Wk 4 Feedback PLP

Photo Credit: Screen shot of my personal blog

http://fsoetchelenxiong.blogspot.com/

It was nice being at Wimba and sharing what I had been working on in my CBR project. It was also pretty amazing to hear about what my peers are doing with their communities as well. Even though I had been apart of the Wimba session, I had shared my paper with Christina and a few of my peers. Christina gave me concrete feedback to help me to improve my PLP. This is what was included in her feedback:


Helen,
I like how you start the paper with this very strong statement and continue to support and justify it throughout.
“The key element for all learning communities to stress is the importance of motivation to therefore correlate with stronger learning environments within the classroom. “

In your section on Personal Ownership would you state “Within the reaction of ensuring, in order for learners to learn they must be able to make personal connections to what they are learning about. In order for students to have fully connected with the content they learned about and to have shown growth in their learning, learners needed to be able to make the connections to their personal lives and environments.”  Can you explain what you mean by “ensuring”  or re-state something like:  “In order to ensure that meaningful learning took place, students needed to make a personal connection with the material.”   If I’m wrong about what you mean by this statement, please forgive me and move on.  

In your section on Methodology you stated, “This Challenge Based Research (CBR) project addressed the use of motivation with the use of technology and music to evaluate if they had an impact on student motivation in their educational settings.”  You may wish to use the word “motivation” only once.
In the same section when discussing music and “exercise” do you mean physical exercises or mathematical exercises?   I’m just asking for my own knowledge.

Overall great paper, well written!  I love the conclusion, which again supports your strong opening statement.  “In the various methods of research, it was seen that the use of technology was very important for this method of learning to be embedded in student learning.”

Ctina 



Another critical friend had commented on a few spelling errors I had within my journal and at times it was hard for them to fully understand what I was explaining in my paper..showing the assumption that the reader knows what I was referring to. 


I will be updating my PLP and ensuring that it is submission ready.


I think that it is really important to bounce ideas off of my peers because they do help you to see the whole picture and maybe parts of what was missed when the writing process was taking place. 


I also had some nice comments back to my PLP and CBR project as well.


THANKS FRIENDS :) 

Wk 4: Free Post 2

Photo Credit: SmartBoard Notebook Gallery

Wow...another month checked off the list. It is crazy how fast this program is going by and now one more month until hopefully....<drumroll>...WE graduate. I am so excited but nervous and scared to have this all coming to an end..Keep your fingers crossed I make it through this last month...since we have already purchased our tickets to fly to florida as well as our hotel room to stay at...($600+)...let's not let it go to waste :) but it is also nerve wrecking to think of the things we are going to need to accomplish next month...getting everything put together and organized and our final presentations and panel set...SCARY...and it is also scary to think this is all coming to an end...(for not at least)...I do hope to audit and stay on the cutting edge of technology for my students but I also do hope to keep my bonds with the friends and 'family' I have made through this program. <3

Wk 4 Comment: Marcos

Photo Credit: Screen Shot of Marcos' Blog Page:

http://emd613mediaassetdesign.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-4-reading-chapter-9-12.html#comments

ORIGINAL POST:

Week 4 Reading Chapter 9-12

Sometimes people feel the need to have everybody agree with them. This especially happens to people in authority who are accustomed to having everything go their way. The problem with this is that even though people do what you say they do not do it willingly and it is demonstrated in their attitude and demeanor. If you truly want somebody to participate actively in anything you do you cannot make him or her do it; you have to have them want to do it. The only way to do this is by enrolling them and making them feel like they are an essential part of what is going on and that without them things would not be the same.

If this does not work then we have to begin to assume responsibility for our actions and we have to take control of the situation. The only way that we can control the situation is by becoming the board. When we become the board, we no longer point fingers or put excuses. We do not let the circumstances dictate our actions but we use the circumstances to further our purpose.

We have to not only be open to possibilities but also inspire others to do the same. When we change our frame of mind others can be inspired by what we are doing. Like Nelson Mandela said, what we fear most is what we are truly capable of. Many times we underestimate ourselves and close the doors of possibility because we are afraid of what might happen. We are scared of the success or the responsibility of achieving something could bring to us. If we would take down our barriers and strive for everything possible then maybe we would be in awe of ourselves instead of scared.

When we do this we have to be aware that we are not a one-person army and that we do depend on others to help us along the way. Whether we are the leaders or we are not we depend on each other to make our collaborative dreams possible. When we fight on our own our strength wanes quickly, but when we have others working together with us we can make miracles possible.

COMMENT:

Marcos,

What a strong first paragraph. I caught myself nodding throughout your whole first section. SUCH STRONG WORDS and...soooo TRUE. I think Ben and Roz were really trying to make us realize this and that it is key to the learning of others. We need to make our students WANT to do the things they do and fully engulf their brains into what is to be done for them to get the most out of our teaching. And I feel like when we or people become the board it is really a self reflection on weather or not what they or we were trying to portray is legit or not. And you are so right about being able to inspire others and that we are NOT a one person army. 

You did an amazing job reflecting upon this week's reading Marcos. It was so fluid and I felt like you summarized what Ben and Roz were saying to a 'T'. Thanks for sharing and I really enjoyed reading your blog this week.

Kudos to you... :)

Wk 4 Comment: Cheryl

Photo Credit: Taken from Cheryl's Blog:

http://cherylmcgovern.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-4-reading.html#comments

ORIGINAL POST:

My favorite part of this weeks reading was that we need to generate a spark of possibility for others to share (hence my photo).  Chapters 9 and 12 were for me the most meaningful.  Besides the spark in chapter 9, I also liked the story of the hyper ten year old doing soooo well at conducting! My youngest son has been very active his whole life, and now he is the top order puller at his warehouse job nearly every month.  As educators we need to remember to look for what our students can excel at and help them find that level of achievement.  In chapter 12, we are told to approach all issues with "we" instead of "I".  Now that I am dealing with 3 paraprofessionals, "we" has become a favorite word in my vocabulary! The other part of chapter 12 that I loved was the story of the girl telling the lady that she knew what she wanted.  After thinking, the lady went to the store and brought back a can of beef stew.  It was exactly what what was wanted, and sometimes we need to remember to give our students and the people we work with that can of stew.  It can change attitudes and whole days.  Have a great day! Cheryl

COMMENT:

Cheryl,

Thank you for sharing. I would say that one of the strongest examples that hit me in this week's reading also included the student as the conductor. I agree with you that as an educator we need to find these students and allow them to lead and be the conductor. I think though at times some teachers use and abuse this and those that need the challenge in their lives and used as the conductor in a less fortunate manner. I know that at times I do this....I need to ensure that I am not just allowing my students to become the conductors but their conducting allows them to grow as a learner as well. I also think it's great that you and your paraprofessionals use the WE concept. This also struck me strongly in this week's reading. It sounds like you and your group are off to a great start to the school year and I hope it continues. I hope to share this reading with my other team teachers and hopefully be able to make the next step forward as a team and make it a WE team as well. Good luck this school year and I hope you are off to a great start as it sounds like you are. 

Wk 4 Art of Possibility Chapters 9-12

Photo Credit: SmartBoard Notebook Gallery

As I continued to piece together what I wanted to write about this week's reading...I came to the conclusion I am going to blog backwards...the ending to the 9th chapter. Roz and Ben were very storng throughout the reading and continued to end the book with WE being emphasized and I think it needs to...they are sooo right. We can't do anything on our own and that will continue to make us put strong judgements upon ourselves but we need to learn to accept the things around us and to adapt and understand what WE can do and what WE can evaluate and fix and accomplish. It is funny but the last chapter a lot of their examples, words, and sayings really hit me but every time I came to a capitalized 'WE' it made me reflect upon myself and how I need to use this methodology of WE more often. It made me really reflect upon my CBR and how WE (students and myself) made it work but they were the WE. I always tell my students that WE work as a classroom and WE need to support one another...like we are a team and a building structure that leans upon each brick. Ben and Roz really pushed for the WE aspect and to do a clear reflection on weather or not we are considered the board. 

As I also reflected upon the reading, it made me really realize that we need to take everything we go through one day and one example at a time. Roz and Ben gave so many enlightening stories that we need to be aware of the things around us and to take advantage of giving others A and a chance to make mistakes and be themselves. I strongly believe that everyone needs to read this book and that I NEED to reread this book during the winter slump in great old Wisconsin because the snow really does drain us of the lacking recesses and fresh air that is highly needed to keep us motivate and open minded to keep moving forward. 

Ben showed great characterization when he reflected upon his own life and examples and what he didn't understand or deal with when he went to be on the board. He really interpreted the things around him and noticed that he was wrong and he told the truth of what was going on even though he didn't want to hear it himself. We as humans need to do this and understand that pride is one thing but being prideful is another. 

We need to continue to see the world in the half full aspect and that we aren't always right. We need to be the board and challenge ourselves to really dig deep and reflect upon ourselves. 

The story that hit me the hardest this reading was the story of Ben and the Eastlea school and it really made me reflect upon my goals as a high schooler wanting to teach inner city and make a difference in the lives of my students...the lives of those less fortunate...that didn't have the things that I did or the family stronghold I did. I continued to look back at this a regret not doing what I was passionate about. But after reading Being the Board and being the conductor and spark....I can be the difference maker in the school I am in and touch the lives of each of my students I have now by allowing them to be the conductor and the board and the spark and giving them an a.....

Wk 4: Media Issues: Ron Smith (free/extra post)

http://web.me.com/edm613/m11/mi-ronsmith.html

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.
It is funny that I decided to watch this video because I had just finished my discussion post for this week relating to what my dream job would be...and I would have to say...what I had written and see in this video they link hand in hand with each other. It would be amazing to just make and find tech tools for teachers to use but to also be able to relay them to students would be amazing and allowing students to run off with these skills is amazing. 

Week 4 Publishing Leadership Project

Since I have decided to try to publish my works with an article, I have found two journals that I would like to submit my work to. The reason I chose these two journals is because they both have to deal with the use of interactive materials and the use of technology and an ongoing development of learning and research. It was truthfully pretty hard to choose between journal's because many of them had the same set out end goal...to have people recognize the advancements there are in the world of education and to improve what is out there with means of technology but here are two that I chose that I felt had some of the strongest components a part of their summaries. 

http://www.aace.org/pubs/jilr/default.htm

This journal offers information on the impact and effectiveness on education and training in many areas. Some of the core areas that the journal focuses on that were also incorporated into my CBR project include: interactie learning environments, interactive simulations and games, and computer-supported collaborative learning. I feel that my article would be a strong candidate to be published in this journal to help foster the research on implementation and effectiveness in the means of technology within the classroom.  

http://www.springerlink.com/content/1042-1629

This journal was chosen because it is highly focused on research and development in educational technology and I feel that the strategies and tactics that I used in my classroom are easily incorporated into this type of journal setting. As of right now my research is more qualitative than quantitative but as my research and journey continues, I hope to incorporate more of the quantitative quality into my findings. This journal not only offers these venues in its manuscripts but allows the ongoing research to continue throughout its publications. This journal also caught my attention because of the title of being connected to education and the research and development of technology in education. I think that is a strong component that we are advocates of the use of technology within the classroom setting but ensuring that this use keeps developing and that we continue to research the best methodologies for our learners.

Think Out Loud Post 1:
http://fsoetchelenxiong.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-3-think-out-loud-part-1.html
This will link you to my previous thoughts on why I chose to write a short article to be published by leading journals in our community.

Think Out Loud Post 2:
http://fsoetchelenxiong.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-3-publishingleadership-think-out.html
This will link you to the two journals that I will be submitting my Leadership Project to which is correlated to my Challenged Based Research Project.

Journal Submission:
Here is my first paragraph to my short article that I will be submitting to the two leading journals I have chosen in my Think Out Loud Post 2. Below my first paragraph you will notice a link that will allow you to view my rough sketch of my paper I am currently working on.

Motivational practices that impact learners have evolved, and research has shown that these practices have played key roles in all learning environments.  Some core motivational practices that researchers have defined as beneficial are teacher expectation levels, personal ownership of subject matter, and the use of technology. Student motivation and achievement were set to a higher standard as well. The key element for all learning communities to stress is the importance of motivation to therefore correlate with stronger learning environments within the classroom. The level of motivation continued to increase in all learners, if each of these areas the stressed area was set within the bounds of motivational tactics in the learning environment. The end result of whether or not these motivational practices will therefore help achieve academic success will come forth. The areas of teacher expectation levels, personal ownership of subject matter, the use of technology and the impact it had on learners have all been explored with the motivational tactic in the classroom.

Here is the link to the rest of my Publishing Leadership Paper: (click below)

Xiong Publishing Leadership Paper

Week 3 Reading (Art of Possibility)

 Photo Credit: SmartBoard Notebook Gallery

This week’s reading included the chapters of 5-8 in the Art of Possibility.

Overall, I would say this is a great book. I have been enjoying it greatly throughout each chapter and each reference it has given. It is funny because I feel that I can relate to almost every series it has given to me to reflect upon. The ups and downs in each part can easily be related to different things in my own life. I really enjoy reading Ben’s play on words and at times have a hard time following Roz’s but overall the read has been easy and amusing to follow. It has really been making me reflect upon their stories to make me realize how I can be a better teacher, wife, daughter, and person all around.

One of the stories that struck me the hardest was when Ben talked about allowing the player to conduct and allowing others to take the lead and make mistakes. I think this is a key concept because people are so afraid of making mistakes and letting others down but I feel like that is a way of life….for people to be well rounded they need to experience these types of experiences and make the mistakes they are allowed to. We need to empower our students just as Ben had his students in his symphony.

We also need to help the people around us, as well as ourselves, be willing to peel away the layers that hold back who we really are.  We need to give way to passion and allow things to be the way they are. These were two concepts that also struck me strongly. Just think if we allowed these things to happen…young or old how strong our future leaders of our world would be…being wiling to take the bull by the horns and not blame others for our mistakes.  For each of us to participate wholly and always give everything our best…think of how successful our world and lives would be…A world full of challenge and accomplishment.

I know that my words are strong and blunt and probably impossible…but the words and stories in this book are so empowering that it makes me feel like anything is possible. I know that we all go through roller coasters throughout our lifetime and we need to be constantly reminded about the things we can and need to do to make our world a better place….It is also empowering to hear Roz and Ben share their ideas and stories to try to make our world a better place…I cannot wait to share this read with others in my life.

Week 3 Comment : Cheryl

http://cherylmcgovern.blogspot.com/2011/08/week-3-reading.html#comments

Photo Credit: Taken From Cheryl's Blog

ORIGINAL POST:

Well, week 3 and it is chapters 5-8.  There were many tidbits that I picked up from this reading of "The Art of Possibility".  I will share my favorites with you.  The first major ah ha moment for me came when the author told about getting in the taxi and the passenger tells the driver to hurry! They need me everywhere!!!! This is so true in life.  As a mother or father, you are needed everywhere all of the time! You wish you could grow 8 arms and 8 legs.  As a teacher it seems that every student needs help at the same time on a different problem.  The next one that struck me was that power is the ability to make other people powerful.  This thought we have heard before, but maybe not in this way.  We may have heard it as give a man something to eat and he eats right then, teach him to grow his own food and he will be forever full.  Here is another: grab what you love and give it everything.  So often we tend to meander through life, giving what we feel comfortable giving, but to give it everything possible leaves the possibilities completely open!  As I continued to move through the reading I came to a spot where the author asks us to think about putting Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" before every remark we make.  Can you imagine? The last chapter was all about letting go.  That is where this week's picture came from.  We have to jump without worrying about every little thing to reach the highest and furthest that we can.  I think of the movie "The Great Outdoors".  We often forget that very simple command to let go.  John Candy is water skiing and after giving his son lessons on safety and letting go of the rope if you get into a situation, he totally forgets this himself and his son is screaming for him to let go of the rope but he doesn't.  I hope all of of us this week can let go of our ropes and travel further and accomplish more than we or anyone else could ever expect! Have a great week! Cheryl

COMMENT:

 

Cheryl,

It's funny that the first thing that you blogged about was about the taxi story. While I was reading this section I totally thought about how I felt like that in the classroom. How every student needed me for their own reason and how on a daily basis we are pulled in many directions throughout the day...but I must say...I LOVE it. It is a part of our job and I wouldn't have it any other way :). Another part of your blog that struck me strongly was the part when you talked about letting go. We really do...I know that it is human nature to want to hold on but we need to also know when to let go and let things be. I think that as adults and also being educators we need to give others the chance to prove themselves which then in turn allows us to let go and let things be.

Thanks for your sharing Cheryl, I always enjoy reading what you have to share with the class. 

I also have to agree with Richard and your post on how great the move "The Great Outdoors" is...soooo funny!!

Week 3 Comment to Heidi

 

Photo Credit: SmartBoard Notebook Software

ORIGINAL POST:

Wk: 3 Reading Blog: Art of Possibilities

Chapter 5. Leading from Any Chair: We're all leaders. How can we make a difference in the people we influence each day? How do we listen to those who help us make our dreams become reality?

You need to ask yourself, “How can I make them engage” don’t ask “How great am I doing? How much greatness am I willing to give?” A leader listens to suggestions and can instill a sense of pride into those giving the suggestions.

Chapter 6. Rule Number 6: Don't take yourself so seriously. Life is a journey--enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love!!

Rule Number 6: don’t take yourself so goddamn seriously. I love this line. I am reminded me of a time I was in an argument with someone. In a fit of rage, I threw a bag of un-husked corn on the cob at him. After that the fight was forgotten and laughter ensued at the absurdity of throwing a bag of corn!

Chapter 7. The Way Things Are: Sometimes settling for the way things are is a lowering of expectations, sometimes it’s finding a starting point so that one can make things better. Where are you in this continuum?

Downward Spiral Talk…rampant in Education. 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 complaing about this and that, until one day I found myself sucked into the Downward Spiral Talks. Of course it doesn’t help that our complaints and negative thoughts increased as working conditions decreased.

Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion: Control says that the only way to avoid disappointment and frustration is to not care at all. No hits, no runs, but most importantly, no errors. 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. I try to combine my passions, by teaching my kids that nature is full of art; nature is art. Finding and experiencing the beauty that is nature is experiencing art. 

COMMENT:

Heidi,

I would have to say this is one of my first times going to you blog this month and wow...I really should have done it earlier. Your words and comments are so strong but so true. I really enjoyed reading what you thought the chapter engulfed but also how you reflected upon the chapter with your own thoughts. Reading what you posted were the exact thoughts I was thinking about as I read each chapter....everything from being a leader to not taking everything so seriously and even allowing things to happen as they are. I really enjoyed reading about your reflection about this week's reading and am going to go back and read your previous blogs and can't wait to hear more of your reflective pieces for the rest of this class. 

What really hit me hard was the downward spiral. I feel that many times we fall into the trap of being like the others around us...whether good or bad...but we need to look beyond all of the negativity and be the leader we are known to be. 

Thank you for sharing your words and it really summed up the reading in the same reflection and words as I would.