Reaction to the wimba wk3

The wimba session was helpful in making me understand the requirements for the leadership presentation project. I am still struggling with how I am going to present my project and I am not left with very much time to finish. I think it will be helpful to have the feedback of our peers to get the final project just the way it needs to be in order to finish out our year long efforts. It was interesting to hear everyone's perspective on the art of possibility as compared to Oprah's "The Secret." I must say I thought they did have something in common when I first started reading it. I am not fully convinced that they aren't somewhat similar, however I do think the art of possibility is more practical than the secret. I do think that there are practical steps that one can take to change their life outcomes versus just willing that it would happen.

Publishing/leadership thinking out loud post 1 wk3

I am not quite sure what I would rather do for my leadership project. I think that by nature I am more comfortable presenting something rather than writing, however, I do like the idea of going through the steps to be published. I think it might be fun to try publishing. I am a bit confused as to what exactly each option would entail. I don't like the idea of having to write another paper essentially, even though it has been said that wouldn't be the case. It still seems like a lot of work to go the publishing route. I do realize that both options are like to get rejected on the professional front, which is ok. I know that very few people actually get called on to present or to be published. I am also wondering how the leadership project will be presented to the class? Will we all meet and read each other's articles and or go through the presentations? In general I have a lot of questions.

My comment to Marsona's blog post wk3

wk3 Reading the Art of Possibility


The point that stood out for me in chapter 5 was the importance of embracing those you are in authority over or that you teach as leaders themselves. Being able to embrace them as important beings to the cause increased their aptitude to perform and help the musicians to connect with the job conductor and the better understand the his job. Also, leaders are everywhere, and the obstacle to overcome is being able to identify te moment to allow them to assume a leadership role and allow them to lead.

The idea expressed in chapter 6 to "remember rule number 6" is one that I can personally relate to wholeheartedly. I don't really know where this undertone in my life evolved from but i do relate to the concept very well. The idea that difficult people in our lives are made up of those whom we cannot control to give our own self a boost has really brought me to an ah ha moment. Within ourselves, it is important to do things that will bring personal satisfaction and be able to experience moments of reaching our goas. In calculating self while getting in touch with the central self is not an easy task, but it is the central self that controls our actions, how we think and sometimes even how we treat other.

"The capacity to be present to everything that is happening, without resistance, creates possibility." When I read that phrase, the words "what are my alternatives?" come to mind. I believe it is just apart of human nature to concentrate on things that are not the way, we feel, they should be. Undoubtedly, when we feel that things are not as they should be, we foster the attitudes of negativity unti we find our way to see alternatives. What I take away from this chapter is we have a choice to focus on what should be or what the possibilities are. It is often times easier to focus on what should be based on our personal standards and it takes work to embrace the reality of what is and focus on what could be.

Giving way to the passions in our lives can be somewhat a difficult taks when being bombarded by distractions and limitations that surround our every being. Chapter 8 suggests that we take notice to wht is holding us back and let go. Only ten can we participate in the bigger scheme of things that are a part of our lives and cause change within our communities. Once we recognize our barriers, then we are to get busy and get involved with moving forward to accomplish what it is the we have set our sights on.


MY COMMENT:

Lauren Schneck said...

I think you make a good point that it really takes a conscious effort to let go of the things that hold us back from being positive. I know that often times I think negatively when nothing has even happened to cause me to think that way. I think that I can sometimes get in a subconscious state of assuming the worst all the time and that can really cause me to be blind to the positive things happening around me.

My comment to Megan Sample wk3

Wk3 Reading: Art of Possibilities Chapters 5 – 8

I have a great example of how we can make a difference in the people we influence each day. I have a difficult time getting up and making breakfast before work so I typically end up stopping for some kind of fast food on the way to work. One day a few weeks ago I decided to give up the 7-eleven food and try a different place so I went to the Chick-fil-a.

The person taking and giving me my order could have easily thought, “I am a no body, just taking an order what difference does it make?” Instead she was a leader from right where she was seated. What I mean is that I approached that drive thru with a negative attitude thinking, “I don’t want to be up this morning, and really don’t want to go deal with teenagers either.” Just from the one interaction with the lady at Chick-fil-a, I drove off thinking, “I have some warm food, and I am awake. I should make the best of my day.” It really was simple all the lady did was take my order and hand me some food, but she did it in a way that made me feel like she was happy to be alive. I do not remember the exact words that we exchanged but I was in such a good mood, and I have eaten at that Chick-fil-a every morning since then, and each morning she leads me to a happier day.

Chapter 6 is what I live my life by. I am a firm believer in Rule Number 6. When we take things too seriously, we often get bogged down, life is too long to get stuck in the mud.

Chapter 7 really hit me hard. Some things such as the weather I have no problem accepting the way they are because it is clear to me that I DO NOT have the power to change the weather. When it comes to other situations such as how broken the public school system is, I just cannot accept it. I think if I learned to accept it then move on from there then I would have a better chance of making things better. I really enjoyed this chapter and I will do my best to just come to grips with things the way they are and go from there.

I am really passionate about soccer. It is weird because when it comes to many things in life I have the “Fuck It” attitude. I just don’t care when things go wrong. I live and think this way to avoid frustration and disappointment. When it comes to soccer though I am like the six year old running with her instrument loaded with excitement not b/c she just played but because she is ABOUT to play. I have this glow of enthusiasm around me before, after, and during playing, coaching, watching, or refereeing soccer.

MY COMMENT:

Lauren Schneck said...

You are right, just a friendly face and a smile can make a big difference in changing my attitude. If I put on a smile it can transform my attitude even if I don't feel happy, and at the same time seeing someone else be very friendly can cause my mood to change as well. You also make a good point that we do get upset about things that we can't change. I know that I constantly feel as if my district could be changed if enough people got involved, however I do realize that I can't make those changes on my own. I can tell that you are passionate about your work and soccer. It is nice to see that, keep up the good attitude!

Reflection on the reading wk3: chapters 5-8

I must say the notion that "the eyes never lie" really is true. There is a lot I can learn from my co-workers, my bosses, and the teachers I am helping, by really looking at their eyes when I speak to them. Looking in their eyes can tell me wether or not they are really into what I am saying and wether or not I am connecting with them. I can remember being half way through a seminar on technology and making eye contact with some teachers and instantly realizing I never had their attention. I need to remember that concept as I go on with my work.

Rule number 6 is something I feel I am grasping. I really don't take myself too seriously, and I don't think I am in danger of doing so any time soon. I do know though that people in my department do take themselves way too seriously, and I can see that it hinders a lot of things in their work life and becomes a stumbling block to success. I know that personally I have a hard time respecting leaders that are unnecessarily serious about themselves. I know it's not right to disrespect leaders and I would never do anything outright against them, but internally I loose a little bit of admiration when I see a leader being very serious about themselves all the time.

The concept of leading from your chair so to speak is something that I don't give enough credit. I know that there is truth to the concept that if you do the best with the position and resources you are given you will be successful. Sometimes it is hard to believe that when you don't feel that things could possibly get better. I know that I have to remind myself of that concept often even though I feel that what I have right now doesn't add up to very much.

Reflection on the Wimba wk2

The wimba session was an interesting discussion on copyright issues and the sometimes confusing creative commons solution. In talking about the musician who gave his music away on his website, I am reminded of radio head and how they released an album on their website allowing people to pay whatever they wanted for it. I remember thinking what a weird idea at the time, and yet they made millions off of that album. It was definitely a statement about the issues of fair use, internet music sharing, and the modern problem of record labels and their outdated approach to selling music. It was definitely and interesting experiment and I think the album gained attention from listeners that it wouldn't have otherwise attracted simply because they were giving it away. I think that artists in this day and age have a lot to gain from giving things away wether it is music, art or photography. It's an interesting debate that is far from over. I was also interested to hear the speculation on what will happen to our mobileme websites in the coming months. I also found it funny to hear that some people have gotten refunds. My husband renewed his mobileme 6 days before icloud came out and he was on the phone for 3 hours trying to get a refund and they wouldn't give him one. If I tell him that others were offered it he will be really mad! 

my comment to Ishia's blog wk2

Week #2 Reading Post: Inventing Possibilities By Writing Into the Future and Being A Contribution

The compelling idea that stood out in reading The Art of Possibility by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander was the assignment of having students write letters into the future as a requirement for earning an A. This activity takes me to one that I do with my freshman students:

During the final week of school, I ask students to write a letter into the future that they will read as a graduating senior. I suggest that they speak about goals, reflect on the past year, reminisce or a combination of those. I promise not to read them. The Zander activity is similar. Students write to themselves in past tense about their future. But this is where a major break happens.

Whereas, my intentions are for students to set goals to measure themselves and to reflect on past experiences for self-improvement, the Zander method challenges students to see the selves they want to become in the present. Whereas, my students assess themselves for growth and change by reading their letters from three years ago, the Zander method works as a teacher/student assessment to determine which path will exact the growth needed to change now. 

This gave me pause to consider that I am expecting my students to singlehandedly invent themselves based on a set of standards, when I should align with them on knocking down the barriers that block the infinite possibilities that are before them. My assignment, then, should occur 10 months earlier with a new intent on students “inventing” themselves based on their future self – validations. 

In a few weeks I will be teaching an experimental writing course for incoming freshmen. One of the things that I will try is giving them an “A” and making their initial writing assignments the “A” letter and observations on “Being A Contribution.” One of the things that I most enjoyed about Film Making Principles and Gaming class was the release of pressure I felt. Kathy would assign AAA (Absolute “A” Assignments) and Dr. Dan would just have us play games. Even without the pressure, I ironically dug deeper and challenged myself creatively. I think that this can work for my future students.


MY COMMENT:

Lauren Schneck said...

Ishia,

I think that you made a good point about the classes we had before with guaranteed A assignments. I did stop worrying about the requirements in those classes and I did engage with the materials more simply because I knew that if I just turned something in I would get an A. Although those assignments by nature allowed for more engagement and the material wasn't critical. That approach wouldn't work in medical school for example, but for creative classes like the ones we have encountered that approach worked. I am not totally sold on the whole idea but I do see the point in shifting the focus.