Week #4 Reading Blog: EMDT-MAC

The chapter Framework of Possibilities has to be my favorite chapter in this book. I wish I had read this a couple of weeks ago. When we stop and look at the possibilities that lie before us each day as teachers we could help alter some of the circumstances that they tend to get into.

To me the teacher that shaved her head, because the student was made fun of by the other students, is a hero to me. I would have been so upset with the ones that made fun of her that I would not been able to think that clearly. The fact that the student’s attitudes completely changed made me think, this is the way to go.  

It is amazing to me the attitude of the author, and I understand his attitude changed through the art of possibilities.  They way he handled the students that went on the roof was amazing. I had a similar situation happen last week with my students and I didn’t quite handle it in that manner and I wish I had.  The next time I run into the same situation I will handle it differently. After reading this book I think I will handle many situations differently, the possibilities are endless.

Week 3 Wimba Blog

During this Wimba session I loved the conversations on the book Art of Possibilities. This book has changed the way that I think about empowering the people around me to be engaged and to think for them selves. I want to see a paradigm shift in this generation’s way of thinking and doing things. I all to often see students that are just getting by and not putting forth the effort they need to succeed. If I can empower my students to succeed all of what I have gone through will be all worth it. This is a book that I will recommend to students and staff.

The information on the final project was very helpful. I will not be able to make the Wimba session so I will be sending out invites to review my work.

Week #3 Blog Post Comment #2

Wk3: Leadership – Where to Present

February 14, 2012 By Drew Fulton 1 Comment

Since much of our work was conducted in the forest canopy, the 6th International Canopy Conference would have been perfect.

I’ve been thinking long and hard about where I want to present my CBR research and the associated Canopy in the Clouds project. My first choice was going to be the 6th International Canopy Conference that will be in Mexico later this year. The timing was right and they are accepting abstracts, but unfortunately, my project just doesn’t fit into any of their session themes. I have looked at a bunch of other conferences and organizations where I’d like to present and the timing doesn’t work. Either the submission period has closed for the 2012 conference because the conference is coming up soon, or the submission period hasn’t opened because the conference isn’t until late 2012 or even early 2013. There are some really great organizations out there that my project would fit in with perfectly but they won’t work as Full Sail requires I submit to a conference between now and sometime next month.
So far, I have narrowed it down to three choices that have current open submissions, but I am not totally sold on any of them so far so am still exploring options. In no particular order, the conferences are Botany 2012, Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, and Association of Educational Communications and Technology. The Botany conference has a session on botanical education and my project could fit in there if spun the right way. The other two conferences are more focused on education and they would fit nicely and I will likely focus on these two as I prepare my presentation next week.

Dwayne Buchanan says:

February 18, 2012 at 10:27 pm

Drew,
I feel your pain about the timing of conferences. The majority of ones I have looked at have either stopped taking applications or haven’t started taking them yet. I hope you can find one that fits your needs because you have a great project to share. I am at a conference in NYC and I have talked about and shared your site with teachers from London, New Zealand, Peru, Toronto, Bahamas, Germany, and several schools hear in the US. I think you have something worth sharing. Good luck.

Week #3 Blog Post Comment #1 Lewis "Smitty" Smith

Wk3 Blog: Leadership Blog- The places I hope to be read well…

Following last weeks post I have narrowed the field down to two of the publications which I have been actively reading as a classroom teacher over the last 5 years. 

The first is the eSchool News. When I first was sent the invitation for a free subscription I found that it contained many advertisements and almost discarded it. Then I looked between the ads and found some really great applications that I could apply in my learning space right away. Part of my goal is to see the technology tools and systems I am employing through my CBR take hold and find success through replication, I would like to see the article accessible without having to be a paying subscriber or member of a journal organization. This opens the door to teachers that lack the means to afford membership, but are looking to innovate. Further information about submissions can be found here: eShcool News Submission Guidelines.

The second publication is again an approachable and readable non-scholarly publication that many people receive as part of their membership in the ISTE, called Learning and Leading with Technology. I have been reading this magazine for well over 12 years and as a technology specialist, grant coordinator, and of course classroom teacher, I found things monthly that applied to my various roles through out the years. The magazine has only gotten better with age, and the new online accessibility again offers a chance to share my experience and promote replication across teacher in many walks of life. It would be an honor to share and show my work here. Further information about submissions can be found here: Leading and Learning with Technology Submission Guidelines.

 

Dwayne BuchananFeb 18, 2012 07:10 PM

Smitty,
I have no doubt in my mind that you will get published in one of these. You have a way of getting your point across so eloquently. I get the eSchool News and really like it, I have not heard of the Leading & Learning magazine. Good Luck and hope to read your article.

 

Leadership post: Where Do I Want Share My Project

When thinking about a conference to present at I began to run into some roadblocks. The main roadblock that presented itself was time frame. I could not find a conference that was taking applications at this time. The other roadblock was probably set by my own indecision, there are a tremendous number of conferences that sound great to present at. I narrowed my search down to just technology conferences since my CBR is on integrating technology in the classroom through in-house professional development. I have chosen two for different reasons. The first is the 2013 Florida Educational Technology Conference in Orlando, Florida.  I attend this conference each year and go to many of the workshops. I find that there are few workshops on my topic and think it would be well received. The only drawback is they are not taking applications until May of 2012. The second conference is the Georgia Educational Technology Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. I like this conference because it 250 concurrent sessions being given by educators and vendors. This ones time frame is more doable with applications being accepted starting March 2012. We will see what happens!  

Week #3 Reading Blog: EMDT-MAC

The chapter Leading From Any Chair was my standout for this week. I see all to often teachers squash the hopes and dreams of students by their words and actions. I can even remember times that I said something that completely changed the mood of a student for the bad. It may not be what is said but in the manner in which it is said that destroy a student. The conductors were all too often thinking about themselves and not the musicians. Well, the students are the same way, they have feelings and they really just want to be accepted.

Lets turn the table for a moment, what if we took the responsibility for ourselves and admit if we have done something wrong or made a small mistake. Imagine the impact and influence we could have on our students. If we are honest with our students and treat them the way we would want to be treated then things then the student’s attitudes would be a little better. A little praise and a humble heart will get you along way with your students.                                                                                              

Week 2 Wimba Blog

In listening to Thursday nights Wimba it was good to hear that there are some artists that will give their permission to use their work. When I wrote my thesis I wanted to use the LEGO logo because my thesis was written about a LEGO robotics program and its effect on attendance and grades. I wrote them about using it and it took three months for them to answer and then they said no. I had to go back in and change LEGO robotics program to afterschool robotics program.

I am glad that you explained creative commons better. I knew somewhat about the meaning but this would have helped tremendously at the beginning of the program. When you said in the Wimba that they were creating something as a help I felt like my students, they always say “That’s not fair why are they going to get that next year and we don’t get it now”. I understand and hope it helps the next groups of students.