As I mentioned in my previous blog to work on my second pillowcase embroidery next week, so, I completed it using the same material,  I mentioned in my previous blog. I had a plan to use a different digital app or at least a different template to show my work, but I couldn’t find any specific one, hopefully for my next blog.  I simply completed my pillow case embroidery and attached some screenshots below.

There’s a slight difference in having Stem stitch for my recent work because I wanted to try in a different way. As I didn’t use any actual video demonstration without using a template, so I thought to try uploading my video for today’s project. I tried, but no luck this time. I will try again for my next learning project. Though, my pillow case embroidery was time taking, comparatively to my earlier learning projects, but  it wasn’t boring, I enjoyed it.

I mentioned in my very first blog about how to print your design by pricking  pattern and using some ink to shade your design. I was exploring some ideas for my future learning project, I found a video, it has a demonstration of how to print your design by pricking. The description can be found at the very last 8 minutes of the video.

Digital media and the use of technology has elevated our living in multiple ways; we can learn online, communicate easily, use multiple online resources to run our life by sitting home,… etc. It’s interesting how Michael Wesch in his video (An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube) describes the new culture of media as “……..the replication and the spreading of happiness……celebration of new forms of empowerment ……a celebration of new and unimagined possibilities.”
He further described “….media is not the content, media is not just the tool of community, I think the media mediates human relationships and when media stops human relationships stops.”
There’s no doubt that media & technology brought people closer by eliminating the distance barriers.

In regards to the use of digital tools in my future classroom, I would say it’s inevitable. In the digital world, I will try to promote digital learning as much as possible because its fun to learn via technology. There are different learning apps kids use to improve literacy, reading, math’s by using Raz kids, Mathletics, Epic or any other learning apps. I observed that kids enjoy learning through any digital apps.

Another good point is that, It’s convenient to reach out to parents using digital tools; Edsby/ Seesaw or through any other digital apps, approved by their school division.

Epic

Mathletics

Edsby 

SeeSaw 

(hyperlinked in MS)

These days, we can’t ignore the importance of including digital learning, but we have to be aware of the challenges we can come across. I believe we’re one global community, but it requires a big responsibility for how to use it properly. In my opinion, each parent/adult needs to teach their kids about some healthy boundaries and safety concerns. If we teach our kids about digital boundaries and a responsible use of media, it can be helpful to keep balance in our life.
Toni Bates in his open textbook, Teaching in a Digital Age talks about how to keep balance in the digital age. In the topic,  About the book and how to use it,  he explains about the use of technology as, “It’s about helping your students to develop the knowledge and skills they will need; not so much digital skills but thinking and knowledge that will bring them success in a digital age.”

(Book Title & the title page was linked using MS)

It’s time to take my next step in learning about hand embroidery. Following a period of reflection, I decided to create some floral designs as I wanted to learn about how to stitch simple flowers. I selected the video for some guidance after browsing on you tube.

I chose a few stitches because I wanted to stitch them on my kitchen towel. I used multicolored/tie dye thread that complimented my cloth.

After drawing a few flowers, I started to follow instructions provided in the video.
The flower patterns were woven rose stitch, daisy satin stitch and sunflower lazy daisy stitch. I used 5 strands multi-colored threads to make it colorful. I spent some time understanding each step before to get started. The cutest of all flowers was a rose for me but I enjoyed making daisy satin stitch. It was very quick to make and elegant after!

Technology has a crucial role in elevating our life in multiple ways, both personally and academically. It has contributed to provide various flexible communication tools, learning resources, and entertainment gadgets. We can manage many things at home with different online tech tools but we can’t ignore some negative impacts if we’re not responsible enough to use it. I believe it has more positive aspects if we use it carefully.

The digital tools that I use mostly are for both purposes, academic and leisure. In general, I spend more time for leisure purposes. Most commonly apps I use are Microsoft, Google Chrome, WhatsApp to communicate with family, friends, staff/colleagues. I also use you tube for entertainment and Skype/zoom/Pinterest for academic purposes.

Some other tools that I use to manage my life include smart things(to keep track of my household stuff), phone alarms(to be on track/time daily basis), and notes to keep records of all upcoming events, appointments/tasks and also for some handy info. I rely on these tools a lot as they’re very helpful to organize almost every things in my life.

In my opinion, there should be moderation in the use of technology. Each social media app can be destructive if we’re being obsessed with it/ not paying attention to some careful boundaries. One of the apps that distracts me is YouTube as I spend a lot of time on it watching podcasts, entertainment shows, and TikTok videos. The screenshot for my recent weekly report can show how much screen time usually have.

I try to keep balance for screen free time and take a break and spend time outside in nature but it’s challenging to be away from technology for a long time.

Since last year I was thinking about how to do hand embroidery and I was determined to teach my kids as well. I was wondering how to get started but couldn’t make it up. As I came to know about our learning project then after thinking about a couple choices I chose to plan on how to do hand embroidery. I was excited and started to search for some videos  about it and started to look for supplies.

The supplies I needed to get started with were some threads, needles, frame, scissors. I also got some perchman paper as I have seen in my childhood. Some professionals used to use that to make some patterns. I remember that they used to trace their designs on parchment paper and then prick them with needles to reuse their patterns. They also used to have some chalk or ink to copy their patterns on different clothes. Hopefully I’ll use that, to make some patterns in my future projects. For today’s learning I started to practise only 5 stitches.
Back stitch, running, split, stem, and chain.

I’ve attached the video where I got inspiration from. Its basic Embroidery Stitches for Beginners by Rivers Birch Threads. There were many to watch but I chose this as it was very short and quick to watch.

Material resources:

https://images.app.goo.gl/ugERDM43WX4ceXxq7