In many ways, we're living living in a Do It Yourself (DIY) era filled with endless possibilities. Before the Internet, it was not as easy to engage in so many endeavors on your own as the research needed took a lot longer since you had to travel to the library, call people up on the phone, and make personal visits to learn. Now you simply look up a video via the internet, and voila--you've got the directions for a do-it-yourself project.
This DIY era has a lot of implications for education since students of all ages have to learn to navigate the Internet successfully, follow directions accurately, and know how to access the supplies and extra supports needed to complete the projects. Further, people today have to be good decision makers when it comes to priorities, finances, teamwork, and time since those are critical elements related to successful DIY endeavors.
As I take on the tasks of landscaper, baker, chef, farmer, gardener, caregiver, bookkeeper, and more, I'm consulting the Internet hourly for support, and I'm always making decisions about what to do, when to do it, where to get the supplies, how to enlist some help, and the countless corrections needed since I'm embarking on so many tasks for the first time.
Studying and teaching STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math) truly improved my skills for DIY endeavor. I wish I had that kind of training from my earliest days as STEAM teaching definitely improves your problem solving, prioritization, creativity, and do-it-yourself skills and knowledge. That's made a world of difference in this work.
Yet, growing up at a time prior to the Internet, I find that I have to remind myself of the vast array of supportive information accessible by a quick search. It's amazing what you can learn, and how that will impact your life in positive ways.
I feel fortunate to live in this DIY era with so much ready information--the challenge is finding the time and patience to sort through the directions with accuracy and success. I can do that too, but it will take some practice. Onward.