April 25th, I received my MacBook Pro from Full Sail University. I can't tell you how long I looked forward to owning and using this great machine. Many would say I have become one of those Mac people who are defined by my use of their computers, and to a certain extent I welcome that branding. You see, at this point Apple is on the forefront of innovation. They are pushing the boundaries of what is possible, what the future will look like. I would never want to say that my MacBook Pro defines me, but what I have found in the past 11 months is my capabilities as a professional have been opened up and my imagination has been released. I have always use the most inexpensive, yet most advanced computer I could find. Some times it was a Dell, an Asus, or some other White Box computer with great components, and to a certain extent they were just fine. But, now I have the capabilities of doing almost whatever I would like with the laptop that rests in front of me. My MacBook Pro doesn't define me, but it opens up the opportunity to define myself and accomplish dreams I never thought were possible.
Hello, my name is Isaiah and I am a Mac!
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Wk1 Free Choice - My journey so far
When I started this Master's journey I could never have imagined where I am today. Last April I looked at the adventure as a bold journey into my future. It started with many questions, some of which were what am I getting myself into, what am I getting my family into, how on earth am I going to do this? Now, some 11 months into it, I am looking back and realizing it takes one foot stepping after the other. There have been times I have seriously considered stopping, some where I have been ecstatic to see what I was able to accomplish, and other times I have been too exhausted to think about anything. With the end in near sight I am proud of myself for getting this far and I am encouraged to finish what I have started.
I will continue this journey with fervor and determination to accomplish what I have set out to do, and anticipation to see where it will take me.
I will continue this journey with fervor and determination to accomplish what I have set out to do, and anticipation to see where it will take me.
Wk1 Reading - Art of Possibility, Chapters 1-3
During the last 11 months I have read a lot of books, emails, journals, webpages, and magazines. Many of them have provided great information for a specific assignment, for my Master's degree, and for the future of my classrooms. Then our assignment was to read Rosamund and Benjamin Zander's book The Art of Possibility.
I have been challenged personally as I read this book. It has been very easy for me to limit my potential or allow my attitude to be shaped by my own perspective of my capabilities. In the first chapter, It's all Invented, I found myself relating, more than I would like to admit, that I fit the stereotype of the 9-dot puzzle. I like to fit myself into a box. It is not that I want to be stuck in the box, I have large visions for myself. Rather, usually I do not see how to make the dreams become a reality and just stay put instead of taking chances.
I especially liked the third chapter, Giving an A, because it opens up the world from the box. Instead of being stuck in the box of what I view is possible, it tells me I have already done what I have dreamed of and now I must figure out how I did it. It reminds me of The Matrix. In the movie Neo meets with the Oracle to find out more about himself and what his purpose is. She tells him a lot about the future but only reveals the things he already knows about himself. She tells him he has already made the decision, now his purpose is to find out why he made the decision. In those ways I know I have already made decisions, some that limit myself and some that leave the door wide open for adventure. Now I must step outside those doors and take life by the horns.
Zander, Benjamin & Zander, Rosamund. (2000). The art of possibility. Harvard Business School
Press, Boston, MA.
I have been challenged personally as I read this book. It has been very easy for me to limit my potential or allow my attitude to be shaped by my own perspective of my capabilities. In the first chapter, It's all Invented, I found myself relating, more than I would like to admit, that I fit the stereotype of the 9-dot puzzle. I like to fit myself into a box. It is not that I want to be stuck in the box, I have large visions for myself. Rather, usually I do not see how to make the dreams become a reality and just stay put instead of taking chances.
I especially liked the third chapter, Giving an A, because it opens up the world from the box. Instead of being stuck in the box of what I view is possible, it tells me I have already done what I have dreamed of and now I must figure out how I did it. It reminds me of The Matrix. In the movie Neo meets with the Oracle to find out more about himself and what his purpose is. She tells him a lot about the future but only reveals the things he already knows about himself. She tells him he has already made the decision, now his purpose is to find out why he made the decision. In those ways I know I have already made decisions, some that limit myself and some that leave the door wide open for adventure. Now I must step outside those doors and take life by the horns.
Zander, Benjamin & Zander, Rosamund. (2000). The art of possibility. Harvard Business School
Press, Boston, MA.
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Wk3 Blog Comment - Brian Zimmerman
Week 3 - Blog Posting #6 -Communities of Practice
It is always a wonderful thing to realize you have been successfully on the cutting edge for years and never even knew it. It is even more special to get a really cool name for hanging out with friends with common interests. Communities of Practice WOW.
When I first started to learn Microsoft Office (Version 3) I found buddies that were better at it than I was and hung out in their offices and watched them work. I picked up new techniques and gained understanding of workflows. This helped me to become very skilled in Word and Excel, or so I thought. The reality of my limited knowledge hit when I did an internship with a computer training company. In my first week I learned that I had taught myself the most cumbersome and convoluted ways of doing almost everything. My plan failed because I looked first for a buddy, and then for someone to teach me.
When I became a full time computer trainer I promoted power user luncheons and coffee breaks. It was wonderful to have a team of true power users sitting around a screen figuring out better ways of accomplishing tasks.
McDermot, (N.D.) describes “Information junkyards and empty libraries” as the common result of typical knowledge management. Somebody must know how to do that thing, but who is it and how do we find them? To address this problem I proposed and created Power User Groups for both the City of Boise and Blue Cross of Idaho. Each department supervisor designated a Power User as the go to person in the room. On a weekly basis the power users met for a presentation on a task and were treated to lunch in the cafeteria. The power users gained a new community of friends they could depend upon to help with computer issues.
“Communities of practice are groups of people who share information, insight, experience, and tools about an area of common interest” (Wenger, 1998). By establishing communities of practice in the workplace, recognizing the power users and providing on-clock time for the meetings productivity increased and errors were minimized.
McDermot, R. (N.D.). Knowing in community: 10 critical success factors in building communities of practice. Retrieved August 19, 2009 from http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=18256282762269958641&hl=en
Wenger, E. (1998), Communities of practice: Learning as a Social System. Systems Thinker. Retrieved August 19, 2009 http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=13212442059881753827&hl=en.
When I first started to learn Microsoft Office (Version 3) I found buddies that were better at it than I was and hung out in their offices and watched them work. I picked up new techniques and gained understanding of workflows. This helped me to become very skilled in Word and Excel, or so I thought. The reality of my limited knowledge hit when I did an internship with a computer training company. In my first week I learned that I had taught myself the most cumbersome and convoluted ways of doing almost everything. My plan failed because I looked first for a buddy, and then for someone to teach me.
When I became a full time computer trainer I promoted power user luncheons and coffee breaks. It was wonderful to have a team of true power users sitting around a screen figuring out better ways of accomplishing tasks.
McDermot, (N.D.) describes “Information junkyards and empty libraries” as the common result of typical knowledge management. Somebody must know how to do that thing, but who is it and how do we find them? To address this problem I proposed and created Power User Groups for both the City of Boise and Blue Cross of Idaho. Each department supervisor designated a Power User as the go to person in the room. On a weekly basis the power users met for a presentation on a task and were treated to lunch in the cafeteria. The power users gained a new community of friends they could depend upon to help with computer issues.
“Communities of practice are groups of people who share information, insight, experience, and tools about an area of common interest” (Wenger, 1998). By establishing communities of practice in the workplace, recognizing the power users and providing on-clock time for the meetings productivity increased and errors were minimized.
McDermot, R. (N.D.). Knowing in community: 10 critical success factors in building communities of practice. Retrieved August 19, 2009 from http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=18256282762269958641&hl=en
Wenger, E. (1998), Communities of practice: Learning as a Social System. Systems Thinker. Retrieved August 19, 2009 http://scholar.google.com/scholar?cluster=13212442059881753827&hl=en.
1 comments:
- isaiahveale said...
- Brian, I appreciate Communities of Practice. I have seen it in learning Photoshop and Final Cut by working with people who are more proficient in the software. Tasks such as the right lighting for a specific feel for our videos, scene selection during screenwriting, and editing techniques have all been gathered by working in Communities of practice. But the greatest area I have experienced this is on the soccer field. As a player I learned from more experienced players on the right technique, decision making, and tactics. Other coaches have shared knowledge in training, psychology of sport, and unifying players. These communities of practice make me better at everything I do.
- March 24, 2010 10:53 PM
Wk2 Blog Comment - Donna Tracy
WK 2 Blog Entry 4 - Random Musings
My world seems built on the concept of feast of famine this year. Either I have a few projects to complete with long deadlines and plenty of time or everything bombards me at once and all needs to be accomplished at the same time - usually in different places.
This month is a "feast" month: more like a binge. Work, school, and family commitments have all merged into one heady time-management nightmare! Makes me ever more thankful for my support network - how would I get through all this without it.
I know we are all under the same deadlines, but still, I have to ask; whose bright idea was it to have the thesis, media project and presentation all due at the same time?? I know that come midnight March 22nd I will collapse with relief in a hotel somewhere in Georgia, and hopefully will have had enough time to prepare the materials for the photographers I'll be training at 7 am on the 23rd. I take that back, on the 22nd I'm in North Carolina. Hmm. I see yet another late night road trip heading my way. I'm glad I love my work!
Note to self: Must remember Rule #6! :)
This month is a "feast" month: more like a binge. Work, school, and family commitments have all merged into one heady time-management nightmare! Makes me ever more thankful for my support network - how would I get through all this without it.
I know we are all under the same deadlines, but still, I have to ask; whose bright idea was it to have the thesis, media project and presentation all due at the same time?? I know that come midnight March 22nd I will collapse with relief in a hotel somewhere in Georgia, and hopefully will have had enough time to prepare the materials for the photographers I'll be training at 7 am on the 23rd. I take that back, on the 22nd I'm in North Carolina. Hmm. I see yet another late night road trip heading my way. I'm glad I love my work!
Note to self: Must remember Rule #6! :)
- isaiahveale said...
- Cindy, It was humbling to read your post about the struggles of this masters degree and the stresses that it entails. I empathize with you on the time management nightmare, but I want to encourage you that your commitment and energy have empowered me to continue in ways you may never know. At this point you are finished with your project presentation, so I would like to congratulate you. Well done! You have cleared one of the last great hurdles, and I am following in those footsteps you just left in the sand. Thank you for paving the path and drudging ahead despite the obstacles, you have been an inspiration to me, and I am sure many others.
- March 24, 2010 9:22 PM
Wk1 Blog Comment - Carlos Mendoza
MAC Week #1 Tutorial - The Alice Project
“The road to learning by precept is long, but by example short and effective.”
- Seneca
Carnegie Mellon University. Alice// a free gift from Carnegie Mellon. Retrieved (2010, March 6) from http://www.alice.org/index.php?page=what_is_alice/what_is_alice
2 comments:
-
jbb said...
- Love the Alice Project. Excellent summary and observations (love the Seneca quote!)
- March 16, 2010 8:07 PM
-
isaiahveale said... - Carlos, I first heard of the Alice Project while listening to the audio version of The Last Lecture, a book written and narrated by the late Randy Pausch. He was a professor at Carnegie Mellon and a founder of ALICE. I agree with you about the power of this program to train users in Java proficiency. I am only sad that due to my current job, being a soccer coach, in a young family and getting my Master's, that I haven't had enough time to get into the program and learn more. I am excited to be able to invest some time this summer when everything is on the back burner.
- March 24, 2010 9:09 PM
Wk4 Blog Comments - Nate Piturachsatit
MAC WK 3 Blog 4 - Presence Without Resistance
When things don't go my way my immediate reaction is to complain and point out all the bad things that are happening. I complain about why it is everyone else s fault but mine, and that people should have listened to me. This immediately puts me in an even worse mood and doesn't open up for the opportunity for redemption. I need to learn to just be with the way things are so I, and the people around me can move forward.
Why are we (me) so preoccupied with how the way things should be? I see this in schools all the time. Teachers complain about how the administration should be, how students should be, and how parents should be. This type of thinking is so detrimental to the health of the school building. It keeps everyone from dealing with the real issues because everyone is focused on how everyone else should be and not dealing with the way things are. Lets embrace the way things are and learn to deal with and work through the situation we are in and then we will have the freedom to progress and move forward.
Why are we (me) so preoccupied with how the way things should be? I see this in schools all the time. Teachers complain about how the administration should be, how students should be, and how parents should be. This type of thinking is so detrimental to the health of the school building. It keeps everyone from dealing with the real issues because everyone is focused on how everyone else should be and not dealing with the way things are. Lets embrace the way things are and learn to deal with and work through the situation we are in and then we will have the freedom to progress and move forward.
1 comments:
- isaiahveale said...
- I have found myself in a similar rut for the past 4 years. I am not sure how and when it started, but recently have been moving away from the feeling of having to be right all the time and be the one who solves all the issues, sometimes even when nobody is interested in my opinion. If you are like me, I am most frustrated when the people don't care what I have to say, or when I am asked my opinion and it is not even considered. In the end, for me, I am learning to share when asked and hold my tongue when not asked. I want to be confident enough to allow others to ignore me all together and not have it affect my feeling about myself or my capabilities. You are moving is a good direction. Keep you head up and continue to work toward a solution. It may be a while before anything moves, but at least you are focused in the right place.
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