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.

Week 3 Reading Post: Chapters 5-8

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Much of what the Zanders discuss makes common sense when you stop to think about life and the experiences – universal and unique – people go through.

For one, people should be invited to the passionate energy that excites. And that’s found in the eyes. Often, we’re so worried about what others will think and that can operate as a great hindrance. Let it go! If they laugh, it will likely be because it was supposed to be funny. Which leads to our tendency to take ourselves too seriously. Now this attitude can definitely sap the energy that drives our performances. Remembering and following rule #6 will be a part of how I conduct business in my classroom and in life. What an enlightened attitude to have!

One of the challenges I have vowed to take up is to delegate more responsibility to tasks that I would overwhelm myself with. Often in my career, I have assumed too much for what others should be accountable for: learning, good grades, etc. Letting others lead, evens out the pressure of the task and its reward. The “White Sheet” is a good assessment of just how best to allow others to lead. It is constructive and empowering and a great segue into our view of “the way things are.” I’ll admit that I don’t always share the optimistic view of life’s circumstances. I really like the idea of allowing the present to be what it is without the resistance found in pessimistic thinking. It reminds me of the serenity prayer:

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change; 

courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time; 

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace; 

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it; 

Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.

Amen.
--Reinhold Niebuhr

Week 2 Publishing Leadership Project Part 1 of 2: Decisions, Decisions!

Photo Credit: Clip Art

I am in desperate need of advice regarding the Leadership Project due in Week 4. I am stuck between writing a paper, which I would be able to do well or presenting a project, which is a weakness that I know I need to develop. I have been revising my website for Sunday’s submission and I am very proud of the multimedia assets I have incorporated as well as the written documentation I have provided.

On the one hand, writing a paper that could potentially be published would help me in my career plans to teach at the college level. On the other hand, I could use my presentation to persuade school and district administrators to allow me and other colleagues a bit more leeway in using technology right now.

Here are my ideas:
I noticed during what could have been a third cycle, that students drew information from their history class to create an adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

The fair use question came up at the end of cycle two and students learned some things about copyright.

How technology instruction improved literacy and improved test scores. (We just got our data back so I am analyzing.)

Help! Which would be more feasible? The Paper? The Presentation?