EDLD WEEK 5 Reflection

Reflection: for Week 5 EDLD 5366 Digital Graphics, Animation, and Desktop Publishing

I’ve gained a wealth of information in the Digital Graphics course. I learned about the principle of design elements in week one. I used the previous information about the principles of design elements to learn how to create a harmonious balance for my digital newsletter, logo and digital animation. I integrated the four design elements into my projects for weeks 2, 3, and 4. The information both new and old that I obtained, collected and read throughout this course helped me create digital projects that I didn’t know I was capable of creating. I learned about contrast, repetition, alignment and proximity by analyzing ancient manuscripts, a CD cover, newspaper and poster. By doing this assignment, I was able to gain an understanding about the four principles of design elements.

I used logo design software for Mac for my logo, Scratch software for my digital animation and Pages for Mac to create my digital newsletter. I incorporated the logo and digital animation from previous weeks into my newsletter. I strategically followed directions for each assignment and I was able to put everything together using previously learned information. I gained an understanding and clarification about the assignments by participating in the weekly discussions and web conferences where colleagues shared their experiences and gave helpful information and strategies about integrating educational gaming and other technology in their classrooms. I communicated with my colleagues and professors via web conference, email and discussion board. This interaction helped me gain an understanding of my assignments.

This course will help me in my future learning and how I will learn because I know that I can use readings, web conferences, discussion boards and blogs/wikis in future courses to collaborate and interact with my colleagues about course resources, material and information. The readings had a huge impact on my learning and understanding because I obtained helpful information for my assignments. One quote that I remember was stated by Halverson,” by providing compelling activities for motivating otherwise indifferent learners, video games can potentially help teachers improve the design of learning environments”. This brings an important question that I will research or investigate: how to integrate motivating, effective and interactive technology into the classroom and collaborate with other teachers to integrate technology into their classrooms? I believe that integrating technology in classrooms will help “digital natives” become successful lifelong learners.

Halverson, R. (2005). What Can K-12 School Leaders Learn from Video Games and Gaming? Retrieved from http://www.innovativeonline.info/index.php?view=article&id=81

Assignment 1.2 ANCIENT MANUSCRIPTS

I investigated the Manuscripts Troano. My first impression of the Manuscripts Troano was that the tablets were used as a form of communication with the Mayan people. There were animals, symbols, characters, and people. It seems that the tablets were separated into four sections of the Troano people.

The principles of design in the Manuscripts Troano were:

Contrast: The symbols and other items on the tablet are unique from one another and provide a great visual interest using four different colors, shapes and images.

Repetition: The symbols and other items seem scattered on the tablets, but yet there is some consistency and uniformity because of the good use of varied colors and four sections or divisions.

Alignment: Unity ties all the elements together on the tablet. The tablets look appealing to a viewer because of the four sections and they are aligned equally, using colored borders, shapes, and symbols.

Proximity: There is good proximity because the related symbols and other items are grouped together rather than bunched or scattered with no uniformity. There is good clarity and organization.

The techniques that the authors/artists employed were graphic designs such as using divisions on each tablet through colors, lines, shapes, symbols, characters, animals, people and sometime numbers. Their design technique was drawing or carving on wood plates or books.

PSA Reflection

The public service announcement assignment was very interesting. I learned a lot about video editing, planning, producing and evaluating. I also enjoyed working in a group because we learned a lot from each other. Randy Nelson’s quote, “How do I plus this” reminds me that we all had many different talents and each one of us brought something new to our group. We all collaborated very well and worked together as a team. We didn’t encounter any problems during the pre, production, and post process for our public service announcement.

I also learned a lot from my colleagues from the discussion board about video editing and evaluation programs and from the weekly readings. I learned how to take different shots and angles, edit video clips and add music and audio.

I will hope to use what I learned about video editing and public service announcements in my classroom. I would love to have my students create, produce, plan, edit and evaluate their own public service announcement about an important or interesting topic or subject. I think they would enjoy learning and understanding how to create a public service announcement as well as learning how to edit the video using free video editing software programs. I already have some ideas or assignments for the students to begin working on.

Again, I enjoyed the class and learned a lot and I now feel confident enough to produce a public service announcement (PSA) as well as editing the video for the PSA. I look forward to utilizing what I used in this course in my classroom.

Nelson, R. (2008). Learning and working in the collaborative age: A new model for the workplace. Edutopia. Retrieved April 23, 2009, from http://www.edutopia.org/randy-nelson-school-to-career-video.

Stand Up to Cyberbullying PSA VIDEO

Also see my wikispace at http://connect2tech.wikispaces.com

PSA POST PRODUCTION BLOG

The pre production process for the Public Service Announcement was great because my group members and I collaborated a lot and discussed who would do what and gave specific deadlines. The pre production part was fairly easy to work with because our group brainstormed and everyone was on the same page after we decided what our Public Service Announcement would be about, therefore making it easier for the next steps in the production process. The production process was a little challenging because I was the person taking video shots. I had to find teenagers to video shoot; fortunately, I have two teenagers and my niece. Making the video shots were a little challenging also because the teenagers were very busy so I had to shoot them very quick and on their schedules. The post production seemed to run smoothly because Gail Dunn was awesome editing the video and putting the video together, Janet and Prissy also worked hard with the editing as well.

Our group did an excellent job in putting everything together for the Cyber bullying Public Service Announcement. I was very impressed that we managed to get everything together before the actual due date. The one thing that I think needed room for improvement would have been to have better shots of the teenagers and the audio of the teen’s speaking clearly. This was my first time trying to take different shots and angles in a video, but after taking this course, I think I could do a better job if I had to create another video.

Overall, our group worked collaborated with no problems and we encouraged and helped one another with this assignment. I definitely believe the quote, "Make your partner look good." This is definitely true. I would love to work with Prissy, Gail and Janet again. We had great teamwork. Although, we didn’t see or meet with each other due to our locations, we collaborated very well via email, phone and the wiki space.

Nelson, R. (2008). Learning and working in the collaborative age:A new model for the workplace.Edutopia. Retrieved September 26, 2010, from http://www.edutopia.org/randy-nelson-school-to-career-video.

Sunday, September 26, 2010 Web Conference Blog

I attempted to join the September 26, 2010 5:00 pm web conference today from 4:50pm to 5:45pm, but I tried several times to join and I kept getting the message that the meeting has not yet started. You will be able to access the meeting once the host arrives. Please wait.

I reviewed the September 25, 2010 11:00am web conference transcript since I couldn’t get into the web conference today. Dr. Abernathy said that she didn’t have a camera or microphone, so everyone chatted. The meeting seemed very short and there was a lot of chatting with each other in between the questions being asked to Dr. Abernathy. Dr. Abernathy managed to answer all of the questions. She stated clarification about what needed to be turned in and when, what and where assignments and video needed to be turned in.

I really hate that I couldn’t get into the web conference today, but I think most of the questions that were asked in the web conference helped me gain the knowledge that I needed to turn in my last assignment. I am not sure what happened and why I was not able to get into the web conference, but I was not the only one because one of my group members emailed me and said that she couldn’t get in also. She was getting the same message.

WEB CONFERENCE EXPERIENCE

I was on the Friday, September 17th web conference at 5:00 pm. Again, the web conference was full like the last web conference I attended. I received a lot of information and clarification about this week's assignment. This web conference was interesting. I learned that my group needed to have two or more narrators. I also learned about Project Share and I just found out that my school district uses Project Share.

The audio was going in and out but after chatting back and forth for a while we got the audio back and we were able to hear Dr. Abernathy. She answered everyone's questions and she made sure that she answered everyone's questions. She is very understanding and she makes sure everyone is on the same accord and understands what is going on with the course and weekly assignments.

Overall, this web conference was a good. I enjoyed the web conference because for some reason this one was very informative and I was able to hear Dr. Abernathy speak, where as most of the time we have audio issues.