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Blog Post by Tamika:

Have you ever noticed the fiery burn that illuminates before a match reaches its full potential?  That is where we as future EMDT graduates exist right now.  We are on the brink of a beautiful existence but like a match, it can end in a moment if we do not allow others to see our spark.  This is what the final section of the Art of Possibility speaks on.  We have the tools but just as Dr. King had his dream, we must also create a vision to create a ‘framework of possibility’ for the students and colleagues we encounter.  By moving from I to We, we begin to focus on being inclusive and something very unlike the only child in me, consider what is best for all that we encounter. 

As we end the near of our journey, cohort, remember the words of Mahatma Gandhi and “be the change you wish to see in the world.”

I wish you the best of luck.

My response to Tamika:



Tamika,
You have picked the perfect visual for these last few chapters and your post is so inspiring to me. First off, it's incredible to think about us being near the end of this incredible journey and even more remarkable is the possibility of change about to take place in our lives. You bring up a wonderful point when you discuss that we need to let others see our spark in order to "be the change...". I think that is exactly what Zander would want for those of us reading his book and the purpose of his writing. It makes me wish I could have been a student in his classes or had someone like Roz to collaborate with.


It has been such a pleasure to work with you and learn from you along this journey, through projects, readings and your "Tech Talk". I am hoping we will be able to stay in touch after this program and collaborate on professional issues. I am also hoping that we can meet at graduation. I wish you the best in your future and know that you will be a bright spot in whatever you chose to do.

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Comment from Marc Coppin:

Ah! The final four chapters. If any of you have read my previous posts about this book , you realize that this book has been quite an inspiration to me. It was as if this book was written while examining my life. Almost every chapter struck a personal chord with me. Each chapter and each story really had a resonance within in me. It is kind of funny to me because as I write this, I find myself using musical descriptors such as chord and resonance. This is fitting based on the over-arching theme of the book. This will be one of the books that I will revisit often as the message is a good one and one that we should aspire to.

As with the rest of the chapters, the final four or the finale really drove home the importance of looking toward the possibilities in situations and our lives. While we cannot always attain this level of engagement or attitude, it is something we can aspire to. I love Chapter 9 and lighting the spark, because that is truly what we can do. Nothing sums up the chapter and how I feel about what I do as the quote at the end of Chapter 9.

“The life force for humankind is, perhaps, nothing more or less than the passionate energy to connect, express, and communicate. Enrollment is that life force at work, lighting sparks from person to person, scattering light in all directions.”

Chapter 10 was probably the chapter that had the least impact on me, but it was a good read. I know that life happens and how we react and approach it really dictates how we live our lives. 

The final two chapters were the grand finale for me as they should be. I have to keep reminding myself that “"I am here today to cross the swamp, not to fight all the alligators." Once I remember that, the journey becomes easier.

I will end my blog on the “Art of Possibilities” with a final quote that was found at the end of chapter 11.

“Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.”

1. -Marianne Williamson

Zander, Rosamund Stone, and Zander, Benjamin. 2000. The Art of Possibility: Transforming Professional and Personal Life. New York: Penguin Books.

My comment to Marc:

Marc,
I got goosebumps as I read your blog entry. Your passion for what you do is contagious and I hope to be able to stay in touch with you after this masters program is completed. You stated your thoughts so clearly, it was as though we were having a one to one conversation. I really enjoyed your comments on the book and the quotes you pulled from the reading were incredibly powerful for me as well. What I loved about this book was the way in which I could relate each of the concepts to my own life. Similarly to you, I felt that this book was given to me to read at a very crucial time in my life as a teacher, student, faculty trainer, wife and mother. What I will take from your blog is the line about crossing the swamp, not trying to fight the alligators. Oh my gosh, that is a brilliant line and boy does it put things into perspective. So I want to thank you for that. I also wanted to mention what a beautiful image you have attached to your blog! Thanks Marc and I hope we get to meet at graduation. Take care!

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This week, since it was Spring Break, I attended a conference in upstate New York focusing on the subject of Technology and Transliteracy. Though the targeted audience was school librarians, there were many attendees who were simply in search of new ways to reinvigorate their classrooms and students through the use of technology. I came out of the conference thinking several key points but the most evident was how well prepared I feel from my masters program through Full Sail. There were very few technologies, web 2.0 tools, classroom concepts, etc that I hadn’t seen or tried, thanks to this past year of my life. And honestly, I felt I could have been a presenter at this conference (I’ve never left a conference feeling that way), which further reinforced the Presentation/Leadership project that we are preparing. It was a wonderful feeling to feel prepared and trained to be doing what I’m doing. Prior to going back to school as a graduate student I felt that something was missing in my teaching. I knew I needed more education to really give my students the proper experience they should have in my classroom. I never imagined that I would change so much and actually be doing some of the things I’m doing now.

The other surprising part was my conversation with the keynote speaker, the Dean of Empire State College, who had been discussing his digital storytelling class.   I was so impressed that there was such a class (digital storytelling is my action research) so I approached him after he spoke to ask him a few questions about it. What was incredible for me was that after telling him about my research he asked if I’d ever be interested in teaching it online! He gave me his card and asked me to contact him about it.  I thought of Full Sail, I thought of Zander and I thought about the universe of possibility and felt like I had experienced a transformational moment. A conversation that took only a few minutes can have a powerful effect on someone’s life! That’s what we can also do for our students.

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Cosmic Kisses by Lance Shields

I enjoyed Zander’s remarks about lighting a fire in others.  I feel like I was born with the ability to do this and see it as a big responsibility to my students as well as my family and friends. The way he described enrollment as the ability to give yourself as a possibility to others and to be ready to catch their spark really hit home with me. He has so many inspiring lines in this book that I want to remember. I felt a strong reaction to his discussion of taking “no” less personally and myself less seriously and in doing that being able to see the opportunity for enrollment.

I also really felt a connection with Zander’s idea of being the board in your life, not reacting to the other players, but taking control in your life and transforming your entire circumstance. Making room for all the moves, as Zander puts it. What a revelation for most of us to stop seeing life as a blame game. When you look back, it’s so interesting to see how measurement in it’s many forms completely rules our existence. We have been trained to think that way.

Reading the steps in chapter 11 about vision and being a leader of possibility inspired me to write them down and carry them with me. Lately I feel as though I am always trying to overcome the downward spiral so it’s going to be a key part of my outlook to get into the practice of focusing on what is possible. Whether it’s because of a certain student or faculty member that I’m having an issue with or if I’m just plain tired that particular day, the goal is to stay focused on realigning myself. If I keep the concept of the framework in my mind, hopefully it will more easily allow me to bounce back when I get pulled down.

As I begin to head back to school this coming week after spring break, I feel that I have a renewed sense of purpose in what I do. Part of it, yes, is simply taking some time off, but the other part is finishing the last few chapters of this book.  For me, the WE story truly communicates why I work at a community college and sets the framework for me as a teacher and as the interim coordinator for the center for teaching and learning. I have learned many valuable lessons and want to plaster some of Zander’s quotes on the walls of the school. It also makes me think about my role as a mom and wife and how I can set the framework for all the relationships in my life.

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Image by Wesley Fryer


Thank you for visiting my Publishing & Leadership blog post. This has been an exciting journey through Full Sail University as part of my Masters program in Education Media Design and Technology. I will be submitting a presentation for my action research project on the topic of digital storytelling to two conferences: (PETE) Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo, held February 12, 2012 and (FETC) Florida Educational Technology Conference, held on January 23-26, 2012.

I decided to submit to the PETE conference because they offer three or six hour, hands on sessions which is a wonderful fit for digital storytelling. I could not only make my presentation but show instructors how they can easily put together their own digital story to be used as a lecture or assignment example. This conference is also relatively close to where I live, so even if I'm not accepted as a presenter, I would still like to attend.

I decided to submit to the Florida Educational Technology Conference because they stress the idea of emergent technologies as one of their main topics. I realize that digital storytelling is not a new idea necessarily, but in the community college atmosphere, it is. We are struggling to stay current with what is offered to students with a technology focus and I had such a wonderful response (and was the only instructor to implement this kind of project) in my classroom. It is vital to be aware of the latest in educational technology and Florida seems to be a frontrunner on offering their students the most current technologies.

The following is a link to powerpoint presentation that I would like to share if accepted:

https://files.me.com/denawhipple/ckg7y5

Please also see my previous two blog posts about the conferences I would like to submit to below:

Part 1:
http://dwhipple.blogspot.com/2011/03/macweek3publishingleadershipprojectpart.html

Part 2:
http://dwhipple.blogspot.com/2011/03/macweek3publishingleadershipprojectpart_20.html

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Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo

Florida Educational Technology Conference (FETC)

I've settled on two conferences that I would like to submit for presentation of my action research assignment on digital storytelling. After looking through the resources from Dr. Bedard and also searching a bit on my own, it is my feeling that the Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and the Florida Educational Technology Conference would be two good choices for my particular project. As I was searching for other conferences I was surprised at how many had already taken place this year. It's something to remember for the future that many of the top conferences are held at the beginning of the year.

The deadlines are within a couple weeks for each of the conferences I've chosen so I feel I have adequate time. This is a really interesting project and I never imagined at the end of all of this that it could be possible to submit my work in order to tell other educators about the many successes of digital storytelling on:
-classroom management
-classmate collaboration
-technology integration
-development of 21st century skills
-digital and visual literacy

I wish everyone luck as they embark on this exciting opportunity!

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I want to document in some way, shape or form the transformation that has happened through this master's program at Full Sail. When I think back to one year ago today, I was gearing up for my first class and making sure my financial aid was in place. Now I am on the verge of a potential career change and I would never have imagined it. I find it most fitting that I'm listening to a speech by Benjamin Zander as I write this because he has further inspired me to keep doing what I'm doing, to find the potential in any situation and to inspire my students in a way that they never imagined. I am a changed person in every way. I see education differently, I see a student's potential differently, and even more amazing is that I see my daughter, husband and life differently. I have grown professionally and personally and though it was one of the most difficult years of my life, it was one of the most rewarding and I am truly thankful that I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to go back to school.

"Every conversation is a possibility."
-Benjamin Zander

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Image by Mohammad Janga

I'm thinking out loud here so don't judge the content too harshly, but please read the excitement for this whole idea! My action research subject is Digital Storytelling and you won't find anyone more convinced about its ability to teach 21st century skills and create a culture within the classroom than me. I think the best choice for this project would be to present it rather than trying to have an article published about it. Actually, I'm very excited about the idea of presenting it to others. In fact, I just presented it as a workshop for college faculty at SUNY Orange, where I teach Digital Photography. I've been thinking about this process for about a week now and going through the resources provided by Dr. Bedard. The thought of presenting it makes me rather nervous because I have never before presented on such a stage, however it's very interesting that it is also this month that we are reading "The Art of Possibility" by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone. I feel more fearless for reading this book and I'm more excited than anything about the possibility of what could potentially happen. The conferences at which I would love the opportunity to present would be:

Educause

Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Portugal

Pennsylvania Educational Technology Expo and Conference

Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education, Hawaii

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Blog post from Mike Padilla:
The Art of Possibility continues to inspire me. The book has so many positive messages in all of its chapters and I’m glad that it was chosen as the book that we focus on this month.
In the 5th chapter, Any Chair, the book focuses on how we should not just command and tell people what to do, however, we must sometimes trust people to shine on their own and to do their part. As a teacher, I am in charge of 95 students throughout the year, and while I’m so used to just telling my students what to do for their projects, I am reminded that I need to give them freedom to do their work to the best of their abilities, without me dictating each step. Especially in a creative class like mine, the students need to be given room to shine on their own.

I also like how the chapter said that everyone makes mistakes, including those in charge, and when we mess up, it’s better to apologize instead of blaming others or making excuses.

Chapter 6 focuses on the “Rule Number 6”, which basically tells us that we shouldn’t take ourselves so seriously. This one change in attitude can completely change the climate in which we work with others. Overall, this chapter focused on lightening up, getting over ourselves, and using humor to bring people together – all things that I completely agree with!

I really liked the message of the 7th chapter, The Way. It started off great with a quote from Babe, “The only way to find happiness is to accept that the way things are is the way things are” and then went on to counter that point throughout the chapter. Just as the book stated, when we aren’t happy with how a situation is, we tend to focus all of our energy on how things SHOULD be, rather than how things really are, and then in turn, “we lose our power to act effectdively.” I like the way the message implies that while one thing may seem bad to us, it may have other hidden, good meanings (rain being bad for a FL vacation, but being good for the amazing FL oranges!)

The 8th chapter, Giving Way To Passion focuses on letting go of what holds us back, breaking through barriers, and letting our passion surge through. We shouldn’t let anything hold us back from our passion.
This reminds me of another quote from The Alchemist, “Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second's encounter with God and with eternity." - Paul Coelho, The Alchemist

My response to Mike:
Mike, I am always inspired by your thoughts and love reading the deeper meanings you find in our text. This book by Zander and Stone is the epitome of those ideas. I remember you saying that one of your favorite books is The Alchemist and I have heard that from so many people, yet I've never read it. I think when this master's program is over, reading The Alchemist is first on my list.

I could completely empathize with you when you said about always being in control of your classes and having to assign projects to your kids, even though your class is creative. I have been feeling the same way lately and I think I try to control the class more than I really should. It's such a fine line between creative freedom and too little boundaries sometimes. Some kids really take advantage of the free time and improve their skills and some kids just "take advantage". I really enjoy reading your blog and hope you still post once the program is over. Take care!

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Blog From Sandra Colby:
I don’t know about anyone else but I am thoroughly enjoying the writing of Ben and Roz Zander. From the BTFI to following rule number 6 these authors have some really good stuff to tell us.

At first I was going to write about the downward spiral and how I thought, yea, this is the way the my life is going, from the not getting any teaching jobs, to living with all my teenagers and the possibility of not having a home.

I did try talking about “Rule No. 6” at my current place of work, but they wanted to know what rules 1-5 were. And I tried to use “How fascinating!”, but found out later it was for mistakes not things that I truly made work.

The fact that orchestra players job satisfaction was lower than prison guards also spoke to me. I wonder what it is for teachers in urban schools where there is no hope is. I know that my job sometimes felt like being a prison guard, in some schools that is where the teachers actually are. Not a place for me.

No, on this beautiful day in Minnesota, where the snow is melting, and the sun is shining, I finally finished chapter 8.

There it was. The two steps for giving way to Passion.
“1. notice where you are holding back and let go
2. participate wholly” Zander, the Art of Possibility, p. 114.

I do need to notice where I am holding back. There are so many things that I still want to accomplish and maybe that is why I am still on this planet. However, I can also see where doors are closed to me.

While on this trail, I have picked up a copy of “48 Days to the Work You Love”, which may show me how to find something that I will totally enjoy, not only after my sojourn at Full Sail University, but also as part of where I am on my journey in life.

My response to Sandra:
Hi Sandra,
First off, I really like the wordle design you created on the top of this blog. That is such a great site and my students love using it now. Second, I feel the same way as I read Zander’s book and, much like you, I was intrigued by the two steps for giving way to passion. I like the way you write because I feel like I can follow along with you as you’re writing through the obstacles you are facing yet the optimism that this book is providing. Perhaps this is the most perfect time in your life for this book to come to you. I laughed when you discussed about your coworkers asking about rules 1-5. I guess they didn’t quite get it.

It’s a really tough time right now with jobs cut, budgets being frozen and slashed and morale low, but I think that it takes people like you and me, who have so much that they want to accomplish, to continue in our search for the art of possibility. I hope that this book continues to inspire you and that your job search is over in less than 48 days. Good Luck!

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Image by epSos.de

I love Zander’s intrinsic nature about his power over the orchestra. His approach in this matter is the key to his success. For me as a reader, hearing how he continually analyzes his effectiveness, energizes me about my teaching and learning process. I enjoyed reading about his “white sheet” process and think that would be a great idea in education as well as many other fields. Perhaps we should all consider ourselves as conductors or our orchestras (students) and focus solely on trying to find their spark.
One of my favorite chapters was Six and the discussion of rule number six. I want to photocopy this onto a page and place it in the mailbox of everyone I work with. Some need it more than others but it’s something for everyone to keep in the back of their mind (including me). What I thought was a really interesting statement in this chapter was “A child comes to think of himself as the personality he gets recognition for….”(pg 82). It makes me think of kids that grow up only getting noticed when their behavior is less than perfect, rather than being acknowledged for any of the positive actions they take. So they continue on that pattern because at least they’re getting SOME attention. This behavior leads into the calculating self as an adult. It’s fascinating for me to read about his theory for why we continually try to make progress and position ourselves higher and higher, almost to the point of not being content in our current situation. But that, in fact, it is the central self that is more in tune with what we really need on a personal and professional level. I know I keep saying it but the timing this book could not be more perfect and I hope my classmates are getting as much from this reading as I am. I am continually inspired by Zander, especially the last few pages of chapter 8 where he discusses the glass being half full or half empty and the importance of seeing “the way things are” (page 110). I like the way this makes me feel because I have always considered myself an optimist. It’s further support in my dealings with the calculating selves of others!

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Blog from Sabrina:

The first chapter of The Art of Possibility drew me right in, because imagining possibilities and thinking outside the box is how I live my life. I have always been a firm believer that people invent their own lives and attitude is what you choose to have. One of the books that has most influenced me in the past was about Mary Kay Ash. I don’t recall the title of the book, but I was deeply impressed by the way that Mary Kay respected every person that she came in contact with and her philosophy of making every person feel special. I was reminded of this philosophy again as I read The Monk’s Story (p52). It only takes a small effort to make people feel important and good about themselves, but that small effort has a profound effect.

One of the most disturbing things I have come across in my school is the way I see some of the teachers treat their students. Before I started teaching in public school I taught in a small Christian school that was so full of love that you could physically feel it when you walked through the doors. Teachers were coaches that drew out the best in their students, and even discipline was handled with love. After a few months in public school I was ready to call it quits. I could understand why some of those teachers were so angry and I was having a hard time handling the students. I was running my classroom the same way I had in my former school, and it wasn’t working at all. I had to make a lot of adjustments that year. One of them was the commitment to not let my attitude become one of anger and despair, but to keep my joy. I sought out the advice of a more experienced coach, and she taught me how to manage my students more effectively. At that time I made the decision to be a “contribution”. I wasn’t going to get sucked in by the other teachers’ attitudes around me. I have been much happier since, and those results are also evident in the relationships I have with my students. I have also decided to focus my attention on the teachers with this same attitude and to stay far away from those without it.

My response to Sabrina:
Sabrina,
You are speaking my language!! It was really funny because just a few minutes after I posted my response to Zander's book, you responded to my blog and at the same time I was ready to respond to you. We were quite connected for a few minutes.

I loved reading your post and as you probably already know, I was discussing how some at my school still have poor attitudes towards those people who are positive forces. It's as if they don't know what to do with themselves if they're not complaining! I wish we worked together, but at least through this program, we do! I was inspired by how you mentioned that you sought out a coach to help you keep your focus in the classroom, especially when you were rather frustrated by students and the treatment of them by your colleagues. I have felt that way so many times and just as you said, I realized I just have to surround myself with those who share the same outlook and teaching philosophy! I am now, after reading a bit from Zander, much more focused and reminded about the importance of being a contribution. I hope that we can keep in touch after this program has ended. It was great to read your reflection and it gave me some new thoughts to bring into my classroom. Thanks, Sabrina!

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Blog From Mike Padilla:
What an interesting book! I really wasn't sure what this book was about until I got the chance to jump into it this week and I must say, the content is really eye-opening and rather inspirational. I enjoyed each chapter and how they focused on different aspects of our lives and how we view things. In the first chapter, Invented, I thought the comment about the Me'en people of Ehtiopia and their reaction to photographs of people and animals was amazing (pg 11). I never would have imagined such a reaction to viewing photos for the first time. My initial thought would be to view the actual pictures, and not to hold and smell the type of paper! I liked the concept in that everything is already perceived in a certain way so we should look to change our perceptions to improve our lives.

In the second chapter, Universe of Possibility, I enjoyed reading about the 9 dot problem. I remember doing that in elementary school, and it stuck with me through all these years, so it was great reading about how the book viewed that and how we should look to move beyond the imaginary borders in our everyday lives. Again, this chapter focused on how our lives are shaped by assumptions, which was a bit of an eye opener, because I never thought about things like that.

The third chapter, Giving an A, is another remarkable way at looking at things. I liked the quote, "The A is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into" (pg 26). I also thought it was great how the book referenced Da Vinci's view on a block of marble and how inside of it is an amazing sculpture. Basically saying that we all are amazing inside, just waiting to be built up! The assignment in which one of the authors had their students write letters from their future selves in order to receive an A in class had me wondering how well something like that would work in my class. While I think it's quite a novel idea... I'm not yet sold on doing it for my students... yet.

The final chapter, Being a Contribution, focuses on how we should all strive to make a difference in the world, even if we don't know how or why.

Overall, I enjoyed reading the first four chapters of this book. It reminds me of one of my favorite books of all time, The Alchemist by Paul Coelho. One quote from The Alchemist is, "...when we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too" (pg 150).

My comment to Mike:
HI Mike,
I was also truly inspired by Zander's thoughts and as you mentioned, I thought about how giving the A at the beginning of the semester would work in my class. I love the thought and reasoning behind it and couldn't help thinking that I would love to be a student in one of his classes, though I have no musical talent whatsoever. I was hoping Zander would talk a little about some of the feedback he got from other faculty members or administration about his teaching philosophy. It would be interesting to hear how he justifies it to faculty who totally disagree with him, because clearly it works for his students. I was wondering what you thought about his discussion of measurement in our every day lives. When I read that I could picture so many ways I do that in my every day routine and how I sometimes, in my mind, compare students who get an A versus a B and how when I write my notes on students assignments who received a B, I automatically focus on why they didn't receive an A because I think that's what they'll want to know. Maybe what I should be doing is using the "marble" metaphor in how I address students in every facet, whether its grades, assignments or just general conversation. Glad you enjoyed the book as much as I did! Take care, Mike.

comment can be found at:
http://mikeandhisthoughts.blogspot.com/2011/03/macweek2reading-art-of-possibility.html

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This book is truly inspiring and I can’t believe how the timing of reading it has coincided with such monumental events happening in my life. Perhaps some of it is a bit of nostalgia as we’re finishing up this very important journey of earning a masters degree. It leaves me with such pride, but more importantly an open attitude and heart for what lies ahead. I really enjoyed watching the TED video of Benjamin Zander and felt that it was a fantastic introduction to the book. Being able to see how he inspires his audience gave the book that much more credibility as I began reading chapters 1-4. I immediately liked him for his humor and ability to captivate just about anyone he comes in contact with.

As I began reading, I felt such a connection to his thoughts especially about the way we use measurement for a tool of success in just about all that we do and how making a contribution is really the truest measure. There were so many quotes that I wrote down, especially in chapter 2 when he discusses that if we more successfully engage those around us, we will attract resources through our passion for what we do. I can relate so much of what Zander discusses for several reasons: first, our college is currently in the process of interviewing for a new vice president. We are down to three candidates and have recently started some open forums to ask questions of the candidates. There is one internal candidate and she had her open forum this past week. It’s been a long time since I have been so inspired by a speaker and Zander’s book reminds of how life changing it can be to just open your attitude to new thinking. Our internal candidate is incredibly smart, but what stands out even more is her passion for what she does and her vision for the future of the college. Much like Zander refers to in the TED video, I was inspired by her ability to “awaken possibility” on those around her (and me especially).

The second reason I relate so well to Zander is on a more personal note. Recently I have been asked to head up some very special projects at my college because of the EMDT degree that I’m earning. The opportunities have been incredible, but as I move up a little bit there are those with less than model attitudes who want to tear you down at every turn. The importance of a positive attitude and the anthem that Zander discusses couldn’t be more accurate and I feel as though I’m experiencing these tests at this very moment! These two events (the VP search and my jobs at the college) are connected on so many levels because of the direction in which the college wishes to go. I have already made a list of people who I would like to refer this book to so they can reconnect with the universe of possibility rather than just the idea of surviving and scarcity-thinking. It couldn’t be more important in the field of 21st century education, where measurement is usually the only recognized road to success. I thoroughly enjoyed reading his many examples of his classroom teaching, especially the letters he received from his students.

His idea about giving an A to each student and requiring the letting written from the future was a true example of the art of possibility. I was so moved by his instructions to fall passionately in love with the person each student was describing in their letter—talk about giving students a vision! I was especially inspired by the segment from the Taiwanese student who talked about his transformation of thought from being #68 to being an A. It is truly all invented.

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I enjoyed the polling questions at the beginning of the wimba session tonight. It reiterated the information for me after seeing the videos about a week ago. I was interested in what Mark Coppin was referring to when he mentioned a “social story” and if was considered copyrighted material. I wish I could have made it to the wimba to ask a bit more about that topic. I have to admit that copyright is still such a confusing topic to me, just because of the amount of details and gray area surrounding it. I understand that once something is in a fixed form it is copyrighted and that it’s about the PERMISSION to use material, not the usage or payment for it. I also agreed with Mark when he discussed the confusion that surrounds us now because of the availability of material and ease of use of copyrighted work in the 21st century Internet age. It’s something I deal with all the time with my students, wanting to use well known music in their digital storytelling projects.

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Post from Noelia Badillo:
While I was watching the first 2 videos about copyright and listened to the writer “Nathan” I thought he really made copyright like a simple thing to understand and follow, but when I got to the documentary “Good Copy Bad Copy” it goes way further than what people may think. All these terms about copyright and intellectual property can be very confusing because if copyright laws are too limiting then what will happen to all the wonderful creations that musicians or, as we watch in the video, Dj mixers or any other type of creator make? All this issues can limit the distribution of a creation that could be shared for wonderful and even educational purposes. Imagine students in a music class turning a classical piece into another masterpiece by changing it’s rhythm, tempo, etc, and let’s say a famous dancer creates a breathtaking dance routine following that new piece, how could we judge that from being bad or good? With all the technological advances being one of the main responsible reasons for copyright laws to take extreme measure,s we also have to accept that it is also a way of building culture, sharing creativity and collaborate. How can we trace the line between something that it's building new horizons and something that in a negative perspective can affect thousands of industries. It is definitely an extensive subject that has it’s positive and negative perspective and that it would take a long battle.

My response to Noelia:
Noelia, first of all I loved your image for this blog. Did you design that yourself? It’s a perfect visual for this topic as it questions what we see as “good” and “bad”. I feel very similarly to how you do. Though this industry of remixers is technically using the material of other artists, it is creating a new culture and a new art form. I have to say I really enjoyed listening to the new music, especially the when the gnarls barkley music transitioned from it’s original song to the remixer in Brazil and then to the remixer in Pittsburgh. I loved that sequence in the movie. It’s interesting that you pointed out the sequence of the videos we viewed for this assignment and how at first it was simple and straightforward, the creator actually reading from the dictionary, into this idea of how cultures are being created based on piracy. The key question that I keep asking myself is that although I enjoy the creative side of this idea and see the many benefits to its artistic process, is it right? For those that are at least giving credit, there is some grace, however as was mentioned by one of the men in Nigeria, it’s about permission of the use of the material and that’s not happening. It will be an interesting issue to follow, especially with the emergent technologies that are yet to come. I enjoyed reading your post and felt many of the same connections you did.

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Comment from Luz Infante:

When I finished watching the copyright videos my head was spinning an analyzing all sort of facts. First, as you all know I am from Mexico and in my country we have a huge sub-economy that over time has also become a sub-culture, it is known by the name of Piracy. I am not saying this with pride but I am also not saying it with shame. The piracy sub-economy is a reality that in my personal perspective has been generated by a social and economical inequality, as well as, a lack of education and job opportunities in many countries in the world. With this said I am not justifying anything but I am also trying to put some things on the table. The consumerism of piracy products has been adopted as a habit and from there it has seized force. For example, a study done this year in Mexico by the Chamber of Commerce about piracy reflected that 88% of Mexicans between ages 17 and 60 consume pirated products. The 75% of these people do it because of the accessible price of these products that are in most cases very affordable in comparison the expensive OEM versions.

I think that piracy is a really difficult sub-economy to combat. Many people and commerce organizations are trying to plan a strategy to counter Piracy effects. I think that their challenge is huge since it is almost impossible to compete with the low prices that this sub-economy offers. The most important television station in Mexico is doing a great advertising campaign to create awareness among the population. Another campaign effort takes place when you purchase a DVD where at the beginning before the menu appears there is type of commercial where children call the attention of their parents and compare piracy to stealing and the message implies that parents should not set such example for their children as they would in turn be ashamed of their parents and exposed to a crime. Hopefully this helps a little bit but I can’t see the end of this sub economy until many economic and social problems are solved.

My response to Luz:

I too finished these videos and felt like I had just submerged my head into a tub of copyright bath water. I recall so many viewpoints, so many advantages and so many disadvantages to the issues of piracy, copyright, creative expression, plain old stealing and the influence of culture and socio economic status on the issues. I wasn’t exactly sure of my opinion anymore! You provide such great insight to the issue and the statistic that you wrote about “88% of Mexicans between the ages of 17 and 60 consumed pirated products” was astounding! I was wondering how that statistic might compare if the same survey was done in the U.S.

Luz, were you familiar with the Techno Brega culture that was discussed in the film Good Copy, Bad Copy? It was eye opening to me to hear several of the “remixers” discuss that the artists were not so concerned about being paid for their music, but more in just being recognized for it. I am wondering how true that statement really is.

Original post and comment may be viewed at:

MAC_Week1_Reading (Copyright)

Image by The House of Commons

This is the first that I’ve looked at copyright and “piracy” to this extent. It’s a problem that I’m thankful not to have to solve because it’s deep and complicated beyond what I had anticipated. Good Copy, Bad Copy was an interesting movie to watch because the producers were interviewing all types of personalities in the business but at times it was a rather satirical portrayal of them. For example when they would hold the shot after the subject would stop talking and during the pause play a music segment or just hold the shot long enough for the subject to talk, thinking they were off camera. I wasn’t quite sure how to read that aspect.

The issue of copyright is far deeper than I had imagined and I was unaware of the Techno Brega culture of Brazil or the statistics regarding Nigeria and the amount of films they produce each year. I’ve been thinking a lot about the segments on Nigeria regarding respect for copyright and patrol of piracy in the local markets. They seem to have an effective handle on and view of piracy but when compared to the United States, my opinion is that it just comes down to pure capitalism, and that we as individuals and corporations are solely fixed on making money. That is why this issue will go on forever and ever because we don’t like to share. It seems that in the other cultures that were featured, the artist is more interested in being recognized, rather than making money. Though I’m sure there are many artists out there who share that view, I don’t think that would ever be the majority of artists in the U.S. because of the music labels and production companies. I’m not saying that I agree or disagree with that idea but change is a tough pill to swallow when it means less revenue. A revolution is certainly occurring as we speak.

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Image by Panorama

Since I entered the discussion board this week about how we adapted our classrooms when software/hardware went haywire, I haven't been able to get it out of my mind. My posting was as follows:
"We still have classrooms at my school that have overhead projectors. No, not the digital version, but the transparency version that the instructor has to write on with a marker. And one of our mac labs only has a dry erase board on which to teach so we are way behind! So I’ve requested a smartboard for the mac lab that can be used for presentations/student tutorials etc. I also recently was able to acquire, with the help of a grant, a high-end professional printer for digital photography students to print out their final projects. They love the ability to have their own copies of work immediately. When I get frustrated with our lack of technology, I have to remind myself how important it is to make these necessary changes and that it’s for the students’ benefit and that keeps me focused."

What's been interesting this semester is that I've been given the opportunity to revamp our Center for Teaching and Learning at my college, so these topics are quite timely. My job for the next couple weeks is to meet with all of our department chairs and find out how they're using technology in creative and innovative ways. One of the topics that came up today was how technology, in all its glory, can still bring a set of enormous problems in education, namely, when things don't work. It's that mentality (though somewhat understandable) that's been holding a lot of people back in our particular situation. They're more afraid of what will go wrong, then what will go right! I'll be working to change those ideas by introducing workshops and trainings to help faculty embrace the unknown and to hopefully show them that it's ok to ask for help.