EMD613 Week 4 Free response blog

Well here we are at the end of month 11. The end of a very busy yet very exciting time for me. I have learned so much about technology and how it can be used to really improve my student's educational life. I have been exited about the possibilities and frustrated by the lack of progress on the part of those I work with to catch the technology bug. I know that if they could see what I see they would be all about getting this out there for our students. I have grown to understand that the role that I will play in the future may very well be, as the person who shows them (other teacher and admin) the possibilities of the technology that is available. I have come a long way in this past year and in many ways this program has taught me so much more than just a bunch of techie stuff. Some of my fellow classmates have talked about what to do with the degree and many things have been suggested but for me, this was never about getting a degree but more about getting a set of new skill to help my students enter their future. So for me this program has done everything I have asked of it and so much more. The more is all of you. The thing I didn't count on getting from this program was you. The thing I didn't count on getting was a chance to get to know such a great group of people so all over the country. I never thought that I could have such good friendship with people I've never even seen in person. This is the true gift that comes from this new world of technology. I know understand that the world outside is so much bigger and brighter then I had ever dreamed it could be. I now know that the world is full of people like you who all care and are committed, like me to helping students to find their dreams and prepare for the brave new world that is in front of them. Thanks so much for being apart of the journey.

EMD613 Week 4 Response to Jake

Jake Said: We are nearing the end and I am not sure what I should do with this degree. I am trying to figure if I can apply for college teaching jobs. I want to teach at the local university or college but I have been wondering if I should even apply. Full Sail University is not SACS (Southern Association of Colleges and Schools) accredited and I am worried that they may not honor my degree for a teaching position. I’ve found myself deciding to stay teaching in high school, because I’m afraid that the degree might not allow me to reach my dream job.

I said:

So Jake, I to am trying to figure out what I should and more importantly could do with this degree. I have not even looked into the accredidation issue in my area. I think that some day I will wnat to teach at a local Community College. But I’m not sure what the requirements are for those jobs. For now all I feel like I’m getting out of this degree is a lot of new skills and a really cool computer. But for me that’s is really all I went into the program looking for. The skill and the knowledge I have gained from this program, was for me the goal. I would like to be able to use all this new knowledge to help students but I think that for me, in the district I’m in, it will be a difficult, “row to hoe”. But I’m up for the fight so we will just have to wait and see. Good luck buddy, I mean that. I consider you a friend and that was a real bonus for me. To get to know some really great people online without ever having seen you in person. That is the real power of all this technology. Thanks for the good times.

EMD613 Week 4 Project of the Week

Well, here I am on Sunday, still working on my AR Project, and this weeks AR project assignment is taking me right up to the deadline once again. This week was the big week to present my project and get some feedback. I presented on Thursday night and WOW, what a long night. The Wimba session went almost up till midnight. I think it was about 4 hours long. The were a lot of good projects and I got the information I needed to finish up my project but again WOW, what a long night and tonight seems like it is going to be a equally long night. I have already spent about six to eight hours on this today and about six hours on this yesterday. I realy have not done anyting all weekend accept this. But I'm rapping things up and I'm happy with what I've produced. I now have a really good video on my AR site to showcase my presentation as well as some embedded video on some of the other pages in my AR site to show some of my cycle work. I also added some pictures of my students to some of the other pages (this was a suggestions from the Wimba on Thursday). So when all is done, I will have put many, many hours into this but I think it will be ready to present. Now all that is left to do is to submit to the conference that I'm hoping to present. I still have quiestion about that. I don't know if we need to submit to more than one place. Most people have more than one place on the AR site but I don't know what the requirement is. I guess I will find out in Month 12. TILL THEN.......

EMD613 Week 4 Response to Karlene

Karlene said: Zander’s The Art of Possibility has been a wonderful, breath of fresh air in our long, arduous year of studies. I have already recommended it to several people and am inspired by it again and again. In Chapter 10 he states:

“If I cannot be present without resistance to the way things are and act effectively, if I feel myself to be wronged, a loser, or a victim, I will tell myself that some assumption I have made is the source of my difficulty” (p. 143).
I am reminded that life is not fair, it’s the way things are. If I find myself in conflict and feel put out, or like a victim, I just need to turn the tables and say, “OK, what am I assuming? Is that the problem?” If I am assuming that every teacher in my school has as much passion and desire to have their students learn the arts as I do, I’m sure that’s false, no matter how much I wish it. I have to back up and see the whole board, and enjoy my dealings with all of the teachers and their classes. They aren’t all as supportive as I wish, but I can deal with that and enjoy those classes in a different way.
I loved the words about us living up to our potential, and having vision to take any downward spiral thinking into the arena of possibility. Marianne Williamson’s words ring true to my soul:
“You are a child of God. You’re playing small doesn’t serve the world….We were born to make manifest the Glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone, and as we let our light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same” (p. 178-9).

One of my favorite children’s songs is taught to every child in our religion from the time they are tiny. Liz has a great video of a small child singing this song. Post it here for me, Liz!

I am a Child of God
I am a Child of God, and He has sent me here,
Has given me an earthly home, with parents kind and dear.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday.

I am a Child of God, and so my needs are great.
Help me to understand His words, before it grows too late.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday.

I am a Child of God, rich blessings are in store.
If I but learn to do His will, I’ll live with Him once more.
Lead me, guide me, walk beside me, help me find the way.
Teach me all that I must do, to live with him someday.

The truth can set us free. Free to be all that we can be. I have found harmony and peace reading this book. It has shown me a beautiful melody of life that is free to soar. I want to read and reread this book forever more! Thanks, Joe, for including this in our course.

References
Randall, N. & Pettit, M. (1957). I am a Child of God. Children’s songbook. (1989). Corporation of the President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. p.2.

Williamson, M. (2002). A return to love. New York: Harper Collins.

Zander, B., & Zander, R. S. (2000). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. New York: Penguin Books.

EMD613 Week 4 Reading The Board

This weeks reading really struck home to me, I have had so many issue with getting any kind of cooporation from my district. It felt like at times my district was against any kind of technology improvement. Well this weeks reading reminds me, of something that I have said many times to my students. I will often tell my students and my children, "In life there is really only one thing that you can control and that is your attitude". How you choice to reacte to something can make all the difference in a situation. Take a look at this video blog to hear more.

Wk4 Publishing/Leadership project part 3 of 3: I Found It

I found it, the peract place for me to present. Honolulu, Hawaii. Man would that be nice. Here is a little information about the conference. The 9th Annual Hawaii International Conference on Education will be held from January 4th (Tuesday) to January 7th (Friday), 2011 at the Hilton Hawaiian Village® Beach Resort & Spa in Honolulu, Hawaii. Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu. Oahu is often nicknamed "the gathering place". The 2011 Hawaii International Conference on Education will once again be the gathering place for academicians and professionals from Education and related fields from all over the world.

The main goal of the 2011 Hawaii International Conference on Education is to provide an opportunity for academicians and professionals from various education related fields from all over the world to come together and learn from each other. An additional goal of the conference is to provide a place for academicians and professionals with cross-disciplinary interests related to education to meet and interact with members inside and outside their own particular disciplines.

Wk4 Publishing/Leadership project part 2 of 3: Where to present

Well I've spent about three days now looking for a conference that is offered on a cruise. I really love to go on cruises and since I would love to cruise I figured why not find a conference to present at on a cruise. After three days of looking I have decided to broaden my search. I have not had any luck with finding a cruise conference, so I will being looking for a land based conference in a great vacation site. I'm thinking about Florida or California. Then there is Hawaii, I would love to go to Hawaii. I don't really expect to get to go to any of these place for this conference presentation but I figured since I've must choise these are the places that I would like to go. Will see if I have any luck finding a conference in one of these places. I thing my order of priority is Hawaii, Florida and then Califonia. Wish me luck.

Wk4 Publishing/Leadership project part 1 of 3: Location is everything

For me the location of where I present is more important then the organization. Because my AR project was really not the final thing that I'm looking to accomplish in my classroom, I'm not really all that interested in presenting at this point in the process. But I understand that this is a requirement of the master program so I'm willing to submit and see what happens. With all this in mind, I understand that there is the possibility that I could get a acceptance from the place that I submit to so it has to be some place that I'm willing to travel to and do the presentation. So for me it's all about location. I'm looking into conferences that have location that I would love to visit and this way if I get an acceptance, I will be able to get a tax break on the cost of the travel.