Waving
I have found that with the topic, backyard makeover, most people are interested about the topic. It seems to be on everyone’s wish-list of things they would change about their own house. A lot of friends I talked to even had pretty specific ideas of what they want- hot tubs were a big one… So overall, sharing the project ideas with others was an easy thing to do, it’s a popular topic.
The 21st Century Standard, 4.1.5, “Connect ideas to own interests and previous knowlege and experience”, is a good match to describe my ‘Waving’ phase because the backyard makeover is a personal interest, something that basically only my husband and myself, would be interesested in researching, and we were able to use our previous knowledge that we had when it came to plants and grills, in order to narrow our search.
Posted in Uncategorized September 20, 2009
Wishing
My project went pretty smooth. I think that picking a topic that really interested me helped a lot. The strength, or easy part, of the project was coming up with ideas; the weakest part of the project was weeding through all of the vast amount of internet sites in regards to this topic. In the end, I stuck with websites that were well-known names to me, for example Home and Garden and connections found through HGTV’s website. Another weakness would be cost analysis, I found that finding information about the cost of certain items was easy, but finding out the cost of ‘installation’ was not easy without talking directly to our landscaper, which we were not prepared to do yet. In addition, I choose not to include dollar amounts due to the privacy of that issue.
While in the phase of ‘wishing’ the 21st Century Standard 4.4.6, “Evaluate own ability to select resources that are engaging and appropriate for personal interests and needs”, I feel pretty comfortable with my ability to select the resources I need. I’ve been married long enough to Todd to know his interests and limitations, I know what our needs in creating a backyard space should focus on based on family and entertaining, and I’m aware of our financial situation, which enables me to make wise choices.
I think my personal inquiry experiences are sometimes ‘unlike’ those of my students because, since I’m older, I bring more background knowledge to the table which helps when choosing a topic and getting started on searching for information. Therefore, I think it is important to do more of the ‘gathering ideas’ phase with students when beginning the inquiry process.
Personal Connection- As before in regards to my personal experience with Inquiry, I found myself sticking to ‘well-known’ quality websites. I’m always a little leery of bogus information and/or providing a credit card number to a company’s site I’ve never heard of before, so I think I’m the same in that area. What has changed for me is the thought of the final project, and how it should not be the focus of the inquiry process. I think as a teacher, I tend to focus or put too much emphasis on what my student’s final product should look like. In the past I think my rubrics tend to have points given for the final product and not the inquiry process, I need to change that way of thinking…
Brenda
Posted in Uncategorized September 20, 2009
Wrapping
I created a power point with pictures for the wrapping phase. The pictures are for the benefit of my husband, who needs a visual, and for the benefit of our landscaper, so that he has an idea of the look we want for each feature.
You can see the power point posted in oncourse under my name.
The wrapping phase, as I have experienced, can take a lot of time with students. When I saw Lamb’s comments about not spending too much time creating a ‘final’ project it made me think of the students I have in 7th grade who could spend whole class periods browsing pictures for a cover page to go with a report that they didn’t nearly spend as much time writing.
In addition, it reminded me of what I’ve been reading about ‘helping’ students through each phase of the research process. In ”Teaching the Art of Inquiry”, Bob Hudspith provides a list of what inquiry is NOT, and a “solution oriented-design project” is not part of inquiry. I think this is similar to what Lamb as been trying to get into our heads- to not focus on the end project, but to focus on the process.
Posted in Uncategorized September 20, 2009
While discussing ideas with friends, family, and a few neighbors, I definitely found myself immersed in the 21st Century Learning Standard 3.3.2. “Respect the differing interests and experiences of others, and seek a variety of viewpoints.”
For instance, I’m finding that the discussion of a gas fire-pit verses a natural log fire-pit can bring on some strong opinions. Some people either think gas is too fake and that nothing beats the look and sensations of the natural fire-pit, while others thought that I was crazy to consider a natural fire-pit and warned me about the ‘high maintanence’ aspects of the natural fire-pit, with the gathering and storing of wood.
Meanwhile, you should have heard the smirks I got at a cook out we went to on Sunday night, amongst the guys, when I mentioned my desire to have a water fountain. Of course the girls liked the idea. Ha
Of course in the end, it’s mainly coming down to what my husband and I want. We have been thinking about it for a while now so it’s hard for someone else to persuade us otherwise.
I’m currently working on narrowing down pictures of each item that I want in the backyard. I want two picture options for each item, unless I know for certain that we want only that one option…
I have a feeling that when I start my ‘Wrapping’ phase and put my picture options together, that I’ll come back to this ‘weaving’ phase.
A case study article I read about the Big 6 talked about how student researchers go from unfocused to focused and from negative frustrated feelings to more positive feelings. “In an effort to better understand the research process or the information problem-solving process, Kuhlthau (1993) examined the thoughts, feelings, and actions associated with various activities within this complex process. Her search process model details the changes that occur for searchers as they move from a generally unfocused to a focused state of mind while progressing from seeking relevant to pertinent information. This shift also describes feelings that ebb and flow between more negative emotions such as uncertainty, confusion, frustration, and doubt, to more positive emotions such as optimism, clarity, confidence and relief.” I kind of laughed when I read this because it is frustrating to try to decide how to proceed with your research project. The hardest part of the process is picking a subject and getting started.
Posted in Uncategorized September 15, 2009
During my research process, I have used, or will be using, the following 4 technology-based tools.
1. Webinspiration- I created a web map during the ‘Wondering phase’ of my project. See the link in ‘Wondering’, or my link to the web map in oncourse.
2. Awesome Highlighter- I used this tool to highlight picutes and information during the ‘Wiggling phase’ of my project. See the link in the ‘Wiggling’ entry or in oncourse.
3. 4teachers- I used and assessment tool found at the ‘Project Based Learning Website’ to be used as a grading tool for my power point presentation during the “Waving phase’ of my project. See the checklist in oncourse or the ‘Waving’ post.
4. Microsoft PowerPoint- I will use a powerpoint presentation to present my research and final decisions. See the powerpoint presentation in the ‘Waving phase’ or as an attachment at oncourse.
Thanks, Brenda
Posted in Uncategorized September 12, 2009
During the Wiggling phase, I sampled the web tool ‘Awesome Highlighter’. I think this tool meets the 21st Century Standard 2.1.4- ‘Use technology and other information tools to analyze and organize information’. With the highligter, I searched for pictures of possible options to choose from for our backyard. My goal with the highlighter was to narrow down visuals to show to my husband, and then to eventually show to our landscaper. Visuals are important when working with my husband, and I find that I can better support my argument on what would work best if it is visual that he can envision in our own space. If I narrow down the options, maybe two to three choices for each, then show my husband the pictures, he can pass judgement and decide from there… I have found from past experience with completing projects with my spouse, that if I do the ‘leg’ work and find two or three options I would be satisfied with, he is happy to sign off on one of them. Ha Ha
I think students have similar needs, even though you might explain something very well, the visual can bring those words real meaning and understanding. John Debes, who first created the term ‘Visual Literacy’ said, “The development of these competencies is fundamental to normal human learning. When developed, they enable a visually literate person to discriminate and interpret the visible actions, objects, symbols, natural or man-made, that he encounters in his environment. Through the creative use of these competencies, he is able to communicate with others.” For example, giving students two or three ‘final product’ options, and showing them an example of each product, helps them to decide which step to take.
See my comments and link below about my ‘highligter eperiences.
Awesome Highlighter
I wanted to try out one of the ‘highlighting’ features on the web so I sampled Awesome Highlighter and Delicious.com. For some reason, I could not get past the annoying log-in questions on Delicious.com. For the life of me I could not figure out what I was doing wrong. So I switched to Awesome Highlighter and had much better luck. Check it out at: http://awurl.com/aLWDgAXmd
Due to the nature of my project, I need to pull up and highlight a lot of pictures. I think this tool might better be adapted to highlighting text. See the link for some of my examples.
Thanks, Brenda
Posted in Uncategorized September 12, 2009
Webbing
‘Background Knowledge’ (21st Century Learner Standard 1.1) played a big role in my searching. I tend to watch a lot of HGTV and home improvement shows so I am exposed to a lot of information and suggestions on where to go on the web for professional advice. I started with HGTV’s website, then browsed Lowes, Home Depot, Home and Garden magazine, etc…by typing in the home improvement names I’m familiar with into the Google search engine. I then had tried switching to a ‘keyword’ approach and started typing in words such as: fountains AND outdoor, firepits NOT gas, shrubs AND low maintance, etc… The frustration with the keyword approach was the vast amount of ‘hits’ provided… I could spend months looking through some of these options. I think I’m more comfortable sticking with ‘names’ of information providers that I know for information such as the names I mentioned earlier. The only different ‘format’ I am going to consider will be using books for information on landscaping and low maintenance options for this part of Indiana. For some reason I think the information is easier and quicker to find, plus I liked skimming through the pages. I’m feeling pretty confident with my questions and search techniques. I guess you could say ‘I’m a girl who knows what she wants”, I’m still satisfied with my options and the questions associated with each one.
Not all students come to the table with a strong ‘background knowledge’ in the subject they are about to reasearch like I am with my topic. As a teacher at the middle school level, I like the idea of limiting the research ‘area’ to a manageable field. For instance, I like the idea of using Webquests with middle school students because it cuts down on ‘roaming’ the internet just looking for possible sites. I think students get ‘overwhelmed with too many options and Webquests give a guided focus to their research and information inquiry, yet they still have choices along the way. According to Bernie Dodge, in regards to the use of Webquests, “teachers have embraced WebQuests as a way to make good use of the internet while engaging their students in the kinds of thinking that the 21st century requires.”
Thanks, Brenda
Posted in Uncategorized September 9, 2009
Visual Elements
I used a concept map today in order to ‘identify a focus’ for my backyard project. Concept maps reinforce The 21st Century Standard 1.18, ” Demonstrate mastery of technology tools for accessing information and pursuing inquiry.” Check it out at the following MyWebinspiration site -just click on ‘open’ folder.
http://www.mywebspiration.com/view/181102a30317
In addition, I downloaded some actual backyard photos of my deck to help with all of those ‘visual’ learners out there. Visual Literacy was one of the many ‘Multitude of Literacies’ explained in The Blue Book, “The ability to understand and use images, including the ability to think, learn, and express oneself in terms of images: with respect to visual symbols in nonprint media, as visual literacy in viewing television, art, and nature.” (pg. 423)
In teaching, visual elements and additions to the curriculum seem standard these days in our textbooks, until the students take the ISTEP, which seems to have very little ‘visual’ features. I always wonder if that effects reading comprehension scores when students are used to visual aids to help build background knowledge, etc…in a textbook before they read a story in class, yet when reading stories for an ISTEP exam there are no colorful pictures, etc… to get a ‘visual’ going in their heads before they read…
Posted in Uncategorized September 6, 2009
My ugly deck!
Scraggly landscaping
More scraggly landscaping!
Posted in Uncategorized September 6, 2009
Wondering…Backyard Makeover options
Options
I’ve narrowed down my options to the following five items that I want to put in the backyard:
1. firepit (gas vs. real logs)
2. waterfoutain (free standing vs. natural spring…)
3. gas grill (free standing vs. built-in area)
4. patio (individual stone vs. stamped concrete)
5. landscaping (low maintenance only!)
Ideas
I want to get together a collection of pictures and narrow down my options before I approach someone to complete the project for us. So I know that I need to decide on some of the options. (We want to stay under $8,000 if possible)I’ve thought about seperating the items into a list that focuses on cost- least expensive options vs. most expensive. For example:
Least expensive Most Expensive
Log fire pit Gas fire pit
Free standing fountain Natural Spring fountain
Free standing grill Built-in cook area
Stamped Concrete Individual Stones
<Low maintenance landscaping>
Problems
My husband would say my biggest problem is that I have ‘champagne tastes on a beer budget’. I keep telling him that his biggest problem is that he lacks imagination.
I think we will probably have to decide what one item we each really want, take the deluxe option on those, then select perhaps the less expensive options for the other items. My husband came up with that plan.
Questions
We do have some questions that perhaps some of you reading can help with…
1. Fountains- Since we live in Indiana, how do you avoid problems associated with the freezing and thawing in the winter? Plus, where is a good place to shop for these.?…I see small selections at nurseries, but I’m sure there are cheaper ‘wholesale’ type places to drive to in order to save on the retail price.
2. Firepits- We both prefer using wood, however with our busy lifes we’re afraid we won’t use it as much if it’s not gas…
3. Built-in cook areas- What is a ‘must-have’ for this area besides the cooking surface?
4. Stamped concrete- What is the tendency to develope cracks in such a large surface, and/or in a stone patio do weeds eventually start growing between the stones?
Overall- Does anyone out there have experience they would like to share on something they’ve done in a backyard makeover that you now regret or that you love?
Thanks, Brenda
Posted in Uncategorized September 3, 2009
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