Thought on Education

Creative Future

 

Fostering and exercising creative imaginations at an early age is crucial to the maturating and development of changing society.  Young minds can absorb so much information.  They need creative tools to help process all the ideas that are bouncing around in their heads.  The current educational system requires that they lean Math, Science, History, Social Studies, and the basic Reading and Writing skills.  Teaching art and creative thought is also among the enforced curriculum, but I think the current approach needs to be adjusted.

The way in which subjects are taught now, especially at the elementary level (from my experience at a California Elementary School), methods seem to be outdated.  The approach is very formal, almost mimicking a business boardroom setting.  The integration of technology seems even more like it has been taken out of a business handbook with dry power-point presentations.

Creative instruction needs to be brought into the classroom.  This is a new age, with young minds that adapt very quickly at different pace and scale than could have been perceived ten, even two, years ago.  Every student needs to be taught as if they were going to be a designer, because they are designers.  Every single student needs to have the capability to creatively problem solve.  This requires the system to lead by example.  Teachers need to be designers.

 

How might we create and educational culture that embraces historical methods, utilizes the technology of today, and is able to adapt to the technology trends of the future?

 

Shopping

Yesterday I took a small break from academia, and stepped inside the doors of Ross.  I was on my way to Safeway, to collect some groceries.  Food is what I needed.  I was out of the essentials… milk, bread, dog bones, and shampoo.  And, since I have given up my car to utilize public transportation, I could only buy what I could manage walking with, at most, two shopping bags.

I stepped into Ross anyway, and was immediately overpowered by the smell of the store.  A somewhat chemically, somewhat plasticy smell, maybe produced by the cheapness of the clothes.  It has always been an intoxicating smell, and it somehow stuns the brain, allowing your body to slowly look up and down every isle, and price-checking every shirt.

Yesterday, I happened to get stuck in the shoe isle.  I walked up and down the isles, numerous times, hoping to find a pair of gems.  And I did. A beautiful pair of sparkly, sequined, stunning, flats.

Ahhh, and then I thought of Design Research, and interviews of how people collect things, and on shopping habits.  These shoes were not something I needed.  I needed milk.  But I wanted them so bad! I regretfully put them back.  They were only ten dollars, and so unique!

I think that this feeling of regret is interesting.  Why, would I become so attached to an object so quickly?  Is it because it is something unique?  Is it because it was cheap and unique? How, if they were so interesting, did I fight the urge and persuademyself out of buying them?

P.S. Now, because I just googled them, I found out that they are worth 50 dollars, making the ones at Ross a super deal, I want them even more.  Shopping is dreadful.

Pee-Wee’s nightmare

It has been almost 24 hours now that I returned to a broken chain and runaway bike.  Just like Pee-Wee’s adventure, I was struck with terror, horror, and in disbelief.  The night was so beautiful, and I was so looking forward to a nice bike ride home from the mission.  I was forced to walk however, and stumble over my should haves, and sorrow over the loss of my bike.

This morning, I woke up, hoping that it had all been a dream, a nightmare, but my puffy eyes told me that I cried real tears.  My bike wasn’t going to be hidden safely in the house, but out in the world, somewhere.  So I set to work, getting the word out that there was a rad bike that got stolen, and I would love to see it returned, or clues to its whereabouts.  I posted on craislist, all over facebook, and sent out emails hoping to get tips or words of advice.  In return I received a lot of condolences as well as a single tip from a man living in Oakland.  He saw my posting on craislist, and said that he saw a bike that was very similar to mine at a Flea Market in Oakland.  With that, I got dressed, and ran out the door to catch the Muni.

I traveled on the Muni and Bart to reach my Oakland destination, all the while thinking of the joys of a bike and seeing smiling cyclist.  Within minutes of getting to the Flea Market, I spotted my bike.  I asked the security guards what to do, or who I should contact, and they told me to just walk up to the vendor and tell them that my bike was stolen, I that I would like it back.  Unfortunately the vendors didn’t immediately hand over my bike, so I threw a little fit, and called the police.  As I was waiting for the police, the vendor told me that they had bought the bike that morning for $250, and if I had $250, I could walk away with the bike.  A bunch of crap that was.  I was not about to pay for my bike back.  If it was someone other than himself that stole the bike, and he did in fact purchase the bike, he should know better than to buy stolen bikes, although I’m sure he makes a good profit. I waited for a really long time for a police officer to stop by, and never did, so I negotiated, kind of.  I had 10 dollars in my pocket and offered that in return for my bike.  The vendor said he would take it, as long as I came back next week to drop off more money.  Does he really believe that I would come back to give him more money for my stolen bike?

So, happy ending, I have my bike back.  It is minus my lights, but still has my bell, and missing a few spokes from the trauma of being stolen last night.  Thanks goodness it’s all over.

Hungry computer.

The picture above is a picture of my computer, that ate a penny.  How does a laptop manage to get a penny jammed in it?  I’m not sure.

I’d like to think that slot was made to produce pennies, and every day it will spit out a penny.  That would be kinda cool.

Anywho, I got the penny unstuck, everything is a-ok!

In other news, I don’t have a creative writing class, it’s critical writing.  Still interesting, and I’m going to definitely boost my writing, and speaking skills, but no fictional stories, or personal essays.

I also took the tool shop orientation today.  Cool, but I still don’t know how to work the machines.  I hope I can use that space often.  I’d like to build things.

Thats it. Tomorrow I have 2 classes, and then I’m done for the week, other than finishing my projects that are due for next week.

1st day of school!

I have officially started graduate school!

Today I learned a little bit of typography as well as a little bit of the history of media.

Well, really, I learned a little bit about my typography class and a little bit about my history of media class, and they sound great!  The professors/instructors seem to have very enthusiastic and positive personalities and have a ton of experience in the design world, with important and impressive resumes.  Things are going to be good.  Just need to stay on top of my workload, keep the creativity flowing, and drink coffee.  Tomorrow I have one class, creative writing, I’m excited for that one too.  I have always wished I could have taken more creative writing classes in my undergraduate studies…so I’m excited to get this opportunity now.

Storytelling Workshop

The initiation project for the first year, graduate designers (me!) was a three day storytelling workshop.  I thought it was spectacular.  There is some tremendous talent among the incoming class as a whole, which is intimidating, but also thrilling.  All the students seem to come from diverse backgrounds, eager to find their footing, and to jump into the CCA community.  I am excited to learn from them, work with them, and to offer and share my skills.  This is going to be an exciting 2 years.

P.S. Here is a link to my story, my video that I created for the workshop.

Miss Jillie, the model

My sister Jillie made a surprise visit last week in San Diego.  She is the greatest little surprise.  We went to the zoo, 6 flags, and we even had a great little photo shoot.  She is definitely growing up.  Her personality is growing and it shows in some of these photo’s.

Day at the Zoo

I spent the day at the zoo with Ben and Jillie yesterday.  It’s always amazing to see the variety of animals and plants, and even more amazing to think that they are all in my backyard.  It seems unreal that there is such a great zoo in the middle of a bustling city.  It was a hot day, but I’m so happy to have enjoyed the day with my siblings.

2days: 5 days: 13 days

I’m starting to get really anxious, nervous, excited, overwhelmed, elated, etc, etc.  I am done with work in 2 days.  I am moving in 5 days.  And orientation is in 13 days.  It’s a new life and a new routine.  I don’t want to disappoint myself or my family, and want to live up to expectations, and rise above expectations.  Every bone in my body is telling me that this is the right thing to do right now, so I must trust my instinct, and hope that when I’m done with school, the economy will be more stable, and I will be able to enter the workforce as unique designer. 

Good Bye Friends

Just said good bye to two of my best friends in San Diego.  Kerrie and Ryan are off to study in the mid west…good luck to them! I made them a nice little collage for a going away present.  They are both going to be uber successful.