Week 4 AR Leadership Project

There are two technology conferences where I would love to present my AR project. My first choice is the NESA Spring Educators Conference. Our NESA representative is currently organizing a "call for papers" that specifically "encourages the submission of . . . innovative talk formats which focus on the integration of technology in the classroom." Among the keynotes at the Spring Educators conference is Technology Infused Project Learning by Neil McCurdy. My AR presentation, I believe would be a perfect fit for teachers wanting to see what a child-driven project could look like. Moreover, I feel that this would be a perfect opportunity to get my feet wet as a teacher workshop facilitator in the International arena. Feel free to view my keynote at https://public.me.com/ctinaschraeder
My second choice is one of the Office of Overseas Schools Summer Institutes for 2012. As they are only advertising the 2011 workshops, it will be hard to tell if they opportunity will be available to me. I'm particularly interested in presenting at the Overview Jefferson Overseas Technology Insitute (JOSTI). Again, this institute may change in 2012, but I have put in a letter to the director of A/OS so time will tell. For more on the Office of Overseas Schools

Although I would be interested in presenting at other venues, I'm bound to the rules of regulations of the company school for which I work. You can read about that in my recent blog:
Week 4 Think Out Loud

You may also be interested in my first think aloud

Week 4 Think Out Loud RE: Leadership Project

I've given a lot of consideration to the presentation that I'd like to give and at which conference. As I'm in the unique situation of working for a company-owned school, there are special parameters, which will mold my decision. Firstly, I must give the actual presentation to a board of directors, who will decide whether or not it is worthy of our company name and then and only then am I free to pursue submission. I recalled an email that came across my desk last trimester. Our Near East Asia Schools (NESA) representative was keen to inform us that the NESA Spring Educator's Conference would run with a technology theme. I contacted the Spring Educator's Conference liaison and was informed that they are still taking submissions and now I've contacted our district rep and am awaiting reply.
Now I'm weighing the following: Do I want this presentation to be an informative what I did in my AR, as the instructions seem to indicate? Can I use the AR as a lead-in only and then inform my attendees that we will learn to use the ELMO digital camera to create time-lapse and stop-motion photography together. I envision a room full of computers with ELMO's attached to make this possible. My slide show could contain small movies that were made by the kids themselves coupled with a smattering of images and my explanations of how we shared those films with each other and parents. I could see ending the "collaborative presentation" to a hail of applause and an open Voicethread that teachers who wished to share their projects and ideas could join.

Image credits:

Without You by Earl Wilkerson available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/earlwilkersonphotography/5191484350/in/photostream/

The artist used photoshop and the images below to create "Without You"

- Boat: www.sxc.hu/photo/1289604
- Sky: www.sxc.hu/photo/1176857
- Sky: www.sxc.hu/photo/1206713
- Sky: www.sxc.hu/photo/1317346
- Beach & Ocean: www.sxc.hu/photo/1317691
- Seagull: www.sxc.hu/photo/1178345

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported License.

Week 4 Comment #2 Helen Xiong

This comment is in response to Helen Xiong's blog posted below:

I recently watched the interview between Holly Ludgate and Ron Smith and WOW.....what an experience these students in California are going through....It is really amazing to hear what other schools are doing and what types of opportunities there are out there for our future leaders of our world.

It literally made me laugh out loud when Mr. Smith spoke about how teachers become so excited when they make a good powerpoint and I feel like that is the era I began teaching with and now experiencing what I have through EMDT.....wow were they off as well as myself. I started my teaching career making smartboard lessons for all of our math units and I was super proud of them because in every lesson I tried to incorporate something that would be exciting for my students to experience. But now after seeing all of these web 2.0 tools and resources that are free and hands on on the web, it has really opened my eyes to so much more that I was letting slip away from my students. I hope that this next school year I can raise the bar for me and my students and have them experience more through their education through the technology tools I have experienced.

Helen,
I'd like to thank you for reminding me of this interview. It was a fabulous example of what is possible in digital education. I wish your Smartboard lessons were also available for download via Promethean Planet. Have you thought of publishing them? I am sure that you will exceed your high bar of expectations this term. You appear to me as someone who is always striving for true possibility. I too had a giggle when listening to Ron Smith describing the teacher who likes to come in and build their lesson the day before. I'd like to say I've never been there. Ron Smith's advice that frontloading would pay off in the end and yet what a hard-sell it is reminds me of all course-building we did in Schoology. All the best as you frontload for the new school year.

Source: Ludgate Ron Smith Interview Video available at http://web.me.com/edm613/m11/mi-ronsmith.html

Week 4 Comment #1 Edwin Moy

This comment is a response to Edwin Moy's Think Out Loud Post below:
Week 4 and thinking about a paper or creating a presentation for publishing. With my back ground writing is not the path I would chose if ever given an option, so presentation is the path that I will be heading down as week 4 and month 12 approach.

In reviewing choices to submit I searched for conferences that were excepting submissions during the time frame of the EMDT program. I started thinking about not looking at conferences geared towards solely teachers, but in thinking about the book The Art of Possibility I didn't want to limit and start a downward spiral of thinking so I looked at most sites. EduComm is excepting submissions and will be located in Las Vegas next year. The location was a factor but they are have a leadership category for presentations and I think my project would be geared towards that audience.

Edwin,
I read through your Week 3 post as the image of the head exploding intrigued me. I think you have a very positive attitude and despite the incongruous imagery, it looks like your "one step at a time" approach will work. I love that you've decided to look beyond the Educator conferences expanding your horizons. I too am using location as a major factor in deciding the conference at which I'd like to submit. EduComm sounds like a brilliant mix of your criteria. It would be great if you inserted a link to the conference in the body of your blog, or when you link to the think aloud in your Leadership Project page. I'm attending a conference in Las Vegas next summer. If it happens to coincide with EduComm, I'll come and check out your presentation!

Sources: Head Exploding by Frankenstoen available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/frankenstoen/402660999/

Week 4 Reading - Art of Possibility

Chapter 9. Lighting a Spark. It’s not about us. It’s about them. What are you doing to pay-forward from your universe of possibility?

“…our universe is alive with sparks. We have at our fingertips an infinite capacity to light a spark of possibility.” In our lives as educators we model the passion of our craft. I have seen over the course of changing many schools that there is always the opportunity to ignore the voice inside that says, “How Facinating!” and fall into the downward spiral of “at my old school…we, blah, blah, blah.” If however I can accept that others are eager to catch the spark and I am willing to show them just what ignites me, then the kindling will remain stoked for the arrival of the next individual to arrive and greet us with I’d never thought of that.

Chapter 10. Being the Board: It's not them. It's not the circumstances. It's me. It's my choices. Now what do I do?

This practice arrived at a defining bend in my journey à ce moment meme. I had just been informed after months of fighting, that my district would not accept the Full Sail EMDT as valid. There are accreditation issues with the fact that Full Sail is accredited as a “trade school.” Flashes of all the nights that I spent not sleeping, feeling incredibly ill-prepared to complete the technology aspects of this degree and yet accomplishing so much spiraled down with my mood. I read the words; “when you are angry and blocked, and, for all your efforts, others refuse to move or cooperate, to compromise, or even to be halfway decent; when even enrollment does not work and you are at your wit’s end- you can take out this next practice:” I moved the problematic aspect within the boundaries of myself and began to see new possibilities. Furthermore, I decided against lining up my moves as I’d been doing with our district, to let the pieces move themselves until there is more that I can offer as the board. I may not have a solution yet, but I’m confidant one will present itself and it certainly stemmed my suffering.

Chapter 11. Creating Frameworks for Possibility: How do I take this flash of insight and make it into daily thing? And how do I share this with others?

Recalling the story of the teacher who shaved her head, I smiled. One small gesture like that could make all the difference in the way children enter into their small social contract. It reminded me of Mrs. Delphinium who came the rescue of the bullies that taunted Chrysanthemum in Kevin Henkes book of same name. I began to think long and hard about what I value in education and began searching for other books that might inspire my soon to arrive kiddos with a more just social reality. I can’t make them drink, but it seems to me that I’ve found a set of texts that will draw them near the oasis. I’ve ordered How to Fill a Bucket , How Full is Your Bucket and Have You Filled a Bucket Today: A...

By Carol McCloud, David Messing. I think by starting the year with the children creating a framework for happiness and possibility as our shared agreements are forged, is our opportunity for a real connection.

Now let me digress for a moment. I had to laugh as the Zander’s explained visions and missions…specifically noting one company’s competitive stance as the “preeminent supplier” of tech etc. The word preeminent is actually contained in the mission statement of our school district in Saudi. I had to laugh at this. Earlier this year we studied Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) as a possibility for creating change on our campus. We were told that we could not change our mission statement and yet were encouraged to run through the actions of a PLC. This seemed counter-intuitive, as the very premise of a PLC is to create a shared vision. Still, we muddled through and I'm quite proud of the one we did in Kindergarten, which I'm linking to here.

Chapter 12. Telling the WE Story: I told you it wasn't about you. Have you been able to tap into the power of combining your expertise and passions with someone equally gifted? Have you had the pleasure of lifting a teammate, student, and stranger, enabling them to realize their dreams and exceed anything that you could have imagined?

I’m so fortunate to work with someone who held my hand through many of the “experiments” of the past year. He and I have adjoining classrooms and our kids constantly intermingle, roaming freely from my room to his and vice versa. Christian is a gifted educator and always willing to share ideas as we develop something with our students, that is both magical and full of possibility. It is because of our own-shared vision that the incredible things, which have graced the pages of my blogs, AR tangents and daily life, have been achievable. There are a number of other people including my professors, my classmates, my critical friends, and my boyfriend who accepted the invite to the WE story. I’m better equipped to frame possibility because of their graciousness and can only hope that I’ve add to their growth as well.

CODA: What’s next?

Well the possibilities are boundless, no?

Sources:

From a Little Spark Bursts a Mighty Flame Image by Mykl Roventine available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/3689364622/

Layers on Layers Image by Mykl Roventine available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/3733194129/in/photostream/

Overhung Image by Mykl Roventine available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/4007603690/in/photostream/

Monochrome Drops by Mykl Roventine available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/myklroventine/3956788033/in/photostream/

Week 3 Wimba Archive and Think Aloud

Until watching the Wimba session, I was sailing along pleasantly basking in the warm waters of Rule No. 6, even giggling every now and then at the preposterous entirely "invented" assumptions being thrown at us at this teaching conference. Then knock, knock..."Hello?" "Landshark" the voice answered mockingly then, revealed his true identity, "It's your calculating self." The panic that set in as I talked myself through all the negative scenarios surrounding the very idea that I need to submit a presentation proposal to a conference by next week. What? Here I thought I was doing so well; doing everything ahead of time so as to enjoy some semblance of a vacation NYC at the end of this conference. Please don't see this as blamescaping, it is all me, often ill-prepared. I sometimes feel as if the bat mobile is driving in front of me. I wonder what button Batman has his finger hovering over next? Will it be the oil-slick? "Oh, hi, calculating self, my old friend. Sit down."
Besides the mercurial change of my inner calm, this session did also yield some practical information that will carry me through the process of rebuilding my confidence as I approach the task of publishing. I suppose you will read more about this in my two "Think Out Loud" posts to follow.
I did not know about publishing specifics. I had no idea that publishers can turn you away if you've submitted to other publishers. I guess it makes sense that they would want the one-and-only go or "first publishing rights" and so we should only submit to one Journal at a time.
I will have to go to some websites and look for applications for presenters and then see what they wish for me to submit be it 100 words some slides or what have you.
The most immediate and pressing task at hand is to create a first draft. What will my presentation look like? I will need to prepare 5 slides with about 1500 words (300 words per slide) though it was mentioned that we could make a presentation of 24 slides (15 words per slide). I would rather not prepare a "death by powerpoint."

As for the delivery of this work, it was suggested that it would be better to put our words in google docs and share the URL with our peers. This is important as some publishers view work on websites as being "published."

I'm trying to remember to focus on the possibilities rather than focusing on the limitations of "publishing" my presentation.

I'm still unclear as to how we PROVE that we've submitted an idea for presentation at a conference. Please answer that in your comments to me.

I did enjoy the fact that Dr. Joe did voice his annoyance the chapter on "giving an A." I hope that I'm not making an assumption here, but I too felt this chapter was giving us conflicting information. I like the advice but the example of having the kids write why they deserved an A is not the same thing that the "practice" is telling us.
I have recently received a note from my mentor Joe Huber, who said that since reading the Zander book, he has started to give all of his kids an A and that none of the work has suffered as a result. I think of the act of giving an A as more of a metaphor for making the assumption that we are all equal and in this together than a physical grade. Luckily as I teach little kids, the "A" grade does not enter into our dialogue.

Sources: Creative Commons Image by Ian Boyd available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/itsaboyd/5397010770/

Week 3 Comment #2 Heidi Faber

In response to Heidi Faber at http://faberhedm.blogspot.com/

Chapter 7. The Way Things Are:

When I started teaching, I was full ideas and innovations, but in staff rooms and meetings my voice was drowned out by jaded, seasoned teachers complaining about this and that, until one day I found myself sucked into the Downward Spiral Talks.

It is not a coincidence that both you and Sheri have touched on the same tragic phenomenon. It is very difficult not to fall prey to these critical educator discussions. I remember being warned when a young teacher not to get in the habit of spending time in the lounge, as this would happen. It seems that these discussions permeate meetings, lunches and the playground as well as the lounge. They are hard to escape. I too have found myself sucked in and on inglorious occasion, being the negative Nelly downplaying all the greatness around me. Hopefully, in our realization that this is not the path to take and considering it’s all invented we will continue to fight the good fight.

Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion:

What are you doing in your daily life that expresses your passion or the things you are passionate about?

I am passionate about art and nature. In the brief freedom of summer for my girls (before they go back to school and are sucked into a world mostly devoid of these things), I try to instill as much of these two high held passions as I can. This is one of the main reasons I chose Portland, OR to move to. This city is as passionate about art and nature as I am.

Surely modeling the importance of following your passions in the hub of creative energy that Portland is said to be, will yield high dividends for your girls. Congratulations!

Sources: Creative Commons Image by David Berkowitz available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/davidberkowitz/4452569798/

Week 3 Comment #1 Sheri Brinkerhoff

In response to Sheri Brinkerhoff's blog at http://sheribrinkerhoff.blogspot.com/

Everyone around me discusses pay cuts, benefit cuts, issues with students, etc. It is very difficult not to fall into this trap. With the beginning of the school year looming, I have decided that I do not want to participate in this type of thinking. My personal goal is to rise above the circumstances of my present through observing Rule No. 6

I agree Sheri. It is very difficult not to fall prey to these discussions especially as we see our friends loosing their livelihoods. I remember being warned as a young teacher not to get in the habit of spending time in the lounge, as this could happen. It seems to me that these discussions permeate meetings, lunches and the playground as well as the lounge. They are hard to escape. Stay firm.

I made a Rule No. 6 sign to hang in my classroom. Yesterday, I told my students the story about the two prime ministers and Rule No. 6. We proceeded to have a discussion on the benefits of Rule No. 6 in reference to creativity. Many students are nervous to take an art class. Past students told me they worry about their own artistic talent to the extent that they think they will not pass. I told students that I did not want them to worry about making mistakes since that is where you learn the most.

Sheri,

It sounds like you are starting off the year with the right attitude and spreading the word. I wonder if the act of “giving an A” would be the way to assuage some of your art student’s fears? I think that the act of self expression is such an important part of growing up, it is a shame that some kids (from the sounds of it) are already listening to the negative messages of the calculating self. I have no doubt that you will turn this around as the kids begin to work on their growth as individuals, building a portfolio of work while recalling the mantra of Rule No. 6.

Sources: Creative Commons Image Badly Stenciled 6 by Kristi Hall available from http://www.flickr.com/photos/fragiletender/5332586649/

Week 3 Reading - Art of Possibility

I was intrigued by the author’s hypothesis that our long childhood and the personality that develops in defense can get us out of childhood in one piece, but underneath wreaks havoc with our adult psyche. As I’m currently at a workshop where we are learning to teach children to write about the “small moments” in their lives, I decided to see if I could pull up one of my own early introductions the calculating self. The act of writing this story about a time when the spiral into a dim situation with the "calculating self" was cathartic. Recalling rule number 6, I lightened up trying for humor and read it to my peers here at the workshop hoping that the "central self" of those around me would hear the transformation seeking whispers of my own small moment.

“Tra la la boomsi eh…I got my tits today” he sang, chanted, taunted as he dodged before and away from the beeline I was making from the school exit to the playground. “You think you’re so funny, don’t you?” I yelled back while the tears threatened. Why me? I thought, why do I have to be the only girl in third grade with boobies. It isn’t fair. I was itchy and hot despite the temperate weather, it was only April in Kansas and the horsetail clouds easily beckoned the others to a game of kickball. If only they would swat at Chris Ridder like the nasty horsefly he was. Kooite-ridden knat! Oh, why me? I needed to get away from Chris so he wouldn’t see me pulling at the bras already two sizes too small. Those, my feeble attempt to disguise my womanly demeanor. When at last, he ran to the field to join the others in the footie version of baseball, I surreptitiously snuck a hand under one of the two bras that I’d strapped on that morning to hide behind and relieve the pain. In that brief moment, I could tell that the skin under my enormous bosoms at the end of the day would look like the tops of my calves at the end of gym class. You remember, when we would all pull off those elastic-man tube socks and sigh in unison? Why is it that they say, those lines are caused by water retention? Did we actually retain water in grade three? Yet another thing that was unfair about grade school!

Being present to the way things are, what is happening and present to our reactions, no matter how intense is probably the most challenging thing that our transformative selves attempt. If I had a dollar for every time I said, I was going to try and live more in the moment, well let's just say, I'd be rolling in it. I love the author's advice that the simple question, What do we want to do from here? be our new mantra when faced with adversity (as was the case with the rained out golf vacation.) I imagine such a query would open up a world of possibly. Following the week's reading, I will endeavor to be satisfied with the few dollars already in my pocket as I picnic in the present.

Source: Creative Commons playground image http://www.flickr.com/photos/enerva/4359850130/lightbox/
Rose available for free download from dreamstime.com http://www.dreamstime.com/stock-photography-rose-rimagefree17567066-resi3743232

Week 2 Free Post - Changing Perspective

Once again, I find myself in yet another situation where lemons are given and aide delivered! Yes!
Here is the story.
For nearly two weeks, I've been trying to download a book for our class. As the time drew nearer for our required reading, I began to get agitated by the fact that hours of online screenshare time with technical support yielded the exact same result that I was having; (i.e. no book.) However, I've discovered something wonderful as a result. While I was hunting for the physical book on Amazon, I happened to see the miniscule print, which read Kindle for iPhone. Clicking it, the light bulb finally illuminated a letter from our professor sent earlier in the week. His letter had said "Kindle" and I thought I don't have a Kindle and so I remained in my measured world assuming the worst, that the problem could only be solved if support came through.
Thankfully when one clicks Kindle for iPhone the Kindle app also loads to their Macbook. So now I'm the proud owner of a wonderful book that reminds me not to have such a limited view and also the Kindle app, which I can download books directly to from Amazon. Did I mention that the app is free?

Week 2 Comment #2 Rick Stemple

The highlight for me was an old quote from one of my favorite artists Pablo Picasso. “Recognizing Pablo Picasso and a train compartment, a man inquired of the artist why he did not paint people the way they really are. Picasso asked what he meant by that expression. The man opened up his wallet and took out a snapshot of his wife, saying, that’s my wife. Picasso responded, isn’t she rather small and flat?”

I love this picture. (Click on link to see his picture.) It is a picture my wife took of my youngest son Nealon and I found it to be a great example of what the authors were talking about in The Art of Possibility. Some find the picture disgusting and ask, why would we let him put a frog on his face? Others thought what a great picture of Nealon having fun with nature.

Rick,

I’m so pleased to hear that you too were moved by the Picasso story. I loved that story and also the Zander’s information about the Me’en people who couldn’t see a photograph as a representation of a person, but rather just a shiny piece of paper.

Your wife’s photo of Nealon is wonderful. It would make a nice introduction to an inquiry lesson. I can see kids asking a number of questions about the frog and how it got onto Nealon’s face. I can also see Nealon having an intimate understanding of what is meant by “cold blooded” without the science lesson. I wonder what Picasso would say about the image? The beauty is in the endless possibility that each of the contributors to your world is invited to share.

Sources:

Image purchased from dreamstime.com

Week 2 Comment #1 Babs Rasero

“The ideas in this book are familiar to me and I have experienced many iterations of living the life of possibility - the EMDT program is the latest in a long line of out of the box decisions I’ve made.”

Babs,

Thank you for sharing your sacred heart with us. I will have to look into dreamstime.com; your imagery is on point.

I think the appeal of this book is that so many of us will be able to relate to it spiritually. I’d be interested to compare all of our responses and see how many of us have had similar metaphorical epiphanies. You’ve discovered a path to seeing and living a spiritually based life and your writing let alone your thinking is out of the box.

I love your comment about seeing ourselves as contributors “I was told by a wise professor, that our gifts follow our needs; meaning, these two are inextricably linked and how we find and can offer our authentic selves in community.” Among your countless contributions is your ability to turn a phrase. I’m giving (you) an A for your beautiful blog.

Sources:

Image purchased from dreamstime.com

Week 2 Reading - Art of Possibility

As I cracked the text, Art of Possibility by Rosumund and Benjamin Zander this week, I was reminded of the first time I ever did a sun salutation. The advice of the authors seems to correlate well with the practice of Yoga and balance. In Yoga, the teacher often reminds us to plant our feet solidly on the ground to gather positive energy equally from both sides of the body and the earth, then breathe it back out in equal measure. I've experienced moments when it seemed as if this breathing transformed the energy in the room and all participants smiled as they basked in the brightness of the "sun" we saluted. If you are not ready for me to wax hippie, it is time to stop reading.

The Zanders pinpoint some key limitations to common thinking in their book, Art of Possibility and ask us to remove ourselves from the game, reminding us that that it's all invented. Speaking from a point of awareness, they emote "Life appears as variety, pattern and shimmering movement, inviting us in every moment to engage." How easily could we shed the constraints of our measured world if we reflected this attitude to everyone we met? The authors answer my query "...resources are likely to come to you in greater abundance when you are generous and inclusive and engage people in your passion for life."

The authors also offer up some sound advice for teachers in chapter 3, where they speak of giving an A. I wholeheartedly agree with their premise that grades only serve to compare students to one another and tell us little of what they can accomplish or the work they have done. "When you give an A, you find yourself speaking to people not from a place of how they stack up against your standards, but from a place of respect that gives them room to realize themselves." I'm reminded again of the gentle coaching from my yoga guru who reminds us to take stock of what we've accomplished and reward ourselves for the little gains we made as individuals while on the mat. I also liken this to our experts here at Full Sail, who give us the opportunity to pass/fail/realize new material and software and compose to our own limit without comparing all of us to a gold standard. I think back on my first panic-stricken months, looking over the work of others in awe and worrying that I'd never measure up. It was Rena Hanaway that helped me as I entered the universe of possibility albeit with trepidation. With her gentle guidance and the freely given A we are afforded in the EMDTMS program, I shed the limited view that I'd brought from the "measured world" and was better able to embrace my individual growth and strive to the best I could and share what I had to offer. That's funny, that sounded a bit like the Thurgood Marshall quote.

I enthusiastically realign my thinking and draw in my breath as I delve further into this exploration of possibility. This book promises that its practices are geared toward causing a total shift of posture, perceptions, beliefs, and thought processes and transformation of my world. And so, I move my breath to the spot needing healing and articulate my spine to a posture accepting of this new "outlook" and read on.

Sources:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lululemonathletica/5123967968/

Week 1 Wimba Session Archive

Dr. Bustillos sounds so clear and great on all of his intro vids, but I had some difficulty hearing him in the archive. Ha! As I kept listening, Cheryl McGovern jumped in and said she too was having problems hearing him. I could empathize when she said she was feeling old. I was feeling OLD too!

The course-at-a-glance explanation was very helpful. As was explained while we were building our schoology coursework in LMO, it is important to have an understanding of how grading will be handled. I believe that Dr. Bustillos has explained every aspect of this course very well, in his preview videos as well as in this first Wimba meeting, where he went over it all point-by-point. The information was a bit redundant but it was clear the professor wanted us to have a very good understanding of what was coming.

The preview of the AR status report is what I was most looking forward to hearing. I've already received some critique from Roxanne. I'm ready to attack the website again. Still, there were navigation issues when I returned to the Wimba site after having to stop it early. That, coupled with the sound quality, interfered with my ability to wrap my head around all the information conveyed.

Questions:
I think I'm still unclear on the Lit Review references and the "extra" references page. I believe that Roxane told me that I just needed to cut-and-paste the references from my "month 10" submission. Are we supposed to have the original page of 20 or more references on our AR site and then another page of just the references used for our LitReview? Or will that second page be part of the Lit Review itself?
Is there to a be a page break between the references and the end of review for the web-ready version? Also are we to put an extra return between each paragraph as well as each subsection? It seems the checklist says just the latter, but I think I heard the former.
One other thing that I would like to know is about navigating in the Wimba Archives. There are "time markers" on the right column view of Wimba. I see that if I click on one of those I'm taken to the area where I left off; however, the "buffering" takes nearly 20 minutes. I had previously thought this might only be true when I was overseas. I have a super fast connection here in the states and it is still happening. Is there a way to download the session to one's computer for quicker navigation? I'd love to know the secret.

To be quite honest, I'm a bit concerned about the leadership project. I'm sure this will dissipate as I begin to formulate a plan, which at present, I have not. I'm a bit overwhelmed with the tweaks I need to make to my AR site. This too shall pass.

Sources:
Creative Commons image by Daehyun Park

Week 1 Comment #2 Cheryl McGovern

This is a comment to a fellow classmate at FSO, Cheryl McGovern. The full transcript of her blog can be found at http://cherylmcgovern.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-1-reading.html

This weeks reading assignment was very much on target for me. I am in the library, and am asked copyright questions all the time. This was very helpful. I was amazed at the fact that copyright lasts a lifetime plus 70 years! WOW! That is one long time! It is a good thing that someone came up with fair use! Teachers would be in so much trouble if fair use was not around!

Cheryl,

I'm very sympathetic to the demands of your job as librarian as my mother is one too. In many ways I suppose that you would be the person most likely asked to police such issues as copyright. Given my knowledge of your CBR project, I'm sure that a lot of the films and cartoons shared with us for this week's reading might show up on the Media Center's website, which you so fantastically developed. Like you, I had only learned the fact that copyright lasts a lifetime plus 70 years earlier this trimester. It came up when I was asking if we could create a library of books on tape by reading library books into our digital recording program and sharing them on our teacher share drive. Well, I was so surprised to be shut-down due to copyright issues. As you said, teachers would be in so much trouble and I would be one of them. Anyway, it was mentioned during the course of that conversation that we might be able to use Dr. Seuss' books as he'd been dead more than 70 years.
I'd love to hear how you feel about or what sort of copyright applies when teachers take the words to common books like "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" and manipulate them to make a new text about the members of their class. Would that be considered "fair use?"

Sources:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jhoweaa/327651705/sizes/m/in/photostream/

Week 1 Comment #1 Melissa Cooper

These are my comments to a fellow classmate. Find her ideas in full at http://melissacoopersdigitaled.blogspot.com/

Inspiration comes from all over and sometimes ideas need to be tweaked, copied, and remixed to get creativity flowing or to learn the necessary techniques to eventually develop your own style. All art was influenced by another idea so I can see how copyright issues and personal censorship of one’s material can hinder creativity and the progression of our culture as a whole. The videos have shined a new light on how difficult it is for certain material to be continuously publicized to newer generations if the funds are not there; which was a sad result. That’s like your parents telling you to learn from their mistakes but never telling you what their mistakes were.

Missy,
I agree with you that one artist's vision can be improved not only influenced by the work of another. As we've seen time and again during the course of our work here at FSO, working together to create projects often allows us to develop an otherwise unimaginable product. I can feel your empathy for the lost works that are no longer accessible to our children, like the beautiful 1987 multi-part documentary "Eyes on the Prize" as mentioned in Eyes on the Fair Use of the Prize.
Your simile about parents is spot on. I ask you this as I've pondered it myself. Which came first; CC or the willingness you describe below?

Creative Commons have made this whole issue, especially in the digital age, with fair use easier for artist/creators of all types. It’s brought back a willingness to contribute freely to each other. It is something I constantly use & highly grateful for when it comes to looking for inspiration and reference photos effortlessly.

Whichever, I'm so happy that they've accomplished it!

Ctina

Sources:

http://criticalcommons.org/Members/KaraKeeling/clips/Eyes_on_the_Fair_use_of_the_Prize.mp4/view

Week 1 Reading - Blog Post 1

Copyright Issues Week 1 - edm613

After read-watching the plethora of information about copyright laws, sampling, fair-use policies and creative commons, I was was left with a much better understanding of the arguments au courant, but also a couple of questions of my own.

What happens when you put technology in the hands of cultures for which the concept of sharing and commerce is other than our own? I'm imaging the possible mindset of an individual in the culture that I was previously a part of and trying to empathize. In Papuan Amungme culture, not only do men have as many as 10 wives, but, at one time in their not so distant past, Amungme women lived in honai sharing men and breast-feeding the children of their "sisters". They lived communally in every sense of the word. It would have made no sense to them neither to request a fee for nursing nor to lay claim to a particular man of the tribe. Fast forward to today, when several Dani, 'Me and Komoro (Papuan tribes) are in possession of cellular phones. If someone in the “tribe” has music, then why not share it with everyone? And if for some reason, someone in the "tribe" happens to find a way to extract money from others for their recorded music, then they would be considered to have “good mojo/luck/sorte” and therefore their neighbor would likely open the very same music selling business right next door to them. Soon after, it would not be surprising to find fifteen others who've all set up shop in the same area. However, it is unlikely that any money would be made in the end. In Papuan culture, all distant "brothers" of the shop owner would be allowed to take their recordings for free. You can see how this issue would be compounded when your father may have nine other wives. The aforementioned being one of the reasons that most shops are owned by the settling cultures of Papua. Anyway, this is the way of the “developing world” I’ve had the great fortune to visit. I'm simply trying to empathize and can see that if the Papuan's had the voice that the Pirate Bay was afforded, that they might also be saying, "*&$% off!"

I saw the magnitude of the issue firsthand in the Blok M area of Jakarta and Plaza Azul market in Lima; that is, literally blocks of vendors selling bootleg merchandise. Their culture, not like that of the Amungme, did turn a profit despite the overrun market. This speaks volumes to the demand of cheap available, film and music. So, when I overheard someone in the film Good Copy, Bad Copy say something like, Everyone knows the only ones making any money here are the street vendors, I could totally relate. Furthermore, I concur that there is no easy way to put an end to the flagrant disregard for copyright law in other countries.

Could we charge a flat fee for Internet, mobile, or data plans, accepting that downloading would be happening? Sure, here in the States that might work. In some other countries, like Indonesia, only a few would have enough money to have their own connection and most are unlikely to fork-out the extra for unlimited downloading. So someone would still be sharing via USB swapping or hacking into corporate bandwidth and the problem would continue. Perhaps this is another issue for the gamers mentioned on Jane McGonigal’s Ted Talk titled Gaming can make a better world. If enough hours and minds were thrown at this dilemma, it might be solved. Still it is not an easy fix. "Who can compete with free?"

Couch Potato or Crouching Potato?

I tend to agree with the thoughts of my fellow couch potato gen-x’r(his name was not indicated)

as seen in Ralf Christensen’s film Good Copy, Bad Copy when he said, teens in this generation create and make material (i.e. sampling) and that is their natural way to understand the world around them for us in the “couch potato generation” this may be bizarre and difficult to understand. We can either create a bunch of laws, which make it impossible for them to do this or give them an even larger sampling from which to choose, so that they will have a better understanding of their history and ways to say something about their future.

Oh, and us couch potatoes, love propping our derrières on divan, laptop at our fingertips while we collage away, adding layer upon layer of copyrighted images to our rambling thoughts. Though I can safely say that all still images contained in this blog are downloadable via creative commons license.

I’m sure I did not quote the film correctly, so here is a clip:

That’s not fair!

I'm assuming that I can use this small bit of footage from our video as I’m making a critical comment though I realize that fair-use is not a right; it is a legal defensible position. Can I make the above point, if I remove the copyrighted material? Sure, but I would have to paraphrase what was said and wouldn't actually make the point as well as our speaker. (See above paragraph).

Is this reasonable practice in the field? You make the call, I’m not sure that I could unravel all the legal jargon. It was about as clear to me as the Debt Ceiling talks.

The Code of Best Practices for Online Video sounds like our APA guide book in that you can skim it for similar situations and then employ “fair use” given the description.

CC Rider

I’m very happy that this university has introduced us to Creative Commons (CC) and insists upon our use of royalty free imagery or permission from the artist. If a move were made for kids to use CC as early as high school, we might find the bank of images available for reproduction growing. It seems like a no-brainer but I do see how difficult and tiring it can be to find just the right image in CC. Wish I could easily access all those used in the video “A Shared Culture” Creative Commons. What I do know is that I could put a query out there to the community and they would help me find what I’m looking for. It’s a brave new world.

“In the end you have to move away from thinking about content to thinking about community.” From the video A Shared Culture Creative Commons

Sources:

Blip.tv video: Good Copy, Bad Copy Directed by ANDREAS JOHNSEN, RALF CHRISTENSEN, HENRIK MOLTKE (http://www.goodcopybadcopy.net/), http://www.blip.tv/file/359180/ retrieved on 6/8/2009

· Youtube video: How to Copyright : Learn What Cannot Be Protected Under Copyright Law by Nathan Boehme/Expert Village, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAfKVg4SACY retrieved on 6/8/2009

· Youtube video: Fair Use and Free Speech in Documentary Film produced by Center for Social Media School of Communication American University, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GY-2YshuJ8o retrieved on 7/18/2009

· Blip.tv video: ReMix Culture: Fair Use is Your Friend: produced by Center for Social Media School of Communication American University,

Blip.TV video: A Shared Culture produced by CreativeCommons.org, retrieved from http://blip.tv/file/1192356/ on 01/13/2011http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/resources/publications/fair_use_in_online_video/ retrieved on 7/18/2009