Wk4_ Publishing Leadership Project: Individualized learning using multimedia tools

I don't think I have strong feelings for any of the options mentioned before: ISTE, AACE or Educause.  Who will have me?  :)  I do think I have something to share but I feel my project is not solid enough for publication to an international or national audience.  Gosh, so much of the time our heads were spinning, trying to figure out the challenge within the challenge and I bounced so many different ideas around; did I create a Frankenstein's monster of a project?  Individualized learning, passion-based learning, student-centered, inquiry-based, tech-rich... the list seems endless.  I am having qualms about sending this forth into the world.

• The link to my Prezi visual presentation
• The link to my speaker's notes.
• The link to Think Out Loud blog 1
• The link to Think Out Loud blog 2

Wk4_ Think out loud

Now to narrow down the WHERE of the presentation, since we must:

• ISTE (International Society for Technology in Education) is a natural option, since it is geared for tech use in K-12 education.
• AACE (Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education) is also good since my target audience used a variety of tech tools, from software to Web 2.0.
• EduCause is a nonprofit with a great mission statement to "advance higher education by promoting the intelligent use of information technology."  This would be more of a stretch for my project since I  teach ninth graders.  Would higher ed want to hear from me? 

Wk4_Comment 1: Leon

Leon posted:

Enrollment, what an excellent concept.  It is always a better approach to get people excited about the possibility of you, tell them what is exciting you, in turn they might catch your spark.  I defined myself as the board last week, and I was able to remain positive.  Things that happened that would normally steer me away or get me off course were defined as events, and when these events happened, I asked myself, “How did that get there?”  I practiced not taking events personally, it's not personal, it is an event that appeared on my board.  What a difference in my emotional state, and my ability to view things objectively, which gives me the ability to better play the game.  I think this change in myself will spark a change in others because I am an event on their board as well.  If I become a positive event in their life, all the better for the events in their game.  A change in myself should spark a change in others, I guess like a domino effect.  Truly, one person can make a difference.  I suddenly have the urge to make sure all of my relationships are good.  Become a positive event in my life and in the lives of others is the next move.

Clip Art:
Clip Art Heaven http://clipartheaven.com/search/sign.html
http://clipartheaven.com/show/clipart/signs/street_signs_3-gif.html

Wk4_Comment 1: Elaine Scott

Elaine wrote:

There are so many concepts of my life I can apply Zanders philosophies to both personally and professionally. However, as I write this passage, at this very moment my thoughts are with the five at-risk youth I am trying to work with. I stress trying because as life ‘is what it is’ for me, I had to realize it is the same for them. I may not be able to change them, well influence their beliefs is a better and more appropriate phrase. I can only lead by example, show them I sincerely love and care for them and want the best that life can offer, feed them positivity and show them the possible outcome.

How I pay-forward is in my passion and unending desire to help, I tell those I meet how I feel about them, I am not afraid to show or express myself. Even when my kindness is misunderstood or turned away it hurts but as the Zanders stated Life just is and there are things we have to accept. We make the attempts and if lucky and pushed hard enough sometimes the results are right on. Truth and reality, however, lets me know it may not always be that way. I am only responsible for the effort not necessarily the outcome. Which is why Zanders speaks so against blaming oneself.

I can only hope for the future of these five young men. I know that I have touched them in more ways than they express, for I see the changes, the smiles, the report cards, and occasionally I get an actual “thank you Elaine for helping me.” What is hard to muster is that it is not from all five of them. That two or three of them are showing signs of regression and that is difficult. I asked the questions still, “Why aren’t they listening to me? Why can’t they seem that the pathway they are choosing will hold the possibility of assured struggles? What didn’t I do right?” So I follow Zander’s advice and can only focus on the part that I played, while continuing to be there and just simply do the best I can for or by them. I have no power over all the circumstances in their lives. My job wasn’t to fix them but to show them a better way and hope that in those learnings, the young men would gain a better light of themselves just enough to make a change. I have left the spark at times I see it turn into a fire that ignites the positive changes I mentioned. So I will hope that if the fire goes out that maybe the spark I left will ignite again but at a time that may be better suited for them.

I have met many great and inspiring people during my journey at Full Sail. I hope that at some point I will get back on track financially and obtain that career that will allow me to work with others who have the talent of loving, giving, and receiving. I look forward to my growth for I know that I will continue to use that growth to inspire others and to watch all the imaginings come true.

I responded:

I empathize with you Elaine. It sounds like you pour so much of yourself into these kids and I agree it is discouraging to not see the 100% results that was, of course, your mission. Darn it, in the starfish story, it seems like those starfish stay in the water after the person throws them back in, right? All I can say is don't give up and take a moment when you need to, to acknowledge it is what it is and then look for what else could be. Also, since you are an inspiration to others, it is just logical to also look to gain inspiration from others. Nurture and BE NURTURED. I think women have a tendency to forget the second step. So much of our mythology, our fairy tales and folklore has to do with being a steadfast and willing sacrifice, with no mention of the times then others bolster us up in return. I can't take credit for this advice; I remember Oprah and her guests discussed that nurturing and renewal need to be a cycle so we don't burn out.

In the spirit of renewal, or at least renewed hope:
I have an idea. I read "We Beat the Street" cowritten by three doctors who made it out of tough Newark, NJ and the ups and downs that happened in their lives. Read it and through it you may realize that it may just be a wrong turn that is a wake-up call and gets them more focused on the good habits.

Wk4_Reading: inspiration and "we"

Image by codepinkhq in Flickr/ CC

I was brought to tears with Ben's teaching moment with his kids before he went to NASA and the response from the NASA personnel.   The kids really hit it on the head that we all need inspiration, and music and science on the cutting edge and pushing the envelope is inspiring.  It got me thinking that each one of us has the capability or in Ben's terms the possibility within us to inspire each other.  There is no scarcity of inspiration, but it builds and awakens in every person we contact.  Wonderful.

But I found myself boggled as well.  How would Ben and Roz engage with an enemy?  A person determined to be hostile no matter what?  I know Jesus said to forgive 70 times 7 but I find myself losing patience with people much before then.  After a couple chances, I tend to write people off.  And without delving into too many details, it's happened with a student.  This person was just prickly.  Mean.  He'd try to hit on the girls in class but would insult them without mercy when rebuffed.  He was loud about his hatred of homosexuals, and used his freedom of religion as an excuse to offend others in our class.

available at bluntcard.com

What would the Zanders do?  How would they write the story of "we?"  I understand that it is necessary to create that framework of we but how to do it?  I tend to be cynical and jaded like this poster:


Did I mention that on a field trip, after the announcement was made to board the bus with no food, this kid bought an ice cream and when I directly instructed him to come along since everyone else had boarded, he didn't even look up and muttered, "Hold
on, ________."  And the parents, when called just sounded bored?  And did I mention this family attends a church I used to attend and I think I scapegoated this kid (who undeniably acted poorly) with all of my stereotypes about these fake, preachy, holier-than-thou-people?

How do I get out of my own way and we-write (ha, ha that was a serendipitous typo for rewrite)  this, giving this kid a chance to be an actual human being with which I could have a relationship?

Wk3_Reading: One buttock playing or Rule number 6?

I finally got to chapter 8 and I must say I'm a little confused with Roz's sprituality/ nature musings.  But I basically get Ben's stuff about overarching themes, visions and long lines, and losing oneself to the passion of it all.

Here's my dilemma: when are you lost in the passion and when do you need to remember rule number 6?  I am nearly always passionate in the classroom, so much so the kids giggle as I read aloud or talk about heroes or jiggle them to get a discussion going!  But, when I try to convey the same passion to other adults, they, from time to time, sort of roll their eyes and probably wish I would shut up.  And I was trying to take a lesson from that, that maybe what I was "discovering" was not all that new or interesting to them and that I need to be a little less passionate, long-winded, and emphatic in talking about the issues I find vital.  Maybe I just need to lighten up!

Or am I just a one-buttock thinker?

Wk3_Think aloud

I'll probably pick a presentation since I really enjoy speaking with people rather than writing.  I'm sure the same amount of planning will be necessary for both, though!  I wonder if anyone would be willing to see a video I made since travel may be difficult in the next year.

Right now I'm not sure if I have anything astounding to say.  It might be easier if I knew personalized learning needed some defending, like if I could personally debate Arne Duncan.  What does my little project show?  That there are no easy answers, but kids seem to want more control and creative options?  Daniel Pink and Sir Ken Robinson could tell you that.  Why me?  How am I worthy?

I am starting to panic!  I wish I had asked better questions, so I could get better answers from the kids.  And who asks a noob to speak at a conference anyway?  This is craziness!