MAC Wk 4 - Telling the WE Story

I admit, when I read this post, I could not think of a single person who I had helped to achieve their dreams, but I just got a facebook message from a close friend of mine who is starting her dream as I sit here and type this. She is on her way to London to participate in the Fulbright teacher exchange program and she couldn't be more excited. She has always wanted to go overseas and teach, and she says that I inspired her to do it. I don't really think that I did much, but she says when she heard of my experiences as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Bolivia, she wanted to do something similar. All I really did was be her friend for a few years, but she says I had something to do with her fulfilling her dream and going to London. I am very proud of her and I hope that she stays long enough for me to go and visit!

MAC Wk 4 - Lofty Goals

I guess I have some pretty high aspirations when it comes to places that I would like to present, but hey, I might as well aim high, right? I would like to do a national conference because I want to travel, is that so wrong? Well, most of the ones that would be likely are right here in Austin, TX so I would only get to travel up the road a ways. One is all the way down in San Antonio!

Seriously, I think the TABE conference or the TCEA conferences would both be good choices. Some of them, like the gaming conference, I might be able to do once I add in the information that I will be getting as I work in the Globaloria program in the upcoming year. Speaking of Globaloria, I will be going to the Globaloria summer workshop in two weeks, so while I am there, I will ask about presenting at the December workshop. They already know me, so they just might let me do it. Also, the Region XIII Education Service Center offers professional development for teachers here in Austin year round, so that is definitely another avenue I am exploring.

I did find something that was especially promising. On a website called WeAreTeachers is having a video contest with the prompt "What does 21st Century Readiness Mean to You?" They are looking for one minute videos addressing the prompt and the winner receives a trip to the National Summit on 21st Century Readiness in Washington, D.C. in October. I think I might just enter, if I ever finish all these blog posts.

MAC Wk 4 - Now Where Do I Go?

OK, so here are some ideas of where to present:

Texas Computer Education Association Conference (February 2011)
Texas Association of Bilingual Educators Conference (October 2010)
Texas Association for Alternative Education Conference (February 2011)
International Society for Technology in Education Conference (June 2011)
National Middle School Association Conference (November 2010)
Texas Charter Schools Conference
National Charter Schools Conference
Texas Council for Teachers of English Language Arts (January 2011)
National Council of Teachers of English (November 2010)
Teachers Teaching With Technology International Conference (February 2011 - San Antonio)
National Science Teachers Association National Conference (March 2011)
Austin Women in Technology Conference (February 2010)
Games for Change Festival
Cyber Summit on 21st Century Readiness

MAC Wk 4 - To Publish or Not to Publish?

That is the question. Well, that's not really the question. The question is: To Publish or to Present?

Well, I really don't like giving presentations. I get really bad stage fright. Even sitting here typing this post is kind of making me nervous. Yet, despite all this, I would rather present my work than publish it. I would really like the personal connection that I won't be able to get if I simply publish my work. If I were to present it, I might make a connection with an educator that wouldn't necessarily have time to read certain publications. I can tell stories, I can make it more personal, I can make it real. When you publish this type of academic work, you don't necessarily get that opportunity.

So, where should I present? I would like it to be somewhere with some regular, everyday teachers. I might consider presenting also at some type of technology teachers association, but technology teachers probably already have an idea about using social networking sites in education, and I would like to reach some teachers that perhaps may have never thought about it before. Since I prefer small groups, it would be even nicer if it was a small venue, or even a panel situation. I went to the National Science Teachers Association convention last year, and it was a very well-organized conference with lots of rooms and a great variety of topics being presented. I think that might be kind of a big goal, and I don't know if this really qualifies as science, but I would like to go back to a conference like that.

MAC Wk 3 - E-Books

I love technology, I really do, but I do not love e-books. I am enjoying reading the Art of Possibility, but every time I sit down to read, I can't help but think how much more I would get out of it if I was reading it in my nice cozy bed. I just can't curl up with a laptop like I can with a book. Although there are some things about technology that can help us communicate and connect to others (skype, facebook, etc.) but I am also recognizing that it can also separate us from each other. I could spend all night on facebook, or I could go out to a coffee shop with my friends and interact with live people. For some reason, reading a book (a real book) seems like a much more intimate, personal experience than reading an e-book.  I also get too easily distracted when I try to read an e-book. There are so many other things on my computer to distract me, that I am finding it very hard to read. If I just had a book in my hand and could go to a room with no computers or outside or something with very few distractions, I could read this book the way the author originally intended.

MAC Wk 3 - Comments to Isabel

"I believe that is in this chapter that Roz mentions walking alongside a river in New England where “the river roared like mad, its water roiling by with incessant energy”.  In this instance she takes an existential leap and asks the river’s force to run through her.  Something about this story really struck me- the idea of calling on nature to let its beauty and energy flow through you.  I take time everyday to watch the sunset- it is that moment of peace I give to myself each day.  I like to do this alone- I don’t mind company but I prefer to do it alone. I am always amazed by the beauty of nature but I ad never once thought of it as a force- something tangible that I could command or that had anything to offer me.  So I decided to try it out on the next sunset and I will admit I was expecting some kind of life changing experience but it was nothing like that.  I still enjoyed it and plan on doing it again. 

Maybe its because I am not musically inclined but I find that I relate more to the stories shared by Roz in these last 3 chapters.  Her stories have a connection to nature that I enjoy and relate to.  Is anybody else feeling more in-tune with one of the others than the other?"

Isabel,

At first I found it hard to relate to Ben Zander's connection to music. The concept of conducting an orchestra seems so utterly foreign to me, but I can really relate to a lot of the things that Zander says. I am beginning to see that conducting an orchestra is really a metaphor for many other things be it being a teacher, administrator, parent, or in some type of corporate management type position. I will be looking for Roz's interactions with nature as I continue reading. Thank you for pointing this out.

MAC Wk 3- Comments to Karen

"We need to always see the other side.  I had to stop working on my lit review to take an elderly woman some CD's my son is selling, to make money for his trip to Syria (he leaves Tuesday).  I took them, and ended up staying for almost 4 hours because she needed to talk.  It turns out her husband is about in the same situation my mother in law is in and she never gets to talk to people who remember what she says.  Her husband was our assistant superintendent for years, so it's difficult to see him like this.  I pray I can get this lit review finished as those 4 hours were important for work, but how could I leave her?  I think I was meant to be there, so I am praying God will help me as I work on these references to get them into APA order, in spite of the computer NOT working after getting fixed and my eyes are getting worse, not better. Whew"

Karen,

I am glad you took time away from your busy schedule to spend time with your elderly friend. In my opinion, we so rarely take time just to appreciate our friends and family. No lit review (or phone call or wimba) can take the place of those four hours you spent with that woman. It probably meant so much to her. When we immerse ourselves so fully in this world of cell phones, computers, and work, we can easily overlook those tender moments of human interaction. Even though our program is very important, I try never to put my priority on a phone call or homework, or something inanimate, when there is a live person right in front of me. You never know how much longer that live person will be around, and you will never regret that time spent with them when they are gone.