Saturday, October 22, 2011

BP8 - Links to RILS Comments



Click here to see my comments on Rodolfo's RILS project


Click here to see my comments on Kristen's RILS project

BP7 - Final Project

Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario: Knitting with Ravelry
By Alyson Patrash



Beginning and developing knitters will be introduced to the Web 2.0 tool Ravelry.com. Students will use the tool to do a pattern search based on the yarn they have available as well as their knitting skills. Once they choose a pattern and start knitting they will create a project page on Ravelry that they can use to keep track of their project and share with the knitting community at large.

1)   Target Audience: Beginning and Developing knitters
2)   Materials Needed
·      Yarn Stash
·      A Computer
·      Access to Internet
·      Digital Camera and/or Video Camera
3)   Objectives: At the end of this scenario the learner will be able to
a.     Evaluate patterns found in Ravelry and assess if they would be a good fit for their yarn and knitting skills.
b.     Create a project page in Ravelry for their new knitting project.
4)   Procedure
a.     Students will evaluate patterns found in Ravelry and assess if they would be a good fit for their yarn and knitting skills
                                               i.     Students will setup a Ravelry account
                                              ii.     Students will learn how to use the advanced pattern search feature in Ravelry
                                            iii.     Students will find 5 patterns they think will be a good fit for their yarn and skills
                                            iv.     Students will discuss in a group their findings and narrow down their selections to 2.
                                              v.     Students will look up the patterns in Ravelry forums to look for errata or stumbling blocks other knitters have already dealt with.
                                            vi.     Students will choose 1 pattern to create
b.     Students will create a project page in Ravelry for their new knitting project
                                               i.     Students will take pictures of their yarn
                                              ii.     Students will create a project page and enter all information they have on the project
1.     Yarn used
2.     Needle size
3.     Start date
4.     Etc.
5)   Web 2.0 Tool: www.ravelry.com
a.     Ravelry is a free Web 2.0 tool for knitters and crocheters. It has a wealth of features to assist fiber artists in organizing and sharing their own projects, finding patterns, organizing their fiber library and communicating with fellow cohorts.
6)   Social Participation/Social Learning
a.     Students will utilize small group discussion to evaluate their yarn and skills. Students will also discuss their pattern choices with their peers and help each other make an appropriate selection.
b.     Students will use the Ravelry forums to gather more information about 2 patterns in order to make an informed decision on which to make.
7)   Making Connections
a.     The learner will connect with previous knowledge of knitting skills and yarn choices.
b.     The learner will become more informed and self sufficient in finding and choosing patterns that would be appropriate for them to complete.
c.      The learner will be able to collaborate with others in a peer group as well as on the Ravelry forums.
8)   Create/Produce: The student will create a Ravelry project page.
9)   Assessment: 


Reflection
a.     Students will be able to reflect on their process in the notes portion of the Ravelry project page they create
b.     The educator will evaluate the success of the scenario by the choices the students made in patterns (how appropriate are they) as well as by the level of detail and knowledge shown on the student Ravelry project pages. 

Saturday, October 15, 2011

PE5 - Ravelry Project Pages

In addition to using the pattern search function on Ravelry.com I will be using it's project pages as well for my Relevant Innovative Learning Scenario. I did a test drive on this feature as well and created a project page for a hand knit and felted bag I made when I used to live in Colorado.

To start creating a project page you navigate to my notebook, then projects, then click "add new project". You start by naming your project. Some folks on Ravelry just use their name and then the name of the pattern i.e. Alyson's Formal Boot Bag. Because I knit this project during a blizzard I decided to call it Blizzard Bag. Once you've named it Ravelry will try to find the pattern it in its database so you can have a link to it on your project page. To do this it needs to know what craft (knitting or crochet), type of source (book, download, pamphlet, etc.) and name of the source.


Next select the pattern from a list of possibilities Ravelry has found on its database.


At this point you have started your project page and just need to fill in all the other information. That includes made for, size made, tags, needle size/type, yarn/amount, start date and any notes you have about the project. 


Here is a picture of my finished project page for the Blizzard Bag!






PE4 - Ravelry Pattern Search

In my post PE1 - Ravelry I did a review of Ravelry.com as a whole. Today I'm going to take a closer look at the pattern search function that they offer. As part of my Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario, learners will be using the advanced pattern search to find patterns that would be a good fit for both the yarn they have available as well as their current level of knitting skill.

I wanted to do a test drive so I based my search on the assumption that I wanted to knit a women's sweater in my size out of a worsted weight yarn from a pattern written in English. When I plugged in these five requirements the search returned 538 patterns!



I obviously needed some more help to narrow it down so I added more search requirements such as type of sweater (I chose a cardigan), pattern source (I chose the options of in My Library or Free) and design elements (I chose a shawl collar). With these new additions I narrowed down my findings to 6 patterns.

In order to pick out the exact pattern I would like I looked at each sweaters pattern page. On this page I can look at several tabs full of information such as details (yarn used, needle used, where to get the pattern and guage), yarn ideas (substitutes used by other knitters), projects (other knitters who are making this sweater) and any blog posts or forum comments that mention this pattern. 

In my learning scenario I hope students will be able to narrow down their search to 5-10 patterns and use the information in the tabs to narrow that down to 3-5 that they will share with a group of knitters to help them decide what pattern would be best for them. 

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

Curvy Knits

I recently purchased an online class called Curvy Knits on Crafsty.com. I kept getting emails about this course and they sent me a deal I couldn't refuse, $25 for the complete course!


The course takes you through everything from getting correct measurements, how to swatch and block correctly, to special adjustments you can make to your "curvy" knits to make them fit to perfection. The course is taught by knit/crochet designer Marly Bird.


I am about a third of the way through the course and I already think I've gotten my moneys worth. If you are knitting plus size tops and have always struggled with getting a decent fit or figuring out how to alter the patterns you should most certainly check out this course.

Sunday, October 9, 2011

BP4 - Xtranormal


The video above was created using a web 2.0 tool called Xtranormal which allows you to create videos using animated characters.

First you get to pick your theme, background setting, characters, accents/voices as well as background music. These items are all marked with symbols to show you what point level they cost (you start with 300 points on your account). Some characters and background settings “cost” more than others. I had to go back and adjust my selections to come in under my 300 starting points.

Once you have completed that step you have to write the script. You simply type in what you want each character to say. You can then insert movements and facial expressions into the text to have them line up correctly with what the character is saying. In my movie you can see Norbert (sailor bear) point to himself when he talks about his outfit as well as throw his arms up in joy when they get ready to leave for the knitting store.  

When you are done you can email a link or post to social media sites such as YouTube and Facebook. If you signed into your social media accounts Xtranormal makes features such as “liking”, favoriting, and adding to a playlist available. You can even post your movie to Stumble Upon!

This would be a great tool for students to use to show they understand a topic, having one character explain the concept to the other. Or they could act out events in history or in literature. The possibilities are only as endless as your imagination!

Saturday, October 8, 2011

PE3 - iMovie

I have completed the Lynda.com iMovie Essential Training course!


I learned a LOT about iMovie that I plan to use in creating knitting videos in the future. Here is a video I was working on as I progressed through the course. It is intended to be a tutorial for teachers at my school who needed help with our new electronic referral system.