Spencer Wilson- educator in training

The whole art of teaching is only the art of awakening the natural curiosity of young minds for the purpose of satisfying it afterwards. -Anatole France

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Free inquiry #2: Crochet Queries

October 10, 2019 / / 0 Comments

When researching crochet to answer my specific questions, and broaden my understanding of the craft, I found the homepage for the Crochet Guild of America(CGOA), which immediately proved to be a valuable resource. They are a non-organization, and although some services are only provided through a members fee, they offer a plethora of free information and links to crochet-related resources. I was able to answer most of my crochet queries using this site as  reference .

What is the cultural history of crochet?  In turn, am I being culturally insensitive by picking it up?

-While the true origins are unknown, the practice of crochet can be traced far through French and Norse history. There are multiple theories of the place of origin: South America, Arabia, and China have all been suggested. Similar practices like knitting, weaving, and embroidery date much further back. Some believe that the modern, “true crochet” emerged in the 16th century. It is safe to say that there is much debate regarding the true origins of crochet. Based off the array of origin theories, I doubt there are concerns regarding cultural sensitivity of the practice.  Further information regarding the history of crochet can be found on the CGOA history page\

-Before the mid-1800’s all crochet patterns were learned by copying the finished product, or a section of it. The earliest recorded prints of patterns are from 1824.

What can be made with crochet?

-Woven fibers were are thought to have been used initially for handiwork like nets, traps, and game bags. Over time personal decorations and ornaments were made. In the 19th century the uses for crochet expanded to include things like covers for birdcages, foot warmers, and tobacco pouches. The 20th century marked the emergence of crochet teapot cozies, car rugs, and hot-water bottle covers.  It appears that crochet is a versatile platform where it’s utility is only limited the creativity of those practicing it. Please click here if you would like to read more about the uses of crochet.

What materials are necessary for crochet? Do they vary, and if so, why?

-The main tool for crochet is a hook, I previously thought that they were called needles. The materials used for hooks have included metal, wood, various types of bone, horns, and ivory. The woven material itself has varied immensely through time, but materials like hair, fur, sinew, hemp, cotton, wool, metallic strands, linen have been prevalent.

Are there different styles of crochet? If so, what style(s) will I attempt to learn?

-Techniques have changed over time, in the early 1800’s it was popular to hold the yarn and hook in the same hand, which people currently hold the hook in their dominant hand, and the yarn in the off-hand.  There are right and left-handed instructions for different crochet projects. I write left-handed, so it is likely I will be following the left-handed instructions.

-As time has progressed more ways to create loops and different patterns have emerged, resulting in a broaden of techniques.  In the 1800s hooks were only inserted into the back-half of a stitch unless specified, while today the hook passes through both loops unless  specified. Being aware of this change would be useful if I ever try to follow an antique set of instructions.

Where am I going to source my materials?

-I would like to source yarn from thrift stores as I become more material-savvy,  but initially I am likely going to go  to Michael’s art supplies or a similar store so that I can talk with a knowledgeable staff and see if they have any recommendations for beginners.

What resources am I going to use for my background research and for learning the practice?

-The homepage for the CGOA is a serious wealth of information, and I will use the resources provided there to learn the basic techniques. The CGOA has a Learn Crochet page that provides lessons for beginners.

Do I need to pick a project to complete or are there ways to “dip my toes” into crochet?

-I am going to start by following the “learn to crochet” instructions for left-handed people on the CGOA site, but I am still unsure of what size of yarn I will need.
-A quick google search led me to a “100 easy crochet patterns” page on The Stitching Mommy, from which I found a pattern for a “soap-saver” bag. I’m hoping to use the bag to carry the large number of dice needed for Dungeons and Dragons.  For this project I will need 2 colors of category 4 medium yarn, 35 yards of the first and 1 yard of the second.

 

Having answered by questions, I now feel prepare to go purchase supplies and to officially start crocheting! Check back soon to see my progress.

 

Reflections on my place in the digital landscape

October 8, 2019 / / 0 Comments

obtained from https://pxhere.com/en/photo/1444327

The first few weeks of the secondary PDP program have altered my perceptions of literacy and the different modalities that can be utilized by both educators and learners to strengthen literacy. I have found myself reflecting on what my current roles are within multimodal landscapes, and what I contribute to the communities I engage with. I am a regular user of instagram, reddit, and facebook, but rarely post content to any of the platforms. For all intents and purposes, I am a consumer of digital media, not a producer. This habit of not contributing to communities is often referred to as “lurking.”

My rationale towards being a lurker has been that I believed aspects of my life are not worth sharing, or that I lack the skills/knowledge to provide worthwhile content. Throughout my reflection I realized a good proportion of the content I engage with is “everyday” content, which, in theory, I am capable of producing.  

Despite my reservations, I want to be a contributor.This feeling is particularly strong for Reddit. Reddit, also known as “the front page of the internet”, is essentially a peer-supported collection of forums and communities. Each community(subreddit), is run by users who have stepped up to the role of moderators. As a regular user of Reddit, I feel that I have a responsibility to contribute. More information on how  Reddit works can be found at https://www.digitaltrends.com/web/what-is-reddit/.

As my program proceeds I will continue to look for ways to engage and contribute to these communities using a variety of modalities. I believe that there will be some really interesting ways to integrate my growth as an educator with my increased presence in online communities. I will also seek new platforms that I will able to utilize and contribute to.

The Value of Technology Workshops

October 6, 2019 / / 0 Comments

I recently attended an “introduction to 3D printing workshop that was hosted through the University of Victoria libraries.  I previously had no idea that workshops were offered through the libraries, but there are workshops on coding, movie editing, data visualization, and a host of other things.

The 3D printing workshop itself was awesome. Not only did the educator provide the necessary information for learning how to make our own 3D models, they connected us to many useful resources, and how to use the printers at UVic for our own projects. I am really interested in the open-source aspect of being able to share different schematics. I feel like there is great value in the creative and utilitarian aspects of this. Humanity has made leaps and bounds through the creation of certain tools, and I see the creative aspect of 3D printing to be conducive in generating of new types of tools, even though they may not exactly “reinvent the wheel”.

I believe workshops offered through communities and libraries have immense value. New technology can feel like an immense burden to some, but workshops provide an opportunity to learn in a low-pressure environment alongside an experienced educator. They have the ability to increase the technological literacy of people through developing skill sets.  Considering how valuable my experience with the 3D printing workshop was, I am going to make an effort to attend a variety of technology-based workshops in the future.

If you are interested in this type of workshop I strongly encourage you  to reach out to a library near you to see what they offer. Here are  links to the Greater Victoria Public Library and the University of Victoria’s event page below, as well as a website called Eventbrite, which a third-party source for all types of events and community workshops. It can be used for a number of cities across Canada, so check it out.

Free Inquiry #1: Crochet and Reflecting on The First Steps to Learning Something New

October 6, 2019 / / 0 Comments

As part of my program’s EDCI 767 course we have been asked to pursue a “free inquiry project” by documenting the process of an inquiry on whatever we like.  I am interested in reflecting on the general steps that we take in learning new things,  not necessarily what the thing being learned is.  For this reason I chose to launch my inquiry into something that I know almost nothing about, and decided upon crochet.

 

embroiderizer (photographer).(2008) retrieved October 6, 2019 from flickr 

I began this inquiry by asking myself what I know about crochet and what my current misconceptions towards it may be. I assume it is of French origin, and think the materials used are needles and yarn. I generally think of crochet to something that is primarily done by the elderly and can be used to make blankets, clothing, and dolls. I realize that these views may be narrow, so to end this post I will leave a list of several questions that I will seek to answer.

What is the cultural history of crochet?  In turn, am I being culturally insensitive by picking it up?

What can be made with crochet?

What materials are necessary for crochet? Do they vary, and if so, why?

Are there different styles of crochet? If so, what style(s) will I attempt to learn?

Where am I going to source my materials?

What resources am I going to use for my background research and for learning the practice?

Do I need to pick a project to complete or are there ways to “dip my toes” into crochet?

On the Presence of Robotic Students In Schools

October 1, 2019 / / 0 Comments

Earlier this week I was unable to attend class for medical reasons, but in-turn had the opportunity to attend one of my classes via robot. It’s not everyday that one gets to pilot a robot, so I more than happy to sign up.  After downloading an app and connecting to UVic’s server, I was able to the 3-hour lecture from home via a Beam Telepresence Robot. This robot gave me the ability to  communicate with my instructor and peers via webcam and to move freely around the classroom using my keyboard.  My face was displayed also on a small screen, which allowed for visual communication both ways.

This opportunity allowed  me to reflect on the benefits and caveats of using this type of technology in schools. The largest benefit I felt was the social aspect of being able to communicate with my peers and the educators. That in itself was much more valuable than covering the material by myself.  I could usually hear the what the educator was saying, but noises in the environment clipped a fair bit, especially during work periods.  A higher quality microphone could reduce the loss of clarity in speech.  On a similar note, I could see people clearly, but could not read text from the projector. As a result, learners should have access to class material if they use a telelpresence robot.  My professor anticipated this issue, and sent the material beforehand. If educators were to use smart boards, or similar technology, it could be helpful to use an app that allows desktop video to be remotely shared. That could allow learners using the robot to keep pace with their peers more easily.

My biggest concern regarding the efficacy of telepresence robots is the quality of internet connection that learners and educational institutions have. I am fortunate to have a strong connection, but when I opened additional tabs in my browser there was a noticeable drop in the quality of my video and audio streams. Learners with poor connections, or schools with a heavy load on their connection might have quality issues when if the robots are used in any volume. Families without internet access could also have difficulty using beam technology, which would disadvantage their children if they missed school.

All in all, I enjoyed my experience with a Beam Telepresence Robot. While their use is limited in some ways, the technology is fairly new and will likely improve over time.  I believe they have value in allowing learners to connect socially with their peers and educator, and can help to keep them up to speed.  There could be some interesting uses for the technology, schools across the world could coordinate “facetime pen-pals” or a similar programs as a way to practice languages or to just connect with different people.

The view my classmates had when communicating with me.

“Most Likely To Succeed”: Alternative Education in the Public School System

September 24, 2019 / / 0 Comments

I recently had the pleasure of watching a film titled “Most Likely To Succeed”. It provided an in-depth look into an alternative education school in California called High Tech High. High Tech High is a public school that attempts to deviate from the current style of education, which the film makers argue has remained unchanged for more than a century, by shifting the focus from content-based learning to inquiry-based group work and critical thinking. In doing so, the educators at High Tech High hope to better prepare their learners to deal with real problems that arise from real-life situations. There are no formalized subjects, and all students work to present a  year-end project to their educators, classmates, family, and friends.

The part of Most Likely To Succeed that resonated with me the most was the way educators chose to interact with their learners. There was no formal lecturing, and when conversing they ebbed passion and understanding. They guided students when needed, but in a way that promoted the learner to find the solution themselves. At the end of the year the educators were visibly moved by the growth of their learners throughout their period together.  I felt it was clear the learners grew socially, emotionally, and mentally. 

As I progress through my teaching program, developing my own teaching philosophy and relationships with learners, I hope to keep the educator-learner relationships in “Most Likely to Succeed” in mind.

The official website for the film is https://teddintersmith.com/mltsfilm/ , check it out if you have the time!

 

 

 

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