WhyART

Gone Fishing?

I was reminded of an interesting aphorism this evening: "A Fish Doesn’t Know It’s In Water". The speaker who brought up that anonymous wisdom statement was not speaking to us about a specific fish's lack of awareness about its environment; instead, she was alluding to the blind spots we humans have to our own biases and norms. Her point was that our own unconscious patterns of behavior and unexamined expectations categorize those we encounter as familiar or not, mindlessly dividing them into camps of privilege and poverty based not on their merits but on whether or not they reflect ours!

If our behaviors are as common as she suggested ( and I believe they are) how are we to remedy the situation so that the individuals we encounter and mentor can be seen as who they really are and be nurtured towards a future which views them with equity and values them for their own identity and worth?

That is something I'll think about tonight and address tomorrow...

The Color of Transformation

It's been awhile since I've blogged; I've been having fun...
There I was, standing in the "GA line" at Giant Stadium on Saturday afternoon, waiting for my wristband. When the bands were passed out, I saw they were Orange, the color of Transformation.

Orange is my favorite color, because in its brightness and clarity dwell endless possibilities of energy and newness...and what followed, both before and during the concert, was truly transformational. We met people who had traveled across oceans to spend 4 days seeing all 3 concerts. These people had been to hundreds of Springsteen shows, and told many more stories of the lengths others would go to experience the music of the legendary E Street Band. Then there was the concert itself...3 hours of intense energy, joy and release as we danced in the pit and reached up to the stage for a chance to touch Excaliber, Neil from Chile's name for Bruce's weathered telecaster guitar.

In the pit around me were corporate lawyers dancing next to aging hipsters. For the moment, all were equal, fully present, and truly happy. Driving back to Troy after the concert, I thought about the power to attract such a diverse audience. It had to be the magical and transcendent power of art: at once honest, raw, raging, personal, loud and gentle. The power to connect, the power to transform.

October 3rd was our fourth Springsteen concert this year, and the next day I asked Carol if she wanted to go to the last show in Buffalo. She observed that seats at the rear of an indoor stadium would not improve our experience of standing at the stage and seeing Bruce face to face. She is very wise.

So, we won't be buying tickets for the Sunday, November 22nd show in Buffalo. That means more tickets for you. You won't get an orange GA wrist band, but be ready to be transformed...

Another Busman's Holiday...

Here we go again...another summer conference! For 2 days the 2009 Games in Education conversations have been full of information and inspiration for educators and administrators: reminders of the importance in designing appropriate interfaces for our audiences, keeping authenticity front and center, and celebrating play as a joyful state with deep connections to internalizing learning. Want to learn more? Google Brock Dubbels, Peggy Sheehy, Tech Valley High School, and, of course SesameStreet.org.

This will be my last Busman's Holiday for awhile...I'm about to take off for a 2 week cross country fly and drive trip to the southwest and back. What do I hope to encounter during this extended journey? Well, I'll be visiting a variety of museums and galleries, so I'll get the chance to see some marvelous art in person. Also, as we drive back, Carol and I will take in the sites of an area of the US we haven't much experience seeing. And, I hope to return with some new stories to share. Not the same old same old, as Rob is fond of saying. Here's hoping that in your next few weeks you encounter some new stories too.

All Hands on Deck...eyes, ears and feet, too

After returning home from the Annual Constructivist Conference at St. Lawrence University I did what many teachers do each summer...got out the home repair list. Before leaving, I'd painted a few ceiling spots, oil sealed three runs of oak railing, and tiled the fireplace hearth; now it was time to move outdoors. Our deck needed a make-over.

Since we live in an Historic district, projects need approval from two city agencies. After a quick meeting with the city of Troy Planning folks, I sketched out the proposed modifications and showed them to my wife Carol...who promptly asked where the changes would be. Puzzled by her question, I pointed to the drawings and said, "The old joists are in red, the new ones are in black. It says so in the key at the bottom of each page." She replied calmly that I should probably write a more detailed description, because not all people had the skills to successfully decode my complicated drawings. I hate it when she does that. She was right, of course.

However, she made an excellent point: each of us senses, sees, and learns differently, relying on our own strengths to help us comprehend the world around us. And, it's up to those of us tasked with instructing to communicate to EACH person in the manner he/she learns best. A tough task? Perhaps...but if it's worth doing, it's worth doing well. My dad taught me that.

So, I added a text page to the application, explaining how the changes we proposed would not only keep the original "historic" appearance but improve the design so that the rebuilt deck complied with the current building code. The addition of a few dozen words created a much stronger application without having to change my drawings...and I appreciated that.

Before walking downtown to pick up the building permit, I stopped by my wife's office to show her the application and to thank her for helping me make it better. Being the great coach that she is, she acknowledged my progress. She said the application looked great. And, I thanked her again. You can't thank people too much. My dad taught me that, too.

The More Things Change...

Bright and early this morning I spent an hour with educators and support personnel having a conversation about Building Community and Empowering Students. I expect that each participant arrived hoping that I would be providing them with tips on how to "de-silo instruction" and integrate community centered project based learning activities across/within curricular stands...but that's not what happened.

You see, the meeting took place at The Institute for Learning Centered Education's Constructivist Design Conference at St. Lawrence University in Canton, NY...and it was my intention to have the group teach each other about the topic. All it took was a story to hook their interest, an empowering framework, and they took ownership of the process.

What did we all learn? That several components were critical to the process: authenticity, mentoring, service, social connection...and celebrating growth. Without authenticity there can be no buy-in; without mentoring, no inspiration, without service, no grounding, without social connection no emotional development, without celebration, no impulse to move forward.

What did I learn? How to use a digital camera, favorite book list, mystery readers and a paper bag to boost library visits 30%!

And, I was reminded that allegory is as true a measuring standard as statistical analysis...if you know the right story to tell...

A Busman's Holiday...

Hello from beautiful upstate New York! I'm spending the week at St. Lawrence University, which is the site of the Institute for Learning Centered Education's Annual Constructivist Conference. Why would a teacher spend part of the summer in school...without pay? Simple. Just as the proverbial bus driver takes a holiday by bus to experience something familiar in a new way, teachers immerse themselves in new learning experiences so that the new will inform, infuse and extend their previously internalized (and perhaps stale) skill sets.

This week I'll help out with technology related issues, and have some wonderful conversations with educators who love teaching. If I'm lucky, I'll have time to write about it as it happens. I hope that what you read here this week will inspire you to go on your own Busman's Holiday. After all, whatever you do, there is always something new.

Want to hear more..or maybe start a conversation? Drop me a line. I'm here, and I'm ready...to listen and to learn!

Full Calendars, Empty Tanks

I'm enjoying an unusually cool summer in upstate New York. Since I teach, I am able to use summer for travel, research and "recharging". In September, it's back to school.

Each of us has organized our life around a school calendar; many still do. School calendars are tricky: they acknowledge and make accommodations for seasons and holidays, yet they impart their own spin and urgency to our daily lives by introducing artificial seasons. Instead of spring, summer, autumn and winter we have gathering, learning, testing and commencement...and it starts when the year is 2/3 done! Talk about planting late and harvesting early! Confusing? Yes...but easier to handle if we remember that it is an artificial construct, one of many we face daily, and one we can prioritize. How, you say? By making sure that what we value, whether it is making our own art, exploring nature, supporting family/friends, or whatever secret pleasures we hang on to, gets orchestra box, center row attention. It's not selfish, it's necessary...because we do our best when our spirits are fresh, our reserves full, and we are not emptied out by exhaustion! If it's a journey worth taking, make sure you leave with a full tank!

Tank Tip #2

Try this: when stressed or tired, give yourself permission to get up and walk around a bit. Whether you tell yourself that you need a stretch, or will benefit from another vantage point, it will energize you! And, just maybe the answer which had been eluding your sluggish mind will pop into clarity and give you a second boost. Finally, if you find you need more ways to find balance and reward in your life, consider getting a personal coach. Learn more about my favorite coach at Transformingwork.com.