As part of the MOOC (Massive Online Open Course) movement, I am creating a micro MOOC (mMOOC). This project explores the skills needed to integrate technology, pedagogy, and content (TPACK) to create a functioning class people would be interested in taking. As I personally play with these concepts I have created my mMOOC around a new hobby of mine: knitting.
In my “I knit knot” course my peers will master basic knitting skills by knitting a scarf and develop a tight-knit network to help you along the way.
Course Topic: This course will cover all the basics of knitting. You will learn how to read a pattern, cast on, and how to knit and purl like a pro. Upon completion of this course you will have a scarf that you made all by yourself! As the course progresses, you will also develop a network of like-minded friends who can help you along the way or after the course is finished.
Anyone interested in learning the very basics of knitting will come to this class. I’d expect to have a range of ages from 18-30. Many people try to learn how to knit just by watching videos on YouTube and they miss out on some of basics like reading a pattern. Students will want to participate in this experience because they will be able to understand all of the foundational skills needed to knit a scarf or any other project.
Module 1[1 week]– Reading a pattern.
- Learn- common abbreviations, what to look for (materials, gauge, finishings, etc), tips to use as you follow, good resource for reviewing this if you forget!
- Explore- search websites for easy scarf patterns (ravelry, lion brand yarn, etc.)
- Create- create your own reference book/sheet of the most common abbreviations and mark up your pattern to help you remember all of this
- Share- copy a link or scan an image of the pattern you are going to use into a google spreadsheet. Instructor will review and make sure it will be easy enough.
Module 2 [1 week]– Buying the materials
- Learn- different types of yarns (weights, styles, dye lots), needles (sizes, straight, double pointed, circular, lace), stitch holders
- Explore- visit a local knit shop to get an idea of what all these look like, these are great places for information if you get stuck (you usually have to buy the yarn at the store for them to help you on a project though). Look into ordering a knit kit- these are helpful and have essential tools to help you knit
- Create- purchase the materials you’ll need for your project
- Share- post a comment to the discussion board about the store or website you used to find the materials and how helpful it was
Module 3 [1 week]– Getting started
- Learn- watch videos to show how to cast on, knit, purl, cast off, and other basics
- Explore- try some of these out with your yarn and needles. Try casting on 20 stitches, knit a few rows, make sure you still have 20 stitches, purl some rows, make sure you still have 20 stitches. You just want to get used to the feel for the tension, keeping track of stitches, etc.
- Create- Continue practicing from your explore activity, also practice casting off.
- Share- Post to discussion board: How did this go? What was troubling for you? Where did you go for help? What was easy?
Module 4 [1 week]- Make a gauge.
- Learn- what is a gauge and why do you need it also when do you really need it?
- Explore- look at your pattern and find out what kind of gauge you need to make and find a good reference website to help with gauges and what to do if your gauge doesn’t measure up
- Create- Make the gauge for your scarf, be warned that if it isn’t close to the measurements needed you’ll have to start over!
- Share- show off your work! Post a picture to the discussion board
Module 5 [3 weeks]– Start knitting your scarf.
- Learn- Review any information from previous modules to help you get started on your scarf
- Explore- Go back to helpful websites to make sure you know everything you have to do in your pattern, read through it again to make sure you know what’s up.
- Create- Knit away!
- Share- post an update about how things are going for you
Module 6 [1 week]- Troubleshooting
- Learn- view videos to show how to go back and fix a stitch, grab a dropped stitch and other troubleshooting things that come up while knitting
- Explore- review some common websites and find one that works for you so that you have a solid reference to go to when you get stuck
- Create- keep working on your scarf
- Share- share the resource you found on a google doc so that you will always have a list of great resources
Module 7 [1 week]- Ending the project.
- Learn- review how to cast off, and watch some videos about how to finish and block your knitting
- Explore- again, refer back to a source you like about how to finish your knitting
- Create- finish up your scarf
- Share- post a picture of your scarf and show off your hard work
Course is a total 9 weeks. Each participant will end up with a homemade scarf and an expanded learning network to include online knitting communities to go to when they have a problem for a future project or are looking for a new knitting project.
Participants in this course will be able to knit a scarf. The planning of this course and skill goes hand-in-hand for backwards design (Wiggins & McTighe, 2005). The nature of knitting is that you begin by choosing your end product. This is the first step in backwards design, “identify the end results”. For the beginner, and most advanced, knitters we select a pattern with a picture to show us exactly what we are making. The second step, “Determine acceptable evidence”, in relation to knitting this means that as the student learns he/she will be assessed on the final project. This means that the final project will be the appropriate length and follow the pattern with very few mistakes. The teacher can use a rubric to fairly assess the time/effort, final product, and technique using (http://rubistar.4teachers.org/index.php?screen=ShowRubric&rubric_id=2445563) this rubric which students can also use to self-assess. The third step, “plan learning experiences and instruction” requires the breakdown of all the skills necessary to complete the project. This is what will be used to create the modules of my mMOOC.
This mMOOC also falls in with the learning theory of “Communities of Practice (CoPs)” from the article Use it or Lose it which outlines that in order for effective learning to take place three conditions should be met:
(1) a domain of knowledge defining a set of issues
(2) a coherent group of people concerned with the domain and one another’s learning needs and aspirations and
(3) a developing and adapting shared practice
Each of these elements is integral to the mMOOC and its success. The community needs to have this common interest and desire to help each other succeed while creating a practice of knitting that works for them.
The course is organized around the “learn, explore, create, share” model followed by the CEP classes. In my experience this has been an effective and consistent model to follow and learn from. All parts build off of one another and relate to each other. This helps guide the learning process and allows for enough scaffolding in an online community. I have also included places for students to discuss and share with each other to help become strong communities of practice as well as enhance their own personal learning networks when it comes to gathering information for this skill. Videos are used as instructional tools and can be referenced and brought back in any of the modules.
References
Pixabay. (2014). Wool knitting needs [image]. Retrieved from http://pixabay.com/en/wool-knitting-needles-crafts-sew-268620/
Wiggins, G. and McTighe, J. (2005). Understanding by Design, Expanded 2nd Edition. Prentice Hall. pg 13-33.
Use it or lose it. (2012). Development and Learning in Organizations, 26(2), 27-30.http://dx.doi.org/10.1108/14777281211201213
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