I don't know if anyone from class will be keeping up on our blogs, but I plan to continue using this one for my thoughts on education.
My friend sent me a link to this video about the end of textbooks. I think this is pretty relevant to our conversations this semester. It's all about using open source tools to bring content from authors to students. I like the idea of on demand publishing that gets rid of the middleman. It brings cost down and significantly reduces the turn around time. I am most interested in how students could customize exactly what they're going to be reading.
It's an 18 minute video, so have some spare time if you want to watch it.
Richard Baraniuk: Goodbye, textbooks; hello, open-source learning
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Your PAKZOO 2007 Poetry Slam Team
What a phenomenal night! Absolutely fabulous. We had a great open mic including two unexpected musical performances and two poems by Kinetic Affect. We had a great crowd, a high energy level, and pumped poets. In other words, the stage was set for a perfect slam tourney finals night.
The two rounds tonight were added to the two semifinal rounds. The poets themselves voted for the format prior to semis starting. I think they chose wisely. There were some surprise performances tonight, but ultimately the poets who were most consistent over the three weeks came out on top.
I've just gotten through double checking my spreadsheet math to make sure everyone's scores are in the right place and added correctly. The following scores are final and official.
*Unfortunately, Garrick is not old enough to attend NPS. He will still be an official team member, and will perform at all other events.
Once again, congratulations to all competing poets tonight. I was very impressed.
(Cross-posted from my blog at www.pakzoo.org.)
The two rounds tonight were added to the two semifinal rounds. The poets themselves voted for the format prior to semis starting. I think they chose wisely. There were some surprise performances tonight, but ultimately the poets who were most consistent over the three weeks came out on top.
I've just gotten through double checking my spreadsheet math to make sure everyone's scores are in the right place and added correctly. The following scores are final and official.
- Oliver Lewis: 28, 29.7, 27, 28.3 = 113
- Mark Kopiwoda: 26.7, 25.3, 28.2, 29.8 = 110
- Garrick Oxley: 26.8, 29.1, 27.3, 26.3 = 109.5
- Leah Olson: 28, 29.4, 24.9, 25.7 = 108
- Jonah Frick: 25.4, 26.6, 27.5, 25.9 = 105.4
- Darren Ledbetter: 22, 23.4, 23.5, 23.1 = 92
- Brandon Dellario: 20.9, 18.7, 19.5, 24.8 = 83.9
*Unfortunately, Garrick is not old enough to attend NPS. He will still be an official team member, and will perform at all other events.
Once again, congratulations to all competing poets tonight. I was very impressed.
(Cross-posted from my blog at www.pakzoo.org.)
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Help! I need to design a class
I have seven days to design a class and build a syllabus for it. My debate is exactly what the class will be about. Some ideas:
- Poetry Slam: Writing and Performance.
- Teaching Poetry Slam: Using poetry slam in the English classroom.
- Encouraging Student Activism: Integrating activism into the secondary classroom.
- Other ideas
Obviously, the first option is creative writing, whereas the other two are for future teachers. They have to be housed in the English Department, so I need to frame them as English classes.
The first two classes having to do with poetry slam would be fairly easy to build. I am very vague on what the third class would look like. However, this is tightly tied to my dissertation research, so it's pretty applicable.
Suggestions? Advice? Mild chiding?
Actors, writers, and directors needed
The following is an ad from X-Performance Group. Please see my commentary below:
Needed: Actors, writers, directors and spaces on Avenue of the Arts for the next edition of 24 Hour Theatre - Saturday, May 12, 2007.
This will be the 19th production of 24 Hour Theatre, which has been performed at least twice a year in galleries and warehouses since 1999.
This production will be organized by local underground performers X-Performance Group and Space vs Time in partnership with the Dwelling Place, which founded the Avenue of the Arts several years ago.
The unique 24 Hour Theatre experience consists of five original one-act plays that are written, directed, and performed within a twenty-four hour period.
This time, the plays will be performed in five apartments and storefronts along the Avenue of the Arts, which runs along Division Avenue from Weston to Wealthy in Downtown Grand Rapids. Like the popular Arts Walks, the audience will travel from space to space, enjoying all of the artistic talent in this town.
24 Hour Theatre actually begins the day before at 8 pm with five writers gathering to get direction from the show's producer, Rachel Finan. Then fortified by plenty of coffee and lots of donuts, they write their plays until 6 am Saturday morning. Directors for each play arrive an hour later and to talk with the writers, who then go to sleep. The actors arrive at 8 am and then they rehearse with the directors until 7 pm. The audience shows up at 8 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm.
Nearly 100 plays with 350 characters have been performed through this exhausting process. "We get a lot of support from the local theatre community," said Ms. Finan. "Despite what they say, they are energized by the less-experienced performers and they like being able to play different characters."
24 Hour Theatre will begin at the Martineau Apartments at 106 Division Avenue South. Doors will open at 7 pm and the plays will begin at 8 pm. Tickets are $7 and available at the door. For more information, or to participate in this event contact Rachel Finan at yoroc111@aol.com or go to www.spacevstime.com.
I have participated in 24 hour theatre at various times as an actor, a writer, and a director. It is a great experience for the experienced and inexperienced alike. If you are looking for a unique experience that will stretch your abilities and your test your limits, I suggest you give it a try. You should contact Rachel directly if you are intrested, but please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the experience.
Needed: Actors, writers, directors and spaces on Avenue of the Arts for the next edition of 24 Hour Theatre - Saturday, May 12, 2007.
This will be the 19th production of 24 Hour Theatre, which has been performed at least twice a year in galleries and warehouses since 1999.
This production will be organized by local underground performers X-Performance Group and Space vs Time in partnership with the Dwelling Place, which founded the Avenue of the Arts several years ago.
The unique 24 Hour Theatre experience consists of five original one-act plays that are written, directed, and performed within a twenty-four hour period.
This time, the plays will be performed in five apartments and storefronts along the Avenue of the Arts, which runs along Division Avenue from Weston to Wealthy in Downtown Grand Rapids. Like the popular Arts Walks, the audience will travel from space to space, enjoying all of the artistic talent in this town.
24 Hour Theatre actually begins the day before at 8 pm with five writers gathering to get direction from the show's producer, Rachel Finan. Then fortified by plenty of coffee and lots of donuts, they write their plays until 6 am Saturday morning. Directors for each play arrive an hour later and to talk with the writers, who then go to sleep. The actors arrive at 8 am and then they rehearse with the directors until 7 pm. The audience shows up at 8 pm and the show starts at 8:30 pm.
Nearly 100 plays with 350 characters have been performed through this exhausting process. "We get a lot of support from the local theatre community," said Ms. Finan. "Despite what they say, they are energized by the less-experienced performers and they like being able to play different characters."
24 Hour Theatre will begin at the Martineau Apartments at 106 Division Avenue South. Doors will open at 7 pm and the plays will begin at 8 pm. Tickets are $7 and available at the door. For more information, or to participate in this event contact Rachel Finan at yoroc111@aol.com or go to www.spacevstime.com.
I have participated in 24 hour theatre at various times as an actor, a writer, and a director. It is a great experience for the experienced and inexperienced alike. If you are looking for a unique experience that will stretch your abilities and your test your limits, I suggest you give it a try. You should contact Rachel directly if you are intrested, but please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the experience.
PAKZOO Finals
Slam Destiny
Poets Anonymous K-Zoo
April Slam Tournament Finals
Sunday, April 22nd
8:00 – 10:00 PM
The four finals winners qualify for the
2007 Poets Anonymous K-Zoo National Poetry Slam team
to compete in Austin, Texas August 7th-11th
Ravenwood Coffee
773 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 341-4200
$5; All Ages Welcome
For more info, contact:
Todd Bannon
tabannon@gmail.com
Poets Anonymous K-Zoo
April Slam Tournament Finals
Sunday, April 22nd
8:00 – 10:00 PM
The four finals winners qualify for the
2007 Poets Anonymous K-Zoo National Poetry Slam team
to compete in Austin, Texas August 7th-11th
Ravenwood Coffee
773 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49007
(269) 341-4200
$5; All Ages Welcome
For more info, contact:
Todd Bannon
tabannon@gmail.com
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