Jimmy's+Journal


 * December 22, 2008

What a mess this weather is.** One of my concerts has been canceled permanently for this year. Very sad as the concert is an annual memorial to a family who lost their son 10-15 years ago. The son was a good player of the euphonium. Difficult for the family. We canceled once and rescheduled for tonight, but tonight is worse than a week ago. Hope all classmates and Scot are OK in this stuff.


 * December 20, 2008**

This class has been fun and I have learned SO much computer stuff that will come handy later. I feel so computer literate!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all classmates and Scot!


 * December 16, 2008**

I have just attached my PowerPoint Presentation again as an attachment to a reply on my post. Evidently Vista cannot be opened by Scot or classmates, so I saved it on Word '97 and I hope that it works. So sorry that people have not been able to open it. Most frustrating indeed. I have learned so much computer stuff in this class. This includes knowing that not everyone can open stuff saved on Vista and that I can save on older Word. I had NO idea about any of this until now. I feel like a computer wiz. Well, of course, that's a joke, but I have learned a lot.


 * December 15, 2008**

Have just finished reading some more of the final projects. I love the PowerPoint and the topics are fascinating and well done. Bravo to classmates!


 * December 14, 2008**

I have just finished summarizing my final project on the project page. Thankfully my Wiki is working just fine now.

I have also read classmates' PowerPoint Presentations and was very impressed. I must say that although theirs were better than mine, I feel pretty good about mine as I hardly knew that PowerPoint existed until this class. Mine isn't chopped liver in my opinion and it was a good learning experience and fun!'

This has been a great class. I have used the computer for classes etc. but no more than that and I was not aware of some of its dangers, other than what one hears on the news. Good class!


 * December 12, 2008

Excellent,** my wiki is working again. I have uploaded my paper for the final project and also my PowerPoint with a brief description of the project as Scot asked. I believe that I have pretty much done everything--I hope.


 * December 9, 2008**

Just finished the write up to turn into Scot for the final project. I'll proof it again a few times and post. I redid the PowerPoint last evening several times, and it does not look too bad. However, I will work on it again tonight and try to attach it to the message and see if it works. It has been fun, a lot of work and I learned a lot that will come in handy.


 * December 8, 2008**

This journal page is obviously working fine now. I will finish up my PowerPoint within a couple days and try to post it early in case anything goes wrong. It has been fun to learn to do and I think that it isn't too bad. People much more computer savvy than I am may not be impressed, but for me it is a good sized accomplishment.


 * December 4, 2008**

Today I did my PowerPoint slide show. For the first attempt, I think it is pretty good. It still needs work and I have to learn how to attach it to the summary of the project in order to post it to the forum for everyone to be able to read and play the PowerPoint slide show. Progress!!


 * December 2, 2008**

First day back for the kids after the Thanksgiving holiday. Classes went pretty well as tired as all the kids seemed to be. I have rewritten parts of my final paper and I think that it is better, although it is a report of the findings of my interviews.

I don't know what more to do to make this journal findable. I just click on Recent Changes then Jimmy's Journal and there it is. I also click on Dia's or Nicki's and they are right there. I wonder if I put it in wrongly?


 * Nov. 30, 2008**

Lots to do today. I have finished the reading in the Schultze text, and now must do the final reflection paper. I enjoyed reading Greg's and his Thanksgiving sounded wonderful.


 * Nov. 21, 08**

Hope all classmates are doing well. This is an extremely busy time. Company for Thanksgiving etc. etc. Concert hugely successful last night.


 * Nov. 19, 2008**

Tomorrow is fall concert for which I am responsible for preparing six ensembles. Everything should be fine, but it is a huge job. Then next week on Friday, the Macy's Holiday Parade for the marching band. Another huge job. All worthwhile however!

I have enjoyed talking to the kids about Internet and its uses among them. There have been some encouraging consistencies. I have gotten quite a bit of the paper for final project finished, will hopefully complete it tomorrow. Then only have to get it onto PowerPoint and learn how to present in virtual conference room.


 * Nov. 17, 2008**

I have finished interviews and added another six. I have started pulling information and responses together for the final paper and project presentation.

I still have not been able to link. Scot said to go to our statement...where is our statement. I'll try again then email him again.


 * Nov. 13, 2008**

Tomorrow I will try to get to the remaining interviewees for the final project. The kids and I are so busy trying to get ready for fall concert one week from today (11/20/08) and at the same time getting ready for the Macy's Holiday Parade one week later on 11/28/08 that anything else is tough. Concert rehearsals and marching band rehearsals are so difficult to schedule as the nasty weather plays a part in getting it all done. New people have to be fitted for uniforms etc. etc. etc.

Nonetheless, I will hopefully be able to finish the interviews and write them up.


 * Nov. 8, 2008**

Up at 4:00 AM today and could not go back to sleep so I got up and started work. Worked on course work until 1:00 PM. Got a lot done to include reading the data so far collected from my first interviews for final project. Next week I will get busy with the paper and learn more PowerPoint and start putting it all together (I hope...everything always seems to take longer than you expect).

Had some frustrating computer problems today. Internet Explorer continually knocked me off the Bruindata site. Dr. Hockett suggested using Mozilla FireFox instead. We downloaded it and it is great. I had been having that problem for several weeks, making work difficult.


 * Nov. 5, 2008**

Interesting...one of the students who participated in the interviews day before yesterday came in today and asked if he could change one of his answeres to one of my research questions. I, of course, let him make the change. I have not had time as yet to read the collected data, but I am anxious so to do. It should indeed be interesting.


 * Nov. 3, 2008**

I began collecting data today for my final project. I talked to about twelve students. They were all together, but that worked out well because they not only answered my questions and discussed them, but they interacted with each other as well as with me. I have not yet looked at much of the response except that some of the responses may be more surprising that I thought. If I recall correctly 100% of them surf the net. I must say that that surprised me. I knew many would but all of them...hmmm...maybe I shouldn't be surprised. I am looking forward to getting into their responses and doing more interviews, some with more than one and some one on one.


 * October 30, 2008**

This week has proved to be much busier than I thought. Have not yet gotten to interviewing kids for my final project. I had really hoped that this would be a possible week in which to get busy on it.

I have mentioned it to two students and they are more than willing to participate when I tell them what the topic is. This excites me more than ever.

The paper and articles with regard to Schultze chapter four took longer than I thought and I still must get that done this evening, and energy is wearing thin. I was at school at 6:30 AM.


 * October 26, 2008**

This week-end has involved a lot of work on my other class. It has taken most of my working time for Fox course work. However, I wanted to record in this journal that next week I will start to do the research on my final project. Later today I think (hope) that I will be able to begin learning PowerPoint from my good wife who knows how to use it as I wish to use it on my final presentation.

I really am looking forward to reading the next assignment in Schultze after reading Dia's post this morning. It also intrigues me even more to get started on my little research project regarding thoughts shared by Dia.


 * October 23, 2008**

I have begun inquiring to various students as to their willingness to participate in interviews for my final project. The project is a small research study asking students what their take is on technology and their use of it and its effects on personal character and morality of the young people. I must now look again at the interview questions and decide if they are good ones and not leading or biased in any way. I wish to know what the students think and to try and make a very informal judgement as to whether there may be an effect, positive or negative, on their morality and/or personal character. It has been difficult to accomplish this work as I must prepare for the Macy's Holiday Parade and our fall concert, both of which come up in about a month. My days are packed. I am going to have to be innovative to get these interviews done.


 * October 18, 2008**

Major Project

This study will involve 15 to 25 high school students at Franklin High School in Portland, Oregon. The study will be a qualitative research study using the methodolgy of unstructured interview. The interviews will be one on one when possible and/or focus groups when necessary. All participants will be asked the same questions, however, there will be latitude for the researcher to probe and for the interviewees to expand on the interview questions. The purpose of the study will be to examine the effects of technology, internet and their use on the personal character, integrity and morality of the high school participants. The results of the study will be related by the researcher to the content of EDFL 675 text and discussion. The study will begin within the next four weeks and conclude prior to the presentation in the course conference room later in the semester to include a PowerPoint presentation. The participants will be students enrolled in the classes of the researcher, which may be a limitation of the study.


 * October 18, 2008**

I have just pasted my proposal into my participant page in Wiki. I hope I did it correctly. It did not do exactly as I had intended regarding my double spacing and APA reference style. However, hopefully, the proposal part of the assignment for session two is correct and acceptable.

Now to the next part of the assignment.


 * October 15, 2008**

The beginning of th is week has been difficult. I have had very little sleep.

Today the sophomores are taking the PSAT and that has altered the entire day for the whole school. Afternoon classes are 20 minutes each, periods 4-7. Basically a waste of time.

I have enjoyed reading the postings from classmates in response to Schultze. I like the book, the comments have been thought provoking and quite worthwhile thinking about.

I will be trying to formulate good research questions for my final project and will try to get that done to run by Scot this week. Also, my wife, when she feels well enough, will begin to introduce me to powerpoint. Also this week I will try and secure the research sample.


 * October 12, 2008**

This has been a good three day week end. My wife has been ill but we have still had a great time of togetherness after a busy week last week. Next week will be even more busy.

Regarding my learning for this week, I have had much good information pointed out. In Dr. Hockett's class, we read an article regarding teen-age alcohol and drug abuse and some factors that may contribute to it. Emphasis was on American Indian youth as research would suggest that they are at more risk and may suffer more dire consequences. I have some American Indian students that I believe are doing fine. Nonetheless, I was glad to read the piece.

I have also had much benefit from reading classmates' responses to Schultze. Some very thoughtful work.

I believe that I have decided on a final project topic and Scot has OKed it. I need to think about it more thoroughly this next week and develope the research questions, and begin learning power point.


 * Wednesday, October 8, 2008**

I appreciated getting the note from Scot that he had seen my comments regarding his thoughts.

I am wondering how to come directly to this journal page. So far I am going to "recent changes" and punching my journal as to what I wrote last.

Not much new today. I have done a good job with students in rehearsals today I believe. I really do try every day.

Sadly, my little wife has come down with kind of a nasty cold. I hope it is NOT that nasty thing I had last summer when the bug went into my ears and was so bad I was bleeding out the right ear...eegad. I HOPE she is luckier!


 * Monday October 6, 2008**

Today has been Monday and not a bad day at that. Some Mondays are difficult as the kids seem to be so tired. They were tired today, but did well nonetheless.

There is nothing particular on my mind today other than trying to do the very best I can for students in my classes and I believe that I did.

I am still pondering my final project for this class. Not quite sure what to do as yet. However, do have an idea or two.

Saturday, October 4, 2008

This is something entirely new to me. Although I have journaled before, I have never done one as a part of a class or group.

I am still pondering my final project. My dissertation subject is character education embedded in instrumental music education. It is **important** in my opinion that kids these days get some character education, and bands and orchestras are the perfect places to do it in these days of PCness. One does not dare moralize in a public school setting, yet in orchestra or band, cooperation is inherently necessary. One person in an ensemble is all it takes to ruin everygthing! I tell the kids all the time, that things we do and say make a difference both now and in time to come.

For today, my work has been, in addition to many other matters, to get chapter two read. I have so done and will hopefully get the response to that chapter written yet today.


 * Sunday, October 5, 2008**

This is my thought for today. Although I have much work to do both course work and music work, I am committed to reflect on some of the things that I am reading in Schultze. Chapter two is good although maybe a little wordy. He says a lot of the same thing. I like a lot that he says, but in my opinion, he could use less text and get across the same points, although they are good points.

I have not yet finished chapter three, but I am really liking the read! It rings so true on many levels. I see many teen-agers that I believe have no religious tradition in their lives. Even if families are not believers, some type of religious tradition and morality gives some grounding as to appropriate behavior and why appropriate behavior is to the benefit of all. For now, must get busy and will try to make another entry today.