WMP Learning Journal By jasmine Collier

Week 1

This week I also set up my Notion, WorkDay and Adobe Create Cloud Express Account. I also learned about the Design Thinking Process, Human Centered Design and creative confidence.

The three most beneficial things that I learned about was how Human Centered Design and the Design Thinking Process could be used interchangeably, how to emphasize with the target community during the inspiration phase of human centered design, and the four fears that prohibit creative confidence. A challenge that I met this week was learning how to install and use WorkDay, Notion, and Adobe Create Cloud Express. Often, I wasn't able to find the correct link that would enable me to sign up for these services and I had to make an extra effort to utilize them correctly.

I wonder where I can find the course materials on Notion without having to look them up in the search bar. I also wonder if we are going to get in contact with or continue to use information provided by the IDEO. Some wisdom that I have is for at the beginning of the week, to set 15 minutes to plan out your goals, homework time, exercise, and rest time in order to have a productive but healthy week. Next week I plan to meet my fellow cohort participants, complete the assignments given and brainstorming loose ideas for my potential project.

The three most beneficial things I learned

• The process and steps needed to use 3D printing technology
• How empathizing and experiencing life with the target community is necessary for creating the best design solutions.
• How to think through design ideas with a group of people and lead a meeting.

Challenges that I have met this week

I am still trying to get over the learning curve of using Adobe creative cloud and Notion. I think that I spent too much time this week looking for the correct document, or trying to figure out how to design my learning journal.

Questions I have

I wonder how to use different fonts in my learning journal as well as how to create separation lines in my journal. Additionally, I wonder how to install the makerbot software because it didn't work on my computer.

Tips I want to share

I recently learned about the Pomodoro technique and it has been beneficial for me. It consists of 4 pomordoros: one twenty five minute intense work session and one five minute break. After the 4 pomodoros, it is recommended to take a 25 five minute break (although I usually do an hour). Below is a video with further information

What I plan to work on next week

Next week I plan to decide which project idea to use with my group, continue learning Notion and Adobe Spark, and to finish my 3D printing training.

Week 3

Three most beneficial things that I learned

1. How to use the 3D printing machine and that it's not as scary as it seems. Although I learned how to use the machine through orientation the previous week, actually using the machine by myself for the first time was a new and exciting experience. I realized that I have the ability to use all the complicated technology in the RMC with training.
2. That being a leader doesn't mean you have to be the loudest in the room. I've never been clearly identified as a leader in an academic setting before so being the team leader for the fist few weeks has been interesting to navigate. I had a little trouble deciding how to go about this role. In my 1 on 1 meeting, I learned that sometimes being a good leader means to step back and let others create ideas. Then I can keep the team still on track while not being overbearing.
3. The difference between empathy and sympathy. Sympathy is sorry for someone else while empathy is truly putting yourself in someone else's shoes to understand why someone feels the way that they do. I learned that I should strive for empathy over sympathy when before this week, I thought that the two words were synonyms.

Challenges that I have met this week: My log in for the MakerBot print was not working and I was getting really frustrated. Luckily, I figured the system out with the help of others in the RMC.

My question: I wonder how to develop research questions that will actually correspond to the answers that my group wants to find.

Wisdom: "A relationship without trust is like a car without gas, you can stay in it all you want, but it won't go anywhere." -- Unknown. (Distance yourself from people who you know won't make life any better, but if think they will and you are distanced right now, fight to rebuild that bond :))

Week 4

What I did

This week I completed the Tested VR challenge! I've never done any virtual reality before, and it was really exciting to complete! I also continued to learn about transforming my mindset into a growth mindset. For my community project, I learned about conducting user interviews, and the types of questions to ask in order to get the desired results from a participant's answers. In the group meeting, we completed the interview preparation document and brainstormed many questions for our user interview.

What I did:

This week I completed the Tested VR challenge! I've never done any virtual reality before, and it was really exciting to complete! I also continued to learn about transforming my mindset into a growth mindset. For my community project, I learned about conducting user interviews, and the types of questions to ask in order to get the desired results from a participant's answers. In the group meeting, we completed the interview preparation document and brainstormed many questions for our user interview.

Challenges that I have met this week: I struggled with setting the Oculus set up for the Tested VR Makerspace challenge. The wifi wasn't working and the device couldn't be updated. Yet once I realized that I wouldn't be able to fix the problem after an hour, I went back to the library and asked for help. We figured the problem out, I exchanged headsets, and I got to experience Virtual Reality!

My question: I wonder how to think of a problem that an expert interview would help us solve.

Wisdom: Sometime the best thing you can do for yourself academically is take a break. Academic fatigue is real and can really damage your happiness and success if you don't take a break to connect with family and friends.

Week 5

What I did: This week I learned about synthesis, wrote questions for our expert interview, decided who our interviewees will be, and brainstormed other ideas for our research methods. I also started the reflection document for my Virtual Reality assignment.

Three Most Beneficial Things I Learned:

1. It's important to not rush on creating a solution before identifying our problem. That way, we won't be married to an idea that may not be the best one.
2. During ideation, it's important to talk about what I leaned, search for meaning and create "How Might We" questions in order to best develop new ideas.
3. Staff at UVA are always willing to help. I was impressed with how easy it was to set up an interview with a coordinator, as I always forget that everyone at UVA wants kids to succeed. I should have a more positive mindset when it comes to completing tasks regarding my learning.

Challenges that I have met this week: With school picking up, I have found time management to be a challenge as I procrastinated with my tasks due to limitless studying. It's important to take a break and plan out my tasks so I know I will complete them.

My question: I am a little worried about our lack of target in our project is what is inhibiting us from coming up with an idea for our third research method. Do you think our plan of action is ok or should we reassess?

Wisdom: Try yoga! I did it for the first time in awhile this week and it is a great de-stressor while remaining active and mindful.

Week 6

Three Most Beneficial Things that I learned

1. Sometimes the hardest step to take in a project is starting. I've been wanting to try 3D modeling for years, yet I never actually got around to it. Once I gave 3D modeling a try this week, I realized that it wasn't as hard as it seems to be. I quickly go the hang of the app.
2. The accessibility department at UVA has so many great and important ideas, but their slower progress is due to lack of funding and personal. They would love to have a student affinity group.
3. The process of brainstorming ideas on the Miro Board, and how the Miro website is helpful to organize any thought or idea.

Challenges that I have met this week: I have found it challenging to think outside the box when brainstorming solutions and to not get attached to one idea. Additionally, I found it challenging to understand that not all solutions require technology. What the accessibility department needs most is a student affinity group to give the department a voice, but I don't think it requires that much technology. That is a topic that I would love to work on later in my college career and I will continue to brainstorm ways that technology can help with this solution. However, I have to understand that it doesn't relate with our current trajectory.

Question: I wonder what how long the ideation phase of our project will take.

Wisdom: “As helpers, we often feel the need to see our impact in tangible, measurable ways. We allow negative language into our head about the “broken system;” we look through a lens of “it doesn’t matter, I can’t make a difference”. These ideas are surely contributing to our burnout.”― Jenn Bruer, Helping Effortlessly: A Book of Inspiration and Healing. (Impact doesn't have to be tangible, it can even be though small acts of kindness!)

Week 7

What I did: This week I learned about prototyping and mini pilots. I also learned more about how to interact with middle school girls during our workshop and created a plan with my partner for our VR workshop. We also brainstormed a soft schedule for our 50 minute session with the middle schoolers. Finally, I reviewed examples of a growth mindset vs. a fixed mindset.

Three Most Beneficial Things That I Learned

1. Implicit bias often manifests itself when we are distracted or busy. Therefore, it occurs unconsciously. In order to stop this, we can become aware of our implicit biases or create a systemic process to make decisions.
2. There is a difference between a prototype and a mini pilot. A prototype is the first step in making an idea tangible while a mini pilot is a more sophisticated design that can be operated in the real world without much prior information.
3. It is possible to screencast with and send screenshots of a user's creations in VR.

Challenges I have met this week: I don't have much experience with VR, so it is a little daunting and I am nervous to teach a group of students about something that I don't know much about myself. Yet I am determined to gain more knowledge about VR so I can answer student's questions when the time comes.

Question: What is the best resource to use to learn more about VR?

Wisdom: To help accomplish a goal, I recommend having a buddy who is also motivated to achieve that goal. That way, you guys can hold each other accountable while also providing support.

Week 8

The three most beneficial things that I learned:

1. My personality best fits with honesty/humility and extraversion. This makes sense with my personality, yet I didn't expect those two traits to be the highest.
2. The basics of using Figma and why that is a beneficial app software to use.
3. How beneficial working in a team is. At our community project meaning, so many of my group members had ideas for the app that I never thought about. By practicing my teamwork skills throughout the semester, I found that I work well in groups, especially this one.

Challenges I have met this week: In my meetings found it challenging to explain my ideas to others in a way that others would understand. I think I just need to focus on my vocabulary and the perspectives of others that have the context to what is going on in my head.

Question: Is it possible to screencast multiple devices?

Wisdom: Try to call your parents once a week minimum. I've learned that it always boosts my mood and its nice to have long distance relationships with family and friends

Week 9

The three most beneficial things that I learned

1. Creating an app is incredibly complicated. Even the simplest apps need substantially more screens than expected. Any app design requires a substantial amount of work.
2. The best user feedback involves short and spontaneous discussions, as well as providing a safe space for users to be completely honest.
3. The mechanics of VR and how to use the app Gravity Sketch. Before this week, I had no idea how to use an art app in Virtual Reality, but now I do. However, I plan to practice more before the Day Camp.

Challenges I faced: I found it extremely difficult to use Mozilla hub. It is one of the most frustrating softwares that I have ever used as there are occasional glitches and I wasn't able to place an object where I wanted to. However, I will just watch more tutorials and try again later this week.

Question: How many user feedback interviews is a good amount for feedback?

Wisdom: Therapy is like a car. No matter how well you treat it you always need check ups (oil changes, pump gas, and you can't compare your car to others. This goes the same with therapy as therapy can help you regardless of how you are feeling.

Week 10

The three most beneficial things that I learned:

1. The tedious and difficult work is almost always worth it once viewing your final project. I ran into many challenges when creating the app, but once we were almost finished with it, I was extremely happy with how it turned out.
2. On Figma, components are a powerful tool that enables you to make similar parts of an app in a more efficient and cleaner manner.
3. Before diving into a new platform, I should watch tutorials on using it instead of using the guess and check method. For the academic interests page, I made each button individually before I realized that I should have used components. Then I had to create that same page all over again.

Challenges that I met: Since this was my first time using Figma, I didn't know how to make buttons change colors when you click on them. I watched a few tutorials on the topic, but they were all confusing and very lengthy. After an hour of looking for a tutorial Laura finally showed me one and it took me 30 seconds to create the click buttons. I learned that the simplest of steps can sometimes take the longest.

Question: How is everyone feeling about their progress and accomplishments with the program?

Wisdom: After accomplishing a large achievement, the best thing that you could do for your body or mental health is rest and pick up other hobbies that you truly enjoy.

Week 13

The Three Most Beneficial Things That I learned:

1. A design document is a great way to compile information that occurred over a long period of time. They are very appealing to the eye and I should use them later.
2. When creating an app, I should plan how I am going to implement the features before I actually implement them. I created the academics interest page three times because the first two times, there were mistakes. If I planned out how I was going to create the page instead of using the guess and check method, I could have saved a lot of time.
3. I have learned and grown so much throughout this semester and I am going to miss the Women's Maker Program. :(

Challenges That I Have Met: I struggled with creating the information page for the VR set. This is because I didn't clarify exactly what was supposed to be on the set. However, I cleared up the information and now it is set.

Question: What is everyone's biggest accomplishment this semester regarding the Women's Maker Program?

Wisdom: "Each and every accomplishment starts with the decision to try"-John F. Kennedy