LMS & PLE Futures Project Part 1

This is the 1st half of my final project. I will post the 2nd half in the next post.

Wk4 Show Me What You've Learned Project

Here's my thoughts ... enjoy!

Week 4: Play Together!

An interesting idea...teaching kids to work together. Group Genius, by Keith Sawyer describes how business can thrive when the group works to create, not the individuals - like the whole is equal to more than the sum of the parts. If graduates are going to transition into the work world and be successful learning to collaborate is essential. Sawyer has some helpful suggestions that can be applies to the classroom.

Another book with some classroom applicable ideas is Orchestrating Collaboration at Work by Arthur B. VanGundy and Linda Naiman presents the benefits of art and creativity in the workplace. The book provides activities that can be used as teambuilders. It is a little pricey, so I'm not sure if I want to spend the dollars, but I like the ideas it emphasizes as previewed on their web site creativityatwork.com. Enjoy!

Week 4: I Didn't Mean to Copy

I asked the question in the last Wimba session about unintentionally broadcasting music over the Internet. I guess I'm just hung up on the whole copyright violation thing. It has been a topic of much discussion at school lately - what can we do about students not infringing on copyright laws? I have always included the warnings in my syllabus and the talks in class, but taking a more proactive approach might be needed.

I know there is software you can use like turnitin.com and plagiarismchecker.com - and that's OK, but it tries to catch students after they've done something wrong. I'd rather work on teaching them to respect other's work by giving them credit and to be creative themselves!

An excellent website to check out is http://plagiarismvideos.blogspot.com/. It is an excellent repository for videos about the issue. One I found particularly creative is a parody done by a teacher in Florida. It's good for chuckle - which teachers always could use. Enjoy!

Week 4 - Credit Where Credit Is Due

Plagiarism is not a concern I just developed. I've battled with students copying ever since I started assigning research (and that's before the Internet was available to them). Creating a conscience in students about plagiarism is the same as any morality. Teachers need to fight the good fight and be good role models. I see an excellent opportunity for my students to embrace technology and be reminded of copyright regulations. Penn State has an excellent web site devoted to topic called Copyright Perspectives. As well having a comprehensive set of links for reference, there are also three videos for students to watch. Covering the topics of plagiarism, remixing media, and the use of others' music, the videos each present a student's future self admonishing their past self about copyright infringement. I want my students to create their own videos on the topic. The Penn State videos are reminiscent of Benjamin Zander's "give the A" letter-writing exercise. I've included the plagiarism video here as a preview...enjoy!



Penn State University. (2008). Copyright Perspectives. Retrieved February 27, 2009, from http://copyright.psu.edu/

I Gotta Know!

Can anyone explain to me why this is?

I buy 10 bananas for my family and I have to throw one away because the last one goes uneaten. So, the next time I buy less - maybe six bananas. But...once again, the last one remains and I throw it away. The other day I bought three (just 3!) bananas and as I just looked over at the counter, there sits one blackening banana. I don't get it! Maybe I should just buy one at a time - of course, I will spend more money in gas than throwing away a banana. I wonder what would happen with apples?

Week 4 Reading - Am I Happy?

I think I would like to hear a conversation between Benjamin Zander and Stephen Covey. I'm sure they would both support each other, but I wonder if one would feel the other went too far or not far enough in their exhortations. I have my mission statement from my Habits instruction; I liked how Zander's "visions" create a new aura not just fixes to what is unsatisfying about life. Covey does help establish a more workable and organizd life - Zander seems to point towards a happier life. I watched an inetersting presentation on TED by Harvard psychologist Dan Gilbert about how to start synthesizing happiness. It is worth a look and a thought. Enjoy!

Week 4: Play is crucial to attaining a work/life balance.

In order to achieve balance at this point, I have a huge amount of play to make up. I can't wait! I've always had fun with my students, but it was always work. I kept that distinction very active in my conscience. After reading The Art of Possibility and contemplating The Secret, I've got a new vision emerging in my teacher-brain - it's OK for me to have fun too.

You need to read The Top Ten Reasons to Play by Linda Naiman. I've included the list here, but she has included some explanations with the list in her article. You can read it on her web page Creativity at Work.

The Top Ten Reasons to Play

1. Play is the path to fun and profit.

2. Fun is the new status symbol.

3. Non-stop work is for losers

4. Even God rested on the 7th day!

5. We need time to be idle.

6. Play helps us find our genius.

7. Play is crucial to attaining a work/life balance.

8. The bow kept forever taut will break.

9. Play is smart corporate strategy for solving problems.

10. Play keeps our passions alive in the workplace.

While the article is addressing the workplace, not a classroom, it still applies. First, it is the workplace for the staff, and second, as teachers we need to do our best to prepare students to be successful after graduation. Have some fun - be successful!

Naiman, L. (1999). Top ten reasons to play. Creativity at Work. Retrieved on February 26, 2009, from http://www.creativityatwork.com/articlesContent/playwork.htm

Week 3 Reading - The Best Lesson of the Year!

The Art of Possibility
Wordle © 2008

I think it was the best lesson so far this year...I think my students would agree. The Art of Possibility became the inspiration and some of the content. My Leadership Skills class seemed like the perfect place to talk about thinking creatively and believing in the possibility of anything. As I read the first 6 chapters of Rosamund and Benjamin Zander's book, I could see my students benefiting from the concepts. I incorporated several of the activities from the Tim Brown video included in my post below (Thursday, February 19, 2009). The students saw how they had no confidence in their creativity and how they need to stretch the boundaries beyond assumptions.

I then had this group of freshmen attempt the nine-dot puzzle used in the book. Once again, think beyond the limits. Benjamin Zander's TED presentation fit in well at this point, and I followed that up with the movie, Music of the Heart. I love using film in my classes; it is an excellent way to start conversations and writing. All too often movies get a bad rap - probably because teachers don't use them as educational tools. My students had the choice of writing a letter from Ms. Roberta Guaspari-Tzavaras to Mr. Zander or vice versa. They needed to show the opinions and the feeling tones they sensed in the videos, as well as using the correct format for the letter. It was rewarding for me and, after reading their letters, for them too!

Although The Art of Possibility has nothing directly to do with media assets, it has everything to do with creation! I truly valued the advice at this turbulent time in my life. Rule 6 has become quite the calming influence on me. Some of the particular thoughts I had:

• What assumption am I making...What might I now invent? I need to stop thinking that I can't ask for help! Not help because I don't know how to do something, help because I don't have time to do all of the things I used to do for my school. I'm driving myself crazy trying to complete all of the responsibilities I assumed when my school first opened. The sad part for me is - I'm doing a crappy job on some things due to a lack of time. I just can't carve myself up into smaller pieces.
• How are my thought/actions a reflection of the measurement world? I feel if I don't do everything I used to do I will be considered a lesser teacher. I need to formally give up on those things I don't enjoy and can professionally give up.
• Start giving the "A"! I do this with my students - I know they get opportunities to succeed with me that they never had with other teachers. I need to start giving myself an "A".
• Rule 6 needs to stay at the forefront when things are getting crazy. I know that it can't be applied to all of the professional responsibilities I have, but I'm sure if I look I'll find a few to slap it on!

Jacks, J. (June, 2008). Image of Opus 118 Harlem School of Music Annual Concert: Academy Auditorium. Retrived on February 22, 2008, from http://www.artsandletters.org/announcements2.php

Zander, B. & Zander, R. (2000). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. Boston: Harvard Business School Press.

Students Know Technology - Why Not Use That!

As promised, I'm including two videos here that really reinforce the need for technology in education. They are done in an entertaining fashion and although the data is several years old, the points are not lost.



They both come from http://www.huddlemind.net. If you haven't registered at the site, you may want to consider it; they have some great videos, forums and articles available.

Tripod Storage

I just read the best tip for storing tripods! The advice comes from Steven Cortez, Blue Valley West HS, Overland Park, Kansas. Those of you that have tripods to store check it out.


Solution: Go to the local hardware store. You’re looking for 6" sewer pipe for most tripods. Larger tripods may take 8” or more. Each tube will hold the folded tripod safely without bumping and breaking into another tripod, Cut the tubes on a table saw (your industrial technology teacher can help) about 16-18" inches long depending on your tripod, then make a box with a 4" lip on the bottom so the tubes will slant upwards, your box can vary in size to the number of tripods you have. I numbered each tube, and engraved the same number on each tripod, I also have my cameras numbered. So when a student checks out camera #5 (they sign out the camera in another system I will share later) he takes tripod #5 and so on. I can tell at-a-glance from the number of tripods missing how many cameras are checked out. (No camera can be checked out w/o a tripod. It really helps me keep track of equipment.)

I'm sure you adapt the plans to fit any number of tripods. Thanks for the advice Steven!

Cortez, S. (October 2008). Tripod Storage Solved! High School Broadcast Journalism Project. Retrieved on February 20, 2009 from http://hsbj.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=23

Week 3 Ron Smith Interview Interactive Q&As

Following the format to the left the following are study guide questions to accompany Ron Smith's interview with Full Sail Program Director, Holly Ludgate:

Ron Smith Interview Interactive Q&As

1. What career goals might students that attend the New Media Academy at Hollywood High School have? Entertainment business: movies, graphics, web design
2. What type of media are students today attracted to? animation - mostly Flash animation combined with video
3. What does Ron Smith mean when he says “I’ll use anything fair or unfair”? He'll do anything to get students interested in what's happening.
4. Why does Mr. Smith refer to his class as a laboratory? He uses his class as a place to field test new technology as it becomes available to him - just as a scientist would conduct experimentation.
5. Describe the difference between what students want for technology and what teachers are using for technology in the classroom. "The teachers are part of the problem"...teachers are stuck on PowerPoint - students want and use Flash animation - teachers use overheads, while students use video.
6. Explain the term “front-loaded” with regard to lesson planning. there is a lot of work at the beginning - doing all of the planning prior to any of the instruction
7. Why is “front-loading” a hard sell to many teachers? it is so time-intensive and it goes against what they are used to doing
8. List and briefly describe the 3 “hot” applications that Ron Smith is using with his students.
a. Scratch b. Sketch Up c. Blender
9. What real-life implications do these applications provide? 3-D animation and design, combines with Google Earth to help with architectural design,
10. What type of directions does Mr. Smith provide to his students when working with these applications? very little, he provides some basic operational info and a target project, but then he has the students discover the how and the creative aspects as they work through the program
11. What is his reasoning for this? he wants the students to put their individual stamp on each project - he doesn't want to influence them
12. What does Ron Smith see as the challenges facing online instruction in the future? curriculum design and material going online - the challenge will be to make digital media and video classes effective through an online platform

Online interview of Ron Smith, Lead Teacher, New Media Academy, Hollywood High School, Hollywood California by Holly Ludgate, Program Director, Educational Media Design and Technology, Full Sail University.

Week 3: A Great Presentation

Sorry - I really am caught up on my reading...it's just that I keep finding other things I want to share! I watched this excellent presentation on TED and I combined some of the ideas with the presentation by Benjamin Zander. I turned out to be one of the best lessons I 've had in my Leadership Skills class. The video was centered around creativity in children and what happens to it as age and experience set in. I don't want to say too much about how I used the material because I don't want to influence any of you - you should see it and let it affect you. Here it is - Enjoy!

Week 3: Creative Commons Animation

In the relentless pursuit of creative, educational, and fun activities for my journalism students, I happened across this animated story-telling video about the Creative Commons tag available to artists in South Africa. It is well-explained and a great example to use with students. I have also included the link below. I'll be using it with my kids - Enjoy!


http://za.creativecommons.org/movies/ccsa_mov.swf

Week 2 Reading Part 3

Are we, as educators teaching "messy" history? According to Cornelia Brunner and Bill Tally we are. in their book, The New Media Literacy Handbook: An Educator’s Guide to Bringing New Media Into the Classroom, Brunner and Tally theorize that education has transitioned from neat history to messy history. How true! The teachers I had taught from a textbook with a preset curriculum that moved in a straight line. There were few deviations and little student input, just output in the form of worksheets and questions answered. Today all of the media teachers and students are exposed to lends content, vision, and doubt to the facts presented. Messy is not bad or incorrect - it is just - messy!

I love messy. Jenkins in his book Convergence Culture leads his readers full circle from the creation of the "spoiling" fascination of Survivor to the "spoiling" fascination of the 2004 election. I am the most non-confrontational person I know. I hate getting into verbal debates or arguments. I would never make it as a debate teacher. One of the ways I avoid being put in those positions is to stay away from two areas of discussion - religion and politics. So what does Jenkins open his analysis to? Both! Harry Potter is one of my addictions. I get squeamish reading about it. Jenkins does a good job of using the criticisms as a misunderstanding of the media culture.

Ah politics...I guess should speak up and support my beliefs...but I'm as chicken as Colonel Sanders. I vote - and that's that. Jenkins discusses "spin," but does present a rather liberal view. Of course the liberal campaigns did embrace the new media and did an excellent job of involving young Americans. Teachers often comment about how natural technology comes to students and marketing specialists are not blind to that fact either. The lightening speed at which news can spread is also part of the messiness of history in 2009. As a journalism teacher I push my students to verify everything - this is so difficult when hitting "enter" is so much easier than researching.

Brunner, C. & Tally, B. (2006, June 23). New Media Literacy: An interview with Bill Tally and Cornelia Brunner. EDC: Improving Education and Health Worldwide. Retrieved from http://main.edc.org/newsroom/articles/new_media_literacy

Election 2004 image is taken from http://danfingerman.com/dtm/archives/cat_politics.html

Harry Potter image is taken from http://www.freeclipartnow.com/cartoons-comics/harry-potter/

Jenkins, H. (2006). Convergence culture where old and new media collide. New York: New York University Press.

Week 2 Reading Virtual Life

I felt a little overwhelmed today so I wandered around Second Life for a while. I people watched, shopped and just sat by the fire and relaxed. It was actually quite nice. I felt renewed and ready to work again. I went hunting around Second Life for their take on the "new media." Although initially Second Life was not friendly towards convergence, it has become much more so. The educational community is very visible there. This video provides an overview of NMC's virtual campus:



Along with hundreds of student groups that support media learning, many universities maintain a Second Life presence for media development. I love it - it provides me with an excellent venue to learn, socialize, experiment - and stay safely hidden behind my avatar...chicken, remember!

Week 2 Valentine's Day Comments

Sorry to defer to the holiday, but I'm feeling like I need to recognize the romantic atmosphere of the day. Happy Valentine's Day all!

I was reading an article that appeared in the British online version of the Telegraph entitled "Valentine's Day: Technology 'is killing romance'." The article describes one of the sad effects of technology - people don't write love poems or letters to each other again. A survey conducted by the National Trust foundation. The survey found that of the 2,558 people they polled, 62% had never sent a love letter. No one asked me - but I would be in the 58% - no details will be released about that though.

The article goes on to say that most everyone polled had sent a text love message. It's the thought that counts - I know. An electronic Valentine's message is better than none. But nothing beats expressing yourself with your own thoughts...and candy always helps!

Adams, J. (2009, February 9). Valentine's Day: Technology 'is killing romance'. Telegraph. Retrieved http://www.telegraph.co.uk/scienceandtechnology/technology/technologynews/4568243/Valentines-Day-Technology-is-killing-romance.html