It does not take much skill to put the aircrafts lift-vector on the other aircraft and yank on the Gs. In fact, if in doubt, just doing that will take care of 75 percent of the fight. But BFM is about being smoothly aggressive. Understanding the difference between when it is necessary to max-perform the aircraft and when it is time to preserve or efficiently gain energy back is key. In a tight turning fight, gaining a couple of angles at each merge can suddenly result in one aircraft saddled in the other aircrafts control zone working a comfortable rear quarter gun-tracking shot.

In true gamesmanship fashion, the guns-only BFM engagement was the setting for the AlphaDogfight contest. So what jumped out at me about the engagements? Three main points. First was the aggressive use of accurate forward quarter gun employment. Second, was the AIs efficient use of energy. Lastly was the AIs ability to maintain high-performance turns.

During BFM engagements, we use training rules to keep aircrew and aircraft safe. An example of this is using a hard deck, which is usually 5,000 feet above the ground. Aircraft can fight down to this pretend ground level and if an aircraft goes below the hard deck, they are considered a rocks kill and the fight is ended. The 5,000 feet of separation from the actual ground provides a safety margin during training.

Another training rule is forward-quarter gunshots are prohibited. There is a high potential for a mid-air collision if aircraft are pointing at each other trying to employ their guns. Due to the lack of ability to train to forward-quarter gunshots, it is not in most aviators combat habit patterns approaching the merge to employ such a tactic. Even so, it would be a low probability shot.

A pilot must simultaneously and continuously solve for plane-of-motion, range, and lead for a successful gun employment. It is difficult enough for a heart of the envelope rear-quarter tracking shot while also concentrating on controlling a low amount of closure and staying above the hard deck. At the high rates of closure normal for a neutral head-on merge, a gun envelope would be available for around three seconds. Three seconds of intense concentration to track, assess, and shoot, while at the same time avoiding hitting the other aircraft. The Heron Systems AI on several occasions was able to rapidly fine-tune a tracking solution and employ its simulated gun in this fashion. Additionally, AI would not waste any brain cells on self-preservation approaching the merge avoiding the other aircraft. It would just happen. The tracking, assessing, and employing process for a missile is not much different than the gun. I am pretty confident AI could shoot a valid missile shot faster than I can, given the same data I am currently presented within the cockpit.

The second advantage of AI was its ability to maintain an efficient energy state and lift vector placement. BFM flights certainly instill aviators with confidence in flying their aircraft aggressively in all regimes of the flight envelope. However, in todays prevalent fly-by-wire aircraft, there is less aircraft feel providing feedback to the pilot. It takes a consistent instrument scan to check the aircraft is at the correct G, airspeed, or angle-of-attack for the given situation.

Even proficient aviators have to use a percentage of their concentration (i.e. situation awareness) on not over-performing or under-performing the aircraft. AI could easily track this task and would most likely never bleed airspeed or altitude excessively, preserving vital potential and kinetic energy while also fine-tuning lift vector placement on the other aircraft to continue the fight if required.

Lastly is AIs freedom from human physiological limitations. During the last engagement, both aircraft were in a prolonged two-circle fight at 9 Gs on the deck. A two-circle fight is also referred to as a 'rate fight.' The winner is the aircraft who can track its nose faster around the circle, which is directly proportional (disregarding other tools such as thrust vectoring) to the amount of Gs being pulled. More Gs means a faster turn rate. 9 Gs is extremely taxing on the body, which the pilot in the contest did not have to deal with, either. A human pilot would have to squeeze every muscle in the legs and abdominals in addition to focused breathing in order to not blackout. During training, I maintained 9 Gs in the centrifuge for about 30 seconds. Then I went home and took a nap, and that was without being shot at. AI does not care about positive or negative Gs. It will perform the aircraft at the level required.

The truth is current aircraft have to be built to support the 'pile of human' sitting in it. The human will always be the limiting factor in the performance of an aircraft. I fight the jet differently now than I did as a junior officer when I was young and flexible. I have to fight differently. I know what my capabilities are to get a consistent and repeatable shot with the little bit of neck magic I have left to keep sight of the other aircraft. The fact that in the contest, the AI had perfect information at all times, and rules of engagement were not a factor, are not inconsequential details. I recognize that providing the amount of data and sensor fusion the AI would require to perform at the same level in a real aerial engagement (one that does not take place in cyberspace) is not a small undertaking and still a bit in the future. The rules of engagement discussion could fill up the syllabus for the entire semester of an ethics class, and will always be a touchy subject with regards to AI's involvement in war.

I am not an engineer, nor an ethics professor. Yet, as a pilot, I am intrigued. A computer model was able to react to the movements of a human pilot and effectively employ weapons. During the five engagements, the AI had 15 valid gun employments and the human pilot had zero. These results also hint at the AIs ability to avoid being shot while effectively employing its own weapons.

An AI-enhanced weapons employment system in my aircraft? I am not ready for Skynet to become self-aware, but I am certainly ready to invite AI into the cockpit. Hell, I am only a voting member as far as the flight controls are concerned in the Super Hornet anyways. If I put a control input in that is not aerodynamically sound (i.e. could result in a departure from controlled flight), the flight control system will not move the control surface or will move a different surface to give me the movement I am requesting. Who is flying who?

So, if tomorrow my seven-year-old daughter decides she wants to become a Naval Aviator, I am not going to shoot down the notion and go on a rant about the last generation of fighter pilots. I know there will be a Navy jet for her to fly. My future grandchildren, however? Saddle up kids and prepare yourself for some of Grandads wild tails of the greatest flight in Naval Aviation: the one-hour BFM cycle back to the Case One s**t-hot break. Those were the days!

Contact the editor: Tyler@thedrive.com

Original post:
Navy F/A-18 Squadron Commander's Take On AI Repeatedly Beating Real Pilot In Dogfight - The Drive

By Dr. David Hanscom, PNN Columnist

Self-awareness is the essence of healing. You cannot stimulate your brain to develop in a given direction unless you become aware of who you are and where you are starting from. Awareness is a meditative tool that can be used to calm the nervous system, reduce chronic pain and anxiety, and move forward with your life.

There are four patterns of awareness that Ive written about in previous columns that work for me:

Environmental awareness is placing your attention on a single sensation taste, touch, sound, temperature, etc. What you are doing is switching sensory input from racing thoughts about pain to another sensation. This is the basis of mindfulness fully experiencing what you are doing in the moment.

I use an abbreviated version that I call active meditation, which is placing my attention on a specific sensory input for 5 to 10 seconds. It is simple and can be done multiple times per day.

Emotional awareness is more challenging. It often works for a while, but then it doesnt. When you are suppressing feelings of anxiety, your bodys chemistry is still off and full of stress hormones. This translates into pain and other physical symptoms.

Allowing yourself to feel all of your emotions is the first step in healing because you cant change what you cant feel. Everyone that is alive has anxiety. It is how we survive.

Judgment awareness is a major contributor to the mental chaos in our lives. You create a story or a judgment about yourself, another person or situation that tends to critical and inflexible.

Dr. David Burns in his book Feeling Good outlines 10 cognitive distortions that are a core part of our upbringing. They include:

These ingrained thoughts are the fourth and most problematic to be aware of. You cannot see or correct them without actively seeking them out.

Our family interactions in childhood are at the root of how we act as adults. They stem from our upbringing and the fact that our brains are hard-wired during our formative years. We know from recent neuroscience research that concepts and attitudes from childhood are embedded in our brains as concretely as our perception of a chair or table.

I used to say that thoughts are real because they cause neurochemical responses in your body. But they are not reality. I was wrong.

It turns out that your thoughts and ideals are your version of reality. Your current life outlook continues to evolve along the lines of your early programming or filter. It is why we become so attached to our politics, religion, belief systems, etc. It is also the reason that humans treat each other so badly based on labels.

One example, amongst an endless list, was how we locked up communists during the McCarthy era of the 1950s and 1960s. It is also why so many minority groups are persecuted and often treat each other badly.

It is critical to understand that these are attitudes and behaviors that you cannot see because they are inherent to who you are. It is also maybe the greatest obstacle to people getting along. We are hard-wired enough that we dont recognize or feel these patterns -- its just what we do. Its behavior that sits under many layers of defenses and has to be dug out by each person.

Our family-influenced habits and actions are much more obvious to our spouses and immediate family than they are to us. We can only get in touch with them through counseling, seminars, psychotherapy, self-reflection, spousal feedback, etc. What you are not aware of can and will control you.

Here is an example of awareness I learned at work. A few years ago, before I retired as a spine surgeon, I became aware that I consistently started to speed up towards the end of each surgery. I also realized that over the years, probably 80% of my dural tears (the envelope of spinal tissue containing the nerves and cerebrospinal fluid) occurred in the last 30 minutes of a long surgery.

The fatigue factor was part of the problem, but speed was more critical. I still didnt notice that I was speeding up. I needed feedback from my partners or assistants, so I asked them to act as my coaches. Id stop for a few seconds and say, The difficult part of this case is done. It would be easy for me to relax and hurry to finish. Please speak up if you see me starting to rush.

Every move in spine surgery is critical, so I had to make the choice to consciously slow down. The end of each surgery is just as important as the beginning and middle. My complication rate dropped dramatically when I became more aware of what I was doing.

This is a brief overview of how awareness plays a role in successfully navigating daily life. Its something of a paradox, because when we are truly immersed in the moment there are no levels of awareness. Its just complete engagement-in-the-present-moment awareness.

There are many layers to this discussion, but I hope this is a good starting point for you to understand the importance of mindful awareness.

Dr. David Hanscom is a retired spinal surgeon. He recently launched a new website The DOC Journey to share his own experience with chronic pain and to offer a pathway out of mental and physical pain through mindful awareness and meditation.

See the original post here:
Becoming Aware of Ingrained Thoughts Can Reduce Pain and Anxiety - Pain News Network

Part of Kathy Caprinos series Supporting Todays Workforce

It's time to build more unity and trust in our workplaces and beyond

As almost everyone has read, seen or experienced directly, our country has grown more divisive, angry and ununified in recent months. Hate-crime violence has hit a 16-year high, political polarization has increased, and a majority (55%) of adult social media users are worn out by political posts and discussions. In addition, the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated long-standing racial inequalities that have been rooted in systemic racism in our nation. Were facing extreme challenges in our organizations and institutions where increased trust and unity are critical if were to make progress to address and solve these pressing dilemmas.

To learn more about how we all can reduce divisiveness today and work to build that needed trust and unity, I caught up this month with Dr. Laura Gallaher who has worked in the field of professional and personal development since 2005. Laura is an organizational psychologist, speaker, facilitator and executive coach and she is the founder and CEO of Gallaher Edge, which she started in 2013 and rebranded in 2018.

Her noteworthy career began after the Space Shuttle Columbia exploded upon re-entry in 2003, killing everybody aboard. Following the tragedy, NASA hired Gallaher and a team of organizational psychologists to change the cultural influences that were deemed to play a role in the accident. She worked for eight years to positively influence culture, develop leadership capacity, and improve organizational performance at Kennedy Space Center. Gallaher was also hired to help manage the change associated with radical changes in the performance management process and philosophy at Walt Disney Parks & Resorts.

At Gallaher Edge, Gallaher helps leaders across a variety of industries navigate changes and improve their organizational culture through workshops that build trust, grow self-awareness, and align strategically from the inside out.

Heres what Dr. Gallaher shares:

Kathy Caprino: So, Laura, from your work and research perspective, why do humans struggle so much with change?

Laura Gallaher: We often hear that people resist changebut if I gave you $10 million, youd probably agree that would change your life so would you resist it? Assuming theres no catchno! You wouldnt resist that. So it isnt really that humans resist or struggle with change, it is that change tends to bring loss, and loss is painful. We call those losses the costs of change. When we hear that change is coming, we attune to the costs associated with that change. People only respond to their own perceived costs to changes in their lives. Evolutionarily speaking, we are programmed to avoid loss.

An endowment effect study by Knetsch showcases how we humans can be irrational in our own decision making. When participants in the study completed a task, they were rewarded with their choice of either a mug or a chocolate bar. About half chose the chocolate bar and half chose the mug. However, a different group was only given mugs as a reward after completing a task. When given the option to switch for a chocolate bar, only 10% of people took up that offer because most people had formed an ownership bond with their mugs.

When change is coming, it is valuable to remember that we are the ones putting the value on both the gains and the losses associated with the change, and we have control and choice over our own perceptions. Use that power of choice to shift focuseven change that initially feels unwelcomed will always bring both gains and losses.

The best way to deal with change is to focus on what will be gained. For example, unemployment is unfortunately skyrocketing due to the impact of Covid-19. If someone lost their job, the gain could be finding a different job that is better for their skills or lifestyle, or potentially the push they needed to start a business.

On the other hand, it could also be an opportunity to slow down and reconnect with their families or even themselves, helping them be the best version of themselves possible.

Caprino: During these times that are so difficult to handle, what tips and strategies can help us?

Gallaher: The environment today can make us feel that were in survival modeconstantly stressed, feeling like we cant do enough and that were falling behind. While the news today is almost on a constant loop of negativity, we need to remember that we can still thrive in this environment. Its all relativeits hard to believe, but there were days even pre-pandemic that were tough to get through, too.

We all evolved to be survivors, so our default mode is to surviveto shift into thrive mode, youll want to override your brains auto-pilot and retake control of our thoughts, your attitude and your chosen environment.

To do this, set aside some time for self-investment. Choose to practice gratitude multiple times a day and feel the meaning of it. In addition, choose to focus on some tangible action items. Limit how much news is watched if it limits your overall happiness. We have far more choices in life than we tend to realize. Everyone has a choice with what to do with their time, so determine where attention is given.

Caprino: What is the importance of the culture we're in and how does that impact our resilience?

Gallaher: Culture has a huge impact on human behavior. It is where we learn what is OK and how we pick up on how things are done. The United States has a somewhat fragmented culture at this period in time, which means that different segments of the country have different ideas of what is OK and not OK. The pandemic and its impact on the economy is creating a scarcity mentality, which can lead people to start focusing more on themselves and less on others, which inhibits a societys ability to collaborate and grow to reach new heights.

The flip side is that this pandemic is significantly increasing the generosity and desire to come together in other groups of people. Some are using this as a time to give to others when they see them struggling. Our healthcare workers, for example, are fighting every day for the lives of others.

Awareness of systemic racism has also elevated, and while it creates division and can trigger insecurity in white people, the murder of George Floyd has served as a catalyst to correct previous injustices. Now, the majority of adult Americans believe in the fight for what is right.

Many times it is darkest before the dawn, and when we can connect to a purpose (like fighting racism) and connect with each other (through generosity and caring for those who are ill), resilience abounds. Additionally, these experiences are creating deep wells of resilience that we will all be able to pull from in future life challenges. We are all more resilient than we think.

Caprino: Talking culture, so many of us are fighting with each other politically and ideologically, and in hateful ways that are devoid of compassion and understanding. How does that situation impact people and what can we do differently to thrive through this?

Gallaher: Underneath all of this is vulnerability. When we feel vulnerable and afraid, especially subconsciously, we tend to rely on defense mechanisms to cope. I believe that as humans, our most natural way of being is kind and compassionate, but as we are all raised imperfectly by imperfect humans to become imperfect adults ourselves, we each develop ways to defend ourselves against unpleasant feelings internally.

So in the face of human suffering, especially if there is a subconscious feeling of helplessness (i.e. I cant do anything to fix this), people may respond in ways to reduce their negative internal feelings. This can look like blaming the victim (i.e. if I can convince myself that they somehow deserve it, then I dont have to cope with the painful discomfort of injustice).

On top of that, our desire to feel good about ourselves means that our egos often keep us in a place of wanting to feel right, instead of wanting to learn. So, we often tend to dig in our heels in the face of opposition, preserving the good feeling about ourselves as being right and also a good person.

Thriving in these times stems first and foremost from our ability to practice self-acceptance and courage. Lean into the vulnerability that underlies the anger, accept that you are wrong sometimes (we all are), and focus yourself on learning and listening.

Societally, from the top, it would look like politicians learning how to communicate in a way that is less polarizing. We are all far more alike than we are different, and we all tend to agree on way more than we realizewe just dont highlight the similarities and the agreements, especially when there is vulnerability and discomfort.

For each of us as humans, what we can do is listen. Listening is one of the most powerful tools to facilitate connection, change and growth. Listen like its not about you. Listen to your friend share their personal experience with racism. Listen to your employee talk about their fear of falling ill. Listen to your co-worker talk about the fear of the decision of what is best for their children.

It is harder to hate people up close, so move communication to phone or video call and away from text-based communicationlike emailas often as you can. Remember our common humanity.

Caprino: Should business leaders encourage and tackle head-on the difficult and sensitive conversations that todays times are demanding?

Gallaher: While business leaders regularly face the potential for difficult conversations, 2020 has brought this to a whole new level. From navigating racial conversations to deciding how to keep employees safe amid the global pandemic, people are experiencing difficulty separating their personal lives from the workplace. This may make leaders nervous, wondering how can I help employees feel heard, understood and safe during these times of uncertainty?

As a leader, this is the time to actively listen to what employees need and not shy away from topics that seem difficult to address on the surface. Do your employees have kids and now have to decide between working full-time or home schooling their children? Does an employee have Covid-19 or is close to someone with the virus? Is an employee passionate about bringing more awareness to the systemic racism in the United States?

Hear what employees are saying, but also note what isnt being said. If what employees are relaying isnt perfectly clear, follow up by saying Tell me more; I want to understand, or try paraphrasing what you think theyre trying to say.

If employees concerns havent been addressed yet, these are all conversations that business leaders need to be having now. Having an effective conversation means its time to get comfortable with the uncomfortable. These uncomfortable conversations create room for growth in the workplace. No one needs to know all the answers, but being willing to facilitate these conversations fosters a more inclusive organization.

More importantly, dont let the conversations die out once the world regains a bit of normalcy. Create the space for conversations to take place within the workplace and mediate as appropriate to ensure these conversations remain respectful. Having an ongoing, open dialogue in the workplace leads to a culture of learning and understanding and can help eliminate issues, like systemic racism, nationwide.

Caprino: Why do people become more divisive and critical of each other in crisis like this pandemic?

Gallaher: Theres a saying that the best way to assess an organization is to try to change it. In your work culture or organization in this time of crisis, are people pulling together or are they dividing? Are people leaning into the change to identify how they can adapt, or are they digging their heels in to avoid the pain associated with change?

Fear can be dominating. People start to look out for themselves, so fear of losing money or power creates an us versus them mentality.

Most fundamentally, whether someone reacts in fear or unity comes down to trust. When people trust one another to act not only in their own best interest but also prioritize the interests of others, then people will unite even more in difficult times.

When trust has been damaged, or is lacking, people move into a state of assessing and evaluating the environment and people around them to gauge if they can proceed with trust, or if it is dangerous to trust others.

The best way to get through the us versus them mentality is to state collaborative intent and actively listen.

Caprino: What are the best strategies you can offer to help us thrive through dramatic change and uncertainty?

Gallaher: Leading through dramatic change and uncertainty is no easy feat, but the reward is monumental. Not only does it build trust, but it also increases productivity and efficiency.

First, as a human, it is valuable to remind yourself that even though your brain often triggers your body to react as though survival is genuinely at risk, most of the time, you really are OKyou can breathe, you are alive and you are going to be fine. Use your brain to overcome the fear-based visceral reaction that comes in times of stress and uncertainty.

Second, as a leader, its important to remember to take care of yourself. A crisis is a crucial time for a business that demands true leadership and the willingness to be decisive. Handle the pressing tasks first and practice self-compassion. When you take care of yourself, you are your best self for others; trying to put others before you means that they end up getting whats left of you instead of the best of you.

When communicating with employees on these tough matters, project confidence and optimism while staying grounded in reality. Being authentic as a leader is powerful. Also provide the context people need for current events and what the business is going through.

These conversations need to happen on a consistent basis rather than just reacting as the environment shifts; employees want to hear from you more than you realize. Be intentional about each change put in place and recognize the impact that it has on the emotional state of employees.

Consider gains and losses in the face of change once again: a significant gain we can all take away from this time of uncertainty is that weve now been encouraged to speak with others and self-reflect in a way many of us hadnt done previously.

Now that those doors are open, we can continue allowing ourselves to find comfort in the uncomfortable and have these conversations on a long-term, ongoing basis.

For more information, visit:

To build a more positive and impactful career and more effective leadership approach, read Kathy Caprinos new book The Most Powerful You: 7 Bravery-Boosting Paths to Career Bliss, and work with Kathy in her Career Breakthrough Programs.

Original post:
How To Reduce Divisiveness And Build Trust And Unity In Our Workplaces - Forbes

You cant be anybody but you. You can try, but eventually, over time, the real version of you will emerge, in all its glory and in all its imperfections.

Thats the lesson of Thom Brennaman and Mark Grace. You are what your words say you are. When youre paid for the words that roll off your tongue, it can be a dangerous existence.

Brennaman, the Reds TV play-by-play announcer, was about to come out of a commercial break during a game Wednesday when a hot microphone caught him referring to an undisclosed place as one of the f-- capitals of the world. The Reds suspended him for the anti-gay slur, and Fox yanked him from this seasons NFL broadcasts.

Grace, who appears periodically on Cubs TV broadcasts, referred to his ex-wife as a dingbat on air during a game a week ago. He hasnt been seen on a telecast since, and there has been no word on when hell return.

Im not equating the words the two men used. Brennamans was clearly more deplorable. Im noting the way that true colors inevitably come out.

If that hot mic had caught Brennaman saying one of the gay capitals of the world, Im guessing there wouldnt have been as much of an uproar. But he didnt. He used an epithet for a homosexual. That doesnt come out by accident. It comes out by habit. It reminds me of something somebody would say in high school. But Brennaman is a 56-year-old man, not a 14-year-old freshman.

As for Grace, his use of the word dingbat to describe his ex-wife tells us that hes stuck in 1975. But it also tells us that he has absolutely no self-awareness. Who thinks dingbat is something that can be said on a broadcast? Someone who is clueless.

Whenever I was around Grace in the Cubs clubhouse, I always felt like I was listening to a guy who had watched Bull Durham about 100 times too many. I couldnt tell where he started and where Kevin Costners sage, folksy Crash Davis character ended. People often laughed at the things Grace said when he was a player. Maybe a guy starts to think that everything he says is funny. That doesnt explain why Grace thinks dingbat is a good word to describe a woman, but it might explain why he would utter it publicly. Im not just the life of the party. I am the party.

Both men apologized, but public apologies mean almost nothing. Few people trust them. In Brennamans case, what was he apologizing for? That something he very clearly meant to say was caught by a busybody mic?

In a later apology, he tried to say that his subsequent research into the history of the homophobic word he used opened his eyes to the ugliness of it. He said he had no idea it was so rooted in hate. Really? What did you think it was rooted in? Whimsy? This is a very good example of making a bad thing worse. Of words revealing what you are.

Cancel-culture watchdogs immediately complained that Brennamans punishments were a prime example of political correctness gone haywire. But nobody canceled him. He canceled himself, and he seemed to know it almost immediately.

I dont know if Im going to be putting on this headset again, he said during his on-air apology.

I dont know Brennaman, a former Cubs broadcaster. Ive met him a few times. He might be a great person. But if you know a word that can get you into deep trouble professionally, it makes sense that youd do everything in your power not to say it in a work environment. Yet he said it anyway. That suggests it wasnt a one-off thing with him.

Hes human. So is Grace. So are we all. Weve all said things we wish we hadnt. But when you say something publicly, its a pretty good indication of who and what you are. And when you say it with a microphone near your mouth, its an indictment. NBC hockey analyst Mike Milbury praised the NHLs bubble on the air Thursday night, saying there were no women to distract the players. Viewers criticized him for being sexist. What else would they have to go on?

Its up to Brennaman and Grace to decide if theyre happy with themselves, regardless of what happens to them professionally.

You cant be anybody but you. That sounds fatalistic, I know. It sounds like everything in life has been predetermined, that none of us can change, that were not in charge. Thats not true.

You are who you are. Youre what you say. But youre also what you do after that stupid thing you just said. Gentlemen, your move.

More:
Thom Brennaman, Mark Grace and the problem with being yourself on TV - Chicago Sun-Times

Social-emotional learning (SEL) companies Aperture Education and Move This World have partnered to provide Apertures customers with additional resources to support the development of students social-emotional skills. Aperture customers can now access a sampling of short videos created by Move This World that help develop and strengthen students social-emotional skills such as self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills and responsible decision making. The videos will be added to the hundreds of social and emotional learning Growth Strategies Aperture already offers through its DESSA Comprehensive SEL System.

Move This Worlds resources to help students identify, manage, and express their emotions completely align with our work so a partnership made perfect sense, said Jessica Adamson, CEO of Aperture Education. Were now able to offer additional strategies to our customers and get Move This Worlds amazing videos in front of even more teachers and students.

Aperture Educations DESSA Comprehensive SEL System provides assessments to measure the social-emotional competence of students in grades K-12. Its Growth Strategies are research-informed social emotional learning interventions, lesson plans and activities created for teachers, by teachers for grades K-8. Once they administer the DESSA, teachers, counselors, and out-of-school-time providers can use the applicable strategies to help bolster SEL skills of students in areas in which they need additional support. The strategies can be administered at school or at home.

Move This World is a foundational social emotional learning program designed for PreK-12 educators and students. Its curriculum is delivered through short videos, allowing teachers to prioritize social emotional learning with consistency. The videos guide students and educators through creative exercises designed to develop and strengthen social-emotional skills and provide an opportunity for teachers to quickly check in and proactively identify students who may need additional support.

Aperture Educations DESSA System helps schools identify how students are developing core social emotional learning skills, which will help them thoughtfully think about how they plan for SEL instruction, said Jennifer Money, Marketing Director of Move This World. As a tier 1, foundational SEL support, were excited to help communities of students build these essential life skills together and know that schools are looking for a way to measure impact. Were excited to share this sampling of content with Aperture to help support their students SEL development.

Aperture Education also partnered with Move This World to create a free webinar for schools as they prepare to start the 2020-21 school year. The webinar includes advice from educators and discussions about how to incorporate SEL into different learning environments to help schools plan for various re-opening models. The webinar is available on Zoom.

About Aperture Education

Aperture Education specializes in social and emotional learning (SEL) solutions. Our flagship product, the DESSA Comprehensive SEL System, allows educators to measure, strengthen, and support social-emotional competence in youth in grades K-12. The DESSA System includes a suite of strength-based assessments, a universal screener that can be administered in less than a minute, and growth strategies and foundational practices to strengthen social and emotional competence. The DESSA System is lauded by researchers because it meets high standards for reliability and validity and is appreciated by educators for its ability to easily and quickly identify each students personal SEL strengths and provide practical supports that result in improved student outcomes. Because strengthening social-emotional skills is as important for educators as it is for students, we also offer the Educator Social Emotional Reflection and Training (EdSERT) tool. EdSERT is a professional development program to support the social-emotional competency and well-being of educators. For more information, go to http://www.ApertureEd.com.

About Move This World

Move This World cultivates the development of social and emotional learning (SEL) skills to empower students to navigate the complex and rapidly-changing realities of our world. An SEL program that has impacted the lives of over one million students across 35 states, Move This World provides educators and students with a robust, daily curriculum designed to strengthen social and emotional wellbeing in order to create and maintain healthy environments where effective teaching and learning can thrive. Move This Worlds extensive online library of PreK-12 videos and resources are rooted in creative expression and designed to help students develop a common language to improve communication, build trust, and create stronger communities. For more information:www.movethisworld.com.

Link:
Aperture Education Partners with Move This World to Provide Additional Social-Emotional Learning Strategies - eSchool News

In the wake of the horrific killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police, the Black Lives Matter movement has gained national support and protests have taken place across the country in unprecedented sizes. These calls for structural change and racial equality have all come amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected the Black community. As two Asian American high school students, we want to help our community better understand the Black Lives Matter movement, and how to be allies to it.This article is the first part in a series about books and articles, TV shows and movies and music related to the Black Lives Matter movement.

Reads: To be an ally to the Black community, people need to listen and understand lived experiences. Below are a number of books, ranging from autobiographies to poetry, that tackle various topics such as the aftermath of police brutality and how to detect different forms of racism. Research and discussions with friends informed the recommendations on this list.

How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, The New York Times bestseller, undermines the uprooting of structural racism and inequities in our society that we embody in ourselves. Kendi employs history, science, definitions and ethics to discuss this systemic injustice. By telling his own life story, Kendi proposes the thesis that being not racist is not enough and that everyone should strive to be anti-racist: Being an antiracist requires persistent self-awareness, constant self-criticism, and regular self-examination. He guides the reader on a path from being racist to anti-racist, and breaks down racism by overturning its component policies, thus rebuilding a more equitable society. Every chapter is named after and focused on different elements of racism, and within each chapter, Kendi prompts the reader to think about their own actions and what a future, anti-racist society could potentially look like. The author points out that Racial inequity is a problem of bad policy, not bad people and that Denial is the heartbeat of racism.

Mindful of Race: Transforming Racism from the Inside Out by Ruth King combats the darkness of racism through meditation practices; this novel shows how our world can evolve. As King says, Racism is a heart disease and its curable. This powerful saying is persistent throughout the novel to show that racism can be subverted. King draws from her experience as a meditation instructor and provides the language and mindset needed to have difficult conversations about race from a compassionate and empathetic place within ourselves. She inspires readers to have a critical self-reflection and awareness journey.

When They Call You a Terrorist: A Black Lives Matter Memoir by Asha Bandele and Patrisse Cullors addresses the systemic racism that has caused African American deaths. Bandele and Cullors share their experience as founders of Black Lives Matter and address how some cultures believe that innocent Black lives are expendable. This is a novel that will provide insight on others lives and the trauma that they have to go through to find their rights.

Minor Feelings: An Asian American Reckoning by Cathy Park Hong is a memoir that addresses the experiences of Asian Americans and them finding their identities, and also shows differences between stereotypes and ethnic minority issues. Bustle states that this memoir-in-essays is a must-read at a time of rising racist violence and distrust. It has a good mix of political, personal and social perspectives in it that shows the brutality of casual racism. This is a great conversation-starter book to get your hands on.

Citizen by Claudia Rankine tells a story of what happens when a citizen realizes the reality of societal ills. Instead of facing these realities and trying to remedy them for the sake of a better world, minority groups bear the burden of these issues. It is a frightening, epic, large truth that we have to bear. Using social commentary, poetry, eye-capturing pictures, prose and slogans, this piece of writing powerfully breaks down the American racism that has been occurring for centuries. Salon calls it Moving, stunning, and formally innovative in short, a masterwork.

Looking for something shorter? Give these articles a try!

1. Model Minority Myth Again Used As A Racial Wedge Between Asians And Blacks by Kat Chow incorporates the work of researchers that have been analyzing how and why Asian Americans and Black people are commonly stereotyped differently in society. It dives into the history of how the lives of Asians Americans were changed by American values.

2. Tou Thao and the Myths of Asian American Solidarity by Time To Say Goodbye raises questions about what it means to be Asian Americans, as it seems that Asian Americans are only being oppressed as Third World people. The message of the article is to tell Asian Americans to reflect on what it means to come together in solidarity to speak up for justice, while questioning the role that Asian Americans play in the nation as they do not benefit from white supremacy.

Though there are many ways you can support the movement, there is no one right way. This is not an exhaustive list, and you do not need to do everything. These artworks resonated with us, but there are definitely more ways to be educated.

Feel free to also check an additional article from The Stanford Dailys Vol. 257 Editorial Board where they focus on more reads, contacts to reach out to, classes to take, petitions to sign and places to donate.

Contact Leanna Sun at leannaxsel at gmail.com and Karen Mai at kmai4 at bostonk12.org.

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Being an ally to BLM through the arts, Part I - The Stanford Daily

Limp Bizkit guitarist Wes Borland has openly spoke about his gig in Limp Bizkit as a day job lately, and the various side projects and solo material hes released in recent years underscore that sentiment: he is a very creative fellow beyond what his Bizkit output would suggest.

But now frontman Fred Durst has all but admitted the same, albeit in a different way: in a new interview, hes said that none of the band members were ever friends, but were in the band partnership together for the magic that happened when we were together.

Speaking to Metal Hammer, Durst told the story of how he first came into contact with Borland, recalling how he saw Wes perform with his own band, then met him for the first time performing together on stage after the other band members had taught Wes the songs:

The first time I saw Wes Borland, he had ponytails and a girly half-shirt on. He was playing in a band called Cronk and was like Les Claypool on guitar, with a little Manson in there.

I actually met Wes for the first time at our first gig. It was wild but it worked. I made up vocals on the spot! We never took time to consider friendships, that wasnt part of it. It was just about the magic that happened when we were together none of us were ever friends.

Elsewhere in the chat, Durst laments that his music came to define a generation of jocks:

I always wanted my lyrics to be for people who felt maybe like I did, for victims. I should have made it more blatantly obvious because some of our audience and our fans were not those people. They were the nemesis, they were the opposite, they were the people that I despised and if I change anything it would probably be to make things a little more clear about where I was coming from, trying to segregate the bullies from the victims. The irony of my life is on a stupendous level.

At least hes got a little self awareness, eh? Still, I find it fascinating that none of those guys were ever friends its a tacit admission that they teamed up and stayed together for the sole purpose of making money, which makes sense, I spose.

[via Loudwire]

Read more:
Fred Durst on Limp Bizkit Band Members: None of Us Were Ever Friends - MetalSucks

I have sad and terrible news. My cousin just committed suicide. She left a letter that said goodbye to her mother and then took a massive amount of her mothers sleeping pills. Everyone in our family is in a state of shock, disbelief and emotional pain. Why would a young person like my cousin do something like this? She always seemed so happy and looked to me like she had it all together. She was popular, nice-looking and a pretty good student. I just dont get it, and my heart hurts for her. What can I do now?

Dear Shocked Cousin: Suicide is an enormous tragedy that often leaves a family filled with grief and guilt, and when a young person is involved, those emotions are naturally compounded even more. According to Mental Health America, suicide is the 10th leading cause of death for adults, but for teens, is the second leading cause. Every day in this country, roughly two-dozen teens take their own lives, and more than 50 teens and preteens attempt suicide. Some of these young people, such as your cousin, dont obviously broadcast warning signs. Sadly, in cases like this, no one realizes something is deeply troubling them until they attempt or succeed at committing suicide.

Many teens are in the most trying and painful days of their lives. There often seems to be no middle ground. Quite often, teen years yield either happiness or despair. Teens try to establish an identity; they are learning to operate independently, growing physically and intellectually, choosing a career path and developing lifelong relationships.

At times when family instability rises, some teenagers find they cannot cope with life. Parents may inadvertently contribute by making steep demands on teens or subjecting them to feeling they are not living up to expectations. Tragically, it may take relatively little to make a teen feel worthless.

When a teen commits suicide, family factors are the most commonly cited cause. Death, divorce, alcoholism, drug abuse and child abuse all add to a teens loneliness and depression. Other factors include the loss of a boyfriend or girlfriend or a sense of abandonment when someone else close to them goes away.

Of the many research studies on this topic Ive read over the years, one in particular sticks out. Six-thousand teens that had attempted suicide were interviewed, and their life histories were compared with those of a group of teens who had never attempted suicide. The self-destructive teens had a much higher percentage of parents who had divorced, separated or remarried within the past five years. Those who had been through multiple separations and were shuttled from relatives to foster homes throughout their lives were often deprived of the love and stability every child needs.

The study traced the path of suicide from family problems to a sequence of school failures, truancy, loneliness and depression. Often, a teen tries to latch on to someone but may become so clinging and smothering that the relationship does not last. When this relationship fails, the teen feels hopeless and isolated and feels there is only one solution left: self-destruction.

Fortunately, there are great resources available to help prevent teen suicides and suicide attempts, and to honor the memory of your cousin, lets focus on how we might help others in the future. First and foremost is the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-(800) 273-8255. They provide this list of key warning signs to be aware of so help can be sought immediately:

Talking about wanting to die or to kill themselves.

Looking for a way to kill themselves, like searching online or buying a gun.

Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live.

Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain.

Talking about being a burden to others.

Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs.

Acting anxious or agitated; behaving recklessly.

Sleeping too little or too much.

Withdrawing or isolating themselves.

Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge.

The silver lining to the suicide issue when it comes to teens is their innate resiliency. Teens, once successfully engaged, can often move permanently away from thoughts of suicide as quickly as they first came to them. Protective environments, community engagement activities, problem-solving skills, social-emotional learning programs and many more support activities exist and are ready to be activated to help any teen who may be at risk. To anyone reading this column who notices a young person who may be spiraling toward a dark place, please take immediate action to introduce professional, loving assistance.

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Honor Her Memory With Awareness For Others | Advice Columns - Brunswick News

Theres research that shows that being in the woods reduces anxiety, reduces depression symptoms, she said. We want to just help the kids, and we thought that being in nature would help a lot of what our kids are going through. Our big thing is teaching them mindfulness.

Bouras saidChicopee Woods has a large population of trauma-needs students, and thatdaily trail walking will helpthemreduce their anxiety and increase their happiness,self-esteemandself-awareness.

Hitzgessaid the extra time outside will also provide students with opportunities to take mask breaks, with the large outdoor areas giving them the capability to stay at least 6 feet apart from each other.He said that while the spread of COVID-19isstill a major concerncoming into the start of the school year,spending as much time outside as possible should help cut down on cases at Chicopee Woods.

Im hoping that the offshoot is we have less prevalence of transmission,Hitzgessaid.Im not a doctor, soI cant say thats going to work for certain. It may not prove to be the panacea, yet at the same time, it may provide us, Im hoping, a reduced transmission.

Hall CountySchoolsSuperintendent Will Schofieldsaidin a statement that the district is grateful for the support of our community volunteers and sponsorsin helping to completeprojects like the new walking trails and outdoor classroomsat Chicopee Woods.

When schools and communities pull together, work together, amazing things happen that benefit students,Schofieldsaid. These outdoor trails and classroom spaces will engage our boys and girls and provide them with an opportunity to get fresh air, learn together and develop physically, emotionally and academically.

View post:
This Hall elementary school has unveiled new hiking trails and outdoor classrooms - Gainesville Times

We have been doing some awesome emotional healing work in this column. Thank you for joining the experience.

Over the past few weeks, we have been discussing something called the "original wound."

Examples of this are:

a)the first time we were slighted by a sibling

b)the first time a teacher insulted our academic performance

c)the first time our parents yelled at us.

When emotional experiences like these occur in childhood, we form a self-belief.

This belief informs us if we are:

a)good or bad

b)beautiful or ugly

c)important or irrelevant

d)safe or unsupported.

However, the "information" contained in these beliefs is based solely upon your perception.

In other words, the "information" contained in this belief is not based on actual truth; it is based only on your perception which has been influenced by other peoples perceptions.

These perceptions feel true and real because they are fueled by the emotions contained in your original wound.

Perhaps you felt ashamed when your sibling slighted you.

If you felt that at the moment of this original wound, then you probably grew up feeling perpetually ashamed of yourself.

Perhaps you felt unintelligent and inferior when your teacher insulted your academic performance.

If you felt that at the moment of this original wound, then you probably grew up believing that other people always judge you because you are always inferior in some way.

Perhaps you felt unsafe, misunderstood, and unloved when your parents yelled at you for the first time.

If you felt that at the moment of this original wound, then you probably grew up believing that you are perpetually unsafe, misunderstood, and unloved.

These beliefs are held in our subconscious minds. That means that we rarely realize that we believe these things.

Even if we do occasionally realize that we hold these untrue, limiting beliefs, we still struggle to change these beliefs because they are trapped within our subconscious.

Every relationship in which we participate, how we conduct ourselves on the job, how we communicate with loved ones, and the risks we do and do not take are determined by these subconscious beliefs.

We must continually increase our self-awareness in order to break free from these old beliefs and to become liberated from the pain of the original wounds which hold these beliefs intact.

By increasing our self-awareness, we can create brand new ways of feeling, perceiving, and experiencing the world.

This column (FBN) is here to help you do that. But you have to be willing to participate in the FBN exercises in order for real change to occur in your life.

Consider these questions over the next week. Write your thoughts and feelings about them in a journal:

(Note: You may choose to do the exercises from previous weeks to build more clarity and more effectively transform your life.)

When you find yourself in a state of heightened stress ask:

1.Is my stress in this moment linked to a fear of not being safe or secure?

2.Is my stress in the moment to a fear of not being good enough or not being accepted by others?

3.Is my stress in the moment linked to a fear of abandonment or separation?

Next:

1.To which of the questions above did you answer "yes" regarding your current moment of stress?

2.Jog your memory to see if you can recall your original wound. In other words, can you recall the earliest memory in your life when you first felt this type emotional pain?

3.Write about that memory. Recall the sounds, smells, and all of the fears and emotions you felt at the time.

4.What beliefs about your value and your place in the world were formed during this early time in your life?

5.How have those early beliefs impacted the way you show up in relationships, on the job, and in your communications?

6.What risks have you or have you not taken because of these early beliefs?

After journaling, take some time to move in a healthy and relaxing way.

You may choose to dance to your favorite song, walk your favorite trail, go fishing, or exercise. Just make sure you move because movement will help you release more of the emotional pain you have been carrying for all these years.

Know that you are human, like everyone else. Every single human has original wounds.

Only the most responsible members of society actually do the work to heal those wounds.

Thank you for your contribution to our society by being brave enough to grow on a personal level.

I AM with you.

Get more information at http://www.amandablain.me or e-mail questions and comments to amandablainyoga@gmail.com.

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Feel Better Now: Part Two - Products of the Past - Olney Daily Mail