WK4 Publishing/Leadership Project

WK4 Publishing/Leadership Project

My leadership project is a presentation that will be offered to OAEA (Ohio Art Education Association) Members and possibly PAEA (Pennsylvania Art Education Members. I have created a keynote slide show that introduces my research regarding engaging my students through technology in Middle school art classes.
In the presentation I summarize my Literature Review, introduce on-line creative and collaborative tools, discuss assignment development, and offer additional resources.

Below are the links to my Think Out Loud posts:

http://leahfrye.blogspot.com/2011/05/wk4-publishingleadership-project.html
http://leahfrye.blogspot.com/2011/05/wk3-free-post-publishleadership-project.html

Below are the links to both my speaker’s notes and the keynote presentation itself:
Keynote:
https://files.me.com/leahfrye/rzhxta.key.zip

Speakers notes:
https://files.me.com/leahfrye/jm2pq0

Review of Tuesday May 24, 2011 and Friday May 27, 2011Wimba Session
I was not able to participate in the Wimba session on Tuesday as I had planned. Unfortunately, my teacher responsibilities had to come first. However, I did view and listen to a couple archive sessions and was pleasantly surprised by the diversity of the presentations. (even though Friday night was music night). I have believed all along that my Action Research focus was common placed. I have never been so relieved to be wrong and humbled by my classmates’ creative ideas.
With that in mind, I want to share my perspective of the presentations that inspired me the most.
-Jim Farmer-
Jim’s slides were mind blowing. I don’t think that most teachers know how to develop such a presentation. I was relieved to know that he is an instructional technology coach with experience in presentation. I’ve learned mountains worth of skills here, but my presentation was a molehill compared. I am grateful to have been able to view his work. I loved his comment, “ You know how to turn a computer on…Why don’t you show everybody how to do stuff”. Our district and the tri-county unit offers many opportunities for technical education for teachers. Many of use know how to use the programs yet I’m not seeing the creative use as Jim Farmer’s presentation offered.
-Rowdy Grandes-
Research that he conducted was similar to mine only his focus for teaching staff was wonderful. This is something that has been more of an option in our district as opposed to required training. Most of our district’s classroom teachers are familiar with the technology that he presented on slide 6. However, much of the alternative technology he mentioned later has been blocked or deemed inappropriate for school use. I loved to hear that many of Rowdy’s teachers “want to know”. The next comment was regarding policies. This is something I need to further investigate in my district. However, experience proves that teachers are most certainly not in control.

-Annie Woodle-
Wonderful job. Good for you to go out there to find the perfect classroom to work with. Best wishes for you!
-Jeannine Berube- I would love to show the applications that you explored, namely JamStudio, to my son. It sounds like he would really enjoy it.
-Amanda McGhee- I wish I could have been there to ask more questions regarding your program in Florida. It sounds like something I want to look into for the future. Thank you for sharing.

W4 comment to CKBinkley's Post

CK,
I had to giggle when I read your “crazy”s as I did when I read senior partner Graham Walker’s letter. My nephew gave me the nickname Aunt Crazy when he was little because of the silly things I did to make him laugh…15years later the name still sticks. I take it as a compliment when my family calls me crazy ☺
I agree with you that educators are exposed to downward spiral thinking both in trying to turn the spiral up for our students and the “utter lack of respect for our profession”, quoting from a dear colleague who announced last month that he was moving on to begin something new. His students don’t understand his decision; his colleagues were shocked, yet we are all happy for him to have made such a bold move.

Why do our students view grades as the be-all-end-all? “It won’t count, why should I do it?” I have seen the same thing and try to hard to help them make a better choice. Yet, I am so afraid of spending too much energy on one student who refuses to take person control only to look up and see the others suffer. It is a constant trapeze act.

I also bought a copy of the book. I’ll have to look for more on-line for Barnes and Nobles only had one copy. I would love to share it with one of my principals but am afraid that it might not be received well coming from me. Unfortunately, I am not one of this person’s favorites. Rather, I think this person might see me as “crazy”. As you said, time will tell. But I have to inquire about your words, “…break the downward spiral”, and ask, Do we have to “break it” or do you think that maybe we can help others and ourselves see the ride provided by a spiral? Does that make sense? It’s just something I was thinking about before I read your post.
I appreciate your thoughts on the last chapter. Unfortunately I was thinking too literally when I read Telling the WE Story. You’re right. It might be worth the effort for me as well.


Week 4b Blog 1 - Weekly Reading
Chapter 9 – Lighting a Spark
I liked the idea of enrollment. Sometimes you’ve got to be crazy and find other people that are crazy too. Only crazy people want to change what sane people say is unchangeable. I also liked the idea of the downward spiral thinking. I can see that in my minds eye and how it works. We see and hear so much downward spiral thinking especially in education.
Chapter 10 – Being the board
This chapter is about not loosing control of your life. I think this is the hardest area to control. There are so many things that happen to us that we cannot control. For example, I have students that do not turn work in on time. I could refuse to accept late work, but that doesn’t help them or me. I come away with a feeling of not being a good teacher. They decide that since it won’t count, they don’t have to do it. Then the next time they are late, they don’t have to do that project either. By telling them that their grade will suffer when they are late, but they still have to do the work, I am giving control to both of us.
Chapter 11 – Creating frameworks for Possibility
This chapter sums up the art of possibilities. It tells us to put our beliefs to the test and break the downward spiral. I can’t say if I am up to the challenge. Only time will tell. I firmly believe that the meaning behind this book can change my life and the lives of those I touch. I already have decided to buy three copies of this book, one for me, one for my principal and one for our professional library. Maybe other teachers will enjoy this book as much as I did..
For years I have been contemplating a video I want to make on creativity. But defining creativity is difficult. I think I have my theme now. It is “ Creativity – The Vision of possibility.”
Chapter 12 – Telling the We Story
The author starts this chapter with a story about the Arabs and the Jews as told by his father. The audience, high school students, remark what a wonderful opportunity exists between the two factions. Yet there has been nothing but war between the Israelis and the Palestinians. The “We” is missing. My classes often feel like the “I/You” situation that chapter 12 talks about. Next year, I need to develop a “We” feeling in class. I think it will be worth the effort.
Posted by C K Binkley

WK4 Comment to Michael George

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfZq-70w0uk&feature=player_embedded

Michael that was COOL! I will “totally” be sharing this video with my students for one of our Cyber Art Room Scavenger Hunts next year. I have been looking for an appropriate “music” video to add to my list without butts or boobs. LOL Its hard to find appropriate music videos that I think will reach most of my middle school students. I think they will like this. Bummer I have to wait until then, but their last day was yesterday. For this one, they will need to identify: Live Film, Contemporary Architecture, Cityscape, Realistic background and characters, Music creates mood, color and light creates mood, Fashion Design creates time, creativity, and Music matters! I’ll also ask them what they think the artistic message is in the video. How does it make them feel? Thank you so much for sharing!

Wk 4: FREE POST
Since this is the last week, I thought it was time to have a little bit of fun share a YouTube video. This video clearly demonstrates the Art of Possibility. You can clearly see the spark of creativity, the flame of passion, and some really amazing robo dancing and dub-stepping. The dub-stepping by the gentleman (at 1:16) is beyond amazing. I am not sure if dub-stepping is actually a the correct term, but that is what we call it here. Enjoy and kick the bass!
Posted by Michael George at 8:02 PM
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WK4 Reading The Art of Possibility Chapters 9-12

WK4 Reading The Art of Possibility Chapters 9-12


Lighting a Spark…I almost cried when I read these words:
“a ‘no’ can so often dampen our fire in the world of the downward spirial. It can seem like a permanent, implacable barrier that presents us with limited choices: to attack, to manipulate our way around it, or to bow to it in defeat.”

I wish I had the wisdom of the ninth practice 3 years age. It may not have been so hard to keep picking myself up and try again after more “no’s” than I thought I could endure. But I did get up and I have no regrets for all the time and heart invested despite the walls. I’ve become a stronger person for it and appreciate the spirals.
The story of Eastlea can be summarized as this: In the mist of what may seem a defeat, you will have a positive effect when your intentions are honorable. At the middle level, I feel defeated when I cannot motivate some students or when most of the class offers poor reviews on a project. I still try to make changes for the better in the spirit of “HOW FASCINATING!". But once in a while I receive a heartwarming “thank you” from a parent who shares with me how much their kiddo enjoys my class and why. I hold those little comments dear and they push me to do better.



Being the Board…”there is nothing I can do about your mistakes-only about mine”. I tell my disruptive students, “I cannot make you learn. I cannot make you do anything. You are the only one who can do that. But consider this: Do you want to learn and grow with the help of your teachers now or do you want to have to do it all on your own later?
On page 143 Zander offers and example of the tenth practice by referencing the flood-plain Mississippi River. I was reading some blog comments last week on TheWeatherChannel on-line regarding people’s thoughts on the devastation in Mississippi. I wish I had read this passage then. He makes a wonderful point. If you missed it, I encourage you to go back and read it.


Frameworks… A New Children’s Story was one that had personal meaning for me. In the beginning of the year I was going through Miss Stambaugh’s 1st grade class list with the students. When I came to Paige the whole class raised their hands with a bit of commotion. OK! Hold on a minute. I can’t understand everyone at the same time. Unfortunately, sometimes I have to hear news about my students from their classmates. I called on a little one in the front who told me that Paige will not be returning until after Christmas. She has cancer. Paige is a tiny, shy girl who is well liked. As Paige’s mom kept in contact with the class, Miss Stambaugh did an amazing job preparing her class for Paige’s return. They even saved her space in the classroom with a large stuffed animal named “Jackson” He traveled with the class to all of their specials and we rolled out the only chair with a back so that he could join them at the table with whoever was taking care of him that day. When Paige returned, the class was so excited. She wore scarves and cute little hats for the first few months. She was very quiet, yet attentive. Then about two weeks ago I was walking out to my car to head down to the middle school and I heard my name coming from the busy playground. When I looked up it was Paige smiling and waving just before she ran off to play with her friends. She wore nothing on her head that day and she was just as beautiful and happy as ever.

Telling the WE Story… Unfortunately, I took a negative turn as I read this last chapter. I thought about how much I have shut out worldly or state issues just to concentrate on my own missions. I can’t stand talking politics for everyone thinks that their opinion is the right one and speaks about it as if it were rock solid truth. The blog on the weather channel was a back and forth between those who said, “Duh, you live on a flood-plain” and those who lost a house that has been in the family for generations. I don’t listen or read about the SB5 here in Ohio regarding unions anymore for the unions are only giving out half of the truth creating even more panic and frustration. My dues are paying for propaganda and I don’t have any true say about it, unless I want to be blacklisted. I’ll let the professionals do their job for whatever they do now is just going to change again in another 4 or 5 years.

WK4 Publishing/Leadership Project

WK4 Publishing/Leadership Project
As soon to be graduates of the Full Sail University Educational Media Design and Technology Master Degree program, we have been deemed responsible to make a difference. What a waste of time, thought, effort, resource, and energy if we don’t share our experiences during our time here. I have worked until my body tells me “its time for sleep”, yet so many nights I have searched for sleep and it eludes me. My mind just won’t stop. I know that if I stay up until 5Am to work on the next assignment that my next day will be one of exhaustion and I could not risk an entire day of catching up. I have done that and know better now. So I try to find the sleep to be fresh the next day and make it a full one.

I don’t have cable to bring me the “everyday” any more. Cable use to put me into sleepyville right-quick. Now I only have Netflix, DVD, and VHS. To help me sleep, I skimmed through the documentaries on Netflix. Surely, I could find peace of mind listening the calm voices in storytelling…. documentaries can be so….ZZZZ…
Wide eyed and listening, Wii controller in hand, rewinding to hear that again…Lord help me! Call me a geek, but I was totally engaged in the PBS series of the Civil War.

Among many other references, Reading The Art of Possibility and John Brown’s story has been the final push to find the ambition to make a difference despite the obstacles. No worries! I’ll not go to “John Brown” extremes. Rather my point is, I know that my work here will benefit art appreciation. I don’t want to give up on what can be in the educational value gained from the arts. The fight has only just begun and I have become, in my mind, a true leader through my journey here at Full Sail University’s Education Media Design and Technology Master’s Program.

I spoke tonight with Randy Robart about my presentation. He has been a colleague, friend and sounding board of mine since 1999 and has been an officer on the OAEA (Ohio Art Education Association) for about a decade. He told me that they are to print the booklets for the November OAEA Conference this week. Unfortunately, the deadline was May 1 and they had many who submitted to present. I told him that I have a presentation that I have never seen at any of the conferences that I have attended. Therefore, I plan to present in Ohio and/or Pennsylvania the following year. He didn’t let me finish before he said, “Wait! Is your presentation computer based?” He already knew the answer, so laughed, “Of course!” We then began a discussion based on hosting a presentation at our new state of the art facility to the ECOAEA members and affiliates. Possibilities are beautiful….

WK3 Comment To Sue Parler:

WK3 Comment To Sue Parler:



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415 × 332 - The Memphis Botanic Garden collection is comprised of 23 specialty gardens
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Blog post #4 Comment to Sue Parler:
So many wonderful images you have woven with your words. Thank you for sharing, Sue. If I may, our softball coach is a good friend of mine and I’d like to share your thoughts with her. We have talk softball several times and she is very disappointed in me that I’m not coaching with her. Maybe someday I’ll coach again. But for now getting through to my middle school students has been a major drive for 4 years now. I have one more year to accomplish this and then I too am moving on. I hope that I don’t have to go back to school as you are looking forward to (best wishes by the way ☺ ), rather hope to find something where I can teach, research and enjoy my job everyday with the free time to spend and explore new places with my son. I hope that chance will also fall on me.



Tuesday, May 17, 2011
MAC Week 3: "Art of Possibility" Reading
8:09 AM | Posted by Sue Parler | Edit Post


“…his true power comes from making other people more powerful.”


As a softball coach, I often use the orchestra conductor metaphor to create an image that I can explain to others. I realize that my team is a collection of highly talented athletes (metaphorically, musicians); and my job is to make them play in perfect harmony – each feeling comfortable enough with her own contribution to be able to praise the skills of another. In so doing, I can see tangible evidence of engagement; through which we can achieve tangible evidence of progress in terms of better play. Wins and losses are never a barometer of our greatness – simply ask the question, “Are we a better team after the game, than we were when we started?” If so – we win, regardless of the score.


Because of their comfort in contributions to the team, I often have players step up and lead. Rarely is it the same player twice in a row. They lead by example and by words. Rarely is it the best player – it is simply one who perceives a need and steps in to fill it. They do not usurp my position as coach – they empower it.


That being said, the fifth principle, “Lead from any Chair” presents a conundrum. The book is written from the perspective of the leader. What if I’m in some other chair? Other than presenting him with the gift of this book, how do I get my leader to shed his/her calculating self? How do I draw him from his competitive measurement world and allow others to lead? Hmmm… ‘tis a puzzlement.


I gave him the book.


With regard to the seventh principle, “Be present to the way things are”, since I started at Full Sail last June, I have made this a practical goal. I have much to do and much in my head. But I owe it to those in front of me at that precise moment to be present to and with them. The glass half full metaphor crystalized this even more for me; as the full portion of the glass is the only thing tangible – real. Do not waste energy on the imagined – too much energy is already required in the real world, so be present to it.



Last Sunday, a friend of mine and I went to a farm – 32 acres of beautiful flowers, trees, gardens, and animals. It was a dismal day – gray and damp, with an occasional downpour. When we made the decision to go, we both said the worst that could happen is that we’d get wet, so what.


I adore nature. If I had to narrow it down to a single passion, I would say that the outdoors tops the list. I invest every Sunday morning in reconnecting with nature. I have often said that if I had my life to live over again, I’d be a Landscape Architect.


I walked around those gardens, jumping puddles, for two hours. Then we stopped at a little rustic deli for a good country lunch and headed home. It was a glorious Sunday.


Then I revisited my “If I had my life to live over” thought. Why live it over? I am who I am today by virtue of every experience I’ve had up to this point. I’m still here living. And I can pinpoint my passion. So I made a choice. Once I have finished the program at Full Sail, I’ll be returning to school once more – for Landscape Design. I’ve put in inquiries to several local schools and several online schools. I’m excited to see what develops.


Then I sat down on Sunday afternoon and read chapters 5 and 6 of the “Art of Possibility”. Imagine my surprise Monday night when I reached Chapter 8 – Give Way to Passion.


Serendipitous, wouldn’t you say?

WK3 My comment to Joanna Puello:

Blog post #3 My comment to Joanna Puello:


I also found myself giggling over Leading from Any Chair. I was interested in your thoughts regarding the experiences that you have had specific to exactly where you are in the room. I can’t say that there is any right answer to it as I have tried to work this out myself. However, here is something that I sometimes do in my art room when the kids are working on their projects after the lesson is presented. I use one of the little computer chairs that have rollers on the bottom and scoot around from table to table. Using the little chair that my bottom barely fits on is lower then my desk chair, less authoritative and I can pull right up to the end of the table. I am engaged with my students at their level and the kids get a kick out of my visits. I know its silly and one might think it unprofessional to be zipping around in a little red chair, but it works.


MAC, Week 3, BP1 Reading: The Art of Possibility
18 05 2011

Photo by LadyHeart (MorgueFile)
I had a good laugh as I read through Chapter 4: “Leading From Any Chair” (The Art of Possibility by Rosamund & Ben Zander)! Ironically, the same day I read the chapter, my boss at the ESOL language center where I teach called me into her office. “I’ve gone by your classroom recently, and I’ve noticed you sitting a lot while you teach. None of the students have complained, but…try to stand more. You can always lean on your chair if necessary. But other than that, everything is fine!”
I nodded and said, “Ok.” (Not going to pick that one to battle!) Then I proceeded to ask her about my current group of students. When I got them, they had just failed Level 3, so I was assigned to re-teach the material. Some of the new students were ready to re-take the test even though we hadn’t finished all of the material because I had tailor-designed the classes so that their test taking would be more successful (and ultimately so that they would learn more English). “Can they re-take the test on Monday?” I asked.
“They don’t re-take the test,” she said, surprised at my question.
“They don’t?” I asked, even more surprised.
“No,” my boss responded, “Because what if they don’t pass the second time?”
Then they have a pretty rotten teacher! I thought to myself. I didn’t say anything but finally understood how my students got to Level 3 when they didn’t know many things that Level 2 students had mastered.
Later that day, I read “Leading From Any Chair”. I remembered my ESOL training through Cambridge University and how in one practice round, the trainer corrected me because I was towering of my students instead of crouching down to their desks. So which way is better? Do I stand or do I sit? Well, I stand while I teach when I need to write on the board or when the class activity naturally requires it. Otherwise, I feel honored to be “at the same level” as my students. What’s so important about standing? Is it to exert an aurora of leadership? If I’m an effective teacher, can’t I teach well from any part of the room? Evidently, standing up = effective teacher or energy or good communication or established authority for my boss. I, on the other hand, measure my success “from the twinkle in their eyes” (Ben Zander). I know that relating to my students (who are often far more accomplished or wealthy than I am) and respecting them as individual people gives me a connection with them and opens the gates to their hearts so that they will be motivated to listen to me talk about the fundamentals of English grammar. I also don’t need to stand to get control or to grab their attention. I can whisper, and they’re all ears because in the midst of the most complex grammar formula, I can insert content that touches their hearts and arouses their curiosity…and makes the keep coming back for more.
To keep my job, I’ll be sure to stand every time my boss comes around and CERTAINLY when the content inspires it. To keep my students, I’ll keep making their eyes twinkle.