So here I am in Omaha, Nebraska - at the Strengths Based Educator Conference and I received a wireless connection at Gallup - here I am at the central headquarters for StrengthsFinder and strengths related thinking. I felt like I came to the mecca. The Gallup Campus is beautiful - any place that offers free Starbucks coffee is good in my book.
Last night the conference started with a talk from Dr. Larry Braskamp, who wrote a new book - “Putting Students First,” he talked about the 10 reasons to invest in Strengths based learning on your campus:
1. Assist student become more self-aware and accepting
2. Assist students to better understand others for who they are and can become
3. Assist students to use their strengths to increase their learning and grades
4. Assist students to understand their lives in terms of calling & vocation in life
5. Assist students to be team members
6. Assist students to become more effective leaders
7. Assist students to increase their expectations of staying in school to graduate
8. Assist students with selecting and determining career choices
9. Assist students improve their interpersonal relationships
10. Assist students more readily become a member of the campus community
Those and more are great reasons to let people know about their strengths. That is it for now, more later. JVD
