This summer, my Technology in Teaching fandom has only increased exponentially – which is somewhat of a feat, given the obstacles that I have stumbled across, fallen over, and tripped through as a learner of technology.
See, early on, I was forced to face something quite stark, dramatic and heretofore (almost) unknown about myself – namely, that I tend not to want to be encumbered by detailed instructions of any kind. Yes, I’m the girl who tosses the instructional manual over her shoulder and just starts fitting pieces together. The one who starts randomly clicking buttons to see which one does what until Eureka! Look what just happened!
(Well yeah, I did kinda sorta know that already….)
The thing is, when it comes to learning something that’s not “obvious,” that tendency translates into, “Are you on Skype?” Just tell me what to do – no, better, show me what to do – i.e., “click on this, click on that, do your thing and save!”
If you put your ear up to the screen, you can hear the faint echoing laments now: “Don’t make me read a mind-numbing article, watch a boring ol’ video, listen to long-winded explanations or create new accounts here, there and everywhere, with all these user names and passwords to keep track of just so I can belly-up to each site’s help desk. Nosiree Bob! Give me bullet points and leave out the geek-fest details. I don’t want to know. And before we even go there, show me the finished result. Show me the cool things I can create first – whether on photos or videos, whatev. I guess you can tell me about it, too. Then I will be motivated.”
(Wow, I sound like one of my students. The shame, the horror!)
So…my final project is my best effort to exemplify my personal teaching philosophy (and learning style) via one of my favorite preoccupations: making cool, hip and fun projects for you & your home using recycled materials.
