MAC - Week 4 - Final Post - Publishing/Leadership Project

I plan to submit my presentation NCAE: North Carolina Associate of Educators. Unions are actually illegal in my state, but NCAE is our closest organization to the sort. They are the largest organized group of educator advocates. I am not a member (fees are really high) but have heard of wonderful conferences and meetings. Teachers fround all around the state are encouraged to present.

ISTE is well know by many teacher techie geeks. This is a larger national group that offers wonderful conferences. I have only been privileged to attend 2 but hope to attend more in the years to come. I plan t to submit to this organization as well.

Here is the link to my presentation hosted on Google Docs:
https://docs.google.com/present/edit?id=0AdaUz9rEHwEQZGZoempua3NfODN4N3dra3dneg&hl=en_US&authkey=CIb-hc4N

MAC - Week 4 - Publish/Leadership

 

Tuesday night I presented my Publishing/Leadership project. It was not quite complete but the major points were there. I need to go back and add a few more speaker's notes and bits of data. I enjoyed hearing everyone's  projects. Some were really, really awesome and I can't wait to hear their full stories of what happened during their projects. I plan on submitting my presentation to NCAE, ISTE and NCTS. 

MAC - Week 4 Peer Blog Reply 2

Original Post by Susan Calland:

 

Don’t hold back & participate wholly!

The chapter that definitely meant the most to me was chapter 9.  I have noticed many times that the students in my 7^th & 8^th grade classes who are totally uninterested in school and completely uninspired, will give me full effort when I am my nuttiest!  They may look at me and roll their eyes, but every time I am passionate about what I do and really into it, they are definitely paying more attention than when I am just giving notes or lecturing.  It is so awesome to see that student that really doesn’t give a hoot about being in my class, study for a quiz or look at me and say, “Hey I get it!”  The crazier I am, the more I can generate a spark from them.  To get my students to remember waxing and waning moon phases, I do my Karate Kid, Mr. Miagi, stance with my karate move.  I may look like a goof, but they remember the moon phases!  I was at an awards assembly at the high school and a former student caught my eye when the speaker talked about “wax on, wax off”.  Across the gym she mouthed to me, “was on, wane off” with a big smile on her face.  She was in my class three years ago.  Those are the time that I know that if I don’t hold back, they understand and remember so much more.   They are also more willing to take a risk since I do.

My Reply:

Susan, great post. It was fun reading about your was on, wane off moment. It is such a great feeling to see the light bulb go off in a student's mind. Especially for a student that tries their best to do poorly in school or clown around. It is awesome that a student from a few years past remembered such information. Seems like you know how to connect to your students both high achievers and the ones who want you to think they are low achievers. Great job.

MAC - Week 4 Peer Blog Reply

Original Post by Monica Heaney

    “Being the Board” is something I’ve learned this year with a full time job, Graduate school, three young children, and a husband. Making the choice to go back to school was difficult, but I committed myself and here I am. If I decided not to go through with this Graduate program, I am certain that I would have blamed my husband for not being able to help out, or the ages of my children and their needs.  I don’t think it was a conscious decision to “be the board,” I needed it to be that way and it has actually benefited my family and me.  Through this crazy year, I have learned to give everyone in my family an A for helping and understanding. They have all kept that grade up. My husband has especially earned the A. I feel like this year we have all become game pieces who worked strategically to get through homework, tests, games, holidays, and special occasions. Now, I can happily say that the end is almost here, my kids are happy and well, and I think food shopping is going to be my husband’s new permanent job. More importantly, my kids have seen the value my husband and I place on education rather than just hear about it. We were all students this year and we have all learned so much. 

 

My Reply:

Monica, what great thoughts. You are such an amazing woman. I have admired you through this whole program. I had a hard enough time balancing a full time job, this program, a husband and a spoiled dog. I can't imagine having to throw 3 active children into the mix. I am so proud of you and how well you have done. Being "a board" is not always easy but sometimes necessary. I have learned doing things for your self is ok, in most cases it benefits more people than just your self. I wish you all the best and hope we stay in touch for years to come.

      

MAC - Week 4 - Reading

http://www.prscoup.com/446/why-is-csr-popular

I can’t wait to have some time…someday…to read this book again, slowly and digest all the wonderful thoughts it shares. The part this week that I really thought about was the last chapter and the WE story. Zander talks about what is best for ALL. I began thinking how this never happens anymore. The government says they do what is best for the country, but really, they do what is best for their pockets. State officials say they try to protect education, but even as I type are laying of thousands and thousands of educators due to money…we have to take pay cuts each year for 5 years, but not any superintended or state official…no, no, no, that would not be good for them. Why can’t American’s lose the evil greed monster and do what is truly best for out country, state and what is best for our children. We spread around the world trying to make the rest of the world just like us, but why? I don’t blame other countries for laughing at us and saying no way. Look how our county is in shambles due to greed. Really, why can’t WE ALL do what is best for ALL?

MAC - Week 3 - Publish/Leadership

"Death by PowerPoint"

http://www.toonpool.com/cartoons/Death%20by%20Powerpoint%20presentation_40892

I hope none of us die from PowerPoint/Keynote overload...I just thought that cartoon was cute. I made the decision last week to do a presentation for the Publish/Leadership project. This week I began building slides and adding the text to the speaker's notes. I have a few ideas of where I would like to submit my project too, but no concrete conferences yet. I will be presenting this summer for my district superintendent, professional development department and technology department but I know this doesn't count...but it will be the area that actually will be making changes based on my research (which is pretty cool). I am presenting Tuesday night in class so I hope to have 90% of the project done and have confirmed where I will be submitting. That is the goal and I feel a reasonable goal. I am very glad we got to start this project in month 11 and didn't have to wait until month 12...it's difficult to smash a years work into a little keynote!

MAC - Week 3 - Reading

 http://www.transmin.org/DevelopingPastors/InterimMinistry/tabid/44449/Default.aspx

This weeks reading was a little funky, and not as enjoyable as last week but I got the point. Chapter 5 "Leading from Any Chair" hit home more than any other chapter this week. My school is currently in a state of flux right now. The principal that has been there for over 13 years was moved our i late February 2011 to prepare for the next school year where she will be taking over a school with test scores under 20% proficiency. Since her last day at our school, we have had an interim principal that takes no leadership. We teachers have had to step up and lead. For some this was very easy but for others, it was very difficult and uncomfortable. With the principal that just left, instructions were given out like a drill sargent and everyone knew what they were to do from day 1. Now, nobody knows what to do or where to begin closing out the school year. It has been very interesting watching the leaders make way though the crowd of wanderers. The students have also felt the disjointness of the school and have begun asking much more if there is anything they can help with. Though it will be a bumpy road to June 20 when we finish the year, it has been a great experience for the students (who got to see their teacher transform from follower to leader) and for the teachers who found new skills and leadership qualities that I feel have made our school stronger...I wonder who will be hired in July to join the Mineral Springs adventure.

MAC - Week 3 Peer Blog Reply 2

Original Post by Brian Thomas

What I’ve observed from the readings this week (especially from Chapter 6) is that many of Ben’s philosophies about putting others first and living your life in a positive way have been in the Bible for thousands of years. The problem is, most people (including me) have not been so good about reading these principles and applying them to our lives. I believe that if we all spent more time reading and applying THAT guidebook that we would be able to show much more love and genuine concern for each other.

That aside, I particularly liked the discussions in the book on opening up your thinking to possibilities and using the word “and” instead of “but” to describe our current situation. I think it’s this type of positive thinking that can really help make or break your day and your outlook on your current situation. I also liked the discussion of leading from any chair. I think this idea is especially important to share with a classroom of students that might have confidence issues (which, for most teens, is almost a given). To understand that your contributions are valued no matter what your role is, is a very important concept to get across to a class and I appreciated the authors insights and stories about this idea.

My Response

 Brian, how true we should all follow the best selling guide book of all times. Sometimes it is very difficult to try and do the right thing and not wallow in self pity yet we should always try to do what we believe is right not matter how difficult it may be. This fits right in with teachers in the classroom. It may be easier to do just enough for the children that fold their arms and fight not to learn anything, and that may be easy, but not right. Those are the children who should be worked with the most in trying to realize what the barrier is and the best and safest way to help them. I have found doing this can be very hard to do and even caused bumps and bruises but in the long run has a positive outcome. 

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MAC - Week 3 Peer Blog Reply

Original post by Hunter Looney

First off let me address this rule. This author could have gotten the same response without using "gd". I believe this author could have changed the wording of this and reached a lot more people with his point. If you have no idea what I am referring to then here it is.

Rule Number 6: "Don't take yourself so 'gd' seriously" by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander in The Art of Possibility.

I know authors can't make everyone happy but cursing in a book is generally not the way to go.

Besides that I like the point of not taking yourself so seriously. I just wish it was worded differently.

Disclaimer: If this post offends someone because I am offended by 'gd' then I am sorry that I could not make everyone happy with this post. 

 

My Response

I agree with you 100% Hunter. I will be the first to say, you do not have the right to not be offended…however, in a professional work, like a book of this nature, there is no place for language like in our book. . "GD" is the only phrase that offends me. I loose a great deal of respect for people who use it, including this author. Yes the rule is great, but like you said, use different words to state your point. I found myself reading chapter 5 with awe and from chapter 6 on, the awe was gone and so was the respect.

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MAC - Week 2 - Reading

The reading this week was very interesting and a great conversation starter with my family and friends. As teachers, we always talk to our students about reaching their full potential, the possibilities are endless if you put your mind to it, etc. After reading the first few chapters that we walk the walk but are not talking the talk. Until we, the society, can open our minds further and realize that the norm of rewards and penalties in education is not a natural law but a changeable philosophy, these “you can be great” seem a bit empty.

“Giving an A” was a wonderful chapter to read. I remember very clearly the feelings and thoughts I experienced while performing a recital for a grade in college or performing in rep class where immediately my teachers and peers would evaluate me and give feedback on my interpretations and techniques. It was so hard to focus on solely performing the music for arts sake and not striving for the best performance in rep or working to get the best comments of the day. It wasn’t until my senior year preparing my 4^th and final full recital I focused on the music, and that alone…and I must say, that recital was the best recital of my life. Grades and ratings are taught to people at a very young age, even in daycare with student of the week or top reader. How wonderful for everyone if we could focus on the achievements met along the path to success compared to no one else but yourself. As long as we continue to reward society norms, and penalize other ideas and ways of doing things, our society will slowly dwindle down, like it is currently.

MAC - Week 2 Peer Blog Reply 2

Original Post by Tiffany Jones 

This weeks reading was AMAZING. Beginning with the story of how Ben tells a little girl, He is doing, "perfectly"....we are given new ways to think, new possibilities for living a full life.  The first parts of books are usually something I skim, or it may take me a little bit to get "into" the book.  That was not the case with Art of Possiblity by Rosamand and Benjamin Zander. The conversational, easy going style of the prose is engaging and provides a great flow as the chapters reveal a new attitude and vantage point to life.  The authors' passion and enthusiasm for their work really comes through. One of my favorite ideas was the constraints that we put on ourselves.  The unspoken, unwritten parameters that we perceive to be there that truly are not.  This was depicted with the discussion of the nine-dot puzzle, there is a square of nine-dots and the directions say to use four connected, straight lines to connect all the dots.  Most people will think they need to stay within the "box" created by the dots.  The solution is that you must make two of the lines extend outside those parameters in order to solve the puzzle.  Therefore, the image is there to remind me to always think outside the box! I am inspired to open up my mind to new possibilities.  Just like this amazing course at Full Sail.  I can't stop telling people how awesome this program is and I always begin by saying, "I was really just an emailer" when I started and now I have been introduced to a whole new world.  I have not only been introduced but I have been taught how to be an active participant in an entirely new way of thinking that I had truly never dreamed I would be a part of.  The EMDT program has been such an inspiration, I don't want it to end... the desire is instilled within me to continue this technological journey.  Where it will lead me.... who knows? It is like learning to ride a bike, climbing a mountain, and riding a roller coaster all at the same time. I can only say that the Possibilities are endless!!

My Reply

Tiffany, what a great post. I agree 100% that people need to let go of the constraints they place on themselves, both knowingly and subconsciously. Sometimes thinking “outside the box” is a hard thing to do, especially when one is faced with a fast deadline or excessive stress or distractions. I am positive you will go very far with your newly learned skills and found ultra creative nature. You have such a rewarding position and difficult job at your school, and have many areas to help your students meet their full potential. Your possibilities, just like you said, are endless.

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MAC - Week 2 Peer Blog Reply

Original Post by Anne Alsup  

Recently I had the opportunity to be introduced to the World of Warcraft during a class on Gaming Strategies and Motivation. My guides for the excursion into this alternate reality were my two youngest sons, Stephen and Andrew. We had some interesting adventures and I spent way more time than I thought I would in this strange land. Many of the quests would take hours and I would go to bed dreaming that I was running through a field, trying to find my corpse so I could bring my lifeless body back to life. I would leave my house in the morning and I started thinking of everything in my life as part of the game. Following the same road, noting landmarks along the way, entering the building where I work, walking down the corridor, opening doors like I was on some quest. As I read the book, "The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander and came to the first chapter, it didn't take much to convince this reader that it is all created.

Who makes the rules anyway and what were they thinking? Seriously, if we never colored outside the lines, where would we be? If we define ourselves by our perceptions of what our administrators, legislators, students or their parents think of us; where would we be? Given the current state of affairs in education, I'd much rather step into a "universe of possibilities" where I can have some control over my perception of the reality. If teachers are going to inspire their students, they need to have some inspiration. Budget cuts, meetings, more reports, standardized testing, learning gains and AYP, do not count as inspiration. If we are going introduce our students to the world of possibilities, we need to make sure that we are acquainted with the terrain.

I would love to give my students an A and differentiate my instruction to better meet the needs of my students, but the system that I work in doesn't support that goal. It is wrong to tell a student to seize the universe of possibilities and invent his own path to success, when there is a big bad test at the end of the year that is going to determine whether he passes or fails. We simply need more options in our system to allow students more control over their future and the opportunity to experience the universe of possibility. We need to re-think the rules and create some new possibilities.

My Reply

Anne, great post. I too have thought about the sections in our reading where the A is given and the emphasis is on the accomplishment and goals met along the way. As you said what a great concept that would greatly help our students’ education however I would be willing to bet there is no school system in our country that would support this revolutionary idea. Society has become too dependent on the results produced by national standardized tests and curriculum with scripted pacing guides. What would happen if teacher were allowed to do what they are good at…teaching? The possibilities are endless.

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MAC - Week 2 - Wimba Archive

Though i think copyright laws are absurd, I was very please to listen to the conversations that took place during Wimba this week concerning copyright. It was interesting how so many different people interpreted the answer choices on the quiz/survey. If there are so many different interpretations with just our small class, I can't imagine how many different ones there are throughout the whole United States. No wonder nobody really knows if they are obeying the law or not. After watching the archive, I feel I better understand the basics of copyright and though I still feel the laws are absolutely absurd, I now have a better chance of following the current (crazy) law properly.

 http://cyberlaw.stanford.edu/node/6136

MAC - Week 1 - Free Post

I am still not clear on what the Publish/Leadership Project is...I'm sure the next few Wimba sessions will help clear things up. However, I do recall in our first Wimba session the words present or write. Well, writing is my weakest skill by far so I can say, no matter what the project requires, I will choose to create a presentation over writing a formal paper. I look forward to hearing the details of this project...of what I do understand it sounds cool, and very useful to have in pocket.

MAC - Week 1 Peer Blog Reply 2

Original Post by Jim Farmer

I was really intrigued by the documentary when they spoke about the Brazilian, Nigerian, and Swedish laws and how they were almost trendsetters. Laurence Lessig and many of the other interviewees spoke very well about the need to adapt our current laws to the new technologies that so many people have access to. We are no longer protecting printed materials that were produced on a printing press. Everyone has the capability to be a producer and I think this is a fundamental change in all societies and how they handle copyright laws. Many of these laws, were conceived before the ease of file sharing and collaborating became the norm for many. I think the point that Mr. Lessig made about being more open with sharing would increase the revenue for many artists that do not see a dime from their works being distributed was right on target. 

The idea that suing your customer base to keep pirates at bay (pun intended) is ridiculous. Sending someone to jail and fining them tens of thousands of dollars is not a way to endear yourself to the public that you want as paying customers. There are lots of examples of artists trying new methods and being quite successful. Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails started his own record label, The Null Corporation, in which he released his album as a free download with options for purchasing extras. The Grateful Dead toured for decades and encouraged recording and sharing of their music. There are many examples of musicians that have done well in the new economy of the information age. 

I am not arguing for pirating and the blatant disrespect for others hard work, but I do feel that times have changed and we must adapt to the new methods of distribution and sharing or we will stifle the artistic possibilities that these new technologies afford us. Just as education is dealing with how to handle smart phones, tablets, and mp3 players  that have more computing power than the Apollo spacecraft, so to must society adjust to this new world.

 

My Reply

Jim, I think you nail the copyright issue on the head. It is time for a change. The United States is NOT the leader in copyright law and progression. However, we do produce lots and lots of music, art, movies, literature, etc that should be shared around the world spreading ideas. To do this, copyright will have to catch up with times and technology. I am so glad you gave the Nine Inch Nails and The Grateful Dead, these popular bands are proof that greatness will be remembered even when they go against the grain.

 



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MAC - Week 1 Peer Blog Reply 1

Original Post from Marty Denson

Being involved in the music industry for nearly 34 years and the printing industry for 21 years, copyright issues have always been an important part of everyday conversation for me. The documentary “Good Copy/Bad Copy” is yet another look at the evolving issues and changes regarding copyright laws. The documentary enlightened me as to just how far the concepts of audio sampling has reached. While these individuals have demonstrated creativity with their “Techno Brega” style of manipulating the original works of others, I honestly believe that it is really just form of creative theft. It appears as though the individuals in the documentary clearly recognize that what they are doing is illegal, however, the ways to police this kind of copyright infringement is extremely difficult. Furthermore, I have noticed that the majority of those who practice the art of sampling do not possess any real musical skills and are left with no other alternative but to use other people’s works without permission rather than be original.  

 

My Reply

Marty, I have to disagree with you. It takes a lot of insight and skill to mix different styles of much together and make it work. I don't understand how you can say that requires no music skill. To be honest, all music is a sample of something. There has been so many centuries of music original ideas are rare anymore. Hip Hop today samples quite a bit. Just because it may not be legal (yet) doesn't mean it doesn't require special artistic skills. How do you think rock, hip hop, country, any music came about...through the merging of many different forms of music and music evolution. Anyone can "remix" a song, but only a musical artist can create new, valuable work with a message to share. Also, Techno Brega is mainly in other countries where our American laws have no authority, if it is not illegal in their country, how are they breaking the law? 

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MAC - Week 1 - Copyright Issues