Comments for ESPrit de Corps http://www.espartsed.org/blog Blogging, in and through the Arts Wed, 19 Nov 2008 04:00:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 Comment on Check out these online video resources! by Phil http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/09/check-out-these-online-video-resources/#comment-641 Phil Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:12:24 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/09/check-out-these-online-video-resources/#comment-641 Thanks for all the effort of putting those videos on the website, Elizabeth. Watching and listening to the videos of the student performers as they answered the audience's question was both entertaining and exciting. Here are a few of my favorite moments: Hearing the rappers talk about their process (and how they got their stage names, especially "Sassy"), hearing the student actors talk about their feelings toward the characters (Was Richard III really a "smooth cat"!? ) Hearing the student dancers talk about how they accept the discipline to develop a finished work. I hope many people view these videos, as I think students' voices can be powerful, whether used for evaluation or advocacy purposes. Please let us know what you think of the videos, and how they might be used. Thanks for all the effort of putting those videos on the website, Elizabeth.

Watching and listening to the videos of the student performers as they answered the audience’s question was both entertaining and exciting. Here are a few of my favorite moments:

Hearing the rappers talk about their process (and how they got their stage names, especially “Sassy”),

hearing the student actors talk about their feelings toward the characters (Was Richard III really a “smooth cat”!? )

Hearing the student dancers talk about how they accept the discipline to develop a finished work.

I hope many people view these videos, as I think students’ voices can be powerful, whether used for evaluation or advocacy purposes.

Please let us know what you think of the videos, and how they might be used.

]]> Comment on Welcome to Summer Seminar! by Laura Reeder http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/07/welcome-to-summer-seminar/#comment-424 Laura Reeder Tue, 15 Jul 2008 20:24:46 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/07/welcome-to-summer-seminar/#comment-424 Responsiveness is one of the central activities of the week here. We have established a group (finding one's own) voice through our daily practice together. SO now, the critical question: Why should we document this element of our work? What will the benefits be? Responsiveness is one of the central activities of the week here. We have established a group (finding one’s own) voice through our daily practice together.

SO now, the critical question: Why should we document this element of our work? What will the benefits be?

]]> Comment on Welcome to Summer Seminar! by Pamm http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/07/welcome-to-summer-seminar/#comment-423 Pamm Tue, 15 Jul 2008 13:12:56 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/07/welcome-to-summer-seminar/#comment-423 This is my first time at summer institute. The experience has so far been exhilarating and extremely informative. I am re-learning quite a bit. I find that I feel re-energized to return to the classroom with new ideas, tools, and confidence that I can contribute to the effective education of children. I am also happy to hear all the talk about habits of mind. It is a subject that takes my memory back to my undergraduate studies. Education philosophy and pedagogy were prerequisites in my field of study - Early Childhood Education. I see that the philosophies of several education pioneers are returning to the forefront of teaching. It is long overdue! I definitely see that in this twenty-first century it is highly important to consider different ways of learning and teaching that reflect not just the individual learner but also reflects the many changes around the globe, the ever-increasing amount of information, advancing technology, new sciences, changing family life, societal roles, etc. This is a new world that we find ourselves in. There MUST be a change in our educational systems. There must be a change in decision-making, a change in our ethics and morality. There must be a change in our "Habits of Mind". This is my first time at summer institute. The experience has so far been exhilarating and extremely informative. I am re-learning quite a bit. I find that I feel re-energized to return to the classroom with new ideas, tools, and confidence that I can contribute to the effective education of children. I am also happy to hear all the talk about habits of mind. It is a subject that takes my memory back to my undergraduate studies. Education philosophy and pedagogy were prerequisites in my field of study - Early Childhood Education. I see that the philosophies of several education pioneers are returning to the forefront of teaching. It is long overdue! I definitely see that in this twenty-first century it is highly important to consider different ways of learning and teaching that reflect not just the individual learner but also reflects the many changes around the globe, the ever-increasing amount of information, advancing technology, new sciences, changing family life, societal roles, etc. This is a new world that we find ourselves in. There MUST be a change in our educational systems. There must be a change in decision-making, a change in our ethics and morality. There must be a change in our “Habits of Mind”.

]]> Comment on It’s Not You. It’s Me. by Clayton Evans http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/07/its-not-you-its-me/#comment-415 Clayton Evans Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:41:44 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/07/its-not-you-its-me/#comment-415 Alan, Though I have not completed "Habits of Mind" (and have yet to understand how the authors interpret "responding with wonderment and awe"), your blog entry makes me respond to you in such a way. You have inspired me with your clarity of voice and an issue I can relate to--the creative and endless persuit to refine our practice as artists, as educators and as human beings. Thank you. Alan,
Though I have not completed “Habits of Mind” (and have yet to understand how the authors interpret “responding with wonderment and awe”), your blog entry makes me respond to you in such a way. You have inspired me with your clarity of voice and an issue I can relate to–the creative and endless persuit to refine our practice as artists, as educators and as human beings. Thank you.

]]> Comment on The Beating of the Drum - Arts and Community by Alan http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/the-beating-of-the-drum-arts-and-community/#comment-414 Alan Sun, 13 Jul 2008 02:05:48 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/the-beating-of-the-drum-arts-and-community/#comment-414 Brilliant! Genius! Where'd you find this guy?! Brilliant! Genius! Where’d you find this guy?!

]]> Comment on Learning self and Critical self by Carolynn http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/learning-self-and-critical-self/#comment-403 Carolynn Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:57:49 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/learning-self-and-critical-self/#comment-403 With younger children, there are ways to encourage them to be happy as either the "seeker" or the "expert". As part of the setting up of the classroom culture, a teacher can actually encourage the children to be excited by the possibility of learning something new, by demonstrating the "keen to learn" attitude. The teacher must demonstrate to the students that there are things that he/she doesn't now .... that they do know. (computer skills, culture etc.) Allowing the children to be the "Expert" and do the teaching is a great way to boost confidence. If every student is given the opportunity to be the teacher, then they are more likely to feel comfortable with not knowing and needing to ask questions. It is important to teach children that the most successful people in life don't know everything. They are people who aren't afraid to ask questions and search out the experts who do know. With younger children, there are ways to encourage them to be happy as either the “seeker” or the “expert”. As part of the setting up of the classroom culture, a teacher can actually encourage the children to be excited by the possibility of learning something new, by demonstrating the “keen to learn” attitude. The teacher must demonstrate to the students that there are things that he/she doesn’t now …. that they do know. (computer skills, culture etc.) Allowing the children to be the “Expert” and do the teaching is a great way to boost confidence. If every student is given the opportunity to be the teacher, then they are more likely to feel comfortable with not knowing and needing to ask questions. It is important to teach children that the most successful people in life don’t know everything. They are people who aren’t afraid to ask questions and search out the experts who do know.

]]> Comment on Learning self and Critical self by Phil http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/learning-self-and-critical-self/#comment-363 Phil Wed, 18 Jun 2008 18:10:04 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/learning-self-and-critical-self/#comment-363 Arnold's comments make me think of zen koans, those "imponderable riddles" that are supposed to help one achieve enlightenment. It's partially about comfort with not knowing, and it's partially about allowing answers to generate from a new, more intuitive process. I agree that human nature leads us to finding solutions whenever possible, and sometimes the solution is not about finding the answer to a question; sometimes the solution is knowing that others share your own question. Hmmm.. analogous to Peer to Peer, perhaps? Arnold’s comments make me think of zen koans, those “imponderable riddles” that are supposed to help one achieve enlightenment.

It’s partially about comfort with not knowing, and it’s partially about allowing answers to generate from a new, more intuitive process.

I agree that human nature leads us to finding solutions whenever possible, and sometimes the solution is not about finding the answer to a question; sometimes the solution is knowing that others share your own question. Hmmm.. analogous to Peer to Peer, perhaps?

]]> Comment on Learning self and Critical self by Arnold Aprill http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/learning-self-and-critical-self/#comment-362 Arnold Aprill Wed, 18 Jun 2008 16:46:51 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/06/learning-self-and-critical-self/#comment-362 Comfort with "not knowing" is learned. One approach is to collectively practice asking questions: gather a group and give the challenge of asking and sharing questions that we don't have the answers to. The parts of ourselves that want to "do it right" becomes useful - generating more and more open ended questions. The questions, once shared, stimulate other questions. Comfort with “not knowing” is learned. One approach is to collectively practice asking questions:
gather a group and give the challenge of asking and sharing questions that we don’t have the answers to. The parts of ourselves that want to “do it right” becomes useful - generating more and more open ended questions. The questions, once shared, stimulate other questions.

]]> Comment on It All Seems So Limitless by Jean-Marie (Flack) http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/01/it-all-seems-so-limitless/#comment-271 Jean-Marie (Flack) Wed, 28 May 2008 01:46:47 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/01/it-all-seems-so-limitless/#comment-271 I have vivid memories of this woman that go way back...and am filled with joy that she is who she was all those many years ago. An amazing woman in so many ways. I have vivid memories of this woman that go way back…and am filled with joy that she is who she was all those many years ago.
An amazing woman in so many ways.

]]> Comment on Should We Schedule the Celebration? by Stephanie http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/04/should-we-schedule-the-celebration/#comment-231 Stephanie Thu, 01 May 2008 20:02:12 +0000 http://www.espartsed.org/blog/2008/04/should-we-schedule-the-celebration/#comment-231 To respond to Jack's question - Yes! There is absolutely a sea-change afoot - This is a serious topic on many people's minds. I have a few friends in or entering the corporate sector, and without a doubt, learning as far back as our public school education is of the utmost importance to the men-in-suits. To share one report: Ready to Innovate: Are Educators and Executives Aligned on the Creative Readiness of the U.S. Workforce? http://www.artsusa.org/pdf/information_services/research/policy_roundtable/ready_to_innovate.pdf It is so so so important that we take this opportunity to be at the forefront of this change. To be creative(!) about how we get involved and with who. The money, opportunity, and leverage to participate in this change is at our fingertips, we only have to go for it. To respond to Jack’s question -

Yes! There is absolutely a sea-change afoot - This is a serious topic on many people’s minds. I have a few friends in or entering the corporate sector, and without a doubt, learning as far back as our public school education is of the utmost importance to the men-in-suits.

To share one report:
Ready to Innovate: Are Educators and Executives Aligned on the Creative Readiness of the U.S. Workforce?
http://www.artsusa.org/pdf/information_services/research/policy_roundtable/ready_to_innovate.pdf

It is so so so important that we take this opportunity to be at the forefront of this change. To be creative(!) about how we get involved and with who. The money, opportunity, and leverage to participate in this change is at our fingertips, we only have to go for it.

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