Creative Mind: BUJO and Doodling Data

My 2016-2017 calendar, 2016 journal, and accessories.

I have spent the better part of 2016 experimenting with my own mental processes and how to enhance the creative mind. I am exploring ways in which people process content via project journaling, doodling, and writing. I experimented with the popular Bullet Journaling trend, was inspired by the authors of Dear Data on Ira Flatow's Science Friday, and am enjoying the many blogs, curated Pinterest boards, and instructional videos users have posted on putting pen to paper. Though there is this trend toward analog, I believe that we generally agree that there are credible reasons to maintain a digital organizational toolkit.

Bullet Journaling: (aka bujo) A journaling process; credited to New York product designer Ryder Carroll. As an archivist and librarian, I naturally want to catalog everything as I go. This technical side of me can impede my research and writing process. I decided to explore the boju concept because I have been experimenting with different ways to transform ideas into more fully developed plans, projects, and writing.

Plan to transport an exhibit.

There are plenty of solid boju how-to guides by credible bloggers. Carroll's concept starts as a calendar planner as well as a space to project journal. The only processes that I abide by 100% are: keeping the index in the front of the book and allowing ideas to form chronologically rather than by physical location. The boju bloggers took the idea and ran full force with it and transformed it into a wide open creative space. Becasue of this; I incorporated the concept of creative enhancement with doodling, colorful washi tape (not too much), and quotes from Shakespeare. I avoid affirmations, poetry, and diary entries.


Like my predecessors, my journaling has a generous allowance for trial and error.

My primary break from Carroll is that I stopped keeping my calendar in the journal. A separate physical calendar is functionally better for me because I have 2 part-time jobs, have my own research projects, and volunteer. It is just easier and more professional to take the calendar with me in certain situations. If I do not have my journal handy, I jot down preliminary notes to journal later. I do keep both analog and digital calendars. The transcription process helps me think through my priorities and make scheduling decisions more effectively.

Going back to the concept of digital management: I am an archivist first and foremost. I scan the journal pages with my smartphone and catalog them in my cloud storage. This gives me an additional means to use the journal. Task lists and projects that I do not want to transfer to the next journal become printable worksheets! I can also add metadata to pages of interest to make them searchable. 

Science Friday: To add more weight to this concept of writing and doodling; we turn to Ira Flatow's interview with authors Giorgia Lupi & Stephani Posavac about their book Dear Data on the Friday 09/09/2016 edition of Science Friday. The authors want readers to find data accessible through imagery and therefore find some inspiration to look at data as something that is integral to our daily experience.

@scifri interview on @_deardata book https://t.co/BZdt7Y0S4B @GirlsforSteam #doodling

— Janet Mulligan Bowen (@theScootorian) September 12, 2016

I think this interview serves to enforce this concept of allowing our brains to be both technical and creative. Both enhance the other and we gain a more fruitful perspective when we blend those worlds rather than compartmentalize them.

#bulletjournal +SciFri #doodling #STEAM #STEM 

E-learning is the New Learning

Janet Mulligan Bowen, 08/09/2016

Anna Sabramowicz writes an article that hones in on changes from content-centered education to learner-centered education.

Content-Centered Courses: How Google Has Destroyed Traditional Education (And How That's A Good Thing)

It is true that we all need to memorize many things to get through life. In the workforce, we spend most of our time researching and synthesizing content in order to produce good work. Even trades and services depend on research to produce excellent products as safely and sustainable as possible.

I had a 10-year gap before I returned to college. It took another 10 years to finish my Bachelor's degree. I had the privilege, and relief, of watching education shift from content and memorization toward the learner and researcher driven education over the span of 20 years. My own grades showed marked improvement as I went into higher level classes instead of deteriorating because I was expected to do scholarly work, collaborate, edit, and produce content rather than being limited to assessments that focus on memorization.

How to Ride a Scooter

by Willie Sanchez, uploaded to YouTube by "tribalneo79"

Thanks to Roland Henry of TMISC for finding this video on YouTube!

2016 Mods and Rockers at the AACA Museum

Mods vs. Rockers at the AACA Museum in Hershey

Come on out to Hershey, PA for a relaxed and fun tour through the American Automobile Club of American's Museum in Hershey, PA. We pay homage to riders in the United Kingdom, the early history of American biker culture, and the core influences of music of American Soul artists, jazz, and Rock & Roll.

It has been an amazing year working with the AACA Museum. The staff at the AACA are supportive, welcoming, and enthusiastic about all things motoring. I am grateful to Rob Kain and Dave Russell for an enjoyable and productive partnership in setting up this exhibit.

I want to offer additional thanks to our UK friend Richard Oswald for loaning us his USA Military Parka during the riding season. We cannot thank you enough for sharing such a treasure!

See more about it here: Janet's Info page