Source: http://thescopetm.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-4-art-of-possibility.html?showComment=1306547606057#c295611465818991557
Terrance,
I really liked your last paragraph where you discussed taking time for personal reflection and some analysis of the measure of your life. That is really powerful stuff. The best teachers, managers, and human beings are those that take time every now and then to reflect.
There is so much constant noise in our lives like cell phones, text messages, iPods that people never give themselves enough space to reflect and think. We live is a word full of distraction and noise. It seems sometimes that people are too distracted to even be present in their own life.
Really good thoughts! Keep living the life of possibility and I am sure that great things will follow!
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wk4: Think OutLoud Posts 1&2
Part #1 - Publishing Options
After the week #3 Wimba session , I was left to ponder about my publishing/leadership project for week 4. What form would it take? A website, video, journal, conference? What would it be? I am off to discover my options and will report in part #2.
Part #2 - Publishing Decisions
I have decided that a conference performance is the best way to communicate my research. Just last week someone told me that books would be a 'blip' in human history, so I have decided to present at a Summer Institute for Educators and then apply to present at a TED/x conference. After presenting to my FSO team (David, Ginny, David, and Mike) I am encouraged that this is a good topic and useful for educators. I plan to put together a powerpoint based on the advice in Ginny's action research project and create a compelling and entertaining performance to accompany it. Showmanship!
Wk4 Reading: Art of Possibility Chapters 9 – 12
The author wrote: "Enrollment is the art and practice of generating spark of possibility for others to share." As teachers this is what we try to do on a daily basis. Sometimes we look for latent talent that is buried deep inside a student and then connect that student what is already inside them. This is the spark. This is the magic. Helping students see possibility and become invested or enrolled in what they are doing. Sometimes it's hard for people to see beyond the reality that they have constructed, but we can choose to reject any reality and substitute our own (Just like on MythBusters).
Chapter 10. - Being the Board
I have to be honest, after reading chapter 10, I really didn't understand what the author was trying to communicate. The closest I can come to understanding the message is "accept things as they are and do not judge or blame." It seemed like a really long road to get to that message. For teaching this concept, I prefer the Zen story of the two monks... It goes like this:
A senior monk and a junior monk were traveling together. At one point, they came to a river with a strong current. As the monks were preparing to cross the river, they saw a very young and beautiful woman also attempting to cross. The young woman asked if they could help her. The senior monk carried this woman on his shoulder, forded the river and let her down on the other bank. The junior monk was very upset, but said nothing.
They both were walking and senior monk noticed that his junior was suddenly silent and inquired “Is something the matter, you seem very upset?” The junior monk replied, “As monks, we are not permitted a woman, how could you then carry that woman on your shoulders?”
The senior monk replied, “I put the woman down long ago, why are you still carrying her?”
The senior monk was able to free his mind and see all the possibilities on "the board".
Chapter 11.- Frameworks
This chapter opens with Martin Luther's famous "I have a dream speech" to support the claim that dreaming can make a difference. The author frames this speech as if it was prepared in advance and created to stir the human spirit. This was not the cae. Martin Luther departed from his speech after reading paragraph one of his written speech and decided to speak extemporaneously at the urging of Mahalia Jackson. Mahalia was Dr. King's favorite gospel singer and in the middle of his speech she shouted: 'Tell them about the dream Martin! Tell them about the dream!" at which point history was made.To me, this is the true framework of possibility. Departing from the prepared remarks and talking passionately about your dream. People will respond and resonate at a much deeper level as we saw in the case of Dr. King. As the author pointed out, "a personal vision can become the framework for a life of possbility."
Chapter 12. - The We Story
Henry Truman said... "It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit." and this is how I tend to operate. Our egos often get in the way of us helping or supporting others because we selfishly want credit, but does it really matter? We are trained to be individual performers, rugged individualists who can pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. The reality is that we all need a helping hand and a friend to go on the journey with us. I see teachers as fellow sojourners on the educational path and we need to help and support our students to help them achieve all that is possible.
Coda: Now what do we do?
Accept things as they are, ignite sparks and develop frameworks for possibility.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Week 3: FREE POST - Warner Bros. Forced To Fight For Fair Use
Sorry, I just can't let the copyright issue die. I was reading the New York Times today and this headline made me so happy. :)
Apparently, the tattoo artist that designed and inked Tyson is claiming copyright infringement. Here is an excerpt from the New York Times Story which helps frame his claims:
Warner Bros. Forced To Fight For Fair Use
For a visual gag in an upcoming movie, Warner Bros. copied the tribal art tattoo from Mike Tyson's face
 Tyson's Tribal Tattoo (Linked from NYTIMES) |  Copy of Tyson's Tattoo on Movie Actors Head in a Sequel Movie Called Hangover II (Link from NYTIMES) |
Apparently, the tattoo artist that designed and inked Tyson is claiming copyright infringement. Here is an excerpt from the New York Times Story which helps frame his claims:
“One of the things that the copyright law gives you as an artist is control over your work — and he lost control here,” said Michael A. Kahn, the lawyer who is representing Mr. Whitmill. The complaint includes a photograph of the tattoo being inked and a statement from Mr. Tyson agreeing that “all artwork, sketches and drawings related to my tattoo and any photographs of my tattoo are property” of Mr. Whitmill’s business.
The artist is clearly claiming ownership of the design and has proof that it is his. This is consistent with Copyright law since he has recorded it in multiple fixed/tanglible works, including Mike Tyson's head.
However, Warner Bros. has made three arguments: 1. You can't copyright a tattoo, 2. Not being able to use this would harm their company since they already spent money to make the film, and 3) the use of this tattoo is "fair use" under the parody exception of copyright law. Here is another excerpt from the New York Times.
Warner Brothers in its brief also invoked the “fair use” defense for “Hangover Part II,” namely the right to parody what has become a well-known tattoo since it first appeared on Mr. Tyson’s face in February 2003.“That’s the real question: the copyright act balances the copyright owners’ rights and not stifling the creativity of the owners — it would stifle creativity to not be able to make a parody,” Mr. Harkins said.
Warner Bros. is about to help us all with new case law and answer some burning questions like: Can you copyright a tattoo? Can you copyright a tattoo placed on another human being? Can you use a copyrighted tattoo and claim "fair use?"
My money says that Warner Bros. settles out of court so that there is no ruling in this case. It is just nice to know that Warner Bros. does recognize the concept of "fair use" and "parody" and I will remind them of that next time I use one of their works in accordance with "fair use" and they send me a DMCA takedown notice.
It is nice to know that big movie studios like Warner Bros. actually understand copyright law and have no intention of stifling creativity.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Wk 3 Comment #2 - The Holm Front
Source: http://vholm.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-3-reading-blog-post.html?showComment=1305685547423#c3410738738408125870
Ginny, this is excellent for teachers to remember. We are experts in our respective fields and our students are just learning, so we must endeavor to scaffold and support them without making them feel inferior. As you pointed out, if you make students believe they are inferior or stupid, they will tend to perform up to expectations. If you convince them that they can do it with practice and keep encouraging them, eventually they will become proficient.
I find that good teaching is more like being a good consultant. You help the students over the rough spots and give them encouragement and advice to make the journey forward more rewarding.
Great insights!
Ginny, this is excellent for teachers to remember. We are experts in our respective fields and our students are just learning, so we must endeavor to scaffold and support them without making them feel inferior. As you pointed out, if you make students believe they are inferior or stupid, they will tend to perform up to expectations. If you convince them that they can do it with practice and keep encouraging them, eventually they will become proficient.
I find that good teaching is more like being a good consultant. You help the students over the rough spots and give them encouragement and advice to make the journey forward more rewarding.
Great insights!
Wk 3 Comment #1 - Hotler's $.02
Source: http://hotler.blogspot.com/2011/05/week-3-art-of-possibility-5-8.html?showComment=1305684005784#c8583099080431005396
David, great thoughts on Rule Number six. Teachers can not take herself/himself too seriously. Like you, I look at teaching as a shared journey between the student and teacher. One of our jobs is to try and help uncover talent and develop talent in our students. If we can help students connect with their passion, both school and life become a very different place for those kids.
I have seen it happen time and time again. It is almost magic.
I see so many courses where students just grind out worksheets or workbooks. No passion, no learning, just the bare minimum to get a decent grade and keep the teacher off their back. How sad and depressing this must be for both the student and teacher.
I also agree with you that passion is the most powerful motivator. It reminds me of this quote:
"When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible."
Great thoughts and insight, as always.
David, great thoughts on Rule Number six. Teachers can not take herself/himself too seriously. Like you, I look at teaching as a shared journey between the student and teacher. One of our jobs is to try and help uncover talent and develop talent in our students. If we can help students connect with their passion, both school and life become a very different place for those kids.
I have seen it happen time and time again. It is almost magic.
I see so many courses where students just grind out worksheets or workbooks. No passion, no learning, just the bare minimum to get a decent grade and keep the teacher off their back. How sad and depressing this must be for both the student and teacher.
I also agree with you that passion is the most powerful motivator. It reminds me of this quote:
"When work, commitment, and pleasure all become one and you reach that deep well where passion lives, nothing is impossible."
Great thoughts and insight, as always.
Monday, May 16, 2011
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.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)