No. 64 - AMA ⫶ 付喪神 ⫶ Finnish Forest Schools
Seasonal timing
My name is Linda. I write a bi-weekly newsletter about computer science, childhood, and culture - and there are 9 668 of you listening. If you enjoy this issue, please share it with anyone who may find it helpful.
An old friend of mine came to visit me in Paris. A decade ago, we used to chat almost daily; now, it's been five years. He said he read this letter but did not know what was happening in my life.
Oh, I responded; I don't write anything personal here.
The older I've grown, the more exhausting being present with my persona online has felt - and I've taken a lot of joy from being able to step out. I've all but stopped using X, FB, and Linkedin, and Instagram feels like a journal for snaps that make only sense to me. I know there will be a time when I'll need to be more active, but this hibernation has felt very welcome (Related: Love vs. Fame: A Framework for Social Applications).
I used to do Q&A sessions on Instagram during long flights (2018/2019, 2020), but since I don't travel anymore, it's become an end-of-year tradition instead (2021, 2022). These Q&As have been a lovely way to reflect and notice how I have changed.
An internal clock of a year also seems like the right cadence for this type of interaction - I hope to offer a glimpse into who I am becoming. In the following letter we're doing that again. If you have questions, you can reply below or shoot me an e-mail. I'll keep questions anonymous. So, ask me anything!
Linked List
In computer science, a linked list is a linear collection of data elements whose order is not given by their physical placement in memory. But here it is a selection of things I’ve been reading lately.
Extremely cool work with Internet artifacts (Neal has many other great projects, too!)
Tsukumogami (付喪神). "The Japanese folklore of "tsukumogami" proposes that objects may acquire sentience after a long time of use. Some say they need to be 100 years old, while others claim it depends on the intensity and amount of human feeling deposited into them."
Beasts of the Sea or Elolliset by Ida Turpeinen is my favorite book of the year - I'm thrilled to see it gathering foreign rights sales! English-speaking friend, keep an eye on this one.
Erika Benke is reporting on Finnish Forest Schools on BBC. "These children are outdoors all the time, exploring nature, even in the winter," says Pietarila. "It doesn't matter if it's raining or snowing. My son says it's always good weather for the Samoojat." The self-confidence of little Ronja leading the trek and those backpacks...
Classroom
I’m hoping to surface and share stories from all of you and I’d love to see your creations! Here are a few teachers using Ruby in creative, fun and inspiring ways.
Stacie Stuart’s pre-k students are learning about patterns and abstractions while packing lunchboxes. (Find the activity here)
In Sapporo, there is a remarkable programming class that has, for the past 7 years been using Hello Ruby materials. I always enjoy seeing Hina Goshima’s inventiones.
