Week 4 Stickam Group Discussion Reply to George McAllister II

Week 4--Stickam session


Our 4th week collaborative group session was (both) fruitful and insightful. Aside from the initial frustration regarding navigability (I was the last person of my group to be seen within my “Stickam”-video box), Stickam for video along with Skype for audio provides a completely engaging / interactive learning environment. We covered the four areas of creative commons licensing as well as affirmed the related symbology so that we might be apprised of both what to look for and how to properly ascribe sources when utilizing creative commons-related works. Additionally, we had an open-floor discussion about our 2nd text, The Art of Possibility (Zander, R. & Zander, B., 2000) and how it may possibly coincide, cross-reference, resonate with some of the ideas espoused in “The Secret” ideology, in general, and “The Science behind the Secret” class-uploaded video, in particular. As regards the text, we detailed varying interpretations concerning the notion of giving one an A (Zander R. & Zander, B, 2000). We talked about what this notion meant to us, personally, and how it may configure within a particular learning environment. As an additional thought concerning this notion, I think that the notion of giving one an “A” could be a particularly beneficial check point for an educator because it gives one a fairly reliable measuring tool for what a student might have “really” grasped (conceptionally). Similar to the freedoms granted with creative commons interactivity, a student (already having received their “A”) can solely focus on creativity, content, and substance--from a relatively more relaxed posture--instead of the “learning / teaching-for-the-test” mentality that, I believe, plagues many a classroom environment. Finally, we confirmed our navigation points as we discussed what ideas, thoughts, behaviors might beneficially carry us through to the next month’s course and beyond.


Sources:


photo image, George J McAllister II


Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility. New York: Penguin Books.


Youtube video: The Science Behind the Secret, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRhk5_4xOa8 retrieved on 7/30/2009


Friday, July 31, 2009

1 Comment Manage Comments for this Entry
Deb Quinn
I really enjoyed last night's class, I wish that we had more time to collaborate and to discuss the ideas presented in the class. Sometimes I feel like I am bursting at the seams, needing to discuss and share thoughts that come up during the readings and the videos that we view in isolation. Maybe someday we will have the time to get back to some of these topics and discuss them more in-depth. I agree with your thoughts regarding the idea of giving an A, and think that RaShida's idea of having the students describe what constitutes and A s a terrific idea! I have truly appreciated all of your interjections and ideas over the past month, thank you for sharing!
Friday, July 31, 2009 - 01:29 PM

Week 4 Just a Snipit of What I have Learned This Month!

GoAnimate.com: What Did I Learn This Month? by dquinn2000


Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun!

Part 2

The copyright lessons that I have learned through this class and from Creative Commons will be priceless when creating my final media project for EMDTMS. In the past I haven't thought too much about copyright laws because I haven't published work of my own, and with my student's projects it hasn't been much of a concern because of the "use" of the material (educational purposes), and the amount of content used was minimal. Now I think about everything that I would like to use and when in doubt I will not use it. But, I am now an educated user and I am very aware of Fair Use practices and very thankful for the Creative Commons solutions with copyright and attributions guidelines. I am also very thankful for having had the time this month to explore the tutorials offered and to gain a deeper understanding of the applications that I already have. I now know which applications I do not want to use for my final media project and the ones that I do.
I will be preparing a lesson and collaborating with our Media Specialist for the upcoming school year to teach my students about copyright laws and fair use. They are never too young to learn to recognize and respect the work of others.

Week 4 Reading

"Are we going to celebrate this moment or "survive" this moment? Our choice."
"Awaken Possibility in other people." (Zander, 2002)
"I Dwell in Possibility" by Emily Dickenson

Words to live by!
This is going to be an exciting new school year! I am filled with "Possibility"!

Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2002). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. New York: Penguin Books.

Image Credit:
photo by Deb Quinn

Week 4 Stickam Site

My experience with Stickam so far has made me feel like I have really been out of the loop. The first time I logged on and went live, I was propositioned immediately! (I won’t repeat it!) But what amazed me were all of the young people and I mean young teens that were using this as a social network. Every parent needs to check this out, as a parent myself I know that I have heard about social networking, but checking this out first hand was a whole different story. The only way to truly be informed is to become proactive, my fifth grade students just laugh when they see an adult fumble over a computer because they themselves are so adept at it. We need to channel their knowledge of these technologies to integrate them in engaging ways into the curricula.

Image credit:
Creative Commons by Tariq

Week 4 Reply to Emily & RaShida

Week 4: Reading... Being a Contribution

"What difference can saving a few of them possibly make?" Smiling, she bends down and once more tosses a starfish out over the water, saying serenely, "It certainly makes a difference to this one." (p. 55)

My senior year in high school I attended a leadership retreat, complete with ice breakers, a ropes course and a long line-up of motivational speakers. It was there that I first heard the inspiring anecdote that opened this chapter and first began to ponder the idea of "contribution." Participating in that leadership class was one of the first opportunities I had to collaborate with my peers, each of us offering a unique combination of ourselves to reach common goals.

In The Art of Possibility, Zander and Zander describe a "contribution" as the power to make a difference and the ability to reserve judgement on whether one's offering is good, bad, right, wrong or indifferent. It is the realization that our presence and intention is an immeasurable gift. There is no way of quantifying one's contribution as it means different things to different people at different times.

Entering the EMDT program, I again found myself pondering the idea of contribution. I was weary, being one of the few non-teachers in the bunch, that I would have little to offer my classmates and that I would drown in the wake of their varied classroom experience.

What do I bring to the table?

With each passing month, I become more aware of our unique personal journeys. Over time and through our continued interaction, I appreciate that we are all here for different reasons... relying on different strengths... building on different weaknesses... and reaching for different goals. My contribution is sincere and is reflected in the relationships I've built with each of my classmates - in counsel, in collaboration and in camaraderie.

Sources:
Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2002). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. New York: Penguin Books.

2 comments:

RRoberts said...

Quote: "There is no way of quantifying one's contribution as it means different things to different people at different times."

If I could only stop quantifying my own contributions. In life we tend to measure ourselves against what we've "invented" as Zander says. This is definitely one area I will have to build upon. Erasing the engrained towers that have cultivated my psyche for ages upon time. The feeling that brews in my belly is one of defeat and I must not let it remain, remembering it's all invented.
July 29, 2009 2:32 AM
Deb Quinn said...

Quote: "There is no way of quantifying one's contribution as it means different things to different people at different times."

What an interesting quote, it makes one stop and ponder its deeper meaning. Why is it that we are always questioning ourselves? I don’t mean to say that it is a bad thing, because it can be very valuable, especially when we are reflecting. As I am reading Emily and RaShida’s posts I only wish that they could step outside of themselves and see and appreciate all of the contributions that they have made to every class and classmate throughout this program. I don’t think that we will fully be able to appreciate the collaboration and camaraderie that has taken place over the past 9 months until the dust clears in October! This entire program has truly been a group effort, I really had no idea what I was in for, but the realization like Emily said becomes clearer with each passing month.
July 29, 2009 9:00 PM
Image credit:
photo taken by Deb Quinn

Week 4 Favicon tutorial

Okay, here is my favicon, but...the problem lies in adding it to my template. I watched two different tutorials and followed directions from blogger help, to no avail. I have spent way too much time on this and need to get back to work on thesis. I will get back to it when I have a clear head.

Week 3 iPhoto Tutorial

I have spent a majority of my tutorial time this month exploring applications that I already have on my computer. This extra time exploring my current applications was very valuable because I have discovered new ways to incorporate what I already have into my curriculum. The editing tools in iPhoto especially the Adjust pallet helps to enhance or to save photos that were not of good quality. This is especially important when dealing with limited time in the classroom setting, because you can edit photos to be used in a variety of assignments, such as digital story telling, slideshows, timelines, and iMovies just to name a few.

Image Credit:
Photo taken by Deb Quinn

Week 3 Reply to Professor Bustillos

Very funny video, but did you notice he said that his district dropped a macbook on him so that he could support a school-site that runs macs only and he didn’t know what to do with the thing. It’s all meant to be fun and games, but his “tech answer looking for problems” set-up brought up a whole host of memories from my thirteen-years as a public school teacher who at times was the site tech coordinator and sat on endless tech committees. I mean, who drops a foreign OS on a support technician and then says, okay you’re in charge of supporting this school site (plus all of the other sites he’s already supporting)? It’s been my observation that unless you begin with adequate tech support (as in training the tech support to handle the machines and potential volume of support requests), then you’re wasting your money in the initial technology investment. Not too many businesses could get away with that for very long.

Week 3 Comment on Todd Saperstien Post

tsaperstein said...

Debb, I love that video also. Being a college level graphic design instructor I get to see the long term effects of this issue first hand. The students in my program have chosen creativity for a living, yet they have lost the ability to think creatively. When I give the a blank canvas they look like deer in headlights. It's almost cult like, they need to be deprogramed before the can move forward. Maybe that's why I love my job so much. My goal is not just to teach them about graphic design, but to enrich their lives for ever and put the power of creativity back in their hands. When I see that light go back on it's like magic. There is no feeling in the world like it.

Great post, I can feel the love. I got your back Debb, you are not alone and I am not one for backing down.

Hey Todd,
You have the best job! You inspire your students to be creative and that it is OKAY to take risks. I would love to know what they are producing when you set them loose. I love to watch my 4 year old grandson color and play with play dough, and to just pretend! He makes up songs and some of the pictures that he has colored have won contests, because he is "allowed" to color his pictures how ever "he" chooses! They are amazing, his sunsets are filled with an array of colors. Keep doing what you do! It is more valuable than you know.

Week 3 Ron Smith interview interactive Q&A

1. Who is Ron Smith?

Answer:
Ron Smith is the lead teacher in the New Media Academy from the Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California.

2. What is the goal of the New Media Academy?

Answer:
The goal of the New Media Academy is to get students into the entertainment business.

3. How does this program help students obtain the goal of working in the entertainment field?

Answer:
The program helps the students by putting them into internships and mentorships to get them on a career path.

4. What avenues are students using to express their creativity?

Answer:
Students are using a combination of flash animation and video to express themselves.

5. What are some of the tools a teacher can use to engage their students?

Answer:
Teachers can use music, video, websites as well as listening to what they are interested in and using it in the classroom.

6. How are many of the teachers using technology in their classrooms?

Answer:
Many teachers today are still using powerpoint, and wordprocessing tools.

7. When a teacher is ready to use digital media in their classroom what advice would you give them to get them started?

Answer:
Preparation is the key for teachers using technology, they must prepare their lessons way ahead of time and have a back up plan.

8. What is some of the cutting edge technology that teachers are using today.

Answer:
One application that is free is called Scratch there is another application called Sketch up through Google.

9. What is one way that you could use Google Earth in the classroom?

Answer:
Google Earth can be used as a virtual field trip, where students can locate the 7 Wonders of the World.


10. Where do you see education heading in the future?

Answer:
Online courses that are richer than what they might get in the classroom.

Week 3 Reading

At the beach reading and reflecting:
I wholeheartedly agree in Zanders practice of giving an A. Every child has something special to offer, and when given the chance to express themselves they not only enrich the classroom environment but they learn to take risks academically and creatively. This practice leads to life long skills and academic success. Skills such as self confidence, personal growth and appreciation for individualism. Students will feel confident in themselves and willing to share their ideas and to collaborate with colleagues to open up endless possibilities.

Zander, B. and Zander, R. (2002). The Art of Possibility. New York: New York Penguin Group
Image Credit:
Photo taken by Deb Quinn

Week 2 Reply to Melissa

Visit piZap for a good laugh!

As I was visiting different sites for useful podcasts for the classroom, I came across piZap (http://www.pizap.com/) from the TechTeacher Network. Pizap is a FREE online photo editor. You have the option of posting your creative picture to the actual piZap site or keeping it private. You may also download your pictures and upload them to Facebook, MySpace, or Blogger. If your child is stuck indoors on a rainy summer day, direct them to piZap and I guarantee they’ll get a good laugh. Also, take a look at TechTeacher Network’s Website for useful podcasts and web resources - http://thetechteacher.libsyn.com/ Enjoy!

Hey Melissa,
I love this tool! Thank you for sharing. My students will love it, as well as my grandchildren. My head is spinning with possibilities of how I can incorporate this application in my lessons! What a great way to bring creativity back to the classroom, your students are very fortunate to have you!
Thursday, July 16, 2009 - 01:05 PM

piZap.com free online photo editor

Week 2 Reading

Chapter 5
Inspiration to take action, to be a better person, teacher, friend, mother etc… comes from many sources. This year one thing that inspired me was a video that we watched through one of the classes in this program. The video was Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity; the subject had been on my mind for a long time, due to high stakes testing and ever increasing curriculum requirements, teachers have been under enormous pressure to produce students with at least proficient test scores. After seeing the video with Ken Robinson I was rejuvenated and inspired to seek more creative ways to facilitate the curriculum in my classroom. When our students go out into the work force they will be expected to be creative and innovative in order to be successful, not just great test takers.


Robinson, K. (2006, February). Ken Robinson says schools kill creativity.[vieo] retrieved July 6, 2009 from http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html

Week 2 Tutorial/ScreenFlow

I purchased ScreenFlow a while ago but I haven’t had time to go through the tutorial and explore the possibilities of the program. I tried this program out in my filming class, but I was under pressure to get an assignment done and did not have the time to do the tutorial. Well, now that I have done the tutorial, I can’t believe that I actually imported all of the raw film into iMovie and did the editing there when it would have been so much easier to do it in ScreenFlow! I love this program it is an excellent tool to develop tutorials.
MacItoshtipz.(2009).ScreenFlow tutorial 1: overview & basic features.Retrieved July 13, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Owi5oPFkwVs

Week 2 New Media, Old Politics? Video from MIT World

Even though the video New Media, Old Politics? was primarily about politics, I found Garret LoPorto’s discussion regarding psychographics particularly interesting. The use of the internet to target specific cultural communities was something that I hadn’t really given any thought to before this video. When I am introduced to ideas such as this I feel like I have been living under a rock! LoPorto goes on to explain how the internet was and is used to reach and to organize like-minded people to create a constituency. This led me to another reason of why it is so important to teach our students through inquiry-based learning. They are bombarded daily with images and ideas through the internet and television that they need to be confident and to question what they see, hear, and read. Part of LoPorto’s discussion was centered on the need to find out the underlining belief system of a group of people so that it can be targeted. Once their belief system is discovered it can be used and manipulated to spread ideas, that benefit a certain group or political party. “If a person can identify with the idea it becomes a belief, and they pass it on because it will enhance their identity.” (LoPorto,2004)
I will be very interested to hear what your feelings are on this topic.
True Majority.(2007).The oreo cartoon. Retrieved July 13, 2009, from http://www.truemajorityaction.com/oreos/

here is a sample video from the website truemajorityaction.org that is mentioned in by Garrett LoPorto:

Week 1 reply to Todd Saperstein

Week 1: DIY and EDUPUNK
By tsaperstein

This is my first real post as far as this course is concerned. The first post of mine was from my NING site entitled “Getting to Know Todd Saperstein.” I used it as a place holder in order to complete my blog site and mail the link.

Under the “Expectations” section of our (4) Blog Entries plus Comments rubric, it states the blog entries can be open ended. Thank G_D for that, because my brain is a vast, open ended, thought safari. If you though Jurassic Park was scary, YOU AINT SEEN NOTHIN YET, so buckle up, please your head and hands inside the vehicle at all times, you are about to enter Todd’s brain. Oh, and watch out for the occasional pockets of hot air. It’s kind of like landing a airplane in Las Vegas, the upstream of hot air makes it quite bumpy.

So, DIY and EDUPUNK, LLLLOOOOVVVVEEE IT! Love it, love it , love it! I always tell my students “your passion will find you.” After reading the article about Jim Groom and EDUPUNK, I felt as if once again my passion had found me. Rebelling against the education system that is destroying our children’s potential is right up my alley. It’s funny how people look at rebellion as such a negative thing. There is good and bad to everything in life, good people and bad people, good cops and bad cops, good teachers and bad teachers, etc. last but not least, there are good rebellions and bad rebellions. If the cause is just then the rebellion is not only good, but necessary. Let’s not forget people, the United States of America was founded by a rebellion! Remember the whole Boston Tea Party thing and that Revolution. Did everyone watch fireworks on the Fourth of July…PRETTY COLORS! If you didn’t learn it in History class, you must have seen it on School House Rock. You know, SHOT HEARD ROUND THE WORLD. Anyway, I think we need to make things right again.

What are we afraid of anyway, if we allow these kids to actually reach their potential they might be smarter then us? I certainly hope, because we haven’t done that great a job in the last hundred years or so.

I think that a great teacher should be a combination of OB1 from Start Wars, Robin Williams character in Good Will Hunting, Jack Black in School of Rock, and Wilson the volleyball from Castaway. I will let all of you absorb that for a while. I would love to hear what you think I mean by that last sentence. Then, will come back on Sunday and share my inspiration and meaning,

1. Deb Quinn Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
July 13, 2009 at 1:21 am | Reply

Hey Todd,
I totally get it! Rebel we must! I feel that now we have the tools and the research to support our “rebellion”. We as teachers need to continually reflect and fine tune our teaching to best meet our student’s needs and to stay on top of the latest technologies. As far as students knowing more than us, well you bet they do in many areas. Some of the best experiences that I have had over the past 9 months are the times that I have collaborated with my students and let them teach me something!
I can’t wait to read you explanation of Wilson. When I watched it, and thought about your post it made me think of my inner voice. Do you think that we listen to it enough? I really enjoyed your post, it made me stop and think :-)

Week 1 The Fourth Screen

It seems to me that the idea of the fourth screen has brought us full circle. Instead of being tied to our television and isolated we are able to be wireless and socially engaged with what we are viewing. I am a visual/auditory learner so I really get the idea of being wireless and social about what I view. I really get into some reality programming because I am a very social person and it always gives me a light topic to discuss with people. All I have to say is did you see American Idol or Survivor last night, and you will definitely get some sort of a reaction! I mean really, how much fun is it to immediately share a hysterical YouTube video that you have stumbled across! As a matter of fact here is one for you now:
Evian Babies US.(2007).Evian Babies US [video].Retrieved July 9, 2009 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_PHnRIn74Ag

Week 1 Reading "Lovemarks"

Flickr Creative Commons
In Jenkins book Kevin Roberts, the CEO Worldwide of Saatchi & Saatchi, states that the future of consumer relations lies with “lovemarks”. What a clever term, it is the emotional connection that we, as consumers have to products. It is that memory that we have in our minds, good or bad related to a brand, it is the same connection that you have when you hear a song and it brings you back to a moment in time. I have a “lovemark” with Coca-Cola, silly I know but true, it is a childhood memory of visiting my aunt and uncle. They had a curved front 50’s style fridge in the basement always filled with Coco-Cola sodas, and it was a treat to pick out the one that you wanted. So when I am watching American Idol I am automatically drawn to all of the Coca-Cola themed references in the show; well, good for them for picking up on and using this “lovemarks” idea to promote their product. This brings me back to the black boxes mentioned in the introduction of Jenkins book, with the invention of the DVR box more and more people are skipping right over commercials all together. It was inevitable that we would be seeing more advertising embedded in the shows that we watch.

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

Week 1 Show Me What You Know Project

I wouldn't know half of what I know about media presentation if it wasn't for Full Sail University! One of the most valuable things that I have learned is how valuable digital story telling is for students. My students have never written so fast and created a storyboard as fast as when we started to use digital story telling. I will post some of my students digital stories later when I have access to my classroom computer. So in the mean time I am posting my poetry in motion movie, not because it is a master piece but because I struggled so much with it. I struggled because I had to put my self "out there" and it made me feel vulnerable. Which turned out to be very rewarding in the end, and made me feel like a student again, being afraid to take risks. This experience made me a better teacher and brought me back to my students level and to encouraged them to take risks.

Week 1 Reply to RaShida

Snickering in class: Week 1 Wimba Session 1

Tuesday, July 7, 2009




I must say that I emphatically enjoy my classmates who participate in our Wimba sessions on a regular basis. I laugh a lot and yes, I do listen. The warm words and lauds from classmates to others is so endearing to great to see. If I hadn’t known the reason for my being here, with this group, at this time, in this program, exactly now in my life, now I know. I would have to say hands down that this is the best group this online campus has seen! You all do such a great job.


We never know what’s going on in the life of others, but I remember a speech my mom gave as Magna cum laude of her college class. She talked about smiling and how your smile could brighten someone else’s day. I believe so with laughter, for who can stay mad or sad long when such a weapon is unleashed. You are all helping someone with your words of encouragement! Great job, and thanks to Professor Bustillos for taking our worries and condensing them to let us know that you and the other professors are there to help us. I tip my hat off to all or the proper way for a lady would be to curtsy and properly thank you. And some of us, well we just burp really loud, that way you know you’re in good company! Good night!


1 Comment Manage Comments for this Entry
Deb Quinn
Hey RaShida
I couldn't agree with you more! I don't know what it was that brought all of us together, but what ever it was is truly a gift. The support and sharing by our classmates has been incredible and like nothing that I have experienced thus far in my career. So a GREAT BIG thank you to all of my classmates for consistently participating and sharing your ideas and expertise. It is the collaboration and collective enthusiasm that has brought us all this far. What an awesome journey it is! So keep smiling and maintain your humor as we work through our media projects and thesis in the coming months, and know that we are all here for each other!
Wednesday, July 8, 2009 - 08:22 AM

Week 1 Reading

Creative Commons
My favorite water cooler experience with a T.V. show was with Seinfeld. It made the workday after the show so much fun. I would bring in items from the show and put them on my friend’s desk, things like a Pez dispenser or Junior mints and we would laugh like crazy discussing the previous night’s episode! So, when Jenkins says, "Survivor spoiling is collective intelligence in practice" (Jenkins,2006)I know exactly what he means. What an exciting social experience, and to collaborate with people from around the world in different times zones well that is just an exhilarating thought, I wish I had been a part of the fun!
I agree that spoiling is like a game, because it is a competition to see who can obtain the latest clue first, wouldn’t we all want to be the “winner”.

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