Wk4_Publishing_Leadership_ThinkingAloud#3

After further investigation and research in submitting to the Journal of Technology and Teacher Education, I have decided that that is not the best journal for my paper. I found an article from the journal that details important information of how to successfully publish in the journal. Based on that article, I felt it best to submit to another journal. As a result, I have chosen the Electronic Journal for the Integration of Technology in Education.

Wk4_Blog#4

Wk4Publishing_Leadership_ThinkAloud#1

Those of you who have discovered a little about me may know that my passion is Technology in the Classroom and it would stand to reason that I would logically choose to present my AR findings at a technology conference somewhere. However, many of the conferences have Fall or Winter submission deadlines that is not working out for me. The course directors and Roxanne DeLeon have done a superb job in walking us through this process that make taking the next step of collecting all the information currently on my website and flowing it into a publishable paper a very sensible option. Interactive Whiteboards have a tendency to steal away the show with all of their bell and whistle capabilities and I would like my research and findings to speak for themselves. I know how technically savvy a SMARTBoard can be; and, believe me, they can and do speak for themselves. So, I will be stepping out of my “project oriented” safe zone and try the not-so-comfortable Journal/Publication route this time.

I just want to add that the Week 4 Project Presentation WIMBA was totally awesome. I chose Tuesday and presented with only three incredible presenters. It was an incredible time of sharing that I will not forget. I plan to listen to the Wednesday night session as well. I am very fortunate for taking this journey with each of you. Thank you for enriching my life.

Wk4_Comment#2_SabrinaGiroux

Comment to Sabrina Giroux

The Art of Possibility is a book I hope to pick up and read again some day. It's so easy to be engaged with these wonderful ideas - most of which I have already bought into. The problem lies in those times when life gets a little too busy and a little too crazy. It can be easy to fall back into old patterns and habits at those times or when the pessimists around me think I live in a fantasy world. 

So, I am incorporating some new goals into my life. 

 Rule Number Six becomes rule #1 for me.

Everyone gets an A. I will not judge others.  If there is need for a change, 

I will change myself so that I can make a difference and be a contribution to others.

I will accept the way things are and pursue all of the 

possibilities that are available for me there.

I will not try to pressure or cajole others to see my way. 

Instead I will enroll them in the possibility that they will be enriched and rewarded.

 My vision will be limitless. I will take time to reflect and dream.

I will envision a future filled with possibility. 

Then, I will set out to share the spark and light fires.

One of my favorite stories in this book is when Zander brought letters from Walnut Hill school to read to the employees he was speaking to at NASA. The letters were powerful and really touched the employees and re-ignited a spark that reminded them why they chose their professions. It is amazing that a class discussion lead to incredible visions of space that were shared with NASA and are now circling the earth. My wish for all of my EMDT classmates is that you all will have many such moments that re-ignite your passion and sustain your vision as you go out and move mountains.

Photo courtesy of www.photos8.com

@Sabrina
I was also inspired by The Art of Possibilities. I hope to get the hard copy and read it this summer. Adopting the bullet points and rules you pointed out should bring you many rewards in life. I always struggle with the old saying that “it is hard to teach an old dog new tricks”. However, even though I would not have reacted the same way as June one of the most empowering stories for me was “Have the Best Sex Ever”. I happened to be experiencing something that same day that I could practice looking at my
Calculating self to change my reaction to situations in my life that I can’t control. I definitely experienced some sculpting in myself while reading the book that day. Like you, I also loved the “Giving everyone an A” chapter. It probably was my favorite chapter. Good luck.

Wk4_Comment#1_PaulDeVoto

Comment to Paul DeVoto

Wk 4 - The Art of Possibility

I loved the story of Anthony, the student who was asked to come onto the stage and lead the orchestra. I enjoyed even more that this opportunity was made possible because Benjamin Zander paid attention to the crowd. This boy’s life was likely changed forever by this experience, and it was just one of many empowering moments he and the orchestra were able to gift to the under-privileged kids. This idea of enrollment, which is “the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share” resonates strongly with me because I feel that that is an art I have had to work on daily as a teacher.

Often I have a lesson plan that is awesome. Surprisingly to me, the students don’t seem to respond to the lesson idea in the same way I had anticipated. In these cases, it’s my job to enroll the students so that they

it that way. I try to help them understand that every perceived negative experience or problem lies an opportunity. Regular examples helps to reinforce this concept, but many people I find seem to enjoy being the victim see the potential value in the lesson. Once they buy in to the idea they become an active partner in the work and the learning increases tremendously. In this case, as Mr. Zander says “lighting sparks from person to person, scattering light in all directions.”

The concept of being the board and accepting responsibility for everything that happens to you

is also an empowering practice. I often try to teach my students that they are only victims in life if they see.

 Photo courtesy of www.photos8.com

@Paul Devoto

I was also moved by Benjamin Zander’s choice to change Anthony’s life by empowering others, so this really touched my heart. I feel uninspired sometimes when I have planned an incredible lesson plan and the students don’t want to participate. In high school, it is mostly laziness. However, if I stick with it a student goes above and beyond the standards set and produces an awesome project. It is within my personality to praise them and announce to the rest of the class that they have been successful. My students will stop their own work to go and view their fellow student’s progress. They are very encouraging to each other and also ask each other for help. I also collect their amazing work to show the administrators and they take the time to compliment the students in passing. So keep up the awesome work and watch out for those occasional moments that are the reason we are teachers.

Wk4_Reading_Assignment_Blog#1

Photo courtesy of www.photos8.com

Okay, I have agreed with most of the sections of this book up until now. I have to put my foot down on the Being the Board chapter. To a certain extent, yes, we need to take responsibility for the known risks we have put ourselves victim of. Take for example you decide to build a house on a flood plain as in the example in the book, you should not be devastated and blame others for the declaring yourself an unwilling victim of a known risk. However, we cannot always foresee the future, and sometimes, bad things happen to good people. I will not twist the situation so that I will somehow blame myself for every situation. It just might be someone else’s fault.

When you are in a position of leadership and you assume responsibility for failure at some level; I get that. I am the Yearbook Advisor for the district and try to allow the students as much freedom of responsibility and creativity as possible. However, when push comes to shove, the District will not blame or fire students; it will be the teacher that will feel the conviction. I am upfront and honest with my students while they choose every opportunity to put off their chores to make sure the Yearbook is completed in a timely manner. I call myself the Queen of the classroom and it has sent the appropriate message.  Time will tell.

Wk4_Publishing_Leadership_Project

Once I decided to write a paper, I was thrown into deciding which journal to submit the paper to. I narrowed my choices down to Journal of Technology and Teachers Education and eSchool News. I have decided that my Action Research Paper would best fit in the Journal of Technology and Teachers Education. I personally love to read eSchool News; however, I do not remember seeing a lot of scholarly papers published in it although they do accept them.  I feel that the subject matter and format will best fit the Journal of Technology and Teachers Education.

After further research and investigation, I have decided to submit for publication to the Electronic Journal for the Integration of Technology in Education. This has been a last minute change that I feel is very significant for my publishing success.


http://tracybockler.blogspot.com/2011/03/wk4publishingleadershipthinkaloud1.html
http://tracybockler.blogspot.com/2011/03/wk3publishingleadershipthinkingaloud2.html
http://tracybockler.blogspot.com/2011/03/wk4publishingleadershipthinkingaloud3.html

Bockler_Tracy_PubLeadProject

Wk4_Publishing_Leadership_ThinkingAloud#2

Once I decided to publish a paper, I was then thwarted into the task of deciding which one that would be. I viewed all of the websites in Dr. Bedard’s list and added a few of my own selections as well. I narrowed it down to three possibilities. Computing In Education, Journal of Technology and Teacher Education and eSchool News seem to be publications that Interactive Whiteboard Training would fit well in. It seemed important to me that APA formatting be one of the guidelines for submission since the project has been written in that format from the beginning. It also seemed important to verify the requested length and several of the journals requested papers with 1000 words or less and we are being asked to write 2000 words. After viewing the actual publications, I don’t think a scholarly paper will fit in with the format of eSchool News although it certainly draws my attention. I have decided on Journal of Technology and Teacher Education to publish my paper on Interactive Whiteboard Training. Good luck to each of you in your search as well.