quilting | BulgingButtons

December 8, 2013
by BulgingButtons 29 Comments

Daily Prompt: Learning Style

As an educator (I teach fourth grade students) I think about learning styles a great deal. Every day I am charged with teaching children concepts that are often confusing and difficult to understand.

I have been teaching for quite a while, and I know that different learners need different experiences, but in a classroom of approximately 30 students, I cannot offer 30 individualized lessons, that’s why I have to mix things up. Besides, when we are confronted with new experiences, we don’t get to stop and request that they be presented to us in a particular style, now do we? Sometimes we have to gather information by hearing it, other times by reading it or attempting to perform some task. Experience with all of these is important, even if someone is clearly stronger in one area than in others.

There are those who would propose that we can learn anything by reading a book on the topic, however, would a book be the most effective way to learn to play an instrument? Wouldn’t you have to hear the notes and watch how the instrument is manipulated in order to produce certain sounds?

Likewise, it would be difficult to become a proficient athlete without actually suiting up and trying out different movements and routines. I can read about ice skating all day long or watch a fine skater perform, or listen to a lecture on skating, but I will not learn to skate until I get on the ice and start moving.

I consider myself to be a very visual person. Many people are visual learners, which I believe is why so many of us are horrified by the idea of losing our vision. Our main method of taking in information would be eliminated, and we find this terrifying. At least I do. When I see things I can often make sense of them. Reading is an excellent way for me to learn, and when there are visuals, either photos, charts, maps, or better yet video, involved, I learn even better.

Still, I do believe in the age old saying (attributed to I don’t know whom and I’m too lazy to go searching, sorry) “Tell me and I will forget, show me and I may remember, let me do it and I will learn.”

I find this to be especially true when I take quilting classes. I have been a quilter for well over twenty years, and I have taken class after class after class. It’s not because I’m incompetent. It’s primarily because I enjoy the company of other quilters, and I like to see how they interpret the same ideas using their vision and their materials. I also learn something new with every class I take, sometimes from the instructor and sometimes from the other students. I listen to them, I watch them demonstrate the technique, then I practice the technique. If I wish to go in a slightly different direction with my work I’m generally encouraged to do so.

All of this is done in a supportive, non-threatening atmosphere. There is no test at the end. No panel from the state will be walking through to see how I’m doing, and the teacher’s boss isn’t breathing down her neck with a check sheet to make sure she has covered the same topics that every other quilt teacher has covered, whether they apply to this class or not. At the end of the class I evaluate my own progress. Have I accomplished what I sought out to do? Do I need more practice with this technique? Is there something else I should try to improve my work? What do my peers think? What does the instructor think? How will I incorporate their feedback? Ultimately, it is up to me.

I wish I could provide more of this type of learning atmosphere to my students. I wish I could provide more time for exploration and discovery, more materials for them to manipulate and experiment with, and more options for showcasing and sharing their knowledge and learning process. I wish I could limit the number of standardized tests they are required to complete, and I wish I could eliminate some of the content I’m expected to cram into their fragile heads each year, in order to spend more time on topics of importance that fascinate and engage them. My biggest wish, though, is that they will continue to love learning, for the sake of learning, not for the sake of the test or the grade. If I can help them do that, I have succeeded.

What’s your learning style? Do you prefer learning in a group and in an interactive setting? Or one-on-one? Do you retain information best through lectures, or visuals, or simply by reading books?

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November 3, 2013
by BulgingButtons 9 Comments

Snarky Bloggers Need Not Apply

Actually “reply” probably makes more sense, but I didn’t want you, dear reader, to think I was talking about you. I wasn’t. I was actually talking to the “helpful” bloggers who want to rid the world of blog posts they deem unworthy. I’ve seen lots of snarky and sarcastic comments about blogs that I don’t think are helpful at all. Maybe I’m missing the point. Perhaps they have been offered as satire. But I sort of don’t think so.

Telling new parents not to write about their babies is advice that’s likely to fall on deaf ears. Their new child is a wonder, and they want everyone to know about the amazing transformation they are participating in every day.

Not everyone who writes a blog is looking to be the next _________ (fill in your favorite writer here). Many people blog to keep in touch with far away family and friends, others do it just to get all those words that are swirling around inside of their heads out for some fresh air. We don’t all wish to be critiqued, even if we do hope to be read.

I understand that the internet is a public forum and whatever you put out there is fair game, but to offer criticism in the guise of advice seems unfair to me. It’s like your mama told you, if you don’t have something nice to say (or at least respectful and productive), then keep your big yap shut. New parents will tell you about every little thing their genius progeny does, from his rolling tummy to back prowess to her revolting sensitivity to dairy products.

New parents aren’t the only ones who do this. I’m a quilter. I read a lot of quilt blogs. If I were a more involved quilter I’m sure I would write many more posts about quilting. Would my experience of running out of thread in the middle of a big project be earth shattering? If it is, it’s only in my eyes. Still, I may wish to blog about the situation. Does that make me a bad or boring blogger? Not automatically. You would still have to read my post to find out. If you’re interested, that is.

What it boils down to is this: I think readers can judge for themselves what content appeals to them. Telling bloggers that there are hard and fast rules of blogging seems counterproductive to me. Blogging allows for instant publishing for the people, by the people. It’s very democratic, and as such you, dear reader, have the option of reading along, participating in the discussion, or passing any particular content by. Give the people choice, I say, and keep writing those cute baby stories. People really do read them.

October 27, 2013
by BulgingButtons 4 Comments

State Fair – Star Trek meets 4-H and Fried Food

Today my sweetheart and I visited the State Fair. Neither of us had been in ages, but they were featuring the traveling Star Trek exhibit, so we went. I’m not much of a Star Trek fan, but he enjoys it and has told me numerous times about how wonderful the permanent exhibit in Vegas was, so when I heard the ad I suggested that we check it out.

I admit, I had mixed feelings about going to the fair. It’s in the middle of the city and it gets jam packed with multi-generational families pushing strollers and snarfing down fried everything. I’m also not a huge fan of the rides (although I do enjoy a good Tilt-A-Whirl from time to time) and the games are a rip-off. In fact much of the fair is a rip-off, but I decided to reserve judgement.

I’m glad I did, because we had a great time. The weather was wonderful, I found the little leather backpack I’ve been looking for in one of the vendor stalls (and she discounted her price), I got a cute little string name bracelet (my name is rarely available), and the Star Trek exhibit was fun. I even purchased the cheesy photo they took of us with the Starship Enterprise in the background.

We also checked out the livestock, marveled over how many categories of baked goods there must be, and strolled through the hundreds of sewing and craft entries. I have to say, I should have entered some of those categories, because my work is quite a bit better than many of the ribbon winners, especially in the quilting category. Still, it was enjoyable to view the fair, and we left just as it was getting packed.

Yes, I ate my funnel cake with strawberries and whipped cream. And yes, my entire outfit (black shirt, of course) ended up covered in powdered sugar. It was absolutely delicious, although messy since there was no fork available. And I know it’s teeming with empty calories, however, I walked all over the fairgrounds and I’m not going to beat myself up over it. It was a great day, and I would do it again in a heartbeat!