IS THERE A KEY TO SUCCESS ?

Last week you looked at some real live heroes - Nic and Barb - people who had overcome disabilities and challenges to become an inspiration to others.

We looked at the QUALITIES that they demonstrated in their lives, and at their CHARACTER.

Take a moment to recall the particular qualities that made Nic and Barb so great.

Do you think those qualities are reserved for special people? Or do you think that perhaps those qualities are in all of us and we just have to tap into them and develop them?

Sometimes it is tempting to look at people who have successful lives, and think it must have been easy for them? Do you know someone who makes their happiness and success look easy? Perhaps a friend of your parents? or a TV personality?

Do you believe their life really is easy?
What might they be doing that is different to other people?

Let's examine that word "SUCCESS". What does it mean to you?
What does the life of a SUCCESSFUL person look like?
Make a list of 5 things you believe are EVIDENCE of SUCCESS. Share these ideas with the class.

So what happens to UNSUCCESSFUL people?
What does their life look like?

Presumably we all want some level of SUCCESS in our lives. Somewhere between a lack of success and an abundance of it, we have to get good at the things that matter.

Make a list of 5 basic, but important things that matter in everyone's life.
Who provides these for you now?

Now make a list of 5 more things that matter very much in your life.
Who makes them happen for you?

You are only 13 or 14 years old. You are not supposed to be providing everything for yourself yet. But within 4 years, that will change. And even a very BASIC life needs someone to run it.

You may not have decided yet, what you want to do as a career. But you do need to know how to get the world to take you seriously so that when you leave school, you will have some options.

What does the word OPTIONS mean to you?
How do you think you might get the world to take you seriously?
What are the things that will MATTER when you are no longer at school?

You are all young enough, smart enough and attractive enough to build a successful life, but it can't be done in a day, or a week, or even 6 months or a year.

You need to get started because in 4 years time, the world will be ready to roll WITH you, or OVER you. Which would you prefer?

Think about Nic and Barb. What would they do now if they were in your shoes?
Sometimes we have to dig deep inside ourselves to find our strength of character, but it is always there waiting. Like a button waiting to be pushed. We just have to DECIDE to push it.

Can you think of reasons why we don't all push the right buttons?

A wise man once said "the definition of insanity is doing exactly the same thing and expecting a different result".

What are some of the things that you do over and over again, that are not getting you anywhere.
Write them down. Decide to change them.
What do you think might happen if you changed your pattern?

With only 3 years until you will be expected to function like an adult, there is not a minute to lose. Personal qualities, a solid education, good manners, a healthy body - these are all things that have currency in the world.

There are very few employers out there who are looking for uneducated, unhealthy, ill mannered people to offer a job to. This is not rocket science either. Obviously it takes some effort to make the most of ourselves.

Can you think of something you could put more effort into, to improve your prospects?
Write it down.

Can you think of some aspect of yourself that you want to change?
Write it down.

Can you think of one thing that you really want to have in your life and are prepared to work for?
Write it down.

You know, kindness has currency too. It makes you feel better about yourself.
Can you think of one kind thing you could do between now and bedtime?
Write it down.

Can you think of one thing you have been putting off for ages.
Write it down now promise yourself you will get it done before tomorrow. You will feel fantastic.

It's ok if you have been procrastinating for ages. Most people do. In fact most people procrastinate their whole life, hanging out together talking about all the things they are GONNA do. Trouble is they never do them! And then they just get lost in the crowd.

And that is a real shame, because the secret to moving your life forward is in ACTION - moving away from the crowd and stepping forward into your life. ACTION is the key.

Make a decision.

Get started

Keep going.

Those 3 steps will put you in the top 18%.
If you can stick to it for 1 month, you will be in the top 5%
If you can make it your NEW HABIT... .... YOU WILL SUCCEED.

In order to move from childish things into a productive adult life that runs smoothly you are going to need to make some changes.

Another wise man once said, "if you don't change direction, you will end up where you are headed".

Where are you headed?
You can be in the driver's seat you know.
If you have trouble getting ORGANISED, or making that DECISION - go see Sarah the youth worker, or speak with Chappy. They will be a fantastic support to you. Specially when you tell them you want to change direction and have more options.

Nic and Barb are special. But they are not ALIENS! They are people like you and me.
They just made a DECISION a long time ago.
They got started.
And they kept going.

Let's look at these steps more closely:

MAKE A DECISION
That means decide what you want to change, or achieve. It also means make a decision to take ACTION. Promise yourself. There is nothing worse than lying to yourself or letting yourself down. Promise yourself that you will make it happen. Remember, giving up has serious consequences. Where would Nic be if he had given up? Where would Barb be? What would their lives look like now?

GET STARTED
You might need help to get started. To remind you. Or to help you get organised. Depending on what you want to do, or how much you want to change stuff, you may need to write it down or have someone write it down for you. If there is no-one at home to do this, Chappy or Sarah will. So will Mrs Pass. Getting started is a really good feeling.

KEEP GOING
Keeping going is the really tricky part. Maybe you forget, or get tired. Maybe you have a moment of weakness and want to quit. If that happens, pick yourself up, say to yourself "I blew it, but that's ok. Now where was I. Let's start again."

21 TIMES
It takes 21 times thinking carefully about what you are doing, to change a habit. so if you can stick to your decision for 3 weeks, it will get easier after that. It will become a HABIT and pretty soon you won't even notice that something is different.

TAKE 5 MINUTES
Now take 5 minutes to think about yourself. The real key to success is asking yourself the right QUESTIONS.

Do you want a successful life? Do you want a basic life? What might you need to change?
Write it down.

Congratulations! You have already started

Hi there Year 8 music students!

Now that you have researched your Rock Style, you can begin putting together your script.

But first, lets do this online activity:

To see an example of Rock music that has developed over time, go to my list of "Choirs You Must See", found in the right menu here.

These days, Rock music is influencing all kinds of other music. Click on the "Perpetuum Jazille" This huge choir is performing AFRICA by the 80's rock band TOTO, at a big choir competition in Europe:

• They are singing a capella, with no accompaniment, and they make all the instrumental sounds with their voices.

• They even make the sound of an African Thunderstorm.

• Can you tell who is singing the LEAD vocals?
  

• Also, listen for the BEAT BOXER and the THUNDER CLAPS.

Now continue with your Oral Presentation script. Check your spelling, and be sure to follow all the dot point criteria on your Assessment Outline sheet. You should have a paragraph on each of the following:

1. Introduction
2. History and Origin
3. Characteristics of the Style
4. 3 examples of Historic bands and songs
5. Modern Use of the style in music today
6. Your opinion of the style

Remember, the 6 paragraph structure will be very helpful.

The 6 paragraphs can be transferred into

• 6 slides on your slide show OR
• 6 text boxes on your poster

The 6 paragraphs can also outline the information that you will put in dot points on your palm cards. Done this way, you may only need 6-8 cards.

Good luck!

Reflective Synopsis - ICTs for Learning Design EDED 20491

This is a reflective synopsis to discuss the ICT's I have been introduced to in this course, and to discuss their value in Learning Design. Here I will provide some background to my experience of these online tools, and also my ideas on how to use them responsibly in support of the recommended learning frameworks to enhance engagement for learners.

In this course, my learning curve has been indeed steep. I have borrowed books and other people's brains and wrestled with online logic till the wee hours of many mornings. I attempted most tasks many days late, and felt I was always coming from behind, but I was determined to learn, and I have.

Imagine my disappointment then arriving for my EPL at a school which has no internet access to the block in which I teach. We are teaching Music within a minimal ICT framework with few ICT resources in the department other than teaching laptops, a TV and a DVD player. The computer labs across campus need to be booked months in advance. For security reasons, I do not have access to the school server, so those resources which can be, need to be painstakingly downloaded at home. The students seem disengaged, and behaviour management is an issue in the Year 8 classes. Not surprisingly, enrolments for Year 9 music are low.

I thought this was relevant, as it has forged a determination in me to find ways to overcome the circumstances, and reach these students.

Kearsley & Schneiderman (1999) define Engagement theory as the idea that students must be engaged in their work to achieve effective learning. (p. 1) In the ICTs for Learning Design course I have learned the value of ICTs for creating authentic experiences that involve collaborative learning with "real world" value. I have also learned how to use ICTs to support a number of significant learning frameworks, including Active Learning, Kiersley and Schneiderman's "Engagement Theory", and Marzano and Pickering's "6 Dimensions of Learning" including the Habits of Mind. All of these point to an attitude of relevancy and immediacy in the learning, that invoke a positive learning response in the learner (p.1) these are proven principles of teaching, in which I believe deeply.

In order to fully engage in their own learning students need to become producers of their own knowledge. Below are explanations of the technologies that I believe would be beneficial to secondary students for this purpose.

Blogs are a fabulous resource for students and teachers. They are relatively easy to set up, cost almost nothing, and can be used for intra and inter-classroom communication, personal journaling, collaborative learning, project development and most importantly a place to accumulate a body of knowledge that defines the students' progress. Blogging is also an excellent way to establish and interact with a network of colleagues or peers, to both lend and receive support, and to build a creative space enhancing self esteem.

Power Point (PPT)
I see PPT as a great tool to support many of our planning frameworks. It is also the perfect procedural skill to showcase students' declarative knowledge. As I mention in my blogpost
http://mandyglenn.blogspot.com/2010/05/power-of-power-point.html
PPT is simple to learn and can produce impressive results in visual appeal and organisation of content. It is a fine organisational tool for students as it forces them to sequence their thinking, while allowing them to edit the process. PPT is a great playground for the visual learner. It also relies heavily on DOL 2 and 4, and incorporates aspects of critical, creative and self-regulating Habits of Mind.

Vokis are a great tool for engaging learners and can be utilised in a multitude of learning activies. As I mention in my blogpost:
http://mandyglenn.blogspot.com/2010/05/acvokiembed300-400-8c9ad90d7e9064530201.html Vokis can be used to introduce learning activities in a fun way (see my Tiddalik blogpost http://mandyglenn.blogspot.com/2010/04/tiddalik-frog.html. They can also direct specific assessment questions to the class in an engaging way, or work as tools for ESL students, or those with lower level reading and writing skills. My favourite use would be to pose a series of questions for student response, but the possibilities are limitless. Vokis are a creative process with a purposeful outcome, and as such fulfill the pinnacle of Maslow's pyramid of Hierarchy of Needs - self fullfillment and actualisation - by providing a simple, effective means of expressing identity and ideas.

Wikis are a collaborative site that can be accessed by a number of participants to further a project or process. The most well known wiki is of course Wikipedia - the free online encyclopaedia that invites participation from anyone anywhere in the world. For my NAIDOC Tiddalik project I will use www.wetpaint.com to create a wiki space for students to collaborate on development of script, design and costume for the play. See my blogspot on Wikipedia:
http://mandyglenn.blogspot.com/2010/05/using-wikipedia.html

e.Portfolios like Mahara are valuable as a lifelong learning site, or to manage a professional archive of resources and information. It could also be used to track students' work and progress or to 'hold' all information related to long term projects. The real value of Mahara is its capability to tailor and control views of sections of the same material depending on viewer clearance set up by the site operator.

YouTube is simply a must for any music teacher. As I mention on my blogpost
http://mandyglenn.blogspot.com/201005using-youtube-for-learning.html YouTube carries vids on everything from Uncle Harry cleaning his teeth, to the very best of pro or 'am' performances and theatre. The resources are limitless and all can be downloaded or uploaded as required.

Engaging learners can be done many ways. it just makes sense to use the methods of communication and information processing that students are already attracted to and have some degree of proficiency and/or interest in. It is our responsibility as teachers to move our students towards Mode 2 learning so they develop a "futures focus" also, with flexible learning strategies and a willingness to embrace change as it occurs in their lives.


Active Learning Online - What is Active Learning. Accessed 07/04/10
http://www.acu.edu/cte/activelearning/whatisal.html

Kiersley, G. K. & Schneiderman, B. (1999). Engagement Theory: a framework for technology-based teaching and learning. retrieved from CQUniversity e-course, EDED20491 ICTs for learning design, http://e-courses.cqu.edu.au

Marzano, R. J. & Pickering, D. J. (with Arrendondo, D. E., Paynter, D. E., Blackburn, G. J., Brandt, R. S., Pollock, J. E., Moffett, C. A. & Whisler, J. S.). (1997). Dimensions of learning teacher's manual (2nd ed.). Alexandra, VA: ASCD

Smith, R., Lynch, D. & Meinczakowski, J. (2003). "The bachelor of learning management (BLM) and education capability", Change: Transformations in Education, (6) (2): 23-37. Accessed from
http://moodle.cqu.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=44456

10 Things I am Thankful For - a student teacher's prayer

I don't say thank you enough. I used to say it too much. It's not that I am less appreciative. Perhaps less committed to showing that appreciation. It could happen to anyone I suppose.

Things I am officially grateful for:

1. My children of course.

Beautiful young women with gifts and incredibly interesting minds. They sparkle and laugh, and sometimes the very sight of them takes my breath away. They support me in all my ridiculous busy'ness. They support each other in an abrasive strange way that only they understand. They nurture their friends and protect themselves from the evils of the world. They say thank you. To me. To everyone. They have honour and decency, and values that I admire. They can say "I am hurting" without shame. They can say "I need help" without feeling the less for it. They can say "This is not right" and stand by their decision. They can give without any need for return and they can accept with complete grace. They also bring me coffee when I am studying, screen my calls, and do my laundry. Clearly they are gifts from God. For how else could I have managed such perfection. Thank you girls. You are the jewels in my crown.

2. My Work
I have loved it for 30 years! And I will do it till I die! Teaching singing is my greatest joy and my finest expertise. It brings me my best opportunities and the finest of colleagues. It also brings out the very best in me - my passion, my patience, my generosity and people building skills. It teaches me about myself and about others. It connects me to a past so glorious I wish I had lived then. It colours every decision I make and strengthens every choice. It is blessed, blessed work that can hardly be defined as work. Rather it is a craft, that enriches me with every note and every tune. It's the world to which I belong, and could never imagine leaving. It's also the perfect balance to my GDLT journey, for its the one thing I can turn to and know I can do well with ease. That is precious at this time.

3. My Dad
He taught me all the things that sustain me now. He is my code, my compass and my confidant still. He makes me strong, and listens when I am weak. You are the reason Dad that I am still here in the GDLT. You taught me to always finish well. And I intend to. Thank you.

4. My Mentor Teacher
What an exceptional young woman! Her kindness and support is exactly what I need. Her structure is an inspiration. Her management is awesome. Her results are very apparent. What more could I ask? Thank you Jess.

5. My Second Subject Teacher
What a great woman! So much fun, and so clever. Her classes are a delight, and I am learning lots. It's like learning from a friend. Thank you Irene.

6. Beautiful Brian
... the Garden Wizard! No-one can cut a lawn and do edging like Brian. The most generous man I know. He sees me struggle with 2 teens, 2 jobs, uni and prac, and arrives at my place, overalled, goggled and mower at the ready. I missed you Brian, so much when you were unwell. Now you show up out of the blue, and step right back in to ease my load. You are such a blessing. I suspect Dad has sent you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

7. My ICT helpers

I am all about privacy. My work is very public and I feel very visible in the community, so it is entirely possibly that I have privacy 'issues'. Consequently I like to live quietly, think in seclusion, and theorise alone. I find the publicising of private spaces appalling and in the beginning I found in-course forums daunting and very time consuming. I did post a number of comments just the same. However, I am more of a "ponder in private" kinda gal. I did continue to read the forums also and enjoyed all the discoveries that seemed to be taking place, not least of which was my own. (Does that make me a lurker?)

It also seemed unrealistic to expect myself to shed in a week, the habits of a lifetime. Suffice to say I needed some out-sourced help for the questions I lacked the confidence to ask. Enter my mystery ICT helpers - brilliant and Heaven-sent, they shall remain nameless, as this is one resource I do not intend sharing. The bottom line is that to undertake the journey I needed more than a video for company. I guess in a way I just planned for my own diversity.

I have now developed some confidence, and feel quite proud. I have learned a lot and have already implemented some of it with my classes, and in my business. I am getting faster too and no longer feel intimidated by the technology. So... I am changing the way I learn, as suggested, and taking responsibility for my own learning, as advised, and I am so very thankful to the friends who have made time to tutor me.

8. My Home
I love the space, and drinking morning coffee watching the sea. I love the high ceilings for singing, and the big deck for lounging around. I love the colour (blue) and the fabulous European oven. I love the bus stop outside for the girls, and the fish shop at the corner. I love that it is so close to my friend Nola, and that Aunty Mary's house is just up the hill. I love the walk up Wreck Point, and the beach in the evening. I love the jungle and the gravel drive. It's taken 6 months to tame, but it has been worth it. No matter how tired I am after school, or how depleted I feel emotionally. This is my place. I love waking up here each morning, and I look forward to coming home to it every afternoon.

9. My friends
... all of whom are being so supportive. They must be sick and tired of hearing me complain about all the study and preparation. They must be tired of me forgetting birthdays, and not getting to functions. They must be totally over my educational journey, yet they are there. To come on a moments notice for a drink or a chat. To celebrate my birthday, or to grab a quick take out together. To lend me gear, and programs and internet access when mine fails. To smile, and affirm that they are sure I am going to be great. To laugh at my woes, and help me keep some perspective. Thank you all.

10. My Ex
That feels so strange to say after 14 years apart! We were terrible together. So terrible. Then we were even more terrible apart. So much more terrible! But 14 years on, he still pays into the child support account every month. Without that I would be struggling to cover the expense and time spent on my study. It's a strange kind of gratitude. But the reality is, we couldn't make it through this year without him. So thank you D.

Truth is so excellent

"Truth is so excellent that if it praises but small things they become noble" Leonardo Da Vinci

Embedded Professional Learning - Week 2:

The thoughts of Da Vinci have always fascinated me. Well perhaps not always, but certainly for a long time before he became fashionable again (move over Dan Brown!)

The Truth is, I am discovering some fairly amazing truths about myself. I am wondering how it is possible to have such a passion for developing young people, yet be so overwhelmed by the challenge of it all. Teachers who have been 'at it' for some time, make it look so easy.

The Truth is, this is much harder than I expected, and my natural instincts don't seem to be helping much. When I decided to become a classroom teacher, I did not expect to experience so much failure. How is it possible to plan so carefully, prepare so thoroughly and still crash and burn? My Mentor Teacher says I am doing ok. I feel like I have been stolen away and some incompetent git has been put inside my skin.

The Truth is, I am running entirely on faith right now and desperately searching for a little of that 'nobility' that Leo mentions.

The Power of Power Point

In the realms of Active Learning PPT has got to be one of the greatest tools. PPT packages can be created to guide a student's learning, research, discovery, and critical thinking, and made available to them either in class, by email, on USB or on disc. It is a brilliant tool and a skill I am really glad to have acquired. The PPT loaded up here on my sight is titled Learning Activity - Event Management. It is an adaptation of a training activity I prepared last year for a VET qualification, and is a perfect start for my Grade 12 English Communication class for their Event Management Unit beginning this term. Years of experience in Event Management has taught me that every little detail needs to be covered, so this is the focus of the presentation in relation to Venues and Artists. There are worksheets and assessment activities also available. to go with this activity. They do not fit the format for blog posting here, so to receive these just leave me a message (as comment) with your email address.

I see PPT as a great tool to support many of our planning frameworks. It is also the perfect procedural skill to showcase students' declarative knowledge. PPT is simple to learn and can produce impressive results in visual appeal and organisation of content. In fact ,it is one of the finest organisational tools I have encountered because it forces students to sequence their thinking, while allowing them to edit the process.

Accomplishing the skill of PPT is also great for students' self esteem (2nd from the top of Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs pyramid). It is a perfect playground for the visual learner, relies heavily on DOL 2 and 4, and incorporates aspects of Critical, Creative and Self-regulating Habits of Mind.

With access to the right equipment, students can begin to use PPT in Primary school, and be very proficient within a short period of time. It's like playing a computer game, so students are both motivated and excited to produce Assessment activities in this format.

Incidentally, to upload your PPT to your blog go to:
www.slideshare.net/guest66ae43/how-to-add-power-point-presentations-to-blogger.

Making a Diaporama

What's a diaporama? That's what we used to call a slide show. Photographic competitions all over the world were held for the finest selection of beautifully crafted photographs that were painstakingly sequenced for effect. I know because my sister used to win them. Aged 15 in the adult sections! She was fantastic at it. I never did try my hand, and now I don't have to, because I can do it all on line!

My second encounter with the slide show was with large screened slide advertising that my partner and his mate were marketing in Brisbane in the 80's. They got them into the Brisbane Airport, Toombul Shooping Centre, Chermside and Indooroopilly I recall. It was an excellent idea that they imported from Canada. It never did take off completely though, and was soon superseded by video footage advertising that ran on a loop.

As for my own experience here, I am a little disappointed. My own album of photos just won't load, so I am unable to show you the incredible Raise Your Voice festival that I attended in Brisbane, which is weird because other photos have loaded perfectly. Anyway, I have found an excellent collection of Flikr photos on a singing theme, so they will suffice for now. Stay tuned for the Festival soon!

I think students would get such a kick out of making their own slide shows. It's a wonderful way to jazz up a blog, or web page, and working with photos is just so much fun. Once again they create an immediacy and enthusiasm that is difficult to top. Using Relate-Create-Donate students could even undertake to put together slide shows to showcase different aspects of their school and school life to have running in the admin foyer, or loaded onto the school website. Community organisations may even pay for students to put together themed shows or advertising for their showrooms, waiting rooms and lunch rooms. I can think of at least one lunch room where a relaxing slide show would be an enormous improvement.

These days, the project potential of this simple skill is unlimited. A flow of images tells a million words, and can spark interest where there was none before. I was in a pet shop today where a slide show was running of every animal you could imagine. It was fascinating and having it running there on the counter created a fun atmosphere at the point of sale. Images will always draw the eye and I think there are endless ways in which a slide show could be used not just as an archive, but to engage learning, convey meaning and create atmosphere.