WK4 Free Choice - Where do I go from here?

I’m at the crossroads and where do I go from here? I had to ask myself again why I chose Full Sail University, why this was the school I wanted to get my masters from, and why I even wanted a Masters in Education Media Design and Technology in the first place. I wanted to make a life changing decision, one that could offer up many possibilities. I was unhappy with teaching. I was unhappy in a stagnant job that I thought would not lead me anywhere I wanted to be. When looking at my school emails about getting an online masters at Full Sail, it seemed to be my answer.

Well not only have I met some pretty incredible people, but my mindset has completely changed from the day I opened the box with a brand new MacBook Pro. The Zanders’ book, The Art of Possibility, could not have been more perfect for this month. The growth I have gained from Full Sail is immeasurable and I am no longer succumbing to that thread of teachers who hate their jobs. What I was looking for in Full Sail actually changed. I went in thinking this would just lead me to a better job opportunity. I know it will definitely do that granted I look into it. But more importantly, where I go from here is not complete without having an understanding that my life is full of happiness and opportunity even if it happened to be in the place I am right now.

Image: Creative Commons

WK4 Publishing/Leadership Project part 3 of 3: Art Journal

Image from: http://www.collegeart.org/artjournal/

I have finally decided to publish to the Art Journal http://www.collegeart.org/artjournal/. Art Journal is a unique voice in the field as a peer-reviewed, professionally mediated forum for the arts. It seemed to fit what I wanted and I have updated and posted this decision to my AR site as well http://web.me.com/ashleyburch/Biography/Publishing_Leadership_Project.html.

A few problems I have are listed in the submissions and guidelines at http://www.collegeart.org/artjournal/guidelines.html and they are that I need to change my article to the Chicago Manual of Style and they require many images. I do agree that my article would be better with more images. It is going to take some changes, but I think I am up for the challenge. I’ve come this far. No time to quit now.

WK4 Response to Grace Blue - Free Post

Week 3 Free Post

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

WEEK 3 FREE POST

Simulations in Learning

Simulations and the Future of Learning

If indeed, Education would be in a better state if e learning was used in its fullest capacity, then what is stopping us from going full speed ahead. To have access to education via elearning based upon each one’s learning style would revolutionize education to the point that students would truly be engaged. But unfortunately elearning has become a cookie cutter system that if not revamped to be what the students need is destined to be no better than the traditional cookie cutter classroom. Students just doing enough to complete it but not truly engaged and participating in their own learning. I teach an online class at one of the community colleges and it isn’t much different from a traditional classroom except that students do have the flexibility in deciding when they get online to complete assignments. I am a proponent of computer simulations. We must instruct differently and I believe that using computer simulations in instruction is one of the ways for students to become engaged in learning.

1 Comment

ASHLEY BURCH

Grace,

I see what you mean. I don’t know what your admin expects of you or if there is a set curriculum that they want you to follow that may tend to create a traditional learning style even if you have technology in the classroom. I think students will always come to the point when they just want to do enough to get by and it may up to us, as teachers, to inspire more of them. Computer simulations does sound like a great way to break away from the mold. It’s different and engaging. It’s also hands-on in a virtual world. I think this is a very innovative way of teaching and you have found a way to break away from the boring traditional learning style.

SUNDAY, MAY 30, 2010 - 09:10 PM

WK4 Response to Nick La Fountain - Publishing/Leadership project part 3 of 3

sunday, may 30, 2010

Publishing/Leadership project part 3 of 3 - A decision has been made

Image from: http://www.springerlink.com/content/119978/cover-medium.jpg

Today I can finally breathe a sigh of relief. First off, I have finally finished my article and after much debate and research, I have chosen to submit my article to Tech Trends, a peer reviewed journal focusing on technology integration in education and training. In the beginning I was looking into larger publications like Edutopia, but ultimately I felt that my article needed to be submitted to a journal for proper review. While Edutopia is popular, it just didn't seem fitting to an article so deep in research.

With that said, I still have some areas that I have marked down to focus on within my article. First, I have to create an abstract at the beginning of the article. I have never written one before and am looking into examples of how to write an affective abstract. The next area that I want to review is my results and conclusion section. Right now both of these seem a little weak and need more focus on future development. Finally, I also need to figure out what images I should include in my article submission. Since I did not have a ton of people respond to my survey, the charts and data appear weak. While the images of the students working on their projects are great, I don't know if they fit. I am hoping that my wimba session with my peers will help answer some of these questions and help me create a final article that has a chance of publication.

* UPDATE
Last night I had my wimba session with my peers and instructors. They provided some very insightful information that I believe may help my article get published. One of the best bits of information they provided was that of including my future/cycle 3 work. In talking about what will happen beyond Full Sail, many of my peers felt I should add this to my paper and I think it has made a huge difference. Our instructor also gave me some really good advice on how to write an affective abstract and I even had a few comments on grammer issues to fix. The area that I still need some work on are the images to be included in the article. I have added three thus far and know of at least one more that will be added but is at school on my work computer. I believe the images I have added show some of the experiences the students and teachers have gone through, but unfortunately, I did not take any images from the training portion of my cycles. However, I am considering taking some screen shoots from the videos created by the teachers in one of my cycles and adding that as well.

WK4 Reading - Creating Frameworks for Possibility

I read that “as a species we are not always ready to reap the benefits of harmony, peace, and plenty” (Zander & Zander, 2000, p. 162). I did not know that seeing this kind of world involves a leader or being a leader within myself.

I read the way Zander addressed his musicians in Brazil, how scolding them was not the answer. Instead it was praising their wonderful music, then asking how they would like to be seen by the Brazilian people. I still would have yelled and screamed at my kids for pulling stunts like this, but if they are expecting it, I have seen no realization actually sets in and it does no good. Kids are kids.

I remember Morgan Freeman’s words in The Shawshank Redemption. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. The Marriage of Figaro is beautiful. That was the first time I had ever heard it and the vision of the world just stopping and listening comes to mind. It is very liberating to just listen to this song. I love how Zander explains how a vision can take you away from local problems and in an instant change the frame of mind, allow you to create goals even.

These are very powerful words of Marianne Williamson.

We were born to Manifest the Glory of God within us. It is not just in some of us: it is in everyone

Again Zander has used life experiences of others and himself to conclude this chapter. As I am coming to the end of this book, I only hope that my vision stays strong and true. The feeling and motivation to see things a different way is apparent while reading, but the practice of doing so after the book is closed is another story. Like Zander says, it does take practice.

Reference:

Zander, R. & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.

Image: Creative Commons

WK3 Free Choice - Jessica's "Daily Affirmation"

Little Jessica was just so inspiring, I had to blog about it. I feel like she relates well to The Art of Possibility. In my case, I look in the mirror sometimes and say: I miss my life, I miss my family, I miss my sanity, I miss my pets, I miss my art, I miss my hobbies. I feel like I have been in another world just struggling to get by each month. I can’t wait to get where this little girl is at, where the freedom of joy of life is at hand. I’ve learned so much at Full Sail and can’t wait to apply it in and out of the classroom.

Reference:

Dmchatster (Prod.). (June 16, 2009). Jessica’s “Daily Affirmation” [video]. Retrieved May 22, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qR3rK0kZFkg

WK3 Publishing/Leadership Project part 2 of 3: Making a Decision

Well I have started to get myself somewhat together. It is time to start making those hard decisions. I emailed Edutopia about submission. I looked at the guidelines for submission at http://www.edutopia.org/pdfs/GLEF_SubmissionRelease.pdf. I was still foggy in this area and went to the contact page at http://www.edutopia.org/contact. From here, I have emailed both edit@edutopia.org and feedback@edutopia.org.

Upon completion of my article, I have posted it to the Publishing/Leadership page of my website at http://web.me.com/ashleyburch/Biography/Publishing_Leadership_Project.html

Edutopia did get back to me with a generalized email just stating that they received my email. I have not heard any word otherwise. I have also decided to look into other options. One option I am considering is Art Journal. http://www.collegeart.org/artjournal/. I am still looking at this journal and deciding on the requirements and if it is a better fit for me than Edutopia.

Image: Creative Commons