Saturday, July 14, 2018
Looking Ahead
Many times we experience situations that are beyond our control. We can either have a certain feeling about it, or we can act upon it in a certain way, or both. For example, a few days ago, we had a leak from the roof at the audio room in Flickos. It wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but we still had to shut down all audio operations. I didn’t feel good about this, but I felt that this had to be this way to protect our equipment and customer projects. I then took this as an opportunity to revamp the room to make it more efficient. I would have preferred to do this under better circumstances, but I had to seize the moment. And that simple logical reason is what makes me different from some individuals. I’ve been talking to other people who for whatever reason would concentrate in the situation instead of what should happen next. I would say that for whatever situation you are experiencing, always think about an end goal, about the results, about how it should look, instead of how it looks.
Saturday, February 25, 2017
My first small business?
I have done some type of “small” business throughout most of my life. Before I was in high school, I had already opened a candy store in my house, I did VCR repairs, and traded video games for others. Later on, I dabbled with video projects, while having a full time job. But most of my ventures were not considerable enough to even report to the IRS. Now me and Inez have a store, and not to brag, it is busy. Time flies, and the projects never seem to end, no matter how hard you work in the day. I do hope that someday I can really get caught up, but just seeing the faces of customers, after discovering something that they have never seen before, is priceless. So here I am, hoping for the future, wish me luck.
Friday, December 21, 2012
Thinking about Newtown...
It has been a while since I paid any attention to this blog, and I wanted to write a few lines. This blog was written first as a requirement for a course, then as a reflection to my learning and as a repository to what I thought of others work. Fast forward a year and a half or so, and now I'm graduated from my program, and after a little search, got a new job with an upgrade to my salary, and I'm now helping to create a new wave of online courses for the government. These courses are to get people back to work as quickly as possible and not for training to harm others or something like that (I'm a pacifist).
Thinking along those lines, many of my past classmates were teachers, and I'm sure the Newtown tragedy has touched them very deeply also. I was specially shocked that most of the victims were from first grade, but somehow I know that from the moment they mentioned that the mother of the perpetrator was a kindergarten teacher. I'm sure many of the victims were part of her class the year before...
The big question then is, could this have been prevented? I heard about the proposal of putting guards in all public schools, and I thought to myself that it was a patch and not a real solution. We are always fixing things after the fact, and never preventing things from happening. Did everyone forget that the perpetrator was once a first grader himself? Could certain things in his life could have been changed and perhaps instead of shooting children, he would have been studying to be a great teacher himself? I would love comments from fellow teachers and hear their opinions on this matter.
The other day I heard someone say that if the teachers had guns, that the tragedy could have been minimized or prevented. I'm sure a lot of my old classmates would think this as stupid, and I'm not so sure if I want to send my kids to a trained killer (you have to train to use a gun effectively) that would kill with almost no provocation or remorse a young adult in front of children, and willing to have an O.K. Corral shootout in the classroom to boot, as I'm sure that it would have not ended with one shot. And let's say that a teacher hears shots in the school, gets a gun and as the perpetrator walks in, he gets shot and dies. What about that teacher that just shot and killed another human being? Do people really think that is a piece of cake to live with? I'm an Army veteran, so I know a little about having blood on my hands. The teacher will need therapy as a minimum. And would it have been better if the perpetrator have gotten therapy before he stole the guns from his mother, and shot her with them? Actually if you think about it, it was because a teacher did get a gun that this tragedy happened. Sure, let's give guns to all the teachers; lets see how many kids and troubled young adults steal those same guns to commit more murders...
Thinking along those lines, many of my past classmates were teachers, and I'm sure the Newtown tragedy has touched them very deeply also. I was specially shocked that most of the victims were from first grade, but somehow I know that from the moment they mentioned that the mother of the perpetrator was a kindergarten teacher. I'm sure many of the victims were part of her class the year before...
The big question then is, could this have been prevented? I heard about the proposal of putting guards in all public schools, and I thought to myself that it was a patch and not a real solution. We are always fixing things after the fact, and never preventing things from happening. Did everyone forget that the perpetrator was once a first grader himself? Could certain things in his life could have been changed and perhaps instead of shooting children, he would have been studying to be a great teacher himself? I would love comments from fellow teachers and hear their opinions on this matter.
The other day I heard someone say that if the teachers had guns, that the tragedy could have been minimized or prevented. I'm sure a lot of my old classmates would think this as stupid, and I'm not so sure if I want to send my kids to a trained killer (you have to train to use a gun effectively) that would kill with almost no provocation or remorse a young adult in front of children, and willing to have an O.K. Corral shootout in the classroom to boot, as I'm sure that it would have not ended with one shot. And let's say that a teacher hears shots in the school, gets a gun and as the perpetrator walks in, he gets shot and dies. What about that teacher that just shot and killed another human being? Do people really think that is a piece of cake to live with? I'm an Army veteran, so I know a little about having blood on my hands. The teacher will need therapy as a minimum. And would it have been better if the perpetrator have gotten therapy before he stole the guns from his mother, and shot her with them? Actually if you think about it, it was because a teacher did get a gun that this tragedy happened. Sure, let's give guns to all the teachers; lets see how many kids and troubled young adults steal those same guns to commit more murders...
Friday, May 27, 2011
Wk4 Reading: Blog Post to Tiffany Jones
Post to Tifanny
I like your comment about collaboration, and such a true statement it is. But I have seen that when people collaborate, they keep their groups to a small cadre of individuals, and are always afraid to expand and find new talents. I wonder if they also permit this in their classrooms and at their jobs. We should never stick to be complacent in working with the same individuals, Even if they are friends, we can look further and find those stars that will help us shine. All stars are different, some are warmer than others, some are farther or closer, and some are in the verge of collapse (super nova). But they still shine, and with the right gravities, they can help shine other stars (even though in space that would probably induce a catastrophe). So we should never stop finding more stars in our galaxy, and then we can go to other galaxies and find other stars that we normally don't think about as part of our universe.
I like your comment about collaboration, and such a true statement it is. But I have seen that when people collaborate, they keep their groups to a small cadre of individuals, and are always afraid to expand and find new talents. I wonder if they also permit this in their classrooms and at their jobs. We should never stick to be complacent in working with the same individuals, Even if they are friends, we can look further and find those stars that will help us shine. All stars are different, some are warmer than others, some are farther or closer, and some are in the verge of collapse (super nova). But they still shine, and with the right gravities, they can help shine other stars (even though in space that would probably induce a catastrophe). So we should never stop finding more stars in our galaxy, and then we can go to other galaxies and find other stars that we normally don't think about as part of our universe.
Wk4 Reading: Blog Post to Brenda McGee
Post to Brenda
I really like your two points, Thinking on what we can do something about, and to remember that the plural is stronger than the singular. Our perceptions are many times the main source of our pains (other than physical pain), and when we think we have been wronged, we in a sense self inflict pain to ourselves, many times without checking the veracity of those perceptions. This can lead to rancor and other feeling that may be wrongfully placed on others, specially loved ones. I've felt both sides of that coin and I have also vowed to never let my perceptions control my life. One thing that I always think about is how we as a species are very interconnected to each other, even akin to how ants or bees are. Once we forget how our decisions or lack of them affect everyone around us, we begin to accumulate a sort of mass hurt, or negative feelings that spread like a disease. I've seen people even hurt themselves after a long road of blocking themselves from others. We are complete social creatures and as such, we have to acknowledge the existence of others, and even check on what we do, as to not hurt or offend someone else, then we can have a better more peaceful life...
I really like your two points, Thinking on what we can do something about, and to remember that the plural is stronger than the singular. Our perceptions are many times the main source of our pains (other than physical pain), and when we think we have been wronged, we in a sense self inflict pain to ourselves, many times without checking the veracity of those perceptions. This can lead to rancor and other feeling that may be wrongfully placed on others, specially loved ones. I've felt both sides of that coin and I have also vowed to never let my perceptions control my life. One thing that I always think about is how we as a species are very interconnected to each other, even akin to how ants or bees are. Once we forget how our decisions or lack of them affect everyone around us, we begin to accumulate a sort of mass hurt, or negative feelings that spread like a disease. I've seen people even hurt themselves after a long road of blocking themselves from others. We are complete social creatures and as such, we have to acknowledge the existence of others, and even check on what we do, as to not hurt or offend someone else, then we can have a better more peaceful life...
Wk4 Wimba: Thoughts
I hate to hear myself, so I don't dare to listen to my part on Wimba, but I was surprised how smoothly I went on my presentation (even though it was a little unfamiliar to me). Because I'm thinking on doing some major changes to my action research, I still have a long road ahead on my presentation and my research statement. No one really asked me any questions related to my study, other than the teaching assistant, so I'm not sure if it is a truly valid position into thinking that online course development should be left to a team of experts (even though this might sound obvious) instead of the faculty member who is teaching the subject. I'm working on doing a continuation of the cycle process to collect more data. I really hope to finish everything on time before graduation time, as I already have all the preparations to go to Winter Park to graduate...
Wk4 Reading: Art of Possibility Chapters 9 – 12
The strongest warmth is usually the one that we can't touch; someone has to protect us from our own curiosity, right?
-- David Cheng
I really liked "Creating Frameworks for Possibility" mainly because, without a new framework, everything else would really stay the same. Have you ever lost something, like keys, and when you start looking you just concentrate in certain areas? Then you repeat the same areas you just finished looking, just wishing that the item would mysteriously appear? When we want a real solution to something, trying the same things will not work. Finding a new angle unrelated to past tactics usually gives better results, or at least doing something different will change our perspective enough to have a higher chance of success. In my first year in college, I lived in a rural area maybe 4 miles from the university, but where I lived was a remote rural area at the top of a small mountain ridge. Going up the mountain on foot was exhausting and dangerous, with no street lights or sidewalks. I didn't have a car, and my last class ended at 7:30pm. I had to depend on hitchhiking to get home (taxis had the area off bounds), and sometimes I had to wait for many hours to get a ride. But not ever had I a doubt that I would find a ride. My area of possibility was that no matter what, I would always find a safe ride, and I did for a whole year. I was sure that on the day I would doubt it, I would have to walk on foot on those dark roads, which over hung cliffs of thousands of feet. Even though this is an example of an internal possibility, I'm sure any of you could apply this to outside sources also. I'm ready for the new changes that will come after graduation... are you?
-- David Cheng
I really liked "Creating Frameworks for Possibility" mainly because, without a new framework, everything else would really stay the same. Have you ever lost something, like keys, and when you start looking you just concentrate in certain areas? Then you repeat the same areas you just finished looking, just wishing that the item would mysteriously appear? When we want a real solution to something, trying the same things will not work. Finding a new angle unrelated to past tactics usually gives better results, or at least doing something different will change our perspective enough to have a higher chance of success. In my first year in college, I lived in a rural area maybe 4 miles from the university, but where I lived was a remote rural area at the top of a small mountain ridge. Going up the mountain on foot was exhausting and dangerous, with no street lights or sidewalks. I didn't have a car, and my last class ended at 7:30pm. I had to depend on hitchhiking to get home (taxis had the area off bounds), and sometimes I had to wait for many hours to get a ride. But not ever had I a doubt that I would find a ride. My area of possibility was that no matter what, I would always find a safe ride, and I did for a whole year. I was sure that on the day I would doubt it, I would have to walk on foot on those dark roads, which over hung cliffs of thousands of feet. Even though this is an example of an internal possibility, I'm sure any of you could apply this to outside sources also. I'm ready for the new changes that will come after graduation... are you?
Wk4-2 DB Quickies: my dream teaching/presentation environment
Copy from post
Wow, another hard question. I think the thing that stands most in my way of my dream job is to know what that would be… I think of a dream job as a job that utilizes all your skills to the max, and that it becomes rewarding to do. I have done so many types of jobs and been so curious in my life (in my StrengthsFinders ‘do a search in your bookstore’ my main skill is input, or the ability to collect and hoard data) that doing a job that covers those skills would probably not make sense. In terms of deserving working a “dream” job, I think I will always deserve it, no matter what positives or negatives I do. It would not make sense being your own enemy or depriving yourself of anything, there are enough barriers in the world, I don’t need any more of those. From all the abilities I have, I think my biggest one is to be curious and willing enough to want to learn new skills at a rapid pace, and to never give up. :) And I mean this in an obsessive manner
Wow, another hard question. I think the thing that stands most in my way of my dream job is to know what that would be… I think of a dream job as a job that utilizes all your skills to the max, and that it becomes rewarding to do. I have done so many types of jobs and been so curious in my life (in my StrengthsFinders ‘do a search in your bookstore’ my main skill is input, or the ability to collect and hoard data) that doing a job that covers those skills would probably not make sense. In terms of deserving working a “dream” job, I think I will always deserve it, no matter what positives or negatives I do. It would not make sense being your own enemy or depriving yourself of anything, there are enough barriers in the world, I don’t need any more of those. From all the abilities I have, I think my biggest one is to be curious and willing enough to want to learn new skills at a rapid pace, and to never give up. :) And I mean this in an obsessive manner
Wk4-1 DB Quickies: my dream teaching/presentation environment
Copy from post
It is a little hard to think where I would like to present, as I’m really bad in front of people. I get anxious quickly, specially in smaller crowds (if that makes sense). I would think that presenting in a TED conference would be a dream, but with the pressure that type of venue gives, I’m not sure I would make it alive. I’m only able to present things in front of a camera by repetition and familiarization. But I think I would be most comfortable with a theater setting, with strong lights that blank out the audience. I have been on stage in theater and it is not the same as presenting at all. You pretend to be someone else, with a few rehearsed lines, and you only have to convince yourself (and fellow actors if any) about your performance. This probably doesn’t sounds right to most, but you only need to convince yourself while on stage. I would probably pretend to be a great speaker and say his lines… That’s probably the only way for me.
It is a little hard to think where I would like to present, as I’m really bad in front of people. I get anxious quickly, specially in smaller crowds (if that makes sense). I would think that presenting in a TED conference would be a dream, but with the pressure that type of venue gives, I’m not sure I would make it alive. I’m only able to present things in front of a camera by repetition and familiarization. But I think I would be most comfortable with a theater setting, with strong lights that blank out the audience. I have been on stage in theater and it is not the same as presenting at all. You pretend to be someone else, with a few rehearsed lines, and you only have to convince yourself (and fellow actors if any) about your performance. This probably doesn’t sounds right to most, but you only need to convince yourself while on stage. I would probably pretend to be a great speaker and say his lines… That’s probably the only way for me.
Wk4 Publishing Leadership Project, Update 2 of 2
Because there is so little time for my conference of choice, I would like to try for the League of Innovation conference next year. It is going to be in Philly, which is where I graduated for my bachelors. I love Philly, and lived there for two years, and lived close to it for another two before moving to Arizona. And the League conference is specifically for community colleges, which is my primary target. I have a place to stay over there also. Another thing I like about the League is that you can choose the type of presentation you want, and they have forum sessions, roundtable discussions and poster sessions. I have until September 16, which should give me enough time to really polish my presentation and data. If you are also thinking in going to this conference, please let me know... Maybe we could collaborate in a joint session!
Wk4 Publishing Leadership Project, Intro 1 of 2
I thought for a while if to publish or present my research. At first I wanted to get published, but looking at my research goals, it seems that what I want to do is to help further validate the purpose of instructional design, and I decided to make a presentation. This might sound as a given but in my workplace and in many other places, faculty staff question the existence of instructional designers and excuse it as a way to cut expenditures just because they want more control of their hybrid and online courses. I think a presentation has a much better chance to put people in action, and to find solutions quicker. I would record my presentation (I will try as much as I can to make that happen) and take it to other places and I would place it online and distribute the link to as many places (that would benefit from what I have to say) as I could. I would like to do my presentation here http://www.qmprogram.org/3rd-annual-conference-2011 but I might be already late for this year (deadline is June 10). I'm not a good presenter, so I would have to practice a LOT, and even though English is my first language, I've spoken Spanish for so long that I have an accent, and I also get anxious while talking to a crowd. I'm still improving this presentation but you can check it here. If anyone has any questions, you can leave me a comment, thanks.
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Wk3 Reading: Blog Post to Monica Heaney
From Monica
I liked your interpretations of the different chapters. For chapter 5, I can truly relate in the differences of having a leader that believes in you, and one that doesn't. Having a good leader gives you such a refreshing feeling when you go to work, versus having an enemy for a boss. I feel that there is no true in-between either, you have a good leader or a bad one. Of course it is a challenge when you are in that chair, because we usually emulate what we had the most, and if we had a lot of bad bosses, then you can figure out what happens. But I strive every day to understand my role and to help those around me, and to wish for a better boss... :)
Chapter 5. Leading from Any Chair:
I can specifically remember what it felt like to have a leader (principal) who believed in his staff’s enough to let us lead. I remember being more excited about going to work each day and willing to take risks. There were times when he would present us with ideas that were new and although we were a little scared to take on the challenge, we did it because he assured us that he believed we could. Even when he spoke of the staff or introduced us at Back to School Night, he would say things that made us feel valued. I imagine that the way he spoke about us to the parents also made them see the best in us and gave them a sense of comfort to know that their children were in the best hands.
...
I can specifically remember what it felt like to have a leader (principal) who believed in his staff’s enough to let us lead. I remember being more excited about going to work each day and willing to take risks. There were times when he would present us with ideas that were new and although we were a little scared to take on the challenge, we did it because he assured us that he believed we could. Even when he spoke of the staff or introduced us at Back to School Night, he would say things that made us feel valued. I imagine that the way he spoke about us to the parents also made them see the best in us and gave them a sense of comfort to know that their children were in the best hands.
...
I liked your interpretations of the different chapters. For chapter 5, I can truly relate in the differences of having a leader that believes in you, and one that doesn't. Having a good leader gives you such a refreshing feeling when you go to work, versus having an enemy for a boss. I feel that there is no true in-between either, you have a good leader or a bad one. Of course it is a challenge when you are in that chair, because we usually emulate what we had the most, and if we had a lot of bad bosses, then you can figure out what happens. But I strive every day to understand my role and to help those around me, and to wish for a better boss... :)
Wk3 Reading: Blog Post to Lionel Jacques
From Lionel
There was more great info – or I should say reminders – in this weeks reading. I am still enjoying the book and the stories shared within but this week found more of other inspirational and guide books sort of “wrapped up” in the book. Not that the message isn’t good or a different take on it – just that there is an echo of those other books within this ones message.
...
Chapter 6 is a delightful reminder that we can have fun at our job and in our lives and that will lead to a richer return. Prepare yourself for the role you have in your classroom of course, but don’t forget to enjoy the experience and make it your own. Laughing and letting go of the minutia to see the overall picture is a better option for our lives and increases the impact to those around us.
...
I liked the way you explained the different chapters for your own life. But when I read your chapter 6 interpretation, I couldn't resist to say that sometimes, to have fun, you have to change your focus elsewhere. Of course it would be a little different for a teacher, because that would mean abandoning the students, and I'm not advocating that. But there are work environments that have the air of terror, and having fun in those places is a sure way to lose your job. Maybe the fact that, with certain constraints, a teacher could have all the fun they can muster in their classroom; I would feel a little envious of that. I don't have a good memory of my teachers in 1-12 (I never went to kindergartner) and I don't remember having much fun (I was the geek in class). But now looking back I could say that I can laugh at those experiences and be a little less serious with myself, but outside of work...
There was more great info – or I should say reminders – in this weeks reading. I am still enjoying the book and the stories shared within but this week found more of other inspirational and guide books sort of “wrapped up” in the book. Not that the message isn’t good or a different take on it – just that there is an echo of those other books within this ones message.
...
Chapter 6 is a delightful reminder that we can have fun at our job and in our lives and that will lead to a richer return. Prepare yourself for the role you have in your classroom of course, but don’t forget to enjoy the experience and make it your own. Laughing and letting go of the minutia to see the overall picture is a better option for our lives and increases the impact to those around us.
...
I liked the way you explained the different chapters for your own life. But when I read your chapter 6 interpretation, I couldn't resist to say that sometimes, to have fun, you have to change your focus elsewhere. Of course it would be a little different for a teacher, because that would mean abandoning the students, and I'm not advocating that. But there are work environments that have the air of terror, and having fun in those places is a sure way to lose your job. Maybe the fact that, with certain constraints, a teacher could have all the fun they can muster in their classroom; I would feel a little envious of that. I don't have a good memory of my teachers in 1-12 (I never went to kindergartner) and I don't remember having much fun (I was the geek in class). But now looking back I could say that I can laugh at those experiences and be a little less serious with myself, but outside of work...
Wk3 Wimba Session: Art of Possibility
There are so many things to say about this book, and about the comments of my classmates that I'm not sure where to begin. I did attend for at least half of the Wimba this time, even though it was hard to answer some of the question that came up. The book does have a certain feel like "voices" or "flashbacks" from the past, appearing again to help you find your way. In the Wimba, it was mentioned that change is good and that we shouldn't become the "veterans." But there are educational workplaces that are experiencing a lot of change, and when a "veteran" disappears, everyone suffers for it. I haven't given up, and I feel possibility within me, but I can see when that possibility disappears from the workplace.
I wish there was a chapter about revitalizing the workplace and its employees, including the ones that would never read the book, or that are prideful. Instead of possibility, I think humility is even more important in certain situations. There are a couple of chapters that I liked, specially "Being a Contribution" and "Rule Number 6." I always feel as a contribution to others, and I always feel that I get too serious, and have to tone it down. I could say that these could be life goals.
I have a small support system at work, but it's mostly shoulders to cry on. And I have only found a very limited system with my classmates, as I sometimes feel like we are worlds apart, and most don't ever check my posts. I try my best to stay positive and helpful, but it's hard when some individuals don't acknowledge your existence. I'll go on and look for possibilities where I can find them, and think on the ones they just missed...
I wish there was a chapter about revitalizing the workplace and its employees, including the ones that would never read the book, or that are prideful. Instead of possibility, I think humility is even more important in certain situations. There are a couple of chapters that I liked, specially "Being a Contribution" and "Rule Number 6." I always feel as a contribution to others, and I always feel that I get too serious, and have to tone it down. I could say that these could be life goals.
I have a small support system at work, but it's mostly shoulders to cry on. And I have only found a very limited system with my classmates, as I sometimes feel like we are worlds apart, and most don't ever check my posts. I try my best to stay positive and helpful, but it's hard when some individuals don't acknowledge your existence. I'll go on and look for possibilities where I can find them, and think on the ones they just missed...
Wk3 Discussion Deeper: Video Use in Education
Copied from here
I posted most of my video podcasts I watch for work last week, so I’ll be short here with the videos. I do a lot of special effects and video repurposing so they concentrate on video tutorials and such.
Creative Cows After Effects tutorials
http://podcasts.creativecow.net/after-effects-tutorials-rss.xml
Eran Stern’s After Effects tutorials and ideas
http://www.sternfx.com/tutorials
Adobe Lightroom tutorials from Adobe TV
http://tv.adobe.com/product/lightroom/
Great video podcasts from PBS
http://www.pbs.org/podcasts/
Film Riot, with tips and how-tos about filming and post-production
itpc://revision3.com/filmriot/feed/mp4-hd30
AV Talk, which talks about the latest movies, and their production
itpc://revision3.com/avtalk/feed/mp4-hd30
For the last two, if the links don’t work for you or if you are interested into more, check the whole Revision 3 video podcast selection.
http://revision3.com/shows
I posted most of my video podcasts I watch for work last week, so I’ll be short here with the videos. I do a lot of special effects and video repurposing so they concentrate on video tutorials and such.
Creative Cows After Effects tutorials
http://podcasts.creativecow.net/after-effects-tutorials-rss.xml
Eran Stern’s After Effects tutorials and ideas
http://www.sternfx.com/tutorials
Adobe Lightroom tutorials from Adobe TV
http://tv.adobe.com/product/lightroom/
Great video podcasts from PBS
http://www.pbs.org/podcasts/
Film Riot, with tips and how-tos about filming and post-production
itpc://revision3.com/filmriot/feed/mp4-hd30
AV Talk, which talks about the latest movies, and their production
itpc://revision3.com/avtalk/feed/mp4-hd30
For the last two, if the links don’t work for you or if you are interested into more, check the whole Revision 3 video podcast selection.
http://revision3.com/shows
Wk3-2 DB Quickies: Difficulties starting new programs/breaking the norm
Copied from here
I’m not an educator and my colleagues are not either, but we embrace new technologies all the time. I would think that the main reason that many educators resist technology is that they are afraid of wasting their own time, and that for them, technology changes too fast. I would understand that if you start learning a new software for example, and then you find out that as soon as you start using it, there is a new version of the software, and that it is significantly different or worse than the prior software, and that the older software doesn’t runs in your machine any longer. Even though these challenges exist, I’m always an early adopter of technology (time and money permitting). Not long ago I wanted to buy a professional HD video camera, but they’re expensive, and I also needed a machine that could handle the video stream load. I then found that Canon digital photo cameras were starting to be used for video. I didn’t hesitate twice to buy one of those cameras and try it out. The quality was phenomenal, and it was almost 7 times cheaper. It didn’t do zooms or rack focus very well, but I learned and adapted. After almost two year since then, now my production coworkers are starting to use these types of cameras for video. Where I work is a community college, so I don’t think it counts as a business, but I did work in some prior businesses, and I remember being amazed at how they can keep some very old technology, right next to the latest stuff. They would buy a great piece of hardware, and connect it to dinosaur systems and lower their prime potentials.
I do remember a while back, I went to visit a friend librarian, and he was showing me a smartboard (the only one in the school) that no teacher could figure out, or find a good use for it. I was flabbergasted at this. I started to explain how you needed a projector to illuminate the smartboard, when he stopped me and said that the teachers thought that projector were too new to the classroom, and that transparencies were easier to make and control. If I had coworkers like that I would go insane. This was maybe 5 to 6 years ago… Let’s learn to take risks and sneak in a new technology to the classroom every week…
I’m not an educator and my colleagues are not either, but we embrace new technologies all the time. I would think that the main reason that many educators resist technology is that they are afraid of wasting their own time, and that for them, technology changes too fast. I would understand that if you start learning a new software for example, and then you find out that as soon as you start using it, there is a new version of the software, and that it is significantly different or worse than the prior software, and that the older software doesn’t runs in your machine any longer. Even though these challenges exist, I’m always an early adopter of technology (time and money permitting). Not long ago I wanted to buy a professional HD video camera, but they’re expensive, and I also needed a machine that could handle the video stream load. I then found that Canon digital photo cameras were starting to be used for video. I didn’t hesitate twice to buy one of those cameras and try it out. The quality was phenomenal, and it was almost 7 times cheaper. It didn’t do zooms or rack focus very well, but I learned and adapted. After almost two year since then, now my production coworkers are starting to use these types of cameras for video. Where I work is a community college, so I don’t think it counts as a business, but I did work in some prior businesses, and I remember being amazed at how they can keep some very old technology, right next to the latest stuff. They would buy a great piece of hardware, and connect it to dinosaur systems and lower their prime potentials.
I do remember a while back, I went to visit a friend librarian, and he was showing me a smartboard (the only one in the school) that no teacher could figure out, or find a good use for it. I was flabbergasted at this. I started to explain how you needed a projector to illuminate the smartboard, when he stopped me and said that the teachers thought that projector were too new to the classroom, and that transparencies were easier to make and control. If I had coworkers like that I would go insane. This was maybe 5 to 6 years ago… Let’s learn to take risks and sneak in a new technology to the classroom every week…
Wk3-1 DB Quickies: Difficulties starting new programs/breaking the norm
Copied from here
A little bit over a year ago one of the instructional designers had a class that a faculty member hated to teach, and the ID wanted to find ways to stimulate student participation. It was a humanities class and we were going through the materials to see what sort of videos I could produce for it. I noticed that there were some paintings of Dante Alighieri (the writer of the Divine Comedy) and I started to wonder if I could find an actor to play him, and she said, could we animate one of those paintings. I did some research and found a program called Crazy Talk, and it can animate almost any face to follow an audio script. I found a voice-over talent that sounded regal and sophisticated (instead of going cliche and using an Italian accent), and I found a glass mural of him that served my purposes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhf9hE1UffU To see the animation, please skip to the first minute (the video is truncated for copyright reasons). The faculty member loved it, and she now only teaches either online or hybrid because of this.
I always try to find a new angle to innovate in education and video (that’s why I’m getting this masters), and I love a good challenge. But things at work have turned sour lately and we have a new leader who doesn’t respects our online paradigm. My Action Research deals with this and I tried to find a solution, but with so-so results. Mainly, things change so fast, that you go against something, and before you know it, people are looking at you weird, because the thing doesn’t exists anymore. Now I’m getting Adobe CS5.5 to see what’s new (it comes with Audition) and to see if that could solve some new challenges in education…
A little bit over a year ago one of the instructional designers had a class that a faculty member hated to teach, and the ID wanted to find ways to stimulate student participation. It was a humanities class and we were going through the materials to see what sort of videos I could produce for it. I noticed that there were some paintings of Dante Alighieri (the writer of the Divine Comedy) and I started to wonder if I could find an actor to play him, and she said, could we animate one of those paintings. I did some research and found a program called Crazy Talk, and it can animate almost any face to follow an audio script. I found a voice-over talent that sounded regal and sophisticated (instead of going cliche and using an Italian accent), and I found a glass mural of him that served my purposes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vhf9hE1UffU To see the animation, please skip to the first minute (the video is truncated for copyright reasons). The faculty member loved it, and she now only teaches either online or hybrid because of this.
I always try to find a new angle to innovate in education and video (that’s why I’m getting this masters), and I love a good challenge. But things at work have turned sour lately and we have a new leader who doesn’t respects our online paradigm. My Action Research deals with this and I tried to find a solution, but with so-so results. Mainly, things change so fast, that you go against something, and before you know it, people are looking at you weird, because the thing doesn’t exists anymore. Now I’m getting Adobe CS5.5 to see what’s new (it comes with Audition) and to see if that could solve some new challenges in education…
Wk3 Reading: Art of Possibilities Chapters 5 – 8
The one chapter that I really liked was the Rule Number 6 chapter. I'm very relaxed about others, but for my own things, I'm dead serious, and not taking myself serious almost feels like an insult to myself. This has been a hard journey to a more relaxed self, as I'm a firm believer that seriousness and determination go hand in hand.
I guess being hard on myself has always been a natural thing for me. But I have seen the difference between a workplace that is serious and one that likes to have fun, and have found that there is much more productivity in a fun one. This is mainly (in my opinion) because in a fun environment, people take pride and ownership of their contributions, and feel closer to those around them. I wonder how hard it would be to have fun in this working environment (I mean between co-workers or with the boss) in which everyone has to work separately from each other, like in the educational K-12 workplace.
I know that in the military, it depends on the leadership, whether it is one of fear or one of comradeship. And this takes more than one leader to pull it off, just one will make that person look bad or not part of the unit. It is always better in a place where no one take themselves seriously. But some people might have other opinions about seriousness in the workplace. I would like to hear your opinions, thanks.
I guess being hard on myself has always been a natural thing for me. But I have seen the difference between a workplace that is serious and one that likes to have fun, and have found that there is much more productivity in a fun one. This is mainly (in my opinion) because in a fun environment, people take pride and ownership of their contributions, and feel closer to those around them. I wonder how hard it would be to have fun in this working environment (I mean between co-workers or with the boss) in which everyone has to work separately from each other, like in the educational K-12 workplace.
I know that in the military, it depends on the leadership, whether it is one of fear or one of comradeship. And this takes more than one leader to pull it off, just one will make that person look bad or not part of the unit. It is always better in a place where no one take themselves seriously. But some people might have other opinions about seriousness in the workplace. I would like to hear your opinions, thanks.
Friday, May 13, 2011
Wk2 Reading: Blog Post to Ann Cannizzaro
To Ann
I know very well what you mean by approval ratings. As a geek since time immemorial (I'm almost a nerd, but I talk to too many people), I have always struggled with those that just think of the "simpler" things in life. I love your flock of words by the way. I usually raise my hand in work meetings (me being the only one that does so), so permissions, and my inability to follow the norms of a group are a constant reminder of being positive about myself and not let others views of me cloud my personal truth about myself (...too many mes in that sentence).
I think that as long as we discover ourselves, and understand our own "game", we don't really have to revisit our ways, as they will always be correct. I do understand about a "migratory" way of dealing with situations, but it seems to me that you mean by that word that you return eventually to old ways of thinking, as migratory refers to going somewhere to then coming back. I have never gone back in any of my ways of being, I always modify myself and go with it, winging it if I have to. To go back for me is to be defeated, to have my time wasted by those experiences I had after the change. Let's put it this way, if you went 15 years to your past and talked to yourself (and this you couldn't recognize you), what would you talk about? Would you like to talk to your younger self even? That's a key to self-analysis and about being a gift to everyone you meet...
I know very well what you mean by approval ratings. As a geek since time immemorial (I'm almost a nerd, but I talk to too many people), I have always struggled with those that just think of the "simpler" things in life. I love your flock of words by the way. I usually raise my hand in work meetings (me being the only one that does so), so permissions, and my inability to follow the norms of a group are a constant reminder of being positive about myself and not let others views of me cloud my personal truth about myself (...too many mes in that sentence).
I think that as long as we discover ourselves, and understand our own "game", we don't really have to revisit our ways, as they will always be correct. I do understand about a "migratory" way of dealing with situations, but it seems to me that you mean by that word that you return eventually to old ways of thinking, as migratory refers to going somewhere to then coming back. I have never gone back in any of my ways of being, I always modify myself and go with it, winging it if I have to. To go back for me is to be defeated, to have my time wasted by those experiences I had after the change. Let's put it this way, if you went 15 years to your past and talked to yourself (and this you couldn't recognize you), what would you talk about? Would you like to talk to your younger self even? That's a key to self-analysis and about being a gift to everyone you meet...
Wk2 Reading: Blog Post to Jeri Kennedy
To Jeri
I don't know you, but you seem hard on yourself. Our mistakes are only our own to know, and we must have the confidence to not let that knowledge cloud who we really are, with only the positive of ourselves out to others. Of course it may seem arrogant at first, but it is about being true to yourself about your qualities. Of course nobody is perfect, but to talk about our imperfections to others does not help them at all. Only talking about lessons learned, and how negatives became positives are what people want to hear. The perspective shift is as easy as thinking that your skills and abilities compensate for your flaws so much, that your flaws become non-existent to those around you (other than your significant other perhaps). We are what we think we are, so no negatives, no Bs or Cs (or worse), only the best of yourself all the time should be on your mind, and the shift will happen by itself...
I don't know you, but you seem hard on yourself. Our mistakes are only our own to know, and we must have the confidence to not let that knowledge cloud who we really are, with only the positive of ourselves out to others. Of course it may seem arrogant at first, but it is about being true to yourself about your qualities. Of course nobody is perfect, but to talk about our imperfections to others does not help them at all. Only talking about lessons learned, and how negatives became positives are what people want to hear. The perspective shift is as easy as thinking that your skills and abilities compensate for your flaws so much, that your flaws become non-existent to those around you (other than your significant other perhaps). We are what we think we are, so no negatives, no Bs or Cs (or worse), only the best of yourself all the time should be on your mind, and the shift will happen by itself...
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