Week 4 Comment to Classmate 2 of 2 Laurie Kish

poster created by Laurie Kish
for our MLT team project

Dear Laurie, What a cute graphic to use and remind us of our journey.   Was it from our first team project we worked together in?  I loved that you used it in your post to Tiffany Jones. Getting to know you this past year through our course work I can tell you have been practicing Zanders’ idea of “enrollment” in your life.  The way your enthusiasm and wonderful ideas have helped bring teammates along in our projects has been evident and I can imagine your work environment allows you flexibility to be your authentic self.  It becomes a “win-win” situation when we are able to bring others on-board with our ideas in a fun way that allows creativity to be at the forefront.  I’m sure your family embraces your creativity, how lucky they are to have you in their life.  I look forward to meeting next month and getting to know you better.  I also love the graphic you included about “Team Effectiveness” from an earlier project we did.  The little baby remind me of our infancy when we began this EMDT program and now look at how much we have learned--wow it has been an amazing journey. Thank you for a wonderful post.

Laurie said...

The chapter Lighting the Spark in Zanders book, Art of Possibility states that passion rather than fear is the igniting force of possibility.  He discussed how the practice of enrollment is about giving yourself as a possibility to others and being ready, in turn, to catch their spark.  You become partners in a field of light.  I have experienced this many times through use of enrollment, getting others to see the light, through my passion verses using manipulative means to engage them.  Allowing them to see your passion gives them different perspectives thus unleashing possibilities that they would not otherwise have seen.  I am passionate about incorporating what I call the fun factor into my corporate training courses where my French colleagues culturally oppose this. I prepared a training course on Project Management that I intended to release world wide to all our global sites that involved an interactive team building pirate adventure where they were required to dress up as pirates and journey across the open seas with the mission to find the treasure within a specified time-line, specified cost, and with a certain performance measure.  I presented this to my French colleagues just prior to launch and the mere idea of this seemed childish and they closed their minds immediately.  Of course fear ran through my soul and I felt attacked, and defeated after spending many weeks developing this module.  I decided to show them how passionate I was about learning effectiveness when hands on fun activities are integrated into the modules by convincing them to participate in a session to experience it first hand.  They agreed and in the end I opened up my module for their critique and comment and asked them to help me improve it so it was culturally acceptable to the French.  By doing this, I could see the light in their eyes as they engaged in helping me add more fun factors.  They were sold and to this day they often contact me to help them incorporate other fun examples into some of their training sessions.  The sparks of possibility are living within all of us; we just need to imagine that all people and situations can be an invitation for enrollment. 

Week 4 Comment to Classmate 1 of 2 Tricia Atkinson

Hand Shadow-4freephtos.com

Tricia your insight about how we should take a step back and think about how we contribute to the overall situation and attitude of our students was right on the point.  Taking care of their physical and emotional needs (your reference to when they ate last or got a hug) is something we all need to be reminded of.  Just this past week a student of mine (who is usually defiant with me, bad attitude etc.) came into class looking very sad, saying she was having a bad day, I asked why and she said her kitten had died last night. L Of course I gave her a hug and asked what happened, shared a story of when I lost my first kitten and I think it surprised her that I might care.  Everyone has experiences daily that have a change-reaction to each other. I agree with your reminder that we need to “put ourselves in others shoes” more often.  Well stated, enjoyable read.  I loved your presentation the other night too, nice job. Your art talent really comes through. Choosing an art piece, related to “perspective”, for this weeks’ reading entry topic was a great visual representation too.  

Tricia said...

Wow, these last chapters were a lot to take in! Just when I thought my personal reaction could not possibly be more profound, the Zander’s prevailed with more stories and more implications of living a life of possibility. Most notably were chapters 10 and 11 when adversity was discussed in more detail, including the analogy of self as a game board (versus the typical interpretation as a participating piece). I will admit, when the idea of mutual responsibility in every situation was introduced, I felt some indignation. I mean, who doesn’t want to ostracize the drunk driver or the blatantly rude reaction or the frequent absentee. But how fascinating to think about their perspective and how it will not improve attitude and happiness by being upset and throwing blame.

As easy as it is to get into a downward negative spiral towards my students, blaming them for their negative, rude, and apathetic actions. But what about what I have done to contribute? What about my negative sarcasm or mediocre effort? Not to mention what they have eaten lately or when the last time is that they got a hug or “good job” from a parent? Trying to remember myself in each other person’s shoes will help me to react with a more enlightened attitude, just as Ben did when his students partied in South America. What would it have helped to “go off” like so many of us teachers are expected to do. Instead, the kids understood, felt enabled, apologetic, regretful, and still valued. Amazing. This Art of Possibility stuff is definitely not second nature in the world of modern education, but I feel like a breath of fresh air, a reminder of options and how to go with the flow, giving students and others in my life the benefit of the doubt, has been given to me…I am inspired and grateful.

Original Artwork, detail of tapestry from "A Perspective on Eastern Design in Threadwork", 2007

Week 4 Free Choice—Change & Leadership Reading Recommendation

Drive by Dan Pink

 

Video published on YouTube by RSAnimate 

www.the RSA.org

The current book our staff is reading this year is Drive by Dan Pink.  The leadership team on our campus has always embraced looking at educational trends, by reading and discussing ideas, philosophies and best educational practices to benefit our students.  Over the years, we have read many business motivational authors. Much of what we glean from these business and educational readings are directly applied to students of today.  As a result we created our own “pyramids of intervention”, based on the Adali Stevenson high school model, to help struggling students and build a system that benefits all kids.  We now have campus visitors on our site to learn how they can transform their own schools. 

Last year we read Ray McNulty’s It’s Not Us Against Them.  Shortly afterwards we were honored when he came (informally) and visited with leadership groups within our district to share personal insight. It is validating to know we are making a difference in the lives of the children we interact with daily

If you have a chance to influence others on your campuses by starting your own “reading club” I highly recommend the following from our experience:

• Who Moved My Cheese-Spencer Johnson
• Whatever It Takes: How Professional Learning Communities Respond When Kids Don’t Learn-- Richard and Rebecca  DuFour, Robert Eaker, Gayle Karhanek
• Raising the Bar and Closing the Gap: Whatever it Takes-- Richard and Rebecca DuFour, Robert Eaker, Gayle Karhanek
  (there is a case study about our district-Whittier Union High School District featured in this book)
• It’s Not Against Them: Creating the Schools We Need—Ray McNulty
• Drive—by Daniel Pink

Wk 4 Reading Response: The Art of Possibility Chapter 9-12

freedigitalphotos.n

After reading Joe’s intro to our week 4 “Art of Possibility” assignment I agree with his statement about our Entrepreneurial spirit. I love this book, and feel we should all embrace that entrepreneurial spirit, and especially when working in a large corporate environment the more “interpreneurial” skills we can bring to the table,  the more of a valued employee we become.  This weeks reading speaks to our ability to “light a fire of passion in others”, sometimes a hard thing to do in a work environment and/or working with teens.  The concept of “enrollment” was another way of saying that the more “buy in” you can influence others to become involved in your mission, project etc. the easier it will be to make change.  The quote: “enrollment is the art and passion of generating a spark of possibility for others to share”, gave me pause to consider the meaning as it relates in my own life, to see if I’m enrolling others into my passion, projects, agendas etc.  I remember the days when one of our programs was in the early phases, if I needed to approach my administrator who made purchasing decisions, I always planned days in advance when I could approach them and make my request.  I would make suggestions through others sometimes, that something I was wishing for was of value, paving the way for a favorable response. I suppose I was practicing this idea of “enrollment”, to engage my administration into the possibilities of improvement.  There was another very profound statement, that took me a long time to digest, but I find myself thinking about it more and more. My husband and I are having noise ordinance issues with our neighbors at the moment and we are trying to find a peaceful resolve-the line on p.143 is helping, anyway Zander states that “gracing yourself with responsibility for everything that happens in your life leaves your spirit whole, and leaves you free to choose again.” My husband and I are trying to find a peaceful resolve with our neighbors, and the concepts in this book are helping us.  

freedigitalphotos.net-Thai Chess

The “game board” concept was another very deep chapter, hard to wrap my head around as a different perception of life.  The concept in which life occurs to you is to give yourself the power to transform your experiences of any unwanted condition into one with which you care to live.  Your experience, not necessarily the condition itself, once you transform your experience and see things differently, other changes occur too. (146) Cora’s story describing Zander’s letter about why he deserves an “A” was a very humbling, honest and real experience.  When you are being the “game board” you present no obstacles to others, you are existing as the instrument to make all your relationships into effective partnerships, working as one unit.  Zander gives us the tools to put into practice how to create our own frameworks of possibilities, he gives us the means, and very specific steps about how to achieve anything we want to create in our lives.  An excellent read, I love his use of personal stories, what an amazing man.  This book is one I will recommend for our staff “reading club”.  Our staff leadership group read educational leadership material, usually focusing on one or two a year, we meet, discuss and put into practice much of our reading.  

My “free blog post” this week will be about our current book-Drive by Daniel Pink. Once again an enjoyable read. Thank you for recommending it for us and paying it forward.  

freedigitalphotos.net

Wk 4 Publishing Leadership Project

The focus of my ARP was about the benefits of using an online E-mentoring program with high school juniors.  Here is a link to the "rough-draft" slide show presentation I shared with my classmates in month 11 EMDT course Media Asset Creation.

Publishing Leadership Project ~ E-mentors by Sandra Lopez

Wk 4 Publishing Leadership Project "think-out-loud" part 2 of 3

ICOULDBE.org

I miss understood the earlier "think-out-loud" instructions for our Publishing Leadership Project this month and posted both of my thoughts in an earlier post. (see Wk2 BP: Publishing Leadership part 1 of 2)  

I am choosing to present my ARP findings at this moment, however publishing a paper down the road may be a possibility as well.  

The academy program  I'm affiliated with requires high school juniors to have a mentor experience and the focus of my action research project was related to E-mentoring programs.  Our students are participating with ICOUDLBE.org (ICB) an online nationwide mentor program.  My students have been participating all year and I ran 2 data collection cycles, one in the fall and one this spring.  The purpose was to see if students were more motivated to plan for  their future career/college goals.  The ICB makes presentations every year and are interested in hearing directly from teachers who are using their mentor program.  Teacher presentations are a way for them to market their services as well as demonstrate the validity and benefit of online mentoring. 

The date for the 2012 conference is pending because of the state budget uncertainties and is yet to be determined.  However I will be pursuing contacting Jerry Stewart the regional manager of the ICB organization, to find out more about presenting with her next year. 

Two possible conferences include:

http://statecenter.com/
1. California Partnership Annual Conference Educating forCareers Conference. The Annual Event in the Spring each year.  This year the conference was in Sacrament March 3-5, 2011
2. CA State Center Consortium

Wk 3 Free Choice: Discussion Board Topics

Woordle from the Langwitches Blog

The discussion board topics this week lent themselves to the improvement of leadership in the classroom.  The discussion boards are a perfect example of how, as a community we can collaborate, connect and communicate.  I stumbled upon this “Learning-woordle” from The Langwitches Blog an interesting site, about using technology in the classroom, to promote learning, along with digital skills. You may find it interesting too.  They ask:

• How do we teach students how to learn?
• How do we motivate and engage learners?
• How do we create a climate where learning is valued, not test scores or a covered text book?

I’ve also been learning about short yet powerful video clips I can use in the classroom to teach Internet Safety.  Two that Josh Tolar recommended, published by the DVIDS (Defense Video and Imagery Distribution System) site were:

1.  Internet Safety

2.  Blogging Safety

Internet Safety by David Henderson (waterbendingwrath)

Netsmartz.org-- Netsmart site has “real life” stories to share with students where writing and reflection assignments can follow.

Internet Safety Basics was about 22 min.

1. Internet and its risks

2. Cyberbulling

3. Revealing Too Much

4. Online Predators

5. Internet Safety and Your Family

Netsmartz Real Life Series included: These were all very short 3-6 minute video stories related for the teen age group I teach.

These stories are profoundly touching and even if they can influence one teen to make different choices, they are worth viewing.

1. PhotoFate

2. Survivor Diaries

3. Cyberbullying: Broken Friendship

4. Cyberbullying: You Can’t Take it Back

5. Promises

6. Julie’s Journey-online predators

7. Tracking Teresa—this was an excellent short 5 minute video   about how easy people can find out about you, based on what you post online.  I will be showing this one next week!

8. Amy’s Choice—online predators

This site provides “safety pledges” and additional activities for each video to use in your classroom curriculum.