Week 4: Wimba and PPP Comments

I found it interesting to see where other classmates wanted to publish there Literature Reviews. I heard at least one person say that they planned on publishing with the same Journal that I plan to publish to. Since I was not able to attend the Wimba, I sent my PPP to a couple of classmates for review. Only one person has responded so far. See the comments below: Lania added comments into my actual Word Document. Most corrections were grammatical changes. I had to correct a few sentences to make sure everything was past tense. She also suggests that maybe I should add in an image to my presentation. Also, she included that I had a good set up for your CBR project & why it’s important. Really interesting to read about the connections between literacy/technology/self-esteem!

Week 3: Comment on Classmate blog # 1

Alonzo's blog: This week’s wimba was shorter than the others. During the wimba session Mr. Bustillios talked about the reading from last week, The Art of Possiblities. He had asked the students that were there a few questions related to the book. There was one question that stuck for me that I thought I was answer briefly. The question was: “What things are you going to take from the reading and use in your teaching and in your life?” So far, what I’ve taken from this book is that I should think more outside of the box, and to be more open to new opportunities. Who knows a change might lead to something great! My comments: Change can be a great thing. This year, at my school, we have a new Principal and Assistant Principal. I have definitely had to adjust to all the change! Everything is ran differently, there are new rules and procedures, not to mention all the little things. Our motto for this school year is "Change is good". I don't always agree with the change, but I know will benefit the students. So it's my job to stay open minded.

Wk 4: Publishing_Presentation

I would like to submit my literature review to TechTrends - Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning. Since the main focus for my literature review was Literacy motivation with the use of technology, I think this would fit perfectly into this journal. This journal is known for linking research and practice to improve learning. During my project, I found research that promoted the use of technology in the classroom, and then put this knowledge to us by applying it to the classroom to improve literacy learning by incorporating Web 2.0 tools such as starfall.com, and storyjumper.com which both promote literacy. Think out loud PPP Week 2 Think out loud PPP wk 3 Publish Presentation Project Document

Week 4: comment on classmate #2

Link to Kris' video blog: My comments: Kris, Loved the fact that you used a video for this one. Especially when talking about networking and see a person face to face. This wasn't a face to face situation, but it did make the presentation more personal. People often forget the importance of real life networking because of technological advances. Thanks for helping me remember, maybe I can use this in my workplace.

Week 4: Comment on classmate #1

Sharol's Blog "Certain things in life are better done in person." In this day and age of endless technology things are seldom done in person or even over the phone. Something as simple as visiting an individual and sharing their idea & time & space can change the outcome of a situation. In order to do this a few simple steps are to be followed: 1. Imagine that people are an invitation for enrollment. 2. Stand ready to participate, willing to be moved & inspired. 3. Offer that which lights you up. 4. Have no doubt that others are eager to catch the spark. Vander followed these steps and changed the lives of students that society had "thrown away" & labeled as failures. Just taking interest in someone else's fate has a ripple effect. They appreciate it. But it has to be done genuinely and you have to trust that they will respond & partner will you in it. Also at times we have to learn not to point the finger at others but to accept what our role may have been in the situation. Become the board rather than just a player on it. After lighting the spark & seeing our role we must set peraminters for possibility to happen. This can be done through: 1. Make a new distinction in the realm of possibility: one that is a powerful substitute for the current framework of meaning that is generating the downward spiral. 2. Enter the territory. Embody the new distinction in such a way that it becomes the framework for life around you. 3. Keep distinguishing what is "on the track" and what is "off the track" of your framework for possibility. Lastly, we must see both sides of history and tell the story of "WE". Instead of focusing on one side or the other being right or wrong, see the possibilities on both sides. 1. Tell the WE story- the story of the unseen threads that connect us all, the story of possibility. 2. Listen and look for the emerging entity. 3.Ask: "What do WE want to happen here?" "What is best for US?" - all of each of us, and all of all of us. "What is OUR next step?" If only more people in history and now had read this book, our society would be ran so much different. People would not give up as easily but they would also see past the present situation of a person and see what that person or object could become. My Comments: I think this book should be a requirement for high school student before graduating. We need to teach tomorrows leaders how to think more positively. Not only do they need to read it, but have a project to show how they are implementing this positivity into their daily life. Our world would be a much better place.

Week 4 Reading: Think out loud

Over the past few weeks, I have noticed myself taking others' negative situations and turning them into positive outcomes. Who knew a book could inspire me to do that? I have this one teacher in particular that I work with that starts off every sentence with, "I don't mean to be negative, but...". Even though she doesn't mean to be negative, she is. I have started creating frameworks of possibility, as suggested in The Art of Possibility. I simply take all of her negative comments, and turn them in a complete opposite direction, and focus them into a more positive situation. It's all about how one perceives things. Positive perceptions often equals positive outcomes. I wish that everybody was able to grasp this concept, instead of wasting energy on complaining about things that can't be changed. A teachers attitude can definitely play a role in the attitudes of their students. Let's just say my students are little more open minded and positive thinkers in and out of the classroom.

Week 3 Wimba

What am I going to take from the reading and use in teaching and in my life? Reading the Art of Possibility has given me a more open mind. I have to say I have always been a positive thinker, I would take the worst situation and find the positive in it. However, the reading has encouraged me to continue to do this, and maybe even see if I can help others see things from a more positive view. Not only does this apply to teaching, but my personal life, and the relationships that I have established with friends and family. Very inspirational!

Week 3: Classmate Blog Entry #2

Lania's post: “Get over your bad self”…this is a quote I would hear randomly from the office next to my cubicle. I used to sit near a fellow teacher who was a real character. She would use this line with anyone and everyone! She may have been a bit rough around the edges, but she had a totally lovable personality. I can remember various times when I heard her use this line to wake people up to “Rule number 6”. Funny how this chapter made me think of various co-workers. Another guy used to always say “Have you laughed at yourself today? Because if you haven't you're missing a pretty good joke.” Both of these co-workers are very caring, thoughtful people. They’re also blessed with a sense of humor…and when you deal with technology 24-7, you HAVE to have a sense of humor, or you’ll end up cryin’. Chapter 7 – “Things Are” talks about embracing the here and now, with all of it’s hurdles and impossible mountains to climb. I enjoyed reading the anecdotes about Stravinsky and Mahler’s work. They didn’t intend a glossy, refined performance. Some of the instrumental parts were written to make the player stressed, to better convey the emotion of the work. Zander points out how difficult it is to embrace our mistakes and frailties in a competitive culture. He says that music-making is the perfect playing ground for this kind of risk taking. This is something I try to communicate to my students. Performing for your peers or another audience requires a bit of daring. You’re not going to do it perfectly, so don’t get caught up in the minor blunders that are bound to happen. Performing means carrying through and expressing the song; not halting everything because of one missed note. My close friend, the art teacher at our school recently wrote this quote on her whiteboard: “Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep.” ~Scott Adams So true! It applies to all art forms, and to the life well-lived for that matter. My Comments: Lania, not only is a sense of humor necessary for working with technology, but also for working with 24 Kindergartners everyday. I have to have a sense of humor or I will go crazy by the end of the day. Humor distresses peoples lives....with that being said, we should all find time to laugh and make others laugh every day. Remember laughing can be contagious, so pass it on!

Week 3: PPP Think out-loud

I would like to publish my paper in TechTrends - Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning. This is the only scholarly journal in the field focusing entirely on research and development in educational technology. The Research Section assigns highest priority in reviewing manuscripts to rigorous original quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods studies on topics relating to applications of technology or instructional design in educational settings. The research section features well documented articles on the practical aspects of research as well as applied theory in educational practice, a comprehensive source of current research information in instructional technology. The development Section publishes articles concerned with the design and development of learning systems and educational technology applications. I feel that my Literature Review is most closely correlated with Journal.

Week 3 Reading: Live, Laugh, and Love

Live, Laugh, Love. Three words to live by. I found this to be so inspirational. People often go through life sad and bitter, but people determine their own happiness whether they intend to or not. Just living by these three words can promote happiness and well being in ones life, and can be so simple to do. After reading this, I found that peoples attitudes play a great role in their everyday lives. A person that has negative opinions on life typically have a negative sense of life, just like a person that perceives everything as positive typically has a positive opinion about everything. I just wish all of the negative people in the world could come to this realization of how easy it is to live, laugh, and love, and how much happier their lives would be, as well as the ones around them.

Week 2: Wimba

Great review of Copyright issues. This is one of those things that I feel I could always learn more about. Thanks for breaking down the whole publication project. This gives me a little better breakdown of what is about to come. Only a few more weeks of system overload :-)

Week 2: Class blog #2

Reading the first three chapters of the book (The Art of Possibility by Zander, B and Zander, R.S.) I found myself shaking my head in agreement. The part about thought process and the "Give Them An A' chapter really hit home. In my new job as an 8th grade teacher I have found so many students that are so worried about making a mistake and so stuck in past failure that they doubt the knowledge that they have. Many students will not answer questions because they are afraid of being wrong which makes it difficult to get a feeling for how they are doing until assessments are done. The whole idea from the first chapter was very enlightening. Realizing that my students may not see the potential, may not be able to see out of the box, makes me want to develop my lesson plans to such a higher level. It is so hard to break out of old habits that I almost have to teach them so they do not realize they are learning or what they are achieving. The book also caused me to reflect on my own thought patterns and what was helping, or in some cases deterring me from achieving at a higher level. This journey has given us a lot of tools and a lot of ideas but if I (we) don't step out of ourselves and use them it would be a shame. I am intrigued by the possibility of giving everyone an A. I found the letters from the students told us everything we needed to know abot whether the idea was a success. My reply: I see the same thing in Kindergarten. I have students that are afraid to answer questions or participate in class discussions for the fear that they may be wrong. I don't think it's a learned behavior, but rather a lack of confidence at this point. I encourage them that there are no wrong answers, and their is reason for their answers that we would all like to learn.

Week 2: Classmate Blog Entry

How can we unlock our greatest potential? By thinking outside the box of course. The authors present us with a few examples how. By using the nine dot challenge, we learn that everything is not as it seems. We need to shift our focus. This reminds me very much of positive thinking. If we think positively, anything is possible. We need to stop letting others, or ourselves define us. If we define ourselves, then we're setting limits. In order to be truly potential for anything, we need to be LIMITLESS. This almost seems impossible, since people (especially THESE days) are very... what's the word... nervous? Power hungry? Money hungry? You get the picture. We're so worried about our lives and about being successful that it's too risky to believe we are capable of doing anything and everything. But what if we fail? What if we invest everything and fail, like many people have been doing these days? If we get into that mind set, then yes, we WILL fail. Because then we think nothing is possible. We also need to realize that each person affects everyone else. We need to get out of that mind set of "well, it's only me, so what impact can I have in the grand scheme of things?" Yes, I am only one person. But as that one person I have the ability of affecting everyone I meet everyday. No matter what anyone's profession is, we all make a contribution to life EVERY day. By paying it forward, we start a trend to affect others, creating that great ripple effect. And in turn, we'll get that back in extraordinary amounts in the future. My Reply: I have come to this realization this school year. If you think positive, then most things that you see or hear will seem positive to you, when it doesn't to others. It's funny how my co-workers and I can go into a meeting, and then they come out complaining about things we have to do. I on the other hand, am thinking that was a good idea, all because of my positive mentality on things.

Wk2 Think Out-Loud PPP post

After carefully viewing this assignment, I would like to publish my paper. Since I focused on Literacy motivation with the use of technology, I would like to publish my paper in TechTrends - Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning. Throughout the whole CBR Project, my main focus has been how to improve literacy by motivating students by using things like starfall.com, blogs, and podcasts. I think this would be the best choice at this point.

Week 2: The Art of Possibilty

After reading in the Art of Possibilty, it just confirmed what I was already thinking. This book suggests that attitudes can determine the ways that we perceive things. For example, If I go to work with a negative attitude, I might see everything in a negative manner. For example, in a meeting, our Principal is discussing the do's and dont's of teaching. He says everything in a nice manner, and tone, but because I have a negative attitude, then I consider his message to be negative. Whereas, if would have had a more positive attitude, I would have perceived his message as a piece of advice, and thanked him for his help. I often see this in the workplace. Most people have negative attitudes about everything, so everything that see and hear are negative to them.