ME

New Project for English 240

Prezi Slideshow

The link to my Prezi !

DIY Definition

DIY was something that I was always aware of but never really took the time to fully understand. Before this class DIY was mostly a phrase that I linked to anything that I “ did by myself”. Mentally, I never really put the label of DIY on my creative process. My DIY definition involves the description of a process that is always evolving, not only is the process in which we make craft evolving but our perceptions of how we go about doing it and viewing it as well. DIY means different things for different people. There are many sociocultural aspects when it comes to understanding the movement as a whole. There are many ways DIY craft is interpreted and how everyone should benefit from the movement.  I feel as though one of the key aspects of DIY are the perceptions of what art are and where they originated from. In the Atwill readings the concept of “techne” is explained. To me techne IS art, craftsmanship and a cornerstone in explaining DIY craft. DIY craft is a form of art and techne that creates a path that both transgresses and redefines a boundary. A techne or craft is never one tangible “thing”. It can be described as a power, an ideology that guides, a strategy, a cunningly conceived plan, a coincidence, a painting, an installation (the list literally can go on). Techne resists the ideology of what normal is and often can be seen as in a stage to transformation. It can be perceived as good or evil, dull or bright, brilliant  of genius, or even mediocre.(48) Techne marks intervention and invention, and may spark a conflict or end a transgression. Fate and necessity may set temporary limits for invention of craft, but the boundaries are perpetually redrawn by creation of the craft itself. An equally important part of understanding DIY craft is the role it plays in a world dominated by corporate consumerism.  Karl Marx and William Morris took turns establishing the difference between man and machine in order to help define the meaning of DIY in this world better. It is important to understand them as separate entities at first to understand them as whole, especially as technology and traditional DIY craft becomes blended. Terkel and Jackson exemplify this meaning even more when it comes down to explaining what a pro-amateur is . DIY can be a difficult art and craft to fit in to the consumer world, especially when it comes down to today’s store competition, yet it is Morris and Marx that encouraged unification in order to keep the handcraft strong. The Crafters Manifesto, groups like stitch n bitch and the art of craftivism both promote unity and strength of DIY culture. In order to preserve the ideology of DIY one needs to also understand the blend of aspects between technology and the handicraft. As we evolve we must change our perceptions of what DIY is even if that means including a non traditional form of handicraft such as the digital arts. Blending both digital arts and handicrafts and seeing how they influence each other can be beneficial both to the classroom and to the individual. Understanding both will help individuals cross transcultural boundaries, as well as justice and gender boundaries. Overall, Providing a welcoming attitude for the future of DIY will help us find a balance between both worlds so the benefits can be shared by all. DIY can allow a whole new aspect for teaching, as well as understanding the world around us and in the end create unity on a multi level plane for the teacher, student, artist, and entrepreneur.

Guzetti, Elliot, Welsh and Balsamo/Anderson

Guzetti, Elliot and Welsh are instructors who work int he field of online resources, social media, and digtial learning. Despite children growing up in digital generation where ther are there own creators, todays teachers have not. Teachers should care about DIY media to engage and interest their pupils. In addition teachers will need will beneift by learning from there students whenit comes ot technology, “By allowing students to teach their teachers and peers these new literacies, educator can capitalize on students' strengths and acknowledge individuals as capable and articulate people who can inform others (3)”. Teachers will benefit by staying up to date, current views and innovations.Teachers who incorporate new media into their instruction in ways like these tend to realize that those who engage in DIY media practices are learning unique new literacy skills and abilities. (3) Bringing DIY to the classroom allows for children who suffer form economic hardship the ability to interact with new technology. Generally when it comes down to DIY digital cultures there are many bridges that still need to be joined,  both socioeconomic and gender related, at the same there are may new technology hubs such as public libraries, community technoogy centers, and after-school programs working to conjoin these gaps. By becoming familiar with and recognizing the importance of adolescents' DIY media, teachers can acknowledge their students as articulate and capable young people who have myriad ways of demonstrating their literate abilities (10)”.

The authors of the second article Anderson/Balsamo, are individuals that are connected in cinematic arts and divisions of interactive media. Their main argument is how media is going to be in the future. I think predicting that 2020 will be similar to the story written is not realistic but with the rate at which technology is exapnding I wouldn’t be surprised if this was correct. Personally I have always reserved Digital DIY for recreational at-home purposes and rarely have seen it in the classroom, as far as my college experience has gone. DIY has laregely been reserved as a part of my recreational/personal life and not so much my school life. I can breifly remember in elementary school taking computer classes as a requirement but that was in the age of floppy disks. I can also reacall basic typing classes being taught which I find as a benefit today. Overall my middle/elementary school was a poor one, with very little “new” technology interaction. As for high school I went to Milwaukee High School of the Arts, even there, there was very little digital intergration yet there was a large emphasis on creating with the minds and the hands, so more traditional DIY craft. This course has by far been the most hybrid version of digitial and traditonal DIY craft. I can’t recall any of other college classes integrating technology like this one has. Most of the integration has been left up to me, for example: typing notes/papers for class or participating recreationally through facebook etc. Alot of my professors allow students to access various resources online through D2L, as well as post answers and online discussions. Overall, technology has been used as a tool of convenience but not for learning or creativity in most of my classes.

Edupunk !

Edupunk is education with a Punk DIY attitude. Edu-punkers are individuals who are taking a punky anti conformist approach to education through the internet. Edu-punkers are a variety of individuals but mostly younger ummm "college" aged kids. Their goal is to open up the world to a new educational approach that allows EVERYONE to learn. People of the edu-punk community take a non traditional approach to work and believe the academic models of hard work, discipline, and highly structured learning need to evolve. This can be done and encouraged through online learning and communal participtation. Edu- punkers encourage the development of the community through group participation. "If an individual’s idea of adventure and discovery could be formulated into a game or mutually agreed fun thing, it becomes a communal effort." Overall the heart of our group is in finding social activities that are mutually appreciated and fun, and aims to rekindle the fire of the discovery we once had a younger age.

Questions: I would like to know how the edu punk theory would be beneficial to children in early developing stages, as well as current baby boomers who are learning new technologies.

The New London Group

The New London Group is a team of ten academics that were concerned about how literacy pedagogy might address the changes of literacy due to rapid globalization. This group believes that with the progression of civilization and diversity, the world of language and communication should be view more broadly. They seek to create this new literacy and impliment it to the classroom setting.