Inquiry Post #1 – Plans Change
While my original inquiry was to learn about celestial navigation through learning how to use a sextant that was gifted to me by my partner’s grandfather, I have decided to change courses.
A sextant is a navigation instrument used to measure the angle between two visible objects, most commonly the horizon and a celestial body (sun, moon, or star) to determine latitude and longitude. Celestial navigation is incredibly interesting. It is something that has always fascinated and perplexed me, in a way that keeps me coming back to it. I love spending time on boats, and often find myself daydreaming about what navigation was like pre-GPS, pre-Navionics, pre-digital systems of any kind. I have learned chart navigation (not with a sextant), which is extremely interesting in its own right. But further than that, before charts as we know them existed, celestial navigation was the way. Now there is only so much I could recreate at this time, as I don’t have a boat or the ability to get out on the water. Nor do I live somewhere that has no light pollution. Still, I was excited to receive this sextant and start my journey learning how to read the stars.
As time went on, I ran into some problems. I am unsure if the sextant I have actually functions how its supposed to… it looks mighty rough in some spots and has been in storage for a long time. Also, I don’t know the appropriate star chart to refer to at this time. I was hoping to take a navigation course at the same time as this class so I could be taught by someone and reflect on my experience. However, this was not possible. Another issue is that the sky has been cloudy for a large number of nights that I was hoping to try the sextant out. This makes reading the stars, in an already challengingly bright sky, even more difficult.
Upon reflection and consideration, I’ve decided to change my inquiry topic. I think this is a normal turn of events for inquiry-based learning, and its okay to change directions. I want to adjust my focus and turn it to something that I am already embarking on, and something that I am also very interested in. This will lead to even more learning and success, because I am excited about it. Learning is about challenging yourself, and also providing yourself with an opportunity and the greatest chance to succeed.
So, that being said, I am going to change my inquiry to:
Bike-packing! How far can I go on a bike, as a beginner cyclist?
A Cinelli Bootleg!
I recently bought a new bike. And for someone who has had the same free bike for years (that was my older brother’s before), it feels like a million bucks. I am so excited about this bike, and have been riding to school this week with a smile on my face. It has more gears than my old bike – which was my biggest qualm – so I find going up hills much easier. I would like to learn all I can about biking, and challenge myself to go on a bike-packing trip by the end of the semester. I have already learned so much about bike components, and found some old panniers that make carrying stuff a lot more comfortable than a backpack. I had to make a new space in my garage to store this bike, and did so with the help of my partner. He is a great builder and was able to teach me how to set up a bike rack.
Vertical storage to help save space, and a red pannier for easier carrying of my things.
For my inquiry, I am hoping to learn general bike maintenance (changing a tire, cleaning the chain, servicing the brakes, etc.), how to efficiently set up my bike position so I am the most comfortable on it, monitor my strength over time, and see how my confidence evolves over the semester of riding a new bike. This inquiry is about taking a skill I already have and delving deeper, facing challenges and persevering through physically and mentally difficult tasks, and learning as much as I can in the next couple months. I will be updating the blog on my weekly kilometres that I have accomplished, and any other bike-related tasks I have completed.
My first ride to school on the new bike – excited to see how or if this changes by the end of the semester.
I was very worried and down about the inquiry project, and it was causing me a lot of stress. So I reflected, pivoted, and came up with a new topic that I am extremely excited about. I think it is important in life, and as a future educator, to be able to adapt and overcome challenges. Its all about being flexible, and understanding when you need to change directions.
Now, I am stoked to ride my bike, get exercise, and learn a new skill. Time to figure out how to pack my camping gear onto a bike!
Astrid, I finally got to your post that you asked me to confirm. My apologies! Your passion for cycling, and a new bike to support it, takes me back to when I cycled a lot (including the summers on UVic campus completing my Master’s degree, and cycling everywhere, but particularly to Foul Bay to “absorb textbooks” by putting them on my face to avoid sunburn).
If you can link some of your inquiries to themes of this course, tech and teaching, I think that will strengthen your experience and help your professional journey as well. Darn, I miss my bike!