Wk4 Blog 6: Publishing/Leadership Presentation 3

Presentation draft

Though is still a work in progress my presentation draft is located at:


http://www.someassemblyrequired.net/fullsail/goins_billy_PubLeadProject.ppt

Wk4 Blog 5: Publishing/Leadership Presentation 2

Possibilities for presenting

As the saying goes ”Changes begin at home” which is why my first choice for presenting my project is with the Illinois Computing Educators (ICE) organization. As a member, I’ve attended many conferences and having received so much assistance and knowledge, I feel slightly obligated to give something in return. The other advantage is that it is more likely to occur, since there are several opportunities and would be much closer and cost effective than other alternatives.

http://www.iceberg.org/professional_development/events


My second choice would be utilizing the virtual world of Second Life. I learned about Second Life at a technology but my account essentially remained stagnant until returning for an early course in the EMDT program. Since then I have create a network of friends and organizations mostly through the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE). Within ISTE, there are several special educator interest groups that hold discussions and workshops within the Second Life environment.

http://www.iste.org/connect/special-interest-groups.aspx

Plus my avatar is much better looking.

Wk4 Blog 4: Publishing/Leadership Presentation 1

Presentation or Publication


As an essentially qualitative form or research, I felt my project is more suitable as a presentation. My target audience of teachers will also be better served in an atmosphere that allows interaction and quick response. I feel it’s also a better venue for further discovering what others are doing to improve technology integration and gain new ideas from others that might be doing something similar.

For myself, I tend to be more effective communicating my ideas verbally and visually than I am simply writing.

Wk4 Blog 3: Comments 2

Original student post: Michelle Plank

Wk4 Reading Response

It took a while for the idea of “being on board” to sink in. But when I think about it, it is easier to deal with a situation when you are not playing the blame game. It is a way to see things for what they are without emotions getting in the way. The second idea that caught my attention this week was distinguishing if you are on-track or off-track. And if you find yourself off-track, make the necessary adjustments to keep yourself focused.

“Sound can explore the soul, coax out dreams and possibilities that before were lost in inky blackness.”
Whenever I am frustrated or not feeling the creative juices flowing, I always turn to music for motivation. It has a way of changing my mood within minutes and I am able to think more clearly and with more energy. It is definitely a powerful tool.






My comments: Wasted time

Michelle,
My mom and I love about 8 hours apart and I call a couple of times a week just to see how things are going. Each time I call she’ll ask me if I remember somebody that I may or may not have met when I was 6 weeks old or something like that and we spend time going back and forth as to why I should and don’t remember the person. The point is for whatever reason, I don’t remember. The why I don’t’ remember doesn’t change that fact and in the end it would have just been quicker if she had told why the person was mentioned in the first place. My point is once the facts are presented, blame really doesn’t do much more than waste time. In the classroom when things happen, my approach is simply to simply say what happen, what were the results, and what can be done to correct the issue.

Wk4 Blog 2: Comments 1

Original student post: Cherie Park
Wk 4-Reading CH. 10-12

I love how the author took the blame for the mistake during a performance. I had a professor in college who when the class did poorly on a test tell us, "I am sorry. I must not have taught this particular curriculum well. I will reteach it and again, my apologies." That has stuck with me through the years and I have had to say that to my students. It is important to not place blame on everyone else but to accept some of it as your own. It is not us (teachers) vs them (students), it is we as a class and we as a school. So I will try to be the whole board, not just a game piece.



My comments: Fuel on the fire
Cherie,
I think the simple fear that spawns from blame or assigning fault is one of the reasons that teachers hesitate to implementing technology. Some are afraid to make mistakes or lose a little bit of authority by simply asking someone in particular a student for help. I think in many cases we should simply admit that we don’t have all the answers and that we are learning as well.

Wk4 Reading: Blog 1 - Art of Possibility Ch 10-12

Response to questions: Heavy load

I tend or used to be a perfectionist at heart. Without getting very personal, I’ll just say recent events have tossed me into a sort of dust devil. What I’ve learned in the process is to do the best you can with the time and resources available at that particular time. On the occasion when the end results are less than ideal, learn what I so I can do better next, let the frustration go, and move forward. As mentioned in the reading there’s really nothing that can be done to change the past.


The good news is that difficult times require us to do more and give more in the way resistance builds muscle or iron sharpens iron. In the classroom, my difficulties serve as reminders and as points of reference and sources of compassion when my students or other staff members are struggling. I become more attentive. I look, ask, listen, and console.

Wk3 Blog 4: Free post

Changing gears

In the video interview this week, Benjamin Zander mentions a condition that would no longer allow his fingers to develop calluses, a condition that made it impossible for him to continue his career as a cellist. It’s interesting to me how adversity often leads to opportunities. In Zander’s situation, he became a conductor, which lead to his additional role as speaker and author.

In the classroom, when students tell me they can’t accomplish a task, we explore the circumstances and alternative that will achieve the same or similar goals. It’s during these times that students take true ownership in their projects. My hope is that these small successes will serve as a sort of proving ground for larger success in the face of more difficult circumstances later on in life. Also letting them know that sometimes changing gears is much better than wearing our your breaks.