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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Wk 4 Publishing Leadership Project

My plan for presenting my action research project involves two different sources because my bachelors degree is in music education and my masters degree is in technology.  My action research project studied the use of Facebook and an interactive choral forum as an extension of the choir classroom.  My first choice for presenting my ARP is the Educational Technology Research & Development Journal because the research is focused mainly on the use of technology.
While I plan on submitting my research to be published within the next month to the Educational Technology Research & Development Journal, my overall goal is to expand on my research and present my findings at an ACDA conference. I plan on using Schoology with my students for next year rather then using Facebook and the choir forum that I established for my action research this past year. Once I gather my research on Schoology I will present the benefits of using social networking sites as an extension of the choral classroom as a presentation at an ACDA conference.

The following are links to my think out loud blogs:



My ARP is posted on Google Docs for everyone to view and leave comments.  You can access my research by clicking on the following picture or link below:




Wk 4 Response to Thanh Kirby


http://mrg.bz/Wb4kqx By: kevin_p
Thanh Kirby writes:

I really like the ending of the book, especially how it ties all the practices together in the sense that the theme that runs through these chapters I believe are about establishing and being part of a community.  One of the major themes we have learned discussed and practiced in this program is the idea that we are better together than as one.  It only makes sense that we read about this type of theme in a book such as this.  Chapter 9 is a continuation of the thoughts and lessons of 7 and 8.  Chapter 9 however speaks about extending those ideas to the point that everybody has the potential to be creative.  To see growth in our own potential we need to think that every interaction with others is an opportunity to help others find their possibilities.  I found the story about the at-risk school in London very heartwarming and a perfect example of this concept.  Just providing the opportunity to create music for those students opened a new experience and potential musicians.  This idea is not new and it brings to mind Rick Warren’s book, The Purpose Drive Life.  By making connections with each other, helping others to find their own potential, we expand our own potential.  Another analogy I see in this idea is the Internet phenomena.  We’ve seen rapid growth in many areas of society in recent years because the Internet has allowed individuals to share ideas and concepts easily and more rapidly than ever before.  Connections with other individuals have opened up exponentially because of the Internet, which can explain the reasons for the rapid growth.


My response to Thahn,

Way to see the bigger picture of the book.  We are stronger when we work together rather then when we work alone.  You made a great statement when you said, “by making connections with each other, helping others to find their own potential, we expand our own potential.”  I strive to have my students make connections with each other and over time you really see them become their own person and expand their potential.

I love the connections that you have made with this book.  It is obvious that this book has made an impact on your thinking as it has mine.  Hopefully you continue to use these principles to better your teaching and your life.  This book has many great ideas and concepts that opens your mind to view situations and problems differently.  Good luck with your last month of the EMDT program!

Wk 4 Response to Leland Kriegh




Leland Kriegh said,
I loved this book. In fact, I purchased the audio version so that I could hear the authors tell the story. The final chapters continued the theme of the book. The most important theme of this book was to get rid of your ego. By doing so, we are able to overcome our selfishness and calculating selves. When we open ourselves to the world, we are able to see how wonderful it can be.

Every chapter, every story from this book could have been read from the pulpit at my Episcopalian church. They could have also been spoken by a Buddhist monk. The authors are Jewish.  The ideas the authors outlined core ideas that almost all world religions strive to promote.  It is the human experience versus reptilian tendencies.  What is great about this book is that we often feel off balance and upset.  We don't always have ideas on how to change things.  This book gives a fine illustration.

I love the idea of defining yourself as the board.  This opens one up to seeing how we all interact.  I know we can play the roles of victim, prosecutor, fixer, etc.  By defining ourselves as the board, we open ourselves up to seeing a much bigger picture and how we interact.  As curious beings, we love possibility.  Unfortunately, our ego and/or our role as a player blinds us from seeing possibility when we inevitably encounter another human being.
 
My response to Leland,

I loved the book as well.  You are the second person that I have heard from that purchased the audio book and I think that I am going to purchase it as well.  Michael Wood liked that the stories had the musical examples playing in the background, which helped to amplify the messages being delivered.

I really liked the way that you connected the messages to religion.  It is interesting that the ideas in this book are universal to many different religions and the overall messages that they convey.  I really enjoyed chapter 10’s message about viewing ourselves as “the board” as well.  We need to open up ourselves to seeing the big picture and stop blaming others so much.  Unfortunately we live in a society that promotes suing and pointing the blame at others.  Imagine what the world would be like if we all became our own “board” and took more responsibility for what happens in our lives. 


Image Source:

Saturday, May 28, 2011

Wk 4 Reading Response


 Andrea Bocelli and Jason Reed after performing
at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV.

The Art of Possibility chapters 9 – 12

Now that I have finished the book, I can say without a doubt that it is one of the best books that I have read.  This book opens your mind to consider new ideas and ways to look at different situations that you will encounter in your life.  It has a musical emphasis however all of the principles discussed can be related to many different real life situations.  I recommend this book to anyone who whishes to know and understand themselves better and find guidance and meaning in there own lives.  It has helped me to open up my mind and break down the different limitations that I put on myself.  It has helped me understand the different possibilities that I have, and it has helped guide me towards a better self-understanding.
            Out of the last 4 chapters of the book, chapter 10 was most influential for me. It talks about viewing yourself as “the board.” The book uses a great example of a car accident involving a parked car and an intoxicated unlicensed driver crashing into the parked car.  It would be clear that the intoxicated driver would be 100 percent at fault for this accident however being the board means that you must first declare that “I am the framework for everything that happens in my life” (p. 142). By declaring this statement you will come to understand what “being the board” means and it will help you understand that you are in control of every situation, rather then having the situation be in control of you.
            I find that I often make excuses about different situations that I get into.  I sometimes point the blame at other people and their actions, but never really gave much thought about “being my own board.” As I look back at my life and the many different struggles and situations that I have been in, I can see that if I would have viewed myself as “the board,” I would have had more confidence and taken more responsibility for how the events unfolded.  I am very grateful that I was given the chance to read this book and I hope that my blogs inspire you to read it as well.  You will learn a lot about yourself and life in general if you decide to read it.  This is one book that I recommend that everyone reads, and start living life to it’s fullest.

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Week 3 Free Choice - Think Out Loud 2

I have officially decided where I am going to submit my action research project for publishing.  I decided not to submit to any music journals because the research was more about using technology rather then music.  That narrowed my choices down to the four technology journals listed below:
While all of these journals would work for my research, I had to narrow it down to one.  After reviewing through all the different types of magazines I decide to apply for TechTrends – Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning


The journal focuses on educational technology concerning the management of media and programs.  More information can be found by clicking on the following link. http://www.aect.org/intranet/Publications/index.asp. The guidelines for author submissions can be found here.  Click on the "instructions for authors" tab at the right of the screen to find all the guidelines.


I am excited about submitting my action research project and I am hoping that my research will be published.  The journal is bi-monthly and manuscripts undergo a blind review.  My current rough draft meets the guidelines for submission, however I am sure my manuscript will still undergo many revisions before it is ready to submit.

Think Out Loud... Publishing Options



It's finally that time where I have to start thinking about the next step for my Action Research Project... Publishing! There are many great journals that I am considering for publication. My undergraduate degree is in music education which led me to first start considering the following publications:




However because my research uses social network sites (SNS) as an extension of the choral classroom, and my masters degree is in media design and technology, I also need to consider journals about technology.  Some of the technology journals that I am considering are:



Saturday, May 21, 2011

Wk 3 Comments to Michael Wood's Reading Response


Michael Woods reading reflection:

Teachers as conductors.  My top 5 ideas.
1.    Being a director also inherits my limitations.
2.    ..so pass the baton to students whenever possible.
3.    Serious notes are heard louder when I add humor.
4.    Play the whole song (unit), not just the notes (lessons).
5.    Student work is a reflection of their passion for it.

As a reaction to my readings from 'The Art of Possibility" I made a SlideRocket show with some of the ideas I will use in my own teaching.  It may not look like much, but putting all my thoughts into a few concise ideas certainly took a lot of digestion of the material!  I hope you enjoy it.  By the way, SlideRocket was introduced to me by a student. It's definitely worth your time to check it out.

As a side note, I thought I would mention to my readers that purchasing the audio book was very fulfilling. The book is read by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander themselves.  It also has the classical works Benjamin is speaking within the context of the chapters, so you can really hear, musically, the principles he is speaking of. I think listening to these orchestral pieces is vital in your understanding of the text.  I got mine with a $7.49 monthly membership from Audible.com.  I downloaded to both my Droid and iPhone.  I highly recommend it!

My response to Michael’s post:
I love following your blog because you are always creatively expressing your thoughts and views through different types of media.  With that being said, I found your 5 ideas to be direct and to the point.  Your interpretation of the conductor and music through all of the different chapters ideas shows your ability to connect all the information into a bigger broader spectrum.  I love how you connected musical concepts like songs and notes into units and lessons.  I teach music so it relates to everything that I deal with on a daily basis but it is nice to see how the message converts into other school subjects.

I like the SlideRocket!  I have never heard of that site before, so I will have to check it out.  I am also interested in buying the audio book now so that I can hear the music and listen to how it is related to the messages that he is talking about.  I am sure that the message is heightened through the use of the music.  Nice work on a creative spin on the reading!  I am looking forward to seeing what you create next!

Wk 3 Comments to David Hotler's Reading Response



David Hotler wrote:
First of all, what a great book! The light hearted and joyful expression of the Zanders makes reading this book a joy. I wish all books were just like this one. Now as I read I become more and more aware that this is not a book you read and put down but a manual you reference and then go and make a change. So every chapter I think of how I can use this practice in my own life. Here is what I have come up with for this weeks reading.

First and foremost Rule Number six should be rule number one for all teachers. I try to be sure not to take myself or my course too seriously. In the grand scheme of the world learning photography and photoshop is not that important. However, for some students my class is a doorway to a passion they never knew they had and leads to wonderful things. Taking things too seriously can make things no fun and who wants to spend the rest of there lives having no fun at what they do?

Next, I want to make the students the leaders. I admit from day one that I am still a student of photography and photoshop and will always remain that way. I am simply a student who has been doing it longer and with great intensity than the students just taking my course. I tell them that if they know something they should shout it out. If I am wrong they should shout it out. I want the students to realize that we are all in this together and they are just as powerful in the classroom as I am. This coming year I hope to take this one step further and have the students make their very own tutorial in photoshop. That means they need to create something and then walk the class through how they made in a way that everyone can understand. This makes them the leader and the expert and enables them to be that leader outside of their seat in my classroom.

Our work is never done. I tell me students all the time that the work they do in my class is never finished, it is always a work in progress. This leaves some students in distress so I do let them know that somethings just come to a nice stopping point but are never finished. As they work on Photoshop projects I want them not to think the assignment is to make theirs look like mine but to realize that the journey is the destination and creativity is not about conformity but about making something unique. As long as the student can show me they understand the given tool or technique we are learning I have no problem with them turning in something that looks different than my teacher example.

The last great thing that I have realized from this weeks reading and from my time at Full Sail is that passion is the most powerful motivator of students. If you allow students to work on something they are passionate about you will have to force them to stop (if you so choose). All of the projects that I assign are built in a way that allows students to incorporate a part of their personal life that they are passionate about. This might be a pet, a birthday invitation, or a photo retouch job for their grandma. No matter what when I allow student to work on something they care about they always work harder and to a greater degree of complexity. As this is true with my students it is also true with me. When I start to plan projects I pick something that interests me as well. Now this means creating something new each year and in turn more work but I find that I am more passionate when teaching if I am teaching something I really care about.

My response to David's reading reflection:

I couldn’t agree with you more that this book is more of a manual for life rather then a book that you read and put down.  Every chapter I find a connection to my life experiences.  It is like the book was designed with me mind!  With that being said, I agree that the Rule Number 6 should be number 1.  Being able to lighten up will help the students explore their creativity and intrinsically motivate their drive and passion.

Making your students leaders helps them gain ownership of content.  The ultimate test of knowledge is teaching others.  Through that leadership and guidance of content we come to understand our true potential and knowledge.  It sounds like you are a fun teacher and I am sure that the students love your class.  Keep up the great work!

Wk 3 Reading Response

This photo was taken at Disneyland
as the Harney Middle School
Bella Voce performed


Reading response from chapters 5 through 8 of The Art of Possibility, by Rosamund Stone Zander and Benjamin Zander.

I first have to say that every time I pick up and read this book, it relates to things that are happening in my life.  Chapter 5 discusses how to lead from any chair, and more specifically it refers to experiences being a conductor.  It talks about the power that an orchestral conductor has in the music world and how conductors can often be dominating.  I can attest that these traits can still be seen today because of the many conductors that I know or have worked with.

I direct 6 different choirs at the middle school level and never really gave much thought as to how my students view me.  I often do what I need to do to get the results that are needed.  After reflecting on my teaching and classroom management I realized that what makes my teaching so effective is that I build a family environment.  Everyone feels safe in the classroom and I often encourage student ideas, which gives them a sense of ownership. 

I really enjoyed reading about the effectiveness of the “white sheets” where students can write down their criticisms and observations during rehearsals.  I am going to start trying to use this in my rehearsals to see what my students are thinking and find out how I can better serve their needs.  It will also be a great way to have more personal feedback about my teaching and conducting.

The other chapters (6-8) had many great ideas as well to offer. Chapter 6 talks about the Rule Number 6, which basically means to lighten up.  I find that I already do this in my classroom by adding humor to my lessons.  I often use humor to effectively get my points across rather then coming off demanding and authoritative.  I have found better success in the over all sound of my choirs by lightening up and this principle is one that everyone should follow.

Chapter 7 talks about the practice of the way things are.  This chapter discusses how we should accept reality the way it is and work with reality to created more positive experiences.  There are some things that we cannot change and it is our goal to be happy and positive.  There are always positive ways to look at every situation and it is important for us to focus on the positivity to ensure our own happiness and the happiness of others around us.

Chapter 8 discusses the practice of giving way to passion.  This was another chapter that really spoke to me.  Most people view me as a passionate individual who is driven for success.  I often use my passion for helping others and success to inspire and motivate myself.  Sometimes I do set up barriers on myself and releasing these barriers is something that I need to first work on.  I found that this chapter was more about channeling ones energy to help convert passion into action.  This practice is not an easy thing to accomplish however once we can tap into our inner passion and drive we can accomplish anything.

Sunday, May 15, 2011

Wk 2 Free Response


The Power of Performance



I have been performing my whole life.  Whether it was acting, singing, or doing magic I have been blessed with the ability to entertain others.  I often forget how much joy I can bring to others by simply showing a few magic tricks or singing a quick song.

I received the news that a friend of mine had passed away in a car accident just a few weeks ago.  Her boyfriend was driving and she was in the passenger seat when they hydroplaned and hit a tree.  They were both pronounced dead at the scene of the accident.  She was only 20 years old and she was the youngest of her 2 other sisters.

My wife and I are both good friends with her family and being a father, I could not imagine what her parents were going through.  It has been a hard couple of weeks for everyone.  My wife and I decided to visit her family last night to see how everyone was doing. I brought a deck of cards and some coins hoping to bring some joy and excitement.  Courtney’s sisters and mother were hanging out with some other friends as we arrived.  Her father was in bed and wanted to be by himself until he heard that I had arrived and was performing magic. He specifically got out of bed to hang out with everyone so that he could watch some tricks. It was great to see him smile and enjoy himself as I bent forks and put coins in bottles.  His wife later thanked me for entertaining because that was the first time that she had seen him smile since his daughter had passed away.

We all have different strengths and talents and it is important that we continue to share these gifts with others.  Sometimes we can forget about our influences on others and the joy and happiness we can create.  I am so grateful that god has blessed me with my talents and experiences like these help me to understand why I worked so hard to perfect my craft.  

Wk 2 Comment 2 - Sue Parler



It didn’t take long for me to get hooked on the required reading, “The Art of Possibility” for my Month 11 class, Media Asset Creation. When I got to page 4 and read…

Standard social and business practices are built on certain assumptions - shared understandings that have evolved from older beliefs and conditions. And while circumstances have changed since the start of these practices, their continued use tends to reconfirm the old beliefs. For this reason our daily practices feel right and true to us regardless if they have evolved to keep up with the pace of change.

…I mentally exclaimed “Bingo!”, logged on to Amazon and bought eight additional copies – one for each administrator and academic dean at my high school. Then I bought the audiobook for me.

That one passage sums up what I have been saying for the past six years. My line has always been, “Geometry concepts may not have changed since the days of Euclid, but the students sitting in front of you have. Therefore, the content delivery must change to keep up with those students.” Sure, you’ve always done it that way – and yes, it may still work, but perhaps – just perhaps – there is another way that may really excite your students and, at the same time, get you re-stoked as well. Win-win.

The next bookmark came on page 46 (which is not to say that from 5-45 there were no aha! moments, just no bookmarks)…

How often do we stand convinced of the truth of our early memories, forgetting that they are assessments made by a child?

…Broccoli.

Yes, broccoli. I don’t know if I ever really had tried broccoli. But somewhere, I made the judgment that I didn’t like it. I consciously, yet graciously, declined all offers of the little green florets for all of my adult life…until two years ago. I went on some boxed diet plan and broccoli (although not listed among the ingredients, or surely I would have avoided that purchase) was sprinkled throughout the meal. Unavoidable. I scraped and pushed as much as I could, but some of that green stuff leapt upon the fork anyway – I had to eat it. Clearly, there’s no climax to the story here – I found it quite tasty and now actually rejoice to find broccoli as the vegetable of the day anytime I dine out.

So what have I learned? Clearly, I've learned to re-examine my judgments. To ask, "Why do I think that?". And to ask - was the reasoning ever valid? If so, is it still valid? And to make a choice - a conscious choice - from there.

Another point well made by the Zanders was that of “survival thinking”. I get caught up in this all the time. Someone asks a simple question and my first thought is “What’s the real question?” Someone pays I compliment, and I think “What does he really want?”. I’m sure I was not born paranoid, but I have evolved into being so. And yes – a valuable, but limited resource – energy – is dramatically taxed in an effort to remain so paranoid. It would behoove me, and make others around me happier, if I re-directed that energy in a more positive fashion. I’ll try. But just as it states on page 4 – those daily practices feel right and true. I’ve become accustomed to the paranoia and don’t even recognize it as such.

The competency ladder (and numerous other labels for the theory) is attributed to many possible authors. I prescribe to the theory. Prior to reading, I could easily describe myself as unconsciously incompetent – paranoid, and not really knowing it. I need to put what I’m thinking and feeling and making appropriate changes on my learning spectrum. In doing so I’ll climb to the second rung of the ladder: being consciously incompetent – paranoid and knowing it. The next step will require that I make a conscious effort to relax – consciously competent. Sooner or later, the hope is to reach the top rung of the ladder: unconsciously competent – relaxed, open and not having to think about being so. It’s a long journey. And I shall slip back often. But, eventually, I’ll get there.

Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ykjc9/2579890315 Creative Commons License


My Comments to Sue Parler:

Sue,
You made a really great point about the broccoli. It is funny that you mentioned your broccoli story because I also did not like broccoli when I was growing up however now I love it. The transition for me was when I decided to be more open about the taste rather then my prejudgements about the vegetable. I have witnessed these same transitions with my own step daughter as well. There are many things that she doesn't eat and most times it is all about the way it is made.  For example she loves french fries but will not eat potatoes, however she failed to realize that french fries are made from potatoes.  When you ask her why she doesn't like potatoes she just replies "I don't know. I just don't like them."  This statement shows that she is telling herself that she doesn't like potatoes, therefore she has no other option then to not like potatoes. Once she lowers her defense and reservations about potatoes, she will probably find that she likes them.  This same process happened with Cheese about 2 years ago and now she likes cheese.
It is really interesting to look at how we comprehend and set limits on ourselves. Our assessments and thoughts change with the different experiences that we have, and it is important for us to ask ourselves the question of "why am I thinking this way?" You have made some great points in your reading response and I love your creative response to the assigned reading.  Nice work Sue!

Wk 2 Comment 1 - Josh Tolar

Josh Tolar's Post:

I keep thinking about the current situation about my job and how it happened so fast.  While I was hastily updating my resume to look for a new job to cure my unhappiness with my current one, an opportunity came out from no where and basically slapped me in the face.  I’m now in a new position with the same company, but I don’t know for how long.  I have this hidden fear that one day this position will be over and I will have to go back where I used to work and fall into an unhappy lifestyle again where my expertise is nothing but a title on a sheet of paper.  It is here that I have enclosed myself into a box and never stopped to think about the opportunity I have right now and how it might actually affect my future; An opportunity to seize the moment.

By reading the first 4 chapters of “Art of Possibility”, I realized the potentials I have as well as the weaknesses I have had and still have.  When thinking about giving an A to someone, it somehow calms my nerves from expecting too much and allows me to focus on how to contribute to someone else’s life or a project.  This IS a realization, but NOT THE END of realizations.  While giving an A to someone might make it easier for two people to work together in a more harmonious fashion, there is still the realization of giving yourself an A.  For so many years I have been controlled by a never-ending urge to please everyone.  It has caused me to go above and beyond to the extent that my body shuts down and causes many problems like stress or an occasional illness.  This is from my past of always having to live up to an A or suffer the consequences or living up to the expectations of a parent and it never stopped.  It never stopped because I never allowed it to stop.  I have always given in to the persistent calculations and measurements in my head.  I have always been afraid that if I don’t do the best possible work then I would fail or cause someone to feel disappointed.  I have always been in the realm of self-doubt despite of what others say.  This is just like what Ben Zander was describing about his students and how giving an A would open up the possibilities of being creative and not focusing on the measurements in their head.  If I give myself an A first, then I feel I can start handing out A’s to other people and I can then start a successful domino effect of contribution.

Life is constantly changing and the past year at Full Sail has not only given me strength and trust in myself, but has shown me that when you work with others and recognize their contributions as well as your own, amazing things start to happen.  I have always been told, “If you put your mind to it, anything can happen”.  This is so true in so many ways, but you have to first realize that if you give in to self-doubt and the measurements that we are so conditioned with, you start to focus on the negative instead of the positive.  You become enclosed in a box.  I think that by realizing our contributions and the contributions of other people, we can start to open the lid of the box and slowly come out.

“Think Outside The Box (Evidence & Metaphor)” by Flickr user trixnbooze used under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 license.
Website Address: http://www.flickr.com/photos/martyportier/4656059096/


Josh,
I can relate to everything that you have stated in your reading response.  After reading “The Art of Possibility,” I too came to many realizations about my potentials and weaknesses.   You made a great point that if you start to “give into self-doubt and the measurements that you are conditioned with, you will start to focus on the negative instead of the positive.”   I have noticed this to be true in my own life as well.  Sometimes I can be my own worst enemy because I am a perfectionist and I often have a lot of self-doubt.  I often hold myself back from my true potential and enclose myself in a box.  It can be hard to focus on the positive and free ourselves from the constraints and measurements, but it is necessary in order to reach our true potential.  I wish you the best as you take this self-analysis journey to better understand yourself.  I hope you are enjoying the book as much as I am.  Good Luck!

Saturday, May 14, 2011

WK 2 Reading Response


This weeks reading of "The Art of Possibility," by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander truly opened my eyes on the boundaries that I set on myself. I set limitations and boundaries with many things that I do which leads me to fall victim to the world of measurement.

I recently started thinking about changing careers from teaching to acting or management. I am currently very blessed with a wonderful job and great students, however being an educator can be a financial struggle, especially when nevada teachers are looking at taking a 8% decrease in pay. It also does not help that the Clark County School District might not pay the salary raise for educational advancements. Raising and supporting a family of 3 can be difficult on a teachers salary. Lately I have questioned my true potential and whether or not I am limiting myself by being an educator.

I first moved out to Las Vegas, Nevada from Concord, New Hampshire because of my passion for performing.  Las Vegas has a lot to offer for performers and it was always my life long goal to be a performer.  I decided to take a job as a music educator as well to help me financially while I perform.  I found a great passion for teaching and I have accomplished many great goals that I set for myself, however my original goals of being a performer never left.  I have worked as a magician and found some great success in the business but I never fully committed myself to it.  There were always excuses that I made as to why I could not just follow my dream and make it happen.

The first couple chapters of the book explains that everything is invented and we should open ourselves to the universe of possibility.  These two chapters seem to speak to me as I have been questioning different job opportunities and limits and boundaries I place on myself.  I loved the famous nine dot puzzle example and how everyone initially assumes that they are confined to the dots on the page and do not consider the space around the dots to complete the puzzle correctly.  By opening up our minds and not limiting ourselves to the world of measurements can we reach our true potential.

I really enjoyed the third chapter of this weeks reading as well which talked about giving an A.  Grades can often be a measurement of how we compare to one another rather then an assessment of our true potential.  It was very interesting to read about the effects of starting students out with an A, and having them set individual goals by writing what they will do to earn that A.  The same principles of giving yourself an A applies to more then just grades at school, it also applies to life.  I plan on incorporating this principle into my life as well as my classroom, and I am interested to see how it changes my perspective on who I am and where I am headed.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

MAC Wimba Session


I was not able to attend the Wimba session for Media Asset Creation class this past week due to a performance.  This time of the year gets mighty busy for music teachers with performances and end of the year business.  I will admit that I was unsure of what I needed to do for the week until I watched the Wimba archive.
I am not much of a blogger but this class requires a lot of blogging and discussions, so I will just have to get used to it.  The Wimba session clearly defined all the assignments for the month and how you should plan your weeks.  Everything was organized well on a powerpoint presentation and all of my questions were answered once I watched it.
I am very glad that we learned about copyright laws this week.  I find that I am always trying to educate others about these laws because the general public has not taken the time to educate themselves about the laws.  I have had many concerts that are recorded by other individuals, which get posted on YouTube.  I will admit that I love seeing our performances and other performing groups on YouTube, but I know that it is against copyright laws.
I was glad that we touched on action research information in our first Wimba session.  I have a better understanding about what I need to get done on my action research for this month and I am already working towards getting these things done.  I am still uncertain as to whether or not I am going to write a paper or do a presentation for our final project but I am sure I will come to a conclusion soon.  Overall the Wimba session gave me a clear understanding of the course and I am glad that I will be able to make the next one for week 2.  I will see everyone there!  Thanks!

Wk 1 Response 2

Michael Woods orignal post:
http://youtu.be/fM_4YpXoetw


Michael,
I love the fact that you decided to do a video for your blog post!  The story that you told about using the images from the comics to better your own artistic creativity is very similar to how most people get started mastering their own art.  I remember watching every magic show that I could when I was young.  I studied everyone’s movement and gestures and tried to mimic what they were doing.  Trying to first learn how they were doing magic led me to create my own style of magic but I would not be where I am today with out those models.
I also see that same use of modeling or copying when it comes to learning how to sing.  Singing can be hard to teach because you have to learn what it feels like to produce a good tone.  Most great singers learn by copying their instructors.  They will often say “sing it like this…” and they will sing an example for them to try to replicate.  In order to learn how to do something well, we must first learn how to copy or imitate it.  I think that you made some great points in your blog.  Well done!

Wk 1 Response 1



Brian Thomas original post:
I didn’t realize that improvisational acts that the actor wanted to make permanent were not copyrightable unless they had a script or had it on video. I suppose I’ll have to start recording my amazing one-man improvisational plays before I get bamboozled.
The belief “If I don’t charge for it, it’s not a violation.” was a good reminder of something that is NOT true with regards to copyright. I didn’t fully understand the legalities of that before these videos. The best reminder for me was the statement: “Copyright is not about usage, it’s about permission.”
The story about Pirate Bay was enlightening. The Swedish interviewee had some interesting points but I think it’s all based on perspective. Had he created something that provided him his major source of income, I wonder how he would feel about others using it and it’s affect on that income. That being said, international piracy seems like an impossible problem because of the lack of international laws against this.
On to the Fair Use discussion:
The part that surprised me the most about fair use was that there was no definable amount that could be reproduced when using copyrighted content. While there is no black or white area here, I do like that some documents about fair usage in documentary films and online video were created to at least give a general guideline. The shocker for me was when I learned that if you can teach the content or subject without the copyrighted material being used, then you don’t really have Fair Use rights to use it, no matter how little you take.
It sounds to me like those that want to be able to use copyrighted content for free have some very impressive arguments. However, ultimately the music belongs to the big music producing companies and as long as there is ANY threat to their bottom line I anticipate they will fight against the free use of their music. I believe a change to copyrighting IS possible but think that it would have to be made by independent artists that become popular through social media sites rather than the big labels. Then they would have to vocally support the free use of their content. All the while ignoring the promises of riches from the big music companies. Possible, yes. Likely…?

Brian,
You brought up some great points in your response about copyright.  I was very interested in the Swedish interviewee as well.  The video showed the benefits of no copyright law however it did not show the perspective of the original artists.  One thing to keep in mind is that the record industries cannot determine how much revenue has been lost due to file sharing and other forms of piracy.  Does Sweden know something that the U.S. does not know? 
Fair use has always been a gray area and this is where copyright gets confusing to understand.  We need to come up with a better way for the general public to understand what is and is not illegal.  Creative Commons has made a real solid effort to help change copyright as we know it.  It will be interesting to see what role Creative Commons will play in the future.  One thing is for sure something has to change.  Nice work Brian!

Wk1 Reading: Copyright Issues



Welcome all my loyal readers!  I am back and hear to talk to you about copyright!


My first basic understanding about copyright happened I was 19 and started a college a cappella group named “Not Too Sharp.”  We made an album and we contacted Harry Fox to get all the permissions to record our own a cappella versions of well-known songs.  The overall cost for permission was not that bad once our CD’s started selling however it made me ponder copyright laws and how many people break them. 
I am sure that every person has a friend or family member who has broken copyright laws before.  Most people are not educated about copyright laws or they simply don’t care.  Right now digital natives are lifting, manipulating and organizing samples of others work to create their own artistic interpretation.  Is this really wrong?  The answer is yes under United States Copyright Laws.  I was amazed to recently learn that some other countries do not have copyright laws.  Artist’s in these countries are allowed to sample music and make remix’s of others work.  They are also allowed to record it and distribute it for a profit.  So why does the U.S. have such strict copyright laws?
Copyright laws were made to protect artists however some artists don’t mind others using their content.  Creative commons is a company that is ready to evolve the current copyright laws by allowing artists to specify what licenses the public can have for free. Click here to check out the different licenses they offer. Creative commons gives artists the freedom to sample, mix and create legal forms of art.  The revolution of digital media sharing cannot be stopped but having a better understanding about the copyright laws and using copyright free material will keep you safe from getting in trouble.

I really enjoyed all of the recent videos that I have watched about copyright laws.  They have really given me a better understanding about how the laws work and the current struggles the government has about enforcing the copyright laws.  No matter where you stand on copyright laws it is obvious that a change needs to be made due to the digital era of file sharing that we live in.  Hopefully Creative Commons will help begin the reshaping of current copyright laws and allow for a better way to share digital content.