200 Students Interview author Jim Stovall

by Polycom Employee & Moderator polycshuck Polycom Employee & Moderator on ‎03-07-2012 02:33 PM

On March 6th about 200 students from 8 classes from Pennsylvania, Virginia, Texas, and Michigan participated in two sessions of our Polycom Special Event with author Jim Stovall and his book “The Ultimate Gift.” The students prepared questions for Mr. Stovall using the ASK process.

 

The depth of questions and interaction is always incredible. Here’s a sample of the questions:

Q: What is your favorite gift? 

A: My favorite gift is the gift of a day because it really can incorporate all the other gifts

 

Q: Where did you get the idea for the golden list?

A: When I was very young my sister had leukemia and I spent a lot of time at my grandparents’ while my parents went to doctors’ appointments. I didn’t like being away from my friends, my toys and my home. When I would complain my grandmother made me list 10 things I did like and after that list I could list what I didn’t list. By the time I finished my “like” list, I’d forgotten about the complaints.

 

Q: What is your writing process?

A: “The Ultimate Gift” was my first novel. I dictated it to my assistant, Dorothy, in 5 days. My other books took longer. I don’t plan or organize I just start telling a story and let it unfold.

 

Q: After we read this book, we practiced the gift of work by cleaning the bathrooms at our school. Was this a good gift of work?

A: Cleaning the bathrooms probably wasn’t fun and it was hard work, but hopefully if did make you appreciate/respect the person who does that everyday.

 

Q: What message did you want the reader to gain after reading “The Ultimate Gift.”

A: I wanted to debunk the myth that money makes you happy.

 

Polycom has offered this program every year for the last six years, and thank Mr. Stovall for taking the time to talk with students every year.

About the Author
  • Lynnette Whitfield Director, Asia Pacific (APAC), Education Industry Solutions With over 13 years in the Unified Collaborations industry, Lynnette is responsible for driving strategic business and academic initiatives and solutions for educational institutions. Based in Melbourne-Australia, Ms. Whitfield assists educational institutions across Asia Pacific to transform the way they teach, communicate and collaborate by leveraging Polycom’s high-quality voice and visual communications. Lynnette also spearheads two divisions; Polycom’s APAC Content Provider Program (where she recruits, and develops Museums, Zoo’s and Science Technology Centres who offer programs to K-12 schools) and Polycom APAC Special Events program which in 2011 offers over curriculum based programs for schools across Asia Pacific.
  • Marci Powell is Global Director for Education at Polycom and Chair Emerita and Past President of the United States Distance Learning Association (USDLA). Powell is a classroom teacher, administrator, and industry expert in the field of educational technology with extensive experience in applications related to lifelong learning and innovation. She serves as an advisor to public and private sectors in the Americas, Europe, Middle East, and Asia Pacific sharing global best practices and trends in education as a fellow educator and futurist. Her articles on distance learning have appeared in publications such as USA Today and has been quoted in numerous publications such as Financial Times, University Business Magazine, and Auckland Herald.
  • Elaine Shuck, with a background in technology, curriculum, and integration, is the Director of Education for Polycom. She is a leader in collaborative learning and interactive videoconferencing. For sixteen years she has brought stimulating and engaging learning opportunities to K-20 classrooms. Her work ranges from hands-on demonstrations to educators, to reaching out to Polycom’s corporate partners, to facilitating hybrid solutions that enhance education and training. Prior to Polycom, Ms. Shuck was Director of South Dakota’s Interactive Videoconferencing Smart Centers. She also served as distance learning coordinator for South Dakota Public Schools where she consulted on distance learning programs, medical education, and corporate training segments at hundreds of sites statewide. Elaine is an expert in her field and a frequent speaker. Audiences around the world – both face-to-face and through videoconferencing – respond enthusiastically to Ms. Shuck’s lively style, technical mastery, and commitment to learning. She has designed and implemented programs that inspire faculty and students as they interact with world-class luminaries in medicine, education, or noteworthy events. Her work has garnered major awards from the International Society for Technology in Education and the US Distance Learning Association (USDLA). An authority on social and connective media, collaborative learning, and best practices in distance learning, Elaine works with a host of educational groups and serves on the USDLA Board of Directors