MAC Week 3 Classmate Comment #1 (Marquita Gulley)

Chapter Five taught me that you do not have to be the conductor of an orchestra to be a leader. I lead from my position now.  Everyone is a leader no matter what they do. Being a leader is not defined as your position or title but by what you do. By making a difference in my community, I am a leader. Being a leader is also letting someone else do the shining and not holding the spotlight for you.

Chapter 6 teaches one to relax and enjoy life. Do not take things so seriously. Reminds me of quote for a Batman movie that I recite often “Why so serious batman?” I know it is a crazy quote to remember but it reminds me so much of this chapter. So often we get caught up in things and ourselves that we forget to relax a little.  It is not always about the title you have or who sees you. It’s about relaxing and taking in what you can.

Chapter 7 teaches you to accept your mistakes.  Some things in life happen for reasons we cannot control. Sometimes it really just is “the way things are.” This chapter teaches you ways to cope and understand what is happening in life.  It reminds me of a book that helps you cope with losing someone.

Chapter 8 giving the way to passion makes you take a look at yourself and realize what you should change about yourself.  Look at your whole self and taking away the boundaries that keep you from everyone else.

MAC Week 3 Blog 1

Chapter 5 reminded us of a fundamental principle – there is no I in team.  Every member of a team has a significant and critical contribution that he presents to the overall project or goal.  Using the orchestra as method of demonstrating this principle, the chapter focused on the conductor as person in front that gets the recognition and blame, but each person playing an instrument is critical important to the piece being played correctly and beautifully.

“Lighten up, which may well light up those around you” is the liberating practice presented in chapter 6 of the book.  This very short phrase has a tremendous impact on me as an educator in a tested area in an high school environment as the pressure to have students perform at a certain level can sometimes cause undo stress that is easily transferred to our students.  This message was heard and received by me and others with whom I have shared it.

Chapter 7 helps us to assess the current situation in which we find ourselves, its impact and encourages us to focus intently on our next course of action based on the present circumstances.  This is a chapter full of wisdom for plotting a course for you life.

I often tell others to function professionally in a capacity which embodies that thing about which you are passionate.  Chapter 8 charges us with running face first into a dark room faithfully in the direction of our passion.  What an awesome charge!

MAC Week 2 Blog Post 2 - Leadership Project

After much conversation, contemplation and deliberation, I am choosing to submit my leadership project to a journal for publishing.  I have never submitted anything to any magazine, newspaper or journal for publishing in my professional or academic experience, so I find this task quite challenging.  However, I am a bit excited about the prospect of being published.  I am even more excited about learning the process by which one comes to have an article published as I'd like to explore the opportunity more after the culmination of my studies at Full Sail University.

MAC Week 2 Classmate Comment #2

Derek Gualandri shared:

As I sit down to read and embrace the book Art of Possibility, I find it to be very engaging, motivating, and right on queue for me in my life. The first four chapters related to me as if Zander had me in mind while he was writing this book.

It’s All Invented: Most of my life, I tend to worry about what others are saying and how they viewed me instead of painting my own self-portrait. I lived up to others expectations and did not hold myself to my expectations. At times, I am not sure that I expected much from myself. My parent’s expectations were not that unreachable either, and the goals they set for my brothers and myself were not that high. My parents just did not want us to get in trouble whether it was at school or by the cops. WOW ! What a high expectation my parents set. My mother whom was very educated with a degree from Michigan State grew up in a prestigious family where her father was an inventor who graduated from Harvard Business School. My father was an Italian who joins the Army yet was discharged for conduct unbecoming.  My mother was a florist who was great at what she did, the best in whole town. Her shop was named FLOWERS by HELEN.  My Father was a glassier, which often would drink on the job. This would be the demise of his occupation.  So mother worked all the time at the flower shop while raising 3 boys virtually on her own, while father would sit on a stool ordering Miller Lites one after another until he would drink himself to sleep. Most of the time he was asleep by 7 pm. He tried to be a good father yet had no idea what a good father was. His father died at a critical developmental stage of his life when he was only 16. A high school student with no father in the 1950’s in an Italian neighborhood on the outskirts of Chicago was a tough time to grow up without a great role model. No role model to teach him how to be a great father. The great moments fathers and sons have together were often missed because of his absents. For some reason he would drown his sorrows at the local watering hole. So, my mother and fathers expectations for their children were to graduate from high school and don’t get in serious trouble. Furthermore, I believe life happens for many reason! Many of my high school teachers and friends never thought that I would attend college and actually graduate from a four-year institution of learning, University of South Florida, let alone high school. So, I have re-invented myself, and decided to get educated with earning a B.A. degree in Criminology from USF. All my life I have wanted to live a little better then my folks lived. I did not want to struggle like they did. Even though we did not have lots of money we always had everything we need to survive the basic, food, shelter, clothes, and LOVE( a lot more from mother then father). With all that being said, I have re-invented whom I am, and I strive to be ME. Who am I, just ME? I am a fun, funny, caring, passionate, sensitive individual who just wants serenity while riding a soft tail down route 66 from Chicago to California.

no know copyrights restrictions the cubs are stepping in to the universe of possibilities.  they have not won a world series since 1908

Stepping into a Universe of Possibility: I totally agree with Zander about how we view things can lead to greater possibilities. I try to convey this to my students everyday. I tell them that we did not get to go to Toys R Us and pick our parents because our parents brought us in to this world. Our parents are usually the biggest influence in our lives. They model what they have learned and we as their child mimic the lessons they are teaching. So, I tell my students that you do not have to be limited to what your parents have taught you. You have a whole world of possibilities available to you with in your grasp, yet you have to reach for them. Zander states in the video Professor Bustillios had us view about success are accomplished with shinning eyes. Parents need to look in to the eyes of their children and see if they are projecting the right lessons to live by.  Many parents do not realize that their misery is producing misery for their children. My point is that if you want great thing to happen, you have to create great thing. Even though your parents were negative, doesn’t mean you have to be that way. Start to view the African natives without shoes as the possibility to introduce them to new ideas. Like the one salesmen sought the great possibility to sell them all shoes. The glass is half full instead of half empty, optimism at its best.

I, myself, stepped out over the forbidden edge with attempting to earn a Masters degree at an online Institution know as Full Sail University. Only 6 % of Americans have earned their masters and I will soon be part of that elite group. When I first started at Full Sail in 2008, I got through the first course with an A only to drop out of the second course because I did not have the knowledge, drive, or discipline to dredge through the horrible challenge that faced me. Also, the professor did not give us an A when we started which made me feel that I was not successful. Just a little Pun joke. Now I have had a tremendous journey through this elite program. I have been thoroughly engaged in each and every course. I owe a big thank you to a fellow student named Cassie Conners, who has inspired me to be better then I have ever imagined. She has been my rock through most of my EMDT experience. I thank her from the bottom of my heart. Thank you Cassie!

Giving an A: Giving Yourself an A. Before I attended Full Sail University, I have never ever really saw myself earning A’s in a masters program. I am one that gets frustrated if you do not engage me right away and I have to produce busy work projects that teach me nothing. I usually earned B’s and C’s in my course in college!  As I move through this journey and move closer and closer to the edge, I strive to be the best I can be. I deserve those A’s. I want to make a difference in the world. I want to be a better teacher. I comprehend the possibilities we have if we don’t get stuck inside the little box. Through most of my journey, I felt that my goals  to make it to month 11 were going to be filled with tremendous obstacles, yet I consistently saw the big picture. The end result. A Masters Diploma hanging on my office wall surrounded by a cherry frame. What a beautiful accomplishment hanging on My Wall of Fame. I kept telling myself that I could make it like the little train that could.  I just have to learn to manage my time correctly while  take one step at a time and everything else would work itself out. When I needed a boost, I would lean on my dear friend Cassie.  I love what Zander expressed to us about how you are viewed when you are given an A compared to having to be pressure to earn the A. How much more important we are as professional and how we view our self-portrait when we are told we will have an A.

Being a Contribution: I feel like I try to make a difference in my students and friends life everyday. I try to teach life’s little lesson to them in a way they understand. At school, I talk honestly to my students and tell them the truth about things as how I view them. I try not to sugar coat the situation or the lesson. I tell them honestly my opinions. I refer back to what I heard on the Oprah Winfrey show one day , She said, ”If you help enough people get what they need, you will get what you need.” I love that statement and try to live by that as well. I also tell them, "It takes a life time to build a reputation, and 5 minutes to blow it all up.”  I let them know on how to deal with people effectively is all in how you say thing yet not what you say. I feel like some of my little darling students are getting the point or message I am trying to convey to them. Some of my students over the years have told me that I should be a motivation speaker and will you please share some more life’s lessons with us. Many have said that I inspire them to be a better person to themselves their family, and their teachers. My goal is that one-day that I can inspire many young people to see the big picture and guide them to be a great contributor in their community and their world. 

MAC Week 2 Classmate Comment #1

Marquita Gulley shared:

Welcome Back!! In week 2 I will be shedding some light on a book titled: "The Art of Possibility". This is a wonderful book!! Enjoy!!

The first chapter of the Art of possibility speaks of reaching an understanding in the sequence of: first, our sense bring us selective information about what is out there; second, the brain constructs its own simulation of the sensations; and only then, third, do we have our first conscious experience of our milieu. It gives great analogies of how our senses work and of the brain as a map. It also relates how we perceive things in the world and how the brain translates it.

Chapter two challenges you to think of your path in the world and struggles that you may have or have not yet overcome.  The world is all about surviving and making it through another day.  We have to be able to judge when, where, and how we measure the situations and people that we encounter.  An interesting point in the reading states: “We grow up in a world of measurement, and in this world, we get to know each other and things by measuring them, and by comparing and contrasting them”. This statement reminds me of how we judge each other on their socioeconomic statues or by skin color, etc.  It is important that we look inside of each other than the outside.  This chapter teaches us about looking at the world as if everything is possible and taking a chance.  We should be grateful for the good and the bad things that we encounter in life.

Chapter three is one that I can really relate too.  I agree that one cannot be measured simply by a grade.  The grade you receive does not always reflect on the work or time and effort that you have put into that assignment.  Getting a 75 in science does not indicate that I have done all of my homework and class work. Maybe I am a horrible test taker and that is why I am having these low scores. I really like the concept of giving an “A”.  The concept of giving an “A” is not an expectation to live up to, but a possibility to live into.   Having the students write about why they deserved an “A” even before they had to do any work was a great way to get students to realize their self-worth.  We are not the grade that we make. If I make a “D’, that is does not represent me.  Beyond that “D” I could be something much more or greater.  Words are what bother our students. If you speak negativity then that is what you will receive.  If you speak of excellence, than that is what you will get. 

Chapter four presents the struggles of acceptance.  It is about finding the achievement in everything you do without comparing yourself to the success of others. Realizing that you as a person contribute to the world. Being generous to other will encourage them to be generous to someone else. Teaching other to contribute will make them feel better about everything they do.

I hope that you have enjoyed following my light!! Shine On!!

MAC Week 2 Blog Post 1

The book The Art of Possibility has thus far been thought provoking.  The first chapter which discusses how one's perception is critically important.  The book discusses a scenario at the inception of the chapter about two journalist that respond to a question regarding shoes.  One journalist had an optimistic outlook with reference to a specific areas marketing and sales opportunities for shoes.  This reminded me of the infamous the cup is half empty or half full scenario where one determines a person's level of optimism.  However, at the end of the chapter, the author suggests that we can "invent" a new perspective our outlook for oneself.

The second chapter builds on the first by expounding the way the scenario could have changed if the new invention is access and nurtured.  It challenges the reader to question himself in a way that manifests their thinking as the driving force to their outcomes on a grand scale.

The third chapter speaks to looking at individual achievement and accomplishments as just that - individual.  Often we compare ourselves of others to an established norm.  Socially, we compare people to each other in many areas such as physical appearance, measures of financial success and the like.

The final chapter was quite interesting and one that could be immediately internalized.  The chapter suggested that we gauge our success every day by the contribution we made as if we, ourselves, are the gift to our world every day.  I love this philosophy as it has been my own for many years.

Overall, I enjoyed the reading because of its applications in my professional environment.  If I can get others - particularly my students - to change their perception and their paradigm, it can greatly impact their overall performance in my class and in their academic career as a whole.  However, for that to be a successful endeavor, I have to openly start them all at an A with an expectation of them performing at a higher level than they ever have or ever thought possible.

MAC Week 1 Leadership Post

A leader is one who sees more than others see, who sees farther than others see, and who sees before others see.

- Leroy Eimes

When asked to contemplate a person who personifies leadership, I tend to think of persons who embodies qualities such as strength, vision, and organization, that develops and implements a plan focused on a purpose that he/she successfully implements.  In lieu of the fact that I am passionate about changing the course of the lives of young people and exposing them to opportunities beyond that of their current experience, the leader for whom I have a deep respect is Jack Perry.  Mr. Perry is the founder and leader of Prestige Academy, an all-boys, inner-city charter school servicing students in grades 5-8 in Wilmington, DE.  He saw a need in the Wilmington, DE area as many of our students are not passing the state tests in reading and math.  Specifically, at the time of the application, approximately 50% of young men in grade 5 and 55% of young men in grade 8 were failing to meet the standard.  The school's mission was to create a highly structured environment that would support academic achievement of its students.  He recruited teachers that bought into the philosophy of an extended school day (8am - 5:30 pm) and an extended school year (11 months).  He has a very professional, dedicated team of educators who have indeed done so.  He then had to launch a marketing plan that would successfully draw applicants for the school.  That was successfully done.  He had to require 100% parental involvement and monitor that involvement during the course of the year.  That has thus far been successful.  And ultimately, he needed to work diligently with all involved parties to create a learning environment where young men could be successfully both within the building and without (on standardized tests).  That has been and continues to be accomplished.  As an educator who would like to start a similar school, I have nothing but the highest regard for Mr. Jack Perry for his visionary leadership at Prestige Charter School.  

Information about the school can be found at http://www.prestigeacademycs.org/.

MAC Week 1 Classmate Comment # 2

Gail Mebane

The reading material for week one in the Media Asset Creation class was extremely thought provoking.  Mastering the rudiments of copyright law is essential for teachers because we need to know how to create and share media that often includes examples from communal sources. Copyright law, though necessary to protect intellectual property, presents a problematic scenario when coupled with the need to pass on culture and social issues through media.   The definition of copyright is the exclusive legal right to reproduce, publish, sell, or distribute the matter and form of something (Webster).  Getting an understanding of what cannot be copyrighted is also important.  Things such as, titles, names, short phrases, improvisations, unrecorded songs and dances, and common property items cannot be copyrighted.  In addition, ideas cannot be copyrighted; however, the forms that the ideas take can be copyrighted, including: books, photographs, musical compositions, works of art, computer software, architectural designs, plays, films, movies and dance.  The historical context of copyright provides an interesting look at the progression of the law that was enacted to protect individuals and companies that produce original works.  Going from a few years to a lifetime plus 70 years or 100 years for a company has provided a great deal of private protection; however, it has also created a slow down on material to enter the public domain.   Therefore, gaining an understanding of 'Fair Use' principles and 'Creative Commons' use is essential for teachers.  This information will enable us to pass on information and build materials that may be  more compelling and engaging for our students through the thoughtful, fair use of copyrighted material.            Reference:    http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/copyright  

MAC Week 1 Classmate Comment # 1

Marquita Gulley


Let's talk about Copyright!!!

Let me start by saying thank you for following me. I am now going to shed some light on the world of Copyright.

Apparently there was a lot that I did not know about copyright.  One interesting thing that I have learned is what can not be have a copyright. I will share them with you. First, for all of our comedians/actors out there, you cannot copyright anything that you improv unless you can a video of it or you right it down and send it in. What I have learned it is all about the evidence with the whole copyright situation so it is imperative to ensure that you have proof of some kind whether it be video or written.  You also cannot copyright a dance unless you have a way to prove that you did the dance. Again, you need video of some sort.  Also, only the person that is the copyright owner can use the copyright product.  Then there is fair use. I knew nothing about fair use until now but it is something that you see everyday.  It is just showing that there are some loop wholes with copyright.  A portion of the copyright product can be use for the news, teaching, critical comments, etc.  But it all makes sense because how else would the news or commercials be able to show a video of product or something that occurred.  If you have ever needed a picture for an assignment or presentation and you did not know where to find one, try creative commons. All the artist ask is that you give them credit for using the product.  Creative commons is a great way to share and give individuals the tools they need to succeed.  While also allowing artist to continue to express themselves.

I hope that you have had happy readings, until the next light shines.!.!.!

MAC Week 1 Blog Post (Corrected)

My apologies as I got a little ahead of myself and did next week's blog post.  Below is this week's blog post discussing copyright.

The copyright information videos were most informative as I am familiar with the existence of copyright laws, but did not have a full understanding of the law.  The videos provided a wealth of information on this subject and aided me in my quest to better understand the topic.  The first set of videos was informative.  I found the video “Good Copy/Bad Copy” most intriguing, as I’ve been a fan of hip-hop music for over 30 years.  I also have an appreciation for all music from different genres.  I have witnessed the change in the trends in the music from that of the use of original beats to that of sampling music from prior artists.   This was always fascinating to me as I thought the new artists purchased the samples.  However, it was interesting to learn that initially, artists began sampling without giving credit or money to the original artists.

The second set of videos helped to understand the copyright laws cover books, plays, music, movies and plays, but not ideas.  I also learned about the 14-year limit on the copyright and then the release of those items to the public domain for fair use because “the public domain can make new ideas by exploring or using old ones (A Fairl(y) Use Tale).

I also understand that fairs use allows you to borrow a small amount to teach a lesson, news reporting, parody, or make critical comments. However, the nature of the work, the amount borrowed and the commercial impact (can’t change the original work’s value in the marketplace) had to be considered.

The Remix Culture was also an interesting video as it discussed how online videos were allowed to be used by referencing the Code of Best Practices for online videos.  The code stipulates clips can be used for commenting or critiquing, illustration or example, incidental use, cultural rescue, launching discussions or mashups.   The Eyes on the Fair Use of the Prize video saddened me. 

The last set of videos addressed Creative Commons, which allows anything with this type of license to be used with certain regulations, which are noted on the web.

·      Attribution – give credit for the work itself

·      Non-commercial – don’t make $ off it

·      Non-Derivative – can’t change it

·      Share Alike – can be used, manipulated and shared as long as the original creative commons limitations are used, the original owner gives permission and is compensated (if requested).

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