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.

Publishing Leadership Think Out Loud Blog #1

Publishing Leadership Think Out Loud Blog #1a

Publishing Leadership Think Out Loud Blog #2

Presentation PowerPoint (Google Docs) 

Wk4 Comment #2 To Heather Anderson

Kate and Me upside down by Heather Anderson

Heather Anderson’s original post

http://teachingfire.blogspot.com/2011/05/wk-4-blog-1-reading-creating-frameworks.html

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!!

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!

Wk4 Comment #1 to Ann Cannizzaro

The We in action

Original post from Ann Cannizzaro

http://ann-cannizzaro.blogspot.com/2011/05/wk4readingthe-art-of-possibility.html

This week’s reading from The Art of Possibility, by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander puts the reader on an inward journey.  The reader is gently pushed to consider the truth, of how events, actions, and relationships out in “the world”, are perceived and connected to one’s self.  We are meant to reconsider our own perspective and look further inward at how our thoughts color our own attitudes and actions.

Taking on the “being the board” stance will definitely take some practice and getting used to.  It means taking a greater responsibility over a wider area of influence.  Rather than looking out for #1, and towing the line, it emphasizes the need to go one step further to exact some change, an action or event, some greater participation.  It means making a commitment which one can often shrink away from doing.  Time and energy are factors that can limit one’s ability or inclination to participate in change.

The words of Barbara Waugh, of Hewlett Packard Laboratories, “start slow…and work small”, speak volumes to me.  My approach to change is just that…..think on a grand scale, and take baby steps toward the goal.  Sweeping change is too overwhelming and frightening for people.  I’d much rather build successive steps that maintain the foundation, while rising bit by bit, upwards to the possibilities that change can bring.

As I read these final chapters, I remembered the quote by Marianne Williamson before it appeared in the text.  It was reassuring to see that my mind is already in the realm of possibility.  The line that speaks most strongly to me is this: “Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure…”.  Somehow, I feel that I have held myself back, for fear of not being good enough to realize my potential.  This book has pushed me to work my way through those feelings of insecurity and continue, steadfast, on the journey. 

Response to Ann Cannizzaro

That line by Marianne Williamson struck home to me as well. I tend to be a wallflower and, even if others say how good I am at things, I live in constant fear that some one will tell me I’m garbage. (How fascinating I say now!) I took that being the board thing on this week and it has made quite a difference. Taking blame out of any misfortune is quite difficult but so relieving. It actually gives you power to walk away from things without the need for justification of an opinion. I too think that the biggest thing that comes from this book is the shift away from self to a more We focused vision of the world that, in many respects, contradicts the way we have been and are continuing to be raised by this world. Now if we all could do this the world might look quite different.

Wk4 Reading - The Art of Possibilty - Chapters 9-Coda

Peter in a world of possibilities

What a ride this book has been! As I was reading the coda I realized that I had begun a definite shift in my thinking about how I view myself in this world and in relation to others. I must admit to a deep desire to send a copy of this book to my ex-wife in Australia but fear that she may not read it. Chapter 12 really brought it home to me about the WE and the revenge monster. I have so hated my ex for 13 years since we split (she got the house and basically everything) and discovered through one of my stepchildren that she has breast cancer and will be on aggressive chemotherapy for another year. He showed me video and photos of a woman I wouldn’t have even recognized and my revenge monster took a major beating. I wish the last words I had ever spoken to her 12 years ago were ones that I could be satisfied with as decent last words but, even though I have forgotten what they were, I’m sure they would not have been too flattering. Time to start being the board, being where I am at the time and not blaming anyone else for my foibles no matter how justified I have felt myself to be. So where was this book in 1998 and would it have made a difference? I’d like to think so. It has certainly helped me understand a new way to be a leader, a new way to frame a future with a vision of possibilities and a way to view my mistakes. How fascinating!

Wk3 Free Blog - Publish/Presentation #2 Consideration of the "where"

 Could it be that bad?

I tend to think of my AR project as a starting place for a more in-depth study and something I’d like to develop over time. It’s a good start but now I want to get on with cycle 3. I suppose the bird has to learn how to fly at some point so I had better be ready so here goes.  (It’s strange though. I’ve played in front of 5,000 people before and not cracked a sweat but the thought of this has got me having nightmares!)

For my first choice, the presentation route, the two conferences I tended to lean towards were;

The Alabama Educational Technology Conference

http://ti.alsde.edu/aetc/

I chose this conference because, having looked at last years list of speakers, they had a few speakers who had presented on similar topics. I didn’t see very much there on applications for a presenter so I sent them an email to find out more for the 2012 session as the 2011 one is on in mid June.

The Georgia Technology Conference

http://www.gaetc.org/sessions_app.htm

Similar to the one above applications to present are due in September for the November conference. I’m not sure that I can stretch out my presentation to an hour though! One thing I do like is that presenters are encouraged to produce audience materials/handouts electronically which they then put on line on their own wiki for use during the conference. Very cool!

I also decided to have a look at my options carefully, starting with my back-up plan of publishing. One thing I noticed about pretty much all these publications is that they do not want you to have your work being considered for any other journal and that’s going to make it difficult to get your work out there in a timely fashion. So much for the machine gun approach to getting your work published. The two journals that, if I went this route later on, seemed to match my ARP well were;

Journal of Educational Technology and Society

http://www.ifets.info/

Initially I chose this journal as its aims were focused on helping teachers understand the use of technology to benefit classroom instruction. This matched well with my AR project of using iPads in an elementary literacy program. The author guidelines were quite comprehensive and prescriptive and the length of 4000-7000 words made me wonder if it was possible with my project.

Journal of Educational Computing Research (Baywood Publishing)

http://www.baywood.com/authors/ia/ec.asp?id=0735-6331

This journal had no comment on the size of the article, only the abstract that made it more inviting. Their description of who-they-are referred to their desire to print articles about trends in technology/computers in education, which seems to fit with my AR project as well.

Wk3 Comment#2 to Janene Neal

 Just be in that place

Original Comment by Janene Neal
I like to create a connection between my life and with whatever literature that I am currently reading. For instance, when I read Gone with the Wind, I was of course, Scarlett O'Hara, and with any of the True Blood series...just call me Sookie Stackhouse.
With this week's readings, I am not June from Chapter 6, but...I do like how Zander and Zander create this feel good connection with the reader. Here is what I gathered from each chapter.
Chapter 5- Leading From Any Chair
Letting my students shine and allowing them to show others what they know. I don't always have to be standing in front of the room teaching, I can have my students help each other.
Chapter 6 Rule
Rule number 6 is a great way to look at life in general. Of course everything that we do is important, but I think it is in our nature to “reach for the stars” and “do the best job". With all of the chaos and craziness in our life, why can’t we just slow down and take a deep breath? That we all should slow down every once in awhile and stop and smell the roses.
Chapter 7 The Way

If we can accept the way things are, then the life that surrounds us will be easier to accomplish.
Chapter 8 Giving Way
If we participate with our surrounds, we will be much happier with our surroundings. No one likes to be around a grouch. So having everyone participate will create happiness among everyone.
So basically accept the things that we have, keep a positive outlook on life, participate with our surroundings, and share the spotlight. Wow...that sounds like the lectures I got from dad every time I got in trouble.

Comment to Janene Neal

I too tend to get swallowed up by the books that I read, especially the ones that seem to talk to me on a personal level. I begin role-playing the situations the characters go through in my head and try to work out how I would have reacted in their situations. This book is no different. As a child I would be a big grump and pout about every situation I was in even though my parents tried to engage me constantly. At birthday parties I would hoard my sweets until everyone else was done and would then begin to eat them in front of the other kids just to annoy them. Looking back I wish I hadn’t been such a child. If I’d have had the good sense to understand the concepts of rule #6 and share my world with my contemporaries, who knows where I would be today. I like your last paragraph. It’s so perfect in its simplicity but that seems to be the truth of the book. It’s fairly straight forward, we just have to practice it.

Wk3 Comment #1 to Ann Cannizarro

 Two students lead a class discussion

Original Post from Ann Cannizzaro

Reading again from the Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander, chapters 5-8, we are encouraged to “lead from any chair”.  Each of us wears a variety of leadership hats within the time of a day, week, month, year, even a lifetime.  As parents, we lead our children; we are role models for how to behave within and outside of the family structure.  As teachers, we model for our students how to embrace the learning process and to achieve it’s intended goals.  As community members we work to integrate with and invite others to come together for the greater good.  Active participation is the key.  Participation is only a first step.  Being active is vital to effective leadership.

Mr. Zander describes how he began to give “the floor” over to his musicians, to better listen to and understand what they might add to the process of playing and performing music.  He presented them with permission to access the leadership position.  I find myself in this situation in the classroom too.  I try to recognize the best moments to maneuver students into position such that when they “take the floor”, their classmates are waiting to hear what they have to say, and respond with the expectation of leadership from the student.  This is a means of promoting positive self-esteem and confidence for students.

Successful attempts at leadership in the classroom, whether reading a sentence correctly, or explaining a definition, helps students realize their potential for leadership.  With ample opportunities to shine, they may increase participation in activities in other classrooms, or out in their community.  As teachers, we help to determine “who is present” when we have the expectation and allow the opportunity that all students can and will “take the floor” from time to time.

Comment to Ann

When I read your take on this week’s reading I am reminded that participation is at the heart of the Zanders’ practice of turning around the situations we find ourselves in day by day. I have been trying this week to let the students have more say and it’s hard to do (especially when you’re the substitute) and I admire Ben Zander for the courage he has exhibited in trying something so risky with his orchestra. It could have totally backfired and he could have lost his status as a conductor but sometimes that’s the courage we need to tap into to make major and dramatic changes in our classrooms. To become more collaborative with those we have deemed subordinate to us for so long a change of perspective is needed. We give lip service so often to the idea of raising the student up to be responsible for their own learning but so often apply the caveat of “as long as it’s my way”. Thanks for the last paragraph that reminds me also that allowing leadership can be achieved through such small things and not just grand gestures.