Sunday, February 27, 2011
Wk4-Free Choice: Thank You
I just wanted to say that this was a great class. I especially like the Blogging format. It allowed us to organize projects and thoughts in a central location. The video tutorials were a good media to reinforce the content for the week. I learned so much about Fair Use and Copyright that I did not know. I feel like I can advise others on the topic now.
My favorite was the last Wimba sessions because it gave me an opportunity to hear what my classmates have been working on for the past 10 months. It also confirmed the importance of every research project. The experience encourages me to continue to learn how I can impact my industry in the future. The Art of Possibility was an excellent text selection for us at this stage in the program. Normally, at the end of a program students are just anxious to get finished. The Art of Possibility shifted that thought pattern to decide what I can do next.
Thank you!
Wk4 Publishing/Leadership Project
I have found that the eLearning Guild OnLine Forum is the best fit for my action research project. Therefore, I plan to submit a proposal to present at the October 6-7, 2011 event entitled Web 2.0 and Web 3.0: Best Practices (see http://www.elearningguild.com/online-forums/content/1854/2011-olf---oct-6--7). The organization is looking for real-life examples of how Web 2.0 and 3.0 technologies and applications are being used to deliver e-Learning and how learning professionals might take advantage of these tools.
Thinking Out Loud
Here are the links to my “Think out Loud” blog spot the appropriate organizations were evaluated to determine the best fit for my action research project:
Publishing: Think Out Loud - #1
Publishing: Think Out Loud - #2
Publishing/Leadership Presentation
Delivering a presentation to other learning professionals in a conference or forum setting is the most appropriate platform to share my action research project. Here is the link to my presentation:
Wk4 Publishing: Think Out Loud #2
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The eLearning Guild offers presenting opportunities through their Learning Solutions Conference, Online Forums and the mLearn conference. The eLearning Guild goals and objectives are more aligned with my profession as an instructional designer and my action research project. I am now investigating the dates and topics available for submissions.
Response to BROOKE McKAIG Wk4-Reading: Chapters 9-12
I totally understand about paper samples. My daughter says that about me when I talk about creating media assets to support my training courses. Here is my rule about ‘face-to-face’ interaction versus email. If we are communicating electronically back and fort and there is no resolution, I will call you on the phone using after 3 times. Therefore, the forth time you will see me in person or hear my voice on the phone. I am always amazed at how surprised the other person is that I called or showed up at their cubicle. I bring that up because many people in the corporate world have become uncomfortable with face-to-face encounters. They have become so dependent on electronic communications tools that human interactive skills have diminished.
Photo: Jacqueline and Chuck Jones at ZOO ATLANTA.
Brooke said on her blog:
http://web.me.com/vampvisuals/Brooke_McKaig_EMDT_Portfolio/Blog/Entries/2011/2/23_WK4_Reading__The_ART_of_Possibility_9-12.html#
My favorite passage from this weeks reading was in the first chapter. The story of the boy talking about his father going to meet with a man in person rather than talking to him over the phone. I think it was profound to me because I very much agree with the quote, “Certain things in life are better done in person”. I still personally believe there is something powerful that happens when you have that personal interaction with someone. So much can be said through nonverbal communication. Enthusiasm and showing true interest in what you are discussing, sharing makes a big difference when getting your students engaged and intrigued about a topic. When they can hear and see your excitement often they what to know more of what it’s all about. My students tease me now about how excited I get over paper samples...
In the chapter “Being the Board” I agree with the perspective of not playing the blame game because it tends to just put everyone on the defensive. However, I found my calculated self not fully agreeing with my central self when it comes to more drastic circumstances and situations and being the board. Perhaps yes being a victim of circumstance in a car accident you can accept the situation and move forward from it but I still found myself thinking what are the repercussions for this irresponsible person? Not to benefit me but to make sure they don’t make this same choice again... I’m thinking everyone should just read this book with an open mind...
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Response to PAMELA HICKMAN Wk4-Reading: Chapters 9-12
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I feel your pain. I have lost 2 siblings – my Sisters. One was the result of a long time illness and the other was unexpectedly. They were both young at the time. You point is what can we do to help others facing similar circumstances or prevent something that can be prevented. What you describe in your post is ‘entitlement.” I know in our discussion this week we were posed with the question about deserving our dream job. To me, deserving something and entitlement are two different things. According to www.dictionary.com, deserve is defined as something to be worthy of or qualified for. On the other hand, entitlement has more to do with having to right to something based on a preset criteria such as the law. Billy Preston sang a song that says that nothing from nothing leaves nothing. That is it in a nutshell.
Pam said in her blogspot:
http://pamelahickman.blogspot.com/2011/02/week-4-blog-post-2-art-of-posibilities.html
“This weeks reading was very good. I would have to say the whole book was very good I liked how it talks about like possibilities from every angle imaginable. I really enjoyed chapter 10 talking about our life being a game board. It seems like my students over the past couple of years have this sense of "entitlement" there is no self responsibility anywhere. I have noticed students will say "that teacher gave me an F" instead of "I earned an F in math." This generation of kids are looking to blame someone every time something goes wrong in their life. I like how the booked refers to life a board and we are going to make choices and mistakes, but we have to learn from them. Sometimes we have to put our pride to the side and say "yes this is my fault how do I fix it?" I try to teach my students you are not entitled to anything the successes you get in life are earned, but so many students think that they are going to make millions of dollars have a perfect life without hard work. I hate to say this but that is not reality. People in general want to blame diffrent people for hardship and bad things, but the ugly truth is sometime we make mistakes and have to learn from them.
I lost my brother four years ago to this "game" called the choking game. I was so heartbroken over the lose of my brother. I just wanted to blame the kids that showed him how to "play." I wanted to blame the God, but I didn't want to blame him for doing it. I guess we never want to blame the people we love for bad things that hurt us. The ugly truth was my bother made the choice to play and the consequence was that he died at 19-years-old. I guess in that first year of losing my brother I just wanted life to stop and people to just piety my situation. I got alone with God and my Bible and realized life hasn't stopped people will not continue to piety my situation. I began to think OK this has happened know what can I do to make a difference. My family and I began to give speeches to youth groups in churches in the area about the dangers of the "Choking Game." My family and I didn't want this to happen to another family so we are trying to make a difference through educating parents and teens on the deadly game. My challenge to everyone is this when God allows bad things to happen to you use it to help others. God allows bad things to happen to good people because He knows that we can handle the bad thing and use it for His Glory.”
I lost my brother four years ago to this "game" called the choking game. I was so heartbroken over the lose of my brother. I just wanted to blame the kids that showed him how to "play." I wanted to blame the God, but I didn't want to blame him for doing it. I guess we never want to blame the people we love for bad things that hurt us. The ugly truth was my bother made the choice to play and the consequence was that he died at 19-years-old. I guess in that first year of losing my brother I just wanted life to stop and people to just piety my situation. I got alone with God and my Bible and realized life hasn't stopped people will not continue to piety my situation. I began to think OK this has happened know what can I do to make a difference. My family and I began to give speeches to youth groups in churches in the area about the dangers of the "Choking Game." My family and I didn't want this to happen to another family so we are trying to make a difference through educating parents and teens on the deadly game. My challenge to everyone is this when God allows bad things to happen to you use it to help others. God allows bad things to happen to good people because He knows that we can handle the bad thing and use it for His Glory.”
Wk4-Reading: The Art of Possibility, Chapters 9-12
I thought this video was a good way to end our study of "The Art of Possiblity." Enjoy!
My immediate response to this question is “not enough.” This is a great question because pursuing a higher degree puts you in a position to think about your personal achievement or advancement. Chapter 9 lets you know that if the focus is on others, your own advancement will most likely be a by-product of pay-forward actions. I started a company about 5 years ago providing instructional design services to corporate clients. As most companies in these economic times, my primary focus has been on increasing profits. About two years ago, I started investigating converting my company to a not-for-profit to service Charter schools or private Church affiliated schools. Now that we are approaching the end of the EMDT program, that concept has resurfaced in my mind. Last year, a golfing buddy of mine was involved in starting the first all male Charter school in Georgia. I thought that would be a great starting place.
Chapter 10. Being the Board: It’s not them. It’s not the circumstances. It’s me. It’s my choices. Now what do I do?
Life is all about choices. Someone said that making the same choices and expecting different outcome is insanity. So, in my efforts to avoid insanity, it is important to review previous choices and the results before making quick, uncalculated decisions. As mentioned in Chapter 10, sometimes we (me included) get caught up in the need to maintain a certain level of control over our life almost to a fault. The Zanders point out the importance of turning relationships into partnerships. I don’t think it should stop there. I think the quality of the partnership is just as important. This will require my spending the right amount of time to nurture the relationships into quality partnerships. Sometimes that means doing something for nothing.
When I took over the management of the jazz club in Ghana, it was in financial trouble and owed money to suppliers to the point they refused to make deliveries unless the account was brought current. My first act in my role as General Manager of the club was to visit all of the vendors. They were shocked that I made that effort and viewed me as a partner rather than an unpaid account on their books. The results? They extended the credit until I could pay it off while continuing to service the club. Those relationships also lead to sponsorships for special events at the club.
Nelson Mandela’s words quoted at the end of Chapter 11 are very powerful. My favorite line in that speech is: “Your playing small doesn’t serve the world” (p. 178). It is so tempting to be content with the status quo. I think reminding myself daily of this powerful truth is a start. In terms of sharing it with other, I believe it is important to encourage others with the knowledge we have gained from this book when the opportunity presents itself. Our society is bombarded with negativity through news, for example. Making it a habit to encourage others positions us to personally stay encouraged opening many doors of possibility.
One of the things I loved about training leadership in the corporate environment for many years was the opportunity to participate in seeing someone work toward personal dreams. I have watched individuals transformed in front of my eyes. That is amazing. I have absolutely had the opportunity to tap into others who are equally gifted and it is amazing as well. I think the hardest thing is to let go and welcome the input of others. Creative people sometimes get totally caught up in their passion and do not realize we need others for inspiration sometimes. Teamwork is so important. As an instructional designer in a very high energy develop shop, we are constantly collaborating to make sure we release the highest quality product possible. That is the bottom line. The return is not limited to a job well done. It sometimes creates a paradigm shift in how you will move forward.
Coda: Now what do we do?
The most important message is to get self out of the way. Be open to the passion and talents of others and be prepared to be amazed with the possibilities.
Chapter 9. Lighting a Spark. It’s not about us. It’s about them. What are you doing to pay-forward from your universe of possibility?
My immediate response to this question is “not enough.” This is a great question because pursuing a higher degree puts you in a position to think about your personal achievement or advancement. Chapter 9 lets you know that if the focus is on others, your own advancement will most likely be a by-product of pay-forward actions. I started a company about 5 years ago providing instructional design services to corporate clients. As most companies in these economic times, my primary focus has been on increasing profits. About two years ago, I started investigating converting my company to a not-for-profit to service Charter schools or private Church affiliated schools. Now that we are approaching the end of the EMDT program, that concept has resurfaced in my mind. Last year, a golfing buddy of mine was involved in starting the first all male Charter school in Georgia. I thought that would be a great starting place.
Chapter 10. Being the Board: It’s not them. It’s not the circumstances. It’s me. It’s my choices. Now what do I do?
Life is all about choices. Someone said that making the same choices and expecting different outcome is insanity. So, in my efforts to avoid insanity, it is important to review previous choices and the results before making quick, uncalculated decisions. As mentioned in Chapter 10, sometimes we (me included) get caught up in the need to maintain a certain level of control over our life almost to a fault. The Zanders point out the importance of turning relationships into partnerships. I don’t think it should stop there. I think the quality of the partnership is just as important. This will require my spending the right amount of time to nurture the relationships into quality partnerships. Sometimes that means doing something for nothing.
When I took over the management of the jazz club in Ghana, it was in financial trouble and owed money to suppliers to the point they refused to make deliveries unless the account was brought current. My first act in my role as General Manager of the club was to visit all of the vendors. They were shocked that I made that effort and viewed me as a partner rather than an unpaid account on their books. The results? They extended the credit until I could pay it off while continuing to service the club. Those relationships also lead to sponsorships for special events at the club.
Chapter 11. Creating Frameworks for Possibility: How do I take this flash of insight and make it into daily thing? And how do I share this with others?
Nelson Mandela’s words quoted at the end of Chapter 11 are very powerful. My favorite line in that speech is: “Your playing small doesn’t serve the world” (p. 178). It is so tempting to be content with the status quo. I think reminding myself daily of this powerful truth is a start. In terms of sharing it with other, I believe it is important to encourage others with the knowledge we have gained from this book when the opportunity presents itself. Our society is bombarded with negativity through news, for example. Making it a habit to encourage others positions us to personally stay encouraged opening many doors of possibility.
Chapter 12. Telling the WE Story: I told you it wasn’t about you. Have you been able to tap into the power of combining your expertise and passions with someone equally gifted? Have you had the pleasure of lifting a teammate, student, stranger up enabling them to realize their dreams and exceed anything that you could have imagined?
One of the things I loved about training leadership in the corporate environment for many years was the opportunity to participate in seeing someone work toward personal dreams. I have watched individuals transformed in front of my eyes. That is amazing. I have absolutely had the opportunity to tap into others who are equally gifted and it is amazing as well. I think the hardest thing is to let go and welcome the input of others. Creative people sometimes get totally caught up in their passion and do not realize we need others for inspiration sometimes. Teamwork is so important. As an instructional designer in a very high energy develop shop, we are constantly collaborating to make sure we release the highest quality product possible. That is the bottom line. The return is not limited to a job well done. It sometimes creates a paradigm shift in how you will move forward.
Coda: Now what do we do?
The most important message is to get self out of the way. Be open to the passion and talents of others and be prepared to be amazed with the possibilities.
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