So I know it has been a while since I have blogged and I miss it. Things have been going well and auditions are over Thank god. I have great news!!! I have officially made it into NKU for Music Education and Music Theatre!!! And so far Otterbein for Music Education
But we are waiting on Otterbein for Music Theatre so we will see!
So in my technology for teachers class, the reason why I started this blog in the first place, we had group presentations that are helping see different class scenarios with different technologies. For example my group could only use one computer, while another group could use only a couple iPads.
The experience definitely made me open up my mind to the true possibilities of using technology in the classroom. I never thought you could develop a lesson just using a class with a few iPads but it went really well! I guess what I really am taking from all of these different scenarios, whether it is using the smart board, one computer, many computers, or iPads etc, I am taking with me to not be afraid to try different forms of technology.
Sure when someone says make a powerpoint for a class presentation, you think right away that you need to use one computer and one projector for it to go well.
Imagine trying to do it differently then the tradition of one computer and projector. Imagine put the powerpoint on multiple iPads for the students and allowing them to have the project hands on. Or if every student had their own laptop having them download the powerpoint and going through it for them selves. I always want to find a different way to get my ideas across and technology will help me do that. Who cares if one way is better then the other. We won't know until we try for ourselves and see what way is better for us individuals.
Keep teaching in different ways because each individual learns better through different ways. Some people are better at listening to your lecture with the one powerpoint to look at on the big screen. Some people though may be better flicking or clicking through the powerpoint on their own at their own pace. The ideas can go on but I always want to keep the learning process fresh. I would always want to be kept on my toes for a learning process, not expecting something routinely done. Such is the way of constructive learning.
Thank you to my fellow classmates who have given me the spark for this blog. Goodluck to the rest of your presentations and final projects.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are
Brushing my hair, do I look perfect?
I forgot what to do to fit the mold, yeah!
The more I try the less it's working, yeah
'Cause everything inside me screams
No, no, no, no, no...
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay.
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
But tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
There's nothing wrong with who you are!
Yes, no's, egos, fake shows, like WHOA!
Just go, and leave me alone!
Real talk, real life, good love, goodnight,
With a smile, that's my home!
That's my home, no...
No, no, no, no, no...
Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars!
Seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing,
It's okay not to be okay...
Sometimes it's hard to follow your heart.
Tears don't mean you're losing, everybody's bruising,
Just be true to who you are!
I will get to the chase... I did not make it into CCM again, and at first it really hurt me and this song has helped me through it. I would just like to walk through the words of this song and what they mean to me.
"...losing my mind on a tiny error"
It is so easy to look at yourself in the mirror after an audition, or after a rejection letter and tear at yourself trying to find one mistake or why you weren't good enough. You could have said the wrong word or could do one small thing from keeping your work 'perfect'.
"...I nearly left the real me on the shelf"
Again these auditions can frighten me and have me so worked up to nearly being something I am not. Sometimes its hard to remember your trying to share your passion instead of trying to impress someone that you are good enough.
I will get to the chorus last
"... I forgot what to do to fit the mold."
Forgetting or over thinking what it means to be normal, or even how to fit their standards...
"...the more I try the less it's working."
Auditioning for what seems a million chances and only sometimes seeming like getting nowhere more and more each time
"Yes, no's, egos, fake shows, like whoa"
Just some things that come with the struggle of being an artist more-so a musical theatre artist. I really like how she put "yes" as a singular and the "no's" as plural. Further reinforces 'the thousand no's before that one yes" Egos.. you pretty much have to have one in order to make it some are fake some are real just seeing what the world of art is composed of is like whoa.
"Real talk, real life, good love, good night.. with a smile, that's my home"
The real things in this life are the best and happiest things you can come back to (home) when facing the hurt of rejection. Knowing you can be the real you with someone you love and feel appreciated by the real things after trying to be 'loved' by those you are auditioning for.
and finally the chorus
I am a lover of the stars, and it is hard to see myself as a star sometimes. My favorite line of this song is
"Don't lose who you are in the blur of the stars"
Up to the point where I heard this song, stars have always had a positive connotation for me but in this song you can see the word in a different light. In trying to find my place among the 'stars' I have felt like I have almost lost myself. These 'stars' can blur your vision from all the cut-throat-catty-judgmental-rejecting things you will have to overcome along the way. The greater the struggle however, the greater the achievement, thus the brighter the star. No two stars are exactly the same, they don't burn the same. They are who they are, nobody else can be them. So in a sense in order to become a star you have to find your way with just being yourself.
"seeing is deceiving, dreaming is believing"
Seeing where these actors and performers are on stage is deceiving when you see how magical it is. There is so much it takes to get there. Dreaming and believing in yourself is what it will take to get there.
"...it's okay not to be okay"
A relieving line for me to listen to in this song. Comforting to know that yes you are allowed to be hurt and that we are human. We are allowed to have feelings
"..sometimes it hard to follow your heart"
Especially in any competitive field like the arts. It is so hard to think that something we can all enjoy can also cause so much pain to other people. Sometimes in order for a heart to be fulfilled another one is fallen in the process.
"Tears don't mean your losing, everybody's bruising.."
Again you are allowed to be hurt but more so this time tears can mean that you win too. To be in touch with your emotions and be able to let it out with a good cry is good instead of keeping it all in and building rage. You are not alone in hurting especially when it comes to Music theatre. People in this field do way more then sweat, cry, and even ignore the pain whether you are striving today as in artist or auditioning to become one.
"Just be true to who you are"
The simplest yet most effective saying in the song. You will always come out on top, no matter how many rejections or critiques or let downs, if you stay true to who you are. Staying true to who you are will help you make it in this world.
I would just like to say to that in the twilight of light and dark in this world, that while someone in this world succeeds, another person had that same dream and didn't get it. For these college auditions, just to give you a perspective, over 700 people have auditioned for CCM while only 20 people (at the most) will have there dreams come true. 680 or so will have to fail for those 20 to become something. Another college I am auditioning for has invited 250 or so to audition (myself being one) while only 4 of them will make it. I am a firm believer in everything happening for a reason but in order for these hundreds of people to find their place in this world, after putting so much faith and work into what they love (and some who feel they aren't meant to do anything else), they will have to be absolutely crushed and demolished by the idea that they weren't 'good enough' for some reason.
I wish the best of luck to those people and hope that this song helps those who are hurting from any kind of competitive field.
Like all stars too though, they don't shoot in the same direction or location
Do you ever say to yourself "man, I miss those days when we were kids and we would ride our bikes, play with action figures/barbie dolls, play hide and go seek or tag, or recess on the playground"? These days may not be the same for our future generation. Who knows? maybe the next gen would say something more along the lines of "man I miss those days when we were kids and we would get on the computer and not have to work as much or really talk to each other." Yeah it is a scary thought.
Of course that may be an exaggeration but I truly believe that as much as we use technology it can be as much as a curse as a gift. Should we really be bringing in technology to younger students some institutes that are thinking pre-school and elementary? Outside of the classroom will those younger students focus their time in solitude on the computer alone at home? Is our culture heading in that direction?
I wouldn't like to think so but I do think that the idea of that kind of future happening is possible unless we really are cautious now. I know I would like my someday-in-the-far-future-kid to say they had an awesome childhood full of play and having fun with friends. I know that is what I had.
I believe technology being used in the class room should be considered like a treat given once in a blue moon. Just like a movie day! If you told a younger class "hey its movie day!" They all get excited! What if we could do the same with technology day! Technology should not be a daily thing. I only say this directed towards elementary and lower students. They will have the rest of their lives to become technologically advanced why does it have to start now? We shouldn't be bringing the younger kids to our world but more like we should be getting back to the place where they are. What I mean by this is the imagination side. The creative side that doesn't involve a word document or an excel spreadsheet. The joy in life.
The way I see it is as simple as this.
The younger the student the less use of technology, therefore more interaction and true hands on learning.
The older the student the more use of technology, therefore not as much needed interaction and mastery from hands on learning.
Isn't that how most college courses kind of are? at least at the University of Cincinnati. It now seems like there is almost no interaction and all technology. Which I definitely disagree with, there should always be interaction and constructive learning in any classroom.
These younger students are learning a life skill that we are always learning and that we older students are taking for granted today. Learning how to communicate and associate with people. Today we mostly do so with words whether it is through text message or email. Don't take the innocence form the kids. I only really exaggerate this now because isn't it how it always happens? We simply think "Oh it's not doing any harm" when we shrug it off more and more and then it can grow more and more to no return almost.
I would like to offer a balance that as long as there is interaction between the students as well as the use of technology then that would be great! Things that include using a smart board or any other bigger touch screen device that all the students can participate in. Drawing and coloring on paper and sharing can be the same almost as coloring and drawing on an iPad application. Yes the mediums can change but not the methods and learning process.
Simply let the students learn from what life has to offer and each other, not from an electronic device. Don't take the 'magic' from technology take from the true magic you have to offer as a teacher or better yet a person to inspire someone's life. We as people inspire with passion, not machines.
It is weird for me to think that really in the end of writing on a blog, we are really writing for an audience. We write to pass on our experiences, relate with other people, and sometimes just to be random. With that said it may be tough for people to start to read your blog at first, especially if it is your first blog!
After commenting on a few other first time bloggers in the same boat as me, I have learned a few things. From commenting on Ashley Angeline's blog (http://justmythoughts66.blogspot.com/) that blogging is a realistic idea in the classroom as long as you consider the circumstances that include age and her idea was to have the students... "return a signed permission slip from parents. This way the parents also know what their child is doing. Also make sure that the child has an Internet slip. Many schools have parents sign these at the beginning of the year."
Now at first if I wanted to run a class with using blogs in the classroom I would not have thought of her idea but that is the wonder of blogging. I commented on her post by mentioning that there could be the challenge of the money gap among the students, her response was to keep the blogging within the student class room so that all the students had access to the computers and not just those who would be more capable outside of the classroom.
Thanks Ashley!
Another person who really helped me gain more from blogging is Megan Willman. She brings up her response to an article on age compared to technology use. The big message I took from her that I will definitely use in the future is "Quality over Quantity" She has made me think of the idea of dividing time evenly between technology as well as social interaction within the classroom. That is a very important idea. We don't have to use technology all of the time to reap the full benefits of what it has to offer in the classroom.
Thanks Megan!
http://megan-willman.blogspot.com/
Amelia Harrison also adds her thoughts to this same subject on her blog. While agreeing with us, she furthermore adds that there needs to be a balance between both social interaction and use of technology. She mentions that as long as the class has a healthy way of interacting with one another then technology "should not be a learning hinderance, but a privilege."
Check out the rest of Amelia's Blog!
http://ameliadharrison.blogspot.com/
Getting away from Education, I took a look at Briana Roesel's blog. She was asking for people to comment on how she could make her site better and encourage people to look at and comment on it more. I simply advised her to put more of herself in it. More of her story. I think one of the best things about blogging that I've learned is that we can challenge each other in so many ways. I know that if Briana Roesel gives us something more to relate to or something more personal, more deep, then I believe that people will more closely follow her blog and really take something from it and give back in return.
You've got it Briana!
http://brianaroesel.blogspot.com/
Reading other comments and commenting on other peoples blogs has really opened my eyes to what blogging can offer us. Of course it isn't the same as communicating in person, but sometimes I think it can be for the better. We can be shy in person, where as on a blog we could be more free to express our ideas and think upon them more. It is simply a different way of communication and sharing, and for me so far, a good one at that. I think I will continue to blog even after this class I am in is over.
As for bringing blogging into the classroom, well honestly I think that it depends on the class. I don't think I would feel comfortable blogging with students in elementary. I could definitely see it being better used in middle school onward. It is a nice idea to think about, but not one that is necessary. If the setting can allow me to use blogging then yes I would love to try it.
To me, constructivism is simply a more hands on experience of learning. It is taking an idea that is taught to us, and applying it into our everyday lives. In a sense we are 'constructing' our own version of what we learn.
I feel a simple example is as follows
there are four animals:
A fox
don't let him deceive you*
A Snake
A Wolf
And finally A Bear
through Objectivism (not constructivism) we learn that these animals rank on the food chain as follows
1. Snake is eaten by Fox
2. Fox eats snake, but is eaten by Wolf
3. Wolf eats Fox, but is eaten by Bear
4. Bear Eats all
Even more objectively
1. Snake < Fox
2. Snake < Fox < Wolf
3. Snake < Fox < Wolf < Bear
Most classrooms teach in this way. They simply state the facts that hardly give any student a challenge except for the obvious tedious one that is memorization. Call that statement bias, however I think it is even more bias for a majority of our schools to preach to students and have them memorize instead of apply newfound knowledge to their everyday life.
Those are the facts, HOWEVER...
Constructivism can further challenge someone to think outside of the box instead of simply relaying the facts
Now let's look at a Constructivism approach that can allow a different kind of learning
Same Criteria: Bear, Fox, Snake, and a Wolf
Now try to fit the pieces to these series of questions
1. The first animal that is eaten fears all!
2. This second animal fears none of the other animals therefore can eat all
3. The third animal eats many things that aren't number 2 or 4 but preferably eats the first animal
4. This fourth animal fears the second animal, but only when it is alone and can be stronger in groups
Which animals are which do you think and why? Consider sizes and their nature. Why would one be more or less afraid then the other? how does this effect the food chain or who eats who?
This type of teaching encourages a student to further do their own investigation whether it is based off of the world knowledge they have already obtained or encourages them to go out and find it. Not literally of course, we wouldn't want students going out and seeing bears to discover that they weren't actually number one but really number 2!!!
In this case we have learned that if there were a fifth animal it would be man that would not fear the bear
So there is my take on constructivism
It is a different way of teaching instead of preaching to a group and hope that they memorize every word you say and do it for a test
We are all different learners and I highly suggest and know that I will personally use constructivism in the classroom as opposed to lecturing
If you haven't guessed by now, I am obsessed with Shooting Stars
Now onto the words
I think some if not most of us live in fear of the future. The dream isn't to never be afraid, it is to not let fear control you.
If life shoots at you, whether it be bullets or stars, don't ever lose sight of who you are. I encourage you all to listen to Owl City's album "All Things Bright and Beautiful". A pretty sweet fusion of strong beats, galactic feel, electricity, and who can forget to mention the dynamic vocals of Adam.
It truly is once every blue moon where you can come across an album that not only do you enjoy EVERY song on the album, but it also seems to fit a soundtrack to your current place in life.
To be honest, this album has been helping me cope with a lot of uncertainty in my life. There is just something about it that is so optimistic. It has been helping me keep my head high with my uncertainty of college, taking classes, trying to make my life better all around whether its working out, prioritizing my time, helping my girlfriend, my parents with their troubles, upcoming auditions, seeing my friends, or simply being worthwhile in this lifetime.
There it is, pretty much all my stress in a nutshell. Not that it should concern you but I would like to use it as an example in that it is very easy for us to make what seems a never ending list of things that are stressful. I would just like to say that the best way, and I hope I even take my own words to mind, to deal with 'the list' is to simply focus the best you can on one thing at a time.
Step 1. Lay it all out!
- and I don't just mean have a endless flow of task streaming in your head, I mean write it down, no order necessary.
EX.
- colleges, taking classes, working out, prioritizing my time, helping my girlfriend, my parents with their troubles, upcoming auditions, seeing my friends, or simply being worthwhile in this lifetime.
Step 2. Condense it into a list.
- I think bullets are the best. Simplify your troubles into task so it can seem just as easy as a grocery list.
EX.
'The List'
- Colleges
- Classes
- Working out
- Prioritize time
- Girlfriend
- Parents
- Auditions
- Friends
- Making a difference
Your list may seem long or just as never ending but in this way it is definitely a lot easier to concentrate on each one at a time. Easier to develop a plan for them.
Step 3. Working out the details
- I like to think of each task like a chapter to your story, each of them is a title, now tell the story or what is the conflict and happy ending to the problem or task.
EX.
- College
I need to apply to colleges for Music Education, and Music Theatre. Colleges that I am interested in are NKU, CCM, BGSU, and Otterbein. To accomplish this I should create a college binder to keep all important information in and have a section for each college. I will go to each college's website to see their requirements to apply and attend there.
- Prioritize time
I have a lot to manage. I have school, work, voice lesson, and I teach dance for fun on the side
I can keep all of my dates, schedules, and specific times all in one place like a calendar or planner. I can write down my class schedules in a calendar from monday-friday. After that I will know when I am available for work. Work availability and school are done, now I can choose a free day to be able to do my voice lesson. Three down, now I know that the other free time if I have it by now, I can now teach dance and now have a full schedule.
or for those who like to SUPER CONDENSE follow this
- College
*College binder to keep info in
*CCM
*NKU
*BGSU
*Otterbein
I will not sit here and offer you a million different ways but those are two and I am still learning myself.
To make all of this simple, I'm trying to put all of your problems or what may seem like never ending into perspective. Into little achievable task that you can see and focus on one at a time.
I can assure you that if you do something that is to better you, or what you love then you will easily accomplish the last task I mentioned...
- Making a difference
What this world needs is people who are doing what THEY LOVE for their life. We are too full of people who are compromising their happiness for an easy way out. The ones who inspire are those who do what they do full heartedly.
"oh, but it's too hard"
SO WHAT!!! Nothing, I repeat, NOTHING in this life is worth having without having to work hard or try with everything in you to have it. Wake up each day knowing that you deserve what you love the most. Whether it is a job, a possession, a loved one, a child, a friend, your talent, whatever it is.
for me, it is music. I will never be able to fully reciprocate and explain what music is in my life. All I know among many other things is that it has had the power to make me sing above my parents arguing about divorce, it has lead me to sing for a thousand people for a memorial day parade, it has brought some of the most amazing people in my life now to me, it has lead me to my amazing girlfriend of two years now who I am going to marry without a doubt in the future, it has taught me to dance and sing my way through life every day and chance I can, it has been my escape from every day life, it is lifelong teacher for me to follow and teach me all I need to know for life and that is unconditional love and grace for everything in my life. That's not even an ounce of what it means to me.
To tie back to the beginning. I said that Owl City's album is helping me cope with my life because it is a gift from music that is always there for me and always has my back. It isn't any specific lyric, or beat, or melody, but rather a combination of them that is letting me close my eyes and float away from the stress and helping me take each step with ease.
Find that for you. What let's you close your eyes and say "I am home" where nobody can take you from.
at first glance a stubborn person would just look at your comment and say wow what a jerk
But you know what, Thank you
If my blog really is going to be something worthwhile it does need to rise above the everyday things we see online. I may not be revolutionary however I refuse to just be another puzzle piece that just fits into a picture of people who post the most idiotic statuses or simply reiterates information. I WANT TO BE THE PICTURE!
so Phineas I will rise to your challenge and be something worthwhile. Let me tell you my story if you care to come back and read and I will try not to bore you
I am undeclared because I was stubborn...
For those reading if you didn't know, Music Theatre and Music Education are very competitive college programs to get into. I was one of the millions who tried to audition. I made it into Northern Kentucky University for Music Theatre, but that wasn't enough for me.
My eyes were set on the big prize, CCM the legendary College Conservatory of Music. People from all over the world try and audition to get into that school. I said to myself that I didn't want to settle for NKU (Northern Kentucky University) and so I stubbornly brushed such an opportunity off and I risked it all to get into the big school
Obviously I didn't get in, and instead of using my time, as well as the most of my potential, I chose to attend UC as an undeclared student and try to familiarize myself with CCM and why I didn't get in. In retrospect I should have went to NKU and trained with them in theatre.
I've learned that it really doesn't matter where you are whether it is a college, job, or any setting. It is solely up to YOU to do great things. In my case, I don't need to go to such a reputable school such as CCM, when I could go to NKU with the same opportunities and realize my potential all the same. Those who disagree are simply giving a misleading excuse. I know I mislead myself back then with that excuse.
Don't ever be afraid to take an opportunity before you just because you are afraid that you will be 'settling'. It is one thing to go all out for a dream, but another to achieve that same dream through different possibilities. That is my advice to you
So here I am, in the same boat I was in about two years ago. I am auditioning again for both CCM as well as NKU. I have already been accepted into the Music Theatre program at NKU. Whether or not CCM accepts me this time around, I will know the right thing to do.
Welcome to my very first blog! but first, what is a blog?
- blog |bläg|
noun
a personal website or web page on which an individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. on a regular basis.
As the definition says, you can expect to see me record my thoughts and opinions on this page and hopefully grow to become something worthwhile! If someone were to ask me if I have ever blogged before I would say that I have based on the above definition. While it may not be as customizable or dressed up, I believe that Facebook, in a sense, is a form of blogging.
If not Facebook, then I believe that using Myspace is a lot like blogging. Myspace is just as customizable as this website if not more. Even though Myspace's intentions at first were not a blog website, I believe it has grown into that today. I used to have a Myspace, however I feel that Facebook is more professional if not more mature then Myspace.
It is ancient and will probably never be touched again but have a look
I have blogged before but I don't think I have labeled it as "blogging" until this point. If I had to give my own definition of it I believe it would be as simple as this
Ryan Hutcherson's Dictionary
Blog |blahg|
noun
A technologic journal or diary that can be enhanced with multimedia resources
Tell me your definition. What does this mean for you? I hope you have enjoyed my first declared blog and can relate for those who have experience with FB or myspace.
Try out my poll if you don't have the time to comment
