Wk4: Wimba Post: Presentation Comments

My Comments to Cindy Price’s Presentation Project

"Wow! good job. Your 15 slides blow my 8 little slides away :)

I like the slide theme and pictures. I liked the cartoon.

I didn't see any speaker notes so come of the bullets and material in your slides didn't make sense because I didn't know what you wanted to say about them. For example, the graphs...I saw there were increases, but I don't know those assessments so I wasn't getting the full effect of your achievements.

A couple of the slides had ALOT of information on them. It would more well received to have less on the slide (highlights) and give the full information verbally, using speaker notes. (example: slides 10 and 14)

Also, with slide 10 and 14, the font is noticeably different. It is best to keep it consistent.

Also, instead of having the whole URL on your slides, use a key word in the text and create a hyperlink that you can just click on and that way the gobbledy-gook or those long URLs won't distract your audience.

Good Luck and thanks for the comments on my presentation.”

My Comments to Cheryl McGovern’s Presentation Project

“Good title

Need presenter notes, I don’t know what you want me to get out of some of the slides…for example: slide 11

Great pictures and great job in using them. You slide are to the point and consistent.

Your survey links didn’t work, Google said the documents weren’t there.

Good job and good luck J”

Comments from Cindy Price on my Presentation Project

“The slides were clear and concise. The pictures went along with the slide perfectly. You seemed to have included all aspects of your CBR project as well as the insertion of Schoology which we had learned in Month 10. Great addition!! The slide which were questions and answers was relevant and great way to add input from the target audience!

I was impressed with the slides and the speaker notes!

This was a presentation that the audience's attention will be held.

Once again, great job and good luck if you get to present this!”

Comments from Cheryl McGovern on my Presentation Project

“Your title is very catchy, and will make people sign up for your presentation based on the title alone. Good job.

Slide #2, 3, 4, and 6 you will need to check for your capital letters. There seems to be a lot of inconsistency throughout your presentation with the capital letters. You will want to make it uniform one way or the other.

Your speaker notes are very thorough. Good job. “

Wk4: Publishing_Leadership Project:

My plan for presenting my project involves two educational technology conferences. I initially wanted to apply for the Project Based Learning Conference or the National Art Education Association’s National Conference because my literature review and CBR project focused on art and project based learning projects to inspire motivation. However, these two conferences were closed to applications. I decided to turn to educational technology conferences because my ideas included a high amount of technology to supplement the lessons.

My first choice is the Society for Information Technology & Teacher Education (SITTE) whose next conference will be held in Austin, TX in 2012. Topics appropriate for this conference that coincide with my CBR include: Digital Storytelling, New Possibilities with Information Technologies, Arts & Interdisciplinary Education, English Education, and Teaching with Technology: Engaging Students through 21^st Century Learning. I chose this conference because it’s topics encompass my CBR project and I felt it was the best option available to share my work.

http://site.aace.org/conf/call.htm

My second choice is the Kentucky Society for Technology in Education (KYSTE) whose next conference will be March 7-9, 2012. This conference’s theme is “Connect, Collaborate, Change.” They are looking for presentations, which support technology as an education change agent, through connection and collaboration. I chose this conference because that is what I was trying to accomplish with my CBR was to use the knowledge I gained in the EMDT program and find a way to change and improve education to better engage and motivate students.

http://kyste.schoolwires.net/kyste/site/default.asp

Think Aloud 1

Think Aloud 2

Link to my Keynote Presentation

files.me.com/faberh/1sijbo.key.zip

Wk4: Think Out Loud: Where to Present

When I first looked at the list of possibilities for places to look into applying to present at, I was confused because they were all technology focused. Now, I wanted to go more Project Based Learning. So, I decided to research if there were any available conventions that had either an art-focused or project based learning-focus to the program. I did find a few, including: the Arts in Society Conference, National Art Education Association, Project Based Learning Conference. However, those conferences were currently not open for application for presenters. So, I took another look at the technology conferences. I noticed that it appeared each state had some kind of technology conference so I looked in to Oregon and Kentucky. Oregon's didn't say anything about presenters so I emailed and have yet to hear, Kentucky had one that was taking applications for presenters, so KySTE Conference will be one of the places I will be applying to. The other came from the list provided. The Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education seemed like the best fit for my presentation's focus. They had a wide variety of topics (as did the Kentucky conference).

I will say that in researching these conferences I did get pretty excited. Some I wanted to go present at and others I wished I had been able to attend as a teacher. I will say that some that surprised and concerned me was cost. I thought presenters got paid or at least didn't pay to present, yet some of the conferences I researched mentioned a fee (as high as 300 dollars). Plus there is the cost of traveling to where ever the conferences are...how do people do it. Who can afford that?

Wk4: Think Out Load: Presenting Dilemmas

So, it is not that I have never thought about doing workshops or presenting at conferences, in fact the vague, non-commital idea of it is exciting, but now that it is time to commit and find actual conferences to present at, I have lost all my confidence. I didn't know what I wanted to present, would educational professional even care to hear what I had to say or would they just criticize it? Then the fear that I am not "professional" enough to pull this kind of thing off. I don't talk in such a professional manner. I don't like to use words like "pedagogical."I don't think it helps get your point across. I know in workshops the presenters that talk a lot, with the big educational jargin words that made them seem self-important. As a teacher with little time and patience left after working, I just want to hear the idea in basic English...easier to understand...easier to implement because you have provided me specific examples (or time to make my own) and possibly materials for use right away, the better and more likely I will use it.

All this was running through my head as I was thinking about what I wanted teachers to know and to implement in their own classrooms. Then I remember... My main focus all this year has been Project-based learning, even my CBR reflected that. I finally knew I wanted to create a presentation that promoted PBL, using my CBR idea as the main platform. My CBR is simple in theory and can be used for any class or subject. It is easily tweaked and the phase 2 and 3 could become extensions. Within this presentation I would interject examples of PBL that can be included into the bigger project, or just on their own. The same goes with the advanced technology ideas we learned throughout this program.

Wk4: Classmate Response: Barbara

Wimba's have become frustrating for me because for some reason, even though my signal seems to be strong, the connection flutters and I hear every other word. This past week, I stayed on anyway, because I felt that half was better than nothing. I watch the archive as a back up, but there is nothing like the live session for getting in touch with the vibe of the course, professor and my peers.

This week was particularly important because we spoke about the abstract and final presentation for our AR project. I get intimidated when I have to write formally, and the more I know the better I feel. The abstract will be easy I think. But, I am scratching my head about the final presentation and the publishing! OMG, is it that time already? As I remarked in a prior post, I heard myself saying, "Oh no! I don't want to be published!"

I was kind of taken by surprise at the fear about this since I've knew about it from the beginning of the program, and have been working all along with publishing in mind - why all of a sudden do I feel like backing out? No reason, other than it's real now, and I am worried that I have not done enough, or well enough, yadda, yadda. So, this downward spiral thinking goes.

But, I see the genius in having us read Zanders now. I am sure we area ll going through similar thoughts and feelings and Zanders is so up beat, positive and so generous.

Thank you Full Sail for working this way to calm us down and feel confident into the course requirements. In fact, I have found the program tone exceptional in that regard. I value creativity and I have found another layer of my voice in this program because creativity is cherished here. Brava for EMDT, FullSail, and for all my peers! Brava!!!

I know what you mean. I am not looking to get published but I was very interested in doing workshops after finishing this program. Yet, when this assignment came up I was at a loss. I had no idea where to start. I stared at a blank Keynote presentation for 10 minutes just think " I don't know how to present to real professionals. I have only ever presented to teenagers" I had lost faith in my ideas and myself. It was silly really because I know I have great ideas, but after years of my ideas being shut down by my administration and made to feel less than professional, I realized how little confidence I had in myself to go out and really present my ideas to educational professionals.

After staring blankly for 10 minutes, I called a friend of mine up who has done tons of workshop presentations to professionals and he gave me some suggestions. Now, those suggestions didn't really pertain to what I had to present but it at least got my brain going. So I opened a word doc. and just started typing, freestyle, what I wanted other teachers to know. I began reflecting back on workshops I had attended at conventions and thought about what I liked and didn't like in a workshop. That is how I came up with what I have to share this week.

Wk4: Classmate Response: Richard

The Importance of a Good First Day of School

The first day of school is very important for teacher as well as their students, it sets the tone sometimes for the week to come and sometimes the entire school year. With everyone getting ready for school I thought it would be great to talk about, what is your favorite “first day” activity?

I must admit, I didn't miss the first day of school this year. Though, looking back on things I did before, I do miss the students. Now, I taught high school and most of the first day is spent going over rules and syllabi and such...But I usually saved time at the end for something fun that related to the class. For example, in debate, I had student give 2, 1-minute speeches (to get them used to speaking in front of people right away). The first speech was "Something I Love" and the other was "Something I hate" and usually they always have more fun with the hate speech. But it is a way to get to know the students and get them ready for the class.

In my drama classes, I start the year out with some fun improv games like Frog Toss (originally Ball Toss, but the ball deflated so I began using a stuffed frog) Where the students have to get used to thinking quickly. So we start out with a topic (ex: Movies) and we go through the alphabet randomly tossing the frog to someone in the circle. It always amazes how they can't even remember the alphabet let alone a movie title. This activity usually gives me a glimpse into the mentality of the students. If they are excited and into the game I can tell it will be a good class. If they are reluctant and don't even try I also get an idea as to how this class will go.

Wk 4: Reading post

Ch. 9:

Some things in life are better done in person

Enrolling: is not about forcing, cajoling, tricking, bargaining, pressuring, or guilt-tripping someone into doing something your way. Enrollment is the art and practice of generating a spark of possibility for others to share.

Hearing “NO”…I get what the book is saying about not taking a “NO” personally. But when you hear “NO” or worse, no reply at all, from so many, how does one not get discouraged?

Ch. 10:

Being the board sounds really good, in theory…kind of like Communism. I understand and can appreciate the concept of looking at a situation and finding your own responsibility in the matter. However, in terms of the car accident analogy, if that drunk driver had killed someone…like my child… all the rational, impartial, pride-free thinking in the world will not help. I think this particular chapter is asking a lot of the human species. It is asking use to take the emotion out of situations, what then is the point of living?

Ch. 11

The San Paolo story was very effective. I can see how that way of going about the situation would yield better results that yelling at the students, especially if you needed a good performance from them. The whole signing contracts is just a way for functions like that to easily kick you out. I can really get behind this way of thinking.

Wk 3: Comment Post: Sheri

“I am also in an environment focused on downward spiral thinking. Everyone around me discusses pay cuts, benefit cuts, issues with students, etc. It is very difficult not to fall into this trap. With the beginning of the school year looming, I have decided that I do not want to participate in this type of thinking.”

I know exactly what you mean, for being the person is in charge of motivating hundreds of students, teachers are some of the most negative people in the world when talking to each other. I knew teachers that I dreaded being around because that was all they would talk about…work and how bad things were. And though education is not in a great place right now and I may share some of the same opinions, this is not what I want to talk about ALL THE TIME! At one point in my teaching career I ate lunch in my classroom everyday because I didn’t want to get sucked into the complaining.

“I made a Rule No. 6 sign to hang in my classroom. Yesterday, I told my students the story about the two prime ministers and Rule No. 6. We proceeded to have a discussion on the benefits of Rule No. 6 in reference to creativity. Many students are nervous to take an art class. Past students told me they worry about their own artistic talent to the extent that they think they will not pass. I told students that I did not want them to worry about making mistakes since that is where you learn the most.”

I also loved this part in the book, the rule is so true! It is great that your are bringing into your classroom and using it to help them get over themselves and their fear in art. I ran into the same issue in Drama. At the beginning of the school year I had the intro drama students do Animal Totem dances, where they had to pick and animal and create an improved dance mimicking that animal. It was born as a way to get over stage fright. It is the most embarrassing thing they do all year, because yes…they all look stupid doing it…and I videotape it for extra stress…I tell them nothing will be as bad as this. I think I would change the name of this activity to the Rule No. 6 Dance…because the idea is still the same, get over yourself, who cares if you look stupid, everyone will look stupid, it is all meant in fun.

Wk 3: Comment Post: Cheryl

“the author asks us to think about putting Martin Luther King's "I have a dream" before every remark we make. Can you imagine? The last chapter was all about letting go. That is where this week's picture came from. We have to jump without worrying about every little thing to reach the highest and furthest that we can. I think of the movie "The Great Outdoors". We often forget that very simple command to let go. John Candy is water skiing and after giving his son lessons on safety and letting go of the rope if you get into a situation, he totally forgets this himself and his son is screaming for him to let go of the rope but he doesn't. I hope all of of us this week can let go of our ropes and travel further and accomplish more than we or anyone else could ever expect!”

I loved that part in the book when it said to put “I have a dream…” before every remark we make. I have a dream that I will find a job I enjoy and am respected! I have a dream I will move out of this small apartment being shared by two families! I have a dream that I can begin to dream again! Of course his dreams were not fulfilled in his lifetime, so I am not sure what that says about this exercise, but it feels good at the time.

I really liked your example of the water skiing and letting go of the rope. Sometimes when times are tough and you have exhausted all possibilities or at least the desire to conjure more up, you have to let go.

Wk 3: Wimba Blog Post

Thank you for the more detailed explanation of the abstract and the upcoming presentation. I think I am not going to be able to sharing during the Wimba sessions. I am babysitting my roommates kids (in addition to my own) and if it is like last night there is no way I will be able to get online. 4 kids under 6 is a lot of work! So I will post the URl to the google doc and recruit 2-3 classmates to comment on my presentation. If the night goes well and I can get on, I'd love to contribute, but because of uncertainties, I will go the alternate route.

Are there any suggestions for where to start looking for places to submit our presentation ideas for Month 12?

Is there a certain way the speaker notes need to be written if we decide to do a prezi?

When you mentioned Google Docs for the presentation, did you mean create the slide presentation in the google doc as an easier way to get a URL?

I figure to round out this week's Wimba blog, I'd comment to the questions you posted about the textbook.

How is the Art of Possibility different the Power of Positive Thinking/Oprah:

It is different in that it does not depend of “fate” to take you positive thoughts and make them reality, but rather it is a book to get you thinking about things in a different perspective and that can open doors and that feeling that there are always possibilities is freeing in itself.

My roommate is a big “Power of positive thinking” thinker, she won’t let me say negative thoughts around her. I always find this dumb because in the end, it isn’t because she “throws the positive thoughts out there” but rather the hard work she does to achieve things. Of course in life, even with hard you may still not get the outcomes you want. The flaw I find in that is that by always thinking positive and ignoring the negative possibilities, it is that much more depressing when whatever you were hoping for does not happen.The Art of Possibility doesn’t ignore the fact that roadblocks will happen, but it helps you get through them in a positive manner.

Which chapters meant the most to you and why:

Being a contribution…others chapter after that were equally motivating, but this one really got me into the book. The Rule No. 6 was an equally stand out chapter, because it addresses those negative attitudes.

Wk: 3 Reading Blog: Art of Possibilities

Chapter 5. Leading from Any Chair: We're all leaders. How can we make a difference in the people we influence each day? How do we listen to those who help us make our dreams become reality?

You need to ask yourself, “How can I make them engage” don’t ask “How great am I doing? How much greatness am I willing to give?” A leader listens to suggestions and can instill a sense of pride into those giving the suggestions.

Chapter 6. Rule Number 6: Don't take yourself so seriously. Life is a journey--enjoy and learn along the way. Live, laugh, and love!!

Rule Number 6: don’t take yourself so goddamn seriously. I love this line. I am reminded me of a time I was in an argument with someone. In a fit of rage, I threw a bag of un-husked corn on the cob at him. After that the fight was forgotten and laughter ensued at the absurdity of throwing a bag of corn!

Chapter 7. The Way Things Are: Sometimes settling for the way things are is a lowering of expectations, sometimes it’s finding a starting point so that one can make things better. Where are you in this continuum?

Downward Spiral Talk…rampant in Education. When I started teaching, I was full ideas and innovations, but in staff rooms and meetings my voice was drowned out by jaded, seasoned teachers complaing about this and that, until one day I found myself sucked into the Downward Spiral Talks. Of course it doesn’t help that our complaints and negative thoughts increased as working conditions decreased.

Chapter 8. Giving Way to Passion: Control says that the only way to avoid disappointment and frustration is to not care at all. No hits, no runs, but most importantly, no errors. What are you doing in your daily life that expresses your passion or the things you are passionate about?

I am passionate about art and nature. In the brief freedom of summer for my girls (before they go back to school and are sucked into a world mostly devoid of these things), I try to instill as much of these two high held passions as I can. This is one of the main reasons I chose Portland, OR to move to. This city is as passionate about art and nature as I am. I try to combine my passions, by teaching my kids that nature is full of art; nature is art. Finding and experiencing the beauty that is nature is experiencing art.

Wk 2: Comment 2: Bruce

Bruce:

I love the way you start out our post.

When I started reading this book, I found it hard to read and comprehend. The first two chapters read like a bunch of Fortune cookie fortunes all written together in a book. There were some profound statements, but as a whole I wasn’t getting it the big picture.

I had my doubts while reading chapter 3.

It wasn’t really until the 4^th chapter when the books purpose hit me, like a 2X4 in the head. Then the big picture of what the Zander’s wanted people to get began to shine through… The whole idea of playing the 2 games (succeed/failure and contribution) was a great metaphor that sums up my life, but a great solution for those who are perpetually on the success/failure track. I do wonder though, how does one cope with the notion that had not done anything to contribute that day?

Wk 2 Comment Blog: Christina

Christina:

You yoga reference brought a smile to my face. I did yoga for a little while before I realized it was not relaxing, rather it had the opposite effect on me. I tried so hard to do the poses right that I would get all tense and forget to breathe. Plus it was too quiet. I much preferred the elliptical machine and my iPod for zoning out and collecting my thoughts.

But I digress…

I agree with your statement about how grades are only a measure for comparing students to one another. But it also becomes their reward for doing a job well done. In my experience in high school, they are so conditioned to do work and received the grade and subsequently praise from teachers, peers, and parents. For some this is all the attention they get from others. For many of them, if you took the grade away, they wouldn’t do the work.

Wk 2: Art of Possibilities Ch 1-4

Chapter 1. It's All Invented: How can we think outside the box we live in? What assumptions are we making that we're not aware that we are making? What might we invent that would give us other choices?

Chapter 1 seems to be talking about perspectives and how those perspectives vary from person to person. To answer the question how we can think outside the box we live in, I think a person must first leave their box. To think outside the box calls for a person to look at a situation from different perspectives. You can look at something and get an initial opinion, but to think outside the box you have to but yourself in the place of other people. But in order to look at a situation from another’s perspective, you need to have empathy and understanding of other people, opinions, situations, beliefs, etc… This opinion is demonstrated by the example in the text about the Me’en People who did not understand the purpose of a photograph. They did not have enough experience to understand the purpose from other’s perspectives. When it comes to assumptions, the books example of how even in science we sometimes have to look beyond the current “truth” and look at it from a different perspective to arrive at an all new truth.

When I read the practice questions, my thoughts ran to the people in my apartment complex. The assumptions I am making right now about these people revolve around how uneducated, unrefined, and selfish these people are for how little they care about their neighbors, their complex, and their own apartments. Yet, if I look beyond the fact they were particularly loud tonight, they are probably the same as anyone one else in any other neighborhood. Their habits main just seem worse because we leave so much closer than, say people who have their own homes.

Chapter 2. Stepping into a Universe of Possibility: We live in a world of measurements. The Zanders recommend that when we look at how different things appear we can see them as possibilities. How are your thoughts and actions a reflection of the measurement world?

My thoughts and actions, lately, seem to resemble a choose-your-own-adventure book. This past year, I had to measure my life and my career. I hated my job and where I lived; I wanted out. But, I had to measure the possible outcomes if I quit my job and moved away. I had limited money and no job lined up and no health insurance. The other addition to this equation was that I was single with 2 young kids. So I had to weight the positive and negative impacts of staying or going. Staying meant security with misery and more limited possibilities and leaving meant a whole world of possibilities. A bigger city with more art, culture, and career options, as well as a community with quite different perspectives than my old town could mean more success than I was finding back in Florida or it could wind up being an epic failure. Since choosing to move, and losing my security and giving up the life I hated (but was fairly set and predictable) I don’t know what the future holds, whether it be a year from now or even a week from now. Every new development forces me to measure the good verses the bad. I try to hypothesis possible outcomes of what would happen if I chose this way or that. For me, right now, all my options seem to be like Robert Frost’s less taken road.

Chapter 3. Giving an A: Giving Yourself an A.

The concept of giving student an A right from the start is intriguing and makes sense in certain circumstances, however, in reality the average student in an average public school would do absolutely nothing when told they had already received an A. The students in the example in the text wanted to be in that class and wanted to improve.

I can see how taking the anxiety out of assignments by giving A’s could increase student thought, but what about those that don’t care?

Chapter 4. Being a Contribution: Over the years, I’ve observed how people handle various situations in their lives. People who succeed do not have fewer problems than people who fail. It is how they perceive issues and how they react to situations that makes a difference. The purpose of this chapter was to help us look at how we can contribute in order to make a difference in the lives of others even if it’s only one person. How will I be a contribution today?

I loved this chapter! I have never been one who was on the competitive ladder of success and failure. As I have embarked on my new personal journey across the country in search of a new start, I am not looking for success in money or material possessions. I want to make a difference, a contribution, to my community. That is all I have ever wanted to do. That was why I got into this program. That is why I focus on the passions I do. I want to contribute by enhancing local communities and help bring the together. I loved this chapter because it put a name to what I have been doing most of my life. It is hard to be contributor in a success/failure world.

Wk 2: Wimba Archive Blog

In watching the Wimba archive tonight, I am curious about the way YouTube handles the copyright infringement when random people create videos and use copyrighted music in them. I know before they would just take the sound out of your video, but recently I have noticed that they let you keep the music, but add a link to purchase the song from iTunes. I think that is a pretty fair alternative...but I creeps me out how YouTube can identify so quickly the music in a video.

When you were all discussion about the percentage amount of what constitutes "small amount" I got to wondering why the powers that be have not gone ahead and changed that to a more concrete amount to avoid ambiguity. As it is, I don't see how anyone can get into trouble with that vague of a law.

I would like to note that I was having issues with downloading my ebook also, but was finally able to get it this evening. I must say MBS has some very nice support staff!

Thank you Richard for bringing up the graduation. I was wondering about that since I need to get a flight soon. Are we all automatically signed up to be at the graduation? Do we have to let someone know we are planning on being there? I am assuming we need a robe and hat and such, how do we know what to get and where do we get it? I haven't have to be in a graduation for quite some time!

Wk1: Blog Comment #2: Helen Xiong

Watching these videos fall one into another and how people around the world are so creative is amazing. Isn't that what we want our children and learners to grow into? Working, intelligent, and creative leaders of our future? But to also think about how if they are to try these things to be caught by this copyright law is frightening. Everyone needs to be more aware of the use of fair use and everyone, including myself, needs to be understand the use of copyrighted material.

You are right that in this day and age people have to be more careful, but is it right...should we have to be "AFRAID" to be creative. Something about that just seems terribly wrong. I think copyright laws have gotten out of hand and there should be a huge overhaul done to the laws. This should especially be done now that we have the internet and people have so much more access to copyrighted things that inspire their own creativity. There is a difference between people downloading music illegally just to listen to it, it is another thing to take someone's creative idea and build onto it, changing it, improving it.

Reading about how numbers were produced by researchers about how many billions of dollars and thousands of jobs were lost in the U.S. due to people illegally downloading and etc...I must agree with the article posted that it can't all be true...maybe not the U.S. but other countries have been doing this for centuries before it hit big in the U.S. I talked to my parents tonight about this and they can remember their childhoods filled with these streets of illegal vendors sellings of cd's and dvd's.

This present another delemma, copyright laws are only affecting those in the US, when the bigger problem is overseas. Why punish ourselves and squash our creativity while the rest of the world can get away with it?

Wk1: Blog Comment: Marcos Alvarez

@ Marcos

I am curious what you think of all this information on copyright law. I know I didn't think much of it (except to avoid stealing it) before watching this week's videos. However, after watching the video on what the copyright laws are doing to works that affect our history, I am disgusted. It just isn't right for that information of our country's past (good or bad) to be locked away and people wither forgetting about or never learning about it. This is what cause history to repeat itself.

For this week we had to watch some videos and read an article on the Obama picture of Hope. The first topic that we were presented with was copyright. This applies to everything that is produced whether it be books, plays, films, movies, dance and music. The copyright license lasts for the lifetime of its creator plus and additional 70 years. If it is a company owned copyright it lasts for 100 years. Because this is such a long time, the Faire Use concept entered into the picture. This brings us to the second topic of this week. Fair Use was developed so that material that is copyrighted can be used to a certain extent. It states that any copyrighted material can be used under four specific purposes. These are teaching, news report, parody and critical comment. This is not a right a person has but it can be utilized as a defensible position when and if a person is sued in court. The only conditions that are applied to fair use are that it be used under one o the four purposes previously stated, that the amount used is relatively short in comparison to the total, and that it have a commercial effect. This produces an outlet for creativity but it is flimsy at best since these parameters are not defined in specific terms and are open to interpretation. For this purpose Creative Commons, the third topic, was created. Creative Commons is a site in the Internet where you can publish whatever you want and you as the artist can define the parameters that will determine what can and cannot be done with your creation. They give the artist four option that they can apply to whatever they upload. The first option is Attribution, where if anybody wishes to use it they have to give credit to the artist. The second option is Non-Commercial, where the person can use it as long as they do not make a profit off of it. The third is No Derivates, which means that the creation has to remain exactly the same. Finally they have Share Alike, which states that you can make changes to the work but you have to keep the same options as the original artist.

Wk 1: Wimba Archive Comments

Thank you for the lit review explination. I am a little confused about something you said in wimba and something you posted in an email you sent recently. In Wimba I thought I heard you say we were to double space between paragraph, but in the email it said "no additional lines between paragraphs." I am just looking for a clarification on that.

I also have another question after hearing about the publishing/leadership project that we are "sharing" in week for. I am looking for more details on the timing of that "presentation." I am 3 hours ahead so when you all present at normal Wimba it will close around 5Pm here (dinner time) for my kids and I. By any chance will the times to do this vary greatly so that I could do it at 8PM my time when my kids go to bed? If not, I will have to get my kids a sitter and have to ask my roommate to take her kids and leave the apartment so there won't be 4 little kids under 6 running around screaming while I am trying to present.

Week One Videos: Copyright Laws: One Viewpoint

The video “Fair Use Fairy Tale” was an accurate and creative way to relay the copyright information in an extremely relevant set-up. I will admit, I was shocked that a copyright now last a creator’s lifetime plus 70 years. I don’t see how the extra 70 years is relevant, the creator is dead; the family of the creator should not ride the creator’s coattails just to milk out more money. The lat I new, or thought I knew, copyrights last 75 years or the life of the creator. I used to agree with this when I learned about JD Salinger (wrote Catch in the Rye). He virtually vanished from society to escape the having to be hound by media to create a movie to his classic. He felt it would ruin the integrity of the book. However now days, I think media giants and influential “powers that be” have bastardized the original intent of the purpose of copyrights.

I think it is great that independent documentarians have stood up and created the “Best Practices in Fair Use” manual. What I don’t understand is why don’t people take more of a stand. If lawmakers can move the copyright length back to a lifetime plus 70 years, then with enough protest and civil disobedience it could be brought back to a more reasonable amount of time. I was particularly shocked by the video “Eye on the Fair Use of the Prize.” I think it is horrible and should be downright illegal for people to “lock away” our true history. It is truly a conspiracy of those in power to manipulate citizens (particularly young people that don’t have a reference) to make their political agendas reality. I find what was portrayed in that video to represent media using copyright laws to whitewash our history through lies of omission. I want to go beyond just “following the rules and sneaking around with Fair Use” people need to stand up and change these laws back to the people and not for profit makers.

I understand why copyright was put into place, to protect artists and creators, but like everything in America, copyright goes beyond protection…it has become a way for corporations to make ungodly amounts of money and greedily keep art to themselves that they really don’t appreciate anyways and the common man gets screwed. Art is not about money, art is about expression and that should not have a price (or a copyright). Fear of copyright infringement kills creativity. The idea of Creative Commons is a cool idea for getting the focus on art back on creativity, but when the video mentioned how the Internet made it so anyone could participate without asking permission. I must ask, why is that bad? It is everyday people taking back some kind of rights that laws and lawyers and corporations have striped away. These greedy people took copyright laws to the selfish, money-hungry place it has become and the Internet is the average person’s way of expressing their creativity and to fight back.