ThingLink.com - a Web 2.0 tool for education & fun

This photo has links imbedded through the site ThingLink.com. Check out the site as it seems to have some applications that could be great in education. I just was playing to see what I could do with little direction!

Frustration ... Creativity

IMAGINE: How Creativity Works from Flash Rosenberg on Vimeo.

So after class this evening, it was commented that I would probably have my traditional
"meltdown" of frustration beginning next Monday.  Well, I found this animation that explains
how creativity truly does need to have "frustration" to happen.  If we buy into that philosophy,
I should be considered quite Creative!  Now if I could just get creative and figure out how
to add the RSS feed to my GoogleSite!

Great class ending at Cooper's Place - Thank you for hosting Scott.
To all that carried in the awesome food, it was delicious!  Love the Southern Cohort!

Who wants to be "Normal" anyway?

This was a busy week, but the Personal Learning Theory paper is submitted.  My portfolio site is on its way.  I am not sure if I like it yet, but Google Sites certainly allows for editing and changing.

The biggest event this week was taking the Southern Regional FCCLA to New Jersey State Leadership Conference in Cherry Hill.  We spent two full days competing and learning.  When not competing our students enjoyed a variety of leadership and career oriented workshops - all with the theme "Raising the Bar".

 

I am extremely poud of our team.  All earned medals, 1 - Bronze, 3- Silver, 4 - Gold.  Two of our Gold place medalists placed first in the state;  Dana Warren earned a scholarship and a chance to compete at FCCLA National Leadership Conference in Orlando this summer.  Her entrepreneurship project "Coffee House" was the state winner.  One of the other highlights of the two day event was the fashion show of all the fashion related creations.  Awesome work by students from all over the state as thousands of scholarship dollars were awarded.

 

Great speakers were highlighted during each of the meetings, but one really struck a chord with me.

Mr. Kent Julian spoke on "not settling for normal", since normal means being stuck in a career that you don't like, not making real goals and getting there, being stuck in debt, etc.  He urged the students "Be better than Normal".  He highlighted the speech with a mathematical equation:

 

Normal

E=O

Successful

E + R = O

So all you math wizards - do you know the missing value if E=Event and O = Outcome ?





Sewing in the 21st Century

So this past week saw me focusing on putting the finishing touches on my personal learning theory paper.  I have decided to work on researching how sewing/textiles are an integral part of a 21st Century education.  Begin by thinking about all the critical thinking and problem solving skills that are encompassed in the act of creating a product.  Now combine that with STEM education, supposedly an area where we (USA) are falling behind the rest of the world.  Science - chemical and biological agents make up ALL fabrics and textiles that are used in the world today.  Technology - well, most design is done through technology, all your knitted garments (tee shirts, tights, sportswear) are all created via huge computer driven machines. Engineering - well engineering is basically identifying a problem that exists in society and creating a solution to solve the problem, and then Mathematics - all of this exists through math.  But generally, don't we all need to know the sizes we wear, pattern making - all about the measurements.  But I seem to be on a soap box.

So for a break, I went to visit A Garden of Quilts show at Wheaton Arts on Sunday.  170 hand and machine made quilts were on display.  Some were done completely by hand, while others were stitched via machine. Fabulous computer guided machines were available for sale... a girl can dream... The work was amazing.  What really caught my eye were two quilts, both inspired by the civil war.
Since a picture is worth a 1000 words... The first:

This quilt:  Now it Can be Told (U.G. RR.)    by Barbara Jorden This quilt was inspired by the book Hidden in Plain View - basically a story how quilts guided run away slaves through the Underground Railroad.

HIDDEN IN PLAIN VIEW - Book cover printed on fabric and the quilter's write up of quilt.

The second quilt that was inspiring to me was this gorgeous piece.  Unfortunately the photo does not give me the quilters name - but it did win a first place award.  This was based on Civil War postcards that were found from veterans of both the Union and Confederate Armies.

I apologize for not getting the quilters name - but it is extremely intricate and designed beautifully.

So how do these quilts relate to the 21st Century - well, look at the skills that were needed to create these works of art.

Critical Thinking, Decision Making, Imagination, Creativity, Measuring just to name a few.

Thank you for putting up with my soapbox, but you did come to visit.

Speaking of visiting, make a trip to Wheaton Arts Village; you'll learn tons about South Jersey and the history behind it.