the journey

the journey continues, with no more roadblocks
the journey is in the movement, not in the destination
I made many self improvements, but most importantly the movement towards trust and self-confidence is  firmly held in place.
Muddy...I am not sure there is a muddy, since now I know how to explore and find answers.  I accept there are things I will never know, and have no interest in knowing, and there are things that I did not know were important to know, but now i know are important, and there are things that I never knew I would love and that would be vital to my creativity, that now are quite important .
thanks

pride is an interesting word

Pride ... Proud ...
accomplishments ...
I guess it would have to be the fact that I have nothing to fear but fear itself.  Computers are like bikes.
I was scared to death of learning to ride bike, but I came to find freedom in the learning, and in the riding.  I have learned that there is sense of freedom in my ability to work with computers now.  It really is about trusting.  Maybe I will not remember everything I learned right off the top of my head, but i know that it is in me somewhere, and just like after a long break from riding a bike, and the ride being a little wobbly at first, in time it will be smooth.  It will be all the more easier to move forward now to learn and explore what lies inside the world of computers.
On the other hand, or another thought, or coming out of left field, I would say that if there were no computers necessary for me tomorrow or next week, or next year, I'd be happy to walk away, and not look back.

LLA OUTCOME

As with all of my classes at Marylhurst, I think the gift has been and continues to be in the receiving of the information given and what I choose do with it.  I think of words like malleable and flexible and mature.  The knowledge is offered and is available to interpret and receive as needed.  In other words, in case I am not making sense, I think that there is much more information available than the 10 weeks we have in class allows, and it has been up to me to do what I choose to do with it during and after the course.  Yes there are assignments, and plenty of them, in all of my classes and sometimes I am overwhelmed, but overall I am grateful for what is offered and I take and leave as desired.
As far as this LLA outcome, I think that we have been given tools and food for thought to take and expand upon as needed depending on who we are and what each of us needs for success.  Life changes, technology changes, the possibilities are endless and forever open to interpretations.  I think the outcome means, like many of the classes offered at Marylhurst, that we be present with what is, not what we think it should be, and find gratitude and room to explore and adapt as needed as adult's in an adult learning environment.  This class has been a good example, as is the outcome.

digital story resources

resources for microsoft photostory and other digital storytelling treats
and a video on how to save photos and video for photostory

Improving the human connection through technology

I have mixed feelings about this subject.  I do think this technology has improved the human connection, but at what risks?  There are so many amazing ways we have grown as a human population in that we have access to learn about things we never could have known as fast or as up close as we do with this computer technology.  On the other hand I think it is way too much information and is adding stress that is hurting us in other ways.  It can be way too much of a distraction from interactions of the heart of face-to-face humans being in the world.  If my daughter thinks it is ok to write me from another room on a chat to talk to me about really deep personal issues rather than come and sit with me face-to-face, there is somewhat of a problem.  If it takes mining chemicals in Africa that risk the life of poor people so that we here can have computers, then there is a problem.  If it is true that indeed the low frequency sound waves of information from the towers that are needed for wi-fi and all of this is affecting our health in adverse ways, then no, this is not worth it.  I, for one, needed to jump on this bandwagon of computer technology in order to work, in order to live, as a student, and for my children to get their work done for school, but I would not be opposed to dismantling the whole darn thing as well. The human connection is at risk, and maybe it has been for a long time, but who knows what this level of communication will all work out to be.  Maybe it is a gift and a curse.  It just is what it is for now.

Digital Storytelling

What immediately pops into my head in responding to the prompt is to point out and recall the digital storytelling component to a creative non-fiction class I took here at Marylhurst where we learned about the genre of digital storytelling and proceeded to learn how to make our our digital story.  This was an amazing and enlightening experience for me, in particular, because I was not used to using anything close to photos or film or audio on a computer or anywhere else in my life.  We wrote our short story (250 words or less) and then spent part of a class recording our voices in the basement of the library. We also played with Imovie here in this room and created beautiful memoirs and narratives. Little did I know what a great experience this would be.  I now know that I will use this type of storytelling again and again for myself and for the high school students I work with who might not feel comfortable with writing, or who might better express themselves with visual and audio.  I had no idea how creative I could be and how many ways there are to tell a story. 

Creativity

A revolution more powerful than the industrial revolution is happening now???? Interesting.  I am not sure about that, but I think what he has to share is really thoughtful. 

I think he is right on the money about creativity being necessary to move forward ... that is ..... as long as that creativity is for the betterment of society; all societies, regardless of race, class, creed, gender, or sexuality. Now that would be revolutionary.....

He is also right on the money when he speaks to the natural creativity so present in younger children that becomes almost diminished in teenagers and young adults. Yes, there is creativity happening, but mostly I see the students I work with frustrated and bored. Though the most recent school is a charter school where the creativity in all classes is encouraged and the students are way more engaged.

We all have the ability to re create a new world.  Co creating is more what I am thinking lately.
Cheers.