Comments on: Comfort Zones

By: Sharing the Love from BLC09 « Learning Mosaic

Sharing the Love from BLC09 « Learning Mosaic — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:35:49 +0000

[...] Lisa Thumann’s BLC09 blog post [...]

By: lthumann

lthumann — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 14:50:26 +0000

Thank you for coming and sharing your goals with us Charlie. Liz pushes me to try new things and for that I am thankful. I even found that @trinapaynter has the knowledge to help me with my daughter’s vegetable garden.

I appreciate your feedback.
–Lisa

By: Charlie MacFadyen

Charlie MacFadyen — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 06:58:58 +0000

I was at this workshop, and I wanted to let you know that it was the perfect way to end the conference. I like your third goal, in particular. Even though we didn’t have a lot of time for the free write during the workshop, I really liked it. It felt like there was a surge of energy and focus in the room as we envisioned achieving our goals. e-mail and Twitter can wait for five minutes. Thanks!
Charlie

By: lthumann

lthumann — Sun, 02 Aug 2009 01:07:15 +0000

Thanks for the support and the link Cathy.

We have an eval that I have to use for the Center that I work for, but I like the idea of using the Google Form for the free write if that fits with the audience. If not, there’s always paper and pencil, right?

Too long? No. I truly appreciate you taking the time to help me out.
–Lisa

By: Cathy Nelson

Cathy Nelson — Sat, 01 Aug 2009 22:58:37 +0000

Those are fantastic goals for sure! I hate nothing at a workshop, seminar, or conference more than a “site and get” presentation! I have made this my goal too for the last few presos, and I must say it works. The participants feel charged and better, more in charge of their learning.

To involve the writing element, you could try a google form with open ended questions–call it a free write type session eval. Ask for honest opinions, frank constructive criticisms, and what was good, bad, missing, or could be done to improve a future session. Not all will give you complete feedback, but it does grease the wheels for reflection, and best, you get something out of it too.

Music during participants activities is a fantastic idea. I sort of learned how to use music in lesson plans when we had an artist in residence–Sean Layne–who was absolutely fantastic! He used music for instructional sequences AND independent work (for groups and individuals.) He made me realize how soothing and thought provoking music could be in a classroom. He taught the entire fourth grade teachers at a school I was at an effective basic classroom management technique that involved music. WONDERFUL and I was impressed–he did it with the worst class in the building. Look him up. http://web.me.com/focus5inc/Site_1/Welcome.html

Great post–thanks for sharing. (I didnt mean for my comments to be so long!)