MAC_Week 4: Leadership Role Model

When I started this adventure 11 months ago I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The EMDT program sounded interesting when I was reading about it and knew it would be  something that would help me in the classroom but possibly expand my graphic design business. Well, here we are at the end and it has been a great experience. Every month has been filled with new ideas and ways of thinking. I have met and worked with some amazing people and I hope they are a part of my life for a long time. When I started the CBR project the unknown was just as scary. The plan of my CBR project was to increase the motivation of my second quarter college students in completing their homework projects. During this month 11 determining how I was going to share this project with the world, I have decided to submit a paper to the Journal of Computing in Higher Education as it focuses on course management tools and teaching methods, integrating technology in higher education. 

Here are my links for my leadership project blog posts and my journal article:

Week 1:
http://dodesignblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/macweek-1-leadership-role-model.html

Week 2:
http://dodesignblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/macweek-2-leadership-role-model.html


Week 3:
http://dodesignblog.blogspot.com/2012/03/macweek-3-leadership-role-model.html


Journal article: 
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1M5KfDlbvgnHlMJesXLJSXgj77oXoiVZOEPlgvkvIJMY/edit


Thank you to everyone who has been a part of my EMDT adventure!

MAC_Week 4: Comment #2 – Hunter Menning's Blog

My Comment for Hunter Menning

Hunter–

I loved these two stories as well. It seems that he was the only one that believed in the young children and their possibilities to sit, enjoy and learn about music.  In his story about Cora it was nice to see that he even started on the wrong foot and forgot some of his own practices but, boy, when he corrected himself he used so many of the practices to fix what he had done. He is one of a kind that is for sure, but I believe    sharing this book with others that we all can even more special than before.  Have you watched any of his TED lectures? I’ve only watched one but there are many. He is as dynamic speaking as their book.

Hunter Menning’s Blog Post 

Benjamin Zander, author of 'The Art of Possibilities,' is one of those rare individuals who truly ‘Cares’. Is must be a rare gene strand of DNA? He shows this care by placing his visiting students on the stage near his orchestra so they could experience the truest form of ‘passion’ and orchestral performance. These students had already sat for a few hours in previous meetings and now they were going to sit through a concert – they might fidget and be distracting, yet they knew Benjamin was giving them a gift of a lifetime and they were perfect. That takes intuition and a lot of trust. When do we ever go out on a limb like that in the aspect of trusting someone?

And then when Benjamin shares the story of Cora his 2^nd chair violinist, he really opens up his soul. He shows us that he didn’t always have this ‘Pure Care.’ He once was, let’s say, in development. Cora changed his life for the better because she stood for something that mattered to her. He lost her in his orchestra and that is what caused a paradigm shift to create the Benjamin we know today. So what am I really saying? We all need to stand up right now, put our hand over our heart, and say, “Thank you Cora.”

MAC_Week 4: Comment #1 – Kimberly Duran's Blog

My Comment for Kimberly Duran

 Kim –

Chapter 12 really sparked so many thoughts in me this week. Often times in education,or at least the trainings I've been to the past few years, we practice "I" messages. Telling our students what "I" need to see happen, or what "I" would like to see happen rather than just telling kids what "they" need to do. "I" messages seem to be all the rage at my school even, and I didn't realize until I read this chapter about the We story. The "I" messages have worked decently, but what a concept to make it about we to show that I am there in support of my students, staff, and other co workers. I even tested it out today on one of my tutors that is a college student, and it worked so wonderfully. He really felt a part of the decision making process, and felt as though "we" (he and I) found a solution to something. I could totally see his confidence shift. It was astounding, truly. I really want to practice this more. I must deprogram my brain from the "I" message and allow the WE to sing out of my mouth!! What a great way to end this amazing piece of literature. This week I will begin my transformation from I to we.....!!!!

Kimberly Duran’s Blog Post

Don't think the "I" syndrome is limited only to education, I see it in business, in my students, as a matter of fact, almost everywhere. For me "I" thoughts all the time lead to selfishness and pointing fingers toward others if something goes wrong. I hope I use "WE" enough but will be more aware of how I approach people from now on. Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this chapter. Think one of the main reason groups or companies succeed is that they work together as a team, accept the positive and negative responses to things as a team and never but one person out to accept the acknowledgment or take the blame.

MAC_Week 4: Reading Reflection

What is your next move while
looking a the whole board?

Wow, this book continues to my ideas to the possibilities that could happen. I really agree with chapter 10 about one can only be accountable for what one has control over. I think that is all we can worry about. However, the idea of looking at every situation as a chessboard is very interesting. It seems to me if more people would think more like this we would have fewer lawsuits and maybe things we need like insurance wouldn’t be so expensive. The business world also wouldn’t always be thinking, “we need to cover our behinds”.  I love the board question, “How did this get on the board that I am?” Seems like self-reflection is a very important part of this whole art of possibilities.

I think that the criteria for a vision is wonderful not only for companies but for personal goals.  Think everyone should have a vision as these visions can be looked at like mini goals. Lastly in chapter 12, the WE is so important and strong. I would think that the WE will always be stronger than the I/You and it could stop the finger pointing or blame we see in our society today.

Looking back at the book it seems that all eleven practices are tied closely to one another if one could achieve just a few of these practices the possibilities that could open up to you would be extreme. Can you image if one could really take into practice all eleven – the possibilities could be endless!

MAC_Week 3: Comment #2 – Kimberly Duran's Blog

My Comment for Kimberly Duran:

Kim,

What a creative way of you to help your student see that walking around negative all the time is more harmful to his future than seeing the world as a good and positive place. We all have ups and downs but how we handle those times is what makes us or breaks us. I know that for a while I was very negative about things, I call it the "why me syndrome".  When I was in there I didn't make good decisions (if I made any) and I had to get out of it.  Now even if I make the wrong decision, I look at what I did or didn't do correctly, learn from it, make adjustments and move ahead. I don't think kids are taught that today and I think this book is really talking about that. I hate when people complain about everything, what good does that do?

Kimberly Duran's Blog Post:

I really enjoyed the Babe analogy in Chapter 7-The Way Things Are. I have seen this movie so many times and it went so well with how the authors were trying to get their points across about being present to the way things are. I have a student that I swear this chapter was written for. He is what I call an Eeyore kid. Kind of negative all the time, walking around with a rain cloud over him. Always making road blocks instead of paths. Being much like the cow in the analogy, the oh well that's the way things are kind of mentality. I showed him a couple of snippets of the movie Babe after reading this chapter, and then we spoke about being present to the way things are instead of just accepting things the way they are. How this type of thinking is a catalyst for change, and how this could help him to improve his way of thinking. He really enjoyed the analogy as well and said that it pointed things out to him in a different way and really put things in perspective. The simple trick of turning the word but into and was like magic. He and I have been trying to find ways to turn more dreary outlooks into positive experiences. I just LOVE this book, it has been so insightful on so many levels. I have found so many uses for the things I have learned, I really am floored by all the great stuff and thankful we were given the opportunity to read it!!

MAC_Week 3: Comment #1 – Hunter Menning's Blog

Downward Spiral
Creative Commons / Flickr
by  Ray Tomes

My Comment for Hunter Menning:

Hunter, your view on everything is so positive; in these 11 months I have never seen a negative or defeated attitude from you. I am sure that you bring that into your classroom. I do agree with you the Benjamin is changing more than just minds in this book. Everything he has said made me think about how I need to encourage students to become more aware of their potential possibilities, which from your blog posts you are doing the same thing. You also make me smile when you write so you are up there with Benjamin as well. The avoidance of the downward spiral conversation is a wonderful idea but think it is so hard from many people today because they are so negative and cynical to begin with.

 Hunter Menning's Blog Post:

Benjamin Zander, YOU awaken the mind in a refreshing way like no other. I live to awaken the possibility within others. The truth is, if people are at a level 4 out of 10 in their life of possibilities, they cannot just jump to level 9 or 10. They must go through level 5, 6, 7, and 8 first. That takes so much time and so much care. Benjamin, you smile as you speak and I can tell that you smile when you write. How did you even conceive having students write about who they will become by the end of the year? That is pure genius. You are transforming souls, not just minds. You tell us to stay away from the downward spiraling conversations. You applaud the greatest leaders who have the ability to distinguish the downward spiral and move people to empowering radiating possibilities. If you were in charge of the planet, there would be world peace! Do you want everyone to just love their neighbor as themselves? Well, please sign me up! And then your chapter, ‘How much greatness are we willing to grant?’ Ok., how did you invent that title?! We must have lunch. We can eat at ‘Rule Number 6.’ They have an excellent strudel there. You are the problem-solver of the world, and Roz probably taught you everything you know, of course (wink wink). Thank you for intervening to help so many people out there. I’m offering help whenever needed. Hey, that’s what great friends are for! Let’s do lunch soon – my treat for sure!   - Hunter

MAC_Week 3: Leadership Role Model

I have decided to submit my CBR in the form a Journal. I have looked at several that would help educators in a design-type field, such as graphic design, interior design, media arts, game art, etc. and have selected two. The first is the Journal of Computing in Higher Education as it focuses on course management tools and teaching methods, integrating technology in higher education. The second one is the Journal of Design Communication because is directed more towards educators and researchers in the design disciplines. The faculty where I teach receives an weekly online journal called Faculty Focus that I would like to submit to as well, but does not have the requirement standards we were told we needed to look for; so maybe later on.

 

MAC_Week 3: Reading Reflection

My Perfect Inspiration
Creative Commons / Flickr
by kuddlyteddybear2004

This book continues to be full of ideas and inspiration. Each chapter opens up ideas to share with my students, and fellow faculty.  Many of the practices, in my eyes, are common sense and should be easy to do. I try to live by several of them. I agree that the calculating self is hard to ignore or work through, but we need to; at least we should recognize it. I will be the first to admit if I have done something incorrectly or don’t know something, especially with my students. I think they need to know that I’m not perfect nor do I want to pretend to be. I am emotional and sometimes it does get in the way but it never turns defensive.  So I guess my central self is working well. However, I do think that sometimes my central self gets in my way of letting go and doing something really out there.  I have given away my passion for some things, but I have kept my passion for graphic design. I tell my students that in order to do well in school and whatever they decide to do they have to be passionate about it.

Rule number 6 really resonates with me. I’ve come from a family that doesn’t take ourselves too seriously and if we did someone would say something that would lighten up the situation. However, it seems that as people move up the corporate ladder they forget about this rule and their calculating self comes out and they need to remember where they have been and that the rug can be pulled out from under them and lighten up.  

Practice seven is very, very important. I’m not sure people think in the present until something happens in their lives that wakes them up, like a death to someone close or a terrible accident, etc.  We seem to have to have that life changing moment to wake us up and to live to optimum possibilities.  Ben Zander states, “that we need to focus on what should be and not what is. “  My students are always dwelling on what went wrong with their project and not what it is. Therefore, the first thing I tell my students during their presentations is not start with the negative of the piece or what they didn’t do or what went wrong with the printing, just sell me on what you have. If they knew it wasn’t working then they should have fixed it. They are always blaming someone else for what went wrong instead of owning what happened, learn from the experience and make adjustments for the next time.

The ideas in chapter 8 are my downfall when it comes to my personal life. I am working my way out of it though. The first step was deciding that I needed to get out among people again and that I needed to give back, hence I started teaching. Teaching lead me to Full Sail and what an experience. I only hope I can keep moving forward and keep on with the BFTI. Thank you for everyone for helping me along the way.

MAC_Week 2: Comment #2 – Kimberly Duran's Blog

Reflections on a Rough Day
by Steve-h
Creative Commons/Flickr

My comment for Kimberly Duran:

Kimberly,
I love the way you have shared your experiences along the way with your students. I, too, share as much as I can. I think this allows them to see that one is never too old to learn and experience new, fun, creative and exciting things. Even though my students are much older than yours, they too have a lack of confidence and I believe this can be a factor in their engagement and motivation in the classroom. These two items are something both you and I addressed in our CBRs. In the book when they talk about contributing and that it is like a ripple in the pond, this was the perfect visual description of what can happen when one contributes. It not only grows and expands possibilities for the contributor but then the person on the receiving end comes up with ideas to contribute and that one ripple becomes many in the pond. You are a large contributor to your students, and to all of us who have been in this program with you, so thank you for being just one of the ripples in the pond.
~Dorreen

Kimberly Duran's Blog Post:

I really enjoyed the section about inventing yourself as a contribution, and even posted the steps in my classroom and it’s been a powerful thing:

1. Declare yourself to be a contribution
2. Throw yourself into life as someone who makes a difference, accepting that you may not understand how or why.

A lot of my students are lacking confidence and I am always looking for new ways to find to let them know that they are important, and that their thoughts are meaningful, and THEY are meaningful, that they have a place in this world! Chapter 4 really just fell right in where I have been trying to go with this and I have really enjoyed learning things like this throughout this program. Things that I can take immediately back to my classroom and see it make in impact instantly. The students get a kick out of me sharing stuff from my Master’s program with them, and allowing them to be involved and learn through the different things that I have been doing.

MAC_Week 2: Comment #1 – Hunter Menning's Blog

My Comment for Hunter Menning:

Hunter – A great collaborator
during this EMDT adventure

Hunter,

I agree with you totally about this book. As I was reading I kept thinking, "how can I use this practice in my classroom to get my students thinking more positive about themselves, hence opening up limitless possibilities!" I am so excited about this book I shared it with my director and she is going to get it, read it and maybe even buy copies for the GD faculty to read as well. As always your take on things come from a different direction than most and you verbalize it so well. Like Picasso or Michelangelo you paint the perfect picture. I look forward to the rest of the book for even more possibilities.
~Dorreen

Hunter Menning's Blog Post: 

The Art of Possibilities - Chapter 1 to 4

Our MAC course textbook, 'The Art of Possibilities,' is one of those rare books that pulls you in and makes you smile at least once every page. Can you imagine the conversations that must occur around the authors', Rosamund and Benjamin Zander’s supper table?! I want to fall into any one of these conversations. This book takes my brain on a journey somewhat like the book, ‘A Whack On The Side Of The Head.’ Every page had possibilities – never roadblocks. The book's perspective of people like Picasso, unveiled limitless options all based on perception. So is it good to be limitless in thought? Well, you may be in the minority and you are probably highly misunderstood. The truth is that the world is not ready for 'infinite' thinkers and people cannot jump from a level 10 to a level 50 right away. It takes one-step level at a time, and then some comfort time with that level before the mind can accept moving up one more level. So how do we get to the top level of possibilities? I am planning to just invite myself over to the Zander’s house. When they find out I’m in month 11 of EMDT at Full Sail, they will want to hear how amazing it is. Hey, I'll do anything for a free supper! The 'Possibilities' are endless!

MAC_Week 2: Leadership Role Model

Discussion with students on
boardroom critique

My first response is “Do I have to?” I’ve enjoyed the process and have learned so much during my time here at Full Sail; I would encourage anyone who wants to explore new ideas in education and to have the ability to be as creative as they wish to come here for their degree. Okay, let's think . . . I need to figure out what I will do, when I look at myself I see an introvert when it comes to presenting my ideas, especially outside of the graphic design world. I do well sharing one-on-one or maybe a small group but a conference, don’t think so. Not comfortable with the idea that I am an expert in the field as this point in time and that’s how I see presenters at conferences.  It’s enough that I have surprised myself the last four years when I jumped out of my comfort zone to teach. I believe the reason I can teach is because I am teaching aspects of the field I am passionate about – Graphic Design. I am very confident that the presentation itself would rock as I’ve created many for bosses and clients, but getting up and presenting myself . . .  (thinking) . . . (thinking some more ). . . not happening. Now let me look at submitting an article. 

Writing is not my forte either; I’ve always said I’m a designer not a writer. However, I’ve done a pretty good job of it for my CBR project and feel I can finish it off easily for a journal. So think this is my first choice.  Yes, I’ve decided I’ll write an article for a Journal and then maybe later, as a plan B, I will create and do a presentation when I get brave enough to step out of my comfort zone.

MAC_Week 2: Reading Reflection

Painting Owned by Dorreen
 Camouflage Artist Bev Dolittle

As I read The Art of Possibilities I realized that this is a book on how to move through our lives positively and encourage others to do so as well. These practices were simple common sense exercises on how to make the most of life. While I was reading the chapter “It’s All Invented” a light bulb came on.  This is how entrepreneurs think and see the world and that anyone can be an entrepreneur. I tell my students that design is subjective, but if I think about what Rosamund and Benjamin Zander are saying our lives are just as subjective, because everyone’s interpretation of a good life is different, and therefore success is influenced by what we have gone throughout our lives.  The nine-dot puzzle reminded me to emphasize even more than I do to my students to think outside the box.

Loved the chapter, “Giving an A”! The assignments Ben gave his students were wonderful. He was getting them to reflect on what they thought about themselves, and what they expected from themselves by having them write from the perspective of the future, looking back at what they accomplished; a reverse psychology. While I was reading about this assignment I thought about how I could possibly use this to help our students not be so afraid of their portfolios. Is this something that is asked of our students every year while they are in the program?  Think this practice would help them set goals for themselves. Lastly, the practice of contribution assignment    Think we all have an inherent need to feel like we have contributed in some way. That need is what drove me to the decision to teach. So again, to have the students think about how they have contributed would build their self-esteem, get them to think that they are a part of society and change the future.    

I had so many more “ahh haa” moments while I was reading. Found myself making many notes to incorporate their ideas in the classroom.  Great book, will definitely share this with director and colleagues!

MAC_Week 1: Comment#2

Image from:
CreativeCommons / Flickr
Image by Horia Varlan

My Comment for Kimberly Duran:

Plagiarism and copyright is a big issue at my school as well, particularly with the images the students use in their projects. We all try to make it easy for them and just tell them that they have to give credit to the original artist. I think one of the issues that our students don’t have to worry about in the Fair Use arena is that they are not doing the work for profit or commercial use.  I give them the free image sites and the creative commons site to look at but those website too ask for them to include the name of the creator. In the end, we encourage them to take their own photography or do their own art. 

I did like the cartoon movie as well in explaining the concept of fair use.  I think the younger we get this notion of copyright and fair use introduced to our students the fewer copyright infringements there will be when they get to college and in the business world.

Kim's Post:

Copyright issues, and why my butt is scared!!

Wow, so plagiarism and copyright issues has become something of a topic on campus at my school. Trying to teach the children about these topics has become somewhat of a challenging task, and now that I've seen the copyright videos, I'm not sure whether I'm more or less comfortable with what I've shared with my students so far and how to continue on.
The duration of copyright was somewhat news to me, I've always wondered once something has been copyrighted, how long does this actually last for? This is a question that I actually have been asked by my students, so it's nice to have a definitive answer now.
It seemed to me at first that there was a lot of elasticity to the whole idea of fair use. However, after hearing our instructor's explanation of it and it's "narrow loophole" i began to understand it much better. The use of the cartoon movie to explain it was extremely helpful, once I was halfway through it I felt as though I really had a grasp on the concept. Creative ways to teach these types of ideas makes all the difference in the world to me. And who doesn't love Disney movies?!?

Creative Commons was taught to me early on in this degree program. I guess I have used it in the past, but never realized that there was actually a name behind the practice. I think it's a great way to be able use materials and also pay homage to the person who created it through giving them credit.  

MAC_Week 1: Comment#1

Created in Wordle.net

My comment for Hunter Menning:

I agree that original ideas are the best and very inspirational and I too love seeing it. When watching the reading videos on the people taking several artists music and combining them into a different song, to me that is just wrong. However, I do think that some new, very creative ideas can come from something in the past and build upon it to make something new.  Think that is what makes us move forward. I do think that honor and trust should be a big part of our respect for those who have created something unique, but think we are from the old school of thinking and most people, sadly, don’t have that respect. I also think that copyright was traditionally done to protect company logos, slogans, and so one; even though anyone could copyright. However, with the onset of the internet everything is different.

Hunter's Post:

Ok, how do we measure up in the copyright world? When I think of copyrights, I think of honor and trust. I respect people and their creations, because I hope that others respect my original works. I have submitted hundreds of items to be copyrighted and have studied these laws for several years. Copyrights give a creator the ability to enforce or restrict others from using something that the creator has previously invented. I love when someone creates something novel – wow, that alone, is what life is about. Original thought instead of others’ thoughts intrigues me. I have sat in meetings and heard people who only spout lots and lots of other people’s ideas from books that they have read. They are impressive and quite amazing sometimes; however, they are not original ideas. I am thankful for those who have unique and solid opinions. I appreciate those who birth new concepts – patentable, trademarkable, and copyrightable! Wow, I crave a conversation with them. Talks like that cause an hour or two to go by and it only seems like ten minutes. I believe that we should help protect each other’s work. We should report infringement to help the authors of the world. Originally inspired authors are very rare and valuable. It bothers me to find out that hit, star writers sometimes only get about 1% of the income from their works. That is because entrepreneurs get involved and take the lion’s share of the income. I guess 1% is better than 0% if the project would not have been published for anyone to see, hear, or experience it. The truth is that I tend to hang out with the creators more than the business types. What would I be like if I reversed that? Wow, which one do you hang out with more?

MAC_Week 1: Leadership Role Model

I considered several people that I would like to emulate my leadership skills and came up with one that has the whole package. 

This person is a Regional Asset Protection Senior Manager for a major retailer.  She oversees all asset prevention activities for approximately 100 stores in a three state region. This is a huge task. Everyday she is faced with multiple issues to solve from store theft and injuries, shrinkage, and many presentations to small and large groups on a variety of Asset Protection issues. She not only works closely with the public, employees within the stores and fellow managers, but has several duties that has her working with the high corporate executives.  She has learned and understands all aspects of Asset Protection, therefore can see the big picture of any issue she is faced with. She is patient and cares for everyone she work with and will take the time for anyone to explain why they have to do someone a specific way ­– she never makes them feel stupid. She is there as a mentor first then a boss. She knows how to explain her position in a clear and orderly manner. On the other hand, she expects a lot of everyone and follows the rules to a tee. If you owe her specific information in a particular way and a specific day, you better do it. If you don’t do what is expected you will know that she is not happy; however, she will not yell or shout, she just firmly explains why the information is need, why she wanted it a specific way and will give you a day extension to fix it; but you better do it right from that point on. 

I really admire is her organizational skills. She can get more done in a day and never break a sweat. She starts something and stays focused on that problem until it is done, yet is there to help anyone about an issue – she has become a true multi-tasker. This trait carries into her private life as well. 

She does all of this yet is very humble. She has been recognized several times within the organization and many of her peers come to her for guidance. She has learned many of these leadership skills from her father, he has always been so kind and patient with everyone he does business with and is always there to help anyone. If people have a problem in town, they go to him for help. 

You see, the reason I know all of this about these to people is that they are family. My leadership role models are my sister and our father. Even though, I have some of these leadership traits, I do not have them at their level, especially in the communication and organizational area.

MAC_Week 1: Reading Reflection

Creative Commons image
from Google Images

Copyright is something that I am directly faced with daily as I am a Graphic Designer and I teach Graphic Design. Since the first year students are concentrating so much on learning the programs and the elements of design they have a tendency to find images anywhere that belongs with their design concept. We constantly tell them to use images they get off Getty (they can download 60 high resolution images a quarter with our license), take their own or find them on another free image site. No matter what we require them to site the artist and location. The last couple of quarters I have told them about Creative Commons.  Our librarians told us about it for us to use for our lectures but it is good for our students as well.

Listening to all of the videos I start to think oh, okay I understand, what they are saying makes since; then I go huh, I don’ t get it. The fair use in copyright is so gray. I get the limits of use and even the conditions make sense when they are discussed but then when you go to use it everything gets fuzzy. The main feeling I get from all the videos is that the world of copyright, as we now if from 10-15 years ago, is in flux and no one really knows what will happen and how it will end up.  The Larry Lessig video really made it clear on what is happening now with copyright compared to what other revolutionary inventions faced.

The Shepard Fairey case is very interesting to me because that is in my area of expertise.  We constantly hear that you can use something as long as you change it 30%. He took a photo and totally changed it by using a different medium, yet according to AP it was an exact copy. However, I think the issue is that he made a profit from his artwork. As I read the articles on this issue it seems he got in more trouble not admitting which photo he used then using the photo itself. Also the photographer is saying that Fairey should have asked him for the permission instead of AP — what a can of worms.

So here is my ending question:  Is copyright different than copyright licenses?