MAC Class Week 4 Response to Classmate Kimberly Duran

'We' Could Do Anything - Like Reach The Moon!

Here is Kimberly's post about the final chapters of 'The Art of Possibilities' by Benjamin and Roz Zander:

Kimberly Wrote:

Chapter 12 really sparked so many thoughts in me this week. Often times in education,or at least the trainings I've been to the past few years, we practice "I" messages. Telling our students what "I" need to see happen, or what "I" would like to see happen rather than just telling kids what "they" need to do. "I" messages seem to be all the rage at my school even, and I didn't realize until I read this chapter about the We story. The "I" messages have worked decently, but what a concept to make it about we to show that I am there in support of my students, staff, and other co workers. I even tested it out today on one of my tutors that is a college student, and it worked so wonderfully. He really felt a part of the decision making process, and felt as though "we" (he and I) found a solution to something. I could totally see his confidence shift. It was astounding, truly. I really want to practice this more. I must deprogram my brain from the "I" message and allow the WE to sing out of my mouth!! What a great way to end this amazing piece of literature. This week I will begin my transformation from I to we.....!!!!

My Response To Kimberly's Post:

Hi Kimberly,

You are so funny. I can hear your voice singing the “We Song.” I have been fortunate enough to have done several projects with you to know that the project is always better with you involved! I have never known a day of projects without you being a “We” to me! Wow, that sounds like a hit country song title. Luckily this is date stamped and thus copyrighted. I will change the word projects to ‘Life’ for purposes of country and western. Say that with a drawl please.

There is a moment of ‘buy-in’ that sometimes requires an ‘I’ to make a point. It is a shock effect maybe, like when Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “I have a dream…”. That is a rare and unique case that had so much impact. I sometimes even leave myself out of the equation and just say, “You…” in my sentences. It is very powerful also. 

MAC Class Week 4 Response to Classmate Dorreen Petersen Davis

'Turn The Clock To ELEVEN'

Here is Dorreen's post about the end chapters of 'The Art of Possibilities' by Benjamin and Roz Zander:

Dorreen Wrote:

Wow, this book continues to my ideas to the possibilities that could happen. I really agree with chapter 10 about one can only be accountable for what one has control over. I think that is all we can worry about. However, the idea of looking at every situation as a chessboard is very interesting. It seems to me if more people would think more like this we would have fewer lawsuits and maybe things we need like insurance wouldn’t be so expensive. The business world also wouldn’t always be thinking, “we need to cover our behinds”.  I love the board question, “How did this get on the board that I am?” Seems like self-reflection is a very important part of this whole art of possibilities.

I think that the criteria for a vision is wonderful not only for companies but for personal goals.  Think everyone should have a vision as these visions can be looked at like mini goals. Lastly in chapter 12, the WE is so important and strong. I would think that the WE will always be stronger than the I/You and it could stop the finger pointing or blame we see in our society today.

Looking back at the book it seems that all eleven practices are tied closely to one another if one could achieve just a few of these practices the possibilities that could open up to you would be extreme. Can you image if one could really take into practice all eleven – the possibilities could be endless!

My response to Dorreen's Post:

Hi Dorreen,

Yes, the power of eleven. If everyone had all eleven practices memorized and embedded into their psyche, we would have no wars - only world peace; no anger, only helpfulness; no more failure, only success; no racism, only love; no constraint of the mind, only limitless options; but who wants all of that?!! People frenzy feed on bad news. What would happen if there were a station of only ‘good’ news? Would people even watch it? Why are we so enamored with tension and strife? Is it in peoples’ genome? Please help me. I have become the perfect sheltered juror who escapes at all cost from the bad news of the days. What will happen if we all of a sudden avoided bad news and only wanted good news? Please share what would happen. My hands are cupping my face awaiting your answer! Oh, and would you like to see the 300 pages that Benjamin through out when he wrote this book. Every writer has extra pages that don’t make the cut. Often, those pages are the real truths that people aren’t ready for. I vote, ‘We see the hidden pages!’ 

Week 4 Review of ‘The Art of Possibilities’

 'Benjamin is My Star Hero!'

Benjamin Zander, author of 'The Art of Possibilities,' is one of those rare individuals who truly ‘Cares’. Is must be a rare gene strand of DNA? He shows this care by placing his visiting students on the stage near his orchestra so they could experience the truest form of ‘passion’ and orchestral performance. These students had already sat for a few hours in previous meetings and now they were going to sit through a concert – they might fidget and be distracting, yet they knew Benjamin was giving them a gift of a lifetime and they were perfect. That takes intuition and a lot of trust. When do we ever go out on a limb like that in the aspect of trusting someone?

And then when Benjamin shares the story of Cora his 2^nd chair violinist, he really opens up his soul. He shows us that he didn’t always have this ‘Pure Care.’ He once was, let’s say, in development. Cora changed his life for the better because she stood for something that mattered to her. He lost her in his orchestra and that is what caused a paradigm shift to create the Benjamin we know today. So what am I really saying? We all need to stand up right now, put our hand over our heart, and say, “Thank you Cora.”

My Week 4 MAC Class Leadership Update n Links

'Keep An Eye On This Presentation!'

My month 11 Leadership project is well developed now and I have determined that I will submit a speaker application for the FETC conference in Orlando, Florida. 

I am a strong supporter of the Full Sail EMDT program and feel that the diverse activities we have completed have prepared me to present at any level: small room or a large-scale presentation. I would like to thank all of the EMDT instructors for their strong influence along my journey. My year of research has unveiled some very interesting outcomes and I will be synthesizing and collaborating with others for quite awhile. One intricacy from the research is that, certain cultures are much more highly engaged than others due to using a class response system. Why? You must comment below if you’d like to know the answer. It is significant and you will say, “Wow,” when you hear the possible reasoning. In fact, you may need to go to FETC to hear my presentation. Let me know and I’ll save front row seats for you – First Come First Serve. Seating is limited, so write soon. The other conference I would like to submit my application for is ISTE, because is deals with the use of technology in education and my life is technology. 

While you are waiting for those conferences you can review my past Leadership project developments, which are found at these previous weekly blog links:

Week 1 Leadership Blog:

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/leader-of-leaders.html

Week 2 Leadership Blog:

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/leader-within-me.html

Week 3 Leadership Blog:

http://bloggedonphonics.blogspot.com/2012/03/my-week-3-class-leadership-quest.html

My Presentation:

And even better yet, click this "clickable link sentence" to go straight to my Leadership Presentation slides and speaker notes!

Well, thank you very much for stopping in to see the progress. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated. I look forward to hearing from you!

My Week 3 Response To Classmate Kimberly

'A Clover Field For Your Piglet!'

Kimberly Duran wrote:

I really enjoyed the Babe analogy in Chapter 7-The Way Things Are. I have seen this movie so many times and it went so well with how the authors were trying to get their points across about being present to the way things are. I have a student that I swear this chapter was written for. He is what I call an Eeyore kid. Kind of negative all the time, walking around with a rain cloud over him. Always making road blocks instead of paths. Being much like the cow in the analogy, the oh well that's the way things are kind of mentality. I showed him a couple of snippets of the movie Babe after reading this chapter, and then we spoke about being present to the way things are instead of just accepting things the way they are. How this type of thinking is a catalyst for change, and how this could help him to improve his way of thinking. He really enjoyed the analogy as well and said that it pointed things out to him in a different way and really put things in perspective. The simple trick of turning the word but into and was like magic. He and I have been trying to find ways to turn more dreary outlooks into positive experiences. I just LOVE this book, it has been so insightful on so many levels. I have found so many uses for the things I have learned, I really am floored by all the great stuff and thankful we were given the opportunity to read it!!

My response to Kimberly:

Hi Kimberly,

This post really warmed my heart because I also watched the movie ‘Babe’ about 50 times, with my young children – and the Piglet photo you used instantly makes me say, ‘AAAaahhhh’! Thank you for the care you have to see those Eeyore types and coach them to a higher place. I would like to hear all the conversations said at their supper tables when those children mention YOUR name for inspiring them to a new level of life. Thank you also for sharing your appreciation for this book. What will you ask Benjamin and Roz when we meet them? And even better, what will you ‘Teach’ them in our conversation? That is why they will invite us to their next event when they are in town!  - Hunter

My Week 3 Reading Response To Classmate Dorreen

'Can We See Things Correctly?'

Dorreen Peterson Davis wrote:

This book continues to be full of ideas and inspiration. Each chapter opens up ideas to share with my students, and fellow faculty.  Many of the practices, in my eyes, are common sense and should be easy to do. I try to live by several of them. I agree that the calculating self is hard to ignore or work through, but we need to; at least we should recognize it. I will be the first to admit if I have done something incorrectly or don’t know something, especially with my students. I think they need to know that I’m not perfect nor do I want to pretend to be. I am emotional and sometimes it does get in the way but it never turns defensive.  So I guess my central self is working well. However, I do think that sometimes my central self gets in my way of letting go and doing something really out there.  I have given away my passion for some things, but I have kept my passion for graphic design. I tell my students that in order to do well in school and whatever they decide to do they have to be passionate about it.

Rule number 6 really resonates with me. I’ve come from a family that doesn’t take ourselves too seriously and if we did someone would say something that would lighten up the situation. However, it seems that as people move up the corporate ladder they forget about this rule and their calculating self comes out and they need to remember where they have been and that the rug can be pulled out from under them and lighten up.  

Practice seven is very, very important. I’m not sure people think in the present until something happens in their lives that wakes them up, like a death to someone close or a terrible accident, etc.  We seem to have to have that life changing moment to wake us up and to live to optimum possibilities.  Ben Zander states, “that we need to focus on what should be and not what is. “  My students are always dwelling on what went wrong with their project and not what it is. Therefore, the first thing I tell my students during their presentations is not start with the negative of the piece or what they didn’t do or what went wrong with the printing, just sell me on what you have. If they knew it wasn’t working then they should have fixed it. They are always blaming someone else for what went wrong instead of owning what happened, learn from the experience and make adjustments for the next time.

The ideas in chapter 8 are my downfall when it comes to my personal life. I am working my way out of it though. The first step was deciding that I needed to get out among people again and that I needed to give back, hence I started teaching. Teaching lead me to Full Sail and what an experience. I only hope I can keep moving forward and keep on with the BFTI. Thank you for everyone for helping me along the way.

My response to Dorreen:

Hi Dorreen,

Thank you for your openness to share your thoughts at this level. I appreciate your honesty about your ‘central self.’ I wonder if there is a study on how long it takes us to give away one of our passions – one year of hardship, 5 years, …? You brought up something all of us should think about. Thank you for your graphic design passion and all the times you have dazzled us with your skills. I like how candid you are about the Rule Number 6 issue when people move up the corporate ladder. I have seen this ‘power’ change people to the point you don’t recognize them anymore. Do they really have happiness anymore? Why do they forget the people who once were their best friends, for years? Are the new higher-level powerful friends funner and funnier with better conversation? My young son and I flew first class one time and he said he never wanted to do that again. He liked the conversations in coach class better! Oh, for the innocence of the mind of a child.  - Hunter

Wimba Week 3 Summary

Celebrate Life's Possibilities!

Hi, welcome to my summary for the EMDT MAC course week 3 Wimba achieve. I liked the surveys and feedback segments. The first question was, “How is the book ‘The Art of Possibility’ different from ‘The Power of Positive Thinking’ or Oprah’s, ‘The Secret’?” Well, I couldn’t stop reading The Art of Possibility. It was much more engaging to me because of the authors’ Benjamin and Roz’s style of writing. The next question was, “Which chapter meant the most to me and why?” I loved the chapter when Benjamin set up a mediation session between two businessmen who were ready to dissolve their company agreements. Benjamin helped them through this difficult dispute and helped solve the problem. Shear genius. The last question was, “What things are you going to take from the reading and use in your teaching and life?” This book is a ‘reinforcer’ all around for me. I appreciate every word in the book and smile along with the passion that exudes from each sentence. Thank you for having this book in the course work! I highly recommend it for everyone – who can read. 

MAC Wk 3: The Art of Possibilities, Chapters 5 - 8

The Infinite Possibilities Tube!

Benjamin Zander, YOU awaken the mind in a refreshing way like no other. I live to awaken the possibility within others. The truth is, if people are at a level 4 out of 10 in their life of possibilities, they cannot just jump to level 9 or 10. They must go through level 5, 6, 7, and 8 first. That takes so much time and so much care. Benjamin, you smile as you speak and I can tell that you smile when you write. How did you even conceive having students write about who they will become by the end of the year? That is pure genius. You are transforming souls, not just minds. You tell us to stay away from the downward spiraling conversations. You applaud the greatest leaders who have the ability to distinguish the downward spiral and move people to empowering radiating possibilities. If you were in charge of the planet, there would be world peace! Do you want everyone to just love their neighbor as themselves? Well, please sign me up! And then your chapter, ‘How much greatness are we willing to grant?’ Ok., how did you invent that title?! We must have lunch. We can eat at ‘Rule Number 6.’ They have an excellent strudel there. You are the problem-solver of the world, and Roz probably taught you everything you know, of course (wink wink). Thank you for intervening to help so many people out there. I’m offering help whenever needed. Hey, that’s what great friends are for! Let’s do lunch soon – my treat for sure!   - Hunter

My Week 3 Class Leadership Quest

'All Dressed Up And Some Convention Soon To Go!'

Hi. Thank you for checking in to see the steps in my Leadership Quest to speak at a national conference. My first choice is to speak at FETC, because it is the largest education convention in America and I have already been a speaker there. As an unknown speaker on the scene, the room was nearly full and these were serious educators. These people traveled a long way and were on a mission to find something new, something usable in their world. Good thing I took a survey and gleaned some incredible knowledge from my audience. Let me know if you are interested in the outcomes. The other conference I would like to submit my application for is ISTE, because is deals with the use of technology in education. My life is technology. I breathe capacitance and my veins are filled with electrons so it is my destiny to share technology so they can all be set free to see the glee of technology.

My Response to Dorreen’s Week 2 Blog:

 Amazing Graphic Artist – Dorreen Petersen Davis!

Dorreen wrote:

http://dodesignblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/macweek-2-reading-reflection.html

MAC_Week 2: Reading Reflection

As I read The Art of Possibilities I realized that this is a book on how to move through our lives positively and encourage others to do so as well. These practices were simple common sense exercises on how to make the most of life. While I was reading the chapter “It’s All Invented” a light bulb came on.  This is how entrepreneurs think and see the world and that anyone can be an entrepreneur. I tell my students that design is subjective, but if I think about what Rosamund and Benjamin Zander are saying our lives are just as subjective, because everyone’s interpretation of a good life is different, and therefore success is influenced by what we have gone throughout our lives.  The nine-dot puzzle reminded me to emphasize even more than I do to my students to think outside the box.

Loved the chapter, “Giving an A”! The assignments Ben gave his students were wonderful. He was getting them to reflect on what they thought about themselves, and what they expected from themselves by having them write from the perspective of the future, looking back at what they accomplished; a reverse psychology. While I was reading about this assignment I thought about how I could possibly use this to help our students not be so afraid of their portfolios. Is this something that is asked of our students every year while they are in the program?  Think this practice would help them set goals for themselves. Lastly, the practice of contribution assignment    Think we all have an inherent need to feel like we have contributed in some way. That need is what drove me to the decision to teach. So again, to have the students think about how they have contributed would build their self-esteem, get them to think that they are a part of society and change the future.    

I had so many more “ahh haa” moments while I was reading. Found myself making many notes to incorporate their ideas in the classroom.  Great book, will definitely share this with director and colleagues!

My Response Is:

Dorreen!

I am so so (two so’s on purpose) proud of you for sharing the part about why you made the decision to teach. Your contributions to every project have kept me in check and made me think about more dimensions that I hadn’t considered before. You have the ability to go where no other does and you share your viewpoints in a positive way that makes me know, that if Dorreen says it, it matters! I appreciate every thing you say and do and owe you big thanks for helping me along this EMDT journey. Thank you for the times that you showed me where I could improve – that is the gift of contribution. You show students an example of how to constructively contribute with brainstorming and open ideas. And best yet, you have shown us how you help take projects to the highest quality level. I think you need to find a way to really highlight your students’ portfolios. Maybe it is by making their work become a ‘video portfolio’ and each student must be in it speaking for at least 20 seconds. That may help boost the feeling of contribution and help students learn more about each other in a positive way. Whatever you do, I give it an ‘A!’      - Hunter

My Response to Kimberly’s Week 2 Blog:

Amazing Educator - Kimberly Duran!

Kimberly wrote:

http://kmycakes.blogspot.com/2012/03/week-2-mac-reading-post.html  

Week 2 ‘MAC Class’ Reading Post

I really enjoyed the section about inventing yourself as a contribution, and even posted the steps in my classroom and it’s been a powerful thing:

1.     Declare yourself to be a contribution

2.     Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.

A lot of my students are lacking confidence and I am always looking for new ways to find to let them know that they are important, and that their thoughts are meaningful, and THEY are meaningful, that they have a place in this world! Chapter 4 really just fell right in where I have been trying to go with this and I have really enjoyed learning things like this throughout this program. Things that I can take immediately back to my classroom and see it make in impact instantly. The students get a kick out of me sharing stuff from my Master’s program with them, and allowing them to be involved and learn through the different things that I have been doing.

My Response Is:

Kimberly!

Hey, I also get a kick out of learning things that ‘you’ share throughout this Master’s program! Your care level for students is so exemplary for the world of education. I know that you also are one of the coaches at your school and that you are always doing things for and with your students. – And now you are finding ways to make students feel even better! Your quest to enhance students’ feeling of importance is amazing. That is definitely your gift. You are very special at it and that ‘place’ is the highest level a teacher can take students to. Your ability to help them in this critical age of middle school will save many of them in life. You are the reason many of them will go on to become successful because a special teacher like you, believed in them. Your calmness along with the fact that you are also so smart and ‘cool’ must make every student want to join your sport or be in your class. I want to be in your class! Thank you for taking education ‘higher!’       - Hunter

The Leader Within Me

 A Full Sail 'Red Carpet' Moment

Thank you for visiting. It’s nice to see you and talk awhile before graduation. I feel very fortunate that our Master's Degree class group is so diverse and talented. It has pushed me to strive to an even higher level and I have some exciting news to share. I am going to submit applications to become a presenter for educational conferences this year. I have previously been a speaker at FETC and other conferences, but now I will have a Master’s Degree. Thank you for the different viewpoints and opinions that you have offered throughout the program and thank you also for your encouragement along this journey.  I truly believe that the most important element I have to offer in my new Leadership role, it that I now understand the ‘Power’ of Online Education. What a force it has and potential to change the world of education. I am now a believer and that each teacher in the program for helping mold our minds and guide us through each activity. They showed the power of being a facilitator of education and letting the students take over to invent solutions each day. I feel entirely prepared to launch and present with a newfound skill set – ‘Online Education.’

The Art of Possibilities - Chapter 1 to 4

Our MAC course textbook, 'The Art of Possibilities,' is one of those rare books that pulls you in and makes you smile at least once every page. Can you imagine the conversations that must occur around the authors', Rosamund and Benjamin Zander’s supper table?! I want to fall into any one of these conversations. This book takes my brain on a journey somewhat like the book, ‘A Whack On The Side Of The Head.’ Every page had possibilities – never roadblocks. The book's perspective of people like Picasso, unveiled limitless options all based on perception. So is it good to be limitless in thought? Well, you may be in the minority and you are probably highly misunderstood. The truth is that the world is not ready for 'infinite' thinkers and people cannot jump from a level 10 to a level 50 right away. It takes one-step level at a time, and then some comfort time with that level before the mind can accept moving up one more level. So how do we get to the top level of possibilities? I am planning to just invite myself over to the Zander’s house. When they find out I’m in month 11 of EMDT at Full Sail, they will want to hear how amazing it is. Hey, I'll do anything for a free supper! The 'Possibilities' are endless!

Response to my classmate, Kimberly's Copyright Blog

Photo From Kimberly Duran's Blog Site 

Week 1: MAC Reading Post by Kimberly Duran (My response is below)

Copyright issues, and why ‘I’m’ scared!!

Wow, so plagiarism and copyright issues has become something of a topic on campus at my school. Trying to teach the children about these topics has become somewhat of a challenging task, and now that I've seen the copyright videos, I'm not sure whether I'm more or less comfortable with what I've shared with my students so far and how to continue on.

The duration of copyright was somewhat news to me, I've always wondered once something has been copyrighted, how long does this actually last for? This is a question that I actually have been asked by my students, so it's nice to have a definitive answer now.

It seemed to me at first that there was a lot of elasticity to the whole idea of fair use. However, after hearing our instructor's explanation of it and it's "narrow loophole" i began to understand it much better. The use of the cartoon movie to explain it was extremely helpful, once I was halfway through it I felt as though I really had a grasp on the concept. Creative ways to teach these types of ideas makes all the difference in the world to me. And who doesn't love Disney movies?!?

Creative Commons was taught to me early on in this degree program. I guess I have used it in the past, but never realized that there was actually a name behind the practice. I think it's a great way to be able use materials and also pay homage to the person who created it through giving them credit.


My Response: 

Hi Kimberly!

Your students are very lucky to have you as their instructor!! Thank you for sharing and going over the details of copyright$. Have them all say $200 per hour and in some cases $500 per hour for entertainment attorneys fees. Copyrights matter, especially when it comes to recognition and money. I agree with you regarding the Creative Commons explanations in this activity. That was very valuable information that I will use with more confidence now. There is so much fine print in all these legal clauses. I was glad to hear the explanation of how the creators of the copyright video got away with using Disney movies! That was incredible creativity. Even my children stopped playing video games to see that video. I’m sure they watched it because of the ingenuity and not because it happened to have pieces of all of all their ‘favorite’ movies! I would like to have been a fly on the wall in the Disney boardroom when that video was discovered. I wonder what they said? Hey, after graduation we will be creating big projects like this!!

Response to my classmate, Dorreen's Copyright Blog

CoPyRiGhT

MAC_Week 1: Reading Reflection by Dorreen Petersen Davis (My response is below)

Copyright is something that I am directly faced with daily as I am a Graphic Designer and I teach Graphic Design. Since the first year students are concentrating so much on learning the programs and the elements of design they have a tendency to find images anywhere that belongs with their design concept. We constantly tell them to use images they get off Getty (they can download 60 high resolution images a quarter with our license), take their own or find them on another free image site. No matter what we require them to site the artist and location. The last couple of quarters I have told them about Creative Commons.  Our librarians told us about it for us to use for our lectures but it is good for our students as well.

Listening to all of the videos I start to think oh, okay I understand, what they are saying makes since; then I go huh, I don’ t get it. The fair use in copyright is so gray. I get the limits of use and even the conditions make sense when they are discussed but then when you go to use it everything gets fuzzy. The main feeling I get from all the videos is that the world of copyright, as we now if from 10-15 years ago, is in flux and no one really knows what will happen and how it will end up.  The Larry Lessig video really made it clear on what is happening now with copyright compared to what other revolutionary inventions faced.

The Shepard Fairey case is very interesting to me because that is in my area of expertise.  We constantly hear that you can use something as long as you change it 30%. He took a photo and totally changed it by using a different medium, yet according to AP it was an exact copy. However, I think the issue is that he made a profit from his artwork. As I read the articles on this issue it seems he got in more trouble not admitting which photo he used then using the photo itself. Also the photographer is saying that Fairey should have asked him for the permission instead of AP — what a can of worms.

So here is my ending question:  Is copyright different than copyright licenses?

My response to Dorreen:

Hi Dorreen!

You are an amazing graphic artist, so I understand how your world is filled with copyrightable issues every micro-second… ok, pico-second! The creative world is truly in flux and thank goodness for companies like Disney who enforce the laws so well that it gives everyone else hope to know that protection still works well in certain areas. The Copyright cartoon with Disney clips made me think of you – graphical geniusness. Do you teach your students about copyrights? That seems like a valid issue that students could be made aware of in your world. The younger we educate people on this issue, then maybe we can regain our moral bearing to protect each other more. Your final question is very inquisitive. The copyright owner, holds all rights and can give other people a license to use their work for a certain price, time, and conditions. I don’t give legal advice though!!

My response to classmate, Jermaine Evans’s Copyright Post

Photo from Dr. Bustillos Week 1 Blog Info resource

This was Jermaine's copyright post. (My response is below)

http://jevans80mac.wordpress.com/2012/03/04/copyrights/

Copyrights are the exclusive legal right, given to an originator or an assignee to print, publish, perform, film, or record literary or artistic. There are several myths and facts about copyrights and copyrighting. One major fact is you must first ask for permission before using copyrighted material in your new project. When someone owns the copyright to something you have to give the creator visible credit in writing. If you do not remember to give proper credits you will not face a legal battle in most cases. It’s not likely someone will come knocking on your door. However, if you are generating a significant amount of money and popularity you will face fines and criminal charges. The main purpose of copyrighting material is to protect the work and most importantly it is a marker which reflects who created what and when. Similar to a race, one would need to get their bid in first. For example, if two people are working on identical concepts the first one to copyright in D.C. wins. It is recommended to copyright all of your artistic and literary material. You can do so by visiting www.copyright.gov.

My response:

Hi Jermaine!

It sounds like you are very familiar with copyright issues. From your past class work and recordings, I saw that you are a very talented songwriter and musician. Your engineering skills are very smooth! That probably requires you to be aware of copyright laws more intently so you can protect your music. I appreciate your depth of understanding in your copyright blog and I like your analogy of the copyright race. We all need to prove our timestamp for our artistic creations. The web has helped make that a bit easier; however, I still believe in the power of the U.S. Copyright office. I submit my materials to them so that everything gets a registration number. I think that there is no enforceable protection until legitimate copyright registration has been obtained. Thank you for sharing the copyright office site link. I know that the new online filing system is significantly different than in the days when only physical paper registrations were made. I had submitted several of those and smile at the fact that technology has changed our world so much. Thanks for your inspiring blog post!!!

My Comment for Stephanie Waldner's Copyright Blog

                              Photo: http://emdtwaldner.blogspot.com/

MAC Week 1: Reading Entry-Copyright Issues Posted by Stephanie Waldner (my response is below)

http://emdtwaldner.blogspot.com/2012/03/mac-week-1-reading-entry-copyright.html 

After watching all the videos, I'm not sure if I feel more reassured or more frightened about copyright.  "Fair Use" seems like a very slippery slope.  Watching the Fair(y) Use Tale was a little headache provoking at the beginning, but once I focused on the words and not the images, I got the gist of the video.  The short clips used as a teachable movie…very neat way to show what falls under fair use. Being from Florida, near Disney World, I have heard many stories on the news about Disney copyright.  

The Creative Commons licensing is pretty awesome.  We did have to use them earlier in the program, but I've not really used them since.  I know from watching a few of my classmates’ projects/assignments, which they have continued to use the Creative Commons.  

The other video that really stood out for me was the one about the history that won’t be shown because of copyright law.  I believe the saying is, Those whom do not understand history are doomed to repeat it.  How sad is it that something as silly as money would keep such important events in our history from public view?

My Comment for classmate, Stephanie Waldner's post:

Hi Stephanie!

You have brought up some excellent issues in your post. You actually ‘say’ what we all probably are thinking when you mentioned, “…after seeing the videos, are we more reassured or frightened about copyrights?” The Ted Talk with Larry Lessig, really strengthened the uneasiness when he ended by saying most of the young generation today have become somewhat of rebellious pirates. There is a growing extremism almost in equal opposition to the old governmental extremism. Larry’s point is interesting because I can’t believe how many people today now give incredibly valuable copyrightable material away for free online. It is almost a mentality of, “What is in my brain is free, and what is in your brain is free.” Surprisingly, I found in doing my CBR Literature Review, that research papers are still highly protected in our educational world. They have found a way to isolate their papers from free download by requiring paid site memberships to see the papers. I’m glad that ‘research smart’ people are still using their brains to make money! Great job in your post. You have lured new thoughts out of my mind. Say, I heard that means you may have some rights to my thoughts!!!

The Leader of Leaders!

What leader do I respect and wish to follow? Wow, what a question. One name instantly absorbed my thoughts. This Person has more care and power in each word they speak, than any other person I have met. This Leader is so caring, that their world stops, so that your world becomes his for those few moments you get with him. This Leader has become world-renowned and has spoken for several of the most influential conferences in our nation this past year. He won Florida IT Leader of the Year in 2011. This Leader knows the power of grace when needed and he continues to foster the champion within each of his uniquely gifted staff. This Leader is keenly aware of nuances that no other, notices. This Leader has more alumni ask how HE is than any other person in our educational institution. In fact this Leader is so impacting that if you look in the Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, and Online Dictionary for the word ‘Leader’, there is a colored, glossy, 8”x10”, embossed photo of him next to the definition. I was at a party a year ago and a truck showed up to deliver ice for our special event and this Leader happened to randomly be walking into the event also. He started carrying ice bags because he knew his staff would prefer 'chilled' beverages. I know this, because I was right next to him carrying the other ice bags. This Leader will walk up to a group of our students and say, “How are you, good Buddy’s?” And when they respond, he listens to them like they are the most important people in the world. And then he will often ‘Treat’ them to whatever is being sold nearest to where they all are standing. I have seen him buy beverages, books, bicycles, and even incredible matching shirts for staff members so we all matched at a party at Universal Studios! - the list is extensive and always heartfelt. This Leader sets the highest standard of love and care for people. This Leader I am talking about is someone that I have had the privilege of knowing for 23 years at Full Sail University, because it is our amazing 'President Jones.' When you meet him, it is instantaneously recognizable that your life has been changed for the better.