I went into Class with my lap top and big screen that I had just set up and started playing around with again. I wanted to show the learners the possibilities of working with recycled plastic. They all sat infront of the screen and went completely soft in bliss at the bright funky visuals. I then said okay you do it. Then is gets chaotic. I must show them how and they don’t sit and watch and do it with me, they want to jump ahead and do it on there own. I must come around one on one and tell them what to do. It’s like they jump into their cars and then want full driving capabilities and one on one directions. The idea of waiting in their cars is completely ludicrous as they can drive. They get the milk bottle start cutting and then yell at me to give them instruction. When it comes to instruction. I use my own experience of making a milk bottle soap dish, as I need to be able to work sequentially.
I had hoped they would stay soft and quietly struggle with their plastic containers so that I could come around and help them once they had shown initiative but it doesn’t work out like that. If it doesn’t look nice like on the video right now they lose hope, it is very sad to see as they don’t get there. They don’t get to that end point they fell in love with right in the beginning.
To make up for the inability to cut the containers and plan how to connect them some of the learners decided to paint them. They sit with them and put a green slimy paint and glitter on it to make it more acceptable. I hung them up as I am sure they will look fresh next week. It was a tough start to the recycle project for me as they don’t really show the right mind set to the recycled containers I brought in. They say they can wreck them as they are worth nothing but they are not bringing in there own recycled finds to work on. I hope I will have a car set up I can make in the next session. Four tops and a milk jug.