Category: EDCI 336

This is a category for the EdTech course. Please add this category in addition to the relevant edtech assignment category(ies).

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Yarn Work #1 – Knitting a Scarf

For my inquiry project, I have decided that I will learn how to knit and crochet. I desperately need a hobby that can keep me busy while I’m listening to audiobooks or even having something to do while I am winding down for bed in the evenings. It is super important for me, as I am trying to put my phone away for 2 hours before I go to sleep, because my phone is a sickness and I feel like I should be prioritizing other activities in my life that will be helpful to me instead of doomscrolling.

I am really excited about this project because I actually used to run a knitting club when I was in grades 4 and 5, but then when I started middle school in grade 6, I completely abandoned it. I remember feeling so excited every time I would finish a project. I made a knitted case for my recorder, which was super cool because I loved the attention it gave me in music class. I was praised for the hard work I had done, and it made me feel so special.

I began my knitting journey the day we were assigned this assignment. I decided I would knit myself a scarf. So, I pulled up multiple YouTube videos and did my research about the different widths and lengths of knitting needles and which types of yarn were supposed to be used for the different types of scarf styles. I then started searching for the pattern that I wanted to use and then landed on a long, chunky scarf. I discovered that it required two different types of knit stitches. So, I went to YouTube again and learned how to do the second type of knit stitch.

So I began knitting my scarf, and it took me about 6 days to complete it! There are multiple holes and discrepancies in the pattern throughout the whole scarf, but I am constantly reminding myself that I am still learning a new and complicated concept and doing my best.

Now that I have completed my first project, I am excited to start the next one!

Photo by Paul Hanaoka on Unsplash

The photo above represents what my mind pictures when I think of knitting. All of the different types of yarn and the options of colours. This is what got me excited about starting to knit again. It’s so fun going to the store to pick out colours and decide what I want to knit next.

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Reflection #1

Today was our first day of class. We reviewed what the next 6 weeks of this course will look like and discussed some of the topics we’ll cover. I am super excited to learn all things about educational technology. It is such a new topic for me, as I haven’t spent much time working with different educational websites or using different tech resources.

I hope to gain a larger understanding of technology in itself and how it can be utilized in the classroom to help students learn rather than do the learning for them. For example, I know that in a lot of elementary and middle schools, students are allowed to use Chromebooks during certain times of the day, but how can I, as an educator, ensure that they are utilizing them as a learning tool instead of a cheat sheet or just free time? I know that I was definitely guilty of abusing our Chromebook time and not using it properly to learn, but my teachers weren’t super bothered about that, and it appeared that they would also use that time as their own free time.

Also, how can students learn about AI? I know that when I was going through my undergrad, AI became a huge thing that was talked about. We were warned about the use of AI but also told that it can be a helpful tool if used correctly. So, I would seek to gain an understanding of how AI can be a helpful tool in the classroom but also learn new strategies of how to ensure that students know everything they should about the use of AI.