MAC blog wk. 3 Wimba Session

This week's Wimba session introduced the Leadership/Publishing paper concerning the AR project.  What I gleaned from the session is that the paper is a summary of the AR project/introduction, Cycle I, Cycle II, Summary, and Conclusions.  This is a continuation of preparing for Month 12.
Also, the Art of Possibility with the Zanders continues to be similar to the TED video that Ben Zander did.  He led through the different practices and chapters.  Whatever state we are in, we are to be content.  Most of the time, I am in the state of confusion...  But, I work with what I have, keeping the eye on the goal.  I enjoyed the readings this month.

MAC blog wk. 3 The Art of Possibility

"The Art of Possibility" may be called the the Art of Compromise.  In the chapter in our reading, Mr. Zander negotiated between a younger executive and an older executive about running a company.  It could have been comprising between the younger generation vs. the older generation.  New money vs. old money.  How ironic that communicating between the two "saved" the agreement.  Communication is the key in any organization.  Simply understanding each others' viewpoints helped reach an agreement. 

MAC blog wk. 3

Thomas Moore says:

May 16, 2011 at 9:45 am

@ Jim

I understand that there are some administrators who do not embrace or know anything about the current technology. However, the “new” generation of administrators know more about technology.
Bill Gates and his foundation provided training AND laptop computers to administrators who would complete a four-day training program. This helped quite a few administrators embrace the technology changes. Other new tech items, such as the “Smart board,” hand held answer response systems and common communication technologies were also introduced.
Did this change everything overnight? No, but it was a start. Programs such as this would be a tremendous help to administrators. Teachers, who did not use technology, have mostly retired. Not all, but quite a few. Perhaps, administrators will too.

MAC blog wk. 3 Using Video in Lessons

Thomas Moore says:

May 16, 2011 at 9:33 am

From the website:
GuitarJamz.com
Marty Schwartz
There are free apps:
GJ Tuner; Epic Chromatic Tuner (with meter)
Free Songs: Beginner Guitar Songs
Free Lessons: Blues Guitar Lessons; Solo Guitar Lessons; Blues Jam Tracks; Country Jam Tracks.
All of these apps or Podcasts are free and would be used to teach guitar class.
Visual learners would be helped greatly by these videos.
Auditory learners could learn to tune the guitars, and hear the Podcasts, even on their SmartPhones.

MAC blog wk. 3

Thomas Moore says:

May 16, 2011 at 8:13 am

As a “former administrator,” I hear what you are saying teachers. But, change comes S L O W. The elementary school where I was principal got a federal grant for a reading program to boost scores on the state-wide test. The training went well and we started that fall. What I failed to see is that some teachers thought that I didn’t think they knew how to teach reading. Where were the spelling tests? Where is the grammar? These stories are too easy. These stories are too hard. You get the idea?…
While some enjoyed the program, the complaints grew louder. No matter what I or the facilitator did, it did not please them. Frustration grew and spread. I finally had to mandate that the program was followed to the tee, and that was not what I had envisioned. Our scores went up the first year, which helped the cause. We ran it three years, superintendent changed, and it was pulled, although many of the ideas and strategies that our school used was “borrowed” by the district.
Was I sad that we tried and it didn’t go well? No. For our students, it was the right thing to do. Was it easy? No. But, change never is easy.

MAC blog wk. 2 Reading The art of possibility

The Zanders make and interesting point about copyrighting and how it may be stifling the educational process.  The feeling that I receive from the reading is that there needs to be a common sense approach to the matter.  However, as someone as stated, sense is is not very common today.
Think of how students had used the Napster sharing site to "bootleg" free copies of music for the MP3 files.  No one used common sense or discipline when it came to this site, causing major music companies to strike swiftly and making the Napster site change its format and business.  Copyrighting was out the window in a heart beat while young people boasted and gloated that they did pay for their music.

The Zanders want to free up the copyright situation when it concerns education and its presentations.  But, one must be careful or the same mass copying will occur again.

MAC blog wk.2 Song that impacted/CDs came out

Thomas Moore says:

May 15, 2011 at 10:33 pm

For me, it was The Beatles and “Yesterday.” The mood of the song, Paul McCartney singing, all got under my skin to my heart.

I remember LPs, OK? CDs came out, rather expensive, but they eventually replaced cassettes. Then, the MP3 craze and iTunes have almost replaced them. You can still back-up your iTunes songs to CD. But, not have to carry or load the CDs is convenience for all. And, MP3 files do not scratch or wear out.