This season too will pass…I Hope!
June 27, 2009
I know it's only for a season but I don't have to like it!
I confess that even while I write this I have a lump in my throat, as many problems and frustrations as there were being an educational assistant there were so many moments of beauty that leave me in humbled and in awe. Hindsight is a funny and terrible thing, it can make you appreciate life but can also bring regret. For me the reminicing on my last five years as a E.A. has been met with a heart that is both greatful and saddened. I hope that in follwing blogs to share a little of my journey as an E.A. with all it’s ups and downs but mostly I hope that as I write I am able to convery how incredibly thankful I am to have had the chance to meet and work with the students and teachers I did. I will never ever be the same person again, for the better. Today a season in my life changes. A song lyric by One Republic seems to sum up how I feel today… “we won’t say our good byes we know its better that way, we wont break we won’t die its just a moment of change…”
I wanted to write one last blog before the class is over. I hope that I keep up with this outlet, but I confess the internet is still not a regular part of my routine. Maybe I am too old and set in my ways? Nah! I think that despite the loss of an internet connection at my home in two days I will find times when I need to yell out to the world in a rant adn I will seek out a connection. Just wait till election season I will be hard to shut up, but wait it’s my blog so people like Bert don’t have ot read what I write. Anyway back to the point I wanted to give a general overview of the class in a what I did good, bad and ugly and I improved.
This is how I approached the computer in the beginning, very cautious because I was sure the computer was out to get me!.
Larissa’s expereince with the net:
Pre ECOMp355 Ignorant moments: Is Utube posted by teh group U2? What is a wiki? A podcast is that like a Ipod? Posting my name on the computer will only get me introuble? Kids and computers only creates lazy, addicted adn decieved children. The internet is a unpoliced and chaotic place.
Post ECOMP355: Youtube is an awesome resource to make learning more dynamic. It is great for a visual learner. A wiki is a fantastic way for students, parents and teachers to participate in the learning process. Podcasts are a great way to learn. Great for auditory learners. I control what my name is associated with on the internet. Kids have access to a variety of educational and helpful resources on teh computer and can be better for using it. The internet is oragnized chaos and is beginning to build structure in order to bring in more helpful than harmful material. It is our jobs as adults to educate youth on the responsible and balanced ways to use the tool that is the internet.
Successful moments: Discovering blogging in order to express my voice. Podcasts and Blogs because I have learned so much. Figuring out what a wiki space is and making it work with my passion of literature. Being inspired to advocate computer & internet in the classroom because of all the incredible instructors and mentors we had in this class, I really enjoyed seeing the finished projects posted by my mentors classes, I got lots of ideas now.
Regretful moments: Not reading my fellow students blogs more, the ones I read were full of useful and interesting thoughts and ideas. Not writing more blogs on the things I learned from blogs and podcasts. Not figuring out what a wiki was sooner so that I could of been making my wiki space more user freindly. Not connecting with my mentors more, I know I could of been more persistant and emailed them more, I know I could of benefited more from this part of the class.
Successful Tech Tasks: Blogging regularily, I guess I had more to say than I thought. Figuring out Google maps adn bubble share, I will definatley be using these in my future classrooms. Successfully finding the information I needed for many of the assignments. Using flicker to create a more visually pleasing final project and slide show.
The failed Tech Tasks: Not being able to Post my four pictures, home movie and podcast to the blog site I never did get it to work. I never figured out how to make Diigo work for me as well as I know it could. Not trying more of a variety of the tools or ideas talked about in class. Not adding any audio to my assignments or slide shows, how auditorily sad.
In conclusion I will be an advocate for technology in schools. I think I can sum what I learned most in this class by reiterating that, “It is our jobs as adults to educate youth on the responsible and balanced ways to use the tool that is the internet.” How was I expecting to do that when I myself believd so many mistruths and unrealistic facts about technology. I hope this once ignorant woman will now help spread the truth and fight ignorance armed with knowledge. I guess I no longer need the helmet to sit at the computer just a cape.
Now all I need is my superhero cape to go fight ignorance and fear!
Well why should it work now? I am trying to post my last tech task and for some reason it is having trouble cooperating to I have decided to just link my slide show to the page. So here it is: ECOMP355 summed up in Google Docs.
Inspired Work- mentors, classrooms and final projects
June 13, 2009
After hearing all the testimonies of teachers and educators with all their internet savvy and ideas I have decided that the World Wide Web in classroom is not impractical and labour intensive but in the end can save hours of work and mounds of paper.
Having seen the projects completed by my mentoring classrooms I have witnessed first hand how computer technology can inspire and spark the creativity of students of any age. Many of the projects that my mentors did with their students were things that are not typically taught in school but will give students valuable life skills outside the classroom. However, even thought the projects were practical in nature they still involved students utilizing and practicing skills like researching, writing, observing and problem solving. In the one class taught by Michael K. the students learned basic principles of landscaping while exercising their artistic and research skills in the creation of their very own stepping stones. In addition those students learned practical skills like landscaping that will undoubtedly come in handy in a side job or in home ownership. They now can say they have experience and some education in the area of landscaping.
The testimonies and classroom examples I have heard and seen in ECOMP355 has encouraged me to create a final project that I will one day use in my own classroom. The project was inspired by many of the tools we have learned to use in this class.
For my final project I am designing a wiki space that is based on novel studies. I have chosen a novel called Zlata’s Diary to showcase the assignments that could be used in the classroom on a wiki space. My wiki space is called 20thcenturybooktalks, and in hindsight I should of thought out the name more carefully because I realized after that we are living in the 21st century but I am not about to erase all the hours of work the wiki represents.
I started out focusing on the Google map tool but soon discovered that all alone the Google map seemed incomplete and ungrounded in a understandable context. Therefore I decided to surround the Google map with a wiki space. This wiki space can now showcase several assignments that will be appropriate for a classroom novel study on a whole novel. I think that by containing the novel into a wiki the students will have a well rounded understanding of the novel and in a space that can showcase their work. Too often students are asked to complete presentations and assignments for novel studies but after they are completed the assignments are forgotten or trashed. However, in a wiki space the assignments have a coherency and flow that is preserved in a way that more than just the teacher can view. My hope is that students will be able to make the connection between assignments and therefore gain a deeper and more meaningful understanding of the book being studied.
In conclusion I know that the wiki space will never be complete I find that I am always coming up with new ideas for the space and will hopefully continue to alter and change the wiki to accommodate the different grades I will be teaching. For the purposes of this class I tried to give the viewer some examples of the types of assignment one could assign students with a wiki for a novel study. I really wish I had more time to enhance and add to what I have done thus far but I know I am quickly running out of time and patience to achieve the lofty ideals I have for this wiki space. Since the due date is quickly approaching for this assignment I think I will spend the next two days journaling my journey with this wiki space on the actual pages in my wiki space. I will explain the process with which I completed the assignments I did do and explain what I intended for the pages I was unable to finish. If anyone has any suggestions for the wiki space feel free to go to 20thcenturybooktalks and have a look at what I have done so far and leave comment on my blog or in the wiki itself.
1,2,3,4- Thanks for helping me learn more.
June 11, 2009
#1– Well now that I know all these nifty, computerand internet tools exsist I am having a hard time focusing on homework. The podcast has maybe been one of the most life changing and yes I said life changing tools I have encountered. I am an audio learner and I always have been. I love reading but to be honest I will choose a audio book over a book everytime. For some reason the ability to hear what I am learning sticks in my brain longer and in more detail than just reading does. For the first time in a long time I am learning new facts, ideas and opinions faster and with more flexiblity than my books and newspapers ever could for me. Now don’t get me wrong I still buy love hard and soft cover books and read my newspaper from front to cover but I am able to find, retain and apply the knowledge alot more efficiently than I used to. You could say, I am downloading in my brain through podcasts and blogs with the capacity of high speed internet.
#2-For so long I have known that I like to write but I find that my thoughts and opinions come flying out of my brain so fast that I have trouble writing things down quick enough. To type these things into folders into my computer seems pointless and a waste of computer space. Blogging has enhanced my expressive self. I have a voice, but in a place my introverted self feels comfortable. Now I understand that said there are times as a human being that speaking up and out can’t be and shouldn’t be comfortable or easy. However, a blog is a great place to practice oraganizing thought and ideas so that when the time comes I will be more prepared to speak out to live people.
#3– I actually find myself researching things after I post my blog and I do go back and change the facts or wordings of something I’ve written. I would never ever do this with a piece of personal writing because no one would ever read it but me. I find that I have become a more responsible writer all because there is a possibility of an audience. This said, I know I still need to improve and take pride in my spelling and punctuation. This is something I have always struggled with as I am a concept and idea writer as opposed to a rules and grammer person. If anything will enocurage me to be better with spelling and grammer it will be blogging. I have never cared to change how I was because besides my school papers no one saw what I have written.
#4– Having said all of this I realize that these are the reasons I will overcome my technological fear and anxieties to be an eductaor who uses computers and internet in her classroom. So many students have been locked into the idea that reading, researching and writing are only for the teachers and schools. What I have learned from this class as a student is that the internet can and should be used to let students know that their reading, researching and writing can be personal, for their benefit. As a student and an experineced selfish human I know that the best motivator is “self” . This means that when oneself is to benefit from the activity than one is willing to attempt and even overachieve in the situation. I feel that teh computer and internet ,especially bolgging, is going to allow students to become better at writing, reading and researching because they will have access to topics and ideas that they are passionate about. As only one teacher with thirty or more students I will be able to, with the help with the internet, encourage and foster each individual student and their interests and passions while helping them be better at the madatory school subjects.
Thank you– I will explain and describe more about what I want my future technological classroom to look like in my next blog. For now I just want to say a HUGE thank you to Dean. I have appreciated how you taught our class. You were both flexible and practical in your approach to our technologically hesitant class. I belive many of us have taken away at least one useful idea and tool that we can use well in our lives as people and as educators. This is the first time in my life I have actually been openminded and excited about the internet and what positives it has to offer humanity. I hope to be an advocate for the responsible and creative ways internet can be used with students both in the classroom and out in the world.
I am still trying to figure out how to get the podcasts linked to my blog page. Hopefully I can get it up and running soon.
I have been listening to podcasts but I confess I am feeling a lot hesitant in telling people to go listen to them. Here’s the reason, they are based on biblical foundations. No matter how understanding and open people say they are to all cultures and beliefs as a biblical Christian I am always nervous when I promote the teachings done by Christain leaders who are human. Even as a Christian I am always wary of speakers or pastors who are popular. I have found over the years that a lot of the televison or media based churches or Christian leaders have altered or changed parts of their belief systems in order to deceive the general public in order to get money. My own mother has fallen victim to a televison preacher by buying reading material only to receive nothing in the mail after sending her money away.
However, back to my point the podcasts I have been listening to. I have a coworker who has been talking about Mars Hill Church and Mark Driscoll that. I confess that I tuned her out and thought in my head lady maybe you should read your bible more than podcasting this preacher guy. But it must be true that hearing something more than twenty times makes you subconciously think that you need whatever your hearing about. Therefore, after learning about podcasts in Wednesday’s class I thought I should take a listen to this Mark Driscoll guy on Mars Hill. The following is the conclusion I have come to as Larissa Muchinsky. If you go listen to these podcasts than I ask you to listen with a open mind and test it against what you know about truth and human nature, the good the bad and the ugly.
Now with that long disclaimer I say that those who choose should listen to the podcasts by Mars Hill Church especially those casts done by the pastor Mark Driscoll. I actually decided to give what I was hearing a chance after I heard the podcast on the Song of Solomon. For those of you who don’t know, Song of Solomon is a book of bible written in poetic form. It is also one of the least preached on books of the bible in churches. Why? Because it is all about true love between a man and a woman, the sex and all. The message I surprisingly liked most was the Series on Song of Solomon called The Peasant Princess. I think it hit me right where I am at as a young married woman. For anyone who has read my previous blogs you’ll know that I have been contemplating the lasting ability of marriage. The Peasant Princess Series takes a look at the history of the church but from the interesting perspective of the church’s negative relationship and misconceptions surrounding marriage and sexuality. Using, Biblical principles, fun facts, lots of humour and world statistics the series looks at marriage relationships in a real and honest way.
However, the Peasant Princess series is only one of many messages by the Mars Hill Church. The topics span everything from hypocrisy in the church to Global issues of suffering and injustice. The pastor Mark Driscoll is a very honest and open about his life and experiences and tests everything he says against world history, statistics, facts and the bible. If you do take a listen to one or part of one of these podcasts I hope you are able to hear beyond any misconceptions and preconceived notions you may have of Christian pastors and churches and listen knowing the intention with which I am endorsing these podcasts is with gentleness and honesty.
Google results or should I say Running results.
June 7, 2009
I did it! Now my name will appear in Google searches.
I must confess I had some anxiety as I typed in my name to be googled. I wondered if there were any scary secrets I had forgotten about or misinformation posted about me. I nervously waited for the results wondering if all those F papers from me freshman days would pop up with a notice from teachers saying she’s a lazy, procrastinator with a horrible habit of fragmented sentences. I was therefore plesantly surprised when the results that popped up in regards to my name were that of all my running standing from the mini and half marathons in which I have participated. While my actual race results are no Boston Marathon qualifiers I was pleasantly surprised that the google search presents me as a runner to anyone caring to google my name. I must say I felt proud that the top five or six things linked to my name were shairng with whomever is interested that I Larissa Munchinsky am a runner. Now this said the name I googled along with all of it’s accomplishments is my married name of only three years. My maiden name resulted in zero finds that applied to myself. This fact was disappointing to me but not exactly shocking to see given the fact that I have spent 25 years of my single life avoiding everything internet related. I guess I should be proud that I was able for all those years avoid detection from google.
Now that I have discovered that I Larissa Munchinsky am now in the google network and know that one day a future employer or maybe even my own children and grandchildren will google my name I will be more diligent in putting things out into the worldwide web that will speak to who I am. Frankly who I am has been hidden from this vast and technological world for too long. I am not young or imature as I once was and the risk of me posting questionable and sketchy things on the web has dramatically decreased, mostly because to create risky behavior one needs energy and spontinaity and I rely too much on my scheduled routine. Since blogging I realize I do have things to say, some may be ignorant and spoken before thought but I do think that I have a heart that means well and desires to see others do well. I think that my creativity combined with my idealistc yet negative nature can bring lots to the plethera of information and opinions just waiting to be googled.
After last Wednesday’s class I will be trying, as long as I have internet, to put or rather carefully place items on the web that reflect the attributes and talents that are God given rather than derived from my abundance of human errors. I am no longer anxious or wrought with nerves when googling my name. I am proud and ready to run (excuse the pun) and put more google results for Larissa Munchinsky out there that say this woman’s a runner and a genius. Maybe a more realistic goal would to have someon google my name and say “this woman’s likes to run and she is pretty great eductaor with lots of original and cretaive thought to offer into the human collective.”
A FRESH video clip to analyze.
June 3, 2009
I could not resist choosing this sitcom theme to analyze. The camera angles are varied and creative, like the chair spinning with Will in it creates a sense of dizzy and fun. The clips showing Will off center allows the viewer to see all that is in the establishing shot like an alley way or a basketball court. The close ups of individuals like the mother wagging her finger are centered shots so that the audience understands that what mothers says goes. The cut to the cab and the mansion allows the viewer to know that they are about to watch a show that will have rich meeting cooool.
Are many of the filming techniques cheesy and cliched? Of course! Weren’t all films and sitcoms in the 90’s filled with fluffy content and technique. However, I will argue that these silly and seemingly lame camera techinques captivated audiecnes year after year. The opening theme must have done well following all of the rules of angles, edits and lighting because everyone in my generation who had a television set can still renact the theme song while reciting every word of the catchy rap.
Does anyone really mean for better or worse anymore?
June 3, 2009
It`s going to be hard work...but the journey sure does have it's beautiful moments!
* The following is a burden my heart feels every time I hear that someone I know divorcing or separating. It makes my heart ache for wedding vows and love to win out. However, the following blog is not in response to a fear that my marriage is currently failing. I am just recognizing how vulnerable love and realtionships are. I am simply expressing my ache and desperation for answers and tools in this battle against that which is labelled “divorce“ but one could also call it hate, bitterness, anger, injustice, deception, pain, agony, shame or any other destructive word their is ….
Ahhhhh! Is all I can say. I am yelling out , typing out into this big massive expansive world called the web asking pleading for anyone who said their wedding vows and are succeding a fulfilling them. I have just heard of one more couple in my immediate aquaintances who is separating. (Separating from what? Marriage? Each other? What is seaparating any way? How will anything be solved through more space, what reading eachothers minds will fix the problems?) I get it their human, everyone is human we all mess up.I get it! I guess that is why I am here asking for witnesses who can assure me my short marriage of only three years will last, is there hope or is this world so bad that any problem my husband and I have will be too great for us to stand against? Will we get so far from our wedding vows that keeping them no matter how hard will be too destructive for us as people. Maybe I only notice the bad but doesn`t it seem a lot of marriages are dying or dead. What makes it even more discouraging is that the divorces I see are among those who have claimed to have an almighty God at the center of their love and than for some reason their human flaws consume and destroy that love. I know I need to hold onto hope, faith, God`s strength but I guess I am asking for a little help from my fellow humanity to help me keep the faith. Asking for others who have fought for their marriages to testify. Is it time that those of us who are married, no matter the years, speak up and testisfy that with a perseverant love that always hopes can protect a marriage till death due it part.
If you were to ask me to define myself I might say I am female, married, middle class Canadian, American, human being. This is what I would say if I wasn`t looking for a reaction. However if I wanted to spark discussion or debate with you I may paint the picture for you that I am a intolerant, one sided, thick headed, opinonated, judgemental, ass by saying that I define myself as a Christian.
I have struggled since highschool with this title. A title that as permeated every aspect of my life since I was young enough to understand words. My dilema comes from the fact that that the very word Christain means so many different things to so many people. This term defines so many faiths and religions. The above definition I gave is the label I am most familiar with because when I hear Christain this is what I picture, someone who is so judgemental and wary of change that they fight anything that is not traditionally, comfortable to them. Someone who has understood the Word of God aka the Bible for so long that there is no room for anyone else in their world who thinks different than them. It is as if so many Christains, evengelical Christians are afraid to admit that they are only imperfect finite creatures who don`t know everything. It is this holier than though attitude that has made me want nothing to do with the title Christainity. That said I still, one hundred percent am in love with the object of my faith Christ. I still want everything to do with Christ and his mission outlined in the Bible. However, I am increasingly growing hesitant to place myself under the umbrella term Christian. My foundation for what I belive is still the same but I am just not willing to admit that I could say to a woman brutally raped “The baby you now carry is a human being and therefore all your emotional pain will only be worsened if you abort this life.“ Or sorry I can`t be your freind because your gay because that would mean I might give the inspression that I am also gay“ This above sayings all but make my stomach turn I know in my heart of hearts Jesus Christ whose example I claim to follow would never have said these hurtful things to people so clearly already face such momnumental turmoil, pain and heart ache. If Christ who was perfect and God incarnate can not so harshly rebuke these persons how could I a human who has sinned say these things in the name of love. This is not the agape love so adimentally spoken about by my God. Protests, bombs, death threats, boycotts, slander, or shunning do not demonsrate love that is patient or kind, a love that is not rude or selfseeking, a love that keeps no record of wrong or that delights in evil. Christs love rejoices in truth always, hopes always perserveres and protects. God`s defintion of love sure doesn`t sound like it applies with a lot of the things people in our world do in the name of God under the title of Christian.
My feelings about the above topic have led me to write this blog about my faith because of a program I saw on Global about this very topic. The program is called Relevant- Too Hip 2b be Holy. The story followed the evangelical Christian movement in eastern Ontario where several pastors Chritians are not radically changing the message of Christ but are simply packaging it in a form where those who have not grown up in a church would feel safe and secure and those who have always been Christians are forced to question what is human tradition and doctrine and what is God`s truth about their beliefs. It would be useless for me to describe what the documentary was about because if one was really was interested they could click the link and read a synopsis of the show for themselves. However, I do feel the need to say the show brought me hope, not only as a Christian, but as a human being. Maybe the definition of church can appeal to and be relevant to the society in which I am growing up in. That church could be done in a movie theatre and still be considered worship. That internet services could used to spread good news and hope without the expencese of a large ornate building. That when I invite someone to church so they can expereince hope and peace they won`t feel judged based on whayt they don`t know or accept. It is not our jobs as Christians ot force people to love our God that works about as good as forcing a child to eat broccoli. What does work is being a decent human being loving as Christ loved on other human beings. Why do we as Christians claim and testify that our God is so merciifula dn loving and than not trust that He will meet with those who need Him right where they are at in His own perfect way just like he did with us who claim to Christains. I close with a quote by the pastor being interviewed who said “sometimes I think what happens is that we(Christians) expect people to change so that God will love them. I think what we humans forget is that) people change because God loves them“… “because God is for people“. I end by saying Amen and that is why I am a Christian maybe one day the movement sweeping evangelical churches to be more people freindly will make the title Christian not so abrasive. That to be Christian will paint the picture of people who are merciful, gracious, gentle, patient, kind, forgiving, mindful, thoughtful, truthful, humble and passionate about Jesus Christ because while we were still sinners Christ died for (and forgave) us all our sins (even those that are the most scary, evil, dark, selfish, harmful, destructive, addictive, painful and shameful sins).
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