Sunday, October 31, 2010
Wk 1 Wimba Reflection
After listening to the Wk1 Wimba archives, I heard a lot of talk about the Thesis project. Then I realized that there must be two different ones since I am not a part of the Thesis project. After listening to the correct one, I heard a lot of great, helpful information on the AR Web site criteria. It's really over whelming but I'm up for the challenge.
Wk 1 Free Post
This week's free post is on the frustrations of having to re-write for the fourth time my Lit. Review. I am so upset that I haven't gotten this right yet. However, I'm am so happy right now for the people who have completed theirs. I know now what they have had to go through when they make comments like "I and so glad my Lit. Review has finally been approved." I am so looking forward to when I can say those exact same words.
@ Maritza Layport on Chapters 1-3
READING ASSIGNMENT: ART OF POSSIBILITY CHAPTERS 1-3
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010
Maritza writes: Thinking outside the box is a common phrase to show our desire as humans to believe there are answers to our questions that have not yet been explored. I see it as “if you always do the same thing, you’ll always get the same result”. By being aware of these thoughts, with a little practice, I can release myself from the paradigm of the same responses to the same situations.
I believe thoughts lead to words and words lead to doing. A recent book I read explained in simple terms that all thoughts lead to creation, if we let them. By viewing challenges in life as opportunities to grow and adapt, we create. I now understand that I can apply this to many situations and relationships personal or professional.
The world offers endless possibilities. It has not been “all invented”. By measuring our achievements by that of others we will very often think less of ourselves. It is true that all things are possible. The great thinkers throughout history have told us this and the majority refuses to believe it or feel we are not as capable as some. Things do appear different when you see them as possibilities.
To ask one’s self, “are my thoughts and actions at this time a reflection of the world, or are they my own original thoughts?”, takes practice. We are not accustomed to believing and living as if we really have choices in life. Anything we do is a “choice”. If a problem bothers me it is because I “choose” to let it bother me. When I take control of my thoughts in this manner I begin to ignore the boundaries that confine me to what I viewed as everyday reality.
My Reply: Maritza,
I totally agree with you on several comments you made pertaining to our reading. The first is thinking outside the box. I believe that in order for us to progress and not become stalemate we must re-invent ourselves sot that we are sharp and on top of our game. It's hard to motivate others when we ourselves are not motivated. Secondly, our thought patterns must govern who we are, what we think and feel. We can not allow the world to validate us on any level. We must self evaluate and improve in those areas that need improvement. Sure, it's okay to receive feed and criticism from others but at the same token, they must not govern our lives. We have the final say in our progress. Excellent observation.
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 27, 2010
Maritza writes: Thinking outside the box is a common phrase to show our desire as humans to believe there are answers to our questions that have not yet been explored. I see it as “if you always do the same thing, you’ll always get the same result”. By being aware of these thoughts, with a little practice, I can release myself from the paradigm of the same responses to the same situations.
I believe thoughts lead to words and words lead to doing. A recent book I read explained in simple terms that all thoughts lead to creation, if we let them. By viewing challenges in life as opportunities to grow and adapt, we create. I now understand that I can apply this to many situations and relationships personal or professional.
The world offers endless possibilities. It has not been “all invented”. By measuring our achievements by that of others we will very often think less of ourselves. It is true that all things are possible. The great thinkers throughout history have told us this and the majority refuses to believe it or feel we are not as capable as some. Things do appear different when you see them as possibilities.
To ask one’s self, “are my thoughts and actions at this time a reflection of the world, or are they my own original thoughts?”, takes practice. We are not accustomed to believing and living as if we really have choices in life. Anything we do is a “choice”. If a problem bothers me it is because I “choose” to let it bother me. When I take control of my thoughts in this manner I begin to ignore the boundaries that confine me to what I viewed as everyday reality.
My Reply: Maritza,
I totally agree with you on several comments you made pertaining to our reading. The first is thinking outside the box. I believe that in order for us to progress and not become stalemate we must re-invent ourselves sot that we are sharp and on top of our game. It's hard to motivate others when we ourselves are not motivated. Secondly, our thought patterns must govern who we are, what we think and feel. We can not allow the world to validate us on any level. We must self evaluate and improve in those areas that need improvement. Sure, it's okay to receive feed and criticism from others but at the same token, they must not govern our lives. We have the final say in our progress. Excellent observation.
Wk1: Art Of Possibility Chapters 1-3 Reading
The most profound section of this book came from chapter 2 thus far. This chapter took me back to a time early last year when I was struggling with dealing with measurement scores published by our District that in my opinion were not a reflection of who I was as a teacher. I'll share some back ground knowledge about how data is read in my district. In my school, we are grouped into Small Learning Communities (SLCs) where we share the a common group of students. How I am graded as a teacher is based on the FCAT scores and mini assessments given to our SLC students. The problem is, the Florida Comprehensive Achievement Test (FCAT) measures Reading, Writing, Math, and Science, all core classes. I'm a Technology teacher who teach students how to utilized technology and my courses fall under electives. When a student does not do well on the mini assessments or FCAT, I am lump in the group with core teachers who's primary job is to teach, re-teach, and prepare students for the Reading, Writing, Math, and Science portions of the exam which I do not teach. There are times when I'm teaching Microsoft Word application and I give the students an essay assignment on how to format the document but I'm not necessarily teaching them how to write an essay, just how to format the essay in an application. Maybe I'm teaching them how to include a formula in an Excel Spreadsheet to add several columns together, but I'm not teaching them math equations per-say on how to solve say a quadratic equation.
Chapter 2 reminded me of a prayer I prayed after I saw the workshops that I had to attend after data showed that the our SLC students failed to show gains on the assessments or FCAT. I had to attend the workshops because I was a part of SLC team. My prayer was to be delivered from what other people and assessments stated about my teaching skills. I no longer allow conventional performance and achievement measurement, competition, or comparison to other teachers to trouble my thought process. I love this new found freedom. I like Benjamin Zander's comment on how he measures his success by the sparkling eyes all around him (TED). I measure myself by the number of students who I have to run out of my classroom back to their classroom on a daily basis because they are not engaged enough in their other courses and trust me when I say it's a lot of students.
The Art of Possibility, by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander
@ Terrie Whitley
Terrie Whitley writes: October 25, 2010 at 4:30 pm
My district received a T-3 Grant at the middle of the year last year. Through that grant, all classrooms received Promethean Boards, projectors, and each teacher got a Toshiba laptop. (I use my MAC, though…I like it better.) I also have an ELMO in my room. I haven’t used the Promethean Board…no time to put the lessons together, but I do use the projector a lot with my lessons and the things I create to go along with them. The district is trying to step up, but the trainers are not near a “savy” with technology as the Full Sail instructors. That makes whole Saturdays being given up for the trainings irritating to say the least.
My reply: That was great! Your grant provided a lot of expensive technology equipment. I’m wondering if the grant is offered only to your school district (which by the way is located in what state and city) or can other school districts apply for that grant.
My district received a T-3 Grant at the middle of the year last year. Through that grant, all classrooms received Promethean Boards, projectors, and each teacher got a Toshiba laptop. (I use my MAC, though…I like it better.) I also have an ELMO in my room. I haven’t used the Promethean Board…no time to put the lessons together, but I do use the projector a lot with my lessons and the things I create to go along with them. The district is trying to step up, but the trainers are not near a “savy” with technology as the Full Sail instructors. That makes whole Saturdays being given up for the trainings irritating to say the least.
My reply: That was great! Your grant provided a lot of expensive technology equipment. I’m wondering if the grant is offered only to your school district (which by the way is located in what state and city) or can other school districts apply for that grant.
Wk1-2 DB Quickies: DIY Classroom/Presentation Solutions
Topic #2: Tech in your workplace: How has your workplace kept up with tech or not kept up with tech? What kinds of tech things have you bought to use in your classroom/presentation? Please give examples (and have a little fun with the idea…).
My District here in Florida is three years behind in technology. We just received Microsoft Office 2007 at the end of 2009-10 school year. There is simply not enough money in the budget to keep up with technology. I personally haven’t bought any technology equipment to use in my class but I attended a workshop at another school last year and saw that they had SmartBoards. I requested a SmartBoard from my district through a letter stating how I would use it in the classroom and how it would better engage student learning. I received one a few months later after I wrote the letter.
My District here in Florida is three years behind in technology. We just received Microsoft Office 2007 at the end of 2009-10 school year. There is simply not enough money in the budget to keep up with technology. I personally haven’t bought any technology equipment to use in my class but I attended a workshop at another school last year and saw that they had SmartBoards. I requested a SmartBoard from my district through a letter stating how I would use it in the classroom and how it would better engage student learning. I received one a few months later after I wrote the letter.
@ Aminah Bilal
October 25, 2010 at 11:45 pm
Aminah Bilal writes: In Cycle 1 of my ARP I had several difficulties that I had to overcome and my students were able to move past their frustrations and developed patience and stamina! It is turning out to be a challenging yet very rewarding experience.
My reply: It's always great to see that even though AR projects become very challenging, there are others working with you to help keep you motivated. Sounds like you have excellent students.
Aminah Bilal writes: In Cycle 1 of my ARP I had several difficulties that I had to overcome and my students were able to move past their frustrations and developed patience and stamina! It is turning out to be a challenging yet very rewarding experience.
My reply: It's always great to see that even though AR projects become very challenging, there are others working with you to help keep you motivated. Sounds like you have excellent students.
Wk1-1 DB Quickies: DIY Classroom/Presentation Solutions
Topic #1: Briefly share an experience about using media (visual and/or auditory) in class or during a presentation, focus your comment on any work-arounds or solutions you used when the tech wasn’t quite working or when the tech wasn’t adequate to do what you had originally planned.
This past October 11, 2010, we were having a District visit due to our low school grade of a “D”. On the day of the visit, my internet connection failed on my laptop during instruction. I was using my SmartBoard and having the students complete an interactive computer component placement when my internet quick working. I was using a online program to generate the lesson. I quickly plugged my LCD projector into a student workstation close to the front of the room. Five minutes later, District observers came in to observe the lesson. I wasn’t able to use my SmartBoard because the SmartBoard software wasn’t installed on the student work station. I had students instead, come to the workstation to complete the activties. The District workers never new the difference.
This past October 11, 2010, we were having a District visit due to our low school grade of a “D”. On the day of the visit, my internet connection failed on my laptop during instruction. I was using my SmartBoard and having the students complete an interactive computer component placement when my internet quick working. I was using a online program to generate the lesson. I quickly plugged my LCD projector into a student workstation close to the front of the room. Five minutes later, District observers came in to observe the lesson. I wasn’t able to use my SmartBoard because the SmartBoard software wasn’t installed on the student work station. I had students instead, come to the workstation to complete the activties. The District workers never new the difference.
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