Cardboard Learning
I created “my view of learning” through the cardboard challenge. I used a cardboard box, tape, scissors, stickers, maker, and paper. The box represents the brain. I cut out squares on the sides of the box to show information going in and information going out. There is also information still inside in the brain because it is stored there and used when needed. My idea of learning is we hear/see/read information and absorb it into our brain. Some of that knowledge is kept in the brain, stored there until needed, while other information is used on a daily basis. Check out my video of how it works The Brain. (Funny story, my four-year-old watched the video with me of how they created a toaster with the cardboard. So when I showed him my box with the cutouts he said “Oh is that the toaster”)
During the construction process, my ideas did alter a bit. I had an end goal of creating a brain and wanted to “move” information through it. However, how I wanted to accomplish this I was not entirely sure. I do not think the construction process changed my idea, rather I kept adding to it during the process. My mind wandered and got creative during the process. I felt through this simple challenge I was successful in creating my end result and added details to it along the way. So I do not think it was the construction process that changed my idea rather my own creativeness. For instance, I found stickers which I added. I googled images of a brain and tried to create a brain like drawing. I also thought I just wanted to move information through it, but then I considered information that can be stored there and used or applied later.
This process was enjoyable for me. I liked being able to use my creativeness. I can see how this process can result in failure. It is not easy for everyone to form an idea and then create it with basic materials. This was a simple task that did not need to be perfect. However, given different standards or ideas, this could become an activity which takes multiple trial and errors. I also felt I picked a different big idea I would have a hard time figuring out how to represent it. I have to add giving us a suggestion or idea to pick from the big idealist was very helpful. When given board or an open-ended topic/project I tend to overthink and do not know where to begin, but these ideas were helpful in keeping the focus.
During this activity, I forgot how “fun” it can be to create something with cardboard. I have been collecting cardboard in my room for my students. I currently have a small collection and have not figured out what to do with it. But I think I have now, I am going to just allow them to create and play with the cardboard. This will allow them to do trial and error, be creative, and even expose them to failure. Nonetheless, this activity is about prototyping. This step allows your ideas and thoughts to become real. I took an idea I created in my head and made it come to life with several basic materials. It was not pretty, or perfect, but it was real. For this part of the design, you begin to make things come to life, persay. This could be thus far my favorite part of the design process. I think I prototype thoughts or ideas daily, so I have enjoyed this step.
Click on PDF version to view my images and visuals during this cardboard learning.