A Compilation of Experience and Thought by Datta Kaur Khalsa, Ph.D. Last updated - April 2020
.Introduction
Thank you for taking the time to read a short story version of my early years to present day interests. My interest in children stated before my present memory. Having been born the oldest of 10 children, nurturing, responsibility and teaching were a natural part of who I was. That never went away. When I decided to attend college for teacher education in the 70's, I left the steel city of Pittsburgh, PA and headed north to the Snow Belt-close to Erie and the Great Lakes. Here I studied Special Education with a focus on speech and hearing therapy, including lots of social and dance activities, giving me a new view of my future.
However, it was when I headed south to Florida and taught for 7 years in the public school system that the constraints of my early years were loosened and I began to view education, its responsibilities and the needs of children with more sensitivity. I was also introduced to Kundalini Yoga. The change in awareness began to happen - full speed ahead!
Evolving Perceptions I continued my emphatic athletic participation in running, swimming, biking and martial arts, but now I had added the subtleties of yoga and meditation. I approached this form of "exercise" with the same passion and devotion as my other athletic ventures, but the results were different.
With the dedication and enthusiasm evidenced in most of my efforts, I embarked on expanding my understanding and practice of a new quality of life that continues today. I immediately became a vegetarian at the age of 21 and experimented toward a healthier lifestyle until the present day. I spent many summers in yoga training and hours each day learning the ancient sciences. Kundalini yoga has been a part of my daily practice since those earlier years. I also taught it to adults and children for over 30 years.
What was next with the Speech Pathology? I continued in a Masters of Education program and worked with individuals of all ages - ones, who were severely autistic, disabled mentally, emotionally and in language abilities - until my 'ripe old' age of 28.
Then it was time to start a family. Which I did. I moved to Ithaca, NY, home of Cornell University, where my husband was a researcher in the Horticultural Department. Our wonderful, peaceful home and land in the country, edging 1700 acres of state forest soon became a center - a center for retreat, learning, adventure and community. This was a newly formed undertaking that would serve adults and children.
As I traveled and studied, learning more about the philosophies of education and helping with curriculum development on a Navajo Reservation in New Mexico. I then taught in Florida, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York and Massachusetts, and developed unique efforts at home.
The house was small, but the heart was huge -everyone was invited. Thirty five children from 2 to 21 came with or without their families to this haven on a hill each summer. Many animals came to live, too. You name it and it probably was roaming our land. There was a pony, sheep, goats, pot belly pigs, chinchillas, chicken, ferrets, geese, llamas, dogs, cats, even a monkey, who was saved from a dreadful life in a small cage - they all roamed the acreage.
Of course, who could appreciate the animal kingdom relationships more than the young people? They eagerly joined the efforts of my family of three children and flourished in this paradise created just for them. Kids from all over the country were now the students and teachers of our animal behavior program and 'live-in' 6 week summer camp that flourished for over the next 12 years.
Creating Memories As the leaves began to change color, the forest became more still, but even then other children came to join in the "homeschooling environment." Daily they learned their unlimited potential from within. They had opportunities to design their own curriculum with drama, art, music and all the academics. Community service was always the strength of this weave of experience as the children developed costumes and dramatic acts to entertain children at hospitals. They organized a 'once a month' free community meal in the nearby city. The children prepped, cooked, served and inspired their families to be part of this service that continued monthly for the next 15 years. Another team had been built in the community as businesses made donations, organizations provided spaces and kitchen facilities, advertisements were welcomed and the line to be fed grew to 150+ people.
When the snows came, we still hiked and camped during 'adventure weekends.' The animals still needed to be fed and visited and there was always room for another 'student' that could benefit from a family, a home in the woods or an alternative educational experience.
As my own children grew older, more time was spent 'in town' and my interests turned towards a new business. The animals found new homes, the camp doors were closed and I formalized my health and wellness experience into a corporate trainer/coach position that benefited thousands. I began to appreciate more and more the convenience of the technology as I published a book, developed training materials, traveled and trained with offerings of up to 5 teleconferences a week that 'spoke' to 100-150 people each call (Before the web conferencing days:).
Education and service was a focus once again - still having the freedom to continue homeschooling, but with a different touch. The structure of business, the communication skills of team building and the focus needed for success were appreciated by this teacher-turned business women. I was a 'fast learner' who was now serving in a new way, which brought much prosperity with expanded connections throughout the country. Now I had made friends with many who were 'faceless.' Through the power of the word, 'seeing' through the wires, thousands of new contacts were made, which were enduring, priceless and filled with mutual respect and gratitude...all in the name of health, increased wellness and prosperity. When I traveled to train and meet hundreds face to face at the annual corporate meetings, the 'physical look' never quite matched what I had imagined, but those moments were always filled with surprise and affection.
Technology continued to advance and my subcontracting work required more and more of a learning curve to be on the 'cutting edge' of what was available for change and efficiency. Continuing all else with "business as usual," I added advanced computer skills, an online teaching and learning certificate and a Masters of Education degree, specializing in online teaching and learning.
I received a grant and became co-founder of an online media source in January, 2000 (At that time the local papers did not even have a website - we helped inspired this, however). My accumulated communication, organizational and team building skills served a local community to increase media options, while uniting hundreds of international journalists, volunteers, readers and writers while broadening choices in communication related to local and national news.
This endeavor also became the focus of my Masters thesis and I created an online media internship program that offered 2 college credits to students for an intense one month focus of 80 hours of learning in the field of journalism, multimedia, technology, and public relations. College students, high schoolers and homeschoolers were engaged in innovative, authentic, multidisciplinary learning and received interactive, immediate feedback from professional journalists, photographers and friends as their work was broadcasted around the world.
I continued my passion for education and the use of technology and completed a multidisciplinary PhD from the University of Maryland. Please email me requesting a copy of my dissertation or a copy of any of my publications that are listed here.
In recent times, I spent 3 years as director of an Arizona Charter School, while continuing to be involved in designing and teaching online graduate courses -working with a number of universities. For the past 10 years I have been professor and Associate Vice Dean and Director of Assessment for the Graduate School of Education Department at UMGC (University of Maryland Global Campus).
I continue to conduct research related to assessment, online learning and the culture of online communities. My latest project has the intent of examining the effects of SimSchool. Can this simulation software help teachers learn how to support and interact in the diversified classroom? For a full list of my presentations and publications, visit the 'Home" tab at the top of this page.
The 'net-geners' are a new generation of independent thinkers, learners with a dynamic, active role in their personal goals and research. I believe in their concerns and solutions and the role that online learning and community will have in futuristic thinking and problem solving.
Personal Learning Revolution Continues My oldest daughter is 38, and is an emergency medical doctor in Colorado. Today she is traveling to needy ER hospitals and offering telemedicine services. She has been married for 14 years to a Peruvian architect, whom she met during her one year medical volunteer services in Peru. Her husband, also graduated from Drexel University as a mechanical engineer. He is working for a company that provides doctors and hospitals with database software and has started his own business.
My son is 35 years old, a pilot, fan of parachuting, and a space systems engineer who is now working at the National Cancer Institute in Maryland. Previously he worked for a start-up company in Boulder, Colorado, creating and testing drones for agricultural purposes. He graduated with a Masters from the University of Michigan and has worked on NASA space projects.
My youngest daughter will soon be 30 - and she, too has an adventurous nature. After graduating from an international high school in India and from the University of Vermont in Veterinary Science, she completed her veterinarian degree from Virginia Tech University. She has completed her 5th year at an animal hospital in Boulder, Colorado. Now it becomes more evident why I moved to Colorado in May of 2017.
One aspect of me has always remained consistent - the devotion to education, hope, wellness and positive change. I look forward to continuing the use of my talents as a professor, trainer, administrator and team builder while continuing development and research related to the intersection of technology, teaching and learning - and - of course- whatever else the future offers.
Thank you for 'listening' and I look forward to our next communication. Feel free to email me at: [email protected]