Hi everyone. 

My name is Stephanie Takeda and here is a picture of my workbag. This trusty companion is by my side throughout the workweek as I fulfill my roles as an instructor and program coordinator of the dental hygiene program at the College of New Caledonia in Prince George, BC. The items you see are pretty representative of what you might find in it at any given moment. 

My workbag is essentially a massive black sack. It was chosen specifically for its utility (its wipeable!) and ability to hold “stuff” because, as a working mom, I’m constantly multi-tasking. Inside, you’ll find a mix of work-related essentials and mom must-haves. The laptop, notebook, charging cords, and keys are all work-related and necessary for daily tasks. On the mom side, there are lollipops, band-aids, gum, a paper pad and pens, mostly carried around just in case. 

This bag is big enough to accommodate my gym gear in the hopes that I might be able to squeeze in 30 min here or there, and it holds my lunch, although it’s often only half-eaten by the end of the day as I never have time for it. My one must have is my travel mug – I wake up quite early to work while my kids are still asleep and rely on coffee to get me going. I should mention that my phone, which I used to take this picture, is also a daily (and essential) inhabitant of this bag.  

You may note that I have many bags within my bag. I am a bit of a neat freak and I find disorder distracting, so I try to group materials within specific bags. Paradoxically, I am also the first person to lose their phone or wallet and to counteract this tendency, I’ve started purchasing accessories in bright colors (though there is no evidence to support this strategy!). I like patterned bags because they remind me of Furoshiki knot bags and living in Japan for a couple of years before starting my career. Japan is also where I developed a love of stationary supplies. I’m so grateful for Amazon because I can order my Japanese gel pens by the box. It might sound silly, but writing with them is a such pleasure, I can’t go back to normal pens. 

As I write this post, I’m starting to realize that while I present an outward image of orderliness with my simple black bag, it conceals a colorful chaos within. This is a pretty apt metaphor for my life in its current state! 

The narrative of the contents of my bag are reflected in my 2nd picture. Many of the items are there because I’m a mom, happily catering to the two kids you see with me. The pens and paper serve a dual purpose: they keep the kids entertained with games like hangman or drawing during restaurant outings, and they’re versatile for various creative activities. From origami to making fortune tellers or drawing memories from Disneyland, the possibilities are endless – making this an essential item. The notepad in the picture above holds notes from my son’s first high school tour, a sweet moment captured on paper the day I took this picture (and one I will forever keep). For these reasons, pen and paper is one of my favorite text technologies. 

My interests are not really reflected in this bag other than work and kids. To be totally honest, aside from the gym and gardening I don’t really have a ton of time for such things during the school year – and I think this bag reflects that too. 

In terms of text technologies, I’ve already mentioned my fondness for the pen and paper. You might also notice I carry a coiled notebook. I started doing this when I took on the role of program coordinator this last academic year. It was pretty overwhelming, so having a dedicated place to jot down meeting notes and to-do lists has been helpful. While I do the same on my laptop, I prefer the physical act of writing. I feel like it helps me review and remember things (though I’m not entirely sure if that’s true!). This notebook is personal to me and not used for communication (no one could read it anyway as it is filled with my own shorthand and messy handwriting). 

The laptop and (missing) phone I carry emphasize the importance of digital text technologies in my life. Actually, the numerous cords I bring along to ensure they stay charged might demonstrate their importance even more. My laptop serves as my primary workspace. It is where I plan lessons, create presentations, write reports/letters, and grade assignments, etc. When it comes to communication, both my laptop and mobile phone are indispensable for staying connected both at work and at home. I rely on both for everything from emails, texting, and social media to online meetings, phone calls and taking videos and pictures. These are my go-to tools for staying connected with others in my life and also getting things done efficiently. 

I think these items show that language and communication are essential aspects of my life, and present in every aspect of it. They also demonstrate how I engage in language and communication across various levels, from casual activities like playing hangman with my kids to more professional forms of communication. 

In terms of literacies, I think my bag reflects the significant role of digital literacy in my life. Over the past few years, I’ve dedicated myself to improving my digital skills, particularly since transitioning from being a general dentist of about 14 years to entering the field of adult education (about 4 years ago). The level of digital literacy required as an instructor is far more complex and varied compared to the more specialized digital literacy demanded in dentistry. While I used to feel intimidated by text technologies, I now find myself embracing opportunities to learn new ones because so many of them are so cool! 

Several other literacies are also represented in my bag. For instance, there’s a focus on writing and reading, evident through the presence of pens, paper, and notebooks. The mobile phone, with its access to social media platforms, represents social media literacy. Additionally, items like the camera on my phone/laptop and pen and paper highlight visual literacy (I wish I had more time for that one). 

15 or 20 years ago my bag would have been beautiful, small and likely designer as at that point in time I was working as a general dentist and kid-free. It probably would have only held my phone, sunglasses, makeup and money.  In those days, I hardly touched a computer other than for work and I remember this well because learning to use new technology was such a huge issue for me when I started teaching. 

An archeologist aiming to understand this time period might view my bag and its contents and perhaps glean from it an overall theme of trying to do it all within one bag. In some ways, I think this bag represents this common modern-day struggle; juggling countless responsibilities and commitments and oversubscription to activities. Or maybe, upon examining my bag, they might simply deduce that I was both a teacher and a mom—two roles that often require carrying a bazillion items to fulfill their respective duties.  😉

Thanks.