Week 4: Hands-On Learning

Claude S. Buchanan photographs with a portable scanner

Based on past experiences, I have found that the most effective way for me to learn is through physically doing tasks, especially when they are done repeatedly. This week, I’ve gone back to campus to work with Mission Memory’s Team Lead, Elio, to collaborate more on Sarah’s great-grandfather’s collection. We spent some time using the portable scanner, which I’m more familiar with; however, I was much more excited to get up there to use the Titan Scanner again, since I only saw it once during the summer internship. It was much easier to manage than I remembered. For the most part, I controlled the computer and ensured the little details by monitoring that it was focused and in frame; occasionally pressing the pedals for suction and taking the photos.

Computer Program for Titan Scanner

Titan Scanner

Titan Scanner and University of Michigan cover scrapbook

Along the way, I’ve been learning bits and pieces about that particular collection and who the people were. If the opportunity arises, I have offered to help with the spreadsheet in the future to continue practicing those technical skills. It’s uncertain when that part of the process will start, and it might not even happen this semester.

Taken from Claude's scrapbook. Wishbone attached to bottom of page.

As of now, I’m going back and forth between the Apopka and Greenwood spreadsheets to clean them up. Initially, I was assigned to the Apopka one. Still, I found myself trying to fill in the other simultaneously so that I won’t forget how cells are formatted, but also Greenwood specifically, because my intern, Sarah, is currently starting with that one. I hope to complete those sooner rather than later so that they can proceed to the next part of the process. Then, if time allows, start working on the DeBary spreadsheet, which I imagine will require just as many corrections, since that was the first one I worked on.

On Friday, Sarah scheduled a Zoom meeting with me to review how to complete the spreadsheet in a more hands-on way instead of only going off the guidebook. I was nervous since I had to prepare for the fact that I would do more talking than usual in a meeting. While I wasn’t as confident about that, communication and speaking are still skills that I’m continuously working on overall. I hope I did fine; nonetheless, I sent her an email afterward recapping some of the important information we went over.

I was happy to finally speak with her on a more personal level, as we had previously written emails and indirectly interacted in weekly group meetings. I began to understand what she was interested in, why she came back to volunteer, and found out we were even taking the same class. With this advantage, I can now work with her more effectively in terms of time management, as I also know when the other course is going to be more intense. My confidence in her is strong, though, and I'm sure she is capable of doing this well. By the end of next week, I’ll begin checking on her progress.