One of my knitting pattern books
Module 3 Assignment:
After completing the reading, think about your selected topic. Identify any existing patterns and try to capture and represent them. Next, try to come up with new patterns that can be applied to the same content. Explain how this would help your students to better understand and handle your topic.
Write about 500 words discussing: a) briefly your understanding of the cognitive tool of patterning (approximately 1 sentence), b) your original pattern, c) your new patterns, and d) how this understanding impacts your topic.
After completing the reading, think about your selected topic. Identify any existing patterns and try to capture and represent them. Next, try to come up with new patterns that can be applied to the same content. Explain how this would help your students to better understand and handle your topic.
Write about 500 words discussing: a) briefly your understanding of the cognitive tool of patterning (approximately 1 sentence), b) your original pattern, c) your new patterns, and d) how this understanding impacts your topic.
In reading about Patterning in chapters 6 & 7 of Sparks of Genius, I connected to the analogy of knitting mentioned on pg. 116. I learned to knit when I was in 4th grade and have taught knitting as a community service activity at my school for the past nine years. One of the ideas I have shared with my students is that once they learn a few basic techniques, they will be able to be able to learn to knit almost anything. Most patterns in knitting are a combination of two simple stitches, the knit stitch and the purl stitch. By combining those stitches, you can create a virtually unlimited number of patterns and textures. Knit every row and you have the Garter stitch. Purling every row does the same thing. Knit a row and then purl a row and you have Stockinette stitch. Knit one and purl one and you have a K1, P1 Ribbing. Knit one and purl one on the first row and then purl one and knit one on the second row and you have a Seed stitch. Beyond the stitch patterns, there are charts and diagrams that can be used to create elaborate lacework and heirloom baby blankets. I find it fascinating that all of this can be done by combining two stitches.
Patterning is the identification of common or repeating elements in a work and the recombination of those basic elements into a different and often more complex piece.
In thinking about how patterning applies to my subject area, genre, I started by thinking about what various genres have in common. Most of the books my students will read are fiction, so the most basic element of fiction is plot. In teaching plot elements over the years, a tool I often use to help students see the parts of a story is a plot chart, sometimes called a story arc. Below is a plot chart I have had students complete when reading short stories or analyzing a novel.
Patterning is the identification of common or repeating elements in a work and the recombination of those basic elements into a different and often more complex piece.
In thinking about how patterning applies to my subject area, genre, I started by thinking about what various genres have in common. Most of the books my students will read are fiction, so the most basic element of fiction is plot. In teaching plot elements over the years, a tool I often use to help students see the parts of a story is a plot chart, sometimes called a story arc. Below is a plot chart I have had students complete when reading short stories or analyzing a novel.
Most stories will fit this format. The exposition introduces the characters and setting and reveals the conflict of the story. Events in the rising action move the plot forward until it reaches a climax or turning point. The climax is the high point of the action and also the point after which action begins to fall off as the story heads towards the resolution. The resolution should provide some closure to the conflict and questions raised by earlier events in the story.
In thinking about how to re-imagine another pattern for looking at fiction, I thought about how this chart focuses on what is the same. When discussing genre, I really want students to understand what is different about books in different genres.
Genres exist as groupings of books with common elements and features. Those patterns allow us to know what to expect in particular kinds of stories. We instantly recognize a mystery by identifying an inciting event that must be solved. Historical novels are recognized by the time period of the setting of the story. Even though these novels can be parsed using a plot chart like the one above, one kind of pattern, it only shows us how a mystery or historical novel is like all other books. To understand how a mystery is like other mysteries takes recognizing a different kind of pattern.
I began to imagine a series of questions that students could ask themselves to help them decide what genre a book fit into. Like a "choose your own adventure" book, I pictured a sort of flow chart they could follow leading them to the category that fit. As mentioned in Sparks of Genius on pg. 106, "Questions...are also patterns."
For my re-patterning, I thought an infographic might help me visualize this process. I have never created an infographic, but enjoy reading interesting ones I find online. I looked back over some articles I had bookmarked about tools for creating infographics and decided to try Piktochart. Below is my infographic.
In thinking about how to re-imagine another pattern for looking at fiction, I thought about how this chart focuses on what is the same. When discussing genre, I really want students to understand what is different about books in different genres.
Genres exist as groupings of books with common elements and features. Those patterns allow us to know what to expect in particular kinds of stories. We instantly recognize a mystery by identifying an inciting event that must be solved. Historical novels are recognized by the time period of the setting of the story. Even though these novels can be parsed using a plot chart like the one above, one kind of pattern, it only shows us how a mystery or historical novel is like all other books. To understand how a mystery is like other mysteries takes recognizing a different kind of pattern.
I began to imagine a series of questions that students could ask themselves to help them decide what genre a book fit into. Like a "choose your own adventure" book, I pictured a sort of flow chart they could follow leading them to the category that fit. As mentioned in Sparks of Genius on pg. 106, "Questions...are also patterns."
For my re-patterning, I thought an infographic might help me visualize this process. I have never created an infographic, but enjoy reading interesting ones I find online. I looked back over some articles I had bookmarked about tools for creating infographics and decided to try Piktochart. Below is my infographic.
I think this infographic will be a useful tool for my students. If they can follow the questioning process, it will not only help them determine the genre of a piece of literature, but the questions would also help them identify the elements that distinguish the various genres from each others. This graphic is basic and I was limited by what I could do with a free account on Piktochart, but I am pleased with the results overall. I would like to refine it and make it a little more detailed at some point. There are genres I would add and perhaps more questions to help students even identify sub-genres of books (like dystopian fiction). I'd also like to experiment with different formats for the information to see if they might be easier to read or more engaging.
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