For the first time, I feel like I have made a chip in the pavement (for lack of a better word).
I finished an assignment. My webgift is complete... including the writing. And I am entirely happy with the progress. :)
Although I enjoy this program so far, it's definitely weird not completing one assignment completely before moving on to the next. We work on everything all at once. While consuming and a bit overwhelming, I like the idea of keeping assignments open for a longer period of time and not limiting our minds to continue building on our concepts, ideas, etc.
Regardless, it did feel good today to complete something. Yay!
Tuesday, July 31, 2007
Monday, July 30, 2007
A little Overwhelmed...
I've got a lot to do.
I keep thinking to myself, it's Summer. You don't have papers to grade or lessons to plan for another month... but I'm a bit overwhelmed regardless. I am usually great at organizing my priorities but for some reason, I don't know what is more important, let alone what book I should be tackling next.
It's been a little bit of a whirlwind, but I really, really enjoy the readings and reflections so far. I like that the books aren't boring education novels/textbooks and rather books I can get into. I like even more that most of them don't directly target education rather more business practice.
Truth is, education is a business and it's about time everyone starts viewing it that way. Yeah, some may say that it sounds a bit callous and impersonal, but we really are SELLING the idea of content and learning to students.
Being a technology program, it's fitting that we actually take heed and join a generation of Web 2.0 "subscribers" and jump on the bandwagon before it passes us by (and man is it zooming).
Kudos to those who are seeing the need to change the way we view our education "business" and making changes to suit our generation of "customers."
Remember, we grew up in the ages of pong and atari... they have SO much more on us!
(if anyone cares, I still remember bits and pieces of the program code it took to boot up my Commodore 64 to get to the games!) .... comma-eight-comma-nine-return! (and wait forever because it took that long for the precious black and green-lettered screen to get the game going.
This is not my exact computer ... but it does bring back some sweet memories!
I keep thinking to myself, it's Summer. You don't have papers to grade or lessons to plan for another month... but I'm a bit overwhelmed regardless. I am usually great at organizing my priorities but for some reason, I don't know what is more important, let alone what book I should be tackling next.
It's been a little bit of a whirlwind, but I really, really enjoy the readings and reflections so far. I like that the books aren't boring education novels/textbooks and rather books I can get into. I like even more that most of them don't directly target education rather more business practice.
Truth is, education is a business and it's about time everyone starts viewing it that way. Yeah, some may say that it sounds a bit callous and impersonal, but we really are SELLING the idea of content and learning to students.
Being a technology program, it's fitting that we actually take heed and join a generation of Web 2.0 "subscribers" and jump on the bandwagon before it passes us by (and man is it zooming).
Kudos to those who are seeing the need to change the way we view our education "business" and making changes to suit our generation of "customers."
Remember, we grew up in the ages of pong and atari... they have SO much more on us!
(if anyone cares, I still remember bits and pieces of the program code it took to boot up my Commodore 64 to get to the games!) .... comma-eight-comma-nine-return! (and wait forever because it took that long for the precious black and green-lettered screen to get the game going.
This is not my exact computer ... but it does bring back some sweet memories!
Saturday, July 28, 2007
Final reflection on The Tipping Point
Well, I'm reached the end of the book (as if I don't have 10 other books I need to start reading like today)... and here are my thoughts...
(p.176) How interesting is it that when Bell telephone company intially made telephone numbers, they wanted to shoot for the highest #... knowing that as the population increased, our need for more number sequence possibilities would also increase. With that thought, they picked 7 and 9... 7 being the amount of #'s in your phone #, and 9 including the area code. I thought that was very bright of them to think ahead and to research brain capacities --the human brain only really having a 9-number sequential memory pattern.
On with the capacity idea... humans have a friend capacity of about 150 ppl. As they defined it, people who you would not mind stopping and having a cocktail with. Any more than that and we act as strangers to one another. So fascinating. What I found to be even more fascinating was that religious tribal groups mentioned in the book already follow this rule by trial and error, only placing their people in groups of less than 150 people as to maintain the bomding among the group. Cool beans.
(p.183) Gore and Associates... what a smart business mind.
(p.188-189) The idea of transactive memory was also intriguing. It's amazing that people can synchronize their brains to those that they feel close in relationship to, enough to increase the collective memory of the couple.
(p.203-204) Needle Vans in Baltimore?!? Brilliant. Even more brilliant are those that sell them for $1 each. I had no idea about this. In sharing this with my fiance, he knew! (I suppose Maryland natives know a thing or two about their state)
(p.242) The whole smoking section: (by the way, it was not that long ago that smoking was allowed in our restaurants in CA... how wonderful that times have changed!)
..."that does not mean that parents who smoke around their children follow. It simply meanrs that smokers' children have inherited genes from their parents that predispose them toward nicotine addiction."
I've heard people say, "it's in their genes" before, but I didn't actually put that idea to use. I do believe that the ACCESS to cigarettes makes it easier for those kids (even not disposed genetically) to become chippers or try it sooner.
(p.246) Nicotine run higher in depressed people because nicotine has the power to boost the brain chemicals that they lack.
That makes total sense. I had no idea that nicotine was able to contribute to the lacking chemicals... explains why the percentage of depressed individuals is upwards in the 80 percentile range of smoking.
Final thoughts: I wonder, and may ponder in a later blog or forum posting, is there a tipping point for teaching technology? Or raising awareness of technology benefits? Or getting our kids interested in OTHER aspects of technology that can be useful (Of course we already know they are interested in technology...) and finally and probably most importantly... Can WE change ourselves to think like our students do? They have a lot to teach us.
Cheers.
(p.176) How interesting is it that when Bell telephone company intially made telephone numbers, they wanted to shoot for the highest #... knowing that as the population increased, our need for more number sequence possibilities would also increase. With that thought, they picked 7 and 9... 7 being the amount of #'s in your phone #, and 9 including the area code. I thought that was very bright of them to think ahead and to research brain capacities --the human brain only really having a 9-number sequential memory pattern.
On with the capacity idea... humans have a friend capacity of about 150 ppl. As they defined it, people who you would not mind stopping and having a cocktail with. Any more than that and we act as strangers to one another. So fascinating. What I found to be even more fascinating was that religious tribal groups mentioned in the book already follow this rule by trial and error, only placing their people in groups of less than 150 people as to maintain the bomding among the group. Cool beans.
(p.183) Gore and Associates... what a smart business mind.
(p.188-189) The idea of transactive memory was also intriguing. It's amazing that people can synchronize their brains to those that they feel close in relationship to, enough to increase the collective memory of the couple.
(p.203-204) Needle Vans in Baltimore?!? Brilliant. Even more brilliant are those that sell them for $1 each. I had no idea about this. In sharing this with my fiance, he knew! (I suppose Maryland natives know a thing or two about their state)
(p.242) The whole smoking section: (by the way, it was not that long ago that smoking was allowed in our restaurants in CA... how wonderful that times have changed!)
..."that does not mean that parents who smoke around their children follow. It simply meanrs that smokers' children have inherited genes from their parents that predispose them toward nicotine addiction."
I've heard people say, "it's in their genes" before, but I didn't actually put that idea to use. I do believe that the ACCESS to cigarettes makes it easier for those kids (even not disposed genetically) to become chippers or try it sooner.
(p.246) Nicotine run higher in depressed people because nicotine has the power to boost the brain chemicals that they lack.
That makes total sense. I had no idea that nicotine was able to contribute to the lacking chemicals... explains why the percentage of depressed individuals is upwards in the 80 percentile range of smoking.
Final thoughts: I wonder, and may ponder in a later blog or forum posting, is there a tipping point for teaching technology? Or raising awareness of technology benefits? Or getting our kids interested in OTHER aspects of technology that can be useful (Of course we already know they are interested in technology...) and finally and probably most importantly... Can WE change ourselves to think like our students do? They have a lot to teach us.
Cheers.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Tipping Point - reflection, day #2
I have been reading the Tipping Point as part of the Action Research class. I really enjoy reading books like these; trial and error meets statistics and studies on various topics.
I have so many things to highlight as interesting...
(p.100) - connects to the Johnson book, Everything Bad is Good For You, in mentioning that critics are against all forms of television as it creates a "zombie affect" in humans... whereas Sesame Street and Blue's Clues attempted (and succeeded) to change that stereotype. What I didn't know about Sesame Street was the reason it was first brought to life: to allow children in areas where poverty and poor family involvement was at an alltime high... to become educated.
One of the Blue's Clues masterminds is quoted in saying, "TV is a great medium for education. But people up until now haven't explored the potential of it. They've been using it in a rote way. I believe we can turn that around."(p.111)
(p.102) "They (children) watch what they understand and turn away when they're confused" ---isn't that true of adults too!?!? I think so!
(p.118) "Sesame Street followed Piaget in that preschool-aged children can't follow a narrative." --and on the contrary, when it is understandable and interactive, children sure can!
(p.126) Did you guys know that Blue's Clues airs Monday-Friday the exact same episode? (maybe it is just because I don't have TV or children that I am so far out of the loop... but I find it fascinating that there is resounding success in the show. One reason the book mentions is because children do get a sense of pride and honor in knowing what is coming --basically not feeling stupid and lacking knowledge... and because they can learn and see more everytime they watch it... much like I see, as Johnson pointed out in Everything Bad is Good For You, when I watch Seinfeld over and over again... it never gets old and I see/learn more everytime)
(p.142) In discussing the issue of Goetz and the 4 boys on the dirty subway... "The graffiti was symbolic of the collapse of the system." The "broken windows" theory was certainly interesting. I couldn't agree more with the idea that context and environment greatly affect behavior. Who knows that Goetz would have fired at those boys if it weren't for the environment he was in.
in relation...
(p.146) "Minor seemingly insignificant quality of life crimes were the tipping points for violent crimes" -- cleaning up the environment, one cigarette butt, one line of graffiti, one piece of trash, can likely dramatically affect the feelings and moods of the people within the environment.
(p.151) "The Power of Context says you don't have to solve the big problems to solve crime. You can prevent crimes just by scrubbing off graffiti and arresting fare-beaters..."
(much like my above reflection, starting from the small items and working up changes the environment and the "context"... creating a tipping point and thus reducing crimes on a larger scale)
Can this also be true for our students? If we were to take pride in our jobs as educators, clean up our classrooms/schools (speaking higher volumes for "ghetto" areas) and treat our students like they are privileged members of society, would this not change their views of the drudgery of schooling alltogether? Just a thought. I know that I certainly feel better about myself and more valued when I am in the presence of cleanliness, ambitious and positive people.
My final reflection for the reading today (I'll finish the book tomorrow... promise!) is from (p.163). The author talks about how people's moods and the way others view them is highly based on the context in which they meet. He mentions that because he enjoys dinner parties and has lots of them, that his friends who attend his dinner parties view him as a great, social, polite, happy person. Whereas, their view is not across the board. They don't see him in traffic, on dirty subways, or at the DMV. If they did, their view of him might not be the same as it is when he is at dinner parties. Hence, different people have different views of the person we "are." Rarely do our friends see us in all areas of our lives, otherwise we would be considered many things...
I know for me, some people view me as:
polite, respectful, encouraging -- at school
frustrated, angry, short fused -- at VirtCamp (okay... just kidding... I really am not!)
fun, energetic, adventurous -- on the weekends
But really, you only see those sides of people when you are with them during all of those times. Some people only see me at school... so to them, I am polite, respectful, encouraging... etc. You get the picture.
Hope you're all enjoying the book. :)
I have so many things to highlight as interesting...
(p.100) - connects to the Johnson book, Everything Bad is Good For You, in mentioning that critics are against all forms of television as it creates a "zombie affect" in humans... whereas Sesame Street and Blue's Clues attempted (and succeeded) to change that stereotype. What I didn't know about Sesame Street was the reason it was first brought to life: to allow children in areas where poverty and poor family involvement was at an alltime high... to become educated.
One of the Blue's Clues masterminds is quoted in saying, "TV is a great medium for education. But people up until now haven't explored the potential of it. They've been using it in a rote way. I believe we can turn that around."(p.111)
(p.102) "They (children) watch what they understand and turn away when they're confused" ---isn't that true of adults too!?!? I think so!
(p.118) "Sesame Street followed Piaget in that preschool-aged children can't follow a narrative." --and on the contrary, when it is understandable and interactive, children sure can!
(p.126) Did you guys know that Blue's Clues airs Monday-Friday the exact same episode? (maybe it is just because I don't have TV or children that I am so far out of the loop... but I find it fascinating that there is resounding success in the show. One reason the book mentions is because children do get a sense of pride and honor in knowing what is coming --basically not feeling stupid and lacking knowledge... and because they can learn and see more everytime they watch it... much like I see, as Johnson pointed out in Everything Bad is Good For You, when I watch Seinfeld over and over again... it never gets old and I see/learn more everytime)
(p.142) In discussing the issue of Goetz and the 4 boys on the dirty subway... "The graffiti was symbolic of the collapse of the system." The "broken windows" theory was certainly interesting. I couldn't agree more with the idea that context and environment greatly affect behavior. Who knows that Goetz would have fired at those boys if it weren't for the environment he was in.
in relation...
(p.146) "Minor seemingly insignificant quality of life crimes were the tipping points for violent crimes" -- cleaning up the environment, one cigarette butt, one line of graffiti, one piece of trash, can likely dramatically affect the feelings and moods of the people within the environment.
(p.151) "The Power of Context says you don't have to solve the big problems to solve crime. You can prevent crimes just by scrubbing off graffiti and arresting fare-beaters..."
(much like my above reflection, starting from the small items and working up changes the environment and the "context"... creating a tipping point and thus reducing crimes on a larger scale)
Can this also be true for our students? If we were to take pride in our jobs as educators, clean up our classrooms/schools (speaking higher volumes for "ghetto" areas) and treat our students like they are privileged members of society, would this not change their views of the drudgery of schooling alltogether? Just a thought. I know that I certainly feel better about myself and more valued when I am in the presence of cleanliness, ambitious and positive people.
My final reflection for the reading today (I'll finish the book tomorrow... promise!) is from (p.163). The author talks about how people's moods and the way others view them is highly based on the context in which they meet. He mentions that because he enjoys dinner parties and has lots of them, that his friends who attend his dinner parties view him as a great, social, polite, happy person. Whereas, their view is not across the board. They don't see him in traffic, on dirty subways, or at the DMV. If they did, their view of him might not be the same as it is when he is at dinner parties. Hence, different people have different views of the person we "are." Rarely do our friends see us in all areas of our lives, otherwise we would be considered many things...
I know for me, some people view me as:
polite, respectful, encouraging -- at school
frustrated, angry, short fused -- at VirtCamp (okay... just kidding... I really am not!)
fun, energetic, adventurous -- on the weekends
But really, you only see those sides of people when you are with them during all of those times. Some people only see me at school... so to them, I am polite, respectful, encouraging... etc. You get the picture.
Hope you're all enjoying the book. :)
Lego reminders... days after VirtCamp has ended
Legos are still haunting me. To think that VirtCamp is over and the lego process was complete...But then, right before my very eyes as I am walking down the frozen food aisle of Ralphs grocery store, my attention is directed to none other than..........lego waffles. That's right folks.
At two bucks a pop, these very tasty (yet haunting) treats can be yours at a neighborhood Ralphs near you.
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Checking in, and The Tipping Point readings
Yes... some may say that I am addicted to this blog (ehm... Samiya, Todd) but really, I just feel it as my active duty in contributing to this program's well being. I also missed you all SO much from our VirtCamp reflection circle that I felt the need to reflect as if we were all together still.
Okay, fine. I don't care. I actually like this blog.
So far on my OMET journey, I have done tons of reading. Good reading though. If all the reading is as interesting and fulfilling as it has been, I won't mind that side. I am so excited that the majority of readings aren't textbooks but rather books chosen by our profs that they find compelling and informative in our area of study. I am enjoying The Tipping Point so far. A couple cool things:
When the author mentioned yawning, I did. Of course I hated contributing to that statistic... but yeah. Funny how I yawned just by reading the word... and now I am passing it on... wondering if I am making anyone else yawn...............zzz..............zz....................z......
I thought "nonverbal cues are as or more important than verbal cues" was an interesting statement. That entire section (p.79) was interesting to me because it talked about broadcasters that I have studied outside of this program and explained the nonverbal implications they have on their viewer's decisions and views. More specifically, the book mentions how Peter Jennings used his nonverbal cues to influence his opinion on voting for Ronald Reagan.
Finally, the idea of "emotional contagion" (p.85) was also interesting. By making someone smile, you can change their mood from unhappy to happy... because your expressions force you into a more relaxed and happy state.
Anyhow, just some thoughts about what I'm reading... and I wanted to remember these thoughts too.
Hope all is well my cadre mates!
Okay, fine. I don't care. I actually like this blog.
So far on my OMET journey, I have done tons of reading. Good reading though. If all the reading is as interesting and fulfilling as it has been, I won't mind that side. I am so excited that the majority of readings aren't textbooks but rather books chosen by our profs that they find compelling and informative in our area of study. I am enjoying The Tipping Point so far. A couple cool things:
When the author mentioned yawning, I did. Of course I hated contributing to that statistic... but yeah. Funny how I yawned just by reading the word... and now I am passing it on... wondering if I am making anyone else yawn...............zzz..............zz....................z......
I thought "nonverbal cues are as or more important than verbal cues" was an interesting statement. That entire section (p.79) was interesting to me because it talked about broadcasters that I have studied outside of this program and explained the nonverbal implications they have on their viewer's decisions and views. More specifically, the book mentions how Peter Jennings used his nonverbal cues to influence his opinion on voting for Ronald Reagan.
Finally, the idea of "emotional contagion" (p.85) was also interesting. By making someone smile, you can change their mood from unhappy to happy... because your expressions force you into a more relaxed and happy state.
Anyhow, just some thoughts about what I'm reading... and I wanted to remember these thoughts too.
Hope all is well my cadre mates!
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Welcome Home!
I'm back at home after an amazing trip to Malibu to visit my Cadre mates and start OMET. Although still feeling overwhelmed by how much we were told was coming up, I feel so excited about being a part of this.
When I returned home, I couldn't stop talking about each one of my new friends and telling stories and jokes (Brent, Todd, Samiya!) from the times we sat and babbled.
Right now I'm just Skyping with Samiya and relaxing at the beach...
When I returned home, I couldn't stop talking about each one of my new friends and telling stories and jokes (Brent, Todd, Samiya!) from the times we sat and babbled.
Right now I'm just Skyping with Samiya and relaxing at the beach...
Saturday, July 21, 2007
VirtCamp day #5, last day!!
Dinner with one of my roommates and other cadre mates (above)
In the "process" of learning lego systemsI am currently sitting here in the Grad building at Pepperdine amazed at the progress. We are about to unveil our final products and talk about how the processes were. It was such a cool experience to be with a motivated and bright group of students who assisted each other and treated these projects like their own...
The smaller group cadre (above)I am currently sitting here in the Grad building at Pepperdine amazed at the progress. We are about to unveil our final products and talk about how the processes were. It was such a cool experience to be with a motivated and bright group of students who assisted each other and treated these projects like their own...
I might not be making as much sense as usual under the tired state (we all) are in. I am very excited to see the final products from everyone. Our Cadre website can be viewed here:
www.myomet.com/00x
The final product will be taped and posted later... lots of learning was going on here!!! :)
VirtCamp day #4, very late night...okay Day #5 Morning
Alright... not much time here to "reflect."
The processes we worked through today were amazing. I am still surprised at our progress. Within a matter of 12 hours (of course we didn't actually get started until mid afternoon Friday), we have a hilarious and excellent video, cadre website, group website, individual websites, and a functioning lego machine. Woah.
Time for bed.
peace.
The processes we worked through today were amazing. I am still surprised at our progress. Within a matter of 12 hours (of course we didn't actually get started until mid afternoon Friday), we have a hilarious and excellent video, cadre website, group website, individual websites, and a functioning lego machine. Woah.
Time for bed.
peace.
Friday, July 20, 2007
VirtCamp day #3.5, late night
Well, I just sat at my computer for a couple hours trying to maneuver Dreamweaver. Out of all the programs and information we've been introduced to so far, it is by far the most frustrating for me. I feel more confident programming legos! I really want to learn the tools and eventually the code (hopefully...one step at a time) that would allow me to understand this seemingly not-so-difficult machine. I feel like I figured out a few things on Dreamweaver tonight although I am having difficulty with a few things:
1. making sure the page fits within the traditional layout size for the average computer (currently it's too big and I can't figure out how to shrink everything down)
2. how to upload the site onto my web space that pepperdine provides http://students.pepperdine.edu/blfoster/ (I guess you can check back and see if I have figured it out soon... currently it's blank page)
3. how to organize my content better (site map) within creating my website.
Anyway, I will post pictures later... I really need a connector that is easier than my camera port. I think I'll be looking into that really soon.
Oh, and I guess I should sleep. We all went out to Paradise Cove for dinner... sooo good and then off to Moonshadows for drinks with a couple GA's from Cadre 9. They are so amazing and helpful. We are so appreciative of their work (for us!). Tomorrow morning, we have to be at the Dean's house at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast followed by class at 9:00 until whenever we finish:
-our cadre website
-our group link site detailing our experiences with "lego mission"
-our group video, fully edited with 20 second voice-overs (VO back from my broadcasting days) for each person in our group and lots of b-roll shots
-oh... and getting our lego machine completely built and properly functioning (multi-faceted)
Yep, I'm tired. Goodnight.
1. making sure the page fits within the traditional layout size for the average computer (currently it's too big and I can't figure out how to shrink everything down)
2. how to upload the site onto my web space that pepperdine provides http://students.pepperdine.edu/blfoster/ (I guess you can check back and see if I have figured it out soon... currently it's blank page)
3. how to organize my content better (site map) within creating my website.
Anyway, I will post pictures later... I really need a connector that is easier than my camera port. I think I'll be looking into that really soon.
Oh, and I guess I should sleep. We all went out to Paradise Cove for dinner... sooo good and then off to Moonshadows for drinks with a couple GA's from Cadre 9. They are so amazing and helpful. We are so appreciative of their work (for us!). Tomorrow morning, we have to be at the Dean's house at 8:00 a.m. for breakfast followed by class at 9:00 until whenever we finish:
-our cadre website
-our group link site detailing our experiences with "lego mission"
-our group video, fully edited with 20 second voice-overs (VO back from my broadcasting days) for each person in our group and lots of b-roll shots
-oh... and getting our lego machine completely built and properly functioning (multi-faceted)
Yep, I'm tired. Goodnight.
Thursday, July 19, 2007
VirtCamp day #3, Nerd Rope Reflection
Well...
today was awesome. We had a chance to work on our lego project and work closer with our larger cadre group to think of a theme for our overall website. We also had the opportunity to learn more about moodle, blackboard, and the library system that Pepperdine offers.
My favorite part today: lego assembling and programming. My team and I worked very hard to completely revamp our lego layout and work work work to get that moving. The coolest part was watching the machine run by programming it from my laptop, ehm... a PC.
There was a lot of sweat and intense faces and concentration that led us where we are today. Although not done, we are certainly feeling positive about our progress and we can see the glint of light at the end of the tunnel. Of course we still have to create personal websites, a larger cadre website and a smaller group website... yep... in addition to finishing our wonderful lego machine completely functional with sorting capabilities and a working drop shoot and conveyor belt.
At the end of our class time today (as I'm writing this), we were given a Nerd Rope candy. Each one of us was asked to think and discuss how this nerd rope (relative to the loose nerds in the box ---so old school) worked as a metaphor to tie into the OMET program. Well, I certainly believe that in two point five short days... we have grown as a group from complete strangers who just knew each other by a picture (real, or not) from the Internet. Now, we have faces to go with the wide variety of personalities that exist within us and will for the next year and beyond.
Back on subject, the metaphor I see so clearly here relating the Nerd Rope to our lives is that the rope itself represents our common goals and students. We all love to learn and that strengthens our rope. We all have underlying common goals that we bring to the table, but ultimately, we are all here to be challenged and to learn from each other and our professors. During the program, our rope might change colors (flavors), but in the grand scheme of things, it is still just as strong.
About our larger cadre group theme: Agency 00X --more information to come!
We are off to have dinner at a great restaurant in Malibu tonight... so excited!
Goodbye for now.
today was awesome. We had a chance to work on our lego project and work closer with our larger cadre group to think of a theme for our overall website. We also had the opportunity to learn more about moodle, blackboard, and the library system that Pepperdine offers.
My favorite part today: lego assembling and programming. My team and I worked very hard to completely revamp our lego layout and work work work to get that moving. The coolest part was watching the machine run by programming it from my laptop, ehm... a PC.
There was a lot of sweat and intense faces and concentration that led us where we are today. Although not done, we are certainly feeling positive about our progress and we can see the glint of light at the end of the tunnel. Of course we still have to create personal websites, a larger cadre website and a smaller group website... yep... in addition to finishing our wonderful lego machine completely functional with sorting capabilities and a working drop shoot and conveyor belt.
At the end of our class time today (as I'm writing this), we were given a Nerd Rope candy. Each one of us was asked to think and discuss how this nerd rope (relative to the loose nerds in the box ---so old school) worked as a metaphor to tie into the OMET program. Well, I certainly believe that in two point five short days... we have grown as a group from complete strangers who just knew each other by a picture (real, or not) from the Internet. Now, we have faces to go with the wide variety of personalities that exist within us and will for the next year and beyond.
Back on subject, the metaphor I see so clearly here relating the Nerd Rope to our lives is that the rope itself represents our common goals and students. We all love to learn and that strengthens our rope. We all have underlying common goals that we bring to the table, but ultimately, we are all here to be challenged and to learn from each other and our professors. During the program, our rope might change colors (flavors), but in the grand scheme of things, it is still just as strong.
About our larger cadre group theme: Agency 00X --more information to come!
We are off to have dinner at a great restaurant in Malibu tonight... so excited!
Goodbye for now.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
VirtCamp day #2, before campfire
My biggest fear about this year's OMET program is...
being able to juggle my entire life and enjoy all experiences simultaneously. I have a lot on my plate this year. In addition to this (intense) program, I am also working on my second year of teaching (a challenge in itself), completing the state mandated induction program to clear my credential, changing grade levels and getting used to a new team of teachers, and finally, planning my wedding. So, needless to say, I have a lot going on. Will I get through it, absolutely. I feel as though I have a pretty good handle on multitasking. I actually get mind-numbingly bored when I am given nothing stressful or challenging for more than a weeks time span. Before this program, I was renting movies just to fill time... mostly being anxious and forcing myself to relax as a sort of calm before the storm. Now that I'm here, my fear is not making use of all the awesome resources I am being fed (literally, my brain is eating it up!) and not forgetting too much of one thing that I can't take them away and re-create and use them to my benefit.
My hope throughout the next year is that I can use this degree to change and become a powerful contributor to my classroom, my students, and my own life. I hope for excitement and urgency to learn the fabulous tools that are being put forth in front of me. I hope I can understand Dreamweaver (you'd think that I'd get it after having already worked with it before... but it's just not coming naturally to me!) and create an awesome page that ultimately can lead me to passing my tech-y knowledge on to my students, my fellow colleagues, and my friends.
After all of this, though, I'm off to New Zealand, Tahiti, Morea, and Bora Bora (with future husband)!
being able to juggle my entire life and enjoy all experiences simultaneously. I have a lot on my plate this year. In addition to this (intense) program, I am also working on my second year of teaching (a challenge in itself), completing the state mandated induction program to clear my credential, changing grade levels and getting used to a new team of teachers, and finally, planning my wedding. So, needless to say, I have a lot going on. Will I get through it, absolutely. I feel as though I have a pretty good handle on multitasking. I actually get mind-numbingly bored when I am given nothing stressful or challenging for more than a weeks time span. Before this program, I was renting movies just to fill time... mostly being anxious and forcing myself to relax as a sort of calm before the storm. Now that I'm here, my fear is not making use of all the awesome resources I am being fed (literally, my brain is eating it up!) and not forgetting too much of one thing that I can't take them away and re-create and use them to my benefit.
My hope throughout the next year is that I can use this degree to change and become a powerful contributor to my classroom, my students, and my own life. I hope for excitement and urgency to learn the fabulous tools that are being put forth in front of me. I hope I can understand Dreamweaver (you'd think that I'd get it after having already worked with it before... but it's just not coming naturally to me!) and create an awesome page that ultimately can lead me to passing my tech-y knowledge on to my students, my fellow colleagues, and my friends.
After all of this, though, I'm off to New Zealand, Tahiti, Morea, and Bora Bora (with future husband)!
VirtCamp day #2, during class
Okay. Just when we I thought I was pretty smart, Bill introduces "hard fun." Yeah, that's what he calls it. Basically we have some tasks. We are to work with our smaller cadre of 10 people and then down to the even smaller work group within the cadre to create a system/vehicle/machine that functions to sort pieces of different colors, decodes difficult color codes, and retrieves a
"box." Oh, did I forget to mention that we have to use legos and we are given close to NO intructions to complete the "secret agent" assignment? Yeah.
My thoughts: We are about 40% complete with creating a machine to our standards that can sort colored lego pieces... but we in no way could have gotten to this point on our own. Our teammates have really helped shape our thoughts. I know that I was thinking the entire time that I needed someone to just give me fresh ideas because I was stuck on assembling the machine in a completely different way than we ended up heading. Currently, we are assembling a conveyor belt that will then hit pieces back and forth (left or right) depending on the color... oh yet another task at hand for tomorrow's programming --today was simply building.
"box." Oh, did I forget to mention that we have to use legos and we are given close to NO intructions to complete the "secret agent" assignment? Yeah.
My thoughts: We are about 40% complete with creating a machine to our standards that can sort colored lego pieces... but we in no way could have gotten to this point on our own. Our teammates have really helped shape our thoughts. I know that I was thinking the entire time that I needed someone to just give me fresh ideas because I was stuck on assembling the machine in a completely different way than we ended up heading. Currently, we are assembling a conveyor belt that will then hit pieces back and forth (left or right) depending on the color... oh yet another task at hand for tomorrow's programming --today was simply building.
My hope and last piece of reflection as I sit here in the Ed. & Psych. building at Pepperdine University on this lovely Wednesday afternoon, is to keep an open mind and really allow myself to think out of my traditonal realm. Think like a child, Brandy!
Holy VirtCamp! - Day 1
Reflect. What the heck does that mean? As Bill said, it does NOT mean that you summarize your experience. So here is my take on the process (although given that non-VirtCampers read this, they will be utterly confused because of the lack of background): VirtCamp is a time of new beginnings. I feel great about starting in on something that I feel will become a powerful resource in my own career. Interesting enough, Bill mentioned that many people end up changing careers because of the influence (well, assumed influence) of this program. Still knowing nothing about my fate, this excites me! I have the issue of sitting still. I sit too long, I feel useless.
I look forward to the value and knowledge my cadre and this experience is going to bring. By the way, fellow VirtCampers, I too was super nervous at the idea of the Action Research Labyrinth the lovely Kristen unveiled. Will my project impact the masses? I guess time will only tell. Open mind. Open ears. Throw me in coach.
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