Week 3 respons to Rosetta's post

Thursday, November 10, 2011

MAC Week 3-BP1: Art of Possibility 5-8

A good leader takes advantage of the expertise of the people whom he /she is leading. The information Zander & Zander wrote in these chapters reminds me of a piece of ancient Kemetic (Egyptian) literature, “The Instructions of Ptah Hotep” that speaks to the very concepts they relay. Ptah Hotep stated, “No one is born wise…. Don’t be proud of your knowledge, Consult the ignorant and the wise; The limits of art are not reached, No artist’s skills are perfect; Good speech is as rare as precious stones, Yet may be found among the girls who grind the grain.” Wisdom does not know status and there are times when we must deflate our egos to make room for knowledge. I thought the “White Sheets” was an excellent move to help get those you lead to know that their opinions matter and that they can contribute even more to make sure the overall project is successful. Allowing others to take the leadership role on occasion also works to increase moral and job satisfaction. It's another way to acknowledge their expertise.

I love “Rule Number 6.” It has been my experience that people not being able to keep their egos in check have caused viable organizations, groups, teams, etc., to go down in flames. Sometimes we tend to get overly dramatic and make things catastrophic when all we really have to do is take a deep breath and watch things work themselves out.

The phrase that got my attention in chapter 7, “…being present without resistance; being present to what is happening and present to your reactions, no matter how intense. “ I think this is the most difficult for many of us to incorporate. We have been programed to conceal emotion, not to let our feeling show, but what we have really done is hide /bury them deep to the extent that we forget that it’s alright to have these feelings and reactions. I think this flows directly into ”giving way to passion” as it speaks to one being able to allow oneself to go for it, to follow that path that will allow us to contribute something of substance to the world. 

1 comments:

Charles T. Chojnacki said...

Rosetta, I must say, I find the way you are able to tie in other knowledge to the readings to be inspirational. I find it interesting that the truly great man knows he is limited. He is humble and thus respects the fact that greatness can be found in any walk of life. “Wisdom does not know status and there are times when we must deflate our egos to make room for knowledge.” Should be taught to ever child and adult as there is always someone with a different perspective and even a “great” man can make mistakes. I enjoy reading your blog!

Week 3 reading Post

Once again, I am finding this book to be both timely and inspirational.  As I read the chapters I try to think how this applies to my life and me.  The chapter “Any Chair” discusses how you can lead the way no matter what position you hold. 

Last Sunday my son played in the All Star soccer game.  He was the only one from his school who got to try out.  As a high school soccer player he had never even won a game.  (His school is only a few years old so they have not yet developed a team.  Many of the players never played before) 

Many of the players on his team were known to each other.  During the game my son played center defense.  He was the only kid on the team taking control of the game and giving verbal instructions and yelling “MAN ON MAN ON.”  My point is, he led from any chair.  His team scored one goal, which gave my son, as his last high school game, a win. 

I think sometimes I take rule # 6 too seriously.  Or maybe not enough…???  I tend to try to make light of many things.  I am not above acting a certain way if it brings a smile to someone.  But on the other hand, I tend to let things build up and build up to a point where I burst because of the problem.  I need to work on this one…

Chapter No. 7 talks about the way things are.  I feel you should always try to improve the conditions in your life.  But I also realize that I do not have all of the information nor do I have all of the say in many situations.  What better way to avoid stress then to accept things they way they are. 

Chapter No. 8 deals with passion.  Giving way to passion is one of the best ways to loose yourself.  Passion for a lover, a child, a job or even a game can take over your world and make you forget everything.  Passion is everything!

Week 2 Think Out Loud Post-Publication or Presentation

I have always tried to convey my messages in writing.  I have been told that I am a good writer as long as I have someone to check my grammar etc.  While getting my Bachelors degree in Business I took a creative writing class.  The instructor encouraged me to take out a novel I started some twenty years ago.  After she read some it she told me it reminded her of the movie “Rosemary’s Baby”.  I took this as a compliment.

I believe I will be going for a presentation to reflect the work I have done at Full Sail University.  The information and knowledge I have gained this past year will serve me well in this endeavor.  Getting up and speaking at a conference would surely get me out of any shell I may still have. 

I am looking at the Association for the Advancement of Computing in Education conference held in Denver Co, June 26 to June 29, 2012

Week 2 Comments on Michelle Brillouet Reading Reflection

Wk 2 Reading: The Art of Possibility Chapters 1-4

The Art of Possibility (Zander & Zander 2000) has so far been a very inspirational book. The first chapter asks us to look at our selves and our perspectives. One part was about the two shoe salesman. How one saw a business opportunity and the other didn’t, when on a trip to Africa. I’m sure we can all relate to that. This reminded me of something my Reiki teacher spoke about. Think of a time when you were listening to someone talk or moan about an issue they have and in an effort to turn their thinking around we start the sentence with “no but.” This in itself just goes to reinforce the polarity of the situation. The words we choose can seem so meaningless yet can shape our whole world. In times when I may not agree I try my best to say nothing, even if the person I’m speaking with is fishing for more. A great quote that I try to live by is:

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.”

I find this quote extremely powerful, since far to often we say things like “I am angry” and so be it, angry you are, as opposed to just having a feeling of anger in that moment. Once we can see past the anger, frustration and pain and see how beautiful life is. How everything we have been through, the good, the bad, the ugly, has led us to this very moment in time. Here and now, and how magical is that. We could not be here, a simple twist of fate and poof all change. That it is about being thankful for the challenges as well as the blessings in our lives. Also reflecting on the impact we have had on other’s lives. One of the most memorable moments in my education career was when one of my co-workers, who used to be a student, was telling me about their studies at University. I was really happy to hear that she was doing so well. She responded that she was just following me, doing what I did. I was completely taken a back. I had never thought about it that way. Since then I have been mindful of the impact I have and we have on each other. We are all co-creators in this beautiful musical score of life.

Posted by Meesh Capeesh at 02:25

Week 2 Comments on Shawn McKeown Reading Reflection

Week 2 Reading Reflection

 Reading  "The Art of Possibility" by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander was enlightening, yet a repeat of ideas that teachers should base their classes on. Maybe I've been spoiled by 10 months of interaction with teachers and students in the EMDT program, but the ideas presented so far in this book seem like no-brainers to me.

Image from Microsoft Clip Art Gallery

In the section about Giving an A, the authors discuss the need to remove measurement from the equation, and thus take the fear out of failure in the students. While this type of idea is not well supported by our current education system, due to everything being based on graded outcome, this idea should be at the heart of all educators: Allow your students to flourish, teach them that mistakes are part of the process, and allow them to concentrate on the person that they become through the knowledge that is gained, not the grade on the test.

Edit: Sorry, apparently in my "copy/paste" I somehow only grabbed only the first two paragraphs, so here is the rest:

I love the idea of "line up with her students in their efforts to produce the outcome, rather than lining up with the standards against these students." In my lighting course, my final project allows the students to choose a song, and create a lighting design for that song using the technical programming skills that they have learned in my course up to that point. For years I struggled with this project, as it could very easily become a grade based on my expectations, rather than the students' efforts and growth in their abilities. About 4 years ago, I introduced the idea of "concept" into this project, where the students must submit their overall vision for the project, as well as what they hope to accomplish through this, prior to them beginning work on the actual show. I use this concept, much like the authors used the "Why did I get an A" assignment, to establish the expected outcomes from my project, and see which students push themselves to reach and possibly exceed their own expectations. This really has taken me out of the picture, removing any preconceived notions that I may have as to what the final design should look like, and allows me to grade students based on their progress and accomplishment of their goals.





"House Lights...Go"

1 comments:

Charles T. Chojnacki said...

Shawn, While I agree with you on some of your comments regarding “The Art of Possibility” by Rosamund and Benjamin Zander, I feel that sometimes it is the obvious that needs to be stated. The way in which we put students and people in general into categories based on the grade or the job they do is wrong. People do things for two reasons, one is to avoid pain and the other is to gain pleasure. I look at my two children; one is currently working on her second Bachelors degree and has spent her life in study. In high school she would spend an average of 3 hours a night on homework. My son on the other hand does what he needs to get by. His grades are low 90’s without much extra effort. I myself always lived in the shadow of my older brother. He was a year ahead of me in school and the fact that I did not get the same grades he did haunted me. I think the removal of grades and having them be replaced with “can the student demonstrate the material” is the way to go. The way students learn, just to mindlessly repeat the material is not working.

“Week 2 Blog Post 1 Great Reading”

First of all I would like to say that Ted is one of the greatest inventions.  Being able to go to the web site and watch and listen to great people helps to put the day in perspective

The video of Benjamin Zander was entertaining and his last few seconds of his story hit home.  “I will not say something that will not stand as my last words” are words to live by.

I am at a crossroads at this time in my life.  School will hopefully be ending soon and I will be looking for a new position.  I would like to stay with the company I currently work for but I do not think I will.   I went into work this morning with the hope of ironing out some issues that my immediate boss and I are having.  I was told that she still needed time to “build her case against me” and that we would be talking on Monday. 

Why do I tell you this?  Because, I finished the required reading of the book “The Art of Possibility” after this discussion.  I do not know what Monday will bring, but hopefully the peace the reading has brought will last until the situation is handled. 

I have always found it interesting as to why some people fail while others win.  People with no benefits make the most out of life while those who have everything do not.  Why??

Chapter 1, “Its All Invented” makes the point that we allow ourselves to be put into boxes based on others.  If you are not happy with an aspect of your life you must think outside the box to become happy.  I have always been a heavy guy.  I have allowed the words of others to make me overweight.  My parents thought they were doing the best they could but in reality, they taught me that I was a big kid and will always be heave.  I have allowed this to stay with me.  No More!

Chapter 2 “Stepping into a Universe of Possibility” basically said to me.  “What would you accomplish today if you knew you would not fail?”  If I had a magic wand and could do anything—what would I do?  I do not have a magic wand, and I will fail, but that should not stop me from trying.  It is better to fail 100 times than not to try at all.  Change the way you look at a situation and you may just change the outcome.  

Chapter 3 “Giving an A:  Giving Yourself an A.”  All too often we see people and ourselves as not being the most we can be.  Giving an A to yourself makes you realize that you are worthy of that grade.  It does not matter if you are a brain surgeon or the guy that cleans up the mess in the operating room.  They both make a solid contribution to life.  We often look at ways we do not measure up and compare ourselves to someone else.  This is not the way God intended us to live.  It is not ok to look at someone who is doing a job lesser than ours, and think they are not worthy of an A.  This chapter really hit home for me.

Chapter 4 “Being a Contribution” To me this chapter means that we all have the ability to change one person.  Giving a smile to someone we do not know may make that person have a better day.  Each thing we do can have an effect on someone.  Yes, we may not be able to save all of the starfish, but to the one we toss back into the water we made all the difference.  This chapter illustrated how even little contributions can make a big difference. 

Good reading, can wait to my changes in my web site are done so I can continue.

Media Asset Creating Week 1 Blog post 4: Random Thoughts on Sunday Night

I’m sitting at my dining room table thinking about the information on Copyright that we “read” this week.  I often listen to music while I am doing my homework, which in this case is my “Lincoln Park” channel on Pandora Radio.

When was the last time I actually bought a new CD?  When I went to see the Trans-Siberian Orchestra a few years ago.  Before that, I get media for Christmas, usually a box set from one of my favorite bands.

My 17-year-old son could not tell me the last time he bought music.  My 22-year-old daughter buys music all of the time. 

My point is this, the world continues to get smaller with the use of technology and entertainment is part of this.  I can go to almost any corner and purchase bootleg movies.  Some of them are pretty good quality.  Why would I pay $10.00 to $12.00 a ticket to see a movie once when I can own it for $5.00?  Why purchase a CD when I can get free music from Pandora radio? 

I like killing Zombies with my son on Call of Duty and I enjoy “Walking Dead” on A&E.  I wanted to name my daughter Claudia and my son Lestat.  I did not.  (Any one know who they are?)