Hoosier Herron

Bicentennial Letter to the Editor

2010-09-27T15:37:00.000-07:00

To view my final project (letter to the editor )- I've included the link in Oncourse to Google Docs., I've also attached the document to my Forum posting.
I cannot copy and paste the Google docs link here into this blog.

Wishing/Personal Connection

2010-09-27T15:08:00.000-07:00

I'm old. My personal approach to inquiry has been shaped by 47 years of life, 28 years of marriage, 5 children, 3 mortgages, 1 special needs child who died, 20 years of undergrad work (interrupted many times), 2 trips to Europe, over 15 family vacations, several major appliance purchases, 31 years of preparing my own tax returns, 18 years serving as secretary on the Board of Directors of my family's company, at least 30 job interviews, and probably 12 different jobs in my life. Sheesh I'm feeling older by the minute.
My point is, I've always employed inquiry in my personal business, I just thought that's how everybody did it. Reading Consumer Reports before purchasing, investigating a company before interviewing there, reading all I could about Downs' Syndrome, finding out what the hell embalming is all about, learning traveler's French and Italian, art history, how to go to mass at the Vatican, how to avoid 4 hour lines at the Uffizi, parliamentary procedure to avoid sibling battles.
I can't say my approach to inquiry has changed from this project, because the topic was another one I am interested in. When I'm interested, I plow forward and find what I can. I think the step and stage that I've never really cataloged is creating diagrams and building charts and the like. These things I've done in my head, but never labeled the process.

In some ways, I feel I failed in the project because I didn't find people who know what's going on for the bicentennial. I did finally hear back from the Corydon people, but they said that statewide, nobody is really organized. Then I looked back and saw that Ohio & Tennessee didn't start efforts toward their event until 5 years before - so perhaps I'm a little early.
BUT - that's actually part of the success of the project, because I found out that I haven't missed anything yet! And I know where to keep checking for info once it starts coming out.

If I had thought of contacting the Superbowl 2012 people, I bet some interesting conversations could have started up about sites and architecture. What a great idea to collaborate so we don't have redundancy - save money!
Most of the organizations related to 2016 are part of IN.gov, or housed in the capitol - it may have been a whole lot easier to just spend half a day downtown interviewing and asking - I may have gotten the same answers, but it would have saved me screen time, and the day would have been a pleasant one.

I wish I would have read the last page of the project guide earlier because I didn't include many references to professional literature. Duh! That's rule #1 - read all the instructions first!!
I'm going to go attach my files now and be done.
Just found out the deadline was extended, but I worked so hard over the weekend, I just need to be done now.
Ciao!

Waving

2010-09-26T18:27:00.001-07:00

I'm waving my arms over my head trying to get attention for the bicentennial party. According to Lamb (2001) i'm communicating ideas to others through presenting, publishing and sharing. Callision encouraged sharing with"peers & family at celebrations." (52). So my letter to the editor is on Google docs, my son has given me feedback from Lafayette, IN and my other son has read it over my shoulder (16 year old, who said, "So, what am I supposed to think about that?" hahahaha

The other 3 elaborations I used besides Google Docs are TrackStar for bibliography, Email for asking the governor what's going on (or not going on...) and Inspiration for idea mapping - which didn't help me one bit. It was like taking what was already in my head and putting in a cute little diagram, but it didn't advance the project at all. Probably, much of the synthesizing took place in my head, and I'm not used to describing that process. Will work on that for next time.

Curriculum Connection

2010-09-26T06:21:00.000-07:00

- To the curriculum standards
addressed in my project I've listed below both the Indiana DOE's Social Studies standards and the Information LIteracy Standards. Writing a letter to the editor is a great exercise for students because it involves them in community affairs and encourages sharp writing skills, if they want their letter to get printed, and thus read by the community. Writing a letter also addresses USH 9.6 (below), formulating a position by examining the underlying issues. Here, we examined other states' plans and the lack of our own in Indiana, and then asked our civic leaders what's next.
In locating and analyzing sources related to the bicentennial and the founding of Indiana in 1816, we have hit on USH 9.2. Of course, USH 9.5 is easily done because most of our research was done through websites and phone calls about both past events (Centennial), and current events.
Information Literacy Standards for Indiana sound very much like the criteria for Project 1! Critical thinking, personal interests, contributing positively to the community, participating effectively in groups, etc.. ALL relate to the Bicentennial project through blogging and commenting, phoning the governor's office and Historical BUreau, reading other state's plans and other people's research on the bicentennial along with their suggestions.
There were several other standards we could connect to this project, but these correlated nicely with the evaluation criteria for this project.

- USH. 9.5 Use technology in the process of conducting historical research and in the presentation of the products of historical research and current events.
- USH 9.6 Formulate and present a position or course of action on an issue by examining the underlying factors contributing to that issue.
- INDIANA'S INFORMATION LITERACY STANDARDS
- The student who is information literate accesses information efficiently and effectively.

Wrapping it up soon

2010-09-25T12:35:00.001-07:00

Reviewing the Ws, i can define my last post as Weaving, because I was walking and talking with my girlfriend when i got the idea that the Superbowl is eclipsing the Bicentennial plans. I wish I had heard from the governor by now, or at least the Corydon Historical Site. I know in my wishing section I will add that i should have contacted the Superbowl Hosting committee to find out if any plan-sharing/building sharing, etc.. was going on.

I know there must be some community leaders who have ideas about the celebration, it's just impossible to find them, for the lowly citizen anyway. Perhaps they don't want to burn people out on the plans too early. Perhaps they'll wait until closer to 2016 to ask for volunteers and reveal plans. It should be a year-long celebration, so maybe they'll kick it off December 11, 2015. Geez, that sounds so far away.

WRAPPING - I think i'll write a letter to the editor to encourage someone to come forward with the plans so far. There has to be something because of Judy O'Bannon's ads from a year or more ago. As a historian, I believe this event is one of the most significant celebrations I will undertake - and that my children and students will have a part in, too. The citizens need to know about it so they can prepare and be aware of local history - be involved in their community celebrations. I'm not sure I'll actually send it---yet. But I will bounce it off family & friends to get their ideas again and still.

Superbowl bounced?

2010-09-22T16:03:00.000-07:00

So is it the Superbowl 2012 that is holding up Bicentennial Plans?
Hmmm...just thinking that the city has so much on its plate for the big game that it doesn't have time right now for silly historical commemorations.
Perhaps Corydon and Vincennes have plans in place since they don't have to dwell on football - but I haven't heard back from Corydon email yet. Nor the governor.
Finances must play a part in it, too - but why don't we combine some of the projects to help celebrate both?
Perhaps that will be the crux of my letter to the editor.

2010-09-20T14:35:00.000-07:00

oh crap what have i gotten myself into?
I just read part of our class guide and it said that "letter to the editor" is a viable product. I would find that personally satisfying to wake up the establishment to the fact that we are virtually 5 years away from the bicentennial and we need some major plans. The report i read researched OHio's celebration, and they built a huge park! Certainly we'd have to get going, like, now to do something like that!
But if i write a letter to the editor and some planning committee sees it, there going to call me -
I'm too busy to help plan the bicentennial celebration!!!!

I emailed My Man Mitch and told him to get things rolling! Awaiting his reply...

2010-09-20T14:30:00.000-07:00

The four areas recommended for focus for the celebration by this report were:
natural resources (parks)
education - check out Charity Dye
transportation - maybe we could have the bicentennial bike trail!
heritage/ethnicity - mmmmm - french food!

Looking to my product, I'm thinking of featuring different resources to help in preparing oneself for the bicentennial, even if there's no official site or committee.
Perhaps WE will be the committee!!

Wiggle wiggle

2010-09-20T13:23:00.000-07:00

The Bicentennial report that I found on the Historical Bureau's website is a great resource for studying about the 1916 Bicentennial celebrations. The state parks were founded as a result of the bicentennial commission. However, the authors don't say why they created this report (looks like a nice graduate project). They end the paper with suggestions for celebrating the bicentennial, but none of it is official. I went to the Parks website they suggest because the Parks will be a big part of the party, but the link to the specific page was broken - arrghghghg.
It seriously looks like nobody has taken the reins to get moving - especially if there should be a NEW park or building or bicentennial commons area, etc...
I think i'm going to have to call ole Mitch himself and see if he has a line on it.

oh yeah...

2010-09-15T13:53:00.000-07:00

the title of my last post pertains to the fact that I started my bib on TrackStar at 4Teachers, but didn't use it for a week and then forgot completely how to get in, get on, and find it. Full time work, full time family, and 2 online classes can do that to you.
Anyway the track # is 413641 at TrackStar, so you can look at the sites I'm finding to help my research. Go look at them... if you have the time!!!

where did i put that bib?

2010-09-15T13:37:00.000-07:00

WEll I called the Indiana Historical Bureau today and Matt told me that they are still working on getting the committee together for the bicentennial. Judy O'Bannon did start "2016" while her husband was in office, but since his death she has not been involved. I told him that times-a-wastin' and 2016 will be here before you know it. I asked if I should check any other website, and he said no, just keep checking back with Bureau and they will release information as it comes. This stage is definitely WEBBING - because i'm searching and connecting information and it may lead me to a new question for my project. I may end up simply asking, "what resources are best to prepare for a celebration of the bicentennial?"
I did find a report on the Centennial celebration - cool stuff - and a very well written history of Indiana before statehood.
I'll keep trekkin'!
Looking forward to Weaving - putting a face to the project.

2010-09-14T18:21:00.000-07:00

Although I'm thinking my main question is "what preparations have been made for the bicentennial celebration and how do people get involved?" I have come across some great sources through the Indiana Historical Society's Press catalog. It includes some historical fiction and Hoosier biographies. I've been trying to find time to call the Historical Bureau and just speak one on one with someone, but can't seem to find the 10-15 minutes I need to sit down and do it. Pathetic, but true.

I checked my library (high school) and we had 2 really nice sources, one I got all excited about because it said "bicentennial" on it, but it was for the Indiana territory, not the statehood.

Onward!

Hooser expert

2010-09-08T09:47:00.001-07:00

I also linked to the AllExp (ask-an-expert) link that Dr. Lamb suggested - and tried the "Travel USA" category to see if anything showed up there. When I clicked on "Indiana," the message said there is no expert yet for Indiana, and I certainly do not feel qualified - but if you're reading this and feel you could handle it--go for it!

2010-09-08T09:24:00.000-07:00

There is going to be a lot of stuff to look at - i think next weekend i might try to see the Odd Indiana exhibit at the state museum. I've begun keeping my website finds on TrackStar (at 4Teachers) but the only benefit I can see from it is that others can get to it. For my own benefit, I don't see much because I can just add the sites to my favorites or keep a running Bib.

To find out about upcoming publications or established plans for 2016, I think personal interviews are going to be crucial - the Historical Bureau's page on the planning committee goes no further than to petition for a license plate. Judy O'Bannon made a commercial a year or so ago about the committee, but I haven't seen it since or heard any more.

2010-09-05T06:25:00.000-07:00

To begin searching for sources will take me to places that I love, so I need to stay focused on the bicentennial itself to keep from getting sidetracked. The Indiana History Center should have plenty of ideas, but I could spend hours there just wandering and Wondering. Why history has been so compelling to me probably comes from being the youngest in my family. When parents and siblings would talk about something I never wanted to be left out - I didn't want to miss an allusion to a certain event or person, so I felt like I had to know EVERYTHING to be prepared - and know it from the beginning! Hence, my fascination with Greek mythology and Classics - I figured that's where just about everything started. (except for the Fertile Crescent and beginning of humans...)

So before I settled on Indiana's Bicentennial for the project, I thought about favorite historical ideas - Greek myths, French Impressionism, and, my fav favorite - Lewis and Clark. They have a lot of Indiana ties so I definitely will feature them in my bicentennial project. My sister calls me a Lewis and Clark nerd because I joined the L & C Trail Heritage Foundation and attended Indiana chapter meetings and events. Until I got a full time job and entered the Master's program. heh. heh.

Looking forward to Webbing and finding a good project idea. Probably will use the 4Teachers site to find options for projects and the true focus of the question. Sources for studying Indiana history or concrete process to join the Bicentennial Committee, etc...

Topic for Inquiry

2010-08-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

Indiana's bicentennial celebration is coming up in 2016 and I want to be a part of the planning, celebrations, etc... I remember seeing Judy O'Bannon talking about it on televesion - she may be the head of the planning organization. I want to explore preparations being made, how to get involved, resources to highlight in our school library, and perhaps even upcoming publications devoted to either Indiana history or the bicentennial itself that will be published in the next 5 - 6 years. I think it would be a great way to explore Indiana's history and have fun getting ready for 2016.