Topic Brainstorm

Topic #1: Geography of the Ramayana
I have always had an interest in geography. With me also being a Social Studies Education major, this topic makes a lot of sense for me to consider. I think this would be a fun way to learn about the geography of India and some of the mythological places that we will see in the epics. Another positive to this topic is that there are no current projects on the "Project Ideas" page, although I feel like I may have read about one when browsing the storybooks during the first week of class.
A travel itinerary such as this could be a neat idea.

Topic #2: Sages and Gurus/Vishvamitra
I am interested in this topic because I am curious to see all the teaching styles that will be used. Seeing what worked and what didn't as well as why it did or didn't work is something else I will look for if I choose this topic. This topic is obviously centered around my future profession (teaching), which makes it stand out to me. A big downside to this topic is that there are currently four past projects listed. As uncreative as I am, I would like to be original if possible.
My research for this topic would probably start here before deciding if I want to go with just Vishvamitra or multiple gurus.

Topic #3: Epic Battles
I am considering this topic due to my interest in history, primarily military history. There seems to be many battles throughout the epics that we will read, giving me plenty of variety to choose from. I would start my research with the military history of India, and there are many directions I could go from there. This topic has been done twice, but I do feel I could take it a different direction, so it isn't that big of a negative.

Topic #4: Yoga
I have actually been going to yoga classes for the last few weeks and have really enjoyed it. I started going with no knowledge about it, and although I have learned many of the poses, I still don't know too much about the history or anything else really. This would be a very interesting way to learn about the activity, how and why it came to be, and a great complement to my classes. The yoga Wikipedia page would be my starting point.

Another option that I have given some thought to is taking a story or stories and somehow relating the story(ies) to what was going on in India during that time. After this assignment, I feel that this might work best with my Epic Battles topic, although it wasn't exactly what I had in mind when I first thought of this. I could even use the Wikitrails EC assignments to help with research. I do not know how feasible this would be, however.

Decisions (July 2015)

Image Author: Nick Youngson

Image Source: Picserver

Week 2 Story - The Beautiful Goblins of Ceylon

Once upon a time, on the island of Ceylon, there was a coastal city that was inhabited by goblins. These goblins were females, also known as rakshasis. Rakshasis are notorious for their magical shape-shifting powers and of course, their man-eating.

One day, a large ship carrying hundreds of sailors wrecked near the coastal city. The goblins became aware of this and quickly shape-shifted their empty hamlet into a busy city, complete with fishermen, shepherds, and farms. They also shifted themselves into beautiful women and began to assist the ship-wrecked sailor, bringing them food and clothing and supplying shelter.

Shape-shifting rakshasis

Image Author: Anne Anderson (1874-1931)

Image Source: Wikipedia

The sailors were awestruck by the kind, beautiful women. And what luck! All of the women were single and looking, and there were just enough for each sailor. What a fortunate turn of events. Before long, the sailors had begun to marry the beautiful women left and right. Only a few sailors had not yet popped the question, mostly because they were intimidated by the beautiful women and simply lacked confidence in themselves. The captain of the ship, who had also not married yet, did not lack confidence, but instead, was very suspicious of the entire town. Something about it all just seemed a little...too good to be true. He began to tell his shipmates of his suspicions, but few believed him.

Those who did, however, began to develop a plan to leave the island. Little by little, they began to rebuild their broken ship. The new ship would be much smaller than the original as it was made from the scraps of the older ship. This meant that it would be built much quicker. It also meant it would be much easier to hide.

Within days, the new ship was ready to set sail. The captain and his few loyal followers tried once again to persuade the rest of the sailors that there was something wrong with the town, but none would listen. At nightfall, the captain and his men took to the seas. That same night, the rakshasis began to imprison their husbands, preparing for a great goblin feast. By the next day, they were nothing but bones.

The captain and his band sailed for a week before finding their way home. They never knew what became of their shipmates, but they did know that if something seems to good to be true, it usually is.


Author's Note:
In the original story, the captain eventually finds out that he has married a goblin when he wakes up before she gets home. He and a few other men are then eventually saved by a goblin-hating fairy and her flying horse. 
In the new story, the captain never finds out that the women are goblins and there is no fairy to save them. They escape by rebuilding their ship.

Bibliography. "Goblin City" from The Giant Crab and Other Tales from Old India by W.H.D. Rouse. Web Source

Reading Notes Anthology

Goblin City
- It is said that goblins would force travelers/sailors/etc. to be their husbands. In this story, the sailors were persuaded to marry the goblins.
- Goblins used their magic powers to make the environment look normal. What is the extent of their powers?
- There is no timeline for how long the sailors had been there.
- Of the 500 sailors, only one awakened before his wife returned.
- The captain's wife could not contain her excitement about what goblins like to eat, muttering a song about it, and outing herself as a goblin. She could have learned something from The Turtle and the Geese.
- Many of the sailors appear to be very gullible, trusting their wives (who they may or may not have known for a long time by now) instead of their captain and other sailors they had been shipwrecked with.
- A kind, goblin-hating fairy comes from nowhere to save the sailors. Why didn't she save any of the men before the sailors?
- The sailors climbed up on the horse and it is believed that they began to shrink to the size of ants, allowing enough room for all who wished to join.
- The men who chose not to leave were killed and eaten that same night.


This story has a lot of holes and I'm not sure what the moral is (or if there is even supposed to be a moral). It does have an interesting setting, however.

Island of Ceylon (September 2008)

Image Creator: Lencer

Image Source: Wikimedia Commons

Reading Options

After browsing through the overview of the readings, I believe I will want to read more about the character Vishvamitra. The image and accompanying text of  Dasaratha and Vishvamitra, have really caught my interest and looks to be a story I will enjoy. It also helps that Vishvamitra was recommended by the instructor as someone to look for.

Another character I am interested in reading about is Rama. Rama appears to be one of the main characters of Ramayana and I'm curious to see how he went from a god, to a human that defeats the king of the Rakshasas, to being exiled. And that's just in part A!

A third character that I look forward to reading about is Drona. Drona seems to be a warrior-scholar and a guru, which is where my interest in him is founded. I will also be looking to compare his teaching style with that of Vishvamitra.

Vishvamitra sets out on his journey with Rama and Lakshmana

ca. 1780

(Source: Metropolitan Museum)

Time Strategies

As of now, I like the schedule that I have set for myself. I have two hours allotted to this class on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. After my first week of classes, I believe I may also be able to squeeze in an hour or so on Wednesdays that I can use to catch up on anything I've fallen behind on or I can use it for extra credit. I will have to be careful not to use this extra time slot as a crutch, because there will be days when it is needed for other classes. Sticking to my current schedule and using any extra time wisely seems to be the best bet.

The first article I read was How to Beat Procrastination by Caroline Webb. This was a good article that had many helpful tips, although a lot of it is common sense. It's always good to have that reminder, though. Caroline makes a really good point that sometimes just getting started can be the hardest, but also the most vital step, especially for bigger projects. I know that for me, I can get overwhelmed by a large paper or project which can result in me putting the entire thing off for as long as possible. Simply putting a header on a word document helps immensely and although it's a small task, it is something that can checked off. Caroline argues that this can help you feel more motivated to take the next small step, and I agree with her. It reminds me of a saying that I've heard numerous times when it comes to completing something that can seem like too much: "How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time."

The next article that I read was The Myth of "Too Busy" by Tim Grahl. I did not like this article near as much as I did the previous, but the author does make some very valid points. Prioritizing in general is something that I think a lot of people struggle with, myself included, and prioritizing time commitments is even more of a task. Grahl makes the point that replacing time wasters with productivity can help you accomplish more throughout the day. If you combine that thought process with Webb's ideas of completing one small task at a time, a person can really enhance their productivity levels, which is the point of time management in my opinion. Grahl also advises that one should plan ahead, which I believe to be a very good idea and something I try to do daily as well. Unfortunately, things do come up and not every situation can be planned for, but it is always good to at least have a plan for how you are going to use your time.

TIME: Our most precious resource (4 November 2015)

Image Creator: NasimAhmed96$

Source: Wikimedia Commons

Technology

Of the tech tools listed, I am most familiar with blogging, bookmarking, and image editing. I have used blogs in other classes, bookmarks on my own, and image editing in both ways. I am currently taking Learning With Educational Technologies (EIPT 3043) and have used audio recording already, although not Soundcloud. I believe that these two course will complement each other quite nicely in aiding my comfort level with technology.

The tools that I am most excited to work with is website publishing. Although I don't have any plans to use this tool right now, I can see it being very useful to me in the future, especially professionally. All of the tools will be valuable to know and will help me grow as a learner and educator.

This is the second online class I have taken at OU. The first, while a great class, was merely concerned with the content and not so much the technology aspect. I feel that an online class is a great way to incorporate additional learning opportunities, particularly in regards to technology.

How we use technology (25 November 2011)

Image Creator: Denise Krebs

Image Source: Flickr

Assignments

The first thing that I notice when looking through the assignments are the many different types of ways to earn credit. Both the core assignments and the extra credit assignments all vary significantly, which I think is great. I also appreciate having the ability to not only work ahead, but also finish early, something I have never been able to do in any other class. Being able to skip certain assignments and make that up with extra credit is another unique feature of this class that I have not previously experienced.

The assignments I am most looking forward to are the readings. I am also very interested in the Growth Mindset and Wikipedia Trails extra credit opportunities, although I would like to try out as many different extra credit assignments as I can if I have the time. While I am a little unsure about writing my own stories, I can see it being extremely fun and helping me enhance my creativity (my lack of creativity is why I am unsure). 

Now is the time to go beyond your comfort zone.

(Source: Growth Mindset Memes Blog)

Growth Mindset

I had not heard of Carol Dweck prior to watching her Ted Talk "The Power of Believing That You Can Improve," although I feel that I have heard the growth mindset mentioned at some point. After watching the video, I agree with much of what she had to say. Many students are not concerned with the process of learning, only the results. I believe that this is because many teaches are also only concerned with results instead of the learning process, as often times, results (good grades in this case) can be seen even when learning hasn't occurred. This can prevent teachers from challenging their students to learn and can lead to students simply regurgitating what they already know instead of seeking new knowledge. In fact, I feel that this was probably the case for me in many of my high school classes. 

I really like the idea of "Not Yet" as a grading tool. With proper feedback, "Not Yet" can show a student that they are making progress (learning) while telling them what they need to improve on, but without saying they have failed. This can allow a teacher to really challenge a student without destroying their confidence, furthering their ability and desire to learn, and helping  them move away from the fixed-mindset.

I also appreciated this quote from the transcript: "But praising the process that kids engage in, their effort, their strategies, their focus, their perseverance, their improvement. This process praise creates kids who are hardy and resilient." Students need to know that many difficulties in life can be overcome with hard work and perseverance and that simply being intelligent doesn't always go far if you aren't willing to put in the work. 

I am very interested in growth mindset, not only for my future students, but also for myself as a learner, teacher, and coach. I look forward to learning more about this throughout this semester and beyond. 

The bigger the challenge, the more you stretch

(Source: Growth Mindset Memes Blog)

Introduction to a Future Teacher

Hello everyone.

My name is Jeremy Harris and I am a Social Studies Education major from Spiro, Oklahoma. Spiro is a very small town in eastern Oklahoma. It is known for the Spiro Mounds, which many people in this part of the state have never heard of, unfortunately. This is my third semester at OU and I will have another three semesters before I graduate, although I am classified as a Senior. That's what happens when you change your major.

My first major was Physical Education and my second major was pre-Pharmacy. Once I remembered that I do not like math and science, I decided to take a break from school and enlisted in the Marine Corps. I joined in 2012 and completed my contract in 2016. I was stationed in Camp Pendleton, California as a part of 2nd Battalion 4th Marines.

After my second deployment, I was given the opportunity to be an instructor at Urban Leaders Course where I acquired valuable, first-hand experience for my future profession. I have always wanted to coach football, hence my first major being Physical Education, but the experience of actually teaching classes solidified my decision to become a Social Studies teacher. It didn't hurt that I have always enjoyed many of the disciplines of Social Studies, mainly history and geography.

Upon graduation, I plan to teach and coach in the Oklahoma City or Tulsa area. Ideally, I will be at a large school, but I could see myself at a slightly smaller school if the right opportunity presents itself. I highly doubt I will be at a school as small as Spiro, however.

I have a strong interest in most sports, especially football and basketball, and was a three sport athlete in high school, many years ago. Aside from that, I enjoy hiking and other various physical activities. I also enjoy traveling when I have the opportunity. Over the summer I visited Panama City Beach, Florida, Washington D.C., and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, all places that I had not previously been to.

I hope you have enjoyed reading a little about me and I look forward to reading about you.

(Signing the guestbook at a friend's wedding;

photo from 2016)

Storybook Favorites

The first storybook that caught my attention was Every Story Has Two Sides by Kayla Linton. Based on the title, I knew that this storybook would show a perspective that most wouldn't think to consider, which is very pleasing as a Social Studies Education Major. While I am not very familiar with the topic, the introduction does a fine job of explaining what is to come and grabbing the reader's attention. The design of the site was easy to follow and the color scheme was easy on the eyes, especially compared to some of the other storybooks I perused.

The second storybook to pique my interest was Ancient Generals. I'm not sure who the author of this work is, but I was I was drawn to this piece due to my interest in the topic (Military History). The title was very fitting and there were no surprises as to what the content was going to be about. The introduction to this storybook was very creative and lead to each general telling of his greatest accomplishment on the battlefield. The design of this storybook was very similar to Every Story Has Two Sides, although the color scheme wasn't quite as attractive.

Perhaps my favorite storybook was Rate My Rishi by Kira Godinet. I found the title of this storybook to be extremely clever, forcing me to investigate. The introduction did not disappoint, and in fact, drew me in even further. Not only was it a successful parody, but it gave sufficient insight to what the rest of the book was about. Although this is a topic that I am not familiar with, I did not read past the introduction. My reasoning is that I believe I will be required to read about some, if not all, of the featured characters, and I don't want to ruin the story. I prefer the design of this storybook over the other two, mainly because I like the links at the top of the page instead of the left side of the page, but I still prefer the color scheme of Every Story Has Two Sides as it is just much easier on my eyes.

My favorite image comes from the Ancient Generals storybook.

Battle of Marathon

Source: The History Notes

My Favorite Place

My favorite place is the state of Oklahoma. I grew up in a small town in Eastern Oklahoma (Spiro) and have always considered Oklahoma to be home. While I don't know exactly where I want to live upon graduation, I do know that it will be in the state of Oklahoma. With that said, I chose an image of a map of the state of Oklahoma to represent my favorite place. I chose this image specifically, because Highway 9 is a direct link between Norman (where I am now) and Spiro (where I grew up).

Map of Oklahoma State Highway 9 (17 February 2008)

Image Creator: Nick Nolte 

Web Source: Wikimedia Commons

Test Post

This is my test post.