Collaboration - EDLD 5363 Week 3

I think sometimes people see working with a group or collaborating as a bad thing.  Sometimes it is, but sometimes you are smart enough or lucky enough to choose just the right people to work with on a project.

I haven't always been so lucky.  There was the group project in college where I worked with three or four guys I didn't really know.  It was a management class.  They decided it would be a great addition to our project to show clips from Full Metal Jacket.  (Yes, that movie - language and all!)  I didn't stand up for myself or the integrity of the group.  I learned a valuable lesson in that class.  Working with a group means you need to work as a group.  I didn't...I let those guys take over, and in the process did not earn their respect and lost a little of my own self-respect.  (This also caused me to always want to be in charge, but I am working on that issue!)

As a classroom teacher, I like to have my students work together on projects.  It frustrates me when I see one kid doing all of the work and the others just riding the coattails of that student.  Some of them don't care, but others understand that to create the best project, everyone needs to be at their best.  I like to sit back and watch as they navigate through group dynamics.  We talk about it some before the first group project, but watching them learn to work together makes me proud to be their teacher.  Some learn how to step back and let someone else lead.  Others learn how to step up and lead.  Some never learn and continue to take over or do nothing at all, but it's a process :)

Group dynamics...it's not easy when you have a bunch of leaders and no followers.  Isn't that what seems to happen?  The go-getters always want to work together, but then they don't know how to work together!  I am in charge of prom at my school.  I coordinate the fund-raising, work with the vendors and contract for the venue.  I also keep track of the receipts and expenses.  I am in charge of ordering supplies and shopping for items to use as decorations.  It's a lot of work.  I don't like to share the responsibilities, but over the years, I have had to learn how to be a leader and team player at the same time.  I have had to learn to step back and let others take over where they have a strength that I do not have.

Learning to work with a group or learning to collaborate is one of the best lessons I could ever teach my students.  Whether they go straight to work after high school or to college, at some point they will have to collaborate with others to accomplish a common goal.

With all of that being said, I am so grateful for my group for this group project!  I don't know how I got so lucky, but working with Scott January, Joseph Cantu, Lindsay Matlock, and James Coates has been an incredible experience so far.  James set up a shared Google drive and Scott created our shared document.  We have a group chat going in Facebook where we discuss the project and other life lessons.  We have used Google Hangout twice now to collaborate and discuss this project.  I wasn't sure at first how the roles would be divided among the group.  I tend to want to be in charge, but I have learned over the years to sit back and listen and watch before deciding what role I need to fill in the group.  Because I have such a great group, everything just fell into place.  It doesn't matter that we are separated by great distances, technology has brought us together.  It may sound cheesy (and believe me, our project has a lot of cheese), but I am so excited to work with this group!

I am copying part of our proposal for our group just as a teaser for the final project.

General Information
Name(s)	Becky Brandon, Joseph Cantu, James Coates, Scott January, Lindsay Matlock
Project title	“Signore Fractioneri vs The Denominator Pizza Pie”
Purpose	Our purpose is to educate fourth grade students on how to compare fractions.
Audience	Teachers, Students and Parents
Program length	Two minutes
Costumes	Regular school-appropriate clothing, Italian pizza chef attire
Sets	Group members’ kitchens
Props	Regular school materials, pepperoni pizza
Locations	Various group member locations
Crew
Director(s)	Scott January
Scriptwriter(s)	Becky Brandon, Joseph Cantu
Talent	James Coates, Joseph Cantu, actors from James, Scott and Lindsay’s families
Camera operator(s)	Scott January, Lindsay Matlock
Editor(s)	James Coates, Scott January

EDLD 5363 Week 2 - Tutorial Podcasts

This week's assignments were somewhat confusing - at least the instructions were.  Audacity is a great program, and I am glad it is free and easy to download.  I will be using it and learning more about it. 

I had no idea about Creative Commons, and I still need to read more and learn more about it.  Restricting use and giving credit is important with so much of your intellectual property on the Internet these days. 

Here are the two videos (podcast tutorials) I created this week.  Not the greatest, but they will have to do.  (Can you sense my enthusiasm about this week?)  Enjoy!

Personal Digital Story and Reflection

I haven't posted on my blog in quite a while.  I will go back at some point and add assignments from my last class. 

So far I have enjoyed working on the project for week 1 in EDLD 5363.  I must say, the assignment was somewhat cathartic, and I really did spend time reflecting on the decisions I have made and the reasons behind those decisions.  All in all, becoming an educator was the path I was always supposed to take...it just took me a while to figure that out. 

Technically speaking, I am struggling.  I don't get the little ins and outs of creating videos and even uploading to the blog or Google site.  I welcome help an advice from anyone when it comes to that.  :)

Here is my script.  I deviated a bit from it as I read and recorded it, but it is basically the same.

Life’s Decisions

(pictures/clipart of Texas A&M, Angelo State, Frank Phillips, UNT, WTAMU and ???)

When I graduated from Borger High School, I knew I wanted to go to college.  I knew I was going to go to college.  I even knew it would be paid for, but what was my goal?  Oh sure, I wanted to earn money – a lot of money – but how was I going to accomplish that?

(Clip art of engineering, picture of Dad, $$$)

I could be an engineer like my dad.  No – strike that – that includes math and science.

(Picture of mom with us)

My mom has a degree in Food and Nutrition, but she had always stayed home with us.  We were blessed that she could, but I didn’t want to do that either.

(Picture of College of Business – TAMU)

I know!  I will be a business major.  Marketing sounds good.  There’s the letter K in marketing and the letter k in Becky – ok that works.

(Pictures of AmeriCold)

Fast forward four years.  I have a job in Amarillo, Texas working for a warehousing and distribution company.  That’s marketing – at least it is one of the four P’s of marketing!  My dad is pressuring me to pursue an advanced degree.   Working on an MBA does not sound fun to me.

(Blank Screen)

Be a teacher.  (Repeat twice) Ah, that annoying voice in the back of my head is back.  I heard it once before at the beginning of my college career but ignored it.  I wanted to earn money and teachers do not make money! 

(Pictures of WTAMU)

So in 2000, I went to West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas and met with an advisor who helped me develop a deficiency plan and a time table to earn my teacher certification as a Secondary Business Composite teacher.   

(Picture of my Certificate)

I am so glad that the road I traveled and the decisions I made led me to Ferris, Texas.  I earned my ten year pen this year.  I have worked with and for some amazing people, but most importantly, I have taught and learned from the best kids in the world.  People often say they couldn’t teach high school and don’t know how I do it.  Some days I don’t know how I do it, but every day I know WHY I do it.

(Ferris pictures)

Here is the video...at least I hope this works.