The structure of my Process reflection is based on a template of questions supplied by my Diploma Tutor, which I will answer one at a time.
Project report title;
Making room for new beginnings; creating conscious space for good design
Summarize how and why you organized this Project Output as presented (Reflect on your design, process, method and purpose):
The main working principle to apply during the entire process of compiling Output 1 of my Diploma Portfolio was the 80:20 rule. On the whole I am not too comfortable with rules, but this one is a good one, one that cultivates creativity and productivity;
"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly."
"Get it down then get it good."
It is a philosophy that of course, cannot fail. It is the embryonic manifestation of purposeful action. The 80:20 rule is an antidote to procrastination! I thoroughly recommend it and will certainly be utilising it further again during output 2 of my Diploma portfolio.
Sitting down, when productive thoughts and ideas are flowing, writing ideas down, sketching basic mind-maps, flow charts, you name it, it all starts the process of increased creativity and ensures that good ideas do not fall by the wayside due to being buried under the rapidly evolving flow of thought processes that Permaculture Design undoubtedly nurtures.
Written, scribbled and doodled ideas and designs can then be elaborated on and developed further. It’s all there then ready for when I am able to move over to the computer. It’s a process that has worked well, and I intend to do more of it. Write ideas down on paper literally when I have them, no matter how crudely initially, and then build on them.
The underlying purpose to this methodology is to increase creativity, productivity, insight, conscious space, knowledge and ability to a point of ubiquitous permanence and good design. I have begun to take advantage of the 80:20 during this output, and can now clearly see how I can improve the quality and quantity of my work by making further use of it during the next output and throughout my Diploma and life in general.
How did this process go?
After initially beginning the process of writing my life review back in August, I reached a point in the review at which a good deal of thought had to be given to how to describe, and include the sensitive periods of my life`s journey. This process necessitated a good deal of deep thinking. Having to re-consider times in my life that had been extremely challenging induced a process of intensely deep and previously only briefly unexplored self-analysis.
Events that I had never previously delved into too far and had in fact avoided brought me to a standstill for a period. It takes time to delve deep into one`s past and oneself, and a diverse assemblage of feelings, emotions and insights arose as a result of considering events and relationships from the past and how I had either dealt with or failed to deal with them effectively at the time.
Deep reflection lead once again to avoidance, procrastination through to realisation and a strong desire to move onwards. It was not an easy process. This comes as no revelation! No one said that it would be at all easy and it would be very unwise and unintuitive to consider for a moment that it would be easy. Instead, a healthy struggle ensued until five weeks after beginning my life review essay, I began to reapply the 80:20 rule and complete the task.
Once the life review was completed, the remaining aspects of output 1 naturally evolved along with my creativity. To summarise, the life review is certainly a dynamic place to start new beginnings. It is a healing process in action paving the way for increased efficiency of learning and conscious space for good design.
Events that I had never previously delved into too far and had in fact avoided brought me to a standstill for a period. It takes time to delve deep into one`s past and oneself, and a diverse assemblage of feelings, emotions and insights arose as a result of considering events and relationships from the past and how I had either dealt with or failed to deal with them effectively at the time.
Deep reflection lead once again to avoidance, procrastination through to realisation and a strong desire to move onwards. It was not an easy process. This comes as no revelation! No one said that it would be at all easy and it would be very unwise and unintuitive to consider for a moment that it would be easy. Instead, a healthy struggle ensued until five weeks after beginning my life review essay, I began to reapply the 80:20 rule and complete the task.
Once the life review was completed, the remaining aspects of output 1 naturally evolved along with my creativity. To summarise, the life review is certainly a dynamic place to start new beginnings. It is a healing process in action paving the way for increased efficiency of learning and conscious space for good design.
What did you learn?
I learnt how to build a website, I began to re-awaken my artistic capabilities. I re-discovered deep reflection and I learnt how to value personality edges as well as physical ones.
I learnt how to build a website, I began to re-awaken my artistic capabilities. I re-discovered deep reflection and I learnt how to value personality edges as well as physical ones.
What tools did you use (An explanation of the technical side of creating this project report. What software did you use? What digital literacy was required to put this together)?
Mind mapping software, (VUE) v Pens, flipchart pad, creativity and a digital camera.
A significant area that I will be developing during my Diploma is also one of the most personally challenging, that is; learning to utilise Information technology (IT) to a greater potential. I installed mind-mapping software on my PC and have spent some time getting to grips with it.
No doubt I will use it more in the future but at this stage, I feel that I was spending too much time trying to understand the programme’s workings and not producing enough of an output to justify the time spent. I did produce a rather impersonal and unnatural looking skill flex using VUE, but much preferred designing my skill flex and Action Learning pathway using pen, paper, creativity and a digital camera.
I will readdress the use of VUE for the next output stage. I will not be totally abandoning the use of pen, paper and digital camera however. Even once I become proficient in the use of VUE, I will probably always get something down on paper first.
If you are reading this and are considering exploring the Diploma in Permaculture Design pathway yourself, but like me, have issues with IT competence, all I can say is don’t let it put you off! Drawing and designing on paper is a process in re-awakening creativity in itself. A noticeable change in productive energy occurs once the move is made from sitting at the glowing humming computer screen to creatively using one’s hand and eye co-ordination and extracting the artistic flare that is in all of us whilst drawing and designing on paper. I had reached a creative block…getting back to paper and pen brought creativity back, almost instantly.
I have achieved this first output with minimal digital literacy.
Weebly A very useful resource in my opinion, and a process that I have managed to use well enough so far. Weebly is structured from multiple templates, and is fairly easy to navigate. If I am managing to do so, anybody can!
Youtube Whether considered a tool or a resource, Youtube has invaluable instructional and explanatory videos available that significantly improved my understanding of programmes such as Weebly and VUE. It enables the learning to happen at the individual’s chosen pace.
A significant area that I will be developing during my Diploma is also one of the most personally challenging, that is; learning to utilise Information technology (IT) to a greater potential. I installed mind-mapping software on my PC and have spent some time getting to grips with it.
No doubt I will use it more in the future but at this stage, I feel that I was spending too much time trying to understand the programme’s workings and not producing enough of an output to justify the time spent. I did produce a rather impersonal and unnatural looking skill flex using VUE, but much preferred designing my skill flex and Action Learning pathway using pen, paper, creativity and a digital camera.
I will readdress the use of VUE for the next output stage. I will not be totally abandoning the use of pen, paper and digital camera however. Even once I become proficient in the use of VUE, I will probably always get something down on paper first.
If you are reading this and are considering exploring the Diploma in Permaculture Design pathway yourself, but like me, have issues with IT competence, all I can say is don’t let it put you off! Drawing and designing on paper is a process in re-awakening creativity in itself. A noticeable change in productive energy occurs once the move is made from sitting at the glowing humming computer screen to creatively using one’s hand and eye co-ordination and extracting the artistic flare that is in all of us whilst drawing and designing on paper. I had reached a creative block…getting back to paper and pen brought creativity back, almost instantly.
I have achieved this first output with minimal digital literacy.
Weebly A very useful resource in my opinion, and a process that I have managed to use well enough so far. Weebly is structured from multiple templates, and is fairly easy to navigate. If I am managing to do so, anybody can!
Youtube Whether considered a tool or a resource, Youtube has invaluable instructional and explanatory videos available that significantly improved my understanding of programmes such as Weebly and VUE. It enables the learning to happen at the individual’s chosen pace.
Did you find any people or tutorials particularly useful in creating this project report?
Youtube tutorials have proven to be extremely useful and time saving.
The vast amount of resources made accessible to me by my tutor, Richard Perkins have also proven invaluable.
Undoubtedly the most consistently inspirational, motivating and accessible resource that has been available to me during the compilation of this project report has been the involvement, enthusiasm, support and intuitive input of my partner, Alex.
How much time did you spend in creating this project report?
The life review broken up over time took about 12 hours of solid work. However, if thought processes, reflection and self-analysis are included as part of the creating of the essay (which would not have otherwise materialised in it’s current format) then the time devoted to the life review is considerably more.
Action learning pathway - 4 hours
Goals Articulation/Synopsis – 1 hour
Skill flex - 2 hours
CV - 1 hour
Appendix of supporting evidence - 3 hours and ongoing
Learning how to build a website - 6 hours and ongoing
Process reflection - 2 hours and ongoing.
Failing (at this stage) to fully understand VUE – 1 ½ hours
How well did you showcase your learnings in this project report? Would you consider this project report satisfactory if it was prepared by another person?
I am satisfied with the evidence of my learning methodology to date. However, I feel confident that the new skills and foresight that I have developed during the design and thought process of this first output will increase efficiency during and beyond the next output. I am confident that I would myself consider this project report both interesting and satisfactory had it been prepared by another person.
Any final reflections on your pathway integration and development?
One irony has surfaced repeatedly through out the compilation and structuring of my first output. The biggest initial draw of Permaculture Design for me was the principle of working with nature rather than against her. Combine this fact with my life long aversion to computers of any kind and we begin to see a pattern forming.
I want to be getting closer again to nature; not spending increased amounts of time hunched up staring at a computer screen! However, I also would like more people to re-connect with nature. In order to do so, at this stage at least, it is unavoidable to include IT skills in my learning pathway, particularly when my Tutor may be accessing my Diploma work from the other side of the planet at times.
I have decided that it`s all a matter of achieving a balance, and that at this stage in the global development of Permaculture Design, the disadvantages of sacrificing some time to the dreaded computer is outweighed by the advantages. For me to say so is a revelation! However, useful a medium as the internet is, I do not always intend to spend as much time in front of a computer as I have done these last few weeks.
Back to top of page or go to the next element of my Diploma output 1, Appendix of supporting evidence.
The vast amount of resources made accessible to me by my tutor, Richard Perkins have also proven invaluable.
Undoubtedly the most consistently inspirational, motivating and accessible resource that has been available to me during the compilation of this project report has been the involvement, enthusiasm, support and intuitive input of my partner, Alex.
How much time did you spend in creating this project report?
The life review broken up over time took about 12 hours of solid work. However, if thought processes, reflection and self-analysis are included as part of the creating of the essay (which would not have otherwise materialised in it’s current format) then the time devoted to the life review is considerably more.
Action learning pathway - 4 hours
Goals Articulation/Synopsis – 1 hour
Skill flex - 2 hours
CV - 1 hour
Appendix of supporting evidence - 3 hours and ongoing
Learning how to build a website - 6 hours and ongoing
Process reflection - 2 hours and ongoing.
Failing (at this stage) to fully understand VUE – 1 ½ hours
How well did you showcase your learnings in this project report? Would you consider this project report satisfactory if it was prepared by another person?
I am satisfied with the evidence of my learning methodology to date. However, I feel confident that the new skills and foresight that I have developed during the design and thought process of this first output will increase efficiency during and beyond the next output. I am confident that I would myself consider this project report both interesting and satisfactory had it been prepared by another person.
Any final reflections on your pathway integration and development?
One irony has surfaced repeatedly through out the compilation and structuring of my first output. The biggest initial draw of Permaculture Design for me was the principle of working with nature rather than against her. Combine this fact with my life long aversion to computers of any kind and we begin to see a pattern forming.
I want to be getting closer again to nature; not spending increased amounts of time hunched up staring at a computer screen! However, I also would like more people to re-connect with nature. In order to do so, at this stage at least, it is unavoidable to include IT skills in my learning pathway, particularly when my Tutor may be accessing my Diploma work from the other side of the planet at times.
I have decided that it`s all a matter of achieving a balance, and that at this stage in the global development of Permaculture Design, the disadvantages of sacrificing some time to the dreaded computer is outweighed by the advantages. For me to say so is a revelation! However, useful a medium as the internet is, I do not always intend to spend as much time in front of a computer as I have done these last few weeks.
Back to top of page or go to the next element of my Diploma output 1, Appendix of supporting evidence.
