Instagram's best nine photos of 2016 gives me a chance to reflect on the year and all the things I was able to do.
Read moreTechnology as Tools: Make It 2.0
After two years of dabbling around but not directly with 3D printing, I finally got my chance today. I've had a complicated relationship with 3D printing; struggling to find a community of people who are interested in moving beyond the "wow" factor of 3D printing to the purpose and function of the tool. Or perhaps struggling to find a community where my inexperience and awareness that I'm not stellar with spatial movement is not a barrier to my participation with the tool. In many ways, my two years dabbling around 3D printing allowed me learn all the programs and various facets of the tool WITHOUT actually trying it myself.
Read moreThe Pitch
Today not only marks my move to my "normal," Sunday-Thursday hours at the library, but also the start of my eighth week at Penn State. In some ways, it has felt like I've been at Penn State for a lot longer than eight weeks and other times it still feels so new and fresh. I'm happy at this job, which is really all I can ask for.
Read morePennsylvania Adventures
Sometimes I come home from work and still can't believe that three weeks ago I straight up moved to Pennsylvania. I've settled into a routine at Penn State and it feels like home. The librarians and staff have been incredibly welcoming and supportive. I spend my days meeting with all sorts of fascinating people, learning the ins and outs of the Pattee and Paterno libraries, and attempting to remember as many names as possible.
Read moreSummer digital literacy program...week four & five
So the center is finishing up week six and I'm finishing up week five of the digital literacy program. I had a week off for a family vacation but I'm now back at the center, ready to finish strong with as of today, about a week of programming left.
For week four and five, I've decided to introduce some coding (specifically block coding) to the kids at UNCC. I have mixed feelings about the whole "coding movement" that is prominent in schools and libraries across the United States and the world. We talk about it in library science classes (mainly ones that revolve around youth and digital literacy). I don't dispute the women (white women AND women of color) are outranked by men in tech fields and that the number of jobs in the tech sector are quickly rising, I'm just not sure if requiring every student to code will solve and cover the gap.
Read more