For my EDGE project, I wanted to implement some of the ideas and knowledge gained in the Library Media classes I have taken, specifically the use of technology, to catalog a large amount of information.
Being married for 20 years, I have accumulated a large number of photographs. Rarely have we taken the time to pull them out and look through them. We have captured parts of our past, but they were not truly documented or organized. It was also concerning to me that they could be lost in the event of a natural disaster or theft. Every time we would leave town there was a part of me that worried about something happening to our home while we were away. It wasn’t the stuff in our home I cared about, it was the pictures. After hearing about the devastation in recent natural disasters like the floods in the Midwest and fires in California (of which I am completely susceptible to) I know it could happen to me, It is heartbreaking to think about losing all the memorabilia that connects these people to their past.
I had hoped to first work with a widowed elderly woman to digitize and catalog her photos, memories, and memorabilia to preserve for her future generations. Unfortunately, her health took a rough turn and it did not work out to complete my project with her, although I have still visited her regularly.
I ended up moving on to my own large stack of photographs and to focus primarily on preserving the memories with my husband over the past 20 years. So far, I have digitized and cataloged at least 5000 photographs, created an online photobook (ready to print) of the first year of our relationship, including our wedding, and created a website with photographs of us over the past 20 years as part of our 20th Anniversary celebration.
In the photo book, I’ve also written our story. I may add a little more going forward. When I shared the online pages with my family, they loved it. At that point, it was clear to me that our pictures were doing no good piled up in their boxes. I look forward to holding the photobook in my hands and the opportunity to present one to my husband and to each of our children.
I also take comfort in the fact that they are saved digitally and have been backed up on a cloud server. Another benefit I have discovered of having digital files like this is that there are many websites and apps out there that make the creation of photobooks relatively easy.
If I a completely honest, I was not excited about the idea of having to complete an EDGE project at part of the graduation requirements for SUU. However, now that it is finished, I am so thankful for the push to do something that I have wanted and needed to do for so long. I appreciate that I was able to choose a project of value to me and it will be a benefit to my entire family, for generations to come.
I feel that I can better appreciate why SUU implemented this experiential learning program as part of the required curriculum. Through my project, I have gained skills in both digitizing files and effective ways to catalog them. I have grown in my technology skills and abilities and I know that I will be using these skills in my future goals within the field of education. I have felt like a goal-oriented person in my past, but I had never approached any previous goals with an experiential learning perspective. Through the reflective process, I have been able to see how the EDGE program has helped me to see the benefits of such learning and the growth that can come from setting and accomplishing goals in this way.
In addition to completing the project, the EDGE program requires the creation of an online portfolio. I have enjoyed this process of the EDGE requirements and I do feel that it has not only helped me to reflect on my project, but it has also given me a platform to share it with others. It is also a place where I’ve been able to show who I am, more of what I have accomplished, what matters to me, and where I intend to go. I plan to use this as a resource to promote myself and help me reach my future goals. Future employers will be able to view it and see more than what is available in a resume or the responses to questions in an interview. I do feel that this entire EDGE experience has helped me to gain the ‘edge” over others in my field seeking similar jobs.