On Teaching….

   I’ve been teaching at Carteret Community College for 22 years. In fact, I have taught Photography in some capacity for over 25 years. Education has changed dramatically since the first day I walked into a classroom/lab. To think that I’m sitting in a coffee shop on the coast of North Carolina (this very cold Sunday morning) checking in to my Art and Photography classes with my laptop computer. I’m picking up a wireless signal and just finished having a discussion about art with a group of student 8 hours away at a college (SWCC) in the mountains of western North Carolina. If you would have told me I’d be able to engage my students, teach my students, connect with my students and help them learn a variety of college level subjects without actually seeing them 10 years ago I would have thought you were absolutely crazy. Now it’s an integral part of what I do as an educator. Online education (distance learning) has been accepted and embraced by high schools and colleges around the world. Now don’t get me wrong, there’s good online teachers and bad just like in the classroom. It takes a completely different approach to be an effective teacher in the online environment. It’s almost as if you become a moderator / facilitator instead of a didactic talking head standing in front of a group of students (sage on the stage) imparting your knowledge to them. Good teaching is still good teaching whether its in the traditional classroom or in the online environment. Good teaching is proactive, dynamic, engaging and takes a certain amount of empathy and compassion. Good teaching online also takes innovation, creativity and a willingness to think (and communicate) in completely new ways.

Distance learning empowers teachers and students in a variety of ways and offers so many more options and alternatives to the traditional instructional model. Teaching online has reinvigorated me to literally reinvent myself as a teacher in addition to making me think about (and teach) my subject matter in a whole new way. In other words it forces me to be a better instructor because I MUST rethink and retool every aspect of my teaching strategy and methodology to be effective in the online environment. The other part of this equation is our students. Especially the ones coming out of high school. Most of them are very comfortable working, communicating and socializing online and they expect their educational experience to be every bit as dynamic, interactive and sophisticated as their other online worlds such as My Space and Face Book.

Its like anything else in this world. People evolve, cultures evolve, society evolves and nothing truly stays the same. That certainly goes for the learning process. I think its great that I can get up in the morning, drive to my local coffee shop and start my day off teaching while sipping a cup coffee. Now I have to get back to a discussion about Prehistoric art with my students in Fayetteville. You gotta love technology. Like I mentioned in an earlier post - it can be a curse or a blessing depending on your point of view, attitude and mindset.

Our “BUSY” Lives

I must admit that even though I spent a good part of the day evaluating and grading homework essays and discussion board posts from my 6 + online classes it was a relatively relaxing and quiet day. The college was closed for Martin Luther King day and I was able to work at my own pace. It struck me how incredibly BUSY we are in this post-modern secular culture. How many people these days can step back and truly take a break from the constant demands of their jobs, families, friends and social (church) commitments. Has technology been a gift or a curse? There’s no doubt I work much harder now than I did 10 - 15 years ago before e-mail, cell phones, internet, instant messaging, voice mail, etc. I’m not sure why this is. Many other people tell me the same thing. I’m not sure if my quality of life has improved because of advances in technology. Sometimes I think I’m just spinning my wheels answering (or deleting) the countless e-mails I get. Sure…there is a lot of good things to be said for all the new ways we have to communicate to one another, BUT with that said, are we really communicating effectively or is it just a bunch of distracting noise that keeps us from living calmer, quieter, peaceful lives?

As I get older I want more peace and quite in my life. Less noise, chatter and chaos. It’s so easy to get caught up in the incredibly fast pace of modern American society. Personally I want to figure out ways to escape the constant noise of it all. There is something to be said about just sitting and being quite and listening to the gentle “voice ” within.

Food for thought this very cold Monday evening….

Observations and Revelations

There’s a subtle connotation of sadness and introspection in many of my black & white photographs that I’ve taken over the years. This revelation hit me HARD while I was organizing, editing and scanning my negatives for the book project. Even many of the ones that don’t have people in them communicate a sense of solitude, isolation and quite sadness. Is it because I was experiencing sadness as I composed the pictures?

Self Shadow Portrait, Beaufort 1988

Adam at Atlantic Beach, 1995

Robin at Ft. Macon 1983

I’ve asked myself where this subliminal sadness come from? Is sadness different from depression? I think it is because I can be feeling a little sad, somber and introspective yet not necessarily be depressed. I think the sadness is very deep rooted in my Irish Catholic heritage. My mother also struggles with sadness and slight depression, yet she doesn’t even know where it comes from most of the time.

Adam on Long Island, 1987

I think it may be deeply ingrained in my Celtic genes (heritage) and goes back to the potato famine and even before when the Vikings (then the English) conquered Ireland and misplaced so many of my people. Is it possible to carry the heavy sadness of generations that came before me? The Irish can be incredibly fun loving and joyous people, but they (based on personal experience) can be very introspective, highly creative slightly manic and sad as well being incredible storytellers. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not whining about these revelations and feelings – I’m just making an observation based on my personal experiences and my photographs.

Banks Street Woods, 1998

I’m slowly making progress with my book, although now that school’s kicked back in I’m not getting as much accomplished as I would like. I have a 3 day weekend and hope to digitize more black & white negatives and journal pages.

Ocracoke Beach 1993

I also have to get some new photographs framed and ready for a Juried Exhibit in Raleigh and the Art From the Heart show that opens here in Morehead next month. So I suppose I need to shake IT off and get back to work. Just something to ponder as I sift through my photographic archive of over 30 years.

Adam at MHC Park, 1993

Andei Waking Up, 1995

Amberlie in Window Light 1994

When I see a potential photograph in my field of view I go into my “shooting zone”. From that point on the image making process becomes very intuitive. Everything from setting my aperture, shutter speed, composition, framing, subject placement and angle are become a involuntary response to my subject based on my personal style and approach. I photographically explore every aspect, gesture, expression and angle possible during those brief moments that my subject (no matter what it is) interests me. So when I say that many of my images have a somber tone to them I wonder if it’s something I am doing subconsciously in addition to the emotional response I create in my subjects during my photographic investigation of them.

One final note on this BloG entry. There are no winners in divorce and I’m well aware that my photographs, writing and art have been impacted greatly by the demise of my 2 marriages over the past 22+ years. With that said, I’m very, VERY blessed and fortunate to have wonderful, kind and even loving relationships with my children’s mothers. I’m not sure how many single Dad’s can say that.

food for thought…

Click Here for more Ireland Photographs

Andei’s Photographic Eye

I’m finally pulling myself out of my birthday blues and been thinking about what a great time I had in New York over Christmas with my daughter Andei. School’s kicked in with a vengance and I haven’t had much time to truly look at the photographs we took while visiting my parents on Long Island. I’m really impressed with Andei’s EYE for composing very unique and highly conceptual photographs. She may not even realize she’s doing it - it may be intuitive, but nonetheless she has a special talent for capturing little slices of reality that many (most) people miss.

Mom framed by Water Bottles by Andei

Mom framed by TV and Wined Glass by Andei 12/07

I’m especially intrigued by the portraits she took of my parents. There is no doubt that she captured them both. I would have never thought to take these photographs. I normally slip into snap shot mode at parties and Andei continues to visually explore and investigate her subject matter where ever she is.

Dad with Glass of Wine by Andei

Dad in Mirror by Andei

Unfortunately I don’t get to spend much time with my daughter these days with her living in Sicily, however - I always tell her, ” it doesn’t matter how many months we’re apart and how far away she lives, I ‘m her Dad and time and distance can’t take my love for her away - I will ALWAYS be her Dad and I love her dearly.

Andei and I in Manhattan

Pretzels by Andei

The weekend is coming to a close. Both my football teams won. Green Bay and the NY Giants. Now they will face off in Green Bay next week. I wanted to work on the BOOK a little this weekend, but I got caught up working on my online classes. The first 10 days is critical to the success of an online class and I wanted to be very proactive and engaged with my 150+ students from all over the state and beyond. Its time to dish out the Chile I made in my crock pot and start winding things down for the night. I have a big week ahead…seems like every week is demanding these days. Retirement is just around the corner and my son Adam graduates UNCW this May so I will be able to back off some of my freelance adjunct teaching jobs and get back to making art and writing.
cheers!

55 and counting…..

Woke up the the realization that I’m 55 today. I still feel very young at heart, but there is no getting around the fact that I’m beyond middle aged and that is a little scary to me. I blinked and 20 + years went by. Seems like the older we get the faster time goes by. I mean I’ve been working (teaching) at the same college for 21 years and living in the same town (Morehead City, NC) for longer than I lived in New York. Its a weird feeling. I’ve experienced some incredibly wonderful times over the years as well as some difficult and sometimes heart wrenching times. Just like most people in this life. I’m not complaining. Things could have turned out a lot worse for me. Sure, I have some regrets - who doesn’t? I would have made some VERY different choices (decisions) if I had it to do over again, BUT with that said…wisdom is wasted on older people. Life can be a dangerous and difficult journey and we don’t always know where it’s going to lead us. Once we get there I am learning that it is all about ATTITUDE. I can choose to accept my situation in life or choose not to. A positive and accepting attitude makes the sojourn a little easier in my opinion.

  I had a very vivid dream right before I woke up last night. I was with my childhood friends (in photo at left) Mike Smith and Kenny Hayes. It was so real and I reached out to them. Next thing I knew I was awake and they were gone. Mike died over 25 years ago. In fact…my 3 best friends growing up are dead (not Kenny though) and here I am at 55 still kicking, so I have a great deal to be thankful for. Even through there have been some bumps (big and small) along the way I’ve had (and still have) a good life, two great children, an challenging job that I love (for the most part) and supportive friends and family.

I don’t know if I have another 55 years ahead of me. Probably not. We’re not guaranteed anything in this life. I’m just extremely thankful for the blessings I have and look forward to the rest of the journey.

Back to Work!

Christmas vacation is over and its time to get my mind focused back on teaching both in the classroom and online in addition to my various distance learning initiatives at Carteret Community College. It was great seeing so many of my family and friends over the break but now its time to crank it back into high gear.

I have a lot on my plate for Spring 08. Two of our biggest projects is peer evaluating every online class offered at CCC in the next 12 months and setting up an online tutoring service for our students. Now that most of our faculty have been trained in online teaching methods it’s time to take a good hard look at the courses (technically and sound instructional design) they are teaching online.  I’m also teaching online for a variety of colleges across the state (not revealing how many) and am experimenting with some new communication tools such as using MS Instant Messenger for my online office hours and expanding on my use of audio and video.

Adam graduates UNCW this Spring with a dual major in Spanish and Political Science. Hard to believe that hurdle is almost over for us. He has really stepped up to the plate and has made me very proud. I don’t mind working extra to help him when I see him putting in so much effort into school.

Even though I have a heavy load this semester I still plan to put time aside each week to work on my BOOK. There are 30 chapters and if i can layout one chapter every 2 weeks I’ll have the book done in one year. I plan on getting the first 2 chapters finished this weekend.

There is a lot going on in the political spectrum especially in the Presidential race. I used to be such a political junkie, but it just got me to stressed out. I’ve detached myself from politics in the media these days even though i still have strong political beliefs. I’ll save those for another Blog post.

Andei enjoying my roasted chicken dinner.

Lastly, I made a New Years resolution to learn how to cook better. I’ve never been very good in the kitchen and am sick of eating out and eating my various sandwich wraps and canned soups. I cooked pea soup with potato’s and sausage last night in my new crock pot. The entire house smelled like home cooking when I woke up this morning. I can’t wait to dig into it for lunch. I never realized how much fun cooking could be. I spent 30 minutes last night preparing it.

ok…I better get to the office.