As I mentioned last week, in this class we will focus on The Design Process, Your Person, and your Passion. This week you need to discover your true person and look for your passion.

What would happen if you just took the time to actually look inside yourself and figure out what makes you tick? Try expanding. Try not giving up so fast. Try focusing on something long enough to make yourself excellent. Try finding your own inner muse. Maybe read something that makes you think once a day (heck, start with just one a week).  Look for daily inspiration in your own creativity.

And as we mentioned in class , we’re going to find our passion. By the end of the week, you need to find a character trait( extra sources: 1,  2 )and an organization you believe in (extra sources: 1). A lot of your projects for the rest of the year will be focused on these two issues. I want to integrate what’s important to YOU in theis class. Remember, it’s not just about design, and it’s certainly not about me in here… it’s all about YOU. What makes you special? Why are you here? What are you gonna do to make the world better because you’re in it- both for yourself and for the world in general. Why should anyone care about what you have to say??

Next class we’ll look into a little more about finding out who you really are. Sometimes it’s hard to see. Let’s take a look at who you are and what makes you tick. Explore your strengths and and weaknesses. As it’s been said by the greatest minds, we must know ourselves to be wise, that the unexamined life is not worth living (Socrates).

Everyone wants to be treated with respect and dignity, but many of us don’t even give ourselves that same respect and dignity we want from others. Get to know yourself. Find out who you are, what you stand for, and where you want to go in life. As we mentioned in class, if you aim for nothing, you’ll hit it every time. And if you want to start on a journey, you gotta know both where you are and where you’re going to plan out the directions to get there. Most of us fail at getting to where we really want to go by not realizing where we are really at.

It’s going to be a good year for those of you that want to be better people- but this class is no place for the lazy, the quitters, and the losers. Choose today to be a winner, or find another class- In here, you only lose when you quit.

 8/30 update – I’m totally loving the book Jane McGonigal recommended in her Ted Talk (below) called Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Amazing  research on successful people and what makes the difference between the people who are successful and those that flounder. Interesting tidbits this morning listen on my way into work.

There are 3 qualities of rewarding work- the three “ingredients” for having a career that you find makes you happy and is rewarding to be a part of:

1. Complexity- Using your brain and having to think as opposed to repetitive tasks or having others do the thinking for you.
2. Autonomy- Having the ability to make your own choices and control your own destiny.
3. Connections between effort and reward- Being able to work harder to make more reward, versus being paid the same no matter what your effort.

I love it! That’s the atmosphere I work hard to maintain in here. One where you need to think and there’s always a challenge ahead, Where you get to make many of the choices about what you will be learning and doing, and The ability for you to forge ahead, work harder, and gain even more reward (not just grades!!) for your diligent efforts. Here’s to making this class a rewarding, engaging, complex, free, and rewarding place to grow and explore.

Advanced students and I are working hard on the game… following last week’s challenge to engage more in this class. Will keep you posted!

So… let’s get started figuring out what we have to work with:

So over last week, I talked a lot about finding yourself, growing up, deciding where you want to be, and making a difference… And we mentioned that we needed to find ourselves- discover where we ARE- before we can start mapping out the directions to where we want to be.

So this week, I want to help you guys figure out where you are. Start with taking this test (scroll down to see the questions). It will give you 3 personality types that are most likely you.  If you want to verify with a more accurate test, that should only give one number, try here (takes 10 minutes). After that, find yourself on the Enneagram Easy Summary and find your number, and see if the description seems to be a good description of you. After that, find your number on THIS PAGE to find out a little more about your type. Make sure that the description sounds a LOT like you. It won’t be perfect- but there should be a lot of similarities between those descriptions and how you feel and act. Remember, this is not to hold you down or lock you in to anything… this is just about being self aware- knowing what makes you tick.

Steps:

1. Take this test (3 results to research) and/or go here (1 result, but not always accurate) to get your personality type

2.  Verify your number on the Enneagram Easy Summary (if it’s wrong, read the others until you find which one is the best description of you)

3. Then read the full description of your personality type on  THIS PAGE (click on your number).  If you got it right, it should be a little creepy how well it describes you! You’ll also learn how to work better with people of other types and famous people that were your personality type! (for the curious, I’m a two)

So now you have a basic kind of core motivation that you feel (success, relationship, perfection, happiness, etc..) and that the same thing that makes you so awesome in some aspects can also come out sideways and make you less than awesome. So just come to accept your limitations and embrace your weaknesses and your strengths… it’s all you. But many of you are trying so hard to fit in somewhere that you haven’t looked really hard at where you actually fit. We all try so hard to be our IMAGE instead of who we ARE. And I can tell you right now, that NEVER works. You’re always working against who you really are. Take some time and look inside. Figure out who you are… because if you don’t- and you hide who you really are for your whole life… it’s like you never existed- you don’t even count. At best, you’ll just be a poor imitation of someone else for the rest of your life. And that is a miserable experience to have to live. And at the same time, nobody gets the pleasure of knowing you.

We’ve all heard the little saying “Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you.” That’s Complete and Utter Bull Poo. Words can destroy people… Bruises heal fast- broken bones get a cast and you’re fine in a month or two… But your emotions? Your heart? No way to bandage, cast, or assist it’s healing. You have to just wait- WITHOUT ANY MORE NEW DAMAGE- for it to heal. Problem is, since you can’t bandange or cast it- you can’t really protect it from other people’s little verbal stones and darts they throw. You have to have a shield. And that shield is simply the truth. The truth of who you are, EXACTLY WHO YOU ARE. No pretending you don’t have faults or being embarassed about your strengths… it’s accepting it all- just as you are. And realize that it’s all connected.

We started looking at the truth of who you are with the personality test things and finding your place in the enneagramm. Some people can’t find a good fit in there- so here’s the next step:

Tell Me who you are. I want you to write down 50 things about you that are good. Yep- Fifty. And they all have to be different. Put your name at the top of the paper and give me 50 things that are good about you. We’ll call this the “Big 50.” This is not what you’re good at doing- you are not what you do… you are simply what you are. Some of your list will be things you are good at doing (football, playing guitar, etc..) but think deeper- about the things that are good about you because it’s the kind of person you are (Examples: I’m Generous. I’m a good listener. I’m honest to people. I’m a good friend.)

I want this on it’s own sheet of paper, with your enneagramm personality type number, your most valued character trait, and the charity you want to support at the top. Show me your awesomeness.

You will need to have this in your notebook for this class. If you don’t have one, steal a sheet of paper from a friend and we’ll staple this one in. But next class I expect everyone to have their notebook, and you can leave it in here on a bookshelf.

9/1 update-

When you’re done with the self-discovery work mentioned in this post, please start moving on to this project. You MUST meet all the specifications, and I suggest reading the guidelines and following links to get the most help on this project.

Yes, I really do expect you to come up with 25 ideas.

Ok. now that that’s over… how about improving yourself? Committing to becoming a better designer. How about this year you start really looking forward and stop just living life as it’s handed to you. Try expanding. Try not giving up so fast. Try finding what makes you tick. Try finding your own inner muse. Maybe read something that makes you think once a day (heck, start with just one a week).  Look for daily inspiration in your own creativity.

And as we mentioned right before break (see 12/7 entry) , we’re going to find our passion. By the end of the week, you need to find a character trait ( extra sources: 1,  2 )and an organization you believe in (extra sources: 1). A lot of your projects for the rest of the year will be focused on these two issues. I want to integrate what’s important to YOU in theis class. Remember, it’s not just about design, and it’s certainly not about me in here… it’s all about YOU. What makes you special? Why are you here? What are you gonna do to make the world better because you’re in it- both for yourself and for the world in general.

This week we’re also starting to work with the tablets. Remember that the drivers need to be installed!!! They’re at C:\drivers\ on your computer. The smaller tablets are called “graphire” and should be the first folder in the drivers folder. Remember to install the driver first, THEN launch (or close and relaunch) your applications to get all the nifty features!

1/13- I’ll be out for the rest of the week at FETC. I want the tech 1 Students to continue working on projects 13-16. I expect that 13-15 will be done when I return. You’ve had a couple weeks to work on them. Project 16 (Self Portrait in Illustrator) should be well in progress when I get back. Let’s start moving through these projects.  Comm Tech 2 Students can continue on their own projects, or use the new Project Ideas page to get an idea for a fun new project in the app of your choice. Both CT1 and CT2 students should all be referring to the Project Links tag cloud for tutorials. There’s good tutorials for CT1′s on Illustrator, and CT2′s can check the general tutorials page for tons of ideas in whatever app you like.

CLICK TO VIEW THE GALLERY HERE.

These can be done using Photoshop or Illustrator, just remember the limitations of Photoshop on a project like this. To REALLY amaze me- I want to see some Illustrator jobs in here!!!

Comm Tech 2- You should have a pretty darn good Self-portrait using text in the works. Make sure it will print well at 8×10 at least.

In the last few years I’ve learned a lot about why I was made to do personality tests in the past by employers, teachers, camp counselors, friends… Once the light turns on, everything gets really clear. It didn’t for many years for me, but it has now. One thing that was missing was that nobody ever really talked to me about why I was doing the personality tests… So here goes my attempt to see if we can get from A to B a litle quicker.

See, we all have a personality. We have strengths and weaknesses. When you are simply aware of them, it makes it easier to see why you respond the way you do, determine what will cause you more stress and drama, and helps you make better decisions about the course you take for things. Last year I read this amazing book on an ancient personality test called the enneagram. It was so incredibly revolutionary to me to see some things in myself that I had always kind of known but couldn’t explain. Ever feel that way? It was like it put words to my hunches.

In the enneagram, your “personality” (which is really not the best word for this, but I’ll use it because it’s convenient) is more like a core motivator- what makes you tick. It can take a few times to really find your true orientation, but when you do it’s incredibly helpful. See- I’ve always had this theory that your strengths are also your weaknesses- I believe now more than ever that it’s totally true. It’s ying and yang. It’s the enneagram. It’s the internal conflict that all of us feel. And it’s a good thing.

You simply are built in a certain way. I’m not going to get into how that “thing” gets there, but it’s there. Nature vs nurture? Who really cares? It’s there- so let’s figure out how to best use it to make the most good. The thing I liked most about the enneagram versus other personality profile tools was that it focused more closely on a particular “Motivator” rather than just the personality type. It’s like the engine that pushes the personality, the tool that carves your life out of the universe. And like every engine or tool, it can be used for good or bad. With a knife I can hurt someone or rescue them. With an engine, I can get to new amazing places in my car or I can be reckless and kill someone in an accident. Ying and yang again, right??? I want you to find out what kind of engine drives you, what kind of tool you were given to work with, and then learn to use it right.

IMPORTANT!

This is something I want you to take seriously. Find out about yourself. Find what motivates you. Like yesterday, this can help you make better decisions about what you do with your life- in careers, relationships, at school, for hobbies.  What’s great about learning more about yourself and what makes you tick is that you can better pinpoint what frustrates you and work around it. You can also find out that there aren’t people or methods that are better or worse than yours- everyone has a ying and yang. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses. Everyone has a motivator, and they have a strength that can be used if they’re working in the right way. And they, like you, will be frustrated and discouraged (and probably not very effective) if they are doing things that go against the grain of who they are.

Screwdrivers are great unless you need a hammer, and you can’t turn a screw with a knife. All tools have a purpose and work excellent when used as they’re designed. So do people. Find your purpose- and learn what things are best for you NOT to push so hard toward!

You are simply AMAZING at something- everyone is. But you need to be doing that something, working in that way to find it. Let’s look together.

Find it here:

Personality Test Online Site

If you want to know more and take another test to help find your type, I really like the one at this site .

When you’re done, copy and paste the result and be sure to write up your reflections on the last couple days in your folder under “my documents.” (make sure you create a folder with your name!) Name the file “week1″. After that, check out This site for photoshop tutorials to get started!!

This first week, instead of starting to learn about the new and amazing things we can do creatively with the computer, I want you to start researching what should be your most important and valuable subject- YOU. High school is a great time, and a transitioning time. You have to start making a lot of decisions that will impact your future at this point. So we’re going to start off learning about what makes you tick, what interests you, and how you are built. Knowing these things can help you make better choices about your class schedule, your free time, your hobbies… and ultimately, your future.

Today’s assignment is easy- simply check out https://access.bridges.com/auth/login.do?sponsor=7 and get a profile created.  Once you’ve done that, then simply click on “Choices planner” and then click on the blue “work” tab on the top. Then start at the top of the section on the right labeled “Connect Yourself To Careers” and do the Items listed there:

• Interest Profiler
• Work Values sorter
• Basic Skills Survery
• Cluster Finder
• Workplace Skills Checklist
• Transferrable skills

These two tools will help you become more aware of what careers would suit you best based on your interests.

THERE ARE NO RIGHT OR WRONG ANSWERS HERE! This is about YOU! Please don’t blow this off.  (My teacher login lets me see who has logged in, how much you’ve done, and how long you spent there!) I’ll be making decisions on the way class goes based on general trends in student interests. If you blow this off and don’t take the time to really answer the questions, you won’t learn anything about yourself, and I may start making decisions based on wonky data about how to proceed with class. This is your chance to find out who you are, tell me, and help me make this class better for YOU.