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| 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!
Dorreen!
ReplyDeleteI am so so (two so’s on purpose) proud of you for sharing the part about why you made the decision to teach. Your contributions to every project have kept me in check and made me think about more dimensions that I hadn’t considered before. You have the ability to go where no other does and you share your viewpoints in a positive way that makes me know, that if Dorreen says it, it matters! I appreciate every thing you say and do and owe you big thanks for helping me along this EMDT journey. Thank you for the times that you showed me where I could improve – that is the gift of contribution. You show students an example of how to constructively contribute with brainstorming and open ideas. And best yet, you have shown us how you help take projects to the highest quality level. I think you need to find a way to really highlight your students’ portfolios. Maybe it is by making their work become a ‘video portfolio’ and each student must be in it speaking for at least 20 seconds. That may help boost the feeling of contribution and help students learn more about each other in a positive way. Whatever you do, I give it an ‘A!’ - Hunter
Hunter –
ReplyDeleteThanks for the suggestion on the video portfolio. After this is all done, I'm going to work on figuring out how we can get our students not to be afraid of working on and creating a great portfolio. They need to have one to graduate. When they get to portfolio class they are just petrified of the process even though we start them out with mini portfolio review in my 2nd quarter class. This could be added in some way. You have equally helped me along the way as well.
Great overview of how the reading connected with you. Our disposition and how we choose to look at things so effects everything. I'm guessing that a designer might be able to see that more clearly than one not in the habit of looking carefully around them to see patterns and impressions.
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