An Experience with Multimedia

Blogging is growing on me and I'm wishing it wasn't in chunks that I've been doing my homework. I think with a reduction in reading and combination of various projects... (between the two classes), I will be able to spend more time in reading and reflection not only to my classmates new posts on various topics but also on some of the professionals or experienced bloggers' postings (insights and teachings) as well.

I think the difficult thing has been the number of new things to learn - which have been great but overwhelming. However, the blogging is helping me because as I venture out to read my classmates' blogs, I'm gaining new insights not only about the media and theory we are studying but also about myself and my learning as well. I appreciate this opportunity because it really is the learning style of today's generation.

As of right now, I don't really like Flickr, but to be fair - I haven't really given it a chance either. I think the layout seems dull and this distracts me from all it really has to offer...

But in addition to this, I realized that even though I haven't come to like these programs yet (and mind you, I haven't given them much chance yet either - this is about to change), I don't have much of a choice. These are the programs that will be available to my teachers and students. Right now we are mostly PC and only the few art computers are equipped with the wonderful "Photoshop."

I browsed around the links provided and wasn't really sure what I was looking for. I didn't understand many of the photos posted or the background for the photos - I think that's what bores me... I'd like some explanation to draw me in.

My plan to open my mind to Flickr begins with this link: http://jakespeak.blogspot.com/2006/03/classroom-uses-of-flickr.html - Jakesonline wiki led me to his blogger page which is full of great ideas.

I also found this wiki - http://web20-instruction.wikispaces.com/Using+Flickr+for+Instruction
Using Flickr for Instruction - this too, seems like a great resource.

So far, I don't like any freeware photo editors... I don't like them at all. I think it is because I prefer more complex editing with more options.

I am coming from a slightly different background and went to school for graphic design. Therefore, simple to me in this arena is useless. I learned Adobe Photoshop and have always used that for any editing and imaging. I have to confess that I haven't been able to do much photo editing for some time because I've been so busy with work and school. I love to work with images but I often get lost in the process. For a while, I created jackets for funeral announcements. I would superimpose the a picture of the person (who was deceased) into an image that the family said "represented" him or her... So if that person loved golfing, I would take a picture of a golf course (or the course he/she frequented) and mask the person into the scene...

Doing this is something I truly enjoy but need the time to do it. I am now inspired all over again to get back into photo editing and to find ways to integrate it into my work as a librarian. Marketing is one avenue for this and teaching students is another. We have a "digital" art teacher, so I am excited to rekindle my knowledge and see what we can come up with together to take Photoshop to knew levels at our school.

This Webinar was full of great project ideas... I took notes from beginning to end (even though he has a nice handout waiting on his website) and plan to give it to teachers. My goal is to provide them with these ideas and then tell them, "...these are ways I can collaborate with you. If anything interests you, let's get together!"

One tip I will take away from Abrams is the concept of student licenses. I think this is a great idea... It will be fun! And, I can create my own training manual (DIGITAL of course!) and test for students to prove their competence. In order to check out the equipment, students will have to show their license (or sticker, or whatever it is that I come up with).

This first feeling I had from this article was motivation... the second feeling, anxiety for project management.

I think I need some time to continue exploring and cleaning up my skills with all of these new forms of media before inviting another teacher to ride the wave with me. Although, this fascinating project provides the map for traveling along the same route.

After reading about the award Sanders and Pavelski won, I was inspired however. This is one way a teacher librarian can keep their job interesting. I'm a competitor even though that wouldn't be the purpose, one out to win awards, but I think now knowing there are awards like that out there - I will have more intention behind my planning and collaboration with my colleagues.

I am still in awe at all of the ways they were able to make this project cross-curricular. I don't think most of us truly understand cross curricular work until being able to read about an extensive project of this nature.

One other area that I appreciated was the way students were evaluated... I think it was Abrams who talked in his Digital Photography Webinar about students learning more from the process than what the product was worth as well as doing more writing as a result of the process (rather than just writing traditionally); therefore, he was encouraging teachers to evaluate the value of their process rather than the shine of their product. I agree!

My first Podcasting experience was fun and it came somewhat naturally. I felt like it was something I have done before even though I have never messed with MP3's much nor have I recorded my voice (which my speaking voice I really do not like; however, I do appreciate one of my classmate's kudos on the speaking voice... maybe it's just my own personal interpretation of my voice - somewhat like when we look in the mirror and some days it's like we're standing in front of a circus mirror that alters your reflection drastically!) The creativity part is what I really enjoy - I'm artistic and musical and this takes away some of the thinking and planning that sometimes hold other up.

Furthermore, I was lucky in class as everything went smoothly from recording to uploading to working without a hitch whereas many of my classmates had to take an extra step or ran into other obstacles that required a learning curve. I thank my graphic design school for making me a Mac person... I have very few troubles with the Mac. It seemed that mostly PCs were having troubles.

Needless to say, I'm looking forward to future podcasts and I'm betting that somewhere along the line, I will have to take an alternate path to get around a technology obstacle because... that's just the way it is.

This article was so exciting to me since I am the epitome of visual learners. I love exploring and responding to graphics... I often analyze deeper than necessary and have people around me saying, "I think you've done/said more than necessary..." or "I didn't see THAT?" ... as I continue to question the contents.

I appreciated the steps she provided... it's nice when authors include instructional methods with theory. I am starting to feel like I am creating a collection of resources to share with my colleagues when they ask me questions!

I am also realizing the lack of opportunities I give my own students to respond to visual images, which is strange considering this is the foundation for my learning style.

I had not thought of credibility in terms of photo literacy before now. This is very eye opening to me realizing how a photographer can be just as biased as a story teller, writer, news broadcaster, teacher, etc... anyone who is trying to CONVINCE or PERSUADE others of something whether the purpose is intentional or subliminal. In addition to this Abilock mentioned "A photographer is always tempted to arrange a scene for symbolic, aesthetic, or dramatic reasons." It just hit me again that we all do this whether we are trying to portray our family in the most positive light or just as writers or movie producers do to capture the audience's attention...

I think using visuals to start a lesson on ethics and credibility in the writing classroom would be motivating to students. They would essentially be getting two for one and I'm betting that the learning would be enhanced with greater success as compared to the traditional methods.