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!