My Favorites This Semester

Here are some more items from class this semester that I particularly liked. (Thanks, Laura!)

"To get your thoughts going, watch this clip from a comedy show in Norway. Amazing how technology changes - and yet does it??"
Medieval Helpdesk with English Subtitles

"Here's a video clip to get your ideas going about Evaluation and Assessment:"
You Are Better Than a Test

"Fair(y) Use" video
Explains the Fair Use policy that is part of copyright law - very funny

The Hobart Shakespeareans
A documentary has been created about Rafe Esquith and his class. I'll try to get a link on here so you can either view or order the movie.

The Long Tail by Chris Anderson
Article from Wired Magazine

"What kind of professional development would you offer for this teacher?"
Funny Teacher Rant

EduTopia
The George Lucas Educational Foundation

Freedom Machines
Movie - "Freedom Machines" takes a new look at disability through the lens of assistive technology. The experiences of a group of unforgettable people let us re-examine ideas about ability and disability grounded in our culture and attitudes.

Leadership Book

Leader Effectiveness Training (L.E.T.) by Dr. Thomas Gordon

Tell us about the author. What qualifications does this person have? Do you think this author is qualified to write a leadership book? Should a leadership author have certain prerequisite skills? What are they?

I chose to read this book based on the recommendation of a friend whom I respect for his subtle but impressive leadership skills. He highly recommended L.E.T. despite the fact that it was originally published in 1977 (the year I was born, by the way).

Dr. Thomas Gordon was the founder of Gordon Training International. His Gordon Model concepts are now known world-wide. He was a licensed clinical psychologist with a B.A., M.A., and Ph.D. He was the author of nine books, including Parent Effectiveness Training and Teacher Effectiveness Training. His books sold millions of copies in many languages. Dr. Gordon received many honors for his work including three nominations for the Nobel Peace Prize.

I don't think there is a set criterion that an author of a good leadership book must have. Dr. Gordon's degrees are certainly important, but good leadership does not necessarily come from good education. Dr. Gordon's success as an author and psychologist seem to be evidence of the effectiveness of his models, but popularity alone is not enough of a qualification either. I do think the longevity of Dr. Gordon's work, the large number of businesses, organizations, and people that have been helped by his leadership models, and particularly his experience - trying and testing his theories and practices - made him qualified to author leadership books.

In the book, what leadership traits or qualities are discussed? Select two or three you think are most important, list and describe them.

Listening Skills Gordon advises the use of four listening skills to facilitate open and effective communication: Door Openers, Passive Listening, Acknowledgment Responses, and Active Listening. All four skills must be used together to ensure effective communication.
Door Openers - "Generally, people with problems are afraid of imposing them on others... They usually need some kind of assurance of the willingness of the listener..." (p.54)
Passive Listening - "...when you have a problem and find someone who shuts up and listens, you are usually encouraged to keep talking about your problem." (p.55)
Acknowledgment Responses - "Most people... need something more from a listener than complete silence. They would like evidence that the listener is not woolgathering or engaged in his or her own thoughts. They need occasional acknowledgments of their messages..." (p.55)
Active Listening - "We can never be absolutely certain we have completely or accurately understood another person, so it is essential to test the accuracy of our listening and minimize the misunderstanding and distortion that occur... Active Listening gives proof that the listener has indeed understood... Listeners need only restate, in their own language, their impression of the sender." (p.56-57)

The No-lose Method"When conflict arises, the leader's attitude (paraphrased) is: You and I have a conflict of needs. I respect your needs, but I must respect my own, too. I will not use my power over you so I win and you lose, but I cannot give in and let you win at the expense of my losing. So let's agree to search together for a solution that would satsify your needs and also satisfy mine, so no one loses." (p.177)
Gordon outlines six steps to the No-lose Method:
1. Identifying and Defining the Problem
2. Generating Alternate Solutions
3. Evaluating the Alternate Solutions
4. Decision-making
5. Implementing the Solution
6. Follow-up Evaluation of the Solution

Does the author provide examples of effective leadership? If so, write about one or two incidents where leaders are described. Do you agree that these are examples of good leadership?

Dr. Gordon does not mention specific people as examples of good leaders, but he does offer several scenarios in which good leadership skills were used. He includes the actual transcripts of recorded conversations in which the skills he is teaching were used.

One such scenario demonstrates the use of an "I-Message" which has three components: 1) a brief description of the behavior you find unacceptable, 2) your honest feelings, and 3) the tangible and concrete effect of the behavior on you (the consequences). Following the "I-Message" a leader must often help the person they want to see a change in to "find and implement a solution that will be acceptable to the changee and the changer." (p.108)

The scenario presented as a good example of this skill was between a supervisor, Chuck, and a worker, Bob. Chuck starts out by using an "I-Message" to explain a problem he has with Bob's leaving early from work. Bob gets defensive from hearing about the problem, so Chuck responds with active listening. After actively listening and assuring Bob he understood his point of view, Chuck restated an augmented "I-Message" to show Bob he still felt there was a problem. Then, he led Bob to take responsibility for finding a solution to the problem that would be satisfactory to both of them - a "No-lose" solution.

Chuck had to use a lot of continued active listening and more "I-Messages" to help Bob see that the solutions he offered at first were not "No-lose" solutions. Bob's solutions at first were solutions where Bob would win and the company would lose. But by patiently offering more "I-Messages" Chuck was able to help Bob see that the solutions were not meeting both of their needs. In the end, Bob was able to come up with a solution that met both their needs, and he was more willing to use that solution because it had been his idea and it was a "No-lose" solution. (p. 108-110)

Compare this author's view of leadership with what you've learned about leadership in education and with educational technology. Does your book still apply to educational settings? Why or why not?

This leadership book definitely applies to an educational setting. One of Sheingold's three agendas for reform is restructuring. Gordon's book teaches leaders how to effectively restructure a business, a routine, employees' attitudes and work habits, or any relationship. The skills he teaches, such as listening skills and "No-lose" problem solving, are requisite for the the restructuring Sheingold suggests to be truly effective and lasting.

I think that Gordon's strategies are not unlike the strategies offered in the Disney article and the Hanlon article. Ultimately, the whole point behind these different strategies is to influence people in a positive way - to help them want to make the changes you see as necessary - and then allow them to be a part of that change, to take ownership for the restructuring taking place.

What do you want others to know about this book that I didn't ask?

Having read this book, I can see why Dr. Gordon had the success and renown he did in his career. In deed, I had heard many of his strategies before but had not known where they had originated. The skills he teaches are effective and now time-tested skills to improve interpersonal communication.

I was surprised by the interesting combination of Dr. Gordon's relaxed writing style - he comes across to me as very much a story teller - combined with his scientific approach to offering support for his theories. I liked it, and it made for an easy, yet enlightening and instructive read. I am very interested in reading his Teacher Effectiveness Training book.

One last note: I was particularly impressed with the evidence that Dr. Gordon was a very moral person. Throughout the book is the underlying tone that what he wrote about mattered to him. He genuinely wanted to help people, I think. In the final chapter of the book, titled "Some Deeper Issues for Leaders", Dr. Gordon says that ultimately the style of leadership you choose must be based upon the kind of person you want to be. He includes in this chapter "A Credo for My Relationships" explaining his basic philosophy underlying all effective human relationships. Here is a portion of the credo. (I recommend you later read it in its entirety.):

"You and I are in a relationship which I value and want to keep. Yet each of us is a separate person with unique needs and the right to meet those needs. When you are having problems meeting your needs, I will try to listen with genuine acceptance... However... I will tell you openly and honestly how your behavior affects me, trusting that you respect my needs and feelings... Thus ours can be a healthy relationship in which both of us can strive to become what we are capable of being. And we can continue to relate to each other with mutual respect, love, and peace." (p.261)

Gordon, T. (1977). Leader Effectiveness Training. New York, NY: Wyden Books.

Final Project Presentations

QuestGarden
Pre-made web quests

MyWonderfulWorld.org
Geography awareness

Jing Project
Image and movie capturing of what you do on your computer

Wordle

Special Needs Technologies

IDEA Legislation
IDEA Legislation information links

Not disability devices, enabling devices

How should Social Security be used?
We spend all kinds of money to keep someone in a care center, when we could spend half as much if we used that money to get them the assistive technology they need to live at home. But the system isn't set up that way.

Recession Gift
The Community Food Co-Op of Utah
Or go to foodco-op.org

Legal Issues

AUP - Acceptable Use Policy
users of IT service
restricts access or use
protect users from harmful items
protect provider from negative images
applies whenever the service or equipment owned by the company is used
service denied if there is a violation
could cause termination, etc. if there is a violation
have a good policy in place with consequences

Fair Use
applies to all
What? to protect the author, non profit organizations, nature of the copyright
a violation occurs if you interfere with the author making money from his/her work
applies as soon as it's created
education, news, research, parody, criticism, review are the exceptions to copyright and are not violations (they are fair use)
Why? to protect the author
policy is written to protect the author, copies of the policy posted, educate people on the policy, monitor use
Fair use is our friend in education because it is freeing. It allows us to use things more than we would be able to otherwise.
Grey area - what counts? Is a blogger a journalist? Are they exempt?
acceptable if you keep the use within your own physical building or classroom
1 chapter or 10% of printed material is allowed
no limit on how much of a movie or music you can use
once it leaves your physical boundaries, it's violating copyright (ie. film festival, posted online)
viewing movies or listening to music, however, must be for educational purposes. It should be defensible. Do you have lesson plans? What educational activities were done with the media?
Posting Mickey Mouse, for example, on your wall is ok as long as you are really using it for educational purposes. So, my computer lab superheros is fine.
A test: are you taking away potential money from the copyright holders? If yes, probably don't do it. If no, probably ok.

TEACH Act
Who? distance ed providers
What? digital content
Where? distance ed classrooms, a virtual classroom
When? late 2002 it was created
Why? created to provide equity for distance ed students
How? gives distance ed larger access to resources for their students, checklist can help guide teachers as to what is acceptable
Adds to the Fair Use Act by saying that your classroom can also be a virtual classroom
As long as the only ones who will see it/use it are my enrolled students, Fair Use still applies

CIPA - Children's Internet Protection Act
Protects school and libraries that get money form the eRate program
Requires filtering for minors in K-12 schools and public libraries where the Internet is accessible that receive eRate funding
Allows for exceptions when authorized for specific projects
Protects kids
How? Educate students about Internet safety
Controversy - schools are ok with this because they are about protecting the kids the educate. However, libraries have a problem with it because they are all about free speech and open access to all information available. Compromise - it was agreed that the computers must be filtered for minors, but can be fully accessible for adults. Some libraries tie their filter into their library card to know who to filter and who not to, but its a hassle. Some libraries have opted out of eRate because of this.

Filtering
Subset of the CIPA act
applies to schools/libraries receiving public funding
filtering Internet sites
exceptions - adults can request that the filter be removed in public libraries
Where? publicly funded schools and libraries
When? 2000 in schools, 2003 in libraries
applies to any users on public library or school computers and networks
in response to the CIPA act

Creative Commons
applies to everyone
it's an organization
allows for copyright holders to share their work on their terms
Where? where ever the copyright holder wants to show their work
began in 2002
because regular copyrights were outdated and weren't sufficient with new technology
used however the the copyright holder determines
whoever created the work gets to decide how it is used
the creator goes to the creative commons website and selects the category of use they want, then they get a tag that states their creative commons license
(link to creative commons on moduole 6)

FERPA - Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
Who? Schools that receive public funding, parents and students
What? parents/students can request access to their records, others cannot access information without permission, directory information is acceptable but parents/students can request for their information to not be included in the directory
Where? (situations that apply) records, grades, posting student work with grades, student work online with names, students' likeness online or in movies
When? It does not apply in these situations:
-with permission
-legitimate educational interest
-within the school system
-health & safety emergencies
-judicial system
-justice system
Why? privacy, safety, protection (ie. protect personal information, prevent discrimination)
How? policies regarding handling of permanent records or cum. files, proceedures for how/who to get records, policies regarding how to display work of students at school or online or so others can see their scores

Hanlon & Sheingold

Hanlon
What does marketing have to do with education?

Good Marketing - Your company (or school) has:
Creation Story
Creed
Icon
Rituals
Pagans or Non-Believers
Sacred Word
Leaders

Create a sense of primal belonging.

Meier Article

Meier
Educating a Democracy
What do you need to have a democracy?
-diverse opinions and a way to work together with those diverse opinions
-power to do something about your opinions
Democracy is messy because everyone has those diverse opinions.
You need to be comfortable with that and appreciate it because it will ultimately make for better results as we share and combine our diverse opinions.

Schools need to be a democracy, not a dictatorship. How else are we going to teach students how to live in and appreciate and contribute to a democratic society?
Build relationships with your students. Let them have opinions and disagreements and learn how to deal with those civilly and effectively. Also, let them see that it's ok to disagree with your colleagues and school leaders in a professional way - that you can agree to disagree or compromise and not go beat someone up just because you don't agree with their opinions.

Yes, we have to have organization, curriculum, rules, etc., but people should still be able to have opinions and choices and a voice.

National or local control?
A little of both - national standards with local control
We need to let communities and schools and teachers make decisions and have a voice while still maintaining high standards and achieving as a nation.