I was very much interested in LPP learning so for my final I wanted to try a version LPP for myself. So I learned how to sew a skirt without the help of an expert. I then tracked the process and applied the process to some of the things we went over in class. Some being the ball handling metaphor, of course LPP, and how grading is subjective. I compiled all of that information of the above board and tried to make it look like a design board.

I have an idea about my possible project. I really want to prove that learning is best done when it is done in the correct space, with the correct materials, and an expert. I really want to learn how to sew. Therefore, the first part of the project I want to start reading about how to sew and then attempt to make a midi skirt and film the process. Then compare first part of the project to working with an expert that would show me how to sew with a  hands on technique without reading anything. Then I would be able to ask questions and be in the space to learn how to sew instead of just reading about it. As Kim says I would be doing the thing instead of reading about the thing. And filmed that part as well. Then go ahead and edit the video and add a voiceover. This would then show and prove that one has to be immersed into the space and needs the help of an expert to be able to do something. Then I would do a voiceover talking about some of the ideas that we talked about in class, many of the things that I talked about in my “What I know so far” paper. Some of those idea that where in situated learning and the ball handling metaphor. I also really want show why this is important to writing and how as mentors we can help improve writing. I have this idea because then I would have both a product to show for my project and a video. I am pretty sure that it is going to come out terribly because there are a lot of first that will be done plus I am horrible with technology but I think that it would be a great  learning experience.

I think the most important thing that is gained by multimodal is that students completely immerse themselves in the space of learning. And the knowledge gained will stick with them because as students they were participating in active learning and were part of the process. I also learned the reasons as to why teachers are so fearful or hesitant of wanting to do these types of projects. The main reason being grading. But I think that in a project as opposed to a paper, the work is clearly seen. In a paper I could stay up all night and produce a final product. However, a large project is almost impossible to fake it is extremely noticeable who put in the hours and who came up with something ten minutes ago. Perhaps the criteria should be time, effort, and relevance and students can help make the rubric with the teacher.

I think the most important thing that comes from multimodal projects is it not only forces the teacher to be creative in relating the information to their students through a project, but it forces the student to think beyond just language. I also think that so much is learned from the process because the skills in making something goes far beyond the reach of an essay, in the outside world. Being an aspiring high school teacher and current tutoring if I had a dollar for every time I hear, “Why does this matter? Why do I have to do this? Will I ever use this?”.I think that in the use of multimodality as future teachers we can combat these questions by showing students hey this topic may not be used in the outside world, but the skills you learned in doing this project definitely relates. Like Banks states in his address the essay is a dead thing it is not used in the world so why are we still using it as the primary thing in school?

 

 

So being a tutor to high school students I read my fair share of 5 paragraph essays, and their monotonous structures. It is almost as if a students wrote an outline and simply filled in the blanks.

Writing I see outside the spectrum of high school and early college is very mathematical. I see tons of research papers. With intros that say what others have said in the field, then proposed new ideas. To then go on to explain what they have learned through their own research, prove or disprove others, and a conclusion. The claim usually being at the end of the paper. My favorite type of writing would definitely have to be textbook writing that is clear and consis. It makes learning the information easy and clear and my notes come out perfectly.

I see the same with magazines they have a headline. The paragraphs have a claim they talk about it. Then have a couple quote. What is majorly different than academic writing is it is heavily saturated with personal opinion and suggestions on the situation.

I have never ever seen any evidence of a 5 paragraph essay outside the K-12 system minus a selected few first year freshmen. I think it is intangible to do the 5 paragraph structure in college, we write way too much. How are you supposed to fit the 5 paragraphs in a 5-10 page essay it would make no sense. However I would argue that in reading my peers writing I do see a structure that is usually unbroken. That structure looks like the following:

1)intro

-claim

2) arguement

-evidence

-comment on evidence

-my opinion on the evidence

-how that relates to my claim

3)conclusion

-restate my argument.

For students I think that professors push and push and push us to into a structure so their lives are easy when grading comes. So no it may not be the 5 paragraph essay but it is definitely a reformation of it. Can we change that? Can I write however I please? Why does it need a structure? #collegekillscreativity

So what I have gotten out of this (LPP) thing is people learn in social ways and you kinda have to be in the right time and space for it. Example being if I wanted to learn how to cook I should be in a kitchen not on my couch watching a cooking show that talks about cooking. And I am definitely not going to be a world class chef unless I spent the rest of my life learning food and become French somehow overnight. Learning and cooking are things that are going to happen over time and the more you do them the more you start to immerse yourself into that situation. To tie my internship with what I am trying to understand through reading is that internships are there to create the space for immersing students into writing, in a social way. My internships are very balanced is the best word to use  they are not super formal, but they are also not by all means a free for all. It works in a space of the classroom but the mentor sets the class up like a movie theater with a semi circle surrounding the screen. The projector and white board are used often. The projector being used the most to communicate information. While the whiteboard is used mostly to respond or work in smaller groups.

Because we don’t sit in rows of desk it opens the floor for discussion. I think that had we been in rows facing the front the group would feel more formal and treat the group as if it were a class instead of a group of people working together to talk about writing. The fact that all the people in the room can see each other opens the floor up for questions and real discussion without having to be constantly prompted to speak or be asked questions.

My mentor comes to the group looking the part of the balance she holds within the group. She comes to class dressed well yet casual so she does not take on the approach of being a teacher more a mentor. She is in my opinion portraying that she is not far from the students just a bit more experienced and can offer ideas based on that experience. I think the best thing she does with the group is this even distribution of give and take. She gives an agenda yet at the same time the agenda is subject to changed based on what the students need more time on or are struggling through.  The students are very vocal on what their needs are and how much time they need. My mentor really sets up the group to have time to really dive into what they are learning in class and give points on how to do blogs, that by the time they are writing their blogs they have so much to write about it just flows. Providing this give and take shows the culture discussion and socialization because the students feel as if the mentor is their peer and they can just be part of a group that are helping one another understand, creating a time and space to help write their blogs.