2009/02/22

Proposal for Project #1

My partner is Hannah Hennessy and she is the facilitator of this Learning and Teaching Project. I am a pupil who desires to master the Northern-American baking skills. Although I know how to bake most of the European cakes and tortes, I have no idea how to use different supplies. For example, we have 3-4 basic kinds of flour in Europe, while there are only 2 of them in the States. Similarly, there is not a huge tradition of baking pies and scones in Europe and so I am looking forward to learn something traditional for my new host culture. Also, I hope to learn how to bake on my own, so that I could utilize my new skills later in my future life.

At first, we will go for shopping of all necessary supplies. I will learn new terminology and get acquainted with local goods. Afterwards, we will meet 4 times (02/27, 03/06, 03/13. 03/19) and we will start with the simplest recipe: cookies. I expect to learn baking of at least 3 different cookie types during that 1-2h long meeting. We will progress onto muffins and scones during the second session. The third session should be even more intense, since we have planned to bake a half of a cake and a second half of a cupcake. Finally, we will bake a traditional Vermont apple pie which will also be the celebration of our joint success in learning of teaching & teaching of learning.

As far as the technical part of baking is concerned, I think I will start with following what Hannah bakes and I will try to repeat all her procedures. Naturally, Hannah will be checking each of my steps. Later, as I develop some baking confidence and I familiarize with the use of all local goods, Hannah will stop controlling my steps. Yet I will still be following her tutoring. Once I will be able to comprehend instructions without visual examples, we will proceed to the pure lecturing style – I will be baking and listening to Hannah´s supervision.

Bon appétit!