EEND-713Z Engaging E-Learning
Passion Project
Week 2
Genius Hour, 20% Time, Passion Project... Regardless of the name, this experience is so inspiring! So inspiring, yet so [very] challenging! I struggled to determine a topic of focus. Not because I could not think of anything meaningful enough, but quite the opposite. After what felt like (and very well could have been) hours of pondering, I decided to address Pinterest. On Pinterest, I have saved links, boards, topics, and ideas of all the areas of life that I am most passionate. After much consideration, I've narrowed it down to three ideas, straight from the top three recommendations when I logged in to Pinterest:
Cooking
Travel
Running
I love running. I love traveling. I love running in the cities that I travel. But beyond those hobbies, my true passion lies in cooking. Every Saturday morning, I look forward to watching Giada DeLaurentiis and Trisha Yearwood on Food Network. During the week, I look forward to coming home from work and making dinner while watching "Beat Bobby Flay." This passion runs deep in my roots from my mother and her mother. To put my own twist on the idea, however, I'd like to focus on health conscious foods. I plan to research various cookbooks, blogs, Food Network shows, magazines, and social media platforms to discover and create healthy meals. What I know now is my goal for this project. My goal is to create one new meal each week, and learn something health-conscious in doing so. I'll strive to have the dedication of Julie Powell (but with less butter than Julia Child). Here goes my journey!
WEEK 3
Throughout this week of the Genius Hour project, I am reconsidering my daily routines to make time for my research and execution. I have adjusted my regular routine of watching Netflix before bed to reading and researching my topic for about 20 minutes each night. I also am devoting about one hour every Sunday for the next few weeks to creating a new healthy meal (see picture below for this past Sunday's dinner). I have found that because I love my topic, it is fairly simple to incorporate it into my lifestyle. To do daily research, I have been exploring many online and print texts to learn more about healthy food. Before doing so, I needed to decide on a definition of "healthy." My working definition so far is inspired by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig, authors of The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom, as well as Kelly LeVeque, author of Body Love. I decided to use pieces of each guideline and cookbook, so I came up with my personal definition of "healthy food:" Healthy food is nourishment that is high in fruits and vegetables, protein, and healthy fats, and low in (but not entirely rid of) simple carbohydrates, processed sugar, and dairy; above all it is food that makes me feel good.
This week, I spent time researching omega-3 fatty acids, as healthy fats are a part of my definition of healthy food. My Sunday meal consisted of salmon and avocado, both of which are high in omega-3. In reading both books mentioned above, I learned many new things about the health benefits of these important fatty acids!
This week, I spent time researching omega-3 fatty acids, as healthy fats are a part of my definition of healthy food. My Sunday meal consisted of salmon and avocado, both of which are high in omega-3. In reading both books mentioned above, I learned many new things about the health benefits of these important fatty acids!
According to LeVeque, omega-3 fatty acids can help:
...And many more, but those were some of my favorites! I just find it so interesting how the word "fat" has such a negative connotation, but in reality, healthy fats are a significant part of a person's diet.
Sources:
LeVeque, Kelly. Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2018.
Hartwig, Melissa, and Dallas Hartwig. The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.
- Curb cravings
- Hydrate cells
- Stabilizes blood sugar
- Protect lean muscle
- Increase energy
- Act as an anti-inflammatory
- Reduce chances of heart disease
- Balance the "bad" fats
- Improve cognitive function
- Lower levels of depression
- Improve immunological response
...And many more, but those were some of my favorites! I just find it so interesting how the word "fat" has such a negative connotation, but in reality, healthy fats are a significant part of a person's diet.
Sources:
LeVeque, Kelly. Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2018.
Hartwig, Melissa, and Dallas Hartwig. The Whole30: The 30-Day Guide to Total Health and Food Freedom. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2015.
WEEK 3
This week, I continued my journey in discovering new, healthy meals, as inspired by Kelly LeVeque, and Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. A huge part of VeVeque's book, Body Love indicates the importance of, "...fibrous and green carbohydrates (for energy and good-bacteria proliferation), protein (for cell and tissue growth), and fat (for brain functioning, hormone production, and immune protection)" (LeVeque, 2018). Because I focused on healthy fats last week, I decided to focus on greens and vegetables for this week. Throughout this week's research, I found countless recipes for "Green Goddess Bowls," and have essentially gathered that they are nutrient-dense bowls filled with green vegetables and other hearty, healthy ingredients. I decided to create my own "Green Goddess Bowl" as my Sunday dinner this week. I included many vegetable and protein packed ingredients as the base of the bowl. It highlights zucchini noodles, chicken, edamame, avocado, mushrooms, and brussels sprouts in an Asian-inspired sauce. Here are some newly learned facts on the importance of fibrous greens as LeVeque discusses...
According to LeVeque, fibrous greens can help:
LeVeque, Kelly. Body Love: Live in Balance, Weigh What You Want, and Free Yourself from Food Drama Forever. William Morrow Paperbacks, 2018. |
Week 6
Over the past few weeks, I have spent a lot of time researching Kelly LeVeque and her beliefs on healthy eating; she encourages healthy lifestyle choices, though it is not completely restrictive. This week, I decided to change my focus and look more into the Whole 30 plan created by Melissa and Dallas Hartwig. According to their website TheWhole30.com, their program is, "...a short-term nutrition reset, designed to help you put an end to unhealthy cravings and habits, restore a healthy metabolism, heal your digestive tract, and balance your immune system" (Hartwig, 2019). Essentially, their claim is if an individual spends 30 days free of foods containing added sugar, dairy, grains, and legumes, then slowly reintroduce the food, he or she will be able to identify their food sensitivities. I have completed a "Whole 30" in the past, though this is not my intention with this project. On a regular day-to-day basis, I find it to be too restrictive for my personal lifestyle (also, I just love cheese too much), but I do find their claims to be a good model of healthy eating. With this idea in mind, my Sunday dinner this week, was entirely Whole 30 approved...
While it may look like spaghetti and meatballs, it's actually spiralized carrot "noodles" and turkey meatballs. Each meatball is packed with broccoli, carrots, kale, and cilantro. It was actually a very easy swap; the carrot noodles can be purchased pre-spiralized, and the meatballs were as simple as dumping all the ingredients into a bowl, then rolling them into balls, and baking them for about 20 minutes. The sauce on top is just store-bought marinara (with no added sugar!) And that lends itself to what I learned (or "re-learned") this week... |
When I first did Whole 30, I remember how frustrating it was to find food that had no added sugar, and this week, I was reminded of this challenge. Hidden sugar sneaks its way into so many packaged foods we buy. This sugar can come in many disguised names (i.e. "glucose," "corn syrup," etc.), and checking ingredient lists is key. Many foods, due to natural sugars, will list the grams of sugar in the nutrition facts; this does not necessarily mean it's not Whole 30 approved. What matters is if there is sugar listed in the ingredients, implying that sugar was added by the manufacturers, as you can see in the picture of the salad dressing. That is the sugar you want to look out for. I also learned that when keeping this in mind, grocery shopping can take a very long time!
Source: Hartwig, Melissa, and Dallas Hartwig. “Home.” The Whole30 Program, 2019, whole30.com/whole30-program-rules/.
Throughout the project, I have come to the realization that though I enjoy searching for recipes and new ideas on social media websites, such as Pinterest, those may not be the most valid sources. Hence comes the dip. I find myself frustrated with analyzing sources found online. Being the good digital citizen that I am, I cannot just trust every online source, so I try to backup my findings with numerous sources or more valid sources. I have discovered that published texts from licensed dietitians hold more value because of their scientific reasoning and evidence. In the future, I will seek out more texts similar to those by Kelly LeVeque and Melissa & Dallas Hartwig because of their credibility in the field.
Week 7
Being the final week of my passion project, I wanted my Sunday dinner to be perfect. I planned out the perfect meal: grilled chicken topped with avocado and tomato salsa and a side of plantain chips. A fresh meal was the best way to close out a sunny, warm weekend...
Then, it snowed. The last thing I wanted for dinner on a snowy (April) day was a meal that reminded me of summer. What I learned this week is when it comes to healthy eating flexibility is key. I truly feel as though being flexible and being open to a variety of foods is what makes healthy eating attainable. It's a misconception that healthy equates to boring, strict, or rigid, and I definitely learned that this week. I could have spent that snowy day eating my summery meal, but I would have been miserable. Instead, I remembered that healthy comes in a variety of forms, even hearty! |
Despite my dislike of the snow on that Sunday, this was a great way to end my passion project due to my realization of flexibility in cooking. From now on, I plan to keep this idea in mind. I will continue focusing on healthy eating, but know that it's okay to change plans (or even sneak in dessert every once in a while!) I do feel as though I reached my end goal in this project through creating a brand new Sunday dinner each week, and focusing on healthy choices throughout the week. I learned so much about healthy eating, and plan to continue my research and application. Personally, this journey was not about weight loss or changing a part of who I am or what I look like; it was so much more about being mindful about the quality of food I am making and eating, and hopefully encouraging others to do the same.
Artifact #1
My Passion Project
The first artifact that has made an immense impression on me throughout this course is this very blog. Personally, this passion project portrays my strong interest in a topic outside of education, and I truly enjoyed creating it. Each week, I would look forward to contributing to my blog; it gave me something purposeful to devote attention. I am now able to look back to the start of my project to see how far I have come from week one. Beyond the personal level, after experiencing how impactful a passion project can be, I am now able to understand why it would be so meaningful for students. I was able to develop a solid claim and topic, support it with research, and create written pieces to document my knowledge. This would be an incredibly meaningful way to incorporate standards within a student project. Students would truly able to own their learning, as the topic and project is entirely based on individual decision-making. Additionally, creating a blog allows students to reflect on progress and identify growth throughout the project. Overall, this passion project was an impactful experience for myself and my future students.
Artifact #2
Screencast and Video within Unit
The overall unit created within this course was extremely valuable; however, within the unit, my screencast and self-created video are the most valuable resources. The screencast, which demonstrates how to insert images and text within Google Slides, will be a valuable tool for students for this specific unit, and beyond. This is something I can use across many age groups, and within a variety of units. Students will be able to refer to this video as needed; it is an applicable and relevant resource that I am very grateful to have created. Similarly, my PowToon video is another significant creation. Across many grade levels, students are expected to create informational texts based on research. This video explicitly teaches the expectations for first grade writing; however, it would be a useful reference tool for high grade levels as well. In developing this video, I strived to create a fun, approachable video with clear content and precise expectations, and I did succeed in doing so. In all, developing the entire unit was a significant experience throughout this course, but the most meaningful resources within the unit are the screencast and video.
Genius Hour Reflection
Throughout the course "Engaging E-Learning," I was highly aware of the impact this course will have on my personal experience, as well as future teaching experiences. I feel enlightened through creating this blog and my passion project; doing so was an incredibly meaningful task that I am now able to share with future students. The process was enjoyable and educational in many ways, as my learning was self-directed. Upon completion of the project, I am now able to reflect on how to use the idea of Genius Hour with my students. In my future classroom, I would absolutely incorporate a passion project or a variation of it. Because I am currently working with young learners, I could give students the opportunity to create a project, but incorporate more structure within. For example, providing students with suggested topics, texts or websites to conduct research, and a template to display learning would be beneficial for this age group. To modify the project additionally, I would have students document their learning on Google Slides to simplify the written blog concept. This way, I could create a template with questions each week, rather than students creating a project from scratch. I hope to share this concept with other educators and encourage others to do the same in their classrooms. Because the experience was highly meaningful, students would greatly benefit from the process on a personal and educational level.
My progress photo this week is a collection of images that I took throughout the project, but did not post. These images represent my continuous growth and my newfound ability to appreciate the process; I hope to share this message with future students.