Bassett_Meghan_PubLeadProject.docx

You can access my Publication project here:

https://idisk.mac.com/lmtdply18//Public/Bassett_Meghan_PubLeadProject.docx

Enjoy!

Wk4-Blog#4: Free Blog

Well. I want to free blog, and I'm pretty sure I get one more free blog, so may as well!
So, I found out about a month ago that the State of South Carolina Department of Education does NOT accept Fullsail credits towards a step increase. MEGA SAD FACE there. We have an 'optional' union here that is not at all powerful, but was hoping to get some advice. I'm not sure whether or not I can appeal this, but the people at Fullsail and the people at the State department seemed very general in their responses to my questions, and basically wished me luck. Anyone have any pointers with how I can handle that?
That being said, in two weeks my summer starts. I CAN'T wait to get my own business going, even though I'm not quite positive where I'm going with that yet. I want to paint and sell over the internet, but I'm also looking into selling stained glass and mosaic candle holders, cup holders, etc. I've never looked into selling my own work besides friends and family, so it will be quite an adventure to get started. (With all the extra time not in classes, I should be pretty productive!!!)

Wk4-Blog#3: Comment #2 To Joanna Puello

Joanna Said...
MAC, Week 4, BP2: Reading the Art of Possibility
24 05 2011

Photo by Richard B. (MorgueFile)

My husband is an amazingly talented artist in many realms. He paints, draws, sings professionally, writes his own music, and gives seminars. He’s also his own boss. I’m an artist of a different sort. I write, play two instruments, act, and love to make my physical environment an inspirational place to be. We’ve been “self-employed” for years, and we’ve also been “self-UNemployed” many of times. Because we often have to pursue opportunities for income, it’s easy to feel frustrated and loose passion about the big vision. Or sometimes it’s easy to get so caught up in the big vision that we can’t see the next step. My husband has encountered endless obstacles in his musical career, and during the past two years, we have butted heads many times over what his long-term goals should be. My biggest desire for him is for him to be able to use his talents and abilities in their maximum expression. Obviously, he wants this, too. The question is how to get from here to there. In my opinion, the discussion and conflict that has revolved around this topic has been very healthy for both of us (even when it’s been hard). We’re still working through the details on some life-changing decisions, so I was extremely inspired when I read this remarkable quote in Chapter 11: Creating Frameworks for Possibility: “The foremost challenge for leaders today…is to maintain the clarity to stand confidently…no matter how fierce the competition, no matter how stark the necessity to go for the short-term goal, no matter how fearful people are, and no matter how urgently the wolf may appear to howl at the door. It is to have the courage and persistence to distinguish the downward spiral from the radiant realm of possibility in the face of any challenge.” (Zander, p. 163)

Meghan Bassett said...

I absolutely love that last quote. It’s so powerful, every time I read it I pull out a different part that hits me. I am impressed and inspired by your writing. As scary as it seems to be part of your life, dealing with the uncertain and rolling with the punches, and building on what you have accomplished without fear of being stopped…just wow.
I took the other road. I’ve always wanted to be an artist, but was too frightened to fail to try my hand at it. My family always said, have a back up plan. So I figured I’d be an art teacher, and become an artist in the process. I hope to get my own business started soon, and I am honestly inspired by you. I’m also inspired by how strong your relationship must be! :)

Wk4-Blog#2: Comment #1 To Spencer

Spencer Said...
EDM613 - WK 4 Reading - The truth hurts sometimes
For me, being the board has all kinds of difficulties that come along with the notion. I have been able to find solace in the blame game for my entire teaching career. The students that come to me are usually several grades behind in their mathematics knowledge. Much of this is due to (here comes the blame) teachers being "run off" by the bad acting children. In fact the students brag about how many teachers they have been able to get to leave. Having to accept responsibility of how I react to the situation will make me a better teacher from here on out. Instead of being able to write off the students that are not understanding what they ought to have learned in the past, I now have sparks to light. The students are on my board and I get to bring them to new places with new learning experiences. I can fight the facts that they are behind, or I can find out where they are and bring them as far around my board as possible in the time we have together. I can be just another voice telling them what they can't do, or I can be a refreshing fountain of encouragement. The art of possibility is just that, an art. Some people are naturals, others have to work hard at it. The great thing about the art of possibility is that everyone can grow.

Meghan Bassett said...

Spencer-
Well, you have me exhausted by your post! I know exactly what you mean about getting run off by students who push your buttons. I too know the students that brag about getting teachers to cry, leave, or flip out. Unfortunately with this generation, it’s something we have to deal with, and you’re exactly right in your interpretation of the chapter. How HARD it will be to change the way we, as teachers, see these students and handle them is the issue. For me, it feels like a constant fight against my instincts and it’s hard to break. I try to read this quote, and put it in my signature in my email, to make sure I see it everyday. Maybe it can help you too (you’ve probably seen it before).
"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes." – Charles R. Swindoll

Wk 4 Publishing_Leadership Project

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-MA0TWCR5Bdp6W5dVptpgsdOrofEk_pn1UruLd2lGOU/edit?hl=en_US&authkey=CJum2coF
I want to publish my article on http://www.arteducators.org/ which is the National Art Education Association website. I think that this is the perfect place to try and publish my work because it is a National organization that is made up of all art teachers at various levels. Most Universities and school districts expect you to be a member of this group, and many use it as a place to find lesson ideas, go to conferences held annually, or find great articles relating to different areas regarding Art Education. I think it would be amazing to be published here because not only would I get my article into the hands of other art teachers, but I would make my screenflow videos available to an array of people that could use them and hopefully create their own. It would open up a new door to sharing amongst art teachers across the country!
I’ve been working with my publishing/leadership project, when I realized I was doing twice the work for no reason!!! Silly me. I started to compile my paper because I had planned on submitting an article to NAEA or SCAEA. Since we are showcasing our work to class next week, I also started a powerpoint highlighting the important parts of my paper. Then I realized I was putting together a presentation. Good thing is, I can take the parts I highlighted in my powerpoint to sift through my massive paper and edit out the pieces that aren’t necessary to get my point across.
So far it’s going well. I think I need to add a little more to the introduction to better explain what I am trying to accomplish with my action research project. I also need to weed through the literature review and cut out most of it, leaving just a sentence or two for each section of the paper. Lastly, I want to go through my Cycles and make sure to explain my results the best way I can without using too many numbers.
Maybe I’ll end up doing a presentation as well, so you never know if I may use both methods! I’m not writing off anything yet.

Wk4 Reading: Art of Possibility Chapters 9-12

Lighting a Spark
This chapter reminded me to let my kids go with flow a little more. I’m an art teacher, as most of you know by now, which means a few things. Number one, I have to give some set of instructions to make sure students are learning what they need to learn from my curriculum. However, sometimes I make them do a few specific things, but leave the rest up to their creativity. For example, we do two clay projects a semester in my class. The first, I require the students make a rattle. This is so they learn a few basic techniques like slipping and scoring to attach clay, how to create a hollow shell without letting the clay explode, and how to form objects out of clay. I have a few students that ask me to make certain objects that aren’t hollow, and I usually shoot them down. This is to try to keep everyone on the same page and make sure they are learning the same things. In reality, I should probably hear them out, see what they want to make, verify they know how to do what they are being taught, and let them run with their ideas. Let the spark of passion come and flow!
Being the Board
I like the idea of this chapter more than I comprehend its complexity. It is much harder to say you’re the board and to take responsibility for everything that happens in your life than to actually do it. At the end of the day, it is easier to point fingers than to accept that you are responsible for everything that happens in your life. A good thing to try, but I’ll admit, going to be tough to implement and remember.
Creating Frameworks for Possibility
I like the quote, “She vowed not to say anything that she could not stand as the last thing she ever said.” I love the notion here, but in the heat of the moment how hard is it to live by? Setting a framework for possibility seems more of a change in mental state than something you think about. I liked the story of the teacher who shaved her head. Instead of trying to get the kids to stop making fun of the little girl with cancer, she made the baldness something she owned instead of lived with.
Telling the WE Story
The idea of telling stories and looking at everything from all angles and looking out for the best interest of all people involved is tough. I teach in the South, and my students still fly the rebel flags and talk about the South vs the North in the Civil War. It seems ridiculous to me that so many people want to put a gap between us, but also making everyone else feel like an outsider. Being from the North, I get comments about being a Yankee and trying to make everyone think like me. I think it would be beneficially to try to see things from all perspectives here. What can we do to get over this gap? Why do we all feel the need to keep this barrier between us?

Wk3-Blog#4: Free Blog

I’ve been working with my publishing/leadership project, when I realized I was doing twice the work for no reason!!! Silly me. I started to compile my paper because I had planned on submitting an article to NAEA or SCAEA. Since we are showcasing our work to class next week, I also started a powerpoint highlighting the important parts of my paper. Then I realized I was putting together a presentation. Good thing is, I can take the parts I highlighted in my powerpoint to sift through my massive paper and edit out the pieces that aren’t necessary to get my point across.
So far it’s going well. I think I need to add a little more to the introduction to better explain what I am trying to accomplish with my action research project. I also need to weed through the literature review and cut out most of it, leaving just a sentence or two for each section of the paper. Lastly, I want to go through my Cycles and make sure to explain my results the best way I can without using too many numbers.
Maybe I’ll end up doing a presentation as well, so you never know if I may use both methods! I’m not writing off anything yet.