Showing posts with label Week 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Week 2. Show all posts

Monday, January 30, 2017

Tech Tip: Reverse Image Search

Robin Hood in his lincoln green; UN-Textbook
Originating in the late-medieval period, Robin Hood is considered a "heroic outlaw" (ironic, right?) from English folklore who was an impressive archer and swordsman. Even today, he is popular in literature, films, and television. This versatile folk figure was often seen as "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor".

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Feedback Thoughts

I really liked the article 5 Tips for Taking Feedback Like a Champ because it seemed to highlight the fact that most people see feedback in a negative light. One of the first steps in being able to utilize feedback constructively is to look at it in terms of growth. Having people give you feedback gives you the ability to grow and become better. If there's room for improvement, why not take advantage of it and be better? The article also talks about how there's nothing wrong with a little discomfort from feedback, it's actually a part of the growth process. Those feelings help show that you're human, healthy, and normal.

The other article I liked on getting feedback was Using Harsh Feedback to Fuel Your Career because it somewhat reiterates the points that the previous article makes. This article says to embrace the emotions you feel when receiving feedback; being upset is natural. Vent, let the feeling subside, and then move forward! It also says to prioritize which feedback you want to work on. Not all the feedback you receive will be helpful, relevant, or even important to you. Prioritizing the main things you need to address is a great way to utilize feedback.

For giving feedback, I really like the article Be a Mirror: Give Readers Feedback That Fosters a Growth Mindset. I liked it because it listed five qualities of feedback that foster a growth mindset within readers. The first is to be specific. The second is to focus on what the reader is doing, not on what they are lacking. The third quality is to focus more on the process than the actual outcome. The fourth quality is to make sure the feedback is transferrable to other aspects related to the topic. And the fifth and final quality is to keep yourself out of the feedback. It's not about pleasing yourself, but about making the other person better from your feedback.

The second article I liked about giving feedback was 7 Key Characteristics of Better Learning Feedback. Feedback needs to be goal-referenced, transparent, actionable, user-friendly, timely, ongoing, and consistent.


Feedback should be a good thing!; Flickr

Wednesday, January 25, 2017

Reading Notes (B): Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

Echo

This story is about Jupiter and Juno arguing about who gains more from the pleasures of love. Jupiter says it's Juno, while Juno believes the opposite. They have a son named Bacchus, who was born twice. That's an interesting idea that I might be able to use in my own story! Tiresias had disturbed two snakes who were mating in the forest and that changed him from a man to a woman. After eight years of living as a woman, he ran into the snakes again. This time, once again, he decided to disturb them and was changed back to his former sex. Tiresias agreed with Jupiter that women enjoy lovemaking more. This decision upsets Saturnia, and damned Tiresias. However, instead Tiresias gains knowledge of the future. The nymph Echo can only repeat the last of what is spoken and repeats the words she hears. She is rejected by Narcissus, for whom she has a deep longing. She ends up withering away in the forest, with only her voice remaining.

Narcissus

After going near a fountain Narcissus falls in love with himself. He struggles and longs to grab the image of himself in the water and begins to feel the pains of unrequited love. Eventually Narcissus turns into a flower.

Pyramus and Thisbe

They grow up together and end up falling in love with each other. They would marry, but their parents forbid it. They talk to each other through a shared hole in the wall wall that connects their neighboring houses. The two decide to run off together in the middle of the night. However, while Thisbe is waiting for Pyramus at their designated spot, a lioness appears and spooks Thisbe into the caves. Pyramus appears and sees the lioness and also Thisbe's veil that was left in a rush for her to leave. On it is the blood from the lioness, which Pyramus mistakes as being Thisbe's blood. He thinks she died and proceeds to kill himself. Thisbe sees what has happened and is wrought with pain and longing and misery. She also proceeds to end her life with the same sword. And thus, their love story ends on that fateful, misunderstood night.

Pyramus & Thisbe's fateful love story; Wikimedia

Bibliography

Monday, January 23, 2017

Reading Notes (A): Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4)

Deucalion and Pyrrha

Jupiter & Neptune destroy the earth with a flood. Deucalion and Pyrrha are the lone two survivors.
Instead of ruining the earth with a flood, I could do it with a volcano or other weather disaster. I like the volcano idea! Deucalion and Pyrrha pray and ask the goddess Themis what they can do to restore the human race. She grants their wish on the condition that they throw stones behind them. Upon doing so, the stones mutate and form into humans. This part was very vivid, with great imagery; need to remember to do the same for my story. Instead of throwing stones behind them though, I can use something else, like tree branches or leaves or something like that.

Io

A character named Argus has a hundred eyes around his head. Io gets turned into a young female cow.

Callisto

Jupiter tricks Calisto into thinking he is a women and proceeds to rape her. Callisto becomes pregnant and gives birth to a boy named Arcas. Callisto then turns into a huge bear.

Semele

Juno is angry that Jupiter impregnates Semele. She seems to be jealous and accusing towards Semele because wants to remain the mother of Jupiter's child. Semele is consumed by the fire of her nuptial gift; she is mortal, after all.

Jupiter & Semele. by Gustave Moreau; Wikipedia
Bibliography

Ovid's Metamorphoses (Books 1-4) by Tony Kline

Week 15 Review: Staying Creative

My favorite item from some of the recent announcements is this picture showing 29 different ways to remain creative. 29 ways to stay cre...