Thanks for sharing, Nicolas.
Isn’t it fascinating how we can develop such a deep connection and sentimentality towards something as seemingly mundane as a bag? I can relate to this on a personal level, as I remember feeling a similar pang of nostalgia when I had to retire a trusty travel backpack that had accompanied me on adventures through over 60 countries.
Your reflection on your bag as not just an accessory but a symbol of your journey and digital literacy is indeed profound and thought-provoking. It’s remarkable how an ordinary object can carry such rich meaning and history, isn’t it? Your sentimentality towards your bag brings to mind an award-winning IKEA commercial from the ’90s that beautifully captures this feeling. Rather than giving away the message, I’ll share the URL, and if you have a moment, please watch it and let me know your thoughts.
IKEA Lamp Commercial – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecTUnfHyj8k
Your bag has been your steadfast companion, witnessing various stages of your life, from your university days to teaching abroad and your current life in British Columbia. It has accumulated countless memories and stories along the way, serving as a testament not only to its own durability but also to the enduring memories it carries. I wonder, do you foresee a day when you’ll officially retire the bag, or do you envision its buckles continuing to fall off and stitching unraveling for decades to come?
Your description of your computer as a “profoundly important text technology” is intriguing. In today’s digital age, our devices are no longer mere tools but gateways to a vast world of texts and information. Your computer not only facilitates your access to and creation of various types of texts but also represents your profession and your role as a STEAM teacher. Do you ever find yourself overly reliant on your computer, or do you believe you could manage without it? Personally, I’ve transitioned to a fully digital classroom, so the absence of computers would certainly pose a Monday morning challenge for me!
Your emphasis on digital literacy is paramount, especially in your role as an educator. The convergence of digital and traditional literacies is increasingly important, as you rightly note. The ability to navigate, understand, and produce multi-modal texts is a valuable skill for both students and educators.
Your forward-thinking perspective, imagining someone examining your bag and its contents in the future, adds a captivating layer to your reflection. It underscores how technology and our everyday artifacts can become historical relics for generations to come. How do you envision their reaction, and what do you think their perspective might reveal about the evolving relationship between technology and artifacts in our lives?
I must admit, I share your hope that someone might try the gum. It’s amusing how certain things, like the taste of gum, remain timeless and tangible in our increasingly digital world. Your mention of gum brings back memories of my brother and me discovering packs of baseball cards from the ’90s with a stick of gum inside. After a few chews, it became evident that the gum had far exceeded its expiration date!
I wonder, if you had the opportunity to curate this post and include materials in your bag that best represent you, is there anything you would add or remove? Perhaps there’s something that speaks more about your ‘texts’ that wasn’t included?
Nicolas, your post beautifully illustrates how our everyday objects can serve as storytellers of our lives, reflecting our values and the evolving nature of literacy in the digital age. I’d love to hear about one of the adventures you embarked on in Vietnam with this bag by your side!
I chose Nicolas’s post as it reminded me of the way I appreciated my bag and took it with me upon many an adventure.
2. Task 2: Dr. Boroditsky Response
Louisa Green
As Louisa created a website, I couldn’t directly post a response to her post on the site. Instead, I sent this post to her UBC email account.
Your thoughts on Dr. Boroditsky’s talk take us on a journey through the fascinating connection between language and who we are, Louisa. Language isn’t just about words. It’s about how we perceive the world and ourselves.
You mentioned how verbs and numbers have been challenging in your language learning journey. Learning a language isn’t just about vocabulary and grammar; it’s also about understanding a new way of thinking. Could you share more about your experiences with verbs and numbers in different languages? Do you have any tips or strategies for tackling these challenges?
Your observation that speaking different languages makes you feel like different people is intriguing. Could you delve deeper into how speaking Japanese and Spanish transforms your behavior and self-perception? Can you share specific examples or stories that illustrate this phenomenon? How do these language-induced personas affect your interactions with others?
The idea of a world without numerical language is thought-provoking. Numbers are everywhere in our lives, from telling time to managing finances. If we didn’t have numerical language, how do you think we would handle these daily tasks? How might our values and priorities change in a world where numbers aren’t a part of our language? I agree with you in that numbers often reveal the beauty and order in the universe, like the golden ratio.
Your insights into the challenges of translating between languages shed light on the rich complexity of language. Some words and phrases simply can’t be translated directly because they carry cultural context and nuances. Your example of Chinese characters and how their pairings change the meaning of a message is a testament to the depth of language. Learning Mandarin sounds like a formidable task.
Your reflections emphasize how language shapes our identities, cultures, and understanding of the world. Language isn’t just a tool; it’s a multifaceted lens through which we perceive reality. Thank you for sharing your profound insights, Louisa.
I chose to respond to Louisa because I really enjoyed the way she spoke about language acquisition and how it plays a pivotal roll in feeling understood. She is a good writer and I found her piece to be an easy and engaging read.
3. Task 3: Voice to Text | M. Forsyth’s MET Blog (ubc.ca)
Really fun (and difficult) story to read and follow, Mike. Your thoughts on the experience of speaking without a script and having speech-to-text software transcribe your words are really interesting. It’s not something we do every day, so the challenges are expected. Speaking off the cuff is a different beast, which is perhaps why so many people are terrified of public speaking.
You mentioned how you didn’t check the transcription while speaking, which is something most of us wouldn’t do either. It’s a bit like having a spontaneous conversation where you don’t plan every sentence in advance. But when you looked at the transcribed text later, you felt like some important details were missing. It makes you realize how much we rely on written text to remember things. I’ve told various stories hundreds of times over the years, with each retelling highlighting something else or forgetting an important detail.
You mentioned that you’re not like those orators in cultures without a written language who can precisely recount stories without any notes. They’ve trained their memories to remember every detail. For most of us, notes are a must. I’d like to know if you have a memory or a story that you can basically retell verbatim? I have a few up my sleeve!
When I read and looked at the generated text, I saw the same issues you did. It all ran together, which isn’t how we usually write in English. Punctuation was missing, which made sentences run on. I noticed this in my generated text story as well.
You brought up a great point about accents and non-native English speakers. How would the software perform with strong accents or different languages? It’s something worth exploring. Do you think we will get to a point where the software will be so good that it will perfectly transcribe English even through a thick foreign accent? I think so, but it won’t be for a while.
You also noted that the text resembled what your students sometimes submit. This is such a sad commentary on the state of education! What I read from students tends to include run-on sentences and multiple strands of thought.
Nice comparison of oral and written storytelling. I agree that oral storytelling is incredibly powerful, and can convey emotion through tone, body language, and interaction with the audience. Written storytelling has permanence but relies on the author to express emotions and pacing explicitly. Quality versus longevity.
Overall, your reflection offers a deep dive into the intersection of spoken and written communication, the influence of technology, and the unique aspects of each storytelling medium. I’m encouraged to think about how technology is changing our traditions of storytelling and language preservation. Thanks for the entertaining read, Mike.
I speak to Mike a lot at our school and this was a good chance to read something of his that is a little bit more personal. We have since chatted about his post and continued the conversation.
4. Task 6: An Emoji Story | Clarisse’s MET Blog (ubc.ca)
Your experience in creating emoji-based representations of a movie seems to be somewhat similar to mine, Clarisse, but I did notice some differences in our approaches.
When choosing emojis, you relied on ideas, memory, and setting-based emojis to depict the main events of the story. You focused on the plot and climax of the film, which allowed you to create a more concise and simplified representation. In contrast, I started by attempting to use full sentences and complex ideas, which led to a more elaborate but potentially less straightforward representation. I did move to your approach as the project wore on as it was too difficult to express complex ideas with a series of emojis unless fully broken down.
We both saw the value in starting with the title. You stated that it provided pre-analyzing context and acted as a form of pre-reading. I wasn’t as thoughtful in my reasoning, but I do agree with your sentiment.
The film choices offered a unique difference in approaches. You selected the most recent film you watched, which happened to be a romantic comedy. This genre choice made it easier to visualize and convey the story using emojis. I, on the other hand, selected a film without considering its complexity, as I thought that was ‘true to the task’.
After going over your emojis, I’m pretty convinced that this is the film ‘The Proposal’. The two flags tipped me off. This was a great set of emoji choices to represent this film. The female and male emojis even look like Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock!
I would like to have known which web emoji translator tools you used, Clarisse. You didn’t explicitly mention it in your response. I went through a series of free tools before settling on one that produced the best results. I wonder, did you have as much difficulty as I did when trying to find a useful tool?
In terms of literacies and theoretical underpinnings, we both seem to value visual literacy and the ability to convey complex ideas through simplified representations using emojis. This approach aligns with a more multimodal view of communication, drawing from theories about visual communication and semiotics that we have had in our readings. Both Kress and Bolter write about the need for multiple forms of representation and the ability to express ourselves using various media.
I enjoyed decoding your emoji story and I might have to re-watch The Proposal as it’s at the top of my mind.
5. Task 7: Mode Bending | Garth von Buchholz
I really enjoyed this listen, Garth. Your audio redesign of the original task is a compelling exploration of the transition from a visual and textual mode to an auditory one. By narrating a day in the life through the items in your bag, you’ve not only provided a vivid description of the tangible objects but also offered a glimpse into the rituals, challenges, and reflections associated with your daily routine.
The shift from a static image to a dynamic narrative adds layers of depth and personalization. The listener is invited to engage not only with the physicality of the items but also with the nuances of your voice, accent, and tone, prompting them to draw inferences about your background, experiences, and identity. You elude to this in your open ended questions at the end of the audio recording. This transformation from a visual representation to an auditory one enriches the storytelling experience, allowing for a more immersive and subjective interpretation.
Your reflection on the potential interpretations and judgments that listeners might make based on your audio presentation adds a meta-layer to the narrative. The consideration of factors such as language, accent, economic status, and educational background underscores the complexities of communication and perception. It highlights how the mode of communication itself can influence the audience’s understanding and assumptions.
The deliberate choice to present the narrative as a day in the life story, rather than a straightforward inventory of items, adds a humanizing touch. It not only communicates the practical aspects of your routine but also provides insight into your coping mechanisms, self-awareness, and professional identity. The narrative structure allows for a more nuanced exploration of your skills, experiences, and the multifaceted nature of your daily life.
The use of your name as the author further adds authenticity and accountability to the narrative. It adds ethos to the story. It prompts the audience to consider the credibility of the storyteller, raising questions about transparency and the potential for selective disclosure. This aspect adds an intriguing layer of reflexivity to the storytelling process, encouraging listeners to critically evaluate the narrative and its implications.
Your audio redesign successfully transforms a visual and textual task into a rich, multifaceted narrative. It not only engages the audience on a sensory level but also prompts thoughtful reflections on communication, perception, and the intricacies of personal and professional identity. Thank you for sharing this insightful and thought-provoking exploration, Garth.
I would like to know if you ever thought of embellishing or adding exciting details to the day, making for a more intriguing listen?
6. Task 8: Golden Record Curation | Olivia Liv Tarasewicz
Thank you for sharing your thoughtful process of curating the music list for the Golden Record. I really enjoyed reading about your experience, Olivia. It’s fascinating to hear about the discussions and considerations that went into your decision-making, especially with the diverse perspectives of your family. I didn’t think to bring in other family or friends to weigh-in, but now I wish I did.
Your acknowledgment of the challenge in choosing criteria for curation resonates with the complexity of representing humanity’s musical identity. This was a difficult decision to start. The blend of purposeful selection based on potential communication, personal enjoyment, and recognition of iconic pieces adds a layer of depth to the curation process. It’s interesting to see how your initial hesitation, considering your lack of formal musical expertise, led you to a blend of random selection and intentional choices. This blew my mind. Choosing at random seems so arbitrary. I’d like to know if there is something that you do consider yourself a quasi-expert in and that which you would feel comfortable making a definitive list.
Your conscious effort to avoid over-representing certain genres or regions, such as cutting down on classical and American music, shows a sensitivity to global diversity. I don’t think this was an uncommon approach as I did the same. The inclusion of “Johnny B. Goode” as a modern American representation is a compelling choice, bridging historical and contemporary musical expressions.
The random selection of eight songs adds an intriguing element, introducing an element of chance that mirrors the complexity of human musical preferences. Perhaps as I take a step back, this is the most human thing we could do with this task. Your final list, which spans various cultures and musical styles, seems to capture a rich tapestry of human expression.
In the end, your curated list reflects a unique perspective on how to encapsulate the essence of human music for potential extraterrestrial audiences. Well noted that a lot would have to go right for the aliens to not only find the record, but be able to listen and understand what is being played. The thoughtfulness and consideration you put into this task are evident, and it’s a testament to the complexity and beauty of the musical landscape that defines our shared human experience.
Thanks again for sharing. Oh, one question. Are you pleased with the final ten chosen? Do you wish something else found its way on the list?