Reflections

What did you intend to accomplish with your 20time project? What did you actually accomplish with your 20time project? I had intended to greatly improve my skills and become able to throw a piece of pottery that I could fire and use. I didn’t accomplish that goal. Like at all. While I did improve I didn’t as much as I could have probably.

Describe the impact of your project on yourself and others. How could you use what you learned to create a positive change in someone else or the community? Doing pottery was very relaxing and it let me de-stress after a long day of classes. I could make pottery to sell and donate the money.

What roadblocks did you run into? What were the areas of the project that were more difficult than you expected them to be? I had some problems working on my project when it came time for the spring musical. Since I was working crew I didn’t have time to come in and throw. I was surprised with how hard it was for me to make myself work on my pottery. Once I started working I loved it but I had to motivate myself into getting started.

What new learning, if any, did you gain because of the roadblock? Did the roadblock give you new insight, change the course of the project, etc.? How? Through reaching that roadblock I realized that I need to motivate myself more when it comes time to work but I’ll be glad about it once I do.

Finish this sentence: The thing about this kind of learning that works best for me is….the fact that we get to pick our path during the project.

Finish this sentence: The thing about this kind of learning that is a challenge for me is...having to make sure I do the work.

Would you consider your project a success? A failure? Somewhere in between? Explain your answer. I would say somewhere in between because I did a lot of fun work and learned a good amount but I also could have done better.

Estimate how much time you spent on your 20-Time project per week: 1.5 hours

How does what you did in 20-Time connect with the IB Learner Profile (see Moodle or Intro Packet for the IB Learner Profile qualities)? Discuss any and all qualities that apply. What I think most applies to me on this would be reflective. After throwing a piece you have to look and see what you could do better to throw a more “correct” piece next time. Thinker works as well because while working you have to think about what you want to do and let your creativity show through the clay. Inquirer is fitting because I had to ask Lewin and Gledhill a lot of questions on throwing pottery.

How does what you did in 20-Time show relevant learning in your English class? Things that may apply: written communication, oral communication, collaboration, research skills, technology/digital media skills, reading skills, etc. I learned good research skills while doing this project. I asked questions and did some research online as well.

What advice would you have for teachers who are doing 20-time projects in the future? What would you tell them that would make the project go more smoothly or more successfully? I think it might be a good idea for the teacher to give a presentation for their own 20-time at the beginning of the project. This way student can have an idea of how everything should work and will have a topic example.

What advice would you have for students who are doing a 20-time project in the future? What would you tell them that would make the project go more smoothly or more successfully? I would tell students not to procrastinate on this project. Once you jump in it’s really fun but you have to be willing to start off strong. Take notes of what you’re doing while doing it so you don’t have to do your reflections all from memory.

Will you continue with your independent learning/creating beyond this class? Why or why not? I plan to continue to work on pottery after my 20-time. I want to be able to throw well and it’ll help me when I get into IB art next year.

What kind of clay?

While working with clay before you start you need to figure out what kind of clay you want to use. The clay that you pick can greatly affect what you do with that clay. There are many different types of clay that can be different colors and get fired at different temperatures. When you fire a clay they go to different "cones." The cone is the level of heat that you put the clay under when you put it in the kiln. What cone the clay can handle must be known before you put it in the kiln. Clays come naturally in colors that are red, tan, and white but different chemicals can be added to make other, brighter colors. The Dow art department buys its clay from Runyan pottery supply and gets thousands of pounds of clay for each school year. The large amounts of clay are broken into the multiple types that are ordered. Dow High keeps on hand earthenware, stoneware, and Terra-cotta red clay with stoneware being most often used for throwing. Stoneware is a high fire clay that is a  vanilla color once it has been fired, though it can have a rainbow of glaze colors applied.

Click here for a link to Runyan to look at their products.

Wall thickness

I realized that while talking about making pottery I hadn't addressed what type of form to look for when making it.

When you start to throw at first all you want to do in consistently throw a straight cylinder with even wall thickness. The shape all the way to the right has a very even thickness while the the middle one has a more varying thickness. Wall thickness is important because if you make the wall too thin it will tear but too thick and you waste the clay. Once you can throw a good wall thickness every time you can go on to change the shape of the piece into whatever you want.

I'm still in the stages to working on the wall thickness as I still make the wall too thick. In the long run I would like to be able to get to level where I could work on pottery until it is good enough to sell.

Trying to remember

 

Today G helped me by throwing for me to help me remember how to do it. Although most of the time I was standing around it was very helpful to refresh my memory. After he showed me I worked on the wheel for a little but the piece was unsuccessful since the wall was uneven and too thick at the bottom with the base also being too thick. The time was still productive because it taught me what I need to work on next time so hopefully I can do better in the future.

My adventure in pottery.

For my 20-time i plan on throwing on the potters wheel. In the past I have made pottery but never on the wheel which is unlike any other method. I have thrown but only once and that didn't yield a functional piece. Using my time I hope to improve my artistic abilities and learn how to do something properly that I have not had the time to do. This is the final push leading me to do something that I could possibly use for the rest of my life.