Testing out the newest toy for my iPad 2...

This is probably going to be my last blog post of the year so I thought I'd "go out" in geeky-style. Went to Best Buy today and got the Logitech Fold-Up Keyboard for my iPad 2. Why? Because I can. Seriously...it will help me with my "move things forward" to "make things happen" mantra...I got the iPad 2 because I wanted to produce on it more than I consume...this keyboard brings me closer to achieving that goal on a daily basis. It fits well onto the iPad 2, allows me to keep my Smart Cover on it and comes with a USB cable to charge it...when necessary. It took merely seconds to pair up with the iPad 2 and BOOM...I'm using it to type this blog post.

Well...that's it for now...see you all in the new year!! 2012 is going to be a very productive year for me...what about you!!??

Credibility...12-29-11

I'm reading a really interesting book title: Angels' Town by Ralph Cintron for my last doctoral class. I came across an interesting quote today, "...credibility [is] created in miniscule moments of interaction..." It got me thinking about the different interactions we engage in daily...most of them (as Cintron I'm sure would agree) are miniscule. However, the accumulation of these miniscule moments adds up to something much bigger our identities our ethos. I'm not so sure that we have a whole lot of control over this...after all...that credibility, our identities...are they not formed by others?

That's all I've got! I'm still trying to figure it all out and am happy that I have Cintron at my side to help me!

Meetings can move ideas forward...12-28-11

Meetings can be seen as slowing projects down. However, when meetings have a focus...good thinking happens and projects can move forward! I met with my good friend and dissertation director today. We spent time clarifying things related to my writing. We spent time focused on how I can make the last class I'm taking a space to move my ideas forward. We spent time thinking about how "side tracks" (specifically...my side track into wanting my project to be historical/theoretical) actually helped clarify an interest (in this case an interest in Error) that I will bring (along with other topics that interest me...assessment and technology) into a project that I am more suited to write...something more ethnographic in nature. I'm feeling really good about today's meeting!!!

Kerouac, Jobs...thinking 12-27-11

Looking back at a book that means a lot to me…Kerouac's Some of the Dharma…is getting me thinking…about ways to re-approach my thinking about Error. Is Error "my" Buddhism? I need to spend some time thinking about that. Wondering if going back through Kerouac's book will give me space to think more about this?? One way to find out!

Zen flesh vs. Zen bones…Kerouac was "accused" (by a Zen Buddhist priest) of not having Zen bones…this gets me thinking…how does one acquire their bones? For me…it's through writing…before the writing comes reading…and note taking while I read…notes lead me to write…which show me that I need to read more…take more notes…go back to writing…it's a cycle.

Ok...another way to earn my bones is to avoid distraction. I need to re-set my schedule as to when (and how often) I will be checking in to my social media (something that can be seen in different ways...as I explore below). Right now I have my email set to send me notification when someone Tweets me or FB's me so I don't really need to get on either during the day...to check on things. Siri (my digital assistant...thank you Steve Jobs) can help me with Tweets...if I have something to say and I have Twitterfeed set up to send to both Twitter and FB via my blog if I have something to say. The key is discipline...being home on Winter break is a good test because while I'm teaching there just isn't time. Note: I have yet to check in to any social media today...as of this post...it's 3:07 pm.

Switching to another book I've been wanting to read, the new Steve Jobs biography, I find myself pausing for a few moments...

"...trying to figure out who I was and how I fit into things." -Steve Jobs 

This is exactly what I'm doing with my research...trying to figure out who I am and how my work fits into things. My Zen bones will come from a fusion of things...teaching, reading, writing, yoga and meditation...reading the Steve Jobs biography is helping me see this...one is not more important than the other...they are interdependent. 

Another quote from the Jobs biography..."Timothy Leary had declared that personal computers had become the new LSD..." another interesting quote from the Jobs biography. Seeing a connection to an earlier quote in the book..."Vegetarianism and Zen Buddhism, meditation and spirituality, acid and rock..." Might my "acid" be social media coupled with my interest in Error?

Why write?

"Rather, I think one should write, as nearly as possible, as if he were the first person on earth and was humbly and sincerly putting on paper that which he saw and experienced and loved and lost; what his passing thoughts were and his sorrows and desires." -Neal Cassady to Jack Kerouac. 

If you have spent any time reading my previous posts, you know that I'm attempting to use some of my time each day during this break to write. The quote above gets me thinking about why I'm doing this. What am I trying to accomplish? Well...as stated in previous posts, I'm trying to figure things out...what things? Specifically, how Error factors into my doctoral pursuits. While I spent a few months thinking that I would like to try something more historical/theoretical, I'm starting to think that my research will involve (most likely) time spent observing...teachers, students...in their classrooms (the field). I will spend time (while I observe) taking notes (field notes)..."putting on paper that which" I see and experience. This dissertation needs to be an exploration...an inquiry into something that I am curious about. What better place (site) for me to do this than the classroom...the one place in the world where I feel the most comfortable. I just need to figure out what I want to look at and why? Something that complicates that place...something that allows me to think critically about what happens in that place. While some may look at these posts and conclude that I'm spinning my wheels...I don't see it that way. This internal talk...in my opinion...is necessary. It keeps me thinking...it keeps me writing. My "passing thoughts...sorrows...desires" need a place...a place that I can come back to and reflect...I cannot move forward until then. 

Working within and against the system...to socialize and liberate

Keeping my promise to myself (writing more each day) and trying to figure out this new app (Blogsy) that I downloaded earlier today...I find myself thinking a bit more about moving my ideas about Error forward. You cannot move forward unless you write. I realize that posting my thinking across platforms may cause some of hou to wonder, "What is Tony up to?" That's ok. I'm just trying to get my thinking out there. I hace no control over your reaction. Here's a cool quote from one of my favorite writers...I think it sums up this experiment...

“Struggle to sketch the flow that already exists intact in mind”

-Jack Kerouac

Feel free to ignore or engage what you see here...I'm merely trying to figure things out!!

Looking back at some of my older writing on my blog I noticed that the title of my current post was something I thought I wanted to focus my doctoral pursuits on. It is my opinion that (as a teacher) working within and against the system to both socialize and liberate students is what helps keeps a teacher critical of her practice. Currently, I've introduced the topic of Error to this thinking. I know that this is a topic I want to pursue further yet I'm not sure how...if at all...it fits with this whole working within and against to socialize and liberate piece. What aspects of Error am I most interested in? Some stream of consciousness may help here...let's see where it goes...error...writing...pointing out errors to students is a way to socialize them into school writing...marking student work (pointing out errors) socializes students as well...what practices (on the part of teachers) contribute to the socialization of students...how or what does power contribute to these practices...could addressing error in student writing be seen as an act of liberation...on the part of both teachers and students?

I want to look back at the reading/writing I did this past semester...especially what I read and wrote about Kroll and Schafer...there may be something that layers over some of what I'm thinking about here.

Testing out new app Blogsy on my iPad 2...

Merry Christmas everyone. I'm test driving a new app I just read about, Blogsy. In my attempt to write more each day and make more of that writing public, I need to adopt a platform that is both fun and productive to use. Blogsy seems to be that app. More as I learn from it. 

Twitter Feed...moving ideas forward

Checking to see if Twitter Feed works.

Opening up space..."Making Things Happen"

After reading Scott Belsky's "Making Things Happen" in one evening, I'm wondering about how to use social platforms like my blog, Twitter and FB...oh...don't forget Google +...in an effort to move my ideas about Error (a topic I'm considering that will factor into my dissertation) forward. The challenge is...how to integrate all of this while...working full time as a teacher, taking my last doctoral class and preparing for my exams in the Spring (see my last blog post). If this is going to work, I need to figure out how to get it all to work without any of "it" becoming a distraction to my goal...figuring out how Error factors into my dissertation interests. I have a few "Action Steps" set up for after the holiday...let's see how completing these and using the social platforms I mention above come together.

Year coming to end...moving forward...

Feeling the urge to start blogging again...alot will be happening in the months to come...my last doctoral class...studying for exams...attempting to push ideas that will lead to my dissertation forward...why add blogging to that list? Why not?