TEL.A.VISION Helped Me Create a Doorway to Discuss ALC Student’s Futures
Posted on 03. Feb, 2010 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Power of Vision, TEL.A.VISION Stories
By Tom Wendt
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.
Digital Story Telling with Homeless Students
Posted on 02. Jan, 2010 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Power of Vision, TEL.A.VISION Stories
Lanise Block enjoyed using TEL.A.VISION in her classroom and decided to use it in a “Digital Story Telling” project with the homeless. She was surprised by how well the project was accepted by her students.
Use in a High School Classroom
Posted on 02. Jan, 2010 by Ringmaster in All Posts
We caught up with Lanise Block, a teacher at Henry High School in Minneapolis, at the recent TIES Conference. Here is what she had to say about about using TEL.A.VISION in her classroom.
7th Graders realize ” I Can Make A Difference in the World”
Posted on 28. Dec, 2009 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Power of Vision
Mr Amaral, a Global Concepts teacher, is beginning his third year of bringing TEL.A.VISION to every 7th grader at Oakland Junior High. Here is what he had to say about TEL.A.VISION. “TEL.A.VISION makes my students think about themselves in the world. It helps them think about what they could be. It is an opportunity for them to take control of their lives and realize they can make a difference in the world.”
“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.“
TEL.A.VISION Featured on B2E News Alert
Posted on 12. Jul, 2009 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Media, Power of Vision, TEL.A.VISION News
We visited with Anne Wujcik at the National Educational Computer Conference in Washington DC. Anne is, among other things, the Editor of B2E News Alert, Business Education Intelligence from QED and the Heller Report.
Anne Wujcik —Friday, July 10, 2009
George Johnson, founder and CEO of TEL·A·VISION, is a man on a mission. TEL·A·VISION ‘s mission is to inspire youth to identify and express their unique gifts in service of a better world for all. It does this by providing tools that make it very easy for anyone to create a Vision Video.
The technology is powered by One True Media, a TEL·A·VISION partner and maker of online software that allows people to easily create and share video montages. The vision comes from the hearts and souls of students who use their videos to share their passion, explores the possibilities or frame their dreams.
The TEL·A·VISION web site features six tutorials that walk the user through the process of creating a Vision Video. There is a complete Curriculum Guide to help teachers or adult mentors lead students through the Vision process from start to finish, supported by video tutorials that explain the process of each unit. As George shared some of the Vision Videos with me and talked about the students who had created them, I could see how powerful this tool could be, not only for goal setting and developing communication and technology skills, but for helping educators learn more about their students.
TEL·A·VISION is a technology platform for everyone (I could see myself using this tool, though I have resisted manipulating video and even photos, to date), but its focus is the special ed and at-risk student. George talks about special education teachers who use their students’ videos to help regular classroom teachers see beyond the students’ particular problems to their potential. TEL·A·VISION offers teachers new insights into students’ goals, values and dreams, opening the door to enhanced communication and a better understanding of their needs and how to help them succeed. Check out a few student example videos at http://telavision.tv/student-examples
Research points to the importance of instilling hope and optimism in youth
Posted on 15. Jun, 2009 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Power of Vision
University of Minnesota Medical School researcher Iris Borowsky, M.D., Ph.D., and colleagues found that one in seven adolescents believe that it is highly likely that they will die before age 35, and this belief predicted that the adolescents’ would engage in risky behaviors.
“While conventional wisdom says that teens engage in risky behaviors because they feel invulnerable to harm, this study suggests that in some cases, teens may take risks because they overestimate their vulnerability, specifically their risk of dying,” Borowsky said. “These youth may take risks because they feel hopeless and figure that not much is at stake.”
This fatalistic view varied notably across social groups with significant differences by sex, race/ethnicity, family structure, and receipt of public assistance. More than 29 percent of American-Indian, 26 percent of African-American, 21 percent of Hispanic, and 15 percent of Asian youth reported believing they would die young—compared with 10 percent of their Caucasian peers. Nearly 25 percent of youth living in households that received public assistance also shared this belief.
“Our findings reinforce the importance of instilling a sense of hope and optimism in youth,” Borowsky said. “Strong connections with parents, families, and schools, as well as positive media messages, are likely important factors in developing an optimistic outlook for young people.”
Native Americans, blacks and low-income teens – kids who are disproportionately exposed to violence and hardship – were much more likely than whites to believe they’d die young.
“We know some things about how to promote optimism and hope in youth,” Borowsky explained. “Parents matter — involved, caring, connected parents,” she said. “Schools matter — school connectedness, creating a climate where students feel a part of their school and safe at school, and media matters — given the power of media to convey both positive and negative messages to a large audience of young people.”
Dr. Walsh Sees TEL.A.VISION Having a Worldwide Impact
Posted on 09. Mar, 2009 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Supporters
Dr. David Walsh the founder and CEO of the Institute for Media and the Family understands the positive and negative effects of television and computer usage better than anyone. He said “I am excited and pleased to support your work to make TEL.A.VISION available to children and youth everywhere. It is both an exciting technology and one capable of enriching the lives of millions.“
TEL.A.VISION is about youth telling their stories. Dr. Walsh continued, “I believe that whover tells the stories defines the culture. I am so excited about TelAVision because it combines powerful cutting edge technology with storytelling. The result will be a generation of children and youth who become creators of stories that will engage enlighten and give voice to their dreams for a better world.“
If you get a chance, catch Dr. Walsh’s latest book “No. Why Kids-of All Ages-Need It and Ways Parents Can Say It“
Click Continue Reading to read Dr. Walsh’s full letter of support for TEL.A.VISION. (more…)
Vision and Neuroplasticity
Posted on 06. Mar, 2009 by Steve Borsch in All Posts, Power of Vision
Facing a six hour adventure to get home to Minnesota from New York last year, I stopped in the LaGuardia airport bookstore to see if something caught my fancy and would be an immersive read. The book I chose was Norman Doidge’s The Brain That Changes Itself, and I can’t think of any recent book I’ve read that illustrates the power of TEL.A.VISION better than this one.
Doidge takes us on a journey into the latest developments in brain science which has led to what’s being termed “a revolution” in our understanding that the brain is truly “plastic” which can be molded, shaped, and rewired, “For years the doctrine of neuroscientists has been that the brain is a machine: break a part and you lose that function permanently. But more and more evidence is turning up to show that the brain can rewire itself, even in the face of catastrophic trauma: essentially, the functions of the brain can be strengthened just like a weak muscle.“
There were many aspects of this book that leapt out at me but one key point — specifically within the context of TEL.A.VISION — is that permanently imprinting and creating new neural pathways in the brain (i.e., permanent behavior changes, knowledge permanence, automatic responses and deep, intuitive understandings) only happen when a person is focused, paying close attention and directing ones thoughts.
The discovery of “neuroplasticity,” that our thoughts can change the structure and function of our brains — even in old age — is the most important breakthrough in neuroscience in four centuries.
That’s right. Thought. TEL.A.VISION is a movement that directs, focuses and ensures students are thinking positive thoughts and paying close attention to their dreams as they craft their story and a vision of a future all their own.
SEARCH INSTITUTE supports TEL.A.VISION
Posted on 05. Jan, 2009 by Ringmaster in All Posts, Supporters
When we started out on this adventure, one of the first organizations with whom we met was the Search Institute, headed by CEO Dr. Peter Benson. We are believers in the message contained within Dr. Benson’s new book “Sparks” — which describes a simple yet powerful plan for awakening the spark that lives inside each and every young person and what happens when those sparks are illuminated and nurtured, giving young people joy, energy, and direction — and it was clear that our directions are quite similar.
We both believe the key to healthy youth is for them to find their unique gift(s) and have support for them to grow. We were honored to be able to present at their annual conference as well as have many of their youth presenters create TEL.A.VISION videos for their presentations.
Here are a few quotes from their letter of endorsement.
“We believe TEL.A.VISION and the empowering process of creating visions of hope for the future will be widely embraced.“
“Our current culture is filled with negativity, cynicism, and hopelessness. Our young people are the vulnerable recipients. We know from our work in positive youth and community development that it is not only possible to bring hope into the mix, it is a key to sustainable change.”
“We are delighted and energized by the potential we see in supporting and collaborating with George Johnson and TEL.A.VISION.”
We look forward to working with SEARCH in the future. Click “Continue Reading” below to read the SEARCH Institute endorsement letter sent to us by Dr. Peter Benson. (more…)
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