I got my A because…

Walking in grace is not a natural process without a mindful awareness.  In fact the art of grace is a very conscious effort to draw our intentions into the present.  There is no better practice of prayer than living out your prayers.  Native Americans felt this in their wisdom as they sought not  prayers for rain but to be rain.  Former war child of Sudan, Emmanuel Jal says, “if you think it, then you have done it.”  In the same action of possibility we live in the present with the power to open our world and transcend our thoughts into reality.  What begins is a process of living in the now.  We come to full fill our vision by acting on our vision.   This is not simply an esoteric assumption but a fact.  If you lead your life with the possibility that you can live into your dreams the dreams become reality.  The patience that it takes to recognize the moment of possibility can seem waning at times but a simple reconnection to yourself and your intentions can set the course back into motion.   It is about being the you that you want to be.  It is about being.  It is about you.  We all have this energy that transcends even the most evolved scientists.  Harness the energy and live in the present.  As you do so, your gift to other becomes your light, or energy.  That energy radiates from within and can be contagious… so if you want peace in the world, don’t wait for world leaders to set that for you…become that peace yourself.  Live in gratitude.  Live in the present.  Live for now.

Hear this message from a Zen Master, Thich Nhat Hanh

SCROLL TO BOTTOM VIDEO TO PAUSE!!!!

Above: A screen shot of live class small group discussion, Full Sail University, 10/21/09.  Attendees video conference while in their respective homes in Florida, New York, Tennessee, Costa Rica, and Colorado.

Thanks for a great class this month Joe Bustillos!  With my blog starting to become a part of my day-to-day life… the networks are still increasing.  My level of participation through uploads and shared links with the web family, continue to open new possibilities.  From one teacher to another, the ripple effect sends waves across oceans even seas you never travel yourself…

My first video and my first video response.  It’s fun taking risks… and now our discussion goes down in the books…Thanks for participating in the discussion.  I love your take on the BLING-BLING CHA -CHING-CHING of copyright law…  funny because it’s true, sad all the same.  Maybe I’m the old man sitting around the camp fire trying to hold on to some ounce of our folklore.  You can call me old fashion if you will.  If users can’t own this material, the government has a responsibility to preserve, protect, and defend it for the general public then.  Common good prevails.  For those who didn’t get a chance to experience Prof’s video response, here you go.

The original discussion comes in the first two shots, then you see my Professor, Joe Bustillo’s response to my comments…

My response …

Finally, Profe Joe’s response …

-Henry Jenkins, Convergence Culture (2006.)

We are living in a time of enlightenment.  In our present time, media is being put into the hands of the people in the most democratic fashion we have seen possibly ever in modern history.  Larry Lessig refers to this as the, “revitalization of the read write culture,” which exists in stark juxtaposition to the “read only culture.”  In the “read write culture” participants are encouraged through a democratic processes to engage, create, and share their world with a global community.  Henry Jenkins expresses these ideals as well.  No wonder then that in this birth of the information age, the most forward thinking leaders of the world are turning to literacy, in both the old and new forms, as the tool of exploration.  We are growing in ways that no one can predict where we are headed.  However, it is clear that the old ways will not suffice and that as world citizens we all have a unique responsibility to get on board this train. Earlier this month, President Barack Obama proclaimed October 2009 as Information Literacy Awareness Month.  Backed by clear research into the most progressive forms of education, Obama is calling on the citizens, the schools, and the business’ of our country to join the growing wave of information.  In his proclamation Obama declares, “Rather than merely possessing data, we must also learn the skills necessary to acquire, collate, and evaluate information for any situation.” This is the “read write culture” of today.  No doubt that other enlightened Americans would also agree.  Thomas Jefferson in a letter to Richard Price, 1789, said,  “Whenever the people are well-informed, they can be trusted with their own government;… whenever things get so far wrong as to attract their notice, they may be relied on to set them to rights.”  Jefferson also stated, “An informed citizenry is the only true repository of the public will.”  We hold these truths to be more applicable to in our world today than ever before.  Today alone there was over 9,000 hours of YouTube material uploaded, according to figures run by Michael Wesh.  Hence, information is growing massively all the time, and as our access to this information likewise expands, we must engage in this process as responsible citizens living in a democratic time.

“And say, finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government or information to the people. This last is the most certain and the most legitimate engine of government. Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” –Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 1787.

Most people would consider giving students your cell phone number an easy open door for students to enter and mess with your private life.  Why would any teacher in their right mind encourage phone calls from their students?  Isn’t it a little idealist to think that teenagers won’t abuse your privacy?

These questions certainly raise a lot of fear for many.  Those unfamiliar with the practice of increased connectivity see their lives as over whelmed already.  No wonder then that those teachers complain about their contract hours for work and pay, feel no obligation to reach students outside of the normal contract hours.  One teacher recently said, “that’s nice to give up your family and home time to your students, but what’s next, charging for contact time outside of the normal office hours like lawyers do?”

These same fears are what limit the capacity of education to move at the speed of 21^st Century professionals in the free market.  Most teachers in fact don’t feel connected what so ever to the free market and this may truthfully be the key.  Teachers are very concerned these days about test scores and a Darwinian way of educating.  This could be seen as market driven but the reality is that this lessens motivation, engagement, and relationships.  In order for education to move into a new paradigm and in order to prepare our students for the work place demand of jobs yet to be created, teachers themselves need to think like those who work in the market.

In the 1990’s increased productivity brought the stock market to new highs.  Whatever, whenever, wherever technologies allowed huge growth to translate into huge profits.  Multitasking and collaborative efforts lead to more transmission of content knowledge and on wider spread platforms.  Increased connectivity leads to better students, with deeper knowledge, and problem solvers ready at all times for any challenge.  President Obama even announced that teaching contact days should be increased and a move to year round schools would benefit students’ nation wide.  This is increased connectivity.  Teachers must learn from this.

Plans to spur learning are already under way.  Across the nation pioneers still exist.  Many of these pioneers are being armed with the latest tools of human gadgetry are displaying these ideas not in the boardroom but in the classroom.  These teachers are realizing the potential of increased literacy based around a new ideal of literacy where media is seen as a guide to open up the ears, eyes, and souls of students.  The written word is considered as valuable as ever.  More important than test scores, students and teachers are working together to build relationships with a shared vision and understanding.  Compassion and open communication are allowing for a new understanding of a Global community based around democracy and user filtered content.  For those teachers willing to think like a businessman, there is a whole world of wealth and knowledge being explored.  When teachers allow students to call them or instant message them about a homework problem, contact time increases, student productivity is ensured, and relationships are fastened.

Annotated remarks regarding this film:

Category:  Science & Technology

http://www.wired.com/gadgetlab/2009/03/scratch-lowers/

http://scratch.mit.edu/