Week 4 Blog 3 – An Overview of My Possibility

During this post I am going to comment on each of the first six chapters in the Art of Possibility by Roz and Ben Zander (2000).

Chapter 1: It’s All Invented

I was a little worried when I first picket up this book that the first chapter was express how everything in life is already planned for us. I was pleasantly surprised to read about the evolutionary adaptations of senses in different species. I was a little disappointed however, that the authors used science to help introduce the book and then the used scientific wording incorrectly on page 13. Just so you know science does not simply take new facts and change theories on a whim. Rather many new observations will have scientists create new hypotheses and then if the hypotheses are supported by much more evidence then a new theory will compete with or even replace an older theory. I know this sounds picky of me and I admit I am critical about science terminology. I am this way because I have to teach a group of new students each year what science really is. This is quite the task when the majority of the time science terms are not used correctly in daily life.

Chapter 2: Stepping Into A Universe of Possibility

Please see my previous blog about my experiences volunteering at the homeless shelter.

Chapter 3: Giving An A

There were many ideas in this chapter than makes sense to me in theory and other things that I already do in my own classroom. I cannot imagine giving every student an A as his or her final grade. Yes, I think this is a good idea and I can see why this breaks down barriers, but the way our current educational system works does not allow this sort of freedom. In a beautiful world my students to shout, “Hooray, I screwed up!” and then they would learn from their mistakes. Instead students say shoot and then they learn not to make that mistake again.

If you were to walk into my classroom you would hear me call my students “scientists” often. Much like Zander’s stories, I too want to treat my students as equals rather than students. By calling students “scientists” we meet at this common place where we all meet as seekers of knowledge.

This chapter was probably the most moving chapter I have read in any book in a long time. I think I will give myself an A tonight as a student and an A tomorrow as a teacher.

Chapter 4: Being a Contribution

For the last two years I was working while my husband was earning his Master’s Degree. I know as a man he felt bad that he wasn’t making the money for those two years. I always told him that by helping around the house and other odds and ends he was contributing. Now that we both are working, I brought up the idea of contributing versus competing. Needless to say we had a great discussion.

Chapter 5: Leading from Any Chair

The stories that were told in this chapter paralleled a teacher’s existence. As Zander explained about his life as a conductor I kept on saying in my head that is not just true for conductors, teachers do that too. How often do we as teachers ask students how we are doing? I am afraid I am guilty of not listening enough to what students need during the year. I tend to wait for the end of the semester surveys when I can’t change things that are not working. I am planning to write a survey for my students to take next week so that I begin having an honest dialogue with my students about my performance as their teacher.

Interview with Ben Zander
 

Chapter 6: Rule Number 6

I think that what most struck me about this chapter is wondering if I am completely fulfilled. I try to live my life without regret and honestly I have very few regrets. Honestly I can think of one true regret…but then again if I didn’t have this experience I would not be me. I know that I would like to work less, but much like my mother, I love my work even if it takes way too much of my time. Perhaps if I work less, the work that I do would be more meaningful.

Resources:
Zander, R. S., & Zander, B. (2000). The art of possibility: Transforming professional and personal life. New York: Penguin Group.

“Ben Zander re: Landmark Education & The Landmark Forum” posted by contributetosomeone on April 24, 2007 to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r57r534apRo&feature=player_embedded retrieved on October 18, 2009.