Wiggling and Wiggling and Wiggling

Given the following research questions, I began searching for answers.

1.How can I make creative/unique pages?
2.What type of tools/products can I buy to make page creation faster and easier?
3.What can I do to make journaling of my pages more special and meaningful?
4.What all do I need to learn in order to complete creative scrapbook pages using digital photos that can be sent out through the Internet?
5.How can I use scrapbooking techniques in the classroom so that it meets Indiana State Standards?

I knew from prior knowledge that I could answer question 1 by finding answers to questions 2 and 3. So looking for tools, techniques and journaling ideas would answer 3 of my 5 questions.

I began on the Internet. Before beginning my first search I opened two blank word documents, and an online citation source. The first word document was for completed citations that I would create as I went, and the other word document was for copying and pasting techniques and ideas that I want to do. If the site was one in which I would like to visit often, I made a note to bookmark it. I also had out my notebook (to take notes on searching strategies for this project) and my note sheets I created in Excel. The note sheets helped me with my source evaluation guidelines. I wanted to eliminate tools/techniques that were too expensive, seemed difficult to do, were too time-consuming, did not have a dramatic effect and ones that did not seem appropriate for children's’ pages.

I went to Google and did a basic search on scrapbook techniques. Thousands of sites appeared but I was quite pleased with the sites descriptions and found lots of helpful information from each of the first sites listed. The first site listed 18 techniques and a brief description of it. If the technique sounded interesting to me I would click on the link and learn about it. I would then document the technique on my note sheet and answer questions about it. If it was something I wanted to try, I copied the directions into my word document. (Highlight text, enter control c and then enter control v in word.) Having a citation source, word document, and the website open at the same time will eliminate students having to go back and cite sources at a later time. What a time saver!

I documented on my notes sheet that the first site I visited was not really reliable because one of its pages had several typographical and grammatical errors. It had been created by someone wanting to share their scrapbooking ideas. Since my project is not one in which facts could be misrepresented, it being a reliable source was not that critical. Students on the other hand could access sites that are biased or unreliable; therefore being critical of the site's reliability is a must. Students must learn how to evaluate websites before they begin to rely on them. I recommend Kathy Schrock's website evaluation surveys based on grade levels. The evaluation surveys are available at http://school.discovery.com/schrockguide/eval.html

One of the sites that really stood out was Creating Keepsakes. I really liked their ideas, links and the deal on their magazine. It retails for $4.99 each but online I could get 12 issues for $24.95. Although this did not have anything to do with my project, I could not pass up this deal. The links to this site were great. If there was a technique I liked, I could link to sites that sold the supplies to create it.

As I went to sites I would immediately eliminate (filter information) techniques that I felt I already knew a lot about(like matting photos). I also did not link to information I had already gathered (Two sites showing how to do the same technique.) I did this by skimming the information listed before clicking on the site and by skimming headings and subheadings when I reached the site. The notes sheets helped keep me on track as well. This method is described at http://eduscapes.com/info/topic71d.htm. (The Wiggling section of Lamb's 8W's. )

I know that copying like I did in the word processing document is not something that you want the students to do but I am not writing a report. For students that are creating a report type document, they often get in trouble with all the information. Linda H. Bertland conclusions of her study (Callison pgs 237-239) saw that students did shallow processing and that led to note copying without evaluating as you go. I used to be this person. I would copy and highlight loads of texts and would then have to re-read and recopy the important information before paraphrasing it to write my paper. No one showed me how to research. So I did the best I could on my own.

I did do some highlighting of the notes I took in my notebook over how I researched. I did not want to do the journaling as I researched. So I took notes. I then went back and highlighted what areas I needed to include here. This type of strategy is described by Tony Buzan (Callison pgs 139-142). It is called 'radiant thinking'. He says to bold, highlight, use arrows, underline etc.

At the end of each searching session, I created a list of what I still needed to do. For example, evaluate magazines, write wiggling blog etc. I feel this is important so I don't waste time reorganizing when I start next. I knew to do it when the information is not fresh in my head. SO next time I could immediately begin. After teaching for several years, students often have difficulty getting started. The 'to-do' list will help them get started.

Back to searching--

I read something at one the sites mentioning paper piecing but not how to do it. So I did an advanced search. It had to include all the words paper piecing, exactly contain how-to and at least scrapbooking. The first site listed showed me how to do this technique.

Website searching to me is easier than looking through books, magazines and other print material. I like being able to open 2-3 websites at the same time and being able to print what I need from home. A print resource requires hand note-taking or copying from the library.

After I examined several websites, I thought I would try a different search. Using Google’s basic search I typed scrapbook baby ideas but did not like the returns. I then tried scrapbook techniques baby. These searches showed lots of scrapbook page layouts and that is something I am not really interested in. A layout is something someone else created and I would be copying it. (I would have to have the layout in front of me as well.) A technique is something I can apply wherever my imagination takes me.

I next went directly to www.diynet.com website. I knew of this site from the TV show Scrapbooking that is on DIY network. I searched their site for scrapbooking ideas.

I then completed a new Google basic search. I entered scrapbook quotes and then free scrapbook quotes. I found an additional site that I really liked through this search. I had found other journaling sites that I liked through the sites I first searched through.

At this point I had some new questions that needed to be answered but was tired of being on the computer; therefore I looked through some magazines and books next.

As I looked through the magazines, I saw that they had hundreds of page layouts and just a few techniques in each. I folded over layouts that I liked and examined the techniques. I spent time looking through the ads to see if there were new tools I would want to know more about. I then took notes on what I liked.

I then examined books. The books were better than the magazines but still a lot of emphasis were placed on page layouts. Any technique or tool that I liked was added to the note sheet so that I could try on my pages.

I also had taken (prior to creating the note sheets) notes on the DIY Scrapbooking shows that I had watched. When I watched the show I only wrote down the techniques or tools I thought I could do and was not too time-consuming. I watched several half-hour shows to get a few techniques. Their website allows you to print off directions as well.

After completing all this research, I had some new questions.

Where can I get and what is the cost of:
1) Color wheel
2) Mosaic overlay (Die Cuts With a View)
3) Magic Mesh
4) E-Z Stretch
5) Embossing Ink, powder and heating tool
6) Coluzzle Puzzles
7)Journaling Genie by chatterbox

So I went back to the Internet and tackled each of these items one-on-one.

1) Color Wheel was the hardest. I thought Making Memories created it when in fact it is an EK Success product. I watched the color wheel being used on DIY and had trouble finding it. I entered lots of things into their search engine to no avail. I then went to Google and did a basic search color wheel by Making Memories. I then did an advanced search- exact phrase Making Memories, all words color wheel and sscrapbooking. Believe it or not this led me to the DIY show I wanted. I followed the links to the Pick, Point and Match Color Selector by EK Success. I then used the correct name to enter an advanced search to find the price.
2) Mosaic overlay was the next hardest to find. I did a Yahoo search-die cuts with a view mosaic. I got a New Zealand site selling it for $7.95 (New Zealand dollars). I tried to find it elsewhere using this search to no avail. I then went to Google and entered mosaic overlay by die cuts with a view and got my answer on the first listed site. I wonder if putting mosaic first helped with my success.
3) For Magic Mesh I completed just a basic Google search Magic Mesh and got my answer at the first listed site.
4) When I tried E-Z Stretch for my basic Google search, I got lots of sites that did not look right. So I did an advanced search. I wanted the exact phrase e-z stretch and all words scrapbooking. The second site listed was the one I needed.
5) I did a basic Google search on embossing powder. I figured this simple search would also lead me to embossing ink and the heat tool. I got lucky and found my answer at the first site.
6) I started out with a basic search for Coluzzle but realized their were too many different products by Coluzzle. So I changed my basic Google search to Coluzzle Puzzle Template. I had to scan a few sites before I found one that had the product.
7) For the Journaling Genie software, I first entered Chatterbox (the company that sells it). But I would have had to update my Flash Player and restart my computer. I then completed a basic Google search for Journaling Genie Software. The first hit was eBay. Its cost was $7 plus shipping new in box. I then went back and found that the next site had the price as $24.95.