The challenge for this week is Beautiful View!
We took my mother-in-law out on a lobster boat. This was one of the pictures that I grabbed.
The pulley hangs from a brace on the lobster boat. In the background is the Portland Headlight lighthouse.
Month: September 2024
Well, after a good bit of thinking, I’ve fixed the Volunteer Form. This was the form where I created a way to track Volunteers. Since there is someone who needs to print the form, it needs to be visual and a way to select a day. You can read the write up on the Volunteer Form Update to get a bit of background.
I started by wondering if I could add a SORT command into the validation formula. That led me to thinking about this a little differently. What if instead of trying to sort all the rows and columns, I created a column that pulls from that range? So, I added a column and added the following formula into it. Then, I needed to make sure that was one column. Thus, I added FLATTEN as a command. This basically puts all of the dates into one column.
=SORT(UNIQUE(FLATTEN($M$2:W)),1,FALSE)
What this formula does is to grab all of the dates in the range (cells M2 through the end of column W) and sorts them in reverse chronological order. The UNIQUE part makes sure that I don’t have duplicate dates (because there are lots of duplicated dates). Now I can use this column for my data validation.
I still need to pull data from each of the other rows and columns, so I use the following formula for that.
=FILTER(‘Form Responses 24/25’!C2:H,(‘Form Responses 24/25’!M2:M=A2)+(‘Form Responses 24/25’!N2:N=A2)+(‘Form Responses 24/25’!O2:O=A2)+(‘Form Responses 24/25’!P2:P=A2)+(‘Form Responses 24/25’!Q2:Q=A2))
This is a basic formula that uses multiple filter criteria (basically one for each column needed).
Together, this has cleaned up the Volunteer Form to be much more user friendly.
This is also a transferable strategy. This same process can allow me to create forms and then present that information by date. I’ve used this to create an Announcement process to collect announcements. These can then be sorted and presented by date.
I found a post about shaving being too expensive from the wonderful Thought Shrapnel by Doug Belshaw. This struck me as I switched to shaving with a “safety” (double-edged razor) several years ago. The reasons that I switched included: to cut down on waste, be more ecologically responsible, save money, and get back to basics. There is something satisfying about small processes that take attention. (This is true for making coffee for me as well. I generally make coffee in a French Press. I like the intentionality of the process.) I also prefer using shaving soap instead of shaving foam. Shaving foam always felt weird and fake to me. Shaving soap feels much better and more natural. Again, there is an intentionality involved. It doesn’t take much longer, but it certainly feels better.
I’ve realized that there are several things that I prefer to have intentionality. Things where I prefer the “old” way of doing things. For example, I still drive a car with a manual transmission. This may be my last car with a stick, but I enjoy the process of driving.
John Whiles has an interesting article. It really reminded me of how important intentionality is for me.
I’ve created a Volunteer Form for one of our schools (and written up the process). This allows a volunteer sheet to be printed every day with the appropriate information. Basically, a Google form is filled out that populates a Google Spreadsheet. The Spreadsheet has a tab where the Administrative Assistant can pick the date (populated from a range on the spreadsheet). Picking that date populates the names of volunteers who have volunteered for that day.
The one caveat with this is that the date isn’t in order. I would love to be able to sort the date.
The date is populated by using Data Validation Rules. The Criteria is “Dropdown (from a range)”. The actual criteria is:
=’Form Responses 3′!$M$2:T
This works well, except the dates don’t get filtered or sorted. The dates are in whatever order they appear on the spreadsheet.
If anyone has any ideas on how to sort the dates, or another way to accomplish the same end result, I would be greatly appreciative.
A public version (with Fake Names and data) with Commenting Rights is available.
Trailer
I’ve built a trailer (well it’s almost done, but it is usable at this point). The trailer is a Haulmaster that included a good bit of assembly. (It’s actually pretty amazing how a trailer can come in two small boxes.) Our small peddle boat fits nicely on the trailer. It’ll fit even better once I create a platform for it.
I still need to install the “floor” of the trailer, but that is cut and painted.
Acceleration
Acceleration is a new term we are using in XXXX instead of intervention. It’s means we ‘speed up’ the learning for struggling kids instead of slowing down. Apparently we have been doing intervention wrong the whole time. It’s Person A’s new favorite word.
A friend shared this following a discussion about educational initiatives. Essentially, the idea is that education has been doing “intervention” wrong. Instead of “intervening”, we need to be “accelerating”. This has been an interesting focus following the return to in-person instruction in schools following COVID protocols closing schools.
I’ve been worried about this for a while. It seems to me that we are seeing lots of “kids are falling behind” in news reports. This “falling behind” is the result of some BIG TEST (i.e. a standardized test). I have mixed feelings about the BIG TEST. Certainly, some standards of knowing things can be revealed via multiple-choice tests. However, humanness is not a multiple-choice problem.
Another issue that I’ve seen arise is that kids are struggling in several emotional ways. This is being covered as a result of COVID. I’m not convinced. I think that those problems have always been there, we just haven’t chosen to focus on them or make them important.
Fountain Pen
Cleaned out my favorite fountain pen and re-inked it. I went with blue this time. I usually use a red (Dragon Red), purple (Imperial Purple), or green. So, a traditional blue is unusual for me.
Flow
I’ve been working on implementing workflows at work. I have my first process in the testing phase. Everything works, but there is a desire for a slightly different process. So, I’m working on making that happen.
Rambling Readers
I’ve tried to import my reading list to Rambling Readers without much success.
Windows
The window installation started on Tuesday. Friday was a day off (really wish that I would’ve known that). Monday was the final installation day.
Getting windows installed is very disruptive. Rm and Hazel (I don’t use either as a password), had to manage to stay away from the installers.
The windows are a nice upgrade in general. We’re looking forward to the lack of a draft through the windows this winter.
We did have a couple of issues. After the windows were installed, I went into my office to open the top (back) window. To my surprise, it went down about 3 inches and stopped. Upon looking at the window, I could see a plastic collar in the track. I asked the installer, who said we could take it out, it wasn’t anything that they installed. Hm. I did a web search. Looking through the manufacturer’s website, United Windows, I could find no reference to this “feature”. So I called
and chatted with a Representative. The Rep stated that I needed an Order number before she could help. I gave her the model of the window, and just about everything on the sticker, but she couldn’t help. We went back and forth a few times, she stated she was talking to an “engineer”, but without the Order Number, well….
I also called the salesperson. He got back to me and stated that they could be removed. Apparently, they are there to “protect” the back balances. These can be safely removed and the back window opens fully. Huh?
How about designing the window to “protect” the back balances or making the back balances in a way that doesn’t need protection? We’ll see how they last.
We also replaced a large plain window in the back of the house. The window didn’t open at all. We replaced it with a window that has two casement windows on either end and muntins along the top section. It is a major improvement.
Labor Day Weekend
I finally scheduled some time to do a tile installation with my daughter. She had picked up some tiles that were returned/abandoned.
The tile is for the breezeway between the house and garage. We were able to get the cement board put down, and then get the tile installed on Saturday.
On Sunday, we grouted. (I say, we, but she did the vast majority of the work.)
Monday, she sealed the floor. She’s very happy with the results.
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Troy Patterson
Middle School Matters; Troy Patterson Consulting
troy@troypatterson.me
+1832-378-7697
Moodle, Education, Open-Source
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