Week 2 Comments to Dena Whipple

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MAC_Week2_Reading(Art, 1-4)


This book is truly inspiring and I can’t believe how the timing of reading it has coincided with such monumental events happening in my life. Perhaps some of it is a bit of nostalgia as we’re finishing up this very important journey of earning a masters degree. It leaves me with such pride, but more importantly an open attitude and heart for what lies ahead. I really enjoyed watching the TED video of Benjamin Zander and felt that it was a fantastic introduction to the book. Being able to see how he inspires his audience gave the book that much more credibility as I began reading chapters 1-4. I immediately liked him for his humor and ability to captivate just about anyone he comes in contact with.

As I began reading, I felt such a connection to his thoughts especially about the way we use measurement for a tool of success in just about all that we do and how making a contribution is really the truest measure. There were so many quotes that I wrote down, especially in chapter 2 when he discusses that if we more successfully engage those around us, we will attract resources through our passion for what we do. I can relate so much of what Zander discusses for several reasons: first, our college is currently in the process of interviewing for a new vice president. We are down to three candidates and have recently started some open forums to ask questions of the candidates. There is one internal candidate and she had her open forum this past week. It’s been a long time since I have been so inspired by a speaker and Zander’s book reminds of how life changing it can be to just open your attitude to new thinking. Our internal candidate is incredibly smart, but what stands out even more is her passion for what she does and her vision for the future of the college. Much like Zander refers to in the TED video, I was inspired by her ability to “awaken possibility” on those around her (and me especially).

The second reason I relate so well to Zander is on a more personal note. Recently I have been asked to head up some very special projects at my college because of the EMDT degree that I’m earning. The opportunities have been incredible, but as I move up a little bit there are those with less than model attitudes who want to tear you down at every turn. The importance of a positive attitude and the anthem that Zander discusses couldn’t be more accurate and I feel as though I’m experiencing these tests at this very moment! These two events (the VP search and my jobs at the college) are connected on so many levels because of the direction in which the college wishes to go. I have already made a list of people who I would like to refer this book to so they can reconnect with the universe of possibility rather than just the idea of surviving and scarcity-thinking. It couldn’t be more important in the field of 21st century education, where measurement is usually the only recognized road to success. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his many examples of his classroom teaching, especially the letters he received from his students.

His idea about giving an A to each student and requiring the letting written from the future was a true example of the art of possibility. I was so moved by his instructions to fall passionately in love with the person each student was describing in their letter—talk about giving students a vision! I was especially inspired by the segment from the Taiwanese student who talked about his transformation of thought from being #68 to being an A. It is truly all invented.
Posted by Dena Whipple at 9:34 AM

Comments: It has been nice to have a read here at the end that beckons us to reflect and restructure the way we see the world. I hope, like it seems you have done, I can get out of my thinking head for a bit here in the end with all I have to accomplish and shift my perceptions. The demands of work and school are taking a toll and I really need to seize this opportunity.

Week 2 Comment on Justin Baker's Post

Wk 2: Reading “The Art of Possibility” Ch. 1-4


Wow! I am thoroughly impressed by these two authors – and especially of Ben, surely being helped by his talk about classical music on the TED asset. I believe I especially am connected to this writing because I am a music teacher, and a musician. To speak in the terms of music, its rehearsal, its pains, its passions and trials are right up my alley, and help me to connect in a major way. Of the four practices discussed thus far – Giving an A, and Contribution have spoken to me the most. While reading, I found myself raising an eyebrow or two just about every other page – and for me this means someone has “called me out” or challenged my way of thinking. How true is it that we have those students who don’t fit our way of doing things, or our rules and methods and we are quick to label them as lazy or unreachable? I am reminded at what kind of student I was, especially in my undergraduate college years. I was – and still am to this day, a rebel to form. I always questioned what was being taught; its authenticity, meaning and driving purpose. This is why, now as an educator myself, I often let the students tell me what it is they are learning, or why they are doing something. This book challenged me further, however, to venture into the lives of these students, where education is not something that happens in a building, but in their homes, their communities and their lives – and starts within. In these recent weeks, I have been trudging through my professional life. Every task seemed to drag me down further and further, every initiative seemed to bring me back to the rebel that is constantly there. I was beginning to be a “second string fiddle” to teaching. This book came just at the right time, right when I was loosing steam, thinking every event that “happened” to me was this awful step to my doom. Perhaps now I can look at things differently this week.

Comments:

Justin, I was struck most by your comment about venturing into your students lives and the notion that it starts within. Some days that is my mantra, my prayer. Hoping that I can get a glimpse of that intrinsic motivation to learn. I know it is there. We are told over and over that one of the brains primary "desires" is to learn. My students up until this year have been extremely poor to the point were education served no real outlet from this poverty (in their minds view at least.) Now my students here in UAE are so wealthy that they see no real benefit to education, because they will live the lives their parents ore living regardless. So interesting, that two extremes yield the same result. I keep asking myself as I read, "What could be my version of giving an A for 8 year olds?" How do I scaffold students to be able to even write such a letter from a truly intrinsic place?

Week 2 Wimba

Alarm Bells Ring: I can't play my itunes in class!I spend more time in my classroom than I do at home, lol. I will go insane, lol.

Interesting WIMBA session. I know we do not have lifetimes to spend on copyright, but I feel we all walk away from this session a bit wiser and more knowledgeable. I really appreciated the questions being asked because they allowed me to reflect on where copyright really can impact the daily decisions I make. For the most part, each of us will continue to make the decisions we have already justified in our heads about what gray areas we are to muddle through regarding copyright.

I find the societal impacts of copyright to be of most interests. It is this discussion where we as educators, and creators can participate. The discussion surrounding this seemed to indicate that the laws will have to change to meet the challenges and demands of the 21st Century. I agree, but this will not happen on its own. Activists and not-so-activists will have to demand change. Discussions will need to be engaged and maintained. Isn't this what we are here to do? To beat it all, we have students producing quality and not so quality work to be fodder for this discussion.

Image courtesy of Horia Varlan http://www.flickr.com/photos/horiavarlan/

Week 2: Blog Post #1 from the selected reading

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Photo license: Attribution Noncommercial No Derivative Works Attribution, Noncommercial, No Derivative Works from Sara in Montréal on Flickr
You can find a link to the work by clicking on the image.

The Art of Possibility, by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander, opens with the notion that all is invented, so why not invent your own possibilities. This notion invites the reader into perpetual state of creation and is relevant to relationships, organizations, and art. I appreciate that the focus here is not on making that perception a reality, but instead asks as to use the invented perspective to examine what new choices and possibilities have arisen.

As a teacher, Ben Zander proposed that at the start of his classes he gives every student an "A." The result was more passionate students, ones that, on their own, were able to achieve more than Zander could have hoped. His premise is that if your teacher, manager, significant other, gives you an "A" at the start, you may be surprised at the extraordinary things that you will accomplish. As an educator I see true value in this practice. However, I wish he would have advised us on what happens when a student writes a beautiful letter, and then fails to show up for class the next 9 weeks. This of course illustrates my own inner cynic.

The Zanders have an art for illustrating their message with incredible simplicity. I certainly appreciate the approach as I begin to apply the practices to my own life, but it also left me very frustrated at points throughout the reading.

Week One - Comments on Catherine Palmer's Copyright Blog

Wk1 Copyright Issues - software piracy

Saturday, March 5, 2011

 
In computer software, a creation can be protected by both copyright (writing, visuals) and patent (function, how it works). Because I often work directly for software companies — including Apple, Adobe, and many others— I am not only ethically but contractually obligated to maintain legal licenses for ALL software that I use. That means when showing a graphic layout in a demo, every little font and image must be legit, no trial versions or copies.

For the giant corporate software or the little plug-in developers, I have to respect that the purchase of their products is what gets me paid, but more so that the public showing of any software must have “clean” supporting applications or they may be seen as guilty by association.

Today, my friend was looking to buy the latest version of a 3D rendering software. One seat typically costs thousands of dollars, so he was investigating any less expensive solutions. A quick check of eBay revealed no offers available, but Craigslist had a posting for just what he wanted. The poster replied with the following caveats:

1. •This works just like the original, just not as expensive (I bought mine from a guy online before I got the original)                           

2. •Yes, you will have a working serial number, just follow the instructions which will be included with the disc

3. •please DO NOT ask me if this is the original or a copy...the price alone should answer that (google the retail price if you don't know how much it goes for)

4. •please DO NOT ask me about legality or if you can register it or upgrade it...if those features mean more to you than a fair price then just purchase it from a retail store.

5. •You can ask me if I provide a great working FULL VERSION product at great price, and the answer to that is YES !


Worth it for under a hundred bucks? My friend was understandably hesitant and did NOT purchase from this obviously pirated source. His concern was that in a professional situation, any files created from this source might not be fully functioning or readable, they may “time out” or require a serial number confirmation for log in. He decided that anything that may potentially jeopardize a client or project is not worth the risk.


My Comments: Enjoyed the post from craigslist. I think I might just go batty if I were in your shoes. We all have an ethical obligation and I do my best to stay within those simply defined boundaries I have self-imposed. However, if dealing with nuances of law were my daily gig, well like I said...

It is refreshing to see that you do not and cannot differentiate for the "little guy." Most of us do not take the time to even consider this aspect of copyright and purchase.

Week One - Copyright Blog Comments on Danielle Miles Post

Week 1- Reading- Copyright and Creative Commons

As I watched the documentary Good Copy Bad Copy, one particular comment in the film struck my as pertinent, as we are all so bombarded with media we’ve been almost forced to use it as a form of art and that if someone stood on the side of the street handing out paint we would have a lot more paintings out there.  I find it so difficult and ambiguous to clearly define what is considered being inspired by versus what is stealing or plagiarizing.


Retrieved from Fickr Creative Commons Creative Commonsfrom karindalziel

When I consider these issues of copyright, creative commons, and how they effect my instruction in the classroom, it is so scary and complicated.  I want to provide my students with as much knowledge and as many opportunities to truly comprehend the world around them.  On the other hand, I know for a fact that I take many chances and many liberties within the four walls of my classroom to do that.  It is scary to think that much of what I do is not necessarily legal but in the long run those that would be on the other end of any lawsuit are the same that I would be provide a spotlight for or enlightening my students about.  Creative commons is interesting to me in that the artist in fact have the control, not some legislator or some lawyer.  The artist is given the right to pick and choose what uses their work can have by others.  I can’t help but wonder and worry about where the future of copyright will lead this next generation of artist coming up.  I hope for this sake we do find a happy and manageable medium ground in which we continue to foster creativity.

I can’t help but consider that this idea of ownership is a much deeper and much more complicated issues than most have ever considered.  Who truly owns anything?  I suppose this is more philosophical than anything else.  But is there such a need to profit financially off of every person or situation that directly links to us in any way.  I find this idea fascinating and it affects us each more than we realize.  I began in a new district last year and I teach four separate courses at a high school level.  When I asked where in the building or within the district I could find shared materials, such as handouts, lesson plans, assessment materials regarding subjects or units that we must all be teaching as it is part of the state and district approved and agreed upon curriculum, I was shocked to find out that one does not exist.  More over I was laughed at. 
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My Comments:
I really appreciated the connections you make in your blog to the content we have explored on copyright and the sharing of ideas amongst teachers. Each and every time I have been given an inside preview to someones teaching practice I have come away more creative and inspired. I too wish more teachers were willing to share. I have found that those teachers who are actually somewhat aware of copyright are actually the most willing to share.

Creative Commons has very much benefited my instruction and sparks of creativity. In fact, I can't think of a time when I didn't find exactly what I needed through Creative Commons.

Week One Month 11 - Blog on Copyright

After examining all the content presented on copyright, I find myself reflecting most on "ReMix Culture" by Larry Lessi. He articulates his thoughts well, in regards to, creativity within a remix culture. He eludes several times to the fact that this story is not occurring in isolation, it has happened many times before throughout our history. For many reasons, I think we lack or suppress the perspective and insight history has to offer, especially when it comes to issues of technology in the 21st Century.

Prohibition is once such instance he refers to in his relatively short talk. Efforts to serve the greater good of community and culture only led to corruptive and an often criminal mindset. The ability to express one's self is a need and not a want, and our nature will asks us to pursue that expression at all cost. The positioning of many on copyright infringement is to fight "The Man," and it seems logical to me that this in many ways could transfer to issues of governance and law that are even less ambiguous than copyright. In the simplest of articulations, we are setting up our youth to say, "if it's ok to break copyright, then it is ok to..."

Larry Lessi in his presentation is able to highlight the injustice we carryout on our youth when we are unwilling to look at this issue contemplatively. This perspective may be a bit alarmist, but is by no means unrealistic. I am grateful that once again I am reminded to look to our history for answers.

Image licensed by Trevor Coultart for use under Creative Commons via Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/coultart/5461847947/sizes/l/in/photostream/
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Reference
TED Talk video: ReMix Culture by Larry Lessig, retrieved from http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/187 on 01/14/2011