Wk 4 Publishing_Leadership Project

My action research project centers around a particular method for improving behavior, so I wanted to contribute my findings to either a publication or conference where Positive Behavior Support is also the central theme. I came across the 2011 National PBIS Leadership Forum called Implementing Innovation for a Lasting Effect which is being held October 27 & 28 in Illinois. This forum is specifically designed for educators in the process of implementing PBS at a school- or district-wide level. The forum has a call for poster presentations that allow presenters to share examples of how PBS has been implemented.

I was unable to find any other upcoming conferences I thought would be interested in this topic in particular, so my second choice appears to be creating a paper for publication, which I have already begun working on in case my first choice does not work out. The publication I have decided on is the Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, which publishes research on changing problem behaviors that have social significance.


Publishing/Leadership Thinking Out-loud #1
Publishing/Leadership Thinking Out-loud #2
Alman_Jennifer_PubLeadProject

Wk 4 Comment to Klytia

Klytia Burcham says:

I have to start by saying that I love this book!  I have enjoyed every chapter and know that, although I am familiar with many of the themes in this book, I loved the way that they were presented in this book.  It also served to remind me that I need to live in the moment and give the situation I find myself in it’s due; it is what it is!  Judgement and bitterness over situations we find ourselves in serves nobody, especially me.

The idea of enrollment is very enticing to me.  You know it when you see it, but it is something that almost always is seen in person.  Zander writes, “ Enrollment is the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share.”  This is what we hope to share with our students.  I think enrollment is what launches a good teacher to a great teacher because they are able to launch their students into the mindset of possibility.

The chapter on being the board was the hardest for me to understand, but once I got the idea that it was really about taking the responsibility of being a part of the situation.  It isn’t about taking all of the responsibility for the situation or blame.  It is about seeing what part you did have in the situation and what can be done to alleviate the blame game.  What can be done to get the participants in the situation back in the same game.  By taking the responsibility of being the board, you are able to see the situation for what it is, minus any blame or resentment.  If both participants take the stance of being the board the situation is more likely to be solved in a mutually beneficial way.  It becomes a WE story instead of an I story.  What can WE do about this so that we can both find a suitable solution for everyone.

My Response:

You did a wonderful job synthesizing the last four chapters of the book. I like your explanation of being the board. It really would be ideal if we could all think that way. It would be a win-win for all, wouldn't it?  I love the phrase "It is what it is." When we take things personally, we do ourselves so much harm and end up creating a situation that is much worse than it truly is. Like you said, it's the judgement and bitterness that ultimates hurts us.

Wk 4 Comment to Curt

Curt Isakson says:

A distinction is not a standard to live up to, but a framework of possibility to live into.”

The Art of Possibilities, Rosamund Zander, and Benjamin Zander, 2000.

Instead of commenting on just one part of the last chapters of this book, I would like to write down a few simple thoughts on the whole book:

This book has really got me thinking about I interact with the people around me, and how I react to the environment that surrounds me.

I have to remind myself that reality is simply my reality and the perspective I view it from can be so fluid from day to day and moment to moment.  I believe that it is up to me to create my world and to make sure that I try to tackle it from a positive and educated viewpoint and keep the WE factor in mind always.

I cannot say I have had a book that has stuck with me so well as the Art of Possibilities.

My Response:

I too was quite inspired by the Art of Possibilities. You are so right about how fluid our perspective and reality can be. Sometimes that is a good thing...it makes us teachable and moldable when our perspective needs changing. I wish you the best of luck in your journey for a new and enlightened viewpoint that benefits yourself and those around you.

Wk 4 Reading

The last four chapters of this week's reading seem to have been designed to inspire the reader to be the change they want to see in the world. The Zanders encourage the reader to create a spark and framework for that change and enroll others in that vision. It is not about manipulating people or situations to accomplish something, but using your passion to inspire others.

I also liked the chapters on being the board and telling the we story. It is so easy to blame others for what we perceive to be wrong. Instead the Zanders challenge the reader to take responsibility for what happens in your life and find a way to transform situations and see things in a different light. Doing this brings more compassion to a world full of human beings all trying to co-exist.

Wk4 Publishing/Leadership project part 2 of 2: 2011 National PBIS Leadership Forum

I finally decided to apply as a poster presenter for the 2011 National PBIS Leadership Forum, which is being held in October. I decided to go with this option since it seems to be the only conference  specifically geared toward my AR project which is accepting presenters at this time. Although I really would have like to attempt to get my work published, I thought the conference would be a great opportunity for me to present my finding, but also to learn more about Positive Behavior Support.

Week 3 Wimba

I definitely needed this Wimba session. I was still very unsure about exactly what I needed to do to get the final presentation done. I appreciate the details that were discussed in the session and the specific questions that were asked by those that attended. I feel I have more clarity after the session. 

Like my classmates, I find "The Art of Possibility" has inspired me to view myself and my students from another perspective. Giving an A, leading from any chair and thinking outside the box can definitely make a difference in the lives of students.

Wk3 Publishing/Leadership project part 1 of 2: Choices

I am still teetering between the choices: paper or presentation. One possibility is to present for a conference that is geared specifically towards my action research about Positive Behavior Support. My concern is that the guidelines for this presentation do not fit the guidelines of our project. The other choice would be to create a paper. Either way I can probably use the project created at Full Sail as a starting point for the conference presentation, which I am certainly interested in doing. At this time, I am looking into possibilities for publishing in a PBS publication, so if the conference option is not viable, I will go with the publishing choice.

Week 3 Comment to Bruchetta

Bruchetta Jones says:

With the chapters of The Art of Possibility, I understood the reference to a conductor not knowing his orchestra, as I was once part of an orchestra.  When there is a performance, the conductor and principal chairs (the 1st seated and usually best player in that section) receive the kudos.  I think that this can reflect in the classroom.  When a particular teacher's students gets high marks on a standardized test, it may be the teacher or the principal that gets the accolades, not the students nor the parents.  That is why in many professional development and master's courses in education, the word "facilitator" is stressed so much.  Instead of being the frontrunner or the one who takes all of the credit, be the run who "runs" with the group and helps along as needed.

As I read this book, it does reflect on emotions, moods, and how our personalities may effect others.  These are great things to think about not just as people, but as educators who have the ability to effect many lives. We need to be able to "forget" our troubles for the moment, which yes, is a hard feat in itself, and focus on the lives that we can shape, so then they will be able to spread that notion to others.

My Response:

You bring up an interesting point about who gets credit when a student does well (or poorly). You said, "When a particular teacher's students gets high marks on a standardized test, it may be the teacher or the principal that gets the accolades, not the students nor the parents." 
The state of Florida is about to go to merit pay, which means a part of the teacher's salary is dependent on his/her students' standardized test scores. As if it weren't enough that we assess a student's learning based on a standardized test, now teachers will be judged by them as well. It seems we are not moving toward facilitation, doesn't it?

Week 3 Comment to Kathy

Kathy Valunas says:

The possibilities are endless... or so one might believe after reading this week's chapters in our book for reflection. But what it really boils down to is attitude and perception. It was so easy to visualize from chapter 5 how the conductor- detached as the ultimate leader- was to provide the ultimate guidance as his orchestra played. But their jobs were probably even more stressful and complex because it was the instrumental players who were responsible for interpreting the every move of the conductor so that every note and accent was flawlessly played. They had to be totally in tune with his direction of the piece would fail.

So it is with educators, or business managers, corporate big-wigs, etc. etc. etc. The list of players could be any group you wanted it to be and the maestro or ultimate leader could be that president, administrator, CEO, the one we place on the pedestal- the unreachable or untouchable bronze statue, etc. Regardless of who those people are, there has to be a leader who can nurture and mold his group, direct them in such a way as to encourage perfection with their craft. Ultimately, that perfection is evident when we see the final outcomes, the reactions of the audience as well as the performance of the players.

But the process doesn't end with the performance- that might be just the beginning of the interpretation or understanding. It is the facilitator who leads with compassion. This is the one who exhibits just the right mix of expertise and humor, but who is willing to admit when they too are not perfect but just the vessel used to hold all of the strengths necessary to fill up the whole pitcher of perfection. With that, we then need to ask ourselves, what is perfection? What one might consider perfection may be failure for another. The trick then is to find the right balance or mix of all the ingredients necessary to make the presentation of skills and talent delectable, cherished, and unscathed in the eyes of the beholders, the listeners, the audience, the evaluators, and the critics.

So I will consider my purpose as an art and let my mind wander around the sea of possibility until I complete my journey and lead others to achieve their possibilities... let this art experience begin!



My response:

Perfect is an impossible goal, yet we still expect ourselves and others to do things without mistake. How unrealistic is that? I think it's more about what we do when we make mistakes. Do we take it into stride and keep trying or do we give up or even worse beat ourselves up for not being perfect?
As a self proclaimed perfectionist, I have learned a lot in recent years about how this seemingly positive trait has created stress and anxiety, which in turn made me less able to perform with a high level of success. I have found much freedom in letting go of the expectation to be perfect and I have accomplished much more because of it.

Week 3 Reading

I thought last week's reading was really good, but this week I couldn't stop reading. I was blown away by the chapter on being a contribution. I love the thought of being a meaningful contributor instead of focusing on competition. Although I do have a competitive spirit, it's generally within myself. I strive to grow and be better than I was the day before. I especially enjoy collaborating and working together for the greater good. This chapter empowered me to value this about myself and strive to incorporate this in my future career path.

i also liked the chapter on accepting things the way they are. I realized that I spend tooo much time focusing on how I think things should be or I would like for them to be. Instead, if I allowed things to be just as they are, I can use my time to be in the moment or find solutions that would work better.

Week 2 Reading

The first four chapters of the Art of Possibility are truly inspiring. It really got me thinking about how I see my students and the expectations I place on them. I was particularly inspired by the authors' idea of celebrating and valuing mistakes. "...I actively train my students that when they make a mistake, they are to lift their arms in the air, smile, and say, "How fascinating!"" So often our students feel that if they do not have the right answers they will be punished or get a bad grade. I would like to work on this in my classroom and foster a more open environment where students feel comfortable enough to make mistakes and learn something from them.

I was also interested in the concept of 'giving an A' and enjoyed reading the letters from Ben Zander's students. It was inspiring to hear a student's opinion on what an A would look like for them at the end of the semester. So often we tell students what the final outcome of a course should be, without giving them the opportunity to take ownership of their learning along the way.

The only concern I have about what I have read so far is that it all seems very idealistic. I imagine that it is harder to apply these principles consistently.

Week 2 Comment to Angela

Angela Alipour says:

How can we think outside the box we live in?
Great question. There have been many times when I ask myself that question. Thinking outside of the box is what gives birth to creativity. Yet much of what we are taught as being accepting and normal keeps many people inside of the box. I have fallen in this trap many, many, times. I do find that as I get older I have actually began to think out of the box.
What might we invent that would give us other choices?
A positive perspective and knowing that there are an abundance of choices available to each and everyone of us would give us other choices.


My response:

I too was struck by the concept of thinking outside the box. It seems like all my life, doing things 'by the book' was what was expected, so I sometimes feel uncomfortable with the idea of thinking outside the box. However, I do see the value of it and like you, I am working to get out of the habit of expecting that from my students.

Week 2 Comment to Sarah

Sarah Baker-Dykes says:

I have really enjoyed reading the first four chapters of The Art of Possibility.  Chapters 3 and 4 really struck a chord with me. The ideas of “giving yourself an A” and “being contribution” are so inspiring.  When I was finished reading, my brain was spinning with new ideas to bring to my own classroom.


Zander so clearly showed how one’s outlook on people and situations can change the outcomes and our emotions.  By beginning each situation or each relationship by giving an A, we automatically treat it with so much more respect.  Because of the invented game and what an A stands for in our minds, when we start off a relationship by giving the other person an A, we are opening up a world of possibilities.  Rather than focusing on the negatives and picking things apart, we can view others as a masterpiece.  Zander likened this to Michelangelo and how he described a block of stone that has a beautiful statue dwelling inside.  The excess material must be removed to reveal the beauty inside.  I found this to be such a wonderful illustration for how teachers approach students.  Zander quite perfectly stated that, “this A is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into.”

The most intriguing idea I’ve gained so far is that of being a contribution.  This idea of trying to make a difference each day is very inspiring.  In the book, Mr. Zander had his students tell a way they made a contribution each week in any avenue of life.  What a great idea! I think it’s the goal of most educators that we see our students grow into responsible and caring citizens.  By embracing this idea and showing students how they can make a difference just by one small thing they do, can have a huge impact on their lives.

This idea can be adapted by anyone at any age. I’m quite confident that my third grade students would take hold of this idea and run with it.  I can’t wait to introduce this to my class.  Likewise, applying this principle to my personal life can have a great effect. If I greeted every relationship and circumstance with the question, “What contribution can I make and how can I make a difference today?” my life may be very different.  Even now as I type this, I’m still inspired by these questions.  My hope is that I’ll be able to apply this idea to my students.  To look at them and think, “what can I do to make a difference in your life?”  It’s such a powerful thought.  The idea that this question could be embraced by my students is exciting.  I would love for them to look at their classmates and community and think, “what contribution can I make?”



My Response:

I was inspired all over again reading your post! I like that you are looking for ways to apply the ideas of the book not only in your classroom, but in the relationships in your life. I am sure you will be able to find a way to apply these ideas with your students and others and make a huge contribution to society. 

Week 2 Blog: Wimba Session

http://www.flickr.com/photos/opensourceway/4371001458/

If I thought my head was spinning after last week, this week is worse! I get the difference between copyright, fair use and creative commons, but I am still confused about all the gray area. Creative Commons is the only one that seems a little more clear-cut. The symbols make it easy to understand what can be used and how it can be used.  I particularly appreciated Joe's suggestion to use flickr.com/creativecommons when beginning a search for images. I used that website to get the image above and I hoping I did it right or will get some feedback on what I should do.

Week 1 Intro to MAC

Wow! I have to say my head is spinning! That first Wimba session will probably be one I will refer to all month. There is a lot of details to remember and with every assignment I have done so far, I keep thinking I am missing something or am not doing it right. I am looking forward to seeing the grades from the first week, so I can at least be sure I am meeting the requirements.

I am very nervous about the publishing/presentation project and have no idea which one to pick. I realize I will have to figure that out soon because that will be the easy part. It's the 1200-1500 words by the end of April I am most concerned about. Writing is not my forte so it takes me a long time to process thoughts and organize them in a cohesive way.

Oh well! Like they say, I'll take it one day at a time and pray the rest falls in place!

Week 1 Comment to Curt Isakson

Curt Isakson says:

I think the title says it all.  Copyright on both sides of the wall is both a confusing and an important issue.  The creator needs to protect their art and be able to make a fair living, and user should have access to the work to be informed and inspired and be able to use these ideas for their work too.  Sometimes I feel this is a deeper and more complex subject than arguing Politics!

As a musician that has written, recorded, and performed many forms of music, I have been on both sides.  I have appreciated payments for my personal writings and performances, and I have had no problem paying for the rights to use others work.  Just last year I wrote a check to Hal Leonard for $100 that paid for the right to arrange and perform an Aerosmith song at graduation. So Steve Perry and Neil Schon received a few bucks from the kids at Shelby. Do many high school bands do that?  I doubt it.  Why shouldn't the publishing house and the writers gain from their work and their art?  No question there from me.

When talking to my students, they all believe that what ever is out there on the Internet is theirs for the taking.  This is where the concerned parties should be investing their efforts: in education.  This could probably save a tremendous amount of time and money in court if we could change and/or educate the students and the public early.

A valuable resource on copyright issues as it pertains to the music industry is at the Hal Leonard website.

My Comment:

Curtis,

I remembered you are a musician, so I was particularly interested in your opinion on this very controversial issue. I am surprised you only had to pay $100 to Hal Leonard. I would have guessed that number to be much higher. You bring up a great point about educating the public. Publishers would indeed save a lot of time and money if they educated the public on the laws.

Week 1 Comment to Kathy Toth

Kathy Toth says:

Early in the EMDT program, we had the fear of copyright law instilled in us.  Now we are being encouraged to bend that law, if not out and out break it, for the sake of literacy and cultural progress.

My question is:  Who owns the rights to the video above?  I took the video (not a great video, I admit.  I wasn’t planning to until I remembered I could capture the moment on my iphone.)  There was no announcement before the performance, like I remember before Bob Dylan started playing, that the use of video equipment was prohibited.  But I did not write the song and I did not perform the song.  Do I need permission?  Can the songwriter sue me for using this video here on my blog?  The songwriter posted one of my videos on his facebook page.  We never talked about permission.  Can I sue him?

Common sense shows us the absurdity of the situation.  How would it benefit either one of us to try to maintain control over a three minute piece of video that should be freely shared with anyone interested in viewing it.

Imagine if early oral storytellers wielded the power of copyright we may never have had the tradition of stories passed on orally throughout the generations.  Our culture is richer when we share.

My Comment:

Kathy,

I do agree with you about our culture being richer when we can share information readily and easily. However, I do think we need to look at the viewpoint of the artist. With so many struggling artist out there, how will they make a living if they are not compensated for their work? If anyone can use their work and profit from it, will they be able to continue exploring their creativity?  It's such a touchy subject with little or no black or white answers.

Post #1: Copyright Laws

Strict copyright laws serve to protect the big industries and artists that make enormous profits as it is. It also stifles the creativity of society in general and discourages freedom of speech that may be based on someone else's work.

Don't get me wrong. If I created an original work, I wouldn’t want someone to just blatantly copy it. I completely understand the need for copyrighted material, but I think it should be more like what is done in the literary world. Someone should not be able to plagiarize your work and call it their own, unless they have your permission to do so. However, if samples of your work are used to create something else, citing the original creator should be enough, just as Girl Talk does.