GAP

Google Art Project

This is incredible and was shared by one of my favorite blogs, "The Carrot Revolution". Anyone who loves art should check out this site. I am not sure that I agree with dsgran's blog that we will no longer need field trips, in fact I think this site is a great preamble to a field trip. But what a way to virtually visit most any museum in the world and get a better feel for the reality of Art as it exists in real time. 

detailed closeup

This site is rich with layers of discovery from museums, to artists, to history, to even setting up your own "private collection" which would be valuable for students or teachers. So enjoy!

Surrealistic Landscapes

                                                
  AP 2D Design - Surrealistic Landscapes - these are a series of landscape photos taken by my AP 2D design students and modified in a surreal direction for a class assignment. Some are humorous, some simply surreal, but all are creative. Good job!

              Educational Networking - Steve Hargodon

Those of you that follow Steve's Blog and the wonderful resource of Classroom 2.0 should all peruse a copy of this whitepaper. The span and scope of pertinent information is worth the time to read!

Edublog

Edublog is a great way to integrate online communication with your classroom assignments.This particular link highlights suggestions to get started.

Top100 Tools for Learning 2010

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Top100 Tools for Learning 2010

View more presentations from Jane Hart.

Social Networking

along with this general introduction video - check out this extensive list of social networks by Wikipedia - ridiculously long maybe - but impressive.
 List of Social Networks

Educational Networking

Communication Media History Video

Classroom 2.0 - Excellent site for teacher's to connect
Online Peer Review - Jobe Thesis
AP 2D Design Ning site - class specific social networking
Center for Learning & Performance Tech

Networking

Public Art

Mural on a public wall in downtown Park City, Utah.

To all my AP 2d students - please comment below...


Describe your first impression of this piece of public art. 


What Principles of Art have been employed to make this a successful work of art?  


Why do you think the artist chose to use color in the way he/she did? 


What inspiration does this piece give you for an art project?

Some of my students thought this was really a cool video. I have to agree. Kids still love to see something simply creative - and it is clean!

Mesa State Men's soccer

Voicethread Example

Women in Morocco - This "voicethread" is an example of an interactive process that can allow students and teachers to asynchronously communicate about almost any topic. It is a great teaching and networking tool for any age, level, or curriculum area.

A nice quote by Homer

A nice quote by Homer

Cindi Jobe: Media Presentation - EMDTMS

Cindi Jobe: Media Presentation - EMDTMS

Italy

If you click on each of these links, you will see my pictures of the Art Trek and NHS trip to Italy over spring break. This is an educational opportunity for our students to experience the culture of another country.

Milan to Venice via Verona
Venice
Adriatic Sea
San Gimignano

Florence – Day 1                                    Florence – Day 2
Assisi
Rome – Day 1
Rome – Day 2
Rome – Day 3

Week 4 - PBS Video: Digital_Nation: Life on the Virtual Frontier

Here is a fascinating video shown on PBS and shared through arted2.0. With all our discussions this week surrounding our teaching environments and dream jobs, I thought this documentary goes a long way in describing the world we are teaching within and our students are learning within.



Retrieved on March 24, 2010 from http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/view/

Week 4 - Comment on Bianca's Post

Week 4 - Post 1 - Getting past the wall

Posted by Bianca at 10:51 PM 

*sigh*

I had the worst problem getting started on my media project. Well, to be more specific, I had the worst problem getting started on themedia portion of my media project. I'd had my idea, a branching dialogue customer service simulation in Udutu, solidified since our first week. I had the whole idea all mapped out, but when it came to actually creating it in Udutu I had the most terrible time getting started. I hummed and hawed and vaguely poked in its general direction until just finally getting it properly rolling and working today (status update: got a great chunk of it in order and I feel confident about having it more than 75% done by the time I do my presentation).

It's not that I wasn't excited about the media project; in fact, I was kind of elated to be putting my thesis materials into practice finally. It's more that I'm starting to just get TIRED.

I've been pushing myself in both my school and work life for the past 11 months and it turns out pushing myself past exhaustion is finally starting to catch up with me. I just want to crawl into a fetal ball and sleep for a month or so to recover. Alas, there's still 5 more weeks to go, so no recovery hibernation for me just yet.

I thankfully hit a second wind (or, well, maybe eightieth wind to be more accurate) today and getting the project to work finally will definitely get me through this week at the very least (although I'm hoping the delight of finally getting a breakthrough will boost my energy for longer).

I'm hoping this will all work out like the exercise class I took the other week. It was my first yoga/pilates/tai chi-style class in a long time and around the middle I honestly thought I couldn't go any further. Not long after that, though, I caught a second wind and by the end of the class I felt fabulous.

So here's to us ALL catching that second wind, making it through the rest of the program, and coming out the other end feeling amazing and refreshed... or, at least surviving the next 5 weeks. Yes, just surviving would suffice ;)

(Anime self portrait made with the help of the Anime Face Maker v1.0 by ~geN8hedgehog, which is an excellent stress reliever, might I add)

Week 4 Media Project: AP Sketchbook - Ideas in Motion

I've made some changes to the media project since our Wimba session Monday night. At Bob's suggestion, I emailed Ning and asked about the possibility of removing the advertisements from my site due to its educational use. I haven't heard back as of this posting, but I am hoping for a positive response.

I have also made a few cosmetic/design changes to increase readability and make a very visual site a little less "busy". I truly appreciated the opportunity to share everyone's projects in such a safe and productive environment. Thanks to all of you. Especially Jorge, who is now a member!

Please visit my site: AP Sketchbook-Ideas in Motion

Week 4 Readings – Being the Board, Creating Frameworks, and Telling the WE Story

Grace under fire, being the board. 

Apparently, this well-known compliment that is given to those of us who keep ourselves together when all around us is crumbling, comes from owning the risks that we take in a world out of our control. I like this phrase, I like what it stands for, and I like others who demonstrate its power. I think I may get it tattooed on my forehead…well let’s not get carried away, but I will keep it at the top of my list of goals. Be the board, show grace under fire:

Show grace under fire – life is probably less stressful that way.

Be open-minded – then the world is a more interesting place.

(Art Trek trip to Spain, 2008)

Be a good friend – you can’t have too many friends.

Be patient, and apparently kind too.

Affecting Change, creating Frameworks.

Thankfully, at least in this country, we have a choice each day to live our lives in any way we choose. What are the possibilities? This is the question we should be asking ourselves. How can I affect change on those around me, on myself, on the world? I suppose that it is impossible to truly make these considerations on a daily basis. But if more people, especially those of us that hold children’s lives in our hands, were to take a moment to care and share and support those around us, I am sure that we would have more successes and fewer failures.

Reflection. Telling the "we" story.  I know that over many years in education and coaching, I have received thank-you’s from students and their parents about positive ways that I have affected them. I always appreciate the end of the school year or season, because it is a time of reflection. I think that is why the thanks come out. We reflect back on the time together, what we meant to each other, and how we got through the hard times, and how we celebrated the best times. The “WE” story really doesn’t have to be anything BIG, it just has to be special. Taking the time to care is really what the “Art of Possibility” by Zander is all about. Putting the needs of others first, sharing the wealth we each have inside our hearts, minds and souls. When we do these simple things, the rewards to us and them are enormous.

Tomorrow morning at 4:30 a.m. when 14 high school art students (we call it Art Trek), myself, and a fellow teacher of mine head off to Italy, we will all be experiencing the possibilities of a choices in life. One of travel and art, and culture and opportunities that await because we aren't afraid of the possibilities. We are champions of possibilities. We are one BIG possibility waiting to happen! and it will be worth every sacrifice to experience it. We will create memories, we will make friends, we will grow in our understanding of the world, and we will come back changed forever. The reflections will be spectacular this year! 

So, if you are a teacher, volunteer to share extra-curricular time with your students. Go to their concerts, school plays and sporting events. Be a club advisor or coach. Help them with community service. But most of all, get involved. Who knows, your reward may be to accompany them on a trip of a lifetime!

Week 3 - Other Connections to Zander's Work as it relates to Competition

Anna Jobe - ski racer 

I am posting the following as a great guideline for those of us that are coaches, teachers and parents so that we remember to keep our perspective. I am spending the next few days watching the Junior Olympics and am reminded every moment of this competition of Benjamin Zander's words. He speaks about our "universe being alive with sparks" and that we have "an infinite capacity to light a spark of possibility". He also says that "passion, not fear is the igniting force". As I watch these young 8th and 9th graders, full of sparks, possibility and passion for their sport, I feel so very lucky to just observe. The advice marked in red below is the best I have found to help us keep our perspective and to help the children we teach, coach or parent to strive for their best, not to be afraid of failure, and to embrace the challenge. 

© 2006 USA Swimming and The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. All Rights Reserved.

Do's and Don'ts for Sport Parents

(this is just a portion from this article that fits in well with "The Art of Possibility" that we have been studying by Benjamin Zander)

Do for your Children:

• Provide guidance for your children, but do not force or pressure them.

• Assist them in setting realistic goals for participation.

• Emphasize fun, skill development and other benefits of sports participation, e.g., cooperation,

competition, self-discipline, commitment.

• Show interest in their participation: help them get to practice, attend competitions, ask questions.

• Provide a healthy perspective to help children understand success and failure.

• Emphasize and reward effort rather than results.

• Intervene if your child's behavior is unacceptable during practice or competitions.

• Understand that your child may need a break from sports occasionally.

• Give your child some space when need. Part of sports participation involves them figuring things out

for themselves.

• Keep a sense of humor. If you are having fun and laughing, so will your child

• Provide regular encouragement.

• Be a healthy role model for your child by being positive and relaxed at competitions and by having

balance in your life.

• GIVE THEM UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: SHOW THEM YOU LOVE THEM WHETHER THEY

• WIN OR LOSE!!!

About the Author:

Michael A. Taylor an Instructor for the Stanford

University based Positive Coaching Alliance, a long-time member of the United States Elite Coaches Association

and a former gym owner.

Taylor, M. (2010) Do's and don'ts for sports parents. United States Ski and Snowboard Association
Retrieved March 19, 2010 from http://www.ussa.org/magnoliaPublic/ussa/en/formembers/parents/about.html

Week 3 - Readings Ch 7-9 on Expectations, Passions and Sparks

I know someone who was born prematurely at barely 30 weeks, weighing under 5 lbs, but you would never know by her zest for life. She is my hero, and happens to be the hero of most of our family, including her brother and both her grandfathers.  She is one that lives what Benjamin Zander "preaches" and one that lives this sort of "Life of Possibility" if you will. This person NEVER settles, but she is also never overbearing, dramatic, or difficult. She has a passion for many things, and does them well, but i think ski racing is unequal to any other passion in her life.

 Heart of a Racer - Do You have a Dream? 
This video is about a small part of her life, but one that lights a spark. She doesn't just compete for herself, but she makes all those around her better. She doesn't just get excellent grades, but she helps others in the process. She is one of the people that Zander is talking about, and she was seemingly born this way. Everyone is her friend and everyone wants to be better at what they do when they are with her. Even I...so check her out. It would not surprise this Montana mom if her daughter was famous for just being an amazing human being some day. Although that is enough for me and her family, I think this young woman has bigger plans. 

Week 3 - My comments on Donna's post

Friday, March 12, 2010

WK 2 Blog Entry 4 - Random Musings

My world seems built on the concept of feast of famine this year. Either I have a few projects to complete with long deadlines and plenty of time or everything bombards me at once and all needs to be accomplished at the same time - usually in different places.

This month is a "feast" month: more like a binge. Work, school, and family commitments have all merged into one heady time-management nightmare! Makes me ever more thankful for my support network - how would I get through all this without it.

I know we are all under the same deadlines, but still, I have to ask; whose bright idea was it to have the thesis, media project and presentation all due at the same time?? I know that come midnight March 22nd I will collapse with relief in a hotel somewhere in Georgia, and hopefully will have had enough time to prepare the materials for the photographers I'll be training at 7 am on the 23rd. I take that back, on the 22nd I'm in North Carolina. Hmm. I see yet another late night road trip heading my way. I'm glad I love my work!

Note to self: Must remember Rule #6! :)