At some point this week, I finally realized that I had too many bowling pins in the air, and I needed to do something, or risk failing epically with my juggling of life's demands. So, as much as I was fired up to finally pick up my dusty old guitar and start strumming, it was the one project on my plate, that I could put off (again).
So instead, I am turning my attention to a Personal Learning Project that is more closely aligned with my Literature Review for EDCI 515 and my Final Masters' project. It certainly isn't as sexy as learning to play the guitar, and I hate to go back on my word to Bryan Jackson (I was planning to take his free introductory guitar course), it does make more sense to try to keep all my learning focussed in one area, so that I can maximize the little free time I have.
My focus for my new PLP is on how web-based educational platforms like Google Classroom, Weebly, Wordpress & Edublogs can be adopted into a classroom. I plan to further research which would be:
A) the most cost effective (in terms of time and maintenance)
B) how each platform can integrate into the classroom and the new BC draft curriculum
C) which delivers the best user experience, in terms of its functionality, add-ons and tools
With this information in hand, I can make suggestions as to how they could be integrated into the new BC Curriculum that is expected to be launched in the near future.
So while researching web-based educational resources isn't nearly as cool as learning to pick and strum a six-string, I think it will help me better manage my time and put together some valuable recommendations that could perhaps inspire someone else to choose one of the resources, and begin a Personal Learning journey of their own.
For reference, here's is a copy of my Overly Optimistic Original Blog Post from February 2nd, on learning how to play the guitar.
Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, the Edge. All fantastic guitar players. Jake Main...not so much.
I can barely pick up a guitar let alone know where to place my fingers or know how to strum. The closest thing I've come to a fret, is when I think I'm gonna be late for work. I tried and failed miserably once when I set out to learn to play the guitar, but I'm hoping my second kick at the can is moderately more successful, and that I actually take a couple steps closer to realizing my lifelong dream of being able to sling my six string over my shoulder, and have it be more than just an ornament.
For my personal learning project I have signed up for the Free Online Guitar Lessons available through Bryan Jackson's #IntroGuitar website as well as using YouTube tutorials to learning strumming, picking and finger placement techniques. My first challenge will be to try to tune my guitar, which sounds more like a bellowing sea lion than a musical instrument at this point, so I am hoping to find some online resources to help me in my quest to get my guitar sounding more like a instrument for musical pleasure that a CIA torture device.
Here are the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How's of my Project.
Who: Me, a wannabe rock star, with Edge-like aspiration, and the skills of a middle-aged tone-def imbecile.
What: Learning to play the acoustic guitar well enough, to amuse a couple of friends over drinks and a campfire.
Where: In the privacy of my home and likely in the garage or somewhere else, out of earshot of my innocent wife and children.
When: Most likely late at night, after the family has gone to bed, my students' papers are marked, my lesson planning is done, my weekly stack of scholarly articles are read, my blog posts are complete, and I have a moment to breathe.
Why: Because nothing is cooler than a guy who can play "More Than Words" followed by "Under the Bridge" and capped off with "Sweet Caroline." To be brutally honest, while those are all good songs in their own right, the one song I really want to learn to play is "The Girl" by City and Colour. From the first time I heard it, I knew it was the one song I needed to learn to play.
How: With the fine tutelage of YouTube's finest, the wise words and guidance of Bryan Jackson's instructional videos and assignments, and any other online tutorials or apps I can track down. If I get stuck I may even pick up the phone to consult my cousin, who used to play lead guitar in an Alternative Rock Band.
I'm trying to be realistic with my expectations, but my true inspiration for this is taking a tiny bit of time for myself in what is unquestionably the busiest time of my life, to do something I have always wanted to do. I'm hoping it will be good for my brain, my self-confidence and the soul, as I struggle to sustain my sanity over the remainder of my Master's studies.
So instead, I am turning my attention to a Personal Learning Project that is more closely aligned with my Literature Review for EDCI 515 and my Final Masters' project. It certainly isn't as sexy as learning to play the guitar, and I hate to go back on my word to Bryan Jackson (I was planning to take his free introductory guitar course), it does make more sense to try to keep all my learning focussed in one area, so that I can maximize the little free time I have.
My focus for my new PLP is on how web-based educational platforms like Google Classroom, Weebly, Wordpress & Edublogs can be adopted into a classroom. I plan to further research which would be:
A) the most cost effective (in terms of time and maintenance)
B) how each platform can integrate into the classroom and the new BC draft curriculum
C) which delivers the best user experience, in terms of its functionality, add-ons and tools
With this information in hand, I can make suggestions as to how they could be integrated into the new BC Curriculum that is expected to be launched in the near future.
So while researching web-based educational resources isn't nearly as cool as learning to pick and strum a six-string, I think it will help me better manage my time and put together some valuable recommendations that could perhaps inspire someone else to choose one of the resources, and begin a Personal Learning journey of their own.
For reference, here's is a copy of my Overly Optimistic Original Blog Post from February 2nd, on learning how to play the guitar.
Jimi Hendrix, Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton, Eddie Van Halen, the Edge. All fantastic guitar players. Jake Main...not so much.
I can barely pick up a guitar let alone know where to place my fingers or know how to strum. The closest thing I've come to a fret, is when I think I'm gonna be late for work. I tried and failed miserably once when I set out to learn to play the guitar, but I'm hoping my second kick at the can is moderately more successful, and that I actually take a couple steps closer to realizing my lifelong dream of being able to sling my six string over my shoulder, and have it be more than just an ornament.
For my personal learning project I have signed up for the Free Online Guitar Lessons available through Bryan Jackson's #IntroGuitar website as well as using YouTube tutorials to learning strumming, picking and finger placement techniques. My first challenge will be to try to tune my guitar, which sounds more like a bellowing sea lion than a musical instrument at this point, so I am hoping to find some online resources to help me in my quest to get my guitar sounding more like a instrument for musical pleasure that a CIA torture device.
Here are the Who, What, Where, When, Why and How's of my Project.
Who: Me, a wannabe rock star, with Edge-like aspiration, and the skills of a middle-aged tone-def imbecile.
What: Learning to play the acoustic guitar well enough, to amuse a couple of friends over drinks and a campfire.
Where: In the privacy of my home and likely in the garage or somewhere else, out of earshot of my innocent wife and children.
When: Most likely late at night, after the family has gone to bed, my students' papers are marked, my lesson planning is done, my weekly stack of scholarly articles are read, my blog posts are complete, and I have a moment to breathe.
Why: Because nothing is cooler than a guy who can play "More Than Words" followed by "Under the Bridge" and capped off with "Sweet Caroline." To be brutally honest, while those are all good songs in their own right, the one song I really want to learn to play is "The Girl" by City and Colour. From the first time I heard it, I knew it was the one song I needed to learn to play.
How: With the fine tutelage of YouTube's finest, the wise words and guidance of Bryan Jackson's instructional videos and assignments, and any other online tutorials or apps I can track down. If I get stuck I may even pick up the phone to consult my cousin, who used to play lead guitar in an Alternative Rock Band.
I'm trying to be realistic with my expectations, but my true inspiration for this is taking a tiny bit of time for myself in what is unquestionably the busiest time of my life, to do something I have always wanted to do. I'm hoping it will be good for my brain, my self-confidence and the soul, as I struggle to sustain my sanity over the remainder of my Master's studies.