I am there, I do get lost in whatever I am doing.    

The novelist Richard Stern’s on this phase of “how it feels to become lost in the process…and feel the rightness of ones action,” does indeed provide an accurate description.   Barry Commoner described it as an “almost automatic quality.”  I can see how the nine elements highly correlate.  Once getting to the sweet spot, things become almost automatic and flow in an effortless manner.  This also relates to the 7th element of the “Autotelic Experience.”  Neither quality is mutually exclusive. The interrelation among them is highly visible. 

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Daniel, this name might stick, unless if you like being called Firpod, and then it will be ok. My response to “your favorite gadget” is that I agree.  We were on the same study team, and the webcam provided a picture in addition to the voice.  Fish bowl kind of observation, but was really neat to get.  We were virtually present at the same meeting at the same time.  What I really liked about it is that it was free.  Can you imagine what would have the long distance phone bill looked like, had it not been for Skype.  Other than paying for the equipment (the webcam and microphone or chatterbox), which are relatively cheap to purchase.  I find it fascinating that people can communicate with picture and voice (the whole bowl of wax) for free.  I agree with you Daniel that the visual aspect made it the communication experience much richer.  It is also good to know that Yahoo and Google offer similar chat session with voice and picture, but not as sophisticated as Skype

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Response to Kevin Williams “Guest lecture evaluation - CGU President Klitgaard”. I am also not so sure of the appropriateness of the “trespassing” term. As some of us may have different views of it. It does have to some extent a negative connotation attached to it. Sometimes trespassing constitutes a crime and could lead to getting trespasser arrested. I see that is used intentionally and was chosen in that regard. Another choice of words used was “kick a..”, I also did not expect to hear that term. Nonetheless, the president connected well with us, and it is easy to see why he made it to the top job. Better choice words perhaps “visiting,” which generally is encountered by more gracious hosts! And “becoming role models” to the lesser fortunate.

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Response to Myungjae Kwak “characterizing Tracy Kidder’s writing style.”  I agree with MJ that “lyric poetry” does apply.  This writing style for a non-fiction almost seems documentary in nature.  As a non technical book, yet tells the story of constructing a computer “working machine.”  It was indeed an effective narrative.  The narrative involved real people with various conflicting personalities.  The narrative was well presented as MJ suggested that it was “not boring, but fascinating.”  It does attract the interest of the reader, particularly mine.  I found even those binary bits (0s, and 1s) to be interesting.  As a computer science major, I remember consuming much time programming at that level using the 8085 Assembler.  It is fair to say that he put a little something for each and every one of us.

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The article I have just uploaded discusses design science in information systems (IS) research.  The article is written by Hevner, A., March, S., Park, J., and Ram, S., (Hevner et al).  I found the article to be very methodological on how to conduct design science research.  The authors argued skillfully for the utility (usefulness) and value of design science research.  This type of research differs from the traditional quantitative and qualitative type of research.  However, it is not mutually exclusive, traditional methodologies can also apply.  This very relevant, because in a sense it does add more flexibility and increases the options for the pursuit of IS research. 

Hevner et al’s main goal was to sell researchers and practitioners on design science research.  Well, I am buying!  I found their presentation to be very useful in providing   the means of how to conduct design research.  The design science research guidelines were particularly helpful.  They provide clarification for all that needs to be done.   

At first, I questioned as to whether design can be considered research.  I researched further and found my answer here: http://www.isworld.org/Researchdesign/drisISworld.htm.  It helped me gain more insight about design research from action research.  I am growing to value this kind of research more and more, because I feel that producing an artifact adds the icing to the cake to research.    

Also, I was able to relate more to this article, thanks to the hard work of CGU faculty for organizing the first design research conference DESRIST 2006, here at Claremont.  At the conference, I met Alan and many other scholars, which sealed the deal for me. I look forward to DESRIST 2007 on May 13^th, 2007.

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My favorite gadget is my 1 GB flash drive that is until I get the 2 GB one.  It is very small and does not take much space in my pocket.  It can be connected to any computer with a USB port.  I prefer it over CDs, because it does not require a CD burner.  Additionally, it is very affordable and not expensive to purchase (low TCO). 

 

My least favorite is my desktop.  It is bulky and stationary.  The monitor takes up most of the desk space.  In fact, I do not use it much; I rely heavily on my laptop.  It also serves as an educational tool for my daughter.  She likes to use “Paint” and draw shapes and color them.  It uses a standard keyboard; the new ergonomic keyboards seem to cause less aggravation on the hand.  

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One current problem that exists in the world is that of missing children.  According to a second study by National Incidence Studies of Missing, Abducted, Runaway, and Thrownaway Children NISMART-2 research, which studied the year 1999, approximately 797,500 children were reported missing.  Some were abducted by strangers and others were abducted by family members.   

As a parent, I believe that technology can certainly be used as a means to track children and to know of their whereabouts.  Children can have either chip implants or some type of bracelet devices that can not be easily removed.  Those devices would emit signals that GPS or other location finder type of systems can track.  Further studies should be done to assess the type of signals and devices in order to eliminate any harm (side effects).    

It is clear from the large numbers that this is clearly a problem.  Such devices would serve as deterrents, spare parents the agony and grief, and save lives.  Much of the governments spending get wasted on unworthy causes (e.g. unjustified wars etc…).  So finding funding should not be a problem for saving our little Americans.

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