Week 2: WIZARD: Inspirational Book/Movie

Both the most inspirational book and movie for me deal with my chosen career and how to be a more effective educator.

First, Living, Loving, and Learning by Leo Buscaglia. I truly believe that this book should be a teacher's bible, and that all new teachers should be required to read it! The lessons taught in Dr. Buscaglia's book cover a myriad of topics from communication to trust to feelings to hugs. Along the way he provides wonderful insight and advice to those who wish to understand themselves and others. At the very least it is a guide to some understanding, cooperation and even a little tolerance among all of us. Who would have thought that there would actually be a class called Love 101? This book can be read many times over and over; it helps anyone understand who they are, what they are, discover who they want to become, and how they can live a happy life no matter what! This book caused me to re-evaluate my teaching methods; it was amazing! When I utlized the suggestions in this book, the sky was the limit with students' attitude, cooperation, and success!

Mr. Holland's Opus is a film about Glenn Holland, a musician and composer who takes a teaching job because he has to in order to pay the rent while at the same time trying to compose one memorable piece of music to make him famous. Initially he does not want to nor does he enjoy teaching-he wants more! His love - music - cannot be shared by his deaf son, which causes him much stress. You just have to watch it to appreciate it, but I believe this too is a film that all new teachers should be required to view before becoming employed as an educator. This movie also made me look at myself as an educator and reminded me of all the reasons I became a teacher in the first place, and it certainly wasn't to become famous!

Citations

Buscaglia, L.F., Ph.D. (1982). Living, loving, and learning. NY: Ballantine Publishing Group.

Cressbad. (2008, June 10). Mr. Holland's opus [trailer]. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OO5Ov4GttsQ

Herek, S. (Director) (1995). Mr. Holland's Opus [motion picture]. United States: Hollywood Pictures.

Vh1.com. (2009). Mr. Holland's Opus [screen shot]. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from http://www.vh1.com/movies/movie/93615/moviemain.jhtml

Week 2: Video: Boba Fett: Bountry Trail Answer to question

Jenkins (2006) mentions several fan films based on the Star Wars franchise; one example called "Boba Fett: Bounty Trail."

Does fan film hurt or help the franchise? It depends on the film. I believe that mockumentaies and parodies that provide humor can be a way to promote the franchise. However, if there is a serious fan film that attempts to produce an identical reproduction or borrow actual footage or images from the original, then it becomes hurtful and in fact illegal. I can see and appreciate the creativity that goes into the production of fan film; in my classroom, I encourage students to recreate scenes, historical events, characterization, and fantasies that relate to whatever we are studying in class. To me the production of fan films is the technology turn on this same learning concept.

The dangers of letting fans make up their own StarWars-based stories is that in the current culture, people neglect to think of how their story might affect others. Specifically, I can see issues arising when fans begin to create Star Wars-based stories that have unethical, immoral, or inappropriate themes.

Citations

hurler1348. (2006, September 7). Bounty Trail. Retrieved August 9, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watchv=BAU_PCEVMyY&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fonline%2Efullsail%2Ecom%2Findex%2Ecfm%3Ffuseaction%3Dassignment%2Emain%26itemId%3D66946&feature=player_embedded

Jenkins. H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. NY: New York University Press.

Week 1: Fourth Screen comment

Theater, television, computer, pocket device - The idea of the fourth screen borders on the Black Box Fallacy Jenkins mentioned in Convergence Culture (2006). I do believe that it is possible and even in progress as we speak, just think of the IPhone - people are watching videos, sending and receiving emails and text messages, carrying out business with this "black box." If there is an app, you can do it! One can only imagine what the next upgraded "black box" will be able to do.

Citations

Jenkins. H. (2006). Convergence culture: Where old and new media collide. NY: New York University Press.

Litchfield. S. (2007, October 6). Inspiration: Nokia - the fourth screen [video]. Retrieved August 8, 2009, from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5V-2qQS3NY0&feature=player_embedded