Week 4 Wimba

We formed our own group and met using a combination of iChat, Google Docs and email. Our group consisted of: Michael George, Mike Hood, David Hotler, Dennis Woodward and myself. After presenting and chatting we used Google Docs to record our comments for each team member. The postings were really helpful in tweaking my Final Presentation. Below is what my peers had to say:

David Hotler says: After reviewing your PowerPoint I am impressed with your humble approach to education! The very first video shows me that you are open to new ideas and are ready to use technology in the classroom to better your instruction.

Next, thank goodness you are covering this and addressing this in a professional manner. So many teachers think that they can just type those old transparency slides into PowerPoint and the kids will be more receptive. Not the case as you have shown in your research and literature review. In your presentation you cover the elements of design in a masterful way by showing us contrasting examples of exciting and boring. To back up these points you used research to show that rich digital media will aid in an educators efforts to engage students. 

After watching the second video it was clear that you have done plenty of work in order to be comfortable in PowerPoint. In order to show educators how to spruce up their work it is important that you are a master of what you are teaching. Educators are not unlike their students in that at the first sign of ignorance they lose that “This person knows WAY more than I do, I should pay attention!” If you lose your audience when teaching new technology you will never convince them that your way of presenting is better and worth learning. The only thing I would change is slowing down the video portion. If this makes the video too long I would suggest segmenting the video into shorter lessons.

Great line: The perfect PowerPoint will not hide an imperfect presenter. Again so many educators think that just using PowerPoint will save them. Not the case. Your point here is that we need to create great PowerPoints and also practice those presentations to really engage and inspire our students. Thank you for such an engaging presentation!

Michael George says: Ginny, thanks for reminding us all that it’s not the powerpoint but the presenter that makes the difference. I think your point about rehearsal and practice is something that every teacher should consider before starting the daily, “blah blah blah.” You have to feel sorry for the kids who are subjected to the cycle of powerpoint -> worksheet -> read chapter -> scantron on Friday. Where is the engagement?

I especially like how you reminded people not to overpopulate their slides. One thing I can’t stand is a presenter that reads the screen to me, word-for-word on a text-heavy slide. I also like your tip for giving the handout at the end so to increase attention and engagement. Thank you for this great presentation and all of the helpful reminders on how to use powerpoint as an effective and engaging presentation tool. You definitely have a good eye for art and visual composition, I have learned quite a bit from you being on “The Team” as we worked through this program at FSO. The only piece of the presentation you might want to think about improving is the video. Somehow it changes the flow of the presentation and could potentially hurt audience engagement.

Dennis Woodward says: Your presentation is key to every educator, presenter and salesman. In fact, I think that every copy of PowerPoint should include a copy of Garr Reynold’s book Presentation Zen.
After reading Presenation Zen, it looks like you have adopted some of the styles into your presentations. Knowing that much of application training requires you to be hidden behind the lectern. Your lecturing and simple (but concise) presentations are not only eye catching but also allow for some creativity which goes hand in hand with your content area. 

Your action research has proven that less is more when it comes to PowerPoint. Less words on the slide means less words to read which means more content to remember. This thinking will require the presenter to be better prepared. Rehearsal should be imminent which not only reinforces and adds excitement to the presentation but also “works out the kinks” prior to presenting live.

Along the same lines of your presentation design, it should also be noted that video in a presentation should follow the same guidelines. Shorter videos will keep students engaged while longer videos may deter from the learning process.

The links to all of our presentations are below. I have also included my comments under each person's name.

Michael George: Click Here

Virginia Holm says: Michael - I think this type of response system would be great in tests and quizzes, but would be difficult in projects and papers. I like the idea of the second attempt. Students seem to gain confidence when given another try. It also helps to promote their recall on the topic.

I wonder if you only had one question per page on traditional testing methods, if that would decrease anxiety to the extent that the online assessment did? Perhaps it’s not so much the test but the amount of information on the test that causes stress. Did you attempt an online assessment with multiple questions on each screen? How does the online assessment increase or decrease student confidence while the traditional keeps them neutral?

Your presentation was well designed and easy to follow. On the Immediate Feedback slide, I would consider changing the bolded font to another color - perhaps a light golden yellow for further emphasis. I couldn’t really tell it was bold - but then again I am practically blind. Overall I enjoyed your presentation. You kept the audience engaged with questions and were very clear and direct. I look forward to learning what your further evaluation brings to the topic.

Virginia Holm: Click Here
See comments from peers above. Be sure to download the presentation so that you can view the presentation, speaker notes (which would be the lecture portion of the presentation) and the design elements as they are intended. Google Docs tends to undo the format in some instances.

Michael Hood: Click Here
Virginia Holm says: I think that this topic has a lot of growth potential. We are blocked from FB until after 4pm to discourage students from abusing it (which they have in the past). Your topic is an excellent choice for an Action Research topic.

I agree that PLCs could increase teacher interaction both school and district-wide. Since FB is the most common, and most blocked, perhaps you could research other platforms such as Schoology that could include not only your cohorts but students as well. Do you plan to present to your Administration on the validity of adding this learning tool into the classroom?

In your Conclusion, do you have a solution to adequately addressing the hurdles? I hope that you continue your efforts and research on your AR topic and that you find success in implementing PLCs into your school. On a technical note: under “results” make sure Facebook is capitalized.

David Hotler: Click Here
Virginia Holm says: David, you can tell that this was a project that you felt strongly about. Your research and re-evaluation show that you took to heart what created problems for teachers in successfully using the SRS. Your final comments about frequent practice of learning new tools really says it all. Too often we are introduced to new methods and technology that leave us excited only to lose interest due to lack of time and commitment.

I think the success in the video versus the live presentation and Schoology is that it allows teachers to learn at their own pace and convenience. Attending training sessions is part of the job, but often leads to resentment due to time taken away for the classroom, paperwork and student follow-up. I am glad you found success in that most teachers plan to use Promethean again. Do you plan to follow up somehow with the ones that have said they would use it?

Your presentation overall was positive and clear. Your PowerPoint laid out well and easy to read. It highlighted points that you further discussed in your presentation. On the Student Response Systems page however, I would flow the sentence under the bullet and out of the graphic. It could be difficult to read from the back of the room.

Dennis Woodward: Click Here 
Virginia Holm says: Dennis I feel for you with a ratio of 65:1 and constant evolving technology. I hope you are able to grow your support staff soon. On slide 4, your first bullet point says “Digital storytelling can be used to facilitate critical think and promote student centered learning” should that read “critical thinking”? I agree with you on self-paced training, especially among educators. With their schedules stretched so thinly, offering the ability to learn on their own schedule and pace will probably increase their interest in learning new technology. Video integration is important, but I would hope that perhaps their were a way for those who learn better through reading could download a pdf or there be a balance of video and text, much like your presentation.

I was saddened to see only a 10% participating during Cycle 1. It must be frustrating to have people come to you with problems that are easily remedied via a self-help video but they refuse to take the time to do it themselves. I think many people are like that in that they expect the IT guy to “fix it” because they deem themselves “technology illiterate”. What if our students limited themselves that way. They would never get past kindergarten.

In your speaker notes in slide 7: “I would like to be able to assist all teachers succeed with integrating and implementing the technology that the Academy has invested.” Should that be “all teachers to succeed”? Anyway, great AR topic, well done. I wish you success in the continuation of the implementation. I am sure that once the word is out that the program will always be there and is being added to for all skill levels it will be received more positively.

Week 4 “Think Out Loud" PLP blog post Part 2 of 2

I’d love to present at the Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC) in Orlando. After researching this conference, it seems to be the perfect venue for my topic “Does adding graphics and multimedia to lessons affects interest in secondary education?”

I’ve prepared a visual in PowerPoint with speaker notes that discuss and show how to create more effective presentations. I have also included research from my AR that validates how multimedia can enhance classroom participation. Unfortunately research also shows that it doesn’t necessarily increase test scores. I guess having students interested and participating is a major hurdle to overcome though.

The second choice to present would be at the Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS). Our school attends this every year and it is full of valuable resources that relate to independent schools. I have always been impressed with the quality of presenters and presentations. I think my AR topic could really benefit educators. I have done a Personal Development presentation with my peers on the topic and was surprised to see how many people 1. Don’t use multimedia in the classroom 2. Do no know how to effectively create presentations that engage students.

Below is the link to my first draft of Publishing/Leadership Project. If you have trouble accessing the Google doc, try switching to Firefox. I will be presenting Thursday evening at 7:30 to a group of peers consisting of:

Michael George

David Hotler

Dennis Woodward

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B96QGuYroUs5ODFkZDhjY2MtODM2YS00MmUyLTk4MDQtZDcyOGJjNTM2NTY2&hl=en_US&authkey=COjO0YUK

Week 4: Response to Meghan Bassett's Publishing Leadership Project Post

Meghan:
I am so jealous, you seem to have everything organized and in place. I think the venue you chose to present to is perfect, and would love to hear that you do end up presenting there. I sadly haven't gotten nearly as far as you have and am still debating whether to present or to do a paper. I wished I could be as organized as you are.

Meghan Bassett: Wk 4 Publishing_Leadership Project

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-MA0TWCR5Bdp6W5dVptpgsdOrofEk_pn1UruLd2lGOU/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CJum2coF
I want to publish my article on http://www.arteducators.org/ which is the National Art Education Association website. I think that this is the perfect place to try and publish my work because it is a National organization that is made up of all art teachers at various levels. Most Universities and school districts expect you to be a member of this group, and many use it as a place to find lesson ideas, go to conferences held annually, or find great articles relating to different areas regarding Art Education. I think it would be amazing to be published here because not only would I get my article into the hands of other art teachers, but I would make my screenflow videos available to an array of people that could use them and hopefully create their own. It would open up a new door to sharing amongst art teachers across the country!
I’ve been working with my publishing/leadership project, when I realized I was doing twice the work for no reason!!! Silly me. I started to compile my paper because I had planned on submitting an article to NAEA or SCAEA. Since we are showcasing our work to class next week, I also started a powerpoint highlighting the important parts of my paper. Then I realized I was putting together a presentation. Good thing is, I can take the parts I highlighted in my powerpoint to sift through my massive paper and edit out the pieces that aren’t necessary to get my point across.

So far it’s going well. I think I need to add a little more to the introduction to better explain what I am trying to accomplish with my action research project. I also need to weed through the literature review and cut out most of it, leaving just a sentence or two for each section of the paper. Lastly, I want to go through my Cycles and make sure to explain my results the best way I can without using too many numbers.
Maybe I’ll end up doing a presentation as well, so you never know if I may use both methods! I’m not writing off anything yet.

Week 4: Response to David Hotler's Free Choice: Publishing Project

David:

You have been so passionate about this since we started this program. I would think that your enthusiasm would clearly show in your submittal to present at VTEEA. As for working at Promethean, I think that's an obtainable goal as well based on the research you've done and your clear commitment to the product.

"David Hotler: Week 4: Free Choice: Publishing Project

This week we are presenting our publishing piece to the class or a small group of peers. I am certain this experience will be interesting and hope that it will be fun. I know that I am not excited to stay up late but I also know that I want good feedback. So I need to do unto others I would have them do provide the same level of feedback from beginning to end. For my publishing assignment I have chosen to do a presentation at a conference. I am pursuing the VTEEA Summer conference in August of this year. Im a member and plan to submit my presentation to them by the end of next week with the hopes that they will allow me to present. I am very excited that publishing is a part of this ARP. Many times I have great ideas but I am such a hard critic of myself that I never share them on a large scale. I let them work for and that is the end of the story. For this project I will be promoting and sharing and trying to get others to use my Schoology course to learn more about Promethean products. Maybe one day Promethean will hire me! I wish..."

Week 4 Reading: The Art of Possibilities

Chapter 9: Enrollment… I like that. This chapter spoke volumes in how important it is to not only talk to or teach students, but to engage them and get them personally involved in the process. I loved the beginning with the quarters and no change for a $10 dilemma. The first approach initially made the two strangers feel inadequate and stupid. After the author just asked for the two quarters the rest just flowed into place. People usually like to feel useful and helpful. Sometimes the way we approach a situation can put that on the defense. The enrollment approach gets everyone vested and makes it more enjoyable for all.

Chapter 10: Be the Board. Well, that’s a tough one. It’s really hard to be the board all the time. Sometimes life gets a bit overwhelming and you do place blame on others whether it is justified or not. I like the concept, and think it’s worth a try though. You can control the board, you can’t control others or situations. Like the blame placed on the violinist who had other obligations – everyone doesn’t always feel as passionate about a project as you do. Taking a step back and researching all of the data – Cora was a volunteer, she had other obligations, she had notified a fellow violinist that she could not attend that night – and taking a few minutes to digest it before reacting would have produced an entirely different outcome. The letter was a nice touch, but had he been the board from the beginning he would not have had to overcome that obstacle to begin with.

Chapter 11: A vision is a long line of possibility radiating outward (Zander and Zander, 2000). A vision doesn’t have to be something that will actually occur exactly as you imagine, but it can be an idea or concept that can grow and morph into something bigger and better. It’s like a stepping-stone to something great.

Chapter 12: Wow, I really liked the We/Us approach as opposed to the I/You. What a difference it made it the examples given. I know that sometimes I get frustrated with people who ask me to pile on yet another task when I am already drowning in too many. After years of experience however, I try really hard to see it through their eyes and to not react as to how “I” will be affected. We are there as a unit, and a team. If the team needs this to be completed then we will make the time and get it done. It’s not like they came to me to harass me and overwhelm me, it’s not about “me”.

Week 3: Response to David Hotler's Reading

David:


Thanks for putting this on your blog. With a visual and clear outline I don't see how we can't get this assignment right. Your site is super helpful in reviewing what Joe went over in Wimba - without having to go back into the Archives over again. I am going to take a screen shot of this page so that I can easily reference it when I start my assignment. It seems like sometimes we read too much into it and dread the entire process. That was what i felt before reviewing the Archive and reading your post.

“David Hotler Week 3: Free Choice: Abstract Writing

This week the project is to write an abstract for our Action Research project. I am writing this blog to help others and myself remember/learn what an abstract is and how is should be written. Just about all the dictionary and answer sites I looked at say it is a summary of a book, article, or formal speech. Our course instructor this month stresses the importance that our abstract be 120 words or less. I think is is due in part to search queries and interest levels. We want people to be able to see the entire abstract while shuffling through search results and we also want to hold their attention just long enough to get out point across. Here is what Joe said he is looking for when he reads out abstract.

120 words. No more and not much less.

1st sentence: The research question. Make sure this is simple and can be related too by others not just yourself the expert.

2nd sentence: Note your literature review and the 3 subtopics you covered that support your project.

3rd sentence: Cover your methodology (this might be two sentences). How do you accomplish what you are teaching or doing? This one is tough.

4th sentence: What are the results of your research? What the heck happened?

5th sentence: What is the conclusion of the study?”

Week 3 Wimba Post

After viewing the archive I walked away with a crystal clear perspective on what is expected in our Abstract. I was not looking forward to doing this assignment, and now it seems like no big deal at all. I am a little nervous about our presentation - not so much getting everything together, but the actual presentation. I do look forward to hearing everyone's input. I think having more than one perspective is going to be really helpful. I am sure that I'll have a lot of changes to make afterwards though. That's how we learn though, right?

As for the review on the reading, I was really glad to hear the discussion was able to help cohorts feel better about issues they were dealing with at work. It is nice to have a group of people who are in the same boat as you are. Sometimes we assume we are the only ones dealing with these problems and stress ourselves out without seeking advice. This will eventually come out in our performance and interaction with coworkers and students. Not to mention our poor families who have to deal with our wrath. I would recommend this book to just about anyone. It's really not geared toward a subject, but is a great general self- improvement guide. At least that's my take on it.

Week 3: Response to Michael George's Reading

Michael:

As usual I really enjoyed reading your views and thoughts of our reading. I too have not been an educator very long, and can’t imagine abusing any of our staff. As a matter of fact I usually make an extra attempt to get to know difficult people. I usually find something to like in everyone. With coworkers that is especially important. You won’t find me in any particular clique. I would hope that we’ve all learned from our own days as students to accept and get along with others. That would lead to Rule # 6 – another thing we, as adults should have learned ages ago.

Baby steps are a good way to address what might seem like an insurmountable obstacle. I always laugh at those self-help home improvement shows as the do it yourselfers rip out the kitchen, bathrooms, and flooring and then don’t know where to begin. One room at a time would be so much easier.

Caring is important both inward and outward. Focus whether it is on a person, project or idea will inevitably make the task easier.

"Michael George Wk3 Reading: Art of Possibilities Chapters 5 – 8

Chapter 5. Leading from Any Chair: We’re all leaders. How can we make a difference in the people will influence each day? How do we listen to those who help us make our dreams become reality?

I have only been an educator for a handful of years and when I started I didn’t clue into to the social pecking order.  Some teachers outright abused support staff and aides and didn’t treat them as valuable team players.  Just like chapter 5 illustrates, anyone can lead and have an influence.  

At my school, I refer to everyone as fellow educator, from the lunch lady to the principal. Each of us influences students each and every day and has an impact.  We all (hopefully) help students with their hopes, dreams, and achievements.

Chapter 6. Rule Number 6: Don’t take yourself so seriously. Life is a journey–enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love!!

There is an old Yiddish proverb, מענטש טראַכט, גאָט לאַכט and since most of you don’t speak Yiddish, myself included, it translates into: “Man plans, God laughs.”

Control is an illusion.  

Each and every one of us has limited control over our life and we should treat it as a serendipitous journey then learn to “be present” and “be loving.”   So many try to will things in life, everything from relationships to having children to job promotions.  Seemingly unattainable goals make us unhappy in life and ruin the gifts that are present all around us.

Chapter 7. The Way Things Are: Sometimes settling for the way things are is a lowering of expectations, sometimes it’s finding a starting point so that one can make things better. Where are you in this continuum?

Often times when we are presented with overly complex stimuli, we shutdown and accept things as they are.   Acceptance can be a good thing since it reduces stress and anxiety in our lives.  However, there are some situations in life where complexities need to get sorted out.  The only way to change these situations is by taking baby steps. 

If you had to clean up 10 square miles of garbage, would you try to do it all in one day?  Certainly not, you would set smaller goals and maybe work on 100 square yards per day.  This is a baby step.  An attainable goal, and this is how I tend to work to make things better.  

Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion: Control says that the only way to avoid disappointment and frustration is to not care at all. No hits, no runs, but most importantly, no errors. What are you doing in your daily life that expresses your passion or the things you are passionate about?

What does it mean to care?  Is caring an outward act?  Is it an emotion? Is it both? In my daily life I express my passion by showing that I care through outward acts.  Spending time with a person, or idea, or project and focusing on it to help change it for the better are how I show that I care."

Week 3 Think Out Loud" PLP blog post Part 1 of 2

To present or not to present, that is the question. I am not a big fan of presenting and was put to the test this year when asked by one of our Administrators to talk about the methods I used in adding multimedia to my curriculum. I had asked him to be one of my Critical Friends and I guess he liked my AR topic so much he wanted me to share it with my cohorts.

I used my topic to create a Powerpoint and with my wireless pointer expected the worst. We have options to choose from during our personal development days so I was not the only venue that morning. Fully prepared though I waited for everyone to be seated. I was excited to see that the room was almost full. The panic set in though as I realized they expected me to wow. While I doubt I knocked anyone off their feet, I have to say I did pretty well. They were clearly engaged, asked a lot of questions and wanted to know more. As were learned in our reading this week, just being passionate and knowledgeable can really change the way someone receives information. I think my enthusiasm showed that morning and reflected in my presentation.

I thought about writing a publication for our Leadership/Presentation but I think I am leaning toward a presentation now. I don't know if I can capture what I've accomplished in words as well as show it in a presentation.

Week 3 Reading Blog Post

Chapter 5: Being a leader doesn’t mean being a dictator. I enjoyed this chapter because the authors learned that from experience. When you are good at something and want to teach others you don’t have to boast or make them feel inferior because they aren’t up to your expected skill level. I admire leaders who treat people as equals and mentor with honesty and integrity. I also like people who really know what they are doing. I try to put myself in my student’s seat when I teach. I don’t want to talk down to them or make them feel stupid for not learning or being as excited about learning as I expect them to be.  You should know your audience and try to find a common ground. As for listening to people who can help you succeed, the key word is “listen”. Few people do that anymore. They think of a response as you are still speaking to them. Listening is a huge factor in success.

Chapter 6: I totally wrote down Rule number 6 – don’t take yourself so seriously. My husband used to tell me when we worked in sales together and I got so upset when a delivery went wrong, or someone cancelled an order “don’t sweat the small stuff, and it’s all small stuff.” A calm voice from a friend, coworker or a gentle inner reminder can often help a situation go from drama to calm and professional. Avoiding conflict and strife, whether it’s caused directly or indirectly allows you to pursue goals more clearly and successfully.

Chapter 7: Most of us want to succeed and advance yet only some of us will actually get there. Getting there is part luck, part knowledge, timing, and patience. While you shouldn’t accept your fate like the cow, having a good attitude like her is key. Panic and frustration reflect in your work and personality. Taking the time to learn how things flow, who everyone is and what role they play before pursuing your road to the top can make it a much smoother ride. It also would be wise to seek out a mentor from the “barn” that your are joining.  You may be overlooked, but with the right attitude, good work ethic, and a few barn fans you’ll get there eventually.

Chapter 8: Sometimes it’s easier to shut out how your feel so you don’t get hurt. Even in the classroom you can come in on some days and are just off. Your defenses are up and it projects in your presentation. I’ve done that for whatever reason. A day gone bad, the cafeteria menu was not what I expected, my students didn’t do their homework… and every time my students pick up on it and ask “Mrs. Holm, are you in a bad mood today?” That totally snaps me out of it. There is no reason to bring your negative attitude to work or to the classroom. Your performance will always suffer and so will the respect of your peers and students.  That being said, sometimes my students just don’t care. It would be easy to not care back, but I tend to do the opposite and work harder to find an element in the lesson that will spark their attention. The enthusiasm and energy I feel toward the topic will usually win them over. I try really hard to not let anyone leave my classroom with a negative experience.

Week 2: Response to Michael George's Week 2 Reading Blog

Michael:

You always impress me with your insight and logic. This week you made several wonderful comments. I was talking with my daughter tonight on our way home from dinner and the topic of doctors and surgical errors came up. I reminded her that doctors where merely "medical practitioners", meaning that they were constantly learning and experimenting with new and better ways to practice medicine. Your disclaimer "as far as I know" encourages those around us to find out more and to keep discovering. I don't think we ever know everything about any subject do we?

I also agree about "people will do a great thing, but begrudge a small one". Happens every day all around us. Great things are usually small things on a higher more attention grabbing level, but small things matter equally. Many small things can make a great thing happen. If I clean out my closets and place all of our unwanted and outgrown clothes aside, that's a small thing. If I take them to a homeless shelter and it benefits someone who has lost their job, their car, their house - this is a big thing. I like to do the little things and if they lead to big things that's just the icing on the cake.

Michael George's Origninal Post: Wk2 Reading: The Art of Possbility Chaps. 1-4 
The Art of Possibility.............

After reading the first four chapters and taking notes, I wonder to myself, “should I write what the instructor wants to hear?” or fully embrace the spirit of the risk-taking improvisational soloist?

In my view as a self-help book or book of enlightenment it is a re-hash of other works but it does contain good insights into human nature, specifically:

• Challenge all your assumptions

This is really hard for us to do. Just like the frog, we make decisions to survive and spend little time in mediation or reflection regarding our assumptions. Being able to question everything is a gift. As a physicist I always append everything with a disclaimer that reads: “As far as we know” and it drives my peers crazy. They often ask me how I can say that since we just observed or measured particular phenomena. I remind them that as a species, we know very little and haven’t even answered the universes top ten big easy questions yet somehow we feel educated by performing and experiment or solving a math equation. I always think of what Pontius Pilate asked, “What is truth?”

• Ask yourself “What is possible?”

This is truly powerful. Being able to dream and visualize and conceive of possibilities truly taps into the human spirit. Dreaming unleashes potential and sometimes allows us to do more that we ever thought possible. This idea of having students write a letter from the future starting with, “Why I got an A…..” was an excellent idea presented in the book.

• Be Present

Being present is something that people do not often do in their own lives. They are focused on the voice in their head or focusing on a little screen of pixels. Someone recently said that we need to switch from human-doers to human-beings. Instead of constantly being distracted by our own thoughts or desires we need to be present in our lives. We need to connect with those around so that we can truly see, listen, and resonate with those around us.

• People will do a great thing, but begrudge a small thing

This concept reminds of a quote from Napoleon,

“A man does not have himself killed for a half-pence a day or for a petty distinction. You must speak to the soul in order to electrify him.”

Every human being wants their existence to matter. If you have no purpose, why get out of bed in the morning. We need a reason to drive us forward or as Napoleon put it ‘electrify us’ or ‘speak to our soul’. If you ask someone to do something simple like take out the garbage they will groan, but if you ask them to organize the cleanup and trash collection for a benefit dinner for the parents of kids killed in Afghanistan, they will willingly do it because they feel it matters. Just like the parent that groaned at giving their child $2000 but happily gave all of her children $20,000 each. That parent saw an opportunity to make a difference and embraced it.

In closing, since I was lukewarm on the readings, here are my picks for your reading list:

• The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

• Ecclesiastes by King Solomon

Week 2: Response to JeVaughn Jones Week 2 Reading Blog

Wonderful way to turn it around and put a positive spin on the idea. I think the technique would be best used at college level, but can also see it working with AP or gifted students who expect more out of themselves and could validate their "A" effectively. This method could be lost on lower grades who just couldn't comprehend why we were changing the game plan at this point. It's almost like an application to join a club or activity. I think that is why rubrics are so successful. The tell you how you can achieve success, and what is expected, the rest is up to the student.

Original Post by JeVaughn: MAC wk2 reading – Another day, another A"Give them an A", or so says the authors of the Art of Possibility by Roz and Benjamin Zander.  As a High School English teacher, I'm sure my students would surely welcome this chapter!  At first, the notion seems unrealistic.  Zander gives excellent examples of how his music students set personal goals of what that "A" would require of them.  I then thought of doing the same with my students, but then something came to my mind that the chapter didn't quite address.  I mentally walked through the process.  Tell the students to write a letter of what it would require of them to get the "A".  They could list study habits, strengths, and measurable objectives.  Time would pass.  No homework turned in.  Student fails the reading tests.  Time to bring out the letter they wrote, so long ago.  I sit with them and remind them of the commitment they had made.  More time passes.  Still, no improvement.  Don't they feel guilty for not measuring up to the letter they wrote?  Then I took this scenario and multiplied it times 75, which would be the average number of students who would need "the talk".  Mission failure.  See, I believed that this "give an A" method would only work with highly motivated gifted students, such as those musical geniuses under Zander's tutelage.

And then it hit me.  I finally got it.

 In fact, as Chapter 1 illustrates, everything was just a matter o perspective.  The reason the "A" wouldn't work is because I was stuck in the old behaviorist paradigm, where a system of punishments and rewards was the only way to measure and to motivate students.  I needed to look at things from a fresh perspective.  I began to understand that the "A" represented the best that students had to offer of themselves.  It represented not a system of measurement, but rather, a celebration of ability.  In that regard, I thought about project-based learning.  I thought about the stories my students were writing and how each story was a reflection of their own minds and spirits.  To me, that is differentiation.  That is celebration.  And in fact, most students earned that "A", because what it stood for had changed.

Week 2 Reading Blog Post

This book is an easy read. I like the authors. They seem very relaxed and normal. It’s very motivational, and gives me insight to topics that I hadn’t thought about before.

New ways to approach things

Chapter 1: This chapter offered insightful views on not only thinking out of the box as well as seeing things in different ways to find new solutions. I have to admit that I stared at the 4-line puzzle and had no idea how to tackle it. After seeing the solution it seemed so simple. Sometimes the best solutions aren’t always the most obvious, but the require some “out of the box” thinking. We need to just think for a few minutes more and try to not be so logical and open our minds to see things in a new way.

Chapter 2: Everyday we measure our jobs, our families, more and ourselves. We try to find out how everyone’s day went, what he or she did and how well he or she did it. One must question - is measurement of everything in our life really necessary? Sometimes by just listening to what people are saying they will tell you what they did and there isn’t always a result. Normal, ordinary things happen everyday no measurement of what was done is needed. When I assign skills reviews for my students, I’m not necessarily looking to see how perfectly they recreated something, but more so if they understood what and why the tasks led to the final result. It’s hard to measure a beginner graphic design class when you have all levels of abilities in that class. I don’t ever want to discourage someone from going further in the field because I didn’t feel his or her work was not as good as another student’s.

Chapter 3: What an interesting idea of giving students an “A” and having them validate why they deserve it. I loved seeing their openness and the new revelations they discovered during the first two weeks. One of my favorites was the Asian student who always felt he was a low number. He over time developed more self esteem by seeing himself as an “A” and not as the actual ranking that was given statistically.

Chapter 4: Contributions - an interesting word. How do we contribute to our lives, and to the people in our lives? I’m a big fan of Dr. Joyce Meyers and she is all about staying focused on what you can do for others and for God, not what others expect of you or how they judge you. By contributing to benefit others, and not just to help yourself your life is more fulfilling and you accomplish more meaningful things, even if they are as simple as helping a friend by driving their child home from school because they have a late meeting. It’s out of your way, but not by much and the overall contribution makes more sense than being selfish and not seeing the big picture. I feel we’re here to contribute to the lives of others, not to get what benefits us most.

Week 2 Free Choice Post

This week we received final approval (with edits) on our AR Literature Review. I am really relieved to have that behind me and am amazed at what it became. I remember at the beginning of EMDT when we were in Dr. Wyley’s class learning about APA and just starting to gather our resources. I wondered what in the world this would lead up to.

Photo from www.free-extras.com

Here we are in Month 11, finalizing our AR site and preparing for our final presentation. Along with that I am preparing for the end of the school year. I am trying to keep my seniors in focus (half of my class is graduating on the 21^st). Mostly, I am attempting to maintain my sanity as I prepare to finish my Masters, wrap up the school year and go on a much-deserved vacation after not having taken one since 2006. Did I mention I am also potty training a Jack Russell puppy? Any tips on that are welcome. 

Week 2 Wimba Session

I am bummed that I wasn't in this week's Wimba. The interaction and topic of Copyright and Fair Use were really interesting. I learned something new as well. I did not know that it wasn't Fair Use if the content of the lesson being taught could still be successfully taught without the copyrighted item. I would think that 99% of content presented in that case are in violation of the Fair Use law. I think too that it could be interpreted by different people in many different ways.

When the topic of copyright comes up in my class, I always refer to the "man on the street" rule. If someone with no graphic design or technical training feels that two images bear a striking resemblance to each other, it is reasonable to assume that a copyright infringement has occurred (Luttropp, Greenwald, 2009). It seems too that copyright infringement is being enforced on more popular venues. This was the second time I had heard that YouTube contacted someone for a violation. If in the video you credited the artist as we do in our assignments, I wonder if they would still contact you? Has anyone had this happen? I did a video 2-3 classes ago and used a poem by another author, but I did credit her at the beginning and the end. It was also a really old and random piece. I was not contacted about violating any laws.

Creative Commons and the like would probably be your best bet for sources. Or you could create you own as someone mentioned. It is easy in the age of technology and accessibility to grab from the Internet and run. As instructors and role models perhaps we should recondition ourselves to play by the rules. That would be the easiest way to solve the problem.

Greenwald, M. and Luttrop, J. (2009). Graphic design and technology through the ages. Designing for print production: Essential concepts (pp. 30-31). Clifton Park, New York: Delmar.

Week 1 - Free Choice Post

As we come to the end of our EMDT journey, it's good to have classes like this. We've had months of creating, learning new technology, making music, film, gaming, and working on our never-ending AR project. Getting back to blogging is a welcome relief for me personally.

Just in week 1 it's been great reading everyone's ideas and opinions on copyright laws. I know that Wimba is usually our time to get together, but I feel these discussion boards and blogs bring us together too. I look forward to seeing our weekly readings from different perspectives.

I've been on all sides of copyright - from violating to complying. It's something I think reflects in one's age and where they are in their life - in high school, college, starting their career, or changing careers. I know that is sort of a cop out, it's not right to abuse the copyright law, but in all honesty haven't we all done it? I try to convey the importance of copyrights to my graphic design students. In their assignments I ask that they cite the resource that they downloaded an image or logo from. I also strive to have them design original ideas, using others as springboards to creating their own unique work. It doesn't always happen, and some students just can't grasp the idea of an original thought. In today's in your face world of advertising, it's hard to know if your idea is your own, or a derivative on one or many that you have been exposed to and locked in your memory bank.

Week 1 Response to Michael George's Copyright Post

Michael:

I had no idea that the parodoy police were actually out there. Your videos are hilarious, and clearly not a copyright issue at all. Anyone who has seen one could clearly see that it was a spoof and it no way intended to portray itself in any other way. Ridiculous! After reading and watching this week's material I also thought there has to be a better way. It does seem that the patent system is more clearly defined. I agree that there needs to be a revisit to the current copyright laws so that they better fit today's global society. 

"Wk1 Reading: Copyright Issues part 2: What the Heck is Fair Use? http://proudrooster.blogspot.com/2011/05/wk1-reading-copyright-issues-part-2.html

Don’t even get me started on ‘fair use’. One thing that really irks me about copyright law is that ‘fair use’ is a defense but not a right. Lawyers and copyright holders do not respect ‘fair use’ exemptions like parody. For example, I create original parody videos and post them to YouTube like this one:Mein Superintendent

Each time I post a parody video on Youtube, I get hit with a DMCA (Digital Millennium Copyright Act) takedown notice by the copyright owner. This is clearly not the full-length movie. It is clearly subtitled. It is clearly a very short excerpt. It is clearly not something that could be confused with the original work or diminishes its value. Yet, every single time I post a parody, I get threatened for infringement.

YouTube labs has a great video on challenging a takedown notice under the “fair use” provisions to copyright like parody (in case this should ever happen to you.) Know Your Meme: Challenging a YouTube Take Down with Fair Use

I have never lost on challenge, but it is just another hassle under our current system. YouTube must respond to all DMCA notices and remove potentially infringing material to comply with the Safe Harbor provisions.

Yet another thing that bothers me about copyright is there is no clear registry of ownership like in the patent system. This is a huge problem in the software industry. As companies file bankruptcy and have their assets parted out to creditors ownership becomes murky. Even if you wanted to legally use or re-release old games or software, it is nearly impossible to track down who even own the rights. I feel that in copyright law that if a product is not offered for sale after a period of 10-years than it automatically falls into the ‘public domain’. This would solve so many problems and we could then play all those 8-bit video games again from our childhood.

Copyright was put in place to develop our culture, but instead it starting to stifle us because we can’t re-use, re-mix, and even resurrect software that has long been abandoned. It’s just like the videotape library shown in the movie Good Copy/Bad Copy. Piles and piles of historical footage locked up forever because of copyright. A new balance needs to be struck and fair use needs to become a clearly articulated cultural right."

Week 1 Response to Bruce Neubauer's Copyright Post

Bruce:

I totally agree with you in that with digital technology and the Internet we have changed how music is produced and distributed. This also applies to images as well. How easy is it to Google or Bing the image you need? You can even filter it to find larger versions that you can use in print. There are sites where you can legally obtain images and songs such at iclipart.com and Creative Commons. In CC though we have to limit the use to education without requesting permission. iclipart allows you to use their work in advertising, etc. for a yearly subscription fee. As we move forward, I think these laws will need another glance and perhaps a revision or two.

"Week 1 Blog Number 1---Copyright Laws http://brucemonth11blog.blogspot.com/2011/05/blog-number-1-copyright-laws.html?showComment=1304800365699#c4371100222132605395

I am a fanatical user of http://creativecommons.org/ , but even there one must be cautious.  Just because an image is available does not mean it is usable.  Often one must check with the image's owner to view the CC license agreement.  My experience with CC is that usually the owner allows for free usage (including image manipulation) as long as you do several things: 1) Give proper attribution, 2) Give proper tittle, and 3) Make some kind of statement in which the image's owner is viewed as endorsing the content of your production.

I also like to use old film and video footage.  It is fun to view and adds a nice creative bump to any video project.  Older black and white footage is especially cool to use in more modern pieces.  Its retro look even adds a bit of humor.  I have used stock footage this way in several FSO projects.  A great place to locate stock footage is at Internet Archive  http://www.archive.org/  This site provides a vast array of older films that are bow in the category of public domain.  Public domain is great stuff because there is absolutely no worries whatsoever about any ownership infringements.

I did like the 10 copyright myths.  I always used to laugh when someone would tell me, "But I'm not selling it."  I could never convince these people that the issue was never about sale, it was about unauthorized duplication of any kind.

As to the content of the film,  Good Copy, Bad Copy.  I'm not sure where my thinking is on this.  I have never really considered it before.  I tend to believe someone's property is someone's property, regardless whether it is physical or intellectual or creative.  I have strong feelings about people being overly subjective about someone else's possessions.  I understand the need for the free exchange of ideas.  But to freely exchange a creative piece that is the direct product of someone else's s efforts and talent?  Well, I just don't know.  This feels like a slippery slope to me.  I have the impression we are trying to over-intellectualize what is at the core a moral issue.  Maybe that's why it feels slippery to me.  It feels like a lot of people seeking for a way to justify a presupposition.

As the one executive stated, "You need copyright law as an incentive for people to create."  Also, I have read that the era of the 'professional' musician is on the wane.  The digital technology and the Internet have completely changed how musicians produce and distribute their creations.  We may be seeing a major shift in how music is consumed by its listeners.  

But I have to hear and read more before I can speak intelligently about the issue. "  

Week 1 - Blog 1 Copyright Issues

As we move further into the age of technology, our simple and easy to understand (and enforce) copyright laws are falling the wayside. Just interpreting each individual's view of what infringing upon a copyright is becomes very broad. After listening to both sides, each one is valid. How do we address the one million ways to obtain and distribute information and content via the Internet? Perhaps we need to rethink the copyright laws and try to come up with a way to distribute to the global masses and yet somehow give the artist the credit they deserve. Maybe we need to narrow the spectrum on some things such as printed materials, and broaden it on others - such as music and songs that aren't somehow documented. I'm sure that music composers and songwriters will have other thoughts. I'm a graphic designer. I know if someone were to copy my work and profit from it without my consent, I would be miffed. On the other hand, if they used elements and made them their own I would be flattered. It's hard to copyright an idea or concept as original. In film, music, art, and advertising its seems everything is borrowed from something, even if it is just a tiny element.

Fair Use has benefitted me quite a bit through the course of this program. Allowing to use copyrighted images and ideas in presentations for the sake of teaching is a good thing. I can honestly say I didn't know about the rest - parody, news reporting and critical commenting. Good to know. As for the duration of a copyright, well bad for someone who wants to use it, but great for the artist.

I also learned that Creative Commons has variations on how each artist allows their works to be used. I had assumed that it was only for educational use and you had to obtain permission from the artist for anything else. I am so glad that I learned what these symbols represent so that I don't infringe upon their wishes. I have to be honest I've only used CC for background music. I think I'll have to explore it further.

Week 1 Wimba session 1

While I couldn't attend the session because our wonderful Parent's Association hosted a dinner for us, I did listen to the Wimba archive. This is truly one of the best features of FSO. It allows people with conflicting schedules to keep up with the class. The discussions let me get to know people too. Of course listening to the session makes me feel like I am eavesdropping on a bunch of people and is in no way the same as being there, the overall results are really great.

Anyway, what I got out of this one was to post on the discussion board and reading on Friday. That way more people can comment on your blog post. I am also glad that we can respond and interact within cross sections. It'll be nice to work with some cohorts that I haven't been able to in quite a while. I also appreciated the clarification on what is expected in each post. It was also very helpful to find out how to locate things, and to know that commenting after readings is optional and we should be more focused on using our blog.