I'm a BYU Teaching Social Science Major - I love history and psychology and will post assignments for my class here, along with any cool ideas I come across.
Thursday, February 18, 2016
Portfolio Assignment 3 - Being the "Other"
I put a lot of effort into being the other. I broke my ankle and suddenly found myself in a group I'd never imagined I'd be in, especially during college. I have had to learn to an extent, what it is like for those facing a disability to get around, particularly on BYU campus.
Crutches (and my knee scooter) have become my new best friend
This is all the metal that was added to my ankle
When I initially came to BYU, I complained about about the many stairs on BYU campus and how much walking I had to do. That is nothing compared to the challenges a person with disabilities has.
After my injury, I had to run a few errands on campus. The campus that I had loved and become accustomed to seemed to have changed drastically. Ramps that I frequently ignored became lifesavers. It was hard to push myself and my leg on the scooter up hills and ramps that I had speedwalked up only days before as it took so much more energy. Even though I had "better parking" because of my temporary disability pass, the amount of energy it took to get anywhere on campus was draining. People were passing me and I felt like I was holding some people up as I struggled to get myself up the hill. Some people were nice and told me things like "you can do this" and "what a workout", and held the door open for me. Others, basically ignored me. In this case, being the other meant that there were some around me who were more inclined to help because they saw my injury, while everyone else went along with life as usual. The hardest part for me about being the other was having to adapt my route or take a longer route (to find elevators, ramps, and curb cuts) in order to get to places on campus. I coped with otherness by accepting help from others, adjusting the expected amount of time it would take me to get to and from places, and adjusting my expectations of what routes I can take. To my students who are experiencing school as a "foreign place", particularly those who have disabilities, I would make sure my classroom and its setup is accessible and a comfortable place for them to be in. I would encourage inclusion and help from others, not only to help the person with the disability, but to hopefully help those who are helping to have empathy and understand what that person is going through.
Notes:
Observation
Interpretation
Feelings
Going up a hill, some people encouraged me while others passed
me
Some
people try to reach out to those with disabilities/injuries, but others focus
on getting where they need to go
This
was hard for me, not only did I take more time than usual, but I also felt
like I was blocking people or holding them up because I was going so slow
Turning around corners, especially when it's crowded is very
difficult with a knee scooter
Some
people would move for me to get by or turn, while I had to work to navigate
around the rest
I'm
seeing a different side of people and how they respond to people who have a
disability (even temporary!)
Waiting for/finding an elevator was pretty tough in the
Wilkinson Center. I had to trek across the building to find the elevator
The
best route for those with disabilities is sometimes the longest route
Even
though an elevator in this corner of the building might not have been
"cost-efficient", I would have definitely appreciated it.
With my knee scooter, I fouond that I couldn't take routes I was
used to - I had to alter my normal routine to get from place to place
With
a disability, the shortest distance between two points may not always be the
best route - you have to find the route that has the adequate acoomodations
(elevators, ramp, etc.) that allow you to navigate
I
was a bit discouraged and disappointed because of the lack of accommodations
in my typical routes. In the past I haven't really thought about the couple
steps I'd go up or down to reach a class or an appointment, but now I have a
whole new challenge - not just of getting myself around, but also figuring
out the best ways to get around - which elevator to take, is there a ramp
nearby, etc.
Going through doors was difficult, especially when there are two
sets before you can get through and no disability button to open it
automatically
It
is really hard to be completely disability friendly, especially when the
majority of the people using the buildings don't notice any difference
This
has been an enlightening experience and has given me an even greater respect
for those with disabilities, and those who utilize principles of universal
design.
Tuesday, February 16, 2016
Portfolio Assignment 4 - Personal Cultural Artifacts
My culture is composed of several other cultures: American, Washingtonian, LDS or Mormon, BYU student/alumnus, and Hawaiian culture. Below, I've found artifacts that I believe represent the different facets of my culture.
American
God Bless the USA - Lee Greenwood - this song sums up many of my beliefs about being an American and part of the United States of America.
I love the history of the United States and look forward to teaching it in schools! I am also extremely grateful for the freedom my homeland provides and the people who have worked and continue to work to make it such a great place. I am grateful for the Constitution and the laws and protection it provides.
Washingtonian
I love the culture of my state. I am from Yakima, Washington, which is in Eastern Washington. Even though I may mock Western Washington on occasion, I love visiting the other side of the mountains. I am proud of my state, it's culture, and the influence it had on me while I was growing up.
Apples - I'm from a town that produces most of the world's apples - my home is surrounded by orchards, some of my friends own orchards, and working with fruit, including apples, is a common summer job. Apples aren't just a fruit to me - they symbolize hard work, a great source of income, and remind me of home.
You Know You're From Yakima When...This sign is a bit of a joke around my hometown - yes, Yakima does have pretty mild weather and grows amazing fruit, but it also has a few other characteristics that can make it a little interesting, including some that are listed in the linked article above.
This is an important symbol to my culture because in Washington, particularly on the West Side, but also on the East Side, recycling and conservation efforts are very important. There are many different places to recycle around town, my high school had recycling bins in the lunchroom, and my family was able to easily recycle a lot of what we used. This represents the
-LDS
The use of Symbols within the LDS religion, part of the LDS culture is seen throughout this next section with the usage of buildings, books, and other symbols to inspire.
The Book of Mormon contains values and beliefs of the LDS culture, but is also a symbol.
Value of service, sacrifice, and missionary work
The LDS Church values families and my family is very important to me. They nurture me and support me in all that I do.
Family (LDS Value) and Temple (LDS Symbol)
BYU Student/Future Alumnus -
This is the university where my dad went, and where I currently attend. BYU is steeped in tradition, and honors values and beliefs, which is shown by the implementation of the Honor Code that all students attending BYU are to follow.
True Blue, Through and Through
BYU embraces and perpetuates the values of service and school pride
I currently attend BYU with my younger brother!
And my youngest brother has hopes of coming to BYU as well. The BYU football field, pictured in the background is not just any place - it is a symbol of many people's favorite team and sport. BYU sporting events are a cultural tradition, and for some people, a belief system.
BYU education - Obtaining and completing my education is an accomplishment that is not only valued in my religious community, and at BYU, but also by my family. I believe in education and the power it has not only to change my life, but also in the power it has to change the lives of those around me.
Hawaii
Israel Kamakawiwo'ole (IZ) is one of my favorite Hawaiian singers. This is one of my favorite songs - it is my go to when I need something calming and is a sweet reminder of growing up in Maui. IZ is not just a great singer, but is also a symbolic representation of Hawaii and Hawaiian culture.
This reboot of the classic series isn't very "Hawaiian", but it contains just enough of the wonderful elements of the Hawaii I knew and love to keep me hooked on this TV series!
This is a very valuable cultural artifact. Da Jesus Book is one of the best examples of the written use of the Hawaiian Pidgin language. This book represents pidgin to me. While living in Hawaii as a child, I became fluent in Pidgin because it was what my friends and classmates spoke. When I moved to Washington during Middle School, I found that it was harder for people to understand me and there was the potential that others would think I was uneducated because I couldn't (or wouldn't) speak English properly. This portion of my culture was very valuable when I lived in Hawaii, as it allowed me to communicate with and understand many of the people around me, but when I moved to Washington, pidgin was a hindrance, especially in school settings. I had to adjust my language so I could be understood and respected in my new cultural context.
REFLECTION: I learned that the different parts of my culture mesh pretty well together, but this exercise helped me to realize where I had disruptions and conflict between cultures, particularly the Hawaiian pidgin in conflict with the proper English that was spoke at school. My experience in Hawaii is extremely valuable as I have had the opportunity to be a part of minority. This could be a help in school as I could notice and help those who are also minorities. Even though I viewed speaking pidgin at school as a hindrance once I moved to Washington, I can use that experience adjusting and acclimating to English to help those of my students who may not speak English as their first language.
Hi, I'm an additional author who will be contributing to this blog whenever I see something that I think my readers might appreciate! I'm currently a Junior High Teacher in my first year of teaching. I'll share my experiences and things I'm learning that might be helpful to others.
