Reflections+for+Wednesday

Reflection

Ellen's HW Not sure how I feel about making a toy- both annoyed, yet intrigued! Not even sure where to begin... wanted to try some stuff with straws but then watched the video and felt I would be "cheating". But I went straight for them anyway! Two straws, and some other objects later- I had to think- hard, but explored a bit, used some things previously seen, and the idea of another toy- and wham! I had made my toy! I learned that being creative is an interesting mix of deep thinking, some sheer dumb luck, and limited only by what you may have available! Also- that if often objects have purposes that go way beyond what they were originally meant for. [Yes, looking at the video is like cheating and it is like a phenomenon referred to by Vygotsky as creative imitation. Vygotsky did what is considered work in a field referred to at the time as defectology, It''s what we would consider special education, what he concluded in the context of his theory of a zone of proximal development, was that it made no sense to group the learning disabled or handicapped together because their social grouping did not include members who could provide an opportunity for the creative imitation of advanced skills and dispositions.]

Minnah

When first asked to make a toy, I was speechless and made some faces. I was thinking, what, make a toy... in one evening? Then I started to think about what I already knew. I remembered something about making a flute out of a straw...and then I watched the Gupta video...and decided not to make the flute with a straw (He had already done it on the video.). I thought about making a musical instrument with a tissue paper tube and wax paper. I had done this before with second graders. Alas, I had no wax paper, which is one of the materials needed. Sticking with musical instruments, I realized that I had two empty oatmeal boxes just waiting to be reused. So, I made a drum, and a shaker. For the drum, I took off the outer paper and used markers to decorate the cardboard. I cut out a paper circle, and secured it over the lid with 2 rubber bands. I played the drum to test it out, and it sounded ok. For the shaker, I dropped a bag of sunflower seeds into the oatmeal canister and tested it out. I relearned or was reminded by the endeavor that staying calm in the face of a challenge is worthwhile and persistence pays off. [You've provided some evidence of a resilient disposition and you made a choice to create a more challenging task with the constrain being musical instruments, so there is evidence of creativity, problem solving and taking responsibility for your own learning. Your reference to emotionality is also revealing, staying calm, persevering and experiencing the joy of accomplishment create impetus for risking more complex tasks in the future.]

Rachel's HW I think I might have been more inspired if I watched the video first but for no particular reason I made the toy first. I went to my garbage can and picked out 2 toilet paper tubes. One was slightly bent so it gave me the idea to put one inside of the other like a telescope. Then I figured I would seal off the ends with saran wrap and rubber bands and put something inside so it could be sort of like a kaleidiscope (except I didn't have mirrors). Since they are beads it could also act as a musical instrument. While my toy is sort of whatever, I am constantly impressed by my husband who very often makes toys for our daughter out of random objects, When we are at a restaurant he takes coffee sticks and business cards to make dolls and I also love to watch her at the sandbox when we give her just a coffee cup and spoon for her to make "cakes." One of my prized possessions is a "TV" that my husband made from a matchbox when he was a child growing up in Bulgaria and his father got rid of the TV. He drew pictures on scrolls of paper that could be dragged through the frame of the "TV". [Thank you for sharing one of your prized possession, your stories about your husband and daughter are loving and bring warmth and caring to the group, while your toy from your perspective was "whatever" the group seemed to take great pleasure in it and seemed to value it. I wonder how you felt about that, my impression is that the valuing was quite genuine.}

Cynthia's Homework

How did you feel about being asked to make a toy?

I couldn't wait! I love creativity, although I struggled with making my toy incorporate engineering principals. I love collecting recyclables and always look forward to being able to use things artistically.

What was challenging about the activity? Trying to make the toy DO something to justify it as an engineering concept. [Perhaps, your interpretation of the task, i.e. justify it as an engineering concept, created an uneccessary limit. The task as presented was to build a toy. The video framed the engineering concepts after the fact of the toy being created, this is a key distinction, engineers don't build to demonstrate engineering concepts, they build and the concepts emerge from the activity and inform future activity. This is the fatal flaw of the current educational paradigm, the concept is taught separately from the activity, in fact, it precedes activity when in reality it emerges dialectically in an iterative, reflective process]

How did you accomplish the task? I did the best that I could do and stopped. I tried different iterations of my toy. I used it as a coin toss, I used it as a bottle top toss. I tried to incorporate clear CD disks. I ended up making two colorful toys with dubious engineering value. [Yes on the iterative, I think focusing attention on process is more productive than passing judgment on value at early stages of development.]

Did you learn anything from making the toy? Yes, I learned that you have to stop at some point. [ This is interesting, it's unclear how you mean this, did you have to stop with reluctance i.e. out of time, energy etc. or did you have to stop out of frustration?] Why or why not? I kept trying to make my toy do something, finally I accepted it for what it was. [ Toys don't do anything. People do things with toys. Again I'm not sure how to read you here. Is it acceptance that values what was accomplished or is it acceptance of limitations with expectations for more, or was it acceptance of defeat or failure? Did the feedback of your peers have an impact on your valuing of your accomplishment?] Dawn's Homework/ Reflection

At first when I was told that I had to create a toy, I begin thinking what can I make that would make sense. However, after viewing the Gupta's video I decided I would make a boat. I made a boat out of foil wrap but my challenge was folding the the foil wrap, since it was paper that I had the experience of using previously to create a boat. Another thought I had in mind was, would water seep into the boat and cause it to sink? Mission accomplished, I was able to fold the foil wrap to make the boat and it floated. However after awhile some water seemed to seep into the boat. I learn that I could to use one type of material to create a toy. Creating this toy was fun and it inspired me to create other toys.Lastly I plan to create a boat that would not sink. [ Clear evidence here of resilience, confidence, enthusiasm, creativity and an engineering design disposition.]