# data[].attributes.body
Fig. 1 Bell, A. (2023) L6 Year 3 Fashion Business Learner's participatory Wordcloud. [Wordcloud] In possession of: the author.

Fig. 2 Metcalfe, E. (2023) Information Literacy Framework. [Illustration] At: https://pressbooks.calstate.edu/writingargumentsinstem/chapter/a-beginners-guide-to-information-literacy/ (Accessed 23/10/2023).

Fig. 3 Bell, A (2023) Example slide from workshop 'Creative Library Research & Finding Inspiration'. [PowerPoint Slide] In possession of: the author.

# data[].attributes.body
American Library Association (2015) Framework for information literacy for Higher Education. At: https://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/infolit/framework1.pdf (Accessed 23/10/2023).

Hirtle, J. S. P. (1996) 'Social constructivism' In: English Journal, High school edition; Urbana 85 (1) pp.91–93. t: proquest.com/docview/237276544/fulltext/B0E1598629024E6FPQ/1?accountid=14178 (Accessed 23/10/2023).

Manganiello, V. (2018) C O M P U T E R 1.0. At: https://vimeo.com/261862777 (Accessed 23/10/2023).

Siemens, G. (2005) Connectivism: A Learning Theory for the Digital Age. At: http://www.itdl.org/Journal/Jan_05/article01.htm (Accessed 23/10/2023).

# data[].attributes.headline
From code to cloth - connecting metaphor with practice

# data[].attributes.subject
From code to cloth - connecting metaphor with practice

# data[].attributes.body
I often use the process of weaving as a metaphor when talking to learners about information literacy and ways of creating meaning in the research process – through research learners 'weave' together the sources they find to create new 'connections'. I think there's something romantic about the idea of the Jacquard loom as the world's first computer/machine processing device, and how our networked society today is essentially built off the same model... taking threads (data/ones + zeros) and weaving them together into tapestry (information/knowledge). I see now that my thoughts on this and the theories of my own practice as a librarian (information literacy, information theory and information behaviours) relates deeply to constructivism and connectivism.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Installation by artist, Victoria Manganiello and Designer, Julian Goldman.

Victoria Manganiello
victoriamanganiello.com

Julian Goldman
openjulian.com/c-o-m-p-u-t-e-r-10/

# data[].attributes.attachment_caption
Fig. 1 L6 Year 3 Fashion Business Learner's participatory Wordcloud. 

# data[].attributes.body
"The role of language in a constructivist environment is that of mediator between the learner and the world, shaping and extending thought" (Hirtle, 1996) - I see this approach now in my own activities with learners, utilising learning tools to construct a group definition of amorphous subjects, such as 'research'.

# data[].attributes.body
My practice revolves around developing learners information and visual literacies (see Fig. 2; American Library Association, 2015) and “the realization that knowledge is never neutral, that the ways in which knowledge is mediated and created are as dynamic and important as the knowledge itself.” (Hirtle, 1996). This practice is closely linked to the Constructivist theory of how learners create their own meaning and understanding from experience. Both information literacy and constructivism work towards helping learners make connections and “cross boundaries of culture, gender, politics, and ways of knowing in order to construct knowledge which helps them participate in the social consciousness of humanity” (Hirtle, 1996). This practice also weaves into Connectivism in which today’s learners conduct research in spaces outside themselves, such as search engines, social networks, and databases; and the learning process is a way of communicating with, filtering through and connecting specialised information sources from disparate narratives or disciplines (Siemens, 2005).

# data[].attributes.body
Constructivism
Social Constructivism
Meaning-making
Research
Experience/Discovery
Process
Connectivism
Information Society
Networked Society
Flow State
Organisation Flow
Information/Knowledge management
Network
Mindmapping/Brainstorming/Moodboarding

# data[].attributes.headline
Connectivist theory lurking in the background

# data[].attributes.subject
Connectivist theory lurking in the background

# data[].attributes.body
This is part of a workshop where I task learners with finding several sources of inspiration/information and bringing them together in a visual mindmap or moodboard... little did I know I've been talking about Connectivism without knowing it was Connectivism!