Fin

Knowledge comes in many different forms and is also learned in many different ways. Using the 4 units of knowledge we discussed during our in-class salon, I was able to better analyze the connections between all the units.

Here’s a brief overview about the 4 units of knowledge from my discussions:

            Folk: Essentially the knowledge gained not by textual means but rather by first-hand experience. For example: taking a shower, how to sing, and throwing and catching a ball.

            Oral: I discussed with Jenna and Rachel how knowledge that is transmitted orally must have the basis of folk knowledge. Within religion and spirituality, oral communication is necessary and vital. For example: listening to general conference, Buddhists’ mantra, and ministers in common churches.

            Written: Discussion interestingly centered a lot on handwriting and the value they hold within even today’s culture. Also today’s knowledge institutions still have written knowledge. For example, math and physics classes have homework assignments with formulas, equations, and problems that are all handwritten and turned in.

            Print: Talked of the possibility that print will become obsolete and what the effects will be. Translation with each generation of past knowledge, have we reached the point where future generations will not have to translate into own medium?

Thesis:            

            Through the evolution and development of knowledge, society and culture have developed multiple mediums to communicate that knowledge and will continue to do so with the fundamental unit being folk knowledge, while other units of knowledge may become obsolete or nonessential.

Montana & Shuan - Our Musings

For the preparation for the in-class salon, Montana and I decided to work together. We took the time today to look through all the blogs and selected 2 individuals to read through their experience in this class. We reminisced of all the projects and posts we have done. It was great fun to look back and see all that we've accomplished this semester.

A Different Path..

So when I was typing up the paper, I realized that I wanted to take the paper in a different direction. So I revamped my  thesis and intro paragraph.

Here it is:

          Since the start of elementary school, many students remember the multiple practice sheets taken home to repeatedly copy the same word over and over again to remember not only how to write the words but how to spell them. Orthography is the study devoted and concerned with letters and spelling of a language. Learning to read, while it may seem absurd to think it is especially difficult since the frustration once experienced took place, for the majority of the population, when they were very young. The acquisition of spelling is vital to orthographic knowledge that is gained while learning to read. Literacy is affected by the orthographic knowledge acquired because without learning how to spell correctly, word identification and comprehension become issues. Orthography has impacted general education in respects to literacy greatly and has affected how people gain the knowledge skills required to be able to read.

The Attention Grabber:

I've been worrying about my intro paragraph.
I'm not sure if it really grabs attention of the reader. I've tried revising it a couple of times but I'm just getting lost, so I thought I could post it up and get some opinions. I'd really appreciate your help!

Since the start of elementary school, many students remember the multiple practice sheets taken home to repeatedly copy the same word over and over again to remember not only how to write the words but how to spell them. Orthography, the study devoted and concerned with letters and spelling of a language. Spelling changed how people not only learned also how they interacted with each other. Orthography has impacted general education and society greatly, especially since the introduction of print, and has effected how knowledge is communicated, gained, and shared.

The Paper

*Before I begin this blog post of the process to writing this paper, I would just like to ask if you could please bear with me if this post is not the greatest or a little scattered. Due to some personal problems I'm currently a bit compromised and unfocused. Through time I know I can get out of this rut but I just need that time first.*

For the academic paper, I considered how I would like to approach this. I considered just finding the big picture from all the books I found regarding orthography and the effect it had on print. But I realized I wouldn't have too much time to look through all the books again.
I then decided I would pick one learning outcome and emphasize that using orthography and print.
After looking over the learning outcomes list, I realized that there was something in each of the outcomes I could address and use and emphasize.

I figured out then how I could instead use 3 of the outcomes, the ones I had trouble narrowing down with, and use them to emphasize orthography and print, how each applies to the learning outcome.
The 3 outcomes I'm using are:

• Communicating Knowledge
• Knowledge Skills
• Sharing Knowledge

I feel like spelling has a big impact on all of these.

I figured the bulk (body) of my paper would be devoted to them.

As for my thesis:

"Orthography has impacted general education greatly, especially since the introduction of print, and has effected how knowledge is communicated, gained, and shared."

I feel like it is a simple thesis, but straightforward. I never liked making an obscure thesis statement like my AP Lit teacher tried teaching me how to do. I feel the most straightforward thesis is what gets the point across.

What do you think?

Spelling is Eazzee

I decided to do my annotated bibliography on the effect of print on orthography. If you don’t know what orthography means, it’s ok. I didn’t either. So, after another Google search I found that it means “The conventional spelling system of a language.” Basically, orthography is a fancy way of saying spelling.

As I sat and pondered how I would find the books I needed for the annotated bibliography, I literally went to Google and searched “how to find books in the library”. (Judge me if you wish, I judged myself) Surprisingly, I found a great site that explained the Dewey decimal system. Good thing I discovered from a trusty librarian that the BYU library uses the Library of Congress classification…

So, after another, yes another, Google search for “Library of Congress classification”, I found THIS!

I figured that I should understand how the organizational system of the library works in order for me to actually find the books I need. After I read through and got a semi-solid basis of understanding, I went the BYU library website. 

La Biblia en La Biblioteca

For the class field trip, I went to The Life and Legacy of the King James Bible, as my other group members Tanner and Montana have as well.

 I found myself rather amazed by the history of the Bible itself. From the original Latin Vulgate version to the final translation of the King James Bible, the history is full of drama, enough to probably create a long running series if one were made.

Mommy, Daddy, Help!

For our written medium, our little Asian cultures group decided to go with a Chinese artefact.
After much discussion we decided bamboo scroll would be the best option since it would fit into our time frame. I was in charge of writing down the phrase onto the bamboo.
Supplies were kindly contributed by other Alicia and Scott.
The only issue was I had no idea how to write it or even what to write.
That's when Moms and Pops came to the rescue!
It was quite interesting trying to write this using ancient mediums but doing so by watching my parents on Skype. I regret now that I did not print shot any of the Skype session.

The final result was:

 

 

credit to Kody Wood

We decided to go with phrases that were well-known and would typically be put on a scroll for gift purposes. Since typically these bamboo scrolls were used (and actually still are being used) for being given to friends and families.

So thanks Mom and Dad! Thanks for being Asian!

Banned

The world knows of China's censorship of media. They censor all types of mediums including television, print media, radio, film, theater, text messaging, instant messaging, video games, literature and the Internet. A wide variety of subject matter is censored by the government: politics, cultural, moral, religious, & economic. 

Anything that can essentially tarnish the government's reputation with topics ranging from independence of the people to corruption and anarchism is censored. Pornography and some religious texts, publications, and materials are also banned.

Back to the Homeland

I introduced in my last post that I would be going to China to teach English.
I couldn't be more excited! This past summer I began feeling rather dysfunctional. I never before had any desire to travel abroad. In fact, I still do not bear any aspiration to travel. But what I have harbored within me for a long time is the eagerness to help and provide for others. I've always enjoyed service. I joined multiple service organizations and currently am part of Provo Youth Mentoring (You should too! We need more mentors)

But how did I come to the decision of going to China? This resolution came from the spark of interest I found of connecting with my ancestral roots. I use to think I would be just fine just studying my ancestry from the comforts of my bedroom but I realized that for me to truly connect and form a link with my previous generations, I need to physically place myself there. For the same reason that modern day apostles still travel across the globe, for me to be able to forge a bond and have the opportunity to gain an emotional/spiritual channel, I want to go to the land of my fathers.

My brother and I are the first generation to have been born in America. Traveling to China would not only give my the opportunity to be where my dead ancestors were, but where my own living grandparents, parents, aunts, uncles, etc. lived for a course of their lives.
I spent a couple of months scouring the internet for programs to go through. One fateful day, what was perceived as ordinary junk mail actually revealed itself to be my answer. International Languages Program (ILP) I explored the website and read everything I could about the different opportunities offered.
After much thoughtful meditation and prayer, I knew that this was the right path to follow, with the right program to go through.
So I started the application process and I'm currently gathering the final materials I need to send the application in.
Here's hoping!

Zwongwen = Chinese

 When I was younger and had not started school yet, my mother and grandmother taught me how to write in Chinese. Unfortunately, once I got into the public education system my attentions were more focused toward what I was learning in school and I lost some ability to write Chinese. I kept up with Mandarin because that is how I spoke with my family.
As I researched the Chinese writing system, I was surprisingly able to remember many rules of the language.

Road to Success

"The government that seems the most unwise,
Oft goodness to the people best supplies;
That which is meddling, touching everything,
Will work but ill, and disappointment bring."

- Laozi (Tao Te Ching section 58)

Ni Hao

The Chinese language has often been coined one of the most difficult languages to learn and speak. Not only are there thousands of characters one would need to learn, the language itself is tonal and uses different inflections than the English language.





Other than being a language that dates back centuries, Chinese has evolved to become one of the forefront languages to learn in today's world. But even before its evolution, the language was still a great influence in the ancient dynasties.

Sidewalk Surfing

There has been an activity/sport that has swept this nation's youth..mainly the hipsters..
That sport is none other than: long-boarding.

Needles and Yarn

So Jake asked me if I would teach him the basics of knitting. Of course I happily agreed. So we got together in the HBLL and went at it.

Definition, Please?

In our class discussion and readings, it was all based around "Mantic" and "Sophic". As we delved more into those words and discussed what both meant, I tried to follow each idea and comment that was made but what resulted was just a jumbled mess in my mind. For some reason, I just couldn't get my mind around what mantic and sophic really was. So I decided that for my post this week, I would do my own research and bring my own interpretation to what those words mean.

Lather, Rinse, Repeat

Buzz Buzz

Today's post is brought to you by:             shuan

This is the start of Reinventing Knowledge.

The first post of this blog will be regarding one of the most important aspects of it: the name.

The Hive

Why The Hive? Well, it was sort of a vision. (Not in a sacrilegious way)