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| Archetype Collage (Buzzfeed quiz cover) |
What are your natural aptitudes? Based very loosely off of multiple intelligences. Are you the Artist, the Technologist, the Naturalist, the Performer, the Musician, the Poet, the Athlete, Puzzle Fighter, or the Renaissance Man or Woman?
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Source: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/421860690073254141/
Diana Ziv - http://zivcreative.blogspot.com.au/ |
A Meaningful Assignment
This week I focused on
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory and
Ken Robinson’s The Element: How Finding Your Passion Changes Everything. In so many ways this scholarship resonated with chapter seven in the Lankshear and Knobel text as well as my focal theme ‘the importance of creative arts in education.’ I wanted to find a ds106 assignment that could help me synthesize scholarship with ‘new literacies’ application. The literacy dimensions and cultural appreciation in order to craft a Buzzfeed personality quiz that has humor and meaning is really challenging. To create a quiz in this nature, one must use writing skills, logic, artistic, and technical ability. This is exactly why I chose to do this assignment: WebAssignments,
WebAssignments1641. I wanted to ‘apply’ multiple intelligences and share this theory with others. I believe understanding and application of this theory as teachers and learners, one can better know oneself or their students. This understanding leads to better study habits or lesson planning and engagement. It’s important to note that as a teacher, this would also mean catering to several different types of learners, thus, why it is important to practice creative arts disciplines through synthesis of core subject curriculums. If you are new to
Howard Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences Theory, I suggest watching this brief
video here. After watching the video
take a short self assessment test. With the results of the assessment in mind, then
take the Buzzfeed quiz. The Buzzfeed quiz is intended to add an extra dimension to the concept of multiple intelligences. In that it suggests you may favor certain roles or archetypical characters. It is this idea of these ‘characters’ that makes the ‘just for fun’ Buzzfeed assessment inspiring. As opposed to Howard Gardner’s classification such as “visual-spatial,” the Buzzfeed quiz suggest you are an artist or a designer. Not just any artistic character, Salvador Dali, was in fact the artifact image I chose to represent artists. I think by using artifacts in this way, it has great meaning to the test takers. Perhaps more meaning than knowing one is ‘logical’ or ‘visual-spatial’? Or for test takers that are unfamiliar with the chosen artifact it gives them an opportunity to click the link for the source image and read about the character represented. All things considered, this assignment for myself, and I hope the test takers, is meaningful and fun. (This is for entertainment purposes but some may still find the quiz inciteful).
Crafting a Buzzfeed quiz
At first, I brushed off the Buzzfeed quiz as something that may be relatively easy to do. I’ve made quizzes before as an instructor, but actually, the dimensions to the Buzzfeed quizzes are far greater than a typical quiz you may give students in a brick and mortar classroom. For instance, every question requires a picture which then needs to be given appropriate credits and linkage. These images as cultural artifacts are intended to have meaning to a vast number of people. So the breadth of cultural knowledge to consider is challenging and then also the choice of one cultural artifact over another.
Then there’s the questions - witty, meaningful, with a little bit of tact (hopefully not too offensive). Also embedded in each question there are three answers. For each answer, the quiz maker can assign a result and this is the tricky part. The way in which the answers are phrased (biased of course) can mean more or less probability for one result over another. For example:
Q1: I like to paint, draw, or create things.
A1: Yes, Creating art is my life.
A2: No, Art is boring.
A3: Sometimes, When I feel inspired.
If “No” is selected, I can assign that result to ‘logical’ or ‘technical’ based characters as they are, in my mind, the opposite of artistic. This is a stereotype of course but the Buzzfeed quizzes, in my experience, are intended to be funny and rely on these stereotypes. Just like a good comic makes his or her jokes relatable to the audience, they use artifacts that rely on stereotypes - it’s part of humanity and culture. Ultimately, these responses to the 20 total questions created 60 possible answers to sort through. I decided to make equal chances for each character result and after I tested this it was too boring. I tested the offline quiz and had a few friends and family members take it as well. I took the quiz at least 10-15 times and I tried to enter a frame of mind of each character to result in that character. I had to spice up the responses a little to make it more funny to engage the audience.
I added the characters here for amusement. There are 10 different characters so chances are you will only result in a couple. I hope you enjoy the quiz!
The ArtistYou might be good at creating compelling imagery, sculpted objects, or motion graphics. You observe the world and interpret it through artistic expression. You thrive in disorder and lack of income.
The DesignerYou seek order and perfection in all things man-made. You may practice drawing, CAD, 3D modeling, and building structures… and sometimes you may also practice obsessive compulsive disorder.
The Technologist
You specialize in using technology to your advantage. You may be good at coding and (or) electrical engineering. You have an intimate relationship with your computer(s).
The Naturist
You love nature. You often long to be outdoors. You may enjoy hiking, gardening, and taking care of pets or domestic animals. Baths are optional.
The Performer
You like being in the spotlight. You may like to dance, act, or play and sing music on stage or in front of the camera. Your excellent at ignoring the strange looks in public transit for reenacting all the parts from entire plays.
The Musician
You enjoy listening and (or) creating music. You find meaning and purpose in experiencing life through music and can’t live without it. When lacking inspiration, you may find interesting places to put tattoos and piercings.
The Poet
You relate to the world through words. You may like blogging, writing in a journal, or creating poetry. Your favorite past time may be curling up with a good book or correcting your best friend’s grammar mistakes.
The Athlete
You can’t sit still for more than 10 minutes. You seek physical activities and competition where you can exhibit your athletic tendencies. You were once diagnosed with ADHD and refused to take your meds… then proceeded to literally climb all the walls in your school.
The Puzzle Fighter
You enjoy exercises in logic. You may be good at solving rubiks cubes, Pi, and the mysteries of the universe. You may enjoy studying the molecular structures of various types of cheeses through sniff tests.
The Renaissance Man or Woman
You excel at many things and you find variety stimulating. You thrive when you can use your multiple talents to solve problems. When bored, you may find yourself looking for employment in a completely different profession or applying to graduate school… again.
This week was a little rough for me traveling and being out of the country. I managed to get all the assignments completed but one was a little late and I wasn't able to engage with my peers as much as I normally do. I was finally able to respond to comments on my posts and I got to read peer work this morning.
