Week 4 Reaction Post - Publishing 3

So I have found some journals I could publish to. I still haven't found anywhere to present my information. I did find an email from Joe Bustillos especially interesting, however. I kept thinking I had to create a presentation or write an article detailing most of my action research.

Then I found I only had to do the publishing part of the assignment on one portion or detailed part of my action research, and that made everything seem so much easier. A burden was lifted off my shoulders. Now I'm a lot more excited to get published, and wish I could find a place to present, not just get published in article form!

The great thing is, now I can do an article, and later present at a conference when one becomes available. I am so excited to do this, and my personal goal is to be published before the start of next school year. So my next step is to continue to prepare my write-up of my work, and to continue to narrow the market of where I will publish.

Week 4 Reaction Post - Trisha C

-”The action in this graceful game is ongoing integration. One by one, you bring everything tou have been resisting into the fold. You, as the board, make room for all the moves, for the capture of the knight and the sacrifice of your bishop, for your good driving and the accident, for your miserable childhood and the circumstances of your parents’ lives, for your need and another’s refusal. Why? Because that is what is there. It is the way things are.” (p.146)

Religious beliefs aside, we as human beings have been given/granted the freedom of choice and/or “Free Will.” We could all fall victim of circumstance, but it is what we chose to do with those circumstances that define who we are. By “becoming the board”, we become in essence the beacon of our own possibilities.

-”I have come to realize that people will do what they want to do ---which means that sometimes they will come to rehearsals and sometimes they won’t---and i must respect their decisions.” (p.153)

Ben has spoken much truth in his letter to Cora. I have to admit that although I have come to the same realization many times, I am still not at 100% of acceptance and continue to have this inner battle through the years that I have taught. I have let the fact that maybe not every student shares the excitement I have for a new unit or the literature get in the way of enjoying teaching the lesson. Each time I would let the hurt I felt chip away at how passionate I am about the subject matter. I am getting better and I revert to the words of my department head, “Your are the teacher, any tears shed should be theirs for the poor decisions THEY have made.” I am working on “Becoming the Board!”

WK Four-Being the Board

Sunday, May 23, 2010

1 Comment

Sunday, May 23, 2010 - 07:48 PM

Therese Lunsford

Trisha,

First I want to thank you for the comments on my last post. You speak encouraging words!

Second, I wanted to comment on this week's reading. I just wanted to congratulate you on being a reflective thinker. When I read the chapters, I often think of specific stories, students, or situations that the stories in the book would apply to in my life. I identify with your department head's comment, that student's poor decisions are their responsibility. While it's easy to say, it isn't easy to follow through, when some students seem to care less about themselves than we do. I'm currently struggling with high absenteeism this trimester at the high school, and kids who won't graduate unless they pass my class, since it's a requirement at the state level. I have to remind myself that it is their decision, and they can graduate this summer, (later) not now doesn't mean not ever. And it is their decision, not mine. Again, easy to say, not easy to understand. I also am working at "Becoming the Board...." luck to both of us! :)

Week 4 Reaction Post - Mel Rainey

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Mel Rainey 2010523 wk3 presentation possibilities.

Well over the past week, with ending school year stuff, I was able to get ideas of presenting at the Ohio Art Educators Association conference, Elyria City Schools Art Department professional development day and Elyria High Schools technology professional development seminar. I am limited to funds and time this year for presenting but that is my best option right now. I am looking at presenting with a key note presentation that includes my action research and the lesson possibilities in using technology as a tool. We shall see.

Week 4 Reaction Post - Reading Reaction Video

Here's a video response to this week's reading. Enjoy!

Week 3 Reaction Post - Lina Valery

Lina Valery's post:

In this interview Ron Smith shared a very interesting point with Dr. Ludgate and this is actually one of my “selling points” when it comes to homeschool parents incorporating more technology tools in their lessons. It is no secret that it takes a great deal of preparation for teachers to create media, digital stories, and e-learning tools to incorporate into their lessons. Yet, this prep work allows more one on one and independent learning when it comes to the actual lesson implementation.

This year I have begun implementing this theory with my own learners and while the road has been a bit bumpy, I must say this is due more to the fact that I am trying to incorporate what I am learning at Full Sail as I go. Although I know I’ll be able to do this more realistically once I have graduated, it’s important to keep in mind that with technology there is no finish line. There is always something new to learn and apply.

Still, this year has taught me a great deal about planning and organization. There are so many simple things I can incorporate into my daily life that could make me more efficient in the long run. Labeling pictures and videos with more detailed descriptions, keeping clean computer file folders, subscribing to the right RSS feeds, instead of all the ones I find interesting, time blocking, and one of my favorites using an online time tracker so that online research doesn’t turn into online surfing.

My reaction to Lina's post:

1 Comment

Therese Lunsford

Lina,

Wow, I can't believe how many things I identify with in your blog!

First, I felt the same way about the video for class. We can use media we create again and again, and that is one great argument for your case.

I have also been wanting to incorporate what I learn as I go, as you have, so you much be managing your time well, because I have found that impossible! I cannot wait until graduation to apply my new skills. I may be teaching a whole new curriculum next year, so I haven't put a lot of effort in to creating media I won't be able to keep. Hopefully next year I'll be able to do so, so long as I keep up with technology, as you point out one needs to do!

Good luck in all your efforts, especially organizing and staying focuses. That is a hard task, but from what I've seen of your work, it seems you are doing a truly GREAT job! (You and just a few others are the ones I look to for setting the standard!)

Wednesday, May 19, 2010 - 05:11 PM

Week 3 Reaction Post - Holly Leibham

Holly Leibham's post:

So my search has begun for journals or magazines where I feel would be good places to see about getting my article published. I am looking at NEA Today, Education Week, Teacher Magazine and Teaching Pk-8. I think these four places are a great jumping off point for me. Now that my summary is complete I need to focus on my website and writing my article. It is a little hard to get a handle on because I have never done this before. So I feel kinda blind going into this. I am happy that we are talking about them in wimba but still a little nerve racking and scary for me. I am hoping to get some great headings and then kinda piece my article together through the use of my website since that seems like it might be the easiest and work... we'll see! Off to work. Leaving you with a funny comic.

And her comic:

My reaction:

Holly, I'm in the same boat as you! I've narrowed down my search, but I've had a slight setback. I planned to publish by presenting at a local conference. Now after researching the website, I found the conference is not for the upcoming school year, but the one after that! So I wouldn't be able to present until 2011, and I'm not sure how well that will go over with Full Sail! So I may be starting fresh again, since I cannot afford to present at the conference next year, since it is away. Good luck in your search, I know making my decision wasn't easy, and when I made it, I was excited! So hopefully something similar will work out for me, and I hope you have no similar set backs! :)

Week 3 Reaction Post - Publishing 2 -MAEA?

I just found out something quite exciting. One place I could possibly present my action research is at the Michigan Art Education Association annual conference. The conference will be coming soon to Mt. Pleasant. I work for Mt Pleasant schools and live just 20 minutes outside of the city now. The great thing about that is, I didn’t know of any appropriate arts conferences I could present at besides this one. The cost of presenting out of my area would be too much. Last year the district paid for my conference attendance from money set aside for mentors and mentees. My mentee experience ended last year, so that $250 wasn’t available this year, and certainly won’t be next year. With the cost of all the fees associated with the conference, the $250 wouldn’t have been enough to pay for the fees and the additional hotel stay for last year’s conference, but luckily, the conference was held in Grand Rapids and my parents lived nearby. So I was able to afford the conference because the district was paying for the fees, and having someone to stay with made the conference affordable.

Having the conference within traveling distance should allow me to be able to afford to attend the conference. The only unfortunate thing is that even if you present at the conference (instead of attend as a participant), you still have to pay the same amount for the conference. I think if you present, you should either not have to pay at all, or get a reduced fee. But that’s just my personal gripe.

The only other hiccup I foresee is that I would miss two school days for the conference, and I might have to pay for my subs out of pocket. As districts are crunching the numbers and reducing and cutting, I know one reduction they keep making in our district is to cut our coverage by subs. If you’ll be out for any reason other than illness or bereavement, getting subs paid for by the district becomes an issue of late.

Other than some financial concerns, having the conference in my city of employment is very exciting, and will make my decision and process for publication so much easier.