Wk 4 Publishing_Leadership Project

I have decided to submit my leadership project entitled: “Tales of A Tech Driven Teacher” to the National Academy Foundation (NAF). I have been affiliated in a small capacity for two years as an English teacher to academy students at my school. At a recent professional development, conversation centered on the impact core subject teacher can have on students’ understanding of career-related concepts in their academy courses. The aim of NAF is to produce students who have the skills for college and/or work through a focused curriculum in industry, work-based learning in the classroom and through internship and partnerships with industry professionals. Part of NAF’s success is their concentration on new technology, but often core teachers find difficulties integrating it with academy themes students need to become industry certified by the end of high school. I believe that I could help dispel apprehension or lack of confidence teachers may have. The conference is held every July in a major city in the U.S. My second choice would be the Florida Educational Technology Conference held in Orlando in January because of its technology focus. There is a huge following where education and technology are concerned and I admire their use of Animoto.com which has become a staple in my teaching repetoire.

Link to Publishing Leadership Project Blog 1 of 2
Link to Publishing Leadership Project Blog 2 of 2
Link to Leadership Project

MAC Week #4, Comment #2 to Karen’s Blog

She said. . .
Week #4
Oh the Possibilities if I Only Remember to Aim High

If I were to wish for anything I should not wish for wealth and power, but for the passionate sense of what can be, for the eye, which, ever young and ardent, sees the possible. Pleasure disappoints, possibility never. And what wine is so sparkling, what so fragrant, what so intoxicating as possibility?

- Soren Kierkegaard, Either/Or

Over the past four years I have been guided to books that teach me about possibility. Some might say it is a coincidence that I keep happening upon books with a common theme. I, however, don't believe in coincidences.

I had been looking for an educational technology master's degree on and off since the early 1990s. I started one in 1995 but soon dropped out after I realized our school district technology was more advanced than the university's. Sixteen months ago I saw an advertisement for Full Sail's EMDT program on the PBS web site. I had just gone through a divorce after 19 years of marriage and needed a new focus so I sent away for information. I received a beautiful color catalogue along with information on the EMDT program. I looked over the information then I looked at the tuition cost and promptly threw the information in the trash. Paying $30,000 for a masters degree was not in my realm of possibility. A few weeks later a representative from Full Sail called me and told me about a teacher's scholarship they were giving that would make it possible for me to attend Full Sail. I still needed to get the okay from my human resource department because the degree I was seeking was non-traditional. Within a month I received the okay from human resources, filled out the FASFA, received my enrollment papers and received my Launchbox. Next month I will finish the program and return to school in the fall with a masters degree. A year and a half ago I did not even consider earning a master's degree by Fall of 2011 a possibility.

After graduation I plan to look for a house. My kids and I have been leasing a house for the last two years. We've had a lot of water and mold problems in this house so I want to look for a place to move as soon as my lease is up. I began thinking about a small, older condominium complex that met my requirements. It never occurred to me to look for a place that far exceeded my expectations. Then, recently I came across a listing for a new condominium complex a few miles away. After reading the the Art of Possibility the past two weeks my sites are set on something bigger and better as a possibility. Tomorrow I am going to tour the new complex. Oh, the possibilities!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/poptech2006/2968249166/

I said. . .
Hallelujah! Wow! Your blog is truly an inspiration. Like you I mused about Full Sail a full year (no pun intended) before I took the plunge. It is no coincidence – simply it was God that put you and me and the others in our class together. It was God who brought those books with the same theme to your attention. Nothing is by accident. Just imagine! In the fall, we are going into our classrooms with advanced degrees and the experience to improve lives in a most powerful and interesting way.

You are right to claim that condo! Claim it because there is power in what we speak and what we believe. And don’t worry about how it will turn because:

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

MAC Week #4, Comment #1 to Ali’s Blog

She said. . .
Week 4 - Art Of Possibility
I could relate to the practice of enrollment. It’s true that passion can be felt and passed on and embraced by others around you. I think it’s important to take every opportunity that comes your way especially never knowing how it will come to you. I love how the author spoke of the lesson his father taught him, that sometimes things are better done in person. I think this is important even today, with all the technology we have I think people are just so used to sending an email or a text message to communicate but with that you lose the human, emotional contact of just having a simple 10 minute conversation face to face. It’s these face-to-face conversations that affect people more than “oh I got an email from so and so.” Most of the time it’s these emails that are disregarded.

I said. . .
Ali I connected with authors’ father as well. The idea of enrollment is one I will take with me and commit to practice in my day to day. I don’t communicate much with technology but I do so enjoy the intimacy of interacting with others face to face. Those types of conversations reveal more than can ever be shared via an email or text message.

Week 4 Reading Post: Chapters 9-12

The Zanders have a very common sense approach to life that obviously isn’t common among us. The anecdotes and connections to music are particularly insightful as I embark on new and uncharted choices in my life and career. As I have mentioned in previous posts, the practices discussed in the The Art of Possibility are biblical and it makes sense, as the author’s father was a student of the Bible and history.

The idea of enrolling others in our dreams is eye opening. Often when we make requests, we operate on the presumption of being turned down. I have heard myself say on many occasions, “The worst he/she can say is no.” I did this to make myself feel better, but did I really? Of course not.

In “being the board” I saw similarities between this new idea of responsibility and blame and being in God’s Will. Like being the board, being in God’s Will makes it possible to accept the circumstances of life knowing that those circumstances will yield positive results in the end. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28.

What I enjoyed about the frameworks chapter was the whole idea of creating a vision and not division. In all honesty, mission statements do create a competitive spirit and while they may be designed to inspire, it typically is ignored. Now a vision is something that can be seen even if it does not exist at the present. To me, the vision resembles a five-letter word: F-A-I-T-H.

The Zander's story of their father's passionate recount of the Arab and Jewish peoples’ history and arrival in Palestine was interesting. Even more moving was the student’s response, “What a wonderful opportunity! What a privilege for both those peoples to share that land and that history!” What is that saying? Out of the mouth of babes come words of wisdom? Well, that young person definitely has it [wisdom]. What is ironic about division is that the multiple parties are often so similar. The “We” story recognizes the sameness that so often divides.

Week 3 Publishing Leadership Project Part 2 of 2: My Choice!

Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/-cavin-/2366764272/lightbox/

After some careful consideration and musings, I have decided to face my fears and complete the presentation. I have also decided that my presentation would be very appropriate for the Florida Educational Technology Conference held in Orlando in January because of its technology focus. Another conference not listed that I would like to present is the National Academy Foundation (NAF). This organization creates curriculum and offers industry certification to high school students in areas like Finance, Travel and Tourism, Information Technology and others. I recently attended a professional development and its focus was on technology and cross-curricular instruction, which is what my CBR is about. My presentation would add a unique perspective – that of the potential contributions to NAF instruction with the help of technology from a core subject instructor’s point of view. NAF holds a national conference every July. This year’s convention is in San Francisco.

Week 3, Comment #2 to John Krusko's Blog

He said. . .
“Life is like a wild tiger, you can either lay down and let it put its paw on your head, or you can jump on its back and ride.” - Anon

I recently read (sitting in a doctor’s office) an article about therapy and counseling that delved into the following:
* How well do you know yourself?
* You are not on your own!
* Do you find it difficult to ask for what you want and even to recognize and accept your needs in the first place?

We are unique individuals with different strengths, limitations and resources. However we are also social beings bound together by a commonality of issues (relationships, loss, stress, depression, abuse, sexual problems, substance abuse, and social inequality). How defined we come to know our real, inner or true self will help establish a baseline for the “passion” that you speak of in your reading response. My impression of Zander is that life is a continual process to love others and ourselves freely, while being realistic about our strengths and weaknesses, acknowledging and learning from mistakes and having a positive attitude to life.

“You must love yourself before you love another. By accepting yourself and joyfully being what you are, you fulfill your own abilities and your simple presence can make others happy.”
- Jane Roberts (The Nature of Personal Reality)

I said. . .

Those doctor’s office readings are the best aren’t they? I wonder if we’re more receptive to what we read in that situation because we’re typically anxious and just need to distract ourselves or what? I believe that the Zanders speak Biblical truths and are simply translating them into laymen’s terms. What they speak of is love talk like you mention. This is what the Apostle Paul to a new and misguided Corinthian church:

I Corinthians 13:13: “And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”

If we love others like we should love ourselves, those common issues you speak of are no longer an issue.

Week 3 Comment #1 Comment to Regina’s Blog

http://www.flickr.com/photos/unc-cfc-usfk/3472046406/

She said. . .
How will I be a contribution today?
I try to enter the doors of our school with a smile and a good morning as I stroll through the halls passing students thinking to myself “It’s going to be a great day!” I try to assist the parents and students as much as possible. I always keep in mind that we have them for the majority of the day and for some this is a safe haven, some are caring the weight of the world on them at such a young age, and as Tricia mention “We need to give them the benefit of a doubt.” It is such a great feeling when you reach at least one and he or she comes back to visit and say, “Thank you for always being there and believing in me.” He then goes to our conference room to speak to a small group of students about his college life. This is my daily contribution.

I said. . .
Looking back over chapters 5-8, your contribution theory is a great way to sum up those chapters. What a blessing you are to your students. From my personal observations, more educators like you are needed. I see teachers act so “ugly” with their students in the name of being tough. It made me wonder if I was being too soft. Our students do carry the weight of the world so much more than I ever remember when I was in school. It is scary! And the unfortunate things is that you do not hear about their horror stories until after your direct influence is over. Your daily contribution of allowing students to escape their circumstance is commendable. Thank you from all the students who don’t always come back.