My final product can be found at :
https://sites.google.com/site/anoutdoorreception/
I still need to put the finishing touches on my website, so it will not be able to be viewed by the public until Monday.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Curriculum Connection
Annette Lamb states in our Project One requirements under Curriculum Connection, "You'll be surprised to find that EVERYTHING can be connected in some way." She is exactly right. Now given my particular subject, I would hope that now student K-12 is researching information on planning a wedding reception, but ideas can be taken from that topic and applied to the standards the students are expect to learn. I do remember being in high school and coming up with a plan for a house and decorating it, so I guess anything is possible. :-)
Standard 1 of the AASL Standards: Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.
More specifically: 1.3.4 - Contribute to the exchange of ideas within the learning community.
Let's take the idea of blogging for example. A huge part of this project and something that can be applied at many different grade levels.
What better way to exchange ideas than blogging! Currently my 4th grade students participate in the Intermediate Young Hoosier Program. I have been trying to come up with a better way for the students to communicate with me and others to discuss what they are reading. The idea of blogging is something that many of my students would love. The would have access to the computer in their classrooms as well as the media center. I think this is coming from my new found love of blogging. I think it is often times easier for students to discuss ideas with each other when they are not face to face. It seems like they are worried that something they say won't be correct. I would imagine that promoting this new exchange of ideas with up the participation in the program as well.
Standard 2 of the AASL Standards: Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.
Specifically 2.2.3 - Employ a critical stance in drawing conclusions by demonstrating that the pattern of evidence leads to a decision or conclusion.
At the high school level, students using the inquiry process will need to recognize misleading information. This would be the "Wiggling" stage of the 8Ws. They may not be researching an outdoor wedding reception. However, regardless of what they are researching, they are going to have to do some evaluating. It is imperative that the students learn how to evaluate the sources of information they are using.
The following site lists Hoax websites for teaching students how to evaluate the information they are finding. http://www.shsu.edu/~lis_mah/documents/TCEA/hoaxtable.html This is an activity that can be done while learning the inquiry process. Evaluation is key when doing research.
It is amazing how many standards this project would actually meet. With just a little altering between grade levels, everything connects in some way!
Standard 1 of the AASL Standards: Inquire, think critically, and gain knowledge.
More specifically: 1.3.4 - Contribute to the exchange of ideas within the learning community.
Let's take the idea of blogging for example. A huge part of this project and something that can be applied at many different grade levels.
What better way to exchange ideas than blogging! Currently my 4th grade students participate in the Intermediate Young Hoosier Program. I have been trying to come up with a better way for the students to communicate with me and others to discuss what they are reading. The idea of blogging is something that many of my students would love. The would have access to the computer in their classrooms as well as the media center. I think this is coming from my new found love of blogging. I think it is often times easier for students to discuss ideas with each other when they are not face to face. It seems like they are worried that something they say won't be correct. I would imagine that promoting this new exchange of ideas with up the participation in the program as well.
Standard 2 of the AASL Standards: Draw conclusions, make informed decisions, apply knowledge to new situations, and create new knowledge.
Specifically 2.2.3 - Employ a critical stance in drawing conclusions by demonstrating that the pattern of evidence leads to a decision or conclusion.
At the high school level, students using the inquiry process will need to recognize misleading information. This would be the "Wiggling" stage of the 8Ws. They may not be researching an outdoor wedding reception. However, regardless of what they are researching, they are going to have to do some evaluating. It is imperative that the students learn how to evaluate the sources of information they are using.
The following site lists Hoax websites for teaching students how to evaluate the information they are finding. http://www.shsu.edu/~lis_mah/documents/TCEA/hoaxtable.html This is an activity that can be done while learning the inquiry process. Evaluation is key when doing research.
It is amazing how many standards this project would actually meet. With just a little altering between grade levels, everything connects in some way!
Technology Requirements
I used the following technology-based eleaborations for this inquiry project.
- Concept Map: I used bubbl.us to create graphic organizer to layout my questions, thoughts, and focus topics.
- Web-Based Tool: I used GoogleDocs to create my interview questions and slide presentations.
- Social Bookmark: I used Delicous to sort and tag my online resources.
- Electronic Communication Tool: I used email to communicate with and interview two of my friends that were recently married. I also tried to ask-an-expert, but sadly wedding planners charge.
- Productivity Tool: I created a website using Google Sites to compile my findings.
- Notetaking Tool: I subscribed to and used Diigo as a notetaking tool. I struggled with how to use it and never quite got the hang of it. I am not going to give up though!
Wishing
There is something to be said about the value of reflection! Looking back at a project, event, or experience can help you make informed decisions about similar happenings later. To be honest, in undergrad, I used to get so frustrated when professors would ask me to reflect on a lesson I taught or reflect on this or reflect on that. Now that I am a bit older and wiser...or I hope I am, I realize that I constantly reflect. What could I have done differently with that lesson for it to be more effective? How could I have changed that event to make it more successful? I think reflection is key to the inquiry process.
As far as this project is concerned, overall I feel that my project went fairly well. It was a slow start as I was trying to decide on the topic. Unfortunately, I had another hiccup due to me worrying about my topic choice. Once I got that straightened out in my head, I was able to push forward.
I am a very organized person. I believe that helped me keep the wealth of information I found sorted and layed out in a workable manner. I also believe that it helped that I was excited and passionate about my topic of choice. In one of the first lines in the project description Annette Lamb states, "Your topic should be something that you are truly interested in exploring." (Guide 1: Information Inquiry) This project would have been even more difficult if I had picked a topic I was less than interested in. I am excited about one day planning a wedding and I thought this would be a fun way to get my feet wet.
Sadly, as organized as I am, this doesn't carry over into time management. I am not saying that I didn't spend enough time on the project, but I feel like I could have used some of the time I spent more wisely. As I was working on my final project, I kept thinking that I still left my inquiry subject too broad. I could have taken one of the topics and really got down to the heart of the information. Instead I tried finding a wealth of information on many topics. Now, I am not saying that this is a bad thing and when planning a wedding, I know you have to hit all of the points. I am simply saying that given the time we had for the project, my time would have been better spent focusing on one area. I don't regret my focus areas by any means. It was actually a lot of fun to explore the options I will have when I begin planning.
A challenging part of the project was the fact that there was so much information out there on my topics of interest. A lot of my time was spent sorting through all of that and finding the sources that would work for my 5 areas of interest. As I said, narrowing the topic may have been a good idea. So, if I were to approach this particular topic again, I may have kept my focus to "how to have a successful outdoor reception."
Daniel Callison writes, "The teacher as a model of reflective behavior will serve as a mentor who learns from mistakes as well as successes." (9) I will be the first to admit when I make a mistake. I think this helps students understand that you are human. Describing your mistakes or set backs and also your success will help show your students you are a reflective individual.
This project would be a great example to share with my students. I work in an elementary school K-4, so they may not necessarily be interested in the final product (4th grade girls might...they love that kind of thing). The process would definitely apply. I would share my difficulties with the amount of information available. We are doing some research projects currently and we are starting small with just one source of information. They were able to pick their own topic and also what they wanted to find out about that topic. If the students can't find the information in the source we are using, I will help them find another source. We are working with keyword searches and finding trustworthy sources as well. I would also be sure to share my successes. Help them learn ways to organize their information. All part of the 8Ws! I love it!! Although my students at this point will not be planning a wedding, the experiences I had during my inquiry are very applicable!
As far as this project is concerned, overall I feel that my project went fairly well. It was a slow start as I was trying to decide on the topic. Unfortunately, I had another hiccup due to me worrying about my topic choice. Once I got that straightened out in my head, I was able to push forward.
I am a very organized person. I believe that helped me keep the wealth of information I found sorted and layed out in a workable manner. I also believe that it helped that I was excited and passionate about my topic of choice. In one of the first lines in the project description Annette Lamb states, "Your topic should be something that you are truly interested in exploring." (Guide 1: Information Inquiry) This project would have been even more difficult if I had picked a topic I was less than interested in. I am excited about one day planning a wedding and I thought this would be a fun way to get my feet wet.
Sadly, as organized as I am, this doesn't carry over into time management. I am not saying that I didn't spend enough time on the project, but I feel like I could have used some of the time I spent more wisely. As I was working on my final project, I kept thinking that I still left my inquiry subject too broad. I could have taken one of the topics and really got down to the heart of the information. Instead I tried finding a wealth of information on many topics. Now, I am not saying that this is a bad thing and when planning a wedding, I know you have to hit all of the points. I am simply saying that given the time we had for the project, my time would have been better spent focusing on one area. I don't regret my focus areas by any means. It was actually a lot of fun to explore the options I will have when I begin planning.
A challenging part of the project was the fact that there was so much information out there on my topics of interest. A lot of my time was spent sorting through all of that and finding the sources that would work for my 5 areas of interest. As I said, narrowing the topic may have been a good idea. So, if I were to approach this particular topic again, I may have kept my focus to "how to have a successful outdoor reception."
Daniel Callison writes, "The teacher as a model of reflective behavior will serve as a mentor who learns from mistakes as well as successes." (9) I will be the first to admit when I make a mistake. I think this helps students understand that you are human. Describing your mistakes or set backs and also your success will help show your students you are a reflective individual.
This project would be a great example to share with my students. I work in an elementary school K-4, so they may not necessarily be interested in the final product (4th grade girls might...they love that kind of thing). The process would definitely apply. I would share my difficulties with the amount of information available. We are doing some research projects currently and we are starting small with just one source of information. They were able to pick their own topic and also what they wanted to find out about that topic. If the students can't find the information in the source we are using, I will help them find another source. We are working with keyword searches and finding trustworthy sources as well. I would also be sure to share my successes. Help them learn ways to organize their information. All part of the 8Ws! I love it!! Although my students at this point will not be planning a wedding, the experiences I had during my inquiry are very applicable!
Callison, Daniel and Leslie Preddy. The Blue Book on Information Age Inquiry, Instruction and Literacy. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. Print.
Waving
The information I gathered for this project was primarily for my personal use. When the time comes, I will share it with Brian (my hopefully soon to be fiance!) and of course my mom and anyone else helping me plan my wedding.
I would, however, hate to think that all of the hardwork that went into sifting and sorting through lots of information wouldn't be able to be seen by others planning a similar wedding. My website will be posted for my classmates to see and open to anyone that can find it while searching on the web.
I would imagine there are people out there just like me that have no idea where to begin when planning an outdoor wedding. My hope is that when I begin to plan, I will be that much more prepared and maybe my website will help others feel that way too!
I left my website open for comments. If someone finds the site and has actually planned an outdoor wedding, I would love to hear from them, get advice, or even another idea. The more ideas...the merrier!
I would, however, hate to think that all of the hardwork that went into sifting and sorting through lots of information wouldn't be able to be seen by others planning a similar wedding. My website will be posted for my classmates to see and open to anyone that can find it while searching on the web.
I would imagine there are people out there just like me that have no idea where to begin when planning an outdoor wedding. My hope is that when I begin to plan, I will be that much more prepared and maybe my website will help others feel that way too!
I left my website open for comments. If someone finds the site and has actually planned an outdoor wedding, I would love to hear from them, get advice, or even another idea. The more ideas...the merrier!
Personal Connection
I suppose I should be completely honest. Before now, I have never really considered what my approach to inquiry was. If I look at the process I went through in the past, it is not unlike what I just experience with this project. I suppose if I needed to find information on a topic I would figure out what tools to use and I would search out the answers. However, now I believe I have a more systematic approach. Previously, I truly believed I went through most of the steps in the 8Ws, but without realizing each of those steps or having a name for them. Barbara Stripling writes, "But inquiry is much more than simply following a process. It is an essence of teaching and learning that places students at the heart of learning by empowering them to follow their sense of wonder into new discoveries and insights about the way the world works." (4) I absolutely agree with that quote! It is so much more than a process. It is a way to truly delve into a topic and discover what you yearn to know about it.
I think at the beginning of this project all of those Ws scared me. It was unchartered territory for me...or so I thought. As the project progressed, it all began making sense. You move step by step, sometimes revisiting past steps in order to make sure you are heading in the right direction. These were all steps I had done before when looking for information. This model has actually helped me fine tune my inquiry skills by giving me steps. I love when things have order, even if you have to go back and revisit. Using 8Ws: Information Literacy kind of reminds me of building legos. I feel like before being introduced to this model and the others, I was building a Lego with no instruction manual. It was a free-build and I never really knew how it was going to turn out. Now that I have a tool or model to follow, I am building a Lego WITH an instruction manual. For me personally, that makes all the difference in the world. I like knowing that I will have a well thought out finished project when all is said and done!
I think at the beginning of this project all of those Ws scared me. It was unchartered territory for me...or so I thought. As the project progressed, it all began making sense. You move step by step, sometimes revisiting past steps in order to make sure you are heading in the right direction. These were all steps I had done before when looking for information. This model has actually helped me fine tune my inquiry skills by giving me steps. I love when things have order, even if you have to go back and revisit. Using 8Ws: Information Literacy kind of reminds me of building legos. I feel like before being introduced to this model and the others, I was building a Lego with no instruction manual. It was a free-build and I never really knew how it was going to turn out. Now that I have a tool or model to follow, I am building a Lego WITH an instruction manual. For me personally, that makes all the difference in the world. I like knowing that I will have a well thought out finished project when all is said and done!
Stripling, Barbara K. and Sandra Hughes-Hassell. Curriculum Connections through the Library. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2003. Print.
Wrapping
The information I have gathered about planning certain aspects of an outdoor reception would be most useful for those doing the same. I have decided to put my findings into a website. Although, Annette Lamb provides a plethora of options on the Information Age Inquiry website! Lamb states that during Wrapping you need to, "Synthesize the information you've collected into new words, develop a picture, create a chart, design a timeline, or make a video." All great ideas! It was difficult to make my final choice. The website seemed like the best option for me. I have created a few websites in the past. By using the website, I am not limited on the amount of information I can include. I thought about possibly creating a planning guide on my particular topics using Microsoft Publisher, but the amount of space if very limiting.
The work that I have put into this project and the information and knowledge I have gained will be very important to me in the future. (I think it is safe to say that...we talked about looking for rings...hooray!) We can use this information as a stepping stone when planning our wedding. The nice thing about a website is that we can continue to use it and add information to it. We can use it as a tool of organization when planning. Eventually, I could even share the link with my bridesmaids not living in the area, so they can be involved in what we are planning. It is a great way to share information.
The organization of the website will be basically straightforward. The homepage will describe the information found within the site and the purpose. There will be a link to 5 different pages - Tip/Advice, Menu Options, Dessert Options, Tent/Flooring Options, and Decor Options. Within each page will be ideas...some with pictures. I will also include pros and cons or advice and suggestions that I have gathered from the many resources I have found. I will also include links to my favorite websites within the site. My goal is that the site be easy to use and include useful information to me in the future.
Going back to the plethora of ideas that can be used for the "Wrapping" phase, I think that having so many options is fantastic. Thinking back to when I was a student doing research, we basically did the research and wrote a report. We didn't have options. I love that by using a model like this it give the inquirer the flexiblity to pick an end product that works for them. I can remember listening to the same format of presentation over and over and over again because everyone was doing the same thing. I would imagine if you offered students freedom and flexibility on the project, your presentations would hold more interest to the audience.
Well, time to wrap it up!
Callison, Daniel and Annette Lamb. Information Age Inquiry. IUPUI. Web. 11 February 2011.
The work that I have put into this project and the information and knowledge I have gained will be very important to me in the future. (I think it is safe to say that...we talked about looking for rings...hooray!) We can use this information as a stepping stone when planning our wedding. The nice thing about a website is that we can continue to use it and add information to it. We can use it as a tool of organization when planning. Eventually, I could even share the link with my bridesmaids not living in the area, so they can be involved in what we are planning. It is a great way to share information.
The organization of the website will be basically straightforward. The homepage will describe the information found within the site and the purpose. There will be a link to 5 different pages - Tip/Advice, Menu Options, Dessert Options, Tent/Flooring Options, and Decor Options. Within each page will be ideas...some with pictures. I will also include pros and cons or advice and suggestions that I have gathered from the many resources I have found. I will also include links to my favorite websites within the site. My goal is that the site be easy to use and include useful information to me in the future.
Going back to the plethora of ideas that can be used for the "Wrapping" phase, I think that having so many options is fantastic. Thinking back to when I was a student doing research, we basically did the research and wrote a report. We didn't have options. I love that by using a model like this it give the inquirer the flexiblity to pick an end product that works for them. I can remember listening to the same format of presentation over and over and over again because everyone was doing the same thing. I would imagine if you offered students freedom and flexibility on the project, your presentations would hold more interest to the audience.
Well, time to wrap it up!
Callison, Daniel and Annette Lamb. Information Age Inquiry. IUPUI. Web. 11 February 2011.
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Weaving
According to Daniel Callison, "Synthesis is the fusion of separate elements or substances to form a coherent whole." He goes on to say, "In synthesis...the student must draw upon elements from many sources and put them together into a sturcture or pattern not clearly there before..." (543) Synthesis is what the 8W's calls Weaving. Have you ever heard the expression...Oh the tangled web we weave. Well, I have weaved a tangled web with all of the information I have found in my many sources!! Now to form my plan of attack in order to create a "coherent whole"!
So, how did I go about analyzing and applying what I learned? Well, again, I have to say...I now know why people are so happy when they finally get to their wedding day and they don't have to plan anymore. Wowsers!! So much to think about.
I decided to take it one topic at a time. Once I "wiggled" my way through the evaluation of my sources and figured out what sources I would use for each topic, I visited those sources to find information useful for my essential questions. Using my bubbl.us concept map helped me keep my focus during this process.
Let's take Outdoor Reception Tips and Suggestions for example. The purpose of this topic was to find out the most prominent advice from the sources. I wanted to find those common strands. Were any of the suggestions appearing over and over again in the different sites? If that was the case, those would be the suggestions or tips that I would truly take note of. Now, going about cross-referencing all of the sources was a big job. Figuring out how to sort the information was a bit of an ordeal. Believe me, people have a lot of advice on the topic. I used Excel to make a chart. I started with the advice from the following site: http://weddings.about.com/cs/weddinglocations/a/outdoorwedding.htm. The site listed 10 Tips for a Perfect Outdoor Wedding. I figured I needed to start with something. As I read through the different sources, I tallied if the advice was repeated. I also added new advice that I found. I continued this process with the sources that I decided to use, until I came up with a solid, worthwhile list of tips for an outdoor wedding. The tip that showed up most often was to have a backup plan because of weather related possiblilities. Good thing I was already planning to have a tent!!
Speaking of tents...through this inquiry, I wanted to find out the sizes of tents and also the styles. Call me crazy, but I wasn't exactly looking for a Circus tent with stripes as a part of my decor! I mean I guess I could go with the circus/carnival theme, but I think I am looking for something a little more elegant. :-) I decided to base my search on a 200 guest wedding. This would determine the size of the tent you would need. I wanted to see if there was consistency between companies. I am sure no one would want their guests to feel crowded. This information was quite a bit easier to sort. I sorted through a reliable number of sources and kept track of the information using Microsoft Word. Once I knew the size I would need for a 200 guest wedding, I began looking at the style available. Just as I suspected...red and white stripe. Thankfully there were other more elegant choices as well! I also looked for suggestions as far as flooring and air conditioning.
When I began to look for options for desserts, I really wanted to see what others were using. I know from going to weddings that not everyone sticks with the traditional cake. If they don't, they usually still have a small cake to cut together. My findings were rather interesting. As of late, couples are choosing pie, cupcakes, individual pastries, a candy bar, ice cream buffet. Evidently a wedding cake is so last year!! LOL! The dessert aspect of my website simply includes ideas for desserts. I truly think it is personal preference. Look for a yummy slide show of the possibilities!
I know that we are supposed to be living in a paperless environment, but I also couldn't help but use the traditional paper and pen approach to keep track of information I was finding as well. With some of the information I found, I actually printed it out. It is hard to keep switching back and forth between sites and remembering where the information it that you are looking for at that moment. I signed up for Diigo and did end up using it, but I am still learning. I, like I said, did rely on paper and pen for some things! One thing in particular was my list of the requirements for this project, as well as my list of topics I wanted to cover. I have created lists using Word in the past, but there is something I love about being able to cross of an item when I have completed it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and shows me that I am moving along. I don't know where I would be in life without my lists!
It is amazing how all of the information from ALL of the sources started to come together as a "coherent whole". There was definite overlap in my sources. This stage in the 8Ws really got me excited about planning my won wedding...someday!
I have noticed that going through the 8Ws process, you often have to revisit one of the Ws and the Ws overlap in some ways. I have to admit, this is a little difficult for me. I think it is just how my mind works. I like to follow each step and then check it off my list. As I was going through my Weaving, I ended up have to go back to Wiggling because some of the resources I deemed as worthy were not! Also, as I was Weaving, I ended up visiting Wondering again. I changed some of my questions and added others.
The 8Ws is a process...a model to follow, and I am finding out it is a very good one. It has helped me realize how important it is to teach the process of inquiry. You can't throw a student into an inquiry project without first helping that student learn what it means. Doing research is not an easy task. There is so much information available, as I am sure we all found out. I truly don't think I was taught how to inquire, but from now on I will be sure I am teaching my students use inquiry to its fullest!
So, how did I go about analyzing and applying what I learned? Well, again, I have to say...I now know why people are so happy when they finally get to their wedding day and they don't have to plan anymore. Wowsers!! So much to think about.
I decided to take it one topic at a time. Once I "wiggled" my way through the evaluation of my sources and figured out what sources I would use for each topic, I visited those sources to find information useful for my essential questions. Using my bubbl.us concept map helped me keep my focus during this process.
Let's take Outdoor Reception Tips and Suggestions for example. The purpose of this topic was to find out the most prominent advice from the sources. I wanted to find those common strands. Were any of the suggestions appearing over and over again in the different sites? If that was the case, those would be the suggestions or tips that I would truly take note of. Now, going about cross-referencing all of the sources was a big job. Figuring out how to sort the information was a bit of an ordeal. Believe me, people have a lot of advice on the topic. I used Excel to make a chart. I started with the advice from the following site: http://weddings.about.com/cs/weddinglocations/a/outdoorwedding.htm. The site listed 10 Tips for a Perfect Outdoor Wedding. I figured I needed to start with something. As I read through the different sources, I tallied if the advice was repeated. I also added new advice that I found. I continued this process with the sources that I decided to use, until I came up with a solid, worthwhile list of tips for an outdoor wedding. The tip that showed up most often was to have a backup plan because of weather related possiblilities. Good thing I was already planning to have a tent!!
Speaking of tents...through this inquiry, I wanted to find out the sizes of tents and also the styles. Call me crazy, but I wasn't exactly looking for a Circus tent with stripes as a part of my decor! I mean I guess I could go with the circus/carnival theme, but I think I am looking for something a little more elegant. :-) I decided to base my search on a 200 guest wedding. This would determine the size of the tent you would need. I wanted to see if there was consistency between companies. I am sure no one would want their guests to feel crowded. This information was quite a bit easier to sort. I sorted through a reliable number of sources and kept track of the information using Microsoft Word. Once I knew the size I would need for a 200 guest wedding, I began looking at the style available. Just as I suspected...red and white stripe. Thankfully there were other more elegant choices as well! I also looked for suggestions as far as flooring and air conditioning.
When I began to look for options for desserts, I really wanted to see what others were using. I know from going to weddings that not everyone sticks with the traditional cake. If they don't, they usually still have a small cake to cut together. My findings were rather interesting. As of late, couples are choosing pie, cupcakes, individual pastries, a candy bar, ice cream buffet. Evidently a wedding cake is so last year!! LOL! The dessert aspect of my website simply includes ideas for desserts. I truly think it is personal preference. Look for a yummy slide show of the possibilities!
I know that we are supposed to be living in a paperless environment, but I also couldn't help but use the traditional paper and pen approach to keep track of information I was finding as well. With some of the information I found, I actually printed it out. It is hard to keep switching back and forth between sites and remembering where the information it that you are looking for at that moment. I signed up for Diigo and did end up using it, but I am still learning. I, like I said, did rely on paper and pen for some things! One thing in particular was my list of the requirements for this project, as well as my list of topics I wanted to cover. I have created lists using Word in the past, but there is something I love about being able to cross of an item when I have completed it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment and shows me that I am moving along. I don't know where I would be in life without my lists!
It is amazing how all of the information from ALL of the sources started to come together as a "coherent whole". There was definite overlap in my sources. This stage in the 8Ws really got me excited about planning my won wedding...someday!
I have noticed that going through the 8Ws process, you often have to revisit one of the Ws and the Ws overlap in some ways. I have to admit, this is a little difficult for me. I think it is just how my mind works. I like to follow each step and then check it off my list. As I was going through my Weaving, I ended up have to go back to Wiggling because some of the resources I deemed as worthy were not! Also, as I was Weaving, I ended up visiting Wondering again. I changed some of my questions and added others.
The 8Ws is a process...a model to follow, and I am finding out it is a very good one. It has helped me realize how important it is to teach the process of inquiry. You can't throw a student into an inquiry project without first helping that student learn what it means. Doing research is not an easy task. There is so much information available, as I am sure we all found out. I truly don't think I was taught how to inquire, but from now on I will be sure I am teaching my students use inquiry to its fullest!
Callison, Daniel and Leslie Preddy. The Blue Book on Information Age Inquiry, Instruction and Literacy. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. Print.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wiggling
I have to revisit Webbing for a bit before I move on to my Wiggling. In doing my searching on my topics I have had to refine my searches a little more and also change my approach to this project. My main goal is to find out tips and suggestions for my main areas of focus: decorations, tents/flooring, menu, and dessert. Plates and flatware is off the list. I basically found that I am going to have to look at what is available closest to me and go with that. The purpose of my project is to find different possibilities and unless I want to pay an arm and a leg for shipping to and from...I am just going to stick with local on that end. Since rethinking my approach, I have altered my graphic organizer. See below. I have added tips and suggests as a bubble because I really want to find out what people deem as very important when planning an out door reception. I have noticed that just as The Blue Book mentions, "There is constant interaction between questioning and exploration as they drive and refine each other." (7)
Wiggling:
I know why they call this stage Wiggling. I feel like I want to wiggle right out of this project. Sifting through the wealth of information is tedious and overwhelming. Deciding what resources are worthwhile takes time. Annette Lamb states, "Wiggling involves evaluating content, along with twisting and turning information to look for clues, ideas, and perspectives." (54) This stage involves digging very deep into the resources and figuring out if it provides the information you are looking for.
I shouldn't say that I necessarily want to wiggle right out of this project, but I am having a hard time staying focused on just my topics. There is so much information out there and I love finding out about the ins and outs of all aspects of weddings and receptions. I have decided to not simply discard the resources that don't fit my purpose right now. Instead, I know that these resources will come in handy later (I hope sooner than later...LOL), so I am going to keep those with a general tag in my Delicious site.
Back to my evaluation strategies...
I decided to keep a running tab of the resources I was searching through. I used Excel to make it easier. As I looked through my resources, I recorded the source and whether it provided information on general tips/suggestions, decorations, tents/flooring, menu, or desserts. There was of course some overlap, so some resources applied to more than one topic. I decided to use Excel because not all of my resources were online. I have books, magazines, and videos. I also used Delicious for my website resources. These were tagged with the specific topic they focused on. I also have a general category for general wedding information.
As I was "wiggling", it seemed to help me to go through the Information Evaluation Phases identified by Mary Ann Fitzgerald in The Blue Book. (388-389)
Phase 1: Search and Initial Contact
I found the resources based on keywords and topics, but did not fully read the information.
Phase 2: First Complete Reading
At this phase, I read the information in the resource. This involved some skimming, reading the headings, and finding information that applied to my inquiry project.
Phase 3: Reconsidering Information
After reading the sources, I was able to compare information from multiple sources to see which resources best served my purpose.
Using this method helped me truly find the most meaningful resources. I do have to say that because of the topic I chose, I think my evaluation methods were very subjective. Why? Well, I think that weddings have so much to do with personal preference. There is no way for one person to say that one cake is better than the other. I was not necessarily worried about how credible the source was in a sense. That may sound terrible, but here is what I am trying to say. I don't care whether the information came from the world's best wedding planner or my friend that got married last year. If someone has gone through a wedding/reception, I feel that they are a credible source. Now, if I were actually going to go about finding someone to make my wedding cake now for example, I would be more concerned if the person I was dealing with was in fact a noteable baker. I want opinions. I am not looking for definitive answers. My purpose for this inquiry project is to find options and get ideas. I want to prepare myself for what may be coming in the future.
Whether the resource is user-friendly or not also plays a big part in my evaluation. If I go to a website and I am not able to find the information I am looking for in a hassle free manner, the site is probably off my list. I don't want to have to sift through a bunch of advertisements in order to find the information. I want the resource to be easy to read and navigate. If I am watching a video on planning weddings, I don't want to watch the entire video in order to find one snippet of information. I want to be able to select the topic and access the information immediately.
I have attended quite a few weddings. I have also been in a few weddings. I feel as though I had a significant amount of prior knowledge going into this project. The Blue Book states, "In some cases, assimilation means reinforcing or confirming what is already known. In other cases, assimilation involves and altering of what has been accepted as knowledge..." (7) I do have knowledge of weddings and receptions, but there are aspects I have never thought about and before this point never needed to. For example, I know that because I would like to have an outdoor wedding and reception, I would need a back up plan...such as a tent. Through my research I found out that there are quite a few options for tents. One thing that was really bothering me was how to regulate the temperature. I kept thinking how awful it was going to be for my guests because the are going to be attending a tent wedding in August. Then if it was raining, we would have to have the sides of the tent down. I coundn't imagine how stuffy it was going to be. Well, as luck would have it. Tents can come with air conditioners. I had no clue that air conditioning would even be an option. I kept envisioning my guests with make shift paper fans trying to keep cool. "Assimilation through inquiry leads to donsideration of a wider range of perceptions and options than simpley those assumed by the learner." (7)
Wiggling:
I know why they call this stage Wiggling. I feel like I want to wiggle right out of this project. Sifting through the wealth of information is tedious and overwhelming. Deciding what resources are worthwhile takes time. Annette Lamb states, "Wiggling involves evaluating content, along with twisting and turning information to look for clues, ideas, and perspectives." (54) This stage involves digging very deep into the resources and figuring out if it provides the information you are looking for.
I shouldn't say that I necessarily want to wiggle right out of this project, but I am having a hard time staying focused on just my topics. There is so much information out there and I love finding out about the ins and outs of all aspects of weddings and receptions. I have decided to not simply discard the resources that don't fit my purpose right now. Instead, I know that these resources will come in handy later (I hope sooner than later...LOL), so I am going to keep those with a general tag in my Delicious site.
Back to my evaluation strategies...
I decided to keep a running tab of the resources I was searching through. I used Excel to make it easier. As I looked through my resources, I recorded the source and whether it provided information on general tips/suggestions, decorations, tents/flooring, menu, or desserts. There was of course some overlap, so some resources applied to more than one topic. I decided to use Excel because not all of my resources were online. I have books, magazines, and videos. I also used Delicious for my website resources. These were tagged with the specific topic they focused on. I also have a general category for general wedding information.
As I was "wiggling", it seemed to help me to go through the Information Evaluation Phases identified by Mary Ann Fitzgerald in The Blue Book. (388-389)
Phase 1: Search and Initial Contact
I found the resources based on keywords and topics, but did not fully read the information.
Phase 2: First Complete Reading
At this phase, I read the information in the resource. This involved some skimming, reading the headings, and finding information that applied to my inquiry project.
Phase 3: Reconsidering Information
After reading the sources, I was able to compare information from multiple sources to see which resources best served my purpose.
Using this method helped me truly find the most meaningful resources. I do have to say that because of the topic I chose, I think my evaluation methods were very subjective. Why? Well, I think that weddings have so much to do with personal preference. There is no way for one person to say that one cake is better than the other. I was not necessarily worried about how credible the source was in a sense. That may sound terrible, but here is what I am trying to say. I don't care whether the information came from the world's best wedding planner or my friend that got married last year. If someone has gone through a wedding/reception, I feel that they are a credible source. Now, if I were actually going to go about finding someone to make my wedding cake now for example, I would be more concerned if the person I was dealing with was in fact a noteable baker. I want opinions. I am not looking for definitive answers. My purpose for this inquiry project is to find options and get ideas. I want to prepare myself for what may be coming in the future.
Whether the resource is user-friendly or not also plays a big part in my evaluation. If I go to a website and I am not able to find the information I am looking for in a hassle free manner, the site is probably off my list. I don't want to have to sift through a bunch of advertisements in order to find the information. I want the resource to be easy to read and navigate. If I am watching a video on planning weddings, I don't want to watch the entire video in order to find one snippet of information. I want to be able to select the topic and access the information immediately.
I have attended quite a few weddings. I have also been in a few weddings. I feel as though I had a significant amount of prior knowledge going into this project. The Blue Book states, "In some cases, assimilation means reinforcing or confirming what is already known. In other cases, assimilation involves and altering of what has been accepted as knowledge..." (7) I do have knowledge of weddings and receptions, but there are aspects I have never thought about and before this point never needed to. For example, I know that because I would like to have an outdoor wedding and reception, I would need a back up plan...such as a tent. Through my research I found out that there are quite a few options for tents. One thing that was really bothering me was how to regulate the temperature. I kept thinking how awful it was going to be for my guests because the are going to be attending a tent wedding in August. Then if it was raining, we would have to have the sides of the tent down. I coundn't imagine how stuffy it was going to be. Well, as luck would have it. Tents can come with air conditioners. I had no clue that air conditioning would even be an option. I kept envisioning my guests with make shift paper fans trying to keep cool. "Assimilation through inquiry leads to donsideration of a wider range of perceptions and options than simpley those assumed by the learner." (7)
Callison, Daniel and Leslie Preddy. The Blue Book on Information Age Inquiry, Instruction and Literacy. Westport: Libraries Unlimited, 2006. Print.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Webbing
Let the searching begin!
Wow! Talk about available information! So much is out there and I love it! The amount of information at our fingertips is jaw-dropping. Enter the BIG problem...is it possible that there is too much information!?! LOL!
I started with using Google. Just for fun, I typed in "wedding". An amazing 309,000,000 results came up in 19 seconds. Now, I know my search topic was very broad, but I wanted to see what I was up against. I am also using Bing.com as another search engine.
After seeing the many results, I decided I really need to make a plan and sort out exactly what I needed to be searching. I used bubbl.us to make a graphic organizer of information I will be looking for. It really helps me stay focused and on topic. Believe me, there are so many aspects of a wedding and it would be easy to get caught up in everything. Deciding to focus on just a few elements of the reception has already helped me gain better direction. Below is my "plan of attack"!
I am sure I will have to add questions and possible alter existing ones. I have already taken off my search of a fancy port-a-potty. I have come to the conclusion that as nice as they might be from a port-a-potty point of view...we are going to have to make sure the tent can be close enough to the house to used the restrooms inside the house!
Once I created my handy-dandy graphic organizer, I was able to better narrow down my online searches. I focused on one topic at a time and change my search terms accordingly. At first I started with the basic "outdoor wedding reception". Those sites were full of fabulous tips and information that I will definitely be able to put to use when I am actually planning my entire wedding. For this purpose, I had to zoom in on my topics a little closer. When looking for tents, I searched "tents for outdoor receptions". I found a fabulous site that lets you put in the number of people expected and it tells you the size tent you need and how many tables and chairs! Amazing! My searches for each topic became more and more specific.
I am using Delicious and trying out Diigo. The two overlap, but because I am already familiar with Delicious, I thought I would stick with that. I really like what Diigo has to offer as far as highlighting and capturing. I think it will really come in handy when I create my website with all of the information I have gained from this project.
I have 5 different areas of focus and each time I find a website, I am placing under that specific tag (for example: websites about tents are under the tag "tent"). I think this will help me keep each point of interest sorted in an easy to find way, especially when I begin evaluating (wiggling) my resources.
Just as I am always telling my students, the internet is not the only source of information. I visited the library and found magazines, books, and even a couple movies on planning weddings (thank you Martha Stewart!). The library only had one magazine, but plenty of books to choose from in their collection. I also enlisted a couple of my friends that were recently married. I sent them a little survey to fill out with questions specific to their type of wedding. I asked my friend that got married outdoors many questions about the ins and outs of an outdoor wedding. With my other friend (indoor wedding), I focused more on the menu, dessert, and decorations.
Sadly, I tried to ask-an-expert, but the wedding expert charges for the answers...that is unless you are not 100% satisfied. You had to put the deposit down first and I wasn't willing to do that. I consider my friends experts, so I decided to stick with them and save my $30!!
All of these resources are just the starting point for my inquiry. It is time to really find out which resources are worthwhile and will provide me with the information I need.
It is time to start Wiggling!!
Monday, February 7, 2011
My Focus
I have to be honest. Something about this project was bothering me. That is not to say that I haven't been inquiring. I am really have a lot of fun looking at wedding "stuff". I was getting my hair done and had an excuse to pick up the bridal magazine! I have been talking with my married friends. One slight problem...I was actually feeling a bit of guilt or perhaps uncomfortable with the topic I chose. I am not changing the topic, but because I am not engaged...I was feeling perhaps like I might be jinxing myself. I know this is not necessarily true (we talk about getting married all the time), but I feel like I don't want it to be less exciting for me when my time actually comes to plan "my wedding".
So here is the deal. I am going to look at this not as what I might want to use at "my wedding" and more like what the possiblities are for a bride and groom. I know, I know...you are probably saying that it is the same thing. Let's just say this is making me feel a little better about choosing this topic.
Yep! Just as I suspected...I feel so much better already!!
I have decided, like I said before, to focus on reception topics. My main points of interest will be:
Decorations
Tents
Flooring
Port-a-Potties
China and flatware
Menu
Dessert
I feel like after I finish this project and when I am actually engaged, I will have knowledge of the topics listed above without making definitive answers on what I would actually want. I will know the options and then Brian and I can look at these together and decide.
So here is the deal. I am going to look at this not as what I might want to use at "my wedding" and more like what the possiblities are for a bride and groom. I know, I know...you are probably saying that it is the same thing. Let's just say this is making me feel a little better about choosing this topic.
Yep! Just as I suspected...I feel so much better already!!
I have decided, like I said before, to focus on reception topics. My main points of interest will be:
Decorations
Tents
Flooring
Port-a-Potties
China and flatware
Menu
Dessert
I feel like after I finish this project and when I am actually engaged, I will have knowledge of the topics listed above without making definitive answers on what I would actually want. I will know the options and then Brian and I can look at these together and decide.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Wondering????
Just thinking about planning a wedding makes me realize why everyone is so happy when the day is finally here!! There is so much to think about. Don't get me wrong. I am totally excited about the planning part and I definitely don't want to rush the day away! I actually love planning events. It is great to see all of your hard work come together into something great. I think that's why I love working in the media center. I love planning my events for the book fair and parents' nights. I guess I am getting side-tracked. Back to wondering about the many aspects of planning a wedding.
Just a side note...as I am asking these questions, I will be asking them as it concerns me right now. What I am trying to say is that I am using the word I rather than We. When it comes time for the actual wedding planning, I have no doubt that Brian will want to be a part of the plans. I am using I in this case because I am doing the project and they are all things I am thinking about. I just wanted to clarify this, so no one reading out think that I am only thinking of it as "my" wedding not "our" wedding.
The Outdoor Wedding...
I think it would be absolutely lovely to get married at my parents house. They have quite a bit of property. They live on a small fishing lake. Everything about the land is spectacular. We have already planned where the ceremony will take place. I will get ready at their neighbors house and then ride a boat over to my parents' house. I am not really worried about that aspect of the wedding. It will be a short ceremony, so people can just stand...or maybe we will rent chairs. I guess I will have to work that out. I would of course have chairs for elderly guests. So now that I said I wasn't really worried about the ceremony aspect, it got me thinking...I guess there are somethings to worry about.
Do I need chairs for the reception? If I don't have chairs, it might be difficult for people to see.
What if it rains? Should I have a tent set up for back up? Or should I just have a back up plan to get married under the same tent as the reception will be held?
Do I invite all of the guests to the ceremony? How do you decide who, if you choose to only have a small ceremony and bigger reception? What do most people do?
Who will marry us? How do you find a ceremony? Will we write our own vows or just use scripted vows? ( I am hoping for the latter because I am too nervous to write my own...not because I couldn't, but I would probably cry the whole time!! Who am I kidding...I will probably cry the whole time anyway!)
Where will people park? There is a large field they could park in, but what if it rains and the field turns to mud?
Do I need someone to direct the parking?
If they can't park in the field, where could I have them park?
Once I found a place for them to park, how would I get them from point A to point B?
Where do you rent a shuttle bus from? How much would it cost? How often do I run the shuttle? Would I need more than one?
Will people feel uncomfortable if they don't have their cars near them?
Because the ceremony and reception will be in the same place, what time should I have the ceremony? It seems like later in the day, so we could go right into the reception.
Can I fit a tent large enough to hold a possible 200 people on any piece of the property?
Blanket question...What is the cost of each thing I will need?
What will I use as the floor? Does the ground have to be completely level before putting the floor down? Where will I find a rental place for the floor? Is there one near me?
Where will I rent the tables, linens, dishes, and flatware? Are there different options for the dishes and flatware?
What colors am I going to do for the wedding? Will I do the tableclothes in one color and the napkins in another color?
What will I use for decorations at the reception?
What look am I going for? Classic? Elegant? Simple?
Will there be a theme?
Who will I have cater the event? What type of food do I want to serve? Italian, French, Mexican, American BBQ?
Family style? Plated? Buffet?
What options will I have for vegetarians? Do I need to worry about allergies?
What will I do for bathrooms? My parents have plenty of bathrooms, but I am not sure if the tent will be set up close enough to the house for the guests to use those restrooms. Do they make "fancy" port-a-potties? I just can't see having the guests use the standard port-a-potties.
What type of dress am I looking for? What type of dress will my bridesmaids wear? What kind of tuxedo or suit will Brian and the groomsmen wear?
How many bridesmaids and groomsmen? Flower girl? Ring bearer?
FLOWERS?? What type of flowers will I use? I love gladiolas. If I wanted to use glads, would I need to get married later in August when they are blooming in the area. Would it save me money to order them when they are blooming locally?
Who will I use for my DJ? Photographer?
Where will I get my cake from? What kind of cake? Do I have to worry about the heat with the cake?
What type of invitations will I get? What will I do for the programs?
Am I supposed to be asking this many questions?
I think I could continue coming up with question after question after question. I tried to base these questions on things I remember from my friends' weddings. I had one friend get married at her parents' house. I was just talking to her the other day about it. I asked her if it was worth all of the work. She said that the only thing she would have done differently would have been to hire a wedding planner. She is not a detail oriented person and so she didn't think of all of the little details. Both my mom and I are very detailed oriented people. Plus one of my very good friends is great a planning events.
My questions are not really in any particular, more just my thoughts as I was thinking about the different aspects of the event. My plan is to focus more on the actual reception, rather than the ceremony, bridal party, or my dress.
I am hoping to find out more about the options available for an outdoor wedding.
Anyone have any thoughts? Do you think this will be a good focus for the project?
Just a side note...as I am asking these questions, I will be asking them as it concerns me right now. What I am trying to say is that I am using the word I rather than We. When it comes time for the actual wedding planning, I have no doubt that Brian will want to be a part of the plans. I am using I in this case because I am doing the project and they are all things I am thinking about. I just wanted to clarify this, so no one reading out think that I am only thinking of it as "my" wedding not "our" wedding.
The Outdoor Wedding...
I think it would be absolutely lovely to get married at my parents house. They have quite a bit of property. They live on a small fishing lake. Everything about the land is spectacular. We have already planned where the ceremony will take place. I will get ready at their neighbors house and then ride a boat over to my parents' house. I am not really worried about that aspect of the wedding. It will be a short ceremony, so people can just stand...or maybe we will rent chairs. I guess I will have to work that out. I would of course have chairs for elderly guests. So now that I said I wasn't really worried about the ceremony aspect, it got me thinking...I guess there are somethings to worry about.
Do I need chairs for the reception? If I don't have chairs, it might be difficult for people to see.
What if it rains? Should I have a tent set up for back up? Or should I just have a back up plan to get married under the same tent as the reception will be held?
Do I invite all of the guests to the ceremony? How do you decide who, if you choose to only have a small ceremony and bigger reception? What do most people do?
Who will marry us? How do you find a ceremony? Will we write our own vows or just use scripted vows? ( I am hoping for the latter because I am too nervous to write my own...not because I couldn't, but I would probably cry the whole time!! Who am I kidding...I will probably cry the whole time anyway!)
Where will people park? There is a large field they could park in, but what if it rains and the field turns to mud?
Do I need someone to direct the parking?
If they can't park in the field, where could I have them park?
Once I found a place for them to park, how would I get them from point A to point B?
Where do you rent a shuttle bus from? How much would it cost? How often do I run the shuttle? Would I need more than one?
Will people feel uncomfortable if they don't have their cars near them?
Because the ceremony and reception will be in the same place, what time should I have the ceremony? It seems like later in the day, so we could go right into the reception.
Can I fit a tent large enough to hold a possible 200 people on any piece of the property?
Blanket question...What is the cost of each thing I will need?
What will I use as the floor? Does the ground have to be completely level before putting the floor down? Where will I find a rental place for the floor? Is there one near me?
Where will I rent the tables, linens, dishes, and flatware? Are there different options for the dishes and flatware?
What colors am I going to do for the wedding? Will I do the tableclothes in one color and the napkins in another color?
What will I use for decorations at the reception?
What look am I going for? Classic? Elegant? Simple?
Will there be a theme?
Who will I have cater the event? What type of food do I want to serve? Italian, French, Mexican, American BBQ?
Family style? Plated? Buffet?
What options will I have for vegetarians? Do I need to worry about allergies?
What will I do for bathrooms? My parents have plenty of bathrooms, but I am not sure if the tent will be set up close enough to the house for the guests to use those restrooms. Do they make "fancy" port-a-potties? I just can't see having the guests use the standard port-a-potties.
What type of dress am I looking for? What type of dress will my bridesmaids wear? What kind of tuxedo or suit will Brian and the groomsmen wear?
How many bridesmaids and groomsmen? Flower girl? Ring bearer?
FLOWERS?? What type of flowers will I use? I love gladiolas. If I wanted to use glads, would I need to get married later in August when they are blooming in the area. Would it save me money to order them when they are blooming locally?
Who will I use for my DJ? Photographer?
Where will I get my cake from? What kind of cake? Do I have to worry about the heat with the cake?
What type of invitations will I get? What will I do for the programs?
Am I supposed to be asking this many questions?
I think I could continue coming up with question after question after question. I tried to base these questions on things I remember from my friends' weddings. I had one friend get married at her parents' house. I was just talking to her the other day about it. I asked her if it was worth all of the work. She said that the only thing she would have done differently would have been to hire a wedding planner. She is not a detail oriented person and so she didn't think of all of the little details. Both my mom and I are very detailed oriented people. Plus one of my very good friends is great a planning events.
My questions are not really in any particular, more just my thoughts as I was thinking about the different aspects of the event. My plan is to focus more on the actual reception, rather than the ceremony, bridal party, or my dress.
I am hoping to find out more about the options available for an outdoor wedding.
Anyone have any thoughts? Do you think this will be a good focus for the project?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Watching and a Little Wondering
Well, it is official. I am already overwhelmed. I am trying to get a handle on what I need to do for this project. I am so glad Annette provides examples from previous students. I feel like I already started my project off wrong, so I am going to revisit the decision making process. I am not going to change my decision. I am just going to do a little better job explaining how I got to my final decision. I want to make sure I cover the 8 W's and I had already skipped the first one! Ha!
So here we go...
WATCHING:
Exploring the possibilites. I don't often take time to think about things that interest me. I am constantly worried about what is going on around me and who I can help and what I need to do for other people. It is interesting to actually take a step back and just observe what is going on around me. I am sitting in my living room looking around at all I have done to the house and all of the things I would love to do to the house. I am sitting inside where it is nice and warm. Looking outside, I think of how lovely it is in the spring and wish I could see buds on the trees. Instead I guess I should be preparing for the 1-2 feet of snow they are predicting in the next two days. I don't mind the snow, but when you have your sights set on a garden and the plans for that; it is easy to wish winter away.
I was recently asked what I do for fun or in my spare time (don't have much spare time). I really couldn't come up with anything. Sad, isn't it!?! So I thought a little longer and eventually came up with the idea that I might like to learn how to knit. Or possible sew. I have supplies to scrapbook, but that would require actually printing the pictures off my computer. Of course there is the option for online scrapbooking too.
Project Possibilities:
So here we go...
WATCHING:
Exploring the possibilites. I don't often take time to think about things that interest me. I am constantly worried about what is going on around me and who I can help and what I need to do for other people. It is interesting to actually take a step back and just observe what is going on around me. I am sitting in my living room looking around at all I have done to the house and all of the things I would love to do to the house. I am sitting inside where it is nice and warm. Looking outside, I think of how lovely it is in the spring and wish I could see buds on the trees. Instead I guess I should be preparing for the 1-2 feet of snow they are predicting in the next two days. I don't mind the snow, but when you have your sights set on a garden and the plans for that; it is easy to wish winter away.
I was recently asked what I do for fun or in my spare time (don't have much spare time). I really couldn't come up with anything. Sad, isn't it!?! So I thought a little longer and eventually came up with the idea that I might like to learn how to knit. Or possible sew. I have supplies to scrapbook, but that would require actually printing the pictures off my computer. Of course there is the option for online scrapbooking too.
Project Possibilities:
- Knitting: As I said above, I believe I would like to learn to knit. I see all of these fabulous scarves and hats and it seems to me that I could eventually...someday learn how to knit. I don't really know the first thing about knitting other than the fact that it involves two needles and yarn. I learned to crochet when I was little, but that consisted of crochet a whole skein of yarn into one long rope. I never learned how to connect. I hear knitting is harder than crocheting, but who knows...it could be personal preference. What size needles do I use? What type of yarn? Can I learn from a book or is it easier to actually see someone knitting? I feel like I might have more success learning from someone in person, but you never know!
- Gardening: My boyfriend and I have plans to start a garden in the spring. I worked very hard on the flower beds this past year, so our focus will be a vegetable garden. Of course, as any gardener knows, the work that I did last year will have to be redone again this year. I am still attempting to get rid of all of the tiger lilies that had taken over!! Anyway, as far as the vegetable garden goes, we are not sure where to begin. I grew cherry tomatoes last year with great success, but that is as far as I got. Should we do a raised bed or regular garden. What is the best placement for the garden in my particular yard? What grows well in this area? Is there anything that shouldn't be planted next to each other?
- Traveling: We are trying to decide on a vacation spot. We haven't really been anywhere on vacation together. My boyfriend and I go back and forth between Chesterton, IN(me) and Chicago(him). We would love to travel to the different homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. I would specifically love to see Fallingwater in Pennsylvania. We would also like to go out to Portland, OR to see friends of mine. Then there is the other side of the country...Portland, Maine. When is the best time to travel to these places? What is the cost of hotels? How long would it take to drive? Is flying a better option? I would want to zero in on one place for the project, but there are so many to choose from!
- Home Improvements: There are some areas in my house that are in need of major improvements. We are slowly but surely working to make these improvements. We just painted the bathroom this weekend and we love it. Now we need to decide on how we are going to decorate it. Currently my house if full of bright colors. I love it and my boyfriend seems to like it as well. We are going to begin working on the upstairs. Here is where things get complicated. There are areas of the upstairs that need to be re-drywalled. We don't really know the first thing about drywalling and are curious if it is something we want to attempt or simply hire someone to do it for us. This is true of the hardwood floors as well. I have heard horror stories of people refinishing the hardwood floors themselves. One false move and they are ruined! Then we wonder what colors. Do we want to pull bright colors all the way though the house or done it down a bit? We are thinking a bit of wallpaper here and there. I am not a fan typically, but I really like our ideas!
- Wedding Planning: This is what I have decided to do my Inquiry Project on. I have known plenty of people who have gotten married and been a part of helping them plan. However, it feels completely different when you are thinking of doing it for yourself. Now, like I said, I am not engaged, but hope to be soon. This is, of course, after many conversation about just that with my boyfriend. I figure, why not be a step ahead of the game when he does ask me. I guess another reason I am choosing this is becasue I want to see if I could actually pull off what seems to me like a rather large wedding on my parents property. This is something both Brian (my boyfriend) and I would like. According to my dad...it is happening there and they will make it happen. I just don't want the work it will take and the money I imagine it will cost to become overwhelming for any party involved. Hence the inquiry into what really goes into a wedding hosted outside at a residence. Where will people park? Bathrooms...yikes...bathrooms?!? Dancing...the dance floor? What if it rains? We are thinking August. Is it too hot outside in August? I wouldn't want people to be miserable at my wedding...for that matter...I don't want to be miserable.
Friday, January 21, 2011
My Decision
Well, it is Friday. Time for my decision. I really want to make this blog and inquiry about something personal to me...not about work or school for that matter.
So, if you promise not to tell my boyfriend, I have decided to do this blog about wedding planning. It is not as if I am jumping the gun because we have talked about the fact that we are going to get married; I just don't have the ring.
We would really like an outdoor tent wedding at my parents' house. I have been thinking a lot about that lately. I worry about the logistics, cost, and extra work that will go into a wedding held somewhere other than a hall. It is easy at a hall - the linens, food, dance floor, tables, and everything else are already there for you. My boyfriend and I are just not the wedding hall type. I have always wanted to get married at my parents' house. Now my job is to see if I can make it happen!
Now I need to get started. Where to begin...
So, if you promise not to tell my boyfriend, I have decided to do this blog about wedding planning. It is not as if I am jumping the gun because we have talked about the fact that we are going to get married; I just don't have the ring.
We would really like an outdoor tent wedding at my parents' house. I have been thinking a lot about that lately. I worry about the logistics, cost, and extra work that will go into a wedding held somewhere other than a hall. It is easy at a hall - the linens, food, dance floor, tables, and everything else are already there for you. My boyfriend and I are just not the wedding hall type. I have always wanted to get married at my parents' house. Now my job is to see if I can make it happen!
Now I need to get started. Where to begin...
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Yikes! No CLUE!!
To be completely honest, this is the first time I have ever blogged! It has been something I wanted to try, but never knew what to blog about. Now, I have no options...I must become a blogger. One problem remains - what should I blog about!?!
The possiblities are endless...
My boyfriend and I would like to do some traveling. We are deciding where we might like to go. This could be an option. Then I would have to decide if we would travel in the states or perhaps out of the country. I am not sure if picking a specific place (state or country) would be best to in order really hone in on the information I am looking to find.
Inquiring more about a healthy life style is always an option.
Working as a media specialist, I could do an inquiry involving books for the library on a specific subject. Granted this is supposed to be a personal inquiry project, so I would really like to make it about something outside of work.
I am getting ready to redecorate some rooms in my house...finding ideas and the exact look I am hoping to find would also be of interest to me.
OH MY Goodness! Help me! I am making it a goal to have my final decision made by this Friday!
The possiblities are endless...
My boyfriend and I would like to do some traveling. We are deciding where we might like to go. This could be an option. Then I would have to decide if we would travel in the states or perhaps out of the country. I am not sure if picking a specific place (state or country) would be best to in order really hone in on the information I am looking to find.
Inquiring more about a healthy life style is always an option.
Working as a media specialist, I could do an inquiry involving books for the library on a specific subject. Granted this is supposed to be a personal inquiry project, so I would really like to make it about something outside of work.
I am getting ready to redecorate some rooms in my house...finding ideas and the exact look I am hoping to find would also be of interest to me.
OH MY Goodness! Help me! I am making it a goal to have my final decision made by this Friday!
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