How to get technology to work in a sewing class?
November 29, 2010 12:33 PM Subscribe
How can ICT be better used in Home Economics (or if you like, with the economics and management of the home and community) also known in some places as family and consumer sciences?
My academic mate is a Home Economics (HE) expert but a digital immigrant who doesn't really speak the language, and she asked me "what's not being done in HE with ICT that should be?" I was reminded of her question when I saw this a little while ago.
Problem is, it's so long since I took Home Economics that no doubt it's changed, and hey, maybe they are teaching kids how to use mobile devices to manage their nutrition? And then of course, if you don't just consider it a school subject but an academic discipline, it's wider ranging - what isn't being used in the community that would assist in the economics and management of the home etc?
And then, what if, what if you were thinking about not only the technology that already exists and is in use by early adopters, but technology that could be created from the tools we currently have - like using your iphone to read barcodes from your lunch menu and calculate caloric intake? Just using an ipad to access your recipes is a little too simplistic I think, for the purposes of this question. Using an i-pad to calculate the nutritional consumption of family members, and complete a shopping list based on this - more in line with what I'm looking for.
Apparently Home Economics also includes: consumer education, institutional management, interior design, home furnishing, cleaning, handicrafts, sewing, clothing and textiles, commercial cooking, cooking, nutrition, food preservation, hygiene, child development, internet safety, managing your money and family relationships.
My academic mate is a Home Economics (HE) expert but a digital immigrant who doesn't really speak the language, and she asked me "what's not being done in HE with ICT that should be?" I was reminded of her question when I saw this a little while ago.
Problem is, it's so long since I took Home Economics that no doubt it's changed, and hey, maybe they are teaching kids how to use mobile devices to manage their nutrition? And then of course, if you don't just consider it a school subject but an academic discipline, it's wider ranging - what isn't being used in the community that would assist in the economics and management of the home etc?
And then, what if, what if you were thinking about not only the technology that already exists and is in use by early adopters, but technology that could be created from the tools we currently have - like using your iphone to read barcodes from your lunch menu and calculate caloric intake? Just using an ipad to access your recipes is a little too simplistic I think, for the purposes of this question. Using an i-pad to calculate the nutritional consumption of family members, and complete a shopping list based on this - more in line with what I'm looking for.
Apparently Home Economics also includes: consumer education, institutional management, interior design, home furnishing, cleaning, handicrafts, sewing, clothing and textiles, commercial cooking, cooking, nutrition, food preservation, hygiene, child development, internet safety, managing your money and family relationships.
Best answer: As far as sewing goes, there is a lot of democratization as far sites like Pattern Review and BurdaStyle as communities and resources - techniques, access to other people who sew, etc. YouTube is brimming with sewing videos, people have sewing blogs.
There are iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch apps to help with your sewing.
I've not even slightly covered the online communities related to cosplay sewing, quilting, whatever other kinds of fabric crafts.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:48 PM on November 29, 2010
There are iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch apps to help with your sewing.
I've not even slightly covered the online communities related to cosplay sewing, quilting, whatever other kinds of fabric crafts.
posted by Medieval Maven at 12:48 PM on November 29, 2010
Another name for that field, FYI, is Human Ecology. (That's what we call it here at my university, at least.) Also, a good example of what you're describing is the LoseIt! app for mobile devices.
I think that, either way, you need to approach them from the point of view of where people currently are, as opposed to what could be cool and innovative. I think you're pretty much saying that right now, but... hmmm, how do I put this... there's another degree of subtlety that you need to make the hook directly relevant to what people already are doing. My mom, for example, wouldn't normally use an iPod, but she liked podcasts, and she didn't accept the iPod until we put the Beatles on there for her and loaded them up without her seeing the complications. Don't expect them to tell you what they need, because they might not know what's possible from a nutritional OR technological perspective.
On preview, yeah, what KokoRyu said. It's about the outcome, not how you get there. You have to remove any barriers to participation, however low.
To that end, she might benefit from working with someone who does HCI (Human/Computer Interaction).
posted by Madamina at 12:49 PM on November 29, 2010
I think that, either way, you need to approach them from the point of view of where people currently are, as opposed to what could be cool and innovative. I think you're pretty much saying that right now, but... hmmm, how do I put this... there's another degree of subtlety that you need to make the hook directly relevant to what people already are doing. My mom, for example, wouldn't normally use an iPod, but she liked podcasts, and she didn't accept the iPod until we put the Beatles on there for her and loaded them up without her seeing the complications. Don't expect them to tell you what they need, because they might not know what's possible from a nutritional OR technological perspective.
On preview, yeah, what KokoRyu said. It's about the outcome, not how you get there. You have to remove any barriers to participation, however low.
To that end, she might benefit from working with someone who does HCI (Human/Computer Interaction).
posted by Madamina at 12:49 PM on November 29, 2010
Response by poster: Thanks KokuRyu.
I have not made myself clear:
My key question is: what's not being done with ICT in the typical management of the home that should be? rather than focusing on classroom practices. It's looking at the idea of home economics rather than the pedagogy.
posted by b33j at 12:50 PM on November 29, 2010
I have not made myself clear:
My key question is: what's not being done with ICT in the typical management of the home that should be? rather than focusing on classroom practices. It's looking at the idea of home economics rather than the pedagogy.
posted by b33j at 12:50 PM on November 29, 2010
Best answer: Now, if you add Excel or Google Sheets or whatever, not only do you have to teach the basic concept of a budget, but you also have to teach how to use the application. And it's not just the actually commands and functionality, etc; you may have to teach how to turn a computer on and login, then navigate to Excel and open it. It sounds simple but it is not.
Not sure if/how this is relevant, but it might be better from an outcomes standpoint to do the reverse - have an Intro To Computing course learn Excel by creating a household budget. That way you don't introduce unnecessary complexities to the Home Ec lesson plan, and you teach kids who might not take a high school home ec course a little bit of home ec material.
Going back to the OP's original question - I have a feeling that this is something that's going to be organic as younger generations grow up and start managing their own homes. I, for instance, don't remember a time when I cooked but did not use the web to find recipes. One of the very first iPhone apps I ever downloaded was the Handy Level, because I needed to hang something and don't happen to own a real level. Nobody had to teach me to do this stuff, and I doubt anyone will have to teach "Kids Today" how to apply tech to domestic pursuits, either. If anything, I think the issue will be getting experienced developers to make more interesting tech products than "iPhone app that calculates caloric intake" or "interior design floor plan software".
posted by Sara C. at 1:31 PM on November 29, 2010
Not sure if/how this is relevant, but it might be better from an outcomes standpoint to do the reverse - have an Intro To Computing course learn Excel by creating a household budget. That way you don't introduce unnecessary complexities to the Home Ec lesson plan, and you teach kids who might not take a high school home ec course a little bit of home ec material.
Going back to the OP's original question - I have a feeling that this is something that's going to be organic as younger generations grow up and start managing their own homes. I, for instance, don't remember a time when I cooked but did not use the web to find recipes. One of the very first iPhone apps I ever downloaded was the Handy Level, because I needed to hang something and don't happen to own a real level. Nobody had to teach me to do this stuff, and I doubt anyone will have to teach "Kids Today" how to apply tech to domestic pursuits, either. If anything, I think the issue will be getting experienced developers to make more interesting tech products than "iPhone app that calculates caloric intake" or "interior design floor plan software".
posted by Sara C. at 1:31 PM on November 29, 2010
Response by poster: The Handy Level is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for! Non-obvious technological solutions to household management.
posted by b33j at 1:34 PM on November 29, 2010
posted by b33j at 1:34 PM on November 29, 2010
In the vein of Handy Level, GroceryIQ is an iphone app for planning your grocery list. It will let you specify stores and amounts for items, how many of any item to buy.
posted by Medieval Maven at 3:01 PM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by Medieval Maven at 3:01 PM on November 29, 2010 [1 favorite]
Not sure if this is what you're looking for, but my household would fall apart if I didn't have Google calendar to remind me of recurring events like flipping the mattress, changing the smoke detector batteries, etc. And of course Gmail for keeping contacts such as plumbers, etc.
Definitely check out the different programs that let you track nutritional intake. There are also people who have set up spreadsheets to track weight loss/gain over time, and there is the Couch-to-5K/ 100 Push-ups movement.
posted by Jane Austen at 6:45 PM on December 1, 2010
Definitely check out the different programs that let you track nutritional intake. There are also people who have set up spreadsheets to track weight loss/gain over time, and there is the Couch-to-5K/ 100 Push-ups movement.
posted by Jane Austen at 6:45 PM on December 1, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
Take budgeting, for example. For many kids, the entire concept of a budget is new, and needs to be taught. That's the core concept.
Now, if you add Excel or Google Sheets or whatever, not only do you have to teach the basic concept of a budget, but you also have to teach how to use the application. And it's not just the actually commands and functionality, etc; you may have to teach how to turn a computer on and login, then navigate to Excel and open it. It sounds simple but it is not.
Personally, I would rather focus on computer/device use itself. How to be safe online. How to spot phishing. How to safely download and install software from the Net. How to set up wireless security. How to create good passwords.
The core learning outcomes are the most important, because, let's face it, the technology always changes.
posted by KokuRyu at 12:44 PM on November 29, 2010