ETC 558...Movin' along

Workin' on the class...lotsa stuff to do, some of it quite interesting some less so. Many of the readings are quite noteworthy and well worth the time. Others are interesting but don't hold the attention as well. The case studies are great!

Working with the group is a kick. We all get along well, have good suggestions for each other, and are all willing carry their weight and then some. We have accomplished a great deal using both the Group posting area and "Eluminate." After a few hiccoughs at first we got microphone levels and settings set. It seems superior to just a typing chat. We do sometimes talk over each other but that is to be expected. Communication is at a high level...the work progresses well.

I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel now. I alway s stress quite a bit since I was never much of a student through high school and my early college days. Never quite had the motivation and started my kindergarten career on a bad note. Made me passive-aggressive with regard to school. When I returned to college at 37 to finish my music ed degree I was better motivated and was treated well by (most of) my professors. They treated me more like a grad student than an undergrad. I had a great advisor as well.

My classes in the NAU ed tech program have been great...a lot of work but that's how you learn. The "hands-on" constructivist approach is what I had needed all through my early school days. And all along I thought I was the one who was different. Well, OK, I am -- but I found out I was not alone.

OK, I'm ramblin' now...time to go.

ETC 558...continued - again

Well, as i mentioned a bit ago, I submitted my "Scholarly Paper" to two hard found sites. As of that point, neither had responded. It was a bit of a disappointment at first - not knowing what to expect from such a process.

I'm happy to say that both sites accepted my paper for publication!

The first to pubish was Articlesbase.com: http://www.articlesbase.com/k-12-education-articles/technology-in-and-for-the-instrumental-music-classroom-578863.html

(I received this confirmation just two days following my submission.)

The second was EzineArticles.com: http://ezinearticles.com/?id=1530154

(This second confirmation took about a week - as the publishers had stated would probably be the case.)

Having never published online in this manner before I found it difficult to find the site to which I submitted my article. I do, however, recommend doing posting online - if for no other reason than to know you are published online!

On a more personal note, my son, Ben, was home this week. We just took him to Phoenix today so he could head back to the big apple. (He is the standby for the lead in the upcoming opening of "Shrek, the Musical.") I can't get enough of this kid! (Ok, he's 26.) Of course, it's always tough to say goodby as we only get to see him once or twice a year. But, he's living his dream...acting on Broadway. (Most recently, he was in "Les Miserables" in the Broadhurst theater playing a number of roles, most notably, as the understudy for the role of "Javert," he "went on" at least 30 times! What a great experience...

Hopefully, we'll be able to visit him in N.Y. sometime in the next few months. As our only remaining son (we lost Tim two years ago) it's made our already close family even closer.

Enough for now...I find myself rambling.

ETC 558...continued

Finished my paper!

I hadn't written one in a little while. I had writers block getting started. Had thoughts and general outline notes rolling around in my head but when I got in front of the computer I went blank.

It helped to review my references. When I organized the references in the order of my outline things began to make more sense and the words began to flow. Finding objective reviews of the software application I was writing about was a bit difficult, however.

Finding a place online to post my paper was daunting. I used every search term I could think of in my quest. When my terms were general I got eighty-bajillion non-relevant responses and when I tried to be more specific I got no responses at all.

I did finally find a couple of sites accepting articles, although they have to be reviewed before they are actually posted. Hopefully I'll get a response back in a day or so.

Anyway, I'm not feeling so overwhelmed as I was earlier in the year. Everything was beginning at the same time: Teaching, second job, this class. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel, although I'm not certain what will be expected for my capstone. I have some ideas but my advisor has changed a couple of times already.

More to come!

Remember All of Them

Regardless of your stance on our struggles in the world, this poignant video reaches all...

ETC 558...The Journal Begins

I’ve decided that I’m going to do OK in my ETC 558 course…I haven’t yet figured out exactly how I’m going to accomplish that goal, however. The discussion areas are not only stimulating but they seem to make the most sense. It appears most, if not all, of my classmates are educators and share many of the same educational frustrations as do I.

I do find it difficult to keep all of the various and sundry assignment straight. It seems I am continually finding a piece of information I previously overlooked. I also, with two jobs already and the start of school, am finding it difficult to put more than an hour or two together at one time – save for weekends.

I suppose I do get a bit frustrated when “life” interferes with my schooling. I would like nothing better than to have one day a week I could do nothing but work on the class.

So far, in my Ed Tech program I have managed, despite often overwhelming odds, to maintain a 4.0. That, for me, was previously unheard of. I did not “do school” well. I often remember the help my late son, Tim, gave me in the early days of my graduate endeavor. He remains an inspiration even now.

I’ve heard it said that online learning is more difficult. I would concur with the proviso that, despite the workload, being able to set my own hours helps. Even though it is difficult to put two hours together at one time I find that I can squeeze some learning into whatever time I can find. Online learning does have its advantages, especially if one is computer savvy.

Inertia can be a drag...

The new school year... a fresh start and a chance to try out new teaching techniques. One problem, though: Inertia.

I am have trouble getting out of first gear. Perhaps it's this way every year and I have simply forgotten. So much to do right out of the gate: Getting instruments assigned to students, endless meetings, new policies to endure, and a new schedule to get used to. AAUUGGG! I guess it takes a while every year to get into a rhythm (pun only slightly intended) and a routine.

I have what appears to be a pretty good crop of 6th graders this year. Of course I won't know for certain until later in the year - when they come out of their shells. I will look forward to helping them progress toward mastering their respective instruments. It's always a wonder to watch a kid come to class not knowing a thing and by the end of the year making some decent music.

We'll see what happens in the coming weeks...I have a class to take on top of teaching and conducting the CCC orchestra. I'll be glad when this semester is concluded.

For now, I'll just grab hold of the handlebars and hang on...

Gore's Ridiculous Propaganda Won Out Over This Saint?

I cannot believe Algore's bilge won a Nobel Prize when this saint was also nominated. Well, as you will hear - she is now receiving her true reward. That's the one that truly counts. Al? He may not wind up with the same eternal address.