Linking Assignment #1

A Summary:

This peer's post outlines the main items in their school backpack which convey who they are and how they interact with their community. From reading their responses and conversing with them in class, I realized that we have similar values and organization skills; for example, we both use a folder or binder to keep our classwork in one place while easily carrying them around. Hence, I chose to reflect on this peer's post for this linkage. To briefly summarize their thoughts: this peer has thoroughly described each of the items in their bag and explained the need to carry it with them most days; they have answered how certain artifacts (their headphone, laptop, and water bottle) could be considered as texts that reflect who they are, the places they inhabit, and the cultures and activities they engage in; and they have justified what archaeologists in the future would understand about the time period we live in upon finding their backpack. Overall, due to our similar connections and responses to the items in our backpacks, as well as the way we have presented our ideas, I chose to reflect on this peer's post.

My Reflection:

This peer has demonstrated their learning on this topic by inserting the photo of their items at the top of the page, followed by a brief description of the use of each item portrayed. They have also included the questions in bold font to emphasize them and they have written paragraph responses to each question. Their responses go beyond the surface line by making connections to self and the world. This method of demonstrating their knowledge is the same as mine---I have included a photo, descriptions of each item, answered two mandatory questions, and one optional. Therefore, I do gravitate with their presentation of the topic and this allows me to better understand their work. Furthermore, my classmate's experience, as it relates to the topic, is similar to mine by them giving relatable reasonings to the use of their items. For example, my peer mentioned that they use their phone primarily for communication with their household and to stay connected with the news. This is the same reason as to why I have a phone and specifically why I bring it to school every day. Moreover, this peer explained that their items/artifacts show how they communicate with their school and presents them as an academic student who is passionate about attending school daily. This reminded me of my response to this question when I gave the example of how my zipper binder proves my organization skills and the text "Five Star" explicates how I strive for a "five star" result. Another similarity between my peer's response to mine is about our laptops and how they serve as texts by proving that we can navigate on the internet and meet our online needs. Finally, both my peer and I have answered the same optional question of what our backpacks would have looked like 5-10 years ago. We both explained how it would not have carried a laptop, headphone/earphones, a phone, or a wallet. We both would have been too young to need these accessories on a daily basis. Our backpacks would have reflected a childish personality rather than a mature grade 12 student. Ultimately, my peer's presentation of their assignment has not changed how I view my assignment because we displayed our work in a similar format and gave thorough explanations to our responses in order to go beyond in making connections.