This blog was required and inspired by a college course, a MOOc, Mass Online Open Course. This particular MOOc concentrates on Creative Multicultural communication. the participants in the course are encouraged to start blogs. Participants seeking credit are required to create blogs. Being required to write for me, is a good thing because I'm a writer. I love to write, I also like to find lots of other things to do instead of writing. That's probably why it's been a few weeks between posts.
The thing that I've noticed lately with writing and blogs is that it keeps a continuous dialogue going. Now that dialogue can only keep going if you have an audience of readers. So that means the blogger has to decide how much marketing we want to do with this new communication tool.
Connectivism and communication in the digital age. Blogging is another way for communicators to tell stories.
Usually when I'm storytelling I'm talking on a stage, or make-shift stage in a school classroom. Many times I'm on an actual stage in the school auditorium. Today a school's auditorium may also double as a gym and a cafeteria, creating a new title: "Cafetorium" "Mutli-purpose room", "Gymteria" anyway, I think I'm stretching it a bit but you get the picture.
I also like using poetry for storytelling. Often the poems are written in a narrative form and I allow myself to use the voices of characters I've met around my world but the complete purpose is to connect with my audience. On a stage the audience is alive and present. In this blog my audience comes on goes reading and logging in at their leisure and on their on time as opposed to mine. That's nice. Like an archive of thoughts, stories, and ideas that I want to share.
Next week I start a new residency with teens at risk of educational failure. I know that sounds weird but that's the most recent title for youth who are doing poorly in school and socially. I've been told that the kids I'm visiting want to write a play and act in it. Through connecting, communicating, we will create something original that they will be proud of. At least that's the plan. Wish me luck, and check in during the coming weeks to read and see, I'll post some photos, what kind of progress we are making.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Not wanting to get out of bed...
We've all been there, for one reason or another we cannot get ourselves out of bed. Today was one of those days. An early night, brought on by a bad cold allowed me to wake up around 3 am, to hear my husband returning to bed from the loo, to give me the weather report.
"It's a white out. Lake effect. I don't think your conference is a go."
I lift my head to have a look out the window. White. White snow, blowing and falling, right beside the sound of nature dancing with the wind.
Yes, he was right, the NYS Art Teachers mini- conference I had planned on attending was definitely not going to happen.
So why was I still acting like it would?
At six o'clock the snow stopped, and the sky and world seemed calm.
I was getting my head ready to get out of bed and face the on-again conference.
Then in 15 minutes, the weather changed again, and the snow fell like it would never stop again. Huge handfuls, being thrown by some jokester-weather god. The wind howled, and created these drifts that then created these little wind-snow-tornados.
I snuggle back into bed, but being the "senior' staff member I realize, sigh, I should get up and confirm that this event is a no go, besides the fact that the venue is two blocks from my house, a co-worker living at least 15 minutes away, which is at least a three miles, was coming to pick me up, she had all of our organization's marketing materials, I was obliged to be responsible.
I checked and phoned a name on the contact lists, no answer. I checked the Facebook page, no post.
Maybe it still was going on? Maybe?
I decide to send a mass text to my other co-workers, when the colleague picking me up texts:
"I'm running a little late, be their shortly. There's a lot of snow out here!"
Yes there was a lot of snow about 13" ! Or maybe I'm exaggerating, I haven't heard the official measurement, but it was a lot more than I wanted or anyone else wanted to deal with on a Saturday morning. It was enough snow that when you wear your 13" snow boots , scoop-full of snow gets in.
Before I let that happen I made a pot of coffee, got dressed, put on a smile, grabbed some hand sanitizer, a box of tissues, and two bags of Starbursts. Put on my snow boots, ski pants, and "mountain man" hat, and I was out the door into her car!
And it was all worth it because - The conference was so much fun!!! So much fun!I met lots of art educators, artists, and women! Funny women with great stories about the snow and not wanting to get out of bed and come to this conference and they did, we all did.
Buffalo is always great during a snow storm! My husband says, if folks go out in a snow storm they are going to have a good time! He should know he was born and raised here. I''m from NYC, where usually it snows and melts. I'm use to that.
But some days it's really good just to get out of bed, be present, and join the party!
"It's a white out. Lake effect. I don't think your conference is a go."
I lift my head to have a look out the window. White. White snow, blowing and falling, right beside the sound of nature dancing with the wind.
Yes, he was right, the NYS Art Teachers mini- conference I had planned on attending was definitely not going to happen.
So why was I still acting like it would?
At six o'clock the snow stopped, and the sky and world seemed calm.
I was getting my head ready to get out of bed and face the on-again conference.
Then in 15 minutes, the weather changed again, and the snow fell like it would never stop again. Huge handfuls, being thrown by some jokester-weather god. The wind howled, and created these drifts that then created these little wind-snow-tornados.
I snuggle back into bed, but being the "senior' staff member I realize, sigh, I should get up and confirm that this event is a no go, besides the fact that the venue is two blocks from my house, a co-worker living at least 15 minutes away, which is at least a three miles, was coming to pick me up, she had all of our organization's marketing materials, I was obliged to be responsible.
I checked and phoned a name on the contact lists, no answer. I checked the Facebook page, no post.
Maybe it still was going on? Maybe?
I decide to send a mass text to my other co-workers, when the colleague picking me up texts:
"I'm running a little late, be their shortly. There's a lot of snow out here!"
Yes there was a lot of snow about 13" ! Or maybe I'm exaggerating, I haven't heard the official measurement, but it was a lot more than I wanted or anyone else wanted to deal with on a Saturday morning. It was enough snow that when you wear your 13" snow boots , scoop-full of snow gets in.
Before I let that happen I made a pot of coffee, got dressed, put on a smile, grabbed some hand sanitizer, a box of tissues, and two bags of Starbursts. Put on my snow boots, ski pants, and "mountain man" hat, and I was out the door into her car!
And it was all worth it because - The conference was so much fun!!! So much fun!I met lots of art educators, artists, and women! Funny women with great stories about the snow and not wanting to get out of bed and come to this conference and they did, we all did.
Buffalo is always great during a snow storm! My husband says, if folks go out in a snow storm they are going to have a good time! He should know he was born and raised here. I''m from NYC, where usually it snows and melts. I'm use to that.
But some days it's really good just to get out of bed, be present, and join the party!
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