This week I had the privilege of attending the Project M Celebration at Woodbury High School. Project M is a program for 35 Middle School and High School At Risk students.

The Intent of Project M is to help urban and suburban youth develop positive self identity and support a sense of purpose and direction they need to more fully engage in life.

TEL.A.VISION became an active part of their curriculum. Each of the youth created a TEL.A.VISION video. At the celebration two of the youth’s videos were shown and as the finale each student stated the career they desired as though it had already happened ( I am a head nurse) and one word to describe Project M ( success, life saving, a new start).

We are looking forward to working closer together with Project M to grow the program next year.

Here are two student videos.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1ElrOO2Bqw

www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3vGBelri60

First are a few examples from Shoua Cha and Mai Mayla Vang and what follows is Mary’s story of the experience. Please read on after the videos if you are interested in the best way to help youth reach their potential with a vision video.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmXfyNke7K4

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvs_GuraURw

Working through those videos with the girls was a very interesting process.  I think we had about 4 weeks to prepare 16 videos.  At first I thought that it was going to be an easy process, however as we started to get into the packet and talking about what types of goals the girls had for the future, it was really hard.  Many of the girls were not sure about what and who they wanted to become.

As we were working in groups and discussed each scene, many of them came up with the same answers because it seemed more safe.  However, when I realized that I was not getting anywhere, I decided to work with each girl individually.  It was through that process that I was able to build a deeper connection with her and encourage her to think deeper and farther out into her future.

Some of the responses I received from some of the girls were.  ” I don’t know what I want to do,” “I don’t see myself doing anything great in my future,” ” I don’t think it is possible that I will be able to go to college or find a good job,” ” I want to have a good life, but I don’t think it is possible,” “I’ve never thought about my future until now,” ” I’m scared to think about my future.”  However, after going through the process with them individually and helping and guiding them in creating the video and having them see the outcome of their videos,  all of them had a smile on their faces and were so proud of themselves.

Some of them stated ” Believe in your future, your future is bright, many of them are now starting to think further than just what is happening “here and now.”  Even in our group discussion this week, we talked about making decisions that will impact our lives.  We talked about issues such as boys, running away, ditching school with friends and peer pressure.  I did a role play with one of the girls and in that role play I pretended to be her best friend asking her to ditch school with me to go to the mall.  After much convincing she decided to go and said, just this 1x.  The next day I asked again and she said I told you that I don’t want to go because I don’t want to get in trouble or fall behind in school.  But eventually she decided to leave school.  Then next day I asked her again and this time she became upset and said, “Yes, I don’t like school very much, but if I continue to ditch school, I will have bad grades and will not be able to go to college and have the life that I want.  She then referred to her video and how she talked about wanting a good job and a big house and doing some of the things that she had planned to do from her video.

I thought that it was so interesting and awesome that she was able to think about that.  Another thing was, it was very powerful for our younger kids to see the 6th graders graduate from Hlub Zoo and see what their visions for their future will be.  In group our younger kids are already thinking about what their going to put in their videos when they graduate.  They also said that it was their favorite part of the graduation ceremony.  Now I even have teachers asking me how that process went and how it would benefit their classes.

Summary and Conclusions:
The Pathways Program staff view Telavison as a beneficial tool and visioning process. When the video were presented a the graduation ceremony there was not a dry eye in the house. They are excited as they prepare to share more of the results with parents and look forward to offering the course each semester.

Social worker Dave Mason said, “not only does the software help students to focus on the future in a positive manner, it is a good diagnostic tool for assessing student’s transition needs.”

SEDOM: The Special Education District of McHenry County is a special education cooperative in Northern Illinois serving the 18 school district be providing special education programs and services in the 90 schools serving a student population of over 55,000 students in the county.

Transition Program: SEDOM administers a program for students 18-21 years of age in collaboration with McHenry Community College to prepare students with disabilities through education and work experiences for transition from school to work.

Implementation Description: A SEDOM Teacher, Ms. Margaret Molnar, implemented the Tel.a.vision curriculum with 20 MCC transition students during the fall 2009 and spring 2010 semesters. Implementation was supported by the program aides, Education and Careers Director, Ms. Sharon Slover, and consultant Christy Chambers.

Teacher Experiences: During visits and through interim email communications, the teacher made the following observations and comments to the consultant:
Ms. Molnar was surprised and impressed with the ability of her students to grasp the concept of visioning and their ability to frame their life dreams in the present tense. Although some of the students took longer and more individual attention to grasp the concept, she observed that her students successfully grasped and applied the concept.

Ms Molnar commented she should have spent more time on the technical aspects of implementation the program such as how to upload student selected music and graphics outside of the music and graphics housed in the application.

Ms. Molnar commented that the process of students visioning their future and expressing their abilities and hopes for the future was a positive experience for her the students and for her as a teacher to understand the goals and dreams of her students. She now had a better idea of student interests and goals and could better advise them on class and life choices to align with their life visions.
Ms. Molnar also stated that the next time she implements Tel.a.viison, she will have a better grasp of the curriculum and the software application and how to individualize the process. Those students who quickly grasp and create life visions can share their expertise to assist others and also have the opportunity to create additional vision videos such as annual review or topical videos as other students work to complete their initial life vision videos.
Student Experiences: During onsite observations, students were observed actively engaged in creating their life vision videos. At the time of the observations, students experienced the initial lessons of the curriculum guide, had created their dream statements and were at the point of creating the initial Director’s Cut. Students were uploading music and graphics and were proudly sharing their visions videos with the consultant and with one another. They were eagerly assisting one another as one student would figure out how to technically implement aspects of the software and would proudly assist his/her classmates. The program aides were needed to assist some of the students working more slowly and needing individual assistance to grasp the concept of stating life visions in current terms. At first many of the students found learning the software confusing. After they understood how to use the program, the comments were uniformly positive, with virtually all students taking great pride in their presentations.

Student Comments:
I really enjoyed creating the vision videos.
I was able to review other’s videos and find mistakes and make suggestions with kindness.
My grammar improved from the beginning of the class.
We worked better in groups than at the beginning of the class. We were able to help each other.
It gave me a chance to express myself.
I liked thinking about the future.
They were excited each time I came to visit, which was every week except the one when the comments were made.
Social Worker Comments: Dave Munson
“As a social worker, I found the software to be of great value in working with students preparing for adult life. The software promoted a positive future focus, which is difficult for many students who have low self esteem. The project stimulated planning, self examination, and thought in the students. From my perspective, the projects also give staff working with students a great deal of information to work with when attempting to educate and guide students toward transition. The nature of the software allows a projective look at student values, self worth, and sense of efficacy in relation to functioning in the non academic world. So not only does the software help students to focus on the future in a positive manner, it is a good diagnostic tool for assessing student’s transition needs.”
Consultant Comments: Christy Chambers
Although this is a preliminary report, this consultant continues to support the Tel.a.vision experience of creating vision videos and its ability to instill hope in the future for our students with disabilities. Not only does the creating and sharing a life vision instill hope for the future for our students, it also is an effective vehicle for students to communicate their hopes and dreams for the future to their families, teachers and friends. This is vitally important because for some students, this may be the only vehicle available for them. Parents and teacher often think they know the hopes and dreams of their children, but often project their own hopes rather than seeing the actual hopes of these students.
It is evident that teachers may need support during the initial implementation of Tel.a.vision, whether it is to encourage them, substantiate their approach, or advise on effective accommodations and individualization strategies. Depending upon their background with software applications, the online supports such as the blog should be most beneficial.
Tel.a.vision will decrease the number of students with disabilities at risk of developing disabilities from dropping out of school by providing ways for students to think positively about their futures and by giving them more home and social an emotional support.
Online Curriculum: The online curriculum worked well for SEDM. The teacher comments that she should have spent more time with the curriculum and personally experiencing the creation of the videos before working with students to anticipate the supports they might need. The teacher appreciated the lessons and thought they went well in her program.

“We’re living at a moment of quantum possibility now, not just in terms of our physical age but in terms of the history of the world. It is like the universe is splitting in two — which perhaps it is.

Neither we, nor the world we live in , will go much further down the road in the current state. We can either let go gracefully of the people we’ve been, becoming ever more transcendent,  or we can let go angrily, our lives becoming more bitter and chaotic.

Rebirth is a gradual process giving embrace and welcome to the person we really wish to be.”

She offers this meditation.

“Close your eyes and imagine the life you want. Now allow yourself to focus your inner eye on the person you would be if you were living the preferred life. Notice the differences in how you behave and present yourself: allow yourself to spend several seconds breathing in the new image. Hold the image for several seconds and ask God to imprint it on your subconscious. Do that every day for ten minutes or so.”

This is what we are asking people to do when they create a TEL.A.VISION vision video. We ask youth to imagine the preferred life by creating a vision video and watching it regularly. She follows with this quote, “If you share this technique with certain people, the chance are good they’ll tell you that it’s way too simple. It’s up to you what you believe.“

TEL.A.VISION’s white paper was researched and written by Dr. Christy Chamber, Past President of the Council of Administrators for Special Education, Special Education Superintendent and renowned special education expert.

“ Our Special Ed students often see themselves as their disability,” said Dr. Christy Chambers.  “TEL.A.VISION helps them see their “distinguished abilities” and by sharing their videos with teachers, friends and family gives them a support system to help them achieve their goals.”

TEL.A.VISION has proven to be successful with all students, but especially those at risk and those receiving special educations services. The program engages students in a meaningful way, allows their voices to be heard, has improved AYP and helps to decrease the dropout rate.

“The average TEL.A.VISION video is watched 73 times in a one year period. This “neuroplastic training” strengthens the brain through repetition, just like a weak muscle, and helps the brain to pay attention to daily occurrences that can help students achieve their goals,” stated George Johnson of TEL.A.VISION.

Our nation’s youth are dropping out of school at an alarming rate because they have no hope and do not see the relevance of the curriculum to their futures. It is important that we realize the impact on society of our youth with no hope who are dropping out of school.

About TEL.A.VISION

TEL.A.VISION was created by former Special Education teacher turned entrepreneur, George Johnson. TEL.A.VISION is a Web 2.0 online curriculum that inspires youth to create and share visions of hope and possibility through personal “vision videos”.  The TEL.A.VISION technology platform was designed for all youth, but the focus is the Special Education and At Risk student.  To download the white paper go to http://telavision.tv/white-paper/

St. Croix Valley Alternative Learning Center

I recently used TEL.A.VISION with two of my classes at the St.Croix Valley Alternative Learning Center (SCVALC). The students got into it. They took ownership of their videos. They all finished the project. The software was simple to use and there are online lesson plans to follow.

TEL.A.VISION got the students looking ahead; looking to their future. It was a doorway to open for me to have discussions on where they are headed and what they are doing.

I’ve often said that the hardest students to work with are those who have no direction. When a student has dreams and goals you have something to work toward. If you don’t have goals and you get knocked off course there is nothing to help steer you back. TEL.A.VISION gave them a foundation of goals that they can go back and change over time.

I’d highly recommend TEL.A.VISION for Alternative Learning Center students.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=2H4cGsisjec

Dunwoody Academy students at their computers

I am a high school writing teacher with a large special ed. population in my classroom. I found the visionary aspect, the creative freedom and hands on approach empowered previously unengaged students.  Since the project I have seen that by referring back to the goals set in the video students are connecting daily work to long term goals in a more concrete manner.

From the first day that we started using TEL.A.VISION there seemed to be an instant connection between the students and the program.  The special ed. students in my class seem to be more comfortable writing, and processing information on the computer than with a pencil and paper.  TEL.A.VISION allowed them an opportunity to have success in the classroom in a format that permitted them to focus on what they were saying rather than the format that they were using.

I would recommend TEL.A.VISION to ANY teacher trying to get students to rise to their full potential

Here is a sample video by one of the students.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgZHmGCfU04

www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ux8sHDwncY

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oe12nLdO4Oo

“I see past students in the hallways almost every day who tell me how cool the vision video assignment was and how they still watch it. One 9th grader told me she watched her video the other day and has decided not to be a lawyer but instead wants to become a teacher.”

Here are what some of Mr. Amaral’s students said in their blog posts:

“I learned I have the capability to do whatever I hope and dream for my life.”

“I was so proud of my telavision!! I encourage others to do this to, it is a great experience.”

“My mom and dad were very proud of me when I did my tel.a.vison project. My Mom’s eyes got a little teary.”

“This was our best homework assignment we did all year.”

“Now that I put it out there for everyone to see my goals and dreams there are more people who are believing me and cheering me on.”

And finally there was the girl who had not completed an assignment all year who completed her TEL.A.VISION. She wrote in her blog,”It’s about time that someone asked us what we think.“