Here are my notes:
Unit 1: Folk Knowledge
My self-directed learning came from being in class and then being able to apply those things to other classes that I was taking. Also having to choose what I was learning within what topic we were on was different and made my learning experience more personal and real life applicable. It was definitely difficult at first trying to decide what to teach yourself that will most help you in class but also rewarding. I was in control of my learning and how far it went which was good and bad in both of its way. Overall an awakening unit of continuing self-learning.
Others people blogging was always very intriguing and also enlightening. They were always there to help direct my self-learning and guide my thought process. It was also cool to see where their self-learning was taking them and to be able to build and comment on their posts. Reading others blogs helped to put in perspective what the unit was really about as their self-directed learning ultimately brought them to the same general idea about folk knowledge. Their research helped to drive the topic home and enlighten me.
The collaborative learning was probably the coolest part of every unit. I loved having people comment on my posts or mention it or even question it sometimes. It helped to put into focus different things about my post or correct me or lead me to different conclusions or research ideas. Interacting with others in the blogging atmosphere was something I had never partaken of before and it's really cool to see where it led and the outcomes. Especially pertaining to folk knowledge. Having other people relate to what you had learned or experienced was always enlightening.
Having the chance to actually participate in folk knowledge for an assignment was great fun. Folk knowledge seemed to always be something that was always taught naturally so having to plan to teach folk knowledge was different. I loved it though. Teaching people helps make you realize the things you have learned and the how and why you learned the skill you did. From there it was cool to share that with others or to be taught by someone else. Being taught by someone else helped to make you understand why you do what you do and why they do what they do and also gave me a desire to learn more, or to even find a way learn or teach things differently or easier, in a folkier way.
Unit 2: Oral Knowledge
This learning through oral knowledge was very interesting. Especially in researching out a specific ancient civilization. This made for different means of preservation of passing along of knowledge and it was continually interesting the ways in which they did it. Having it being oral and all. Their different traditions or recitations or stories was a specific type of oral knowledge. It was interesting to see what was oral or what was written, what was orally preserved, or tangibly preserved. It usually depended upon the subject. Especially in the Dravidian valley at least. Religious or business topics would predict how or why they would be preserved and whether it was oral or not.
Others people blogging is probably my favorite of any unit. Being able to draw from others research and knowledge helps to put things into perspective, especially your own research. Their blogging of the various ways their civilization used oral knowledge was helpful to understand my own information or create ideas and draw conclusions for myq own information.
Through the discussion and comments with others, I was able to see different ways that they viewed my posts through the research of their own civilizations in the oral unit. Also, in memorizing King Benjamins speech, our group was able to work together and depend on each other for our lines and information. As well as use various civilizations oral knowledge to help us complete our feat.
This was probably one of my favorite projects. It was amazing to see how everything came together. Especially to feel the pressure of the whole class depend on your ability and effort to memorize the verses you were assigned. I was definitely nervous as I knew I would be presenting this as I'm sure many were. Despite this, everyone was able to comprehensively recite their parts and join to create this beautiful speech that could only have the impact it had through being presented orally. Awesome.
Unit 3: Written Knowledge
This unit was especially cool to further the train of knowledge through my specified civilization. The transfer from oral to written in research was amazing to see as it shifted with time, ideas, or subjects. Deciding where in the civilization to research was always challenging or difficult as it was hard to determine where it would lead and yet it was fun to see the places that it would take me when I found something interesting or noteworthy. It was always rewarding to see the work pay off as you realize all the knowledge you have retained from research you have conducted yourself. The specific civilization made it more persona as well.
To see others blogging of their civilizations and their processes of written knowledge helped to channel my research or narrow or broaden my learning. Their different forms of written knowledge made me understand different reasons for why my civilization performed the way they did. Especially to see how their written knowledge compared to that of my civilization and the different forms they used it in. The utility, accessibility, resources, and various other reasons for why they used the writing system they did. Also to see where that stemmed from and the ways in which they connect.
Working with others with this project was really cool. Especially when we were put into our various groups which kind of connected for the most part. We were able to come together and combine our civilizations and their different writing forms. For the most part, they came from an ancient form of the basis of the civilizations but had varied so much through location or different processes. It was also cool to see the different information group members had gathered and how we were able to combine all of our research to create a big picture of written knowledge across the board.
This was another really awesome project. To be able to combine the civilizations and choose something that represents all of our civilizations was difficult and satisfying. Finding something that united them was the same way. Having to rely on each other to complete their individual aspects of the project is always scary and yet it came together and was great to see the completed project. The best part was seeing the processes that everyone went through to be able to get to their ending point of their Rosetta Stone.
Unit 4: Printed Knowledge
This unit, besides folk knowledge is the unit I felt I used the most self-directed learning. Having to actually leave my chair and go to the library was a new experience (: Also using books and other resources that were tangible made the information seem more solid and legitimate. Actually picking books from the shelves was really cool. I felt more accomplished and it helped me understand the printing unit and the affects it could have on people and societies. Especially in researching the dictionary and the different rules and regulations that came from it and improved the printed world.
In seeing others blogs, especially those with the same annotated bibliography topics, and the processes they went through and the conclusions they came to, it was always cool to see how they varied or were similar to my own. Specifically in dealing with the topic and the direction they chose to follow regarding it. It was also fun to see my groups postings and the processes they went through in the library and the same struggles and successes that they had while researching.
This was another cool one to be able to get with a classmate and brainstorm about the processes and reasoning that came through different research. Especially being able to relate with them the experiences you had and having them understand what you're talking about when you mention a common name to your subject. Also seeing the differences in our research was interesting and to see how we both were at the same section in the library, searching for the same information on the shelves.
The annotated bibliography ultimately gave me a different view on printed knowledge and the influence it can have on research and societies. In having the ability to go to a library and partake of somebodies knowledge in printed form is astounding and yet drowned out from the accessibility of electronics and the internet.
Overall, it is amazing to see the worldwide influence that all these forms of knowledge have on people and institutions. Knowledge is the ultimate power tool for everything and anybody. It can get you most anything with the right sources. It continues to grow and will continue as people add to its power by expanding it and sharing it with others. It is a force to be used for everything. Knowledge in all forms is simply amazing.
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