Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Hey there Blog World! It's been a long time since I posted on this site. It's crazy to think that it has been ten years since we started the Masters Degree at Full Sail University. There has been plenty of water under the bridge and I would like to think that I have gained more knowledge and experience since.
Since the last post I have released an album of American history songs for kids, a Covid 19 song and put up three more videos on Youtube. I hope the next ten years will be even more fruitful. I hope all those who still are connected here are well and safe during this time. Let's see if I post again before another seven years goes by!
Sunday, October 27, 2013
Monday, February 20, 2012
Presidents Day 2012
It's a new year and already we are half way through February. I just added another video to the collection a week ago and its already put on 400 hits. Its all about Abe Lincoln. What a amazing life with so much to prune down to create a children's song. Well Happy birthday Mr. Lincoln. Hope we get to see a few more Presidents like you.
Sunday, June 26, 2011
The End of Things
Is it really over
So here I am at the end of the EMDT course and I am feeling quite empty. After a challenging twelve months I'm beginning to go over my course notes and rediscover some of the amazing resources that we gained. Also updating my portfolio site with all the video links is giving me a way of revisiting the course.
I'm beginning to look on-line for jobs opportunities and it seems strange to now be looking at jobs that have a masters degree as a base qualification. It looks like I may need to be thinking about moving out the area to utilize what I have gained.
The quest goes on!
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Wk 4 Publishing/Leadership Project
The two conferences I have chosen to apply for are the Florida Educational Technology Conference, which occurs in February, and the Georgia Educational Technology Conference in November. Having reviewed their lists of previous presenters and the range and focus of the topics presented there it seems that these would be good matches for my action research project's theme of introducing electronic reader technology into an elementary literacy program.
I have also been looking at the possibility of presenting my research at one of the regular events run by the North Sound Reading Council here in Northern Washington State. I have attended several of their presentations and this could also be a good forum to share the findings and garner support for further study in the area of electronic reading technologies in a more local setting.
Wk4 Comment #2 To Heather Anderson
Kate and Me upside down by Heather Anderson
Heather Anderson’s original post
I've got to say that this chapter really inspired me. I can't help but feel like jumping out of my chair and running for the door to go do something amazing. But three parts in particular stuck out for me in this chapter.
The first part that really stuck out for me was this quote, "It is to have the courage and persistence to distinguish the downward spiral from the radiant realm of possibility in the face of any challenge." Creating possibilities or visions isn't about starting a thought or movement, it is about going through with it no matter what. This reminded me of a moment in our Game Strategies and Motivation class when the creators of the military game (I am sorry I cannot remember the name of it) could not fully support the release of their game because obstacles landed in their way. The publishers decided that they did not want to release it because it was to controversial, but instead of continuing on with their vision, the creators felt like they could do nothing but back down eventually. Controversy is around everything we do, so we have to be willing to stand up for our vision regardless of what might fall into our path. Once we successfully adopt the courage and persistence needed to create a possibility, then more possibilities will become apparent to us.
The second part that stuck out to me was this quote, "A goal is invented as a game to play," and "Playing is relevant, not winning." Is this why I like goals so much? Because they are like little mini games in my life that I must hit the mark or learn from my mistakes? I set new goals everyday from the little chores that need to be done to how I am going to interact with one of my students each day, to what needs to be done in my life long term. Successfully accomplishing a goal is the most rewarding feeling to me, I love to make a to-do list and cross off items one-by-one. I am never in a race to finish and I am never competing against someone else, it is all self-fulfillment. The part about playing and not necessarily winning is something I learned early on, but I don't always follow it. I learned to enjoy playing soccer from an early age, I was always on the loosing team, but that never got to me like it did most girls. I had fun no matter what; I looked at my successes and the experiences instead of the amount of goals we scored. This also relates to my view of grades. If I "play" along in the class, do the work and actively engage myself, then I will conveniently "win" with an A.
The final part that stuck out for me was this quote, "I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all of the alligators." It is important to see the vision of what you are doing without choosing to add obstacles and challenges for yourself. Here in Idaho, we teachers are facing rough times, cut backs here there and everywhere! Everyday I hear about a new change to our salary or days we will be working etc. But instead of "fighting the alligators" and focusing on those negatives, I remind myself that I am here to teach the students and to "cross the swamp."
What a wonderful and inspiring book, I can't wait to share it with some people I know!!
The first part that really stuck out for me was this quote, "It is to have the courage and persistence to distinguish the downward spiral from the radiant realm of possibility in the face of any challenge." Creating possibilities or visions isn't about starting a thought or movement, it is about going through with it no matter what. This reminded me of a moment in our Game Strategies and Motivation class when the creators of the military game (I am sorry I cannot remember the name of it) could not fully support the release of their game because obstacles landed in their way. The publishers decided that they did not want to release it because it was to controversial, but instead of continuing on with their vision, the creators felt like they could do nothing but back down eventually. Controversy is around everything we do, so we have to be willing to stand up for our vision regardless of what might fall into our path. Once we successfully adopt the courage and persistence needed to create a possibility, then more possibilities will become apparent to us.
The second part that stuck out to me was this quote, "A goal is invented as a game to play," and "Playing is relevant, not winning." Is this why I like goals so much? Because they are like little mini games in my life that I must hit the mark or learn from my mistakes? I set new goals everyday from the little chores that need to be done to how I am going to interact with one of my students each day, to what needs to be done in my life long term. Successfully accomplishing a goal is the most rewarding feeling to me, I love to make a to-do list and cross off items one-by-one. I am never in a race to finish and I am never competing against someone else, it is all self-fulfillment. The part about playing and not necessarily winning is something I learned early on, but I don't always follow it. I learned to enjoy playing soccer from an early age, I was always on the loosing team, but that never got to me like it did most girls. I had fun no matter what; I looked at my successes and the experiences instead of the amount of goals we scored. This also relates to my view of grades. If I "play" along in the class, do the work and actively engage myself, then I will conveniently "win" with an A.
The final part that stuck out for me was this quote, "I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all of the alligators." It is important to see the vision of what you are doing without choosing to add obstacles and challenges for yourself. Here in Idaho, we teachers are facing rough times, cut backs here there and everywhere! Everyday I hear about a new change to our salary or days we will be working etc. But instead of "fighting the alligators" and focusing on those negatives, I remind myself that I am here to teach the students and to "cross the swamp."
What a wonderful and inspiring book, I can't wait to share it with some people I know!!
Comment to Heather Anderson’s post
I too am feeling very inspired by this book. I have started reading it again and will probably do so multiple times just to make sure I get everything out of it. It’s funny how many of the standout quotes for you were the same for me. “Playing is relevant, not winning” and "I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all of the alligators."
This book really calls us to a fundamental shift in the way we view our relationships both personal and corporate and the way we face each day. So many times I have been caught up in those procedural details of delivering the prescribed curriculum when, in truth, it should have been all about the students and not about me. Thanks for your post and I hope that Idaho makes it easier for you to focus on your students and less on the worries of the position.
PS I love that upside down photo of you with a student. Sometimes we have to turn things on their head to get a better view of the world. Classic!
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