wk4 response – @ Jacqueline Jones

This is Jacqueline Jones' reading blog post about the last four chapters of "The Art of Possibility".







This is my response to her blog post:

Dear Jacqueline,

I really like how you ended your reflection "the most important message is to get self out the way. Be open to the passion and talents of others and be prepared to be amazed with the possibilities".
I think your statement is so true for it is when we let go of ourselves that we can see all the positives our colleagues and teammates bring to the table. Just like you, I've challenged myself to encourage others (my husband, my students, my colleagues) and see how their potential and passion unfolds just by opening up a world of possibilities to them.
Thank you for sharing such an insightful response.

wk4 response – @ Gregg Eilers

This is Gregg Eilers' reading blog post to "The Art of Possibility" during week 4.





This is my response to his blog post:

Dear Gregg,

I could not agree with more with you in how this book has challenged me to rethink the way I do things at home and work. I really like Zander's image of us being the board because then that gives us control of situations we would otherwise consider hopeless.

Last night I was watching "Waiting for Superman" and it brought to my mind the analogy of the board, we as teachers can make the difference in our classrooms. We are the ones who have the power to modify the circumstances so that all of our students can learn. Sometimes, we get caught in the downward spiral because it is easier to put the blame on the students, their parents, our administration, our lack of resources, etc. But, if we take seriously the work of Zander & Zander, we will start acting as agents of change and make the necessary changes in our classroom to open up a world of possibility to our students. I think this reading could not have come at a better time.

wk4 - Publishing_Leadership Project

This was the problem that led to my Action Research:



Thus, my presentation is about how I developed video lessons that students could access online 24/7. For my first cycle, I created a website with class blogs on iWeb. I used Viddler as my video hosting site and while the feedback on the video tutorials and lessons indicated that they were effective, the whole interface of my online presence called for more user-friendliness. So, for my second cycle, I decided to use an LMS instead of a website. I also switched from Viddler to YouTube. For my LMS I used Blackboard since our school had purchased its license recently and we had been encouraged to try it out. The main issues my students faced were addressed during the second cycle. The LMS has become a great tool not just for my students but also for me in helping me organize and build a video library that I have been able to share with my colleagues.

These are the links to my two "Thinking Out Loud" blog posts:

1. Week 3: Thinking Out Loud

2. Week 4: Thinking Out Loud

This is the link to my presentation (including speaker's notes):

Taylor-Roman_Leadership_Project_Presentation

wk4 Thinking Out Loud

I received an e-mail last Sunday inviting me to the TFLTA Annual Regional Workshop. I think this was perfect timing. I asked Dr. Bustillos if he considered this a good opportunity to present and after he consulted with Dr. Berdard, this was his reply:

"YES!" So, go forth and conquer! jbb.

I am so thrilled to say the least. I filled in their proposal form right away and sent it as an e-mail attachment around 6:00 p.m. today. Since, I'm not a member of TFLTA, I also had to send it as a hard copy which I printed and mailed (about 5 hours ago). To my surprise, at 9:30 p.m. ET I received a reply from the event organizer:

Silvia,
How delightful of you to send us your session proposal. I am sending it on to the Spanish session facilitators for their consideration and have added you to the list of Spanish teachers for the Workshop as well.
Please spread the word to your Oak Ridge world language colleagues RE: the Workshop! It should be an exciting day for everyone.
Welcome to TFLTA, BTW! I'll look for your letter in the mail this week!


I'm so excited that things are taking shape and I look forward to hearing from them. Cross your fingers for me!

wk4 reading - No enemies

"We need never name a human being as the enemy" from The Art of Possibility pg. 190

What else is there to say?

The last chapter reminded me of my visit to Hiroshima in 2006. This is a close up of the top part of the Children's Monument for Peace.



This is part of the inscription:


Throughout my time there, I could hear the story of WE and not one of THEM and US as tour guides and survivors told their story. There was no room for blame. There were only questions: What do WE want OUR world to be like? And what can WE do to get there?

This was my crane offering and prayer:


It reads: Mexico prays for peace, love, and coexistence.

wk4 reading - Chapters 9 - 12

I have truly enjoyed this book. It has open my eyes to the possibilities around me in my job, my marriage, and my life. In three years of teaching, I had caved into the downward spiral of the teacher's lounge. In three years, just around the time to be granted tenure, I had become whom I swore to never be as a teacher. I had lost my vision. I had forgotten why I went into teaching.



My calculating self blamed my students for their lack of enthusiasm and work ethic in my class, blamed my department for lack of cohesion, blamed the administrators for lack of communication, trust, and leadership, blamed the parents for lack of involvement, blamed my master's program for taking away too much of my personal time. I was taking myself way too seriously that instead of seeing everyone as a contribution, I saw them as obstacles. There was a clear distinction of the I and Them. There was no WE.

Then, came this book "The Art of Possibility" and the video that all of you watched was more a message for me than anyone else. When I watched it the first time on YouTube I cried as I realized no one was going to do change things for me, I had to take the initiative. I had to put on my shoes and start the walk...



Really, it was not until I accepted the way things are and that defined myself as the board that my perspective changed and I saw opportunities rather than obstacles.
I'm not saying that suddenly I'm living a fairy tale, but I was given the opportunity to dream,

to redraw my professional framework, to redesign the rules of my own invented game and, in the process, I've gained a refreshing vision and I'm starting to see the change: first in me, then in those around me.

Once, I had a clear vision of who I am as a teacher I was able to see the power of enrolling my students in my course. I have seen the power of enrolling the head of my department and the principal of our school to get an Apple Learning Lab with 30 mac books and a mobile cart for my classroom next year. It is now that I can, once again, be excited --like Zander's friend when she was six years old and about to play the cello in the competition- right before I get to teach each of my classes and my students have seen the change and they want to be a part of it. Like Ben put it "enrollment is the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share." (pg. 125)



Let's share that spark!

wk3 reading – Chapters 5 - 8

I still think this is a great read for this month. It's like a breath of fresh air. I think the first four chapters opened my mind up to the world of possibility so that I could take in the next four chapters as I seek to apply them in my daily life.



Thus, I will be sharing with you a few passages that stood out for me:

Fifth Practice: Leading from any chair.
(pg. 72)

Ben asked: "How can you bear to play day after day in an orchestra led by conductors, many of whom know so much less than you?"

Eugene Lehner: It is now forty-three years since this happened, and it is less and less likely that I will be asked. However, in the meantime, I haven't had a single moment in rehearsal, as I sit wondering what I would say to the orchestra should I suddenly be called upon to lead.

Ninth Practice: Lightning a Spark - The practice of enrolling (pg. 125)

"Enrolling is the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share".

This next anecdote reminded me of how anyone can lead from any chair and how by practicing the art of enrolling we can light up a spark of generosity and great creativity.



In college, I signed up for a course in microbiology even though it had nothing to do with any of my majors, I just thought it would be fun (yes, the nerd in me). Two weeks into it, I knew I was in big trouble not knowing the terminology or methodology. I still thought it was a great class, so I decided to organize a study group and I asked everyone in class to join it. Most of the students who showed up were in my same situation, and after a few minutes we realized we were not going to get anywhere. There was one guy who had not said anything. So, I asked him, what about you, what do you think? He went up to the board, drew pictures, told stories, and suddenly we understood all the concepts.

Afterward, I told him we were so grateful and that we would appreciate him coming every time we met if it was alright with him. I also asked him how could he understand and explain each concept so well. Then he shared with me his secret, he said, every time in class, instead of taking notes from the slides, he would write how he could teach that same class if it was him, what examples he would use, and stuff like that. He said he wanted to be a science teacher but he was always too shy to talk in public. He was grateful we had invited him because this sessions could help him get over his stage fright. The rest of us were also very grateful that we had a chance of passing this class. By enrolling him in our group, he felt empowered to share with us what we lacked. And, in the process, all of us overcame our shortcomings.

This is the only picture we have from our honeymoon


And yes, there is nothing in the picture. Our camera broke as our plane lifted. And that was the beginning of a not-too-sweet honeymoon.

It was just like everything we had planned for that weekend just fell through; and even though the weather was perfect, we missed it all just because we just didn't open up to the world of possibilities that were there for us.

The third day we had to be back at the airport and again, due to our lack of organization, time management, and lots of blaming each other, we arrived late and missed our plane. That was it! There were no planes leaving that day to our destination. We got a rental car to Tampa and the cheapest flight back was over $2000 for that day per person. We were very upset, we were blaming each other, we couldn't see beyond ourselves. After much arguing, we were tired and mad. We sat down about three yards from each other. I don't remember how but suddenly we were engulfed by a most wonderful sunrise. The golden sun rays bleaching the purple sky reminded us of the love that we had for each other. I don't know how long we stared at that sensual image but when we were done we look in each other's direction and we smile for the first time that weekend. We ate some airport sandwiches together watching the rest of the sunrise. About 10 minutes later, my husband suggested we take the rental car back home (a 12-hour drive) and I said "sure!". The rest is history. We had an amazing time coming back home, we actually had time to talk, to stop and eat and enjoy the scenery, we had not had that much time together since the previous summer (this was in January) and this just proves that when we take a good dose of Rule #6 and accept things the way the are, we give into passion and our life takes a 180 degree turn.

I had forgotten about that incident, and reading chapters 6 through 8 made me realize how I need to give into passion more often, how I must not take myself too seriously because that tends to obstruct my personal relationships;and, most of all, I learned that when I accept the way things are, I can create the change I need to go on.

wk3 response – @ Catherine Yoho

This is my response to Catherine Yoho's Reading blog post:




Catherine,

I really like how you immediately put the words from this book into practice. I think that was the main intent of the writers.

I think that's what makes this book different from 'positive thinking' books in that it calls for action. It calls for change of the self more than we changing the world. I feel like I've missed a lot in life during the last year because I've been to busy taking myself too seriously with work and the masters program that I've neglected some of the relationships that matter the most to me. This book has helped me reconsider my priorities and I'm starting to see changes in me and how that is affecting everyone else around me.

Thank you for sharing such great personal insights.

wk3 response – @ Jacqueline Jones

This is my response to Jacqueline Jones' week 3 Reading Blog post.





Jacqueline,

I really liked your Voki. It was a fun way to start your presentation. In regards to your comments about the book, I couldn't agree with you more on the violation of rule six and how we need humor to survive a high-stress job. I think that the more personal relationships you build with your co-workers, there are more possibilities of lightening up a dull work environment.

I also appreciate the fact that you share the anecdote your pastor told you. Many times, we're so immersed on our current situation that we can't see the possibilities that would open up to us if we were willing to take initiative like that guy that went to work at Subway. We had a tough time last summer too when my husband was laid off and we had just purchased our first home two months earlier and suddenly, it seemed that everything was going to crumble. At first, he wanted a 'good' job but soon he realized that coming out of college, laid off with less than a year experience he was not going to get anywhere he wanted to be. When he decided to take what was there, he got a job, he is learning a lot with them and his boss has suggested him to take the leadership training with them to take a higher position. I think that when we act, a world of possibilities opens up to us. However, if we are passive, and we wait for change, it will never come.

wk3 Wimba Session - Art of Possibility

This week I could not make it on time to our Wimba session. I was there only for the last 25 minutes. So, I thought it would be good to watch it from the begining in the archive especially because of the Abstract that we have to write by the end of this week.

It's good that I decided to watch it because I was not clear on the "Think Out Loud" blog posts for week 4 nor the Leadership/Publishing project. I'm quite nervous as to whether or not I will be able to finish everything on time. My second cycle just finished last week and I'm working now on the data collection and interpretation.

Then, there was the discussion about "The Art of Possibility".
It has been a great read because it has allowed me to reflect on my self as a wife, as a teacher, as a daughter, as a student. It came at a great time because I needed some encouragement as the end (of the program) is near and I have so many more things going on at work and home.Then, came the youtube video. And this is the line that stood up for me.

Then, there was the discussion about how "The art of possibility" was different from positive thinking. One of my classmates wrote: "The art of possibility is a way of creating possibility rather than thinking of the positive in the a situation." And I agree with this person. I think it's not about seeing what is not there and claiming it. It's about seeing beyond, thinking outside the box, and create new possibilities. It's not just about thoughts but actions.

And for that reason, I really liked the 3rd and 4th chapters: Giving an A and Being a contribution because once you realize your potential or realize the potential in others, there is no limit to what you can do.

wk3 Thinking Out Loud

I'm going to go for a presentation. I think that as much as I have controlled stage fright when it comes to teaching or leading worship, I still get really nervous about public speaking (in English).

Since this publishing/leadership project is about stepping out of our comfort zone, I think that the presentation will be the best choice for me.

And that's all the thinking I can do about this project right now.

wk2 response – @ Bryan Antos

This is Bryan Antos week 2 response to Art of Possibility's first four chapters.



And these were my comments on his blog post:

Just like both of you, I have enjoyed the Full Sail journey a lot, I have grown as a person, but I have missed so much as a newlywed. I feel constantly overworked, tired, frustrated, and stressed and, many times, I just wish I could say "yes, let's go camping in the Smokies and not worry about the time", or "yes, I'd like to sit down and watch a 3-hour movie with you", or "how about I cook something this evening" or "let's drive for ten hours until we reach the beach and come just on time (around 7:30 a.m. Monday) to make it to work!" but I haven't. I hate the feeling of "I'm 'wasting' time" when I'm having the time of my life with the man of my life. I can't wait for graduation. I can't wait to feel good 'wasting' time. I can't wait to live again.

wk2 response – @ Tim Brehms

This is Tim Brehms' reading 2 blog post.



And here is my response to his blog:
Hi Tim,

I really liked the whole book and I read the whole four chapters in about an hour. It was an easy read and, in my case, it touched me in different levels. Watch my visual collage to see what I mean (find the link below). I’m sorry to hear that it was not all that for you. However, I admit that it was the “Giving an A” chapter where I connected with the text. In my entry post I share how my parents gave me an A at age 13 when I was in a country with a language I didn’t know and how that made a significant impact in my life.

And I agree with you in that there has to be more research on that issue because I think giving an A is a very empowering tool. One idea that comes to mind is bringing in the concept of gaming in education. I remember from our Gaming course here at Full Sail that some of my classmates were using a point system rather than a grading scale for part of their Action Research. I would like to know how that went and we also have to keep in mind that some systems are very traditional and would not allow for something like this. Thank you for sharing your thoughts I have found them enlightening.

wk2 reading – Initial response

Ok. So this was a great read: The Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander.

I was so inspired that I made this visual collage from pictures that I have taken over the years. Take a look at it!



I was touched in so many levels by the first four chapters of this book. And, I feel like sharing this personal anecdote.

In 1996, my whole family moved to the U.S. from Mexico because my dad was getting his master's degree. My sister and I did not know any English and this was the day before school. Our parents called us to the living room and told us something that went like this: we want you to know that to us you are the most beautiful, intelligent, funny, and amazing daughters in the whole world and nothing or no one will make us think differently of you. We know that you don't know any English. We know that you will struggle, and when you get a failing grade, we want you to know that we will see an A because we see the effort you put in, because we see you growing, because we see you becoming women of outstanding character. Don't worry about grades, go live and enjoy our two years here. Make the most of it and if in the way, your grades happen to be A's, so be it... That evening, a huge weight was lifted from my shoulders, I was no longer scared, I was ready to take over the world!

Needless to say, my sister and I did extremely well. Due to language immersion, we were proficient in English within 4 months. I went on to tutor in Spanish, French, and Chemistry after school and took some extra courses to graduate a year early. My parents believed in me and that made the difference. I was given an A and the rest was history.

wk2 free post – Changing Education Paradigms

I just recently saw this YouTube video. You may have seen it already somewhere else. I just thought that it is worth sharing given the questions that it raises about our current Education practices and paradigms.

More than eye-opening it encourages reflection of our self-praxis in the classroom and beyond as we seek to prepare our students for a century that is ever-evolving, ever-uncertain, and with a tons of possibilities beyond our wildest imagination.



Let me know your thoughts about it. Thanks!

If you would like to see similar videos, please check the RSA: 21st Century Enlightenment YouTube Channel. Learn more about Sir Ken Robinson.

wk1 free post – Technology R us

Dear fellow bloggers,

I've been looking for creative and inspiring sources that nurture our passion for technology in education. I have found these two podcasts that may be of use to you, check them out and let me know what you think. I got several good ideas from them.


Photo by Niklas Wikstrom

Technology 4 Teachers
Browsing to the iTunes store I found this podcast and I listened to a few, it seems to be a very useful podcast for educators like ourselves that would like to know what technology other teachers are using and how that is working for them. It’s great that it also has a blog where you can share your comments, questions, and concerns. So, it’s more of a two-way discussion.

TILT – Teachers Improving Learning with Technology
This is another podcast where you can learn about what technology is being used by other educators to get ideas and insights about how to do the same in your classroom. The cool thing about this podcast is that it is open, so you can send them a podcast that they may share. However, it does not have a blog where you can discuss the content of any of the video or audio podcasts you listen to, if you want to share anything it has to be via e-mail.

wk1 response – @ Andrea Shike

Response based on Andrea Shike's original comment blog post.




@ Andrea Shike,

I totally understand your fear. I also try to use my own pictures and now, more than ever, I try to keep updating my visual repertoire. I teach Spanish, so I have to use a lot of visuals in my vocabulary and grammar presentations. However, when I ran out of pictures, I use Microsoft Clip Art as we can use them since we have bought a license with them. I also ask my students to bring in their own pictures or to use Clip Art for their projects, and I always ask them to cite properly. I feel like I just can't be safe enough. I think that copyright culture as it stands right now is a culture of fear and punishment and I think it should be different. I think that there should be right to ownership and yet freedom to take in what has been given to us and create from it our own understanding. Where there's freedom, there's growth and learning. I still think that copyright is necessary, especially to protect and honor the creator, but I think that its fundamentals need to be reexamined. At the core, that's what the culture of remix that we saw in Good Copy Bad Copy is all about.

wk1 response – @ Jacqueline Jones

Response based on Jacqueline Jones original reading blog post:

You definitely can offer us first-hand experience on this issue. Sometimes, it's hard to tell where all those fees go and if they are not going into the right hands, well, artists are the ones that get hurt the most. Yet, even if there were no illegal sharing of material, I wonder if the artists themselves would make more money, it seems that a large sum of what we pay when we buy a CD goes to the label and not all to the artist. I think that we need to redesign the way we acknowledge ownership and the way we go about sharing so that the artist or creator gets the most out of it and, at the same time, allows for freedom to edit and create beyond our wildest imagination, don't you think?

Response based on Jacqueline Jones original reading blog post:

wk1 reading – Copyrights Issues

Hi. Here's the visual aid to my reflection about Copyright Issues. Below you will find some questions that I think are worth considering.



Bullets for thought:

* Copyright Law, a culture of fear and punishment?
* Fair Use, is it fair to all parties involved?
* Remix Culture, where are its limits?
* Creative Commons, is this what the future holds?

Please let me know what you think by leaving comments below. Thank you.