ILP "Participation" -Lynda

Getting Started in Graphic Design with Kristin Ellison

Activity Log:

1.      Discussion of core elements of graphic design are layout, color, typography

2.      Emphasis on audience and goal influence the way project is laid out

3.      Giving examples on when typography is to be visible and professional compared to creative and artistic

4.      Examples of different logos are shown and discussed in terms of how they serve as a representative for the company/product

5.      Poster that are creative and artistic in an unique manner can become art in themselves (Rosie the Riveter)

6.      Creativity is something that can be practiced, cultivated, and put into place by action.  Taking simple steps outside of a norm can constitute creativity.

7.      InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator are the main programs utilized my graphic designers today.

8.      She also discussed pros and cons which means costs, printing, and accessible.

Learning Experience:

            I felt that tutorial were simple and easy to follow.  The vocabulary was not difficult to disgust and was presented in way that allows me to feel as if graphic design is such a daunting task.  I understood the point Ellison was attempting to get across and took away pieces on both visual theory and use of visual software.  It was definitely interesting in the sense that I have recently taken an interest in graphic design.  It was also intriguing because I felt like there were easy advice that is easily applicable when learning any new skill.  In addition, there were also further resources which provided which could tailored more to my interests.  It gave me a basic overview which was really nice, as I am just now beginning to take interest in graphic design.  This tutorial gave me some points of starting and encouragement.  My personal style is learning by doing.  This tutorial was superficial informational rather than learn how to do this specific task.     

Products/evidence:

I learned that graphic design is a complex practice which requires a good amount of work to get good act.  Targeting a specific idea within graphic design allows someone to become more familiar the programs they’re working with.  For example, taking time to understand typography, play around with it in InDesign and create projects for varying audience facilitates growth in the field.  The conversation on the importance of typography, color, and layout also told me what I should be focusing on when designing.  

Blog Post 10

While working on the PowerPoint Interaction assignment, I gained many new skills within the program PowerPoint.  Prior to working on this assignment, I did not know how to hyperlink within the document, meaning I didn’t know how to hyperlink one slide in the presentation to another slide.  With this skills I can create presentations which allows for interaction between the content and the audience.  I liked how I could use PowerPoint to educate an audience without just talking at them.  I could be using PowerPoint presentation in my future career to pitch ideas or display work.

            In the field of education, data collection is crucial to measure the progress and placement of students.  When researching data collection tools I came across assessments are popular in education.  As a teacher, I would use assessments to gauge a student’s understanding of content and progression over a period of time.  In terms of middle school biology, I would begin with a diagnostic exam of content we will cover in the first semester.  As we cover content I will give tests specific to that material.  At the end of the semester, we will measure growth from beginning to end.

            First off, I found looking at my classmates’ blog was nice.  I really enjoyed just looked at how we designed differently and approach topics with our personal styles.  In addition, I really enjoyed Hunter’s blog and took some time to comment.  I enjoy the idea of electronic paper and despite having heard of it before, the way she discussed allowed me to realize how revolutionary it could be.  I also enjoyed Baylee’s blog post 5 which talked about the potential of Tumblr and YouTube in a classroom setting.  I really appreciated how she emphasized how web 2.0 tools can facilitate connections in the classroom.

            A technology I would like to learn most is probably a three-way tie between Photoshop-based graphic design, video editing/production, and audio production.  I have always wanted to get involved with creative technology which can used in the music industry, advertising, and advanced forms of blogging/vlogging.   Personally I feel the hierarchy of information exchange in our society is rapidly shifting and I want to be apart of this revolution.  Previously, all news, media, and cultural content came from long-established corporations ruled by the 1%.  Now with Web 2.0, the people of any given identity can contribute to the circulation and communication of information.  Independent music and be made and distributed with little regulation and censorship.  News articles can be written from differing perspectives and documentaries can be produced without the underlying American centrism found in most of what we watch.

            In terms of educational goals, I will continue to work steadily on my degree in English.  This gives me the option to working in copyrighting, publishing, and production of written materials.  Alternative routes would be to work in the education field as a teacher or professor of English.  I will achieve these goals by continuing to familiarize myself with technology both in class and my extracurricular involvement.  Creating connections both in and out of the Tallahassee community will open up career opportunities for me in the future.

 

Blog Post 9

The flipped classroom is a set-up where students watch lectures at home and then do homework in class.  They receive the content in recorded files and undergo the lecture piece of education on their own time.  Class time is devoted toward assignments where teachers can assist in explain topics students don’t understand, provide further explanation or examples.  This design does hold potential as technology is constantly being integrated into education.  According to the reading, there is still research to be done and a key piece of integrating technology is keeping it meaningful.

Source of educational videos: http://www.neok12.com/

An interesting web-resource is Lynda.com, a site offering tutorials and courses on a range of topics such as animation, design, marketing, video editing, and more.  The layout of the site is appealing and easy to navigate.  They offer accounts through organizations or users can register personally.  The videos are modern and relevant to current programs/software. The teachers of the tutorial are credible and are considered experts of the subject matter.  In addition, Lynda can be used on multiple devices such as phones or tablets.

In a terms of professional development, Lynda is a wonderful resource for a number of occupational field.  Lynda offers tutorials in audio and music.  To expand on that, music tutorials range from recording live audio, mixing, to music composition.  The tutorials can be geared to any skill level ranging from beginners to experts.  The tutorials can even be geared toward specific software/hardware.  For someone in the music industry, marketing, commercials, and anywhere audio is needed, these tutorials can be immensely beneficial.

Resource link: www.lynda.com

Personally, I really like PowerPoint.  I feel well-acquainted with the program because of the amount of times I’ve had to use it.  In the PowerPoint for Information Dissemination, I focus on informing the audience on the basics watercolor painting.  I liked the design element of PowerPoint and really playing around with the background fills and fonts.  The elements of design I tried to incorporate can play into a future career such as working in the media.  The creation of presentations is another important skill for the professional world.

 

ILP “Design” – Glogster

For my Independent Learning Project, I utilized Glogster to create a interactive poster for Club Downunder at FSU. The purpose of this poster is to inform students of the resources available to them. I tried to really make it appealing to a younger crowd, informative, and inviting. I liked the Glogster app because it allowed me to work from my phone and uses cloud technology so it can viewed online via any device.
Below is a screenshot of my poster:

And here is a link to my Glogster which includes the interactive features:
http://campbellbmarie563a7a51e1326.edu.glogster.com/club-downunder-/

Blog Post 8

In education, I believe augmented reality has the largest threshold in terms of impact compared to the other forms of emerging technology.  I believe this has the most potential because it can relate to practically any subject on a majority of grade levels. The book provides examples such as apps that provide information on building which could be useful to architecture students, constellations for astronomy students, geographic information for archeology students, and the list goes on.     

Holograms can be used for instruction, as well.  Holograms are physical objects, structures or people create from refracted light which creates an image.  Holograms give students in wide variety of subject the opportunity to experience material in a more realistic and interactive manner.  Students in biology class could watch holograms of microscopic cell reproduction or English students could realistic Shakespeare plays.  These experiences would help students better understand and retain information.  In addition, holograms could be used in the situation of class guests like having Steve Jobs or Martin Luther King come in and speak.  

The digital divide is term addressing the topic of the accessibility of technology.  Despite it seeming as if everyone has smartphones and every home has a computer along with Internet connection, this is not the reality. The skills and knowledge that are come along with the use of technology that are available to some is the focus of the digital divide. I am on the fortunate side of the digital divide. Through the majority of my educational career, I had a computer with Internet connection.  In times when I did not, my mom was very dedicated to ensuring I had the tool I needed and would drive me to library.  In my future classroom, the use of computer will be every unavoidable. As students on the side of the divide who do not have the means begin to enter my classroom, I will do what I can to prepare for the technological world. The best way to address the issue is bring it up to the school board or a form of leadership and create a mandated solution guaranteeing the success of our students. I will advocate for affordable service such as Wi-Fi connections or reduced prices on laptops for students if they fit into certain yearly income range. 

http://www.emergingedtech.com/2012/11/7-ways-holographic-technology-will-make-learning-more-fun/

Blog Post 7

      In a classroom setting, tools such as PowerPoint can be greatly beneficial in the process of educating students. For example, I could be teaching a lesson on racial oppression in America in a high school class. To achieve the first level of Bloom's Taxonomy the students would have to show that they could recall facts. I could use PowerPoint to present the lesson with visual and other engaging features offered by Microsoft Office.  After the lesson is taught, I could have a slide with a quick quiz testing their ability to recall some key terms from the lesson.  To reach level 2, I could include some short answer questions asking students to describe or even display some discussion questions and facilitate conversation on the topic.  For level 3, I could examples of racial oppression displayed and encourage them to interpret the situation with our lesson in mind.  This ties into the next step where we could have students differentiate what is and is not racial oppression and discuss the idea of reverse racism.  Then we could use a PowerPoint presentation on effective debate and then set up a debate topic regarding racial oppression.  The class would then participate in formal debate and have the ability argue their points. With the top tier of Bloom's taxonomy in mind, students will create their own PowerPoint in groups on a specific topic within racial oppression.
     Alternative input and output regarding the use of computers for educational purposes is an example of adaptive technology.  Hardware such as joysticks or tracks balls can allow students who do not have the ability to use a mouse to partake in the use of these resources.  Voice recognition systems can also be utilized for those who have trouble typing.  In addition the use of a magnified screen or screen reader allows for students who are visually-impaired to receive information from web resources, visual files, and so much more. Personally, I do not know anyone who has used these technologies, but my father is partially blind.  He was schooled in a very poor region of Jamaica and did not have resources such as these at his disposal. I don't see any challenges other than funding because some schools are better equipped than other and it is unfortunate that people's education will be compromised based off of their current economic standing.  
     Through the web design project I learned more about the design of websites and how to navigate Wix.  I focused on including the required content and making it as aesthetically pleasing as possible!  I enjoyed the project because I am really happy with the end product and I think my website is kind of solid. It was just difficult because the website I was working from is so loaded with features so it would lag as I worked. In my future, this is beneficial because the world is digital-based and having the ability to build a website is crucial.  Next time, I will reach a little further with the design and see where I could take it.
My website can be found here: http://campbellbmarie.wix.com/collegegenetics

Blog Post 6

When looking at a few class pages for a school website I see photos, videos, a course description, archives, online resources, and summer assignments.  All of these options are open to the public.  The school’s name is Stevenson School and I mainly focused on checking out their Chinese class page.  The grade levels run from PK-7^th, so the page is fairly broad regarding the age of the students.  Some videos require a login and the site is based off of Weebly which is a web 2.0 resource we have previously discussed.  Some video require a log in to view them.

The site can be found at this address: http://stevensonmandarin.weebly.com/

            The set up for the website I viewed was very effective in the way that it allowed for parents to see what their students have been working on and gives students a place to display their work.  I would utilize a class website to encourage parent involvement which is crucial to a student’s success.  Having the parents set up on a notifications system so each time something is posted they are alerted would help increase their knowledge and involvement in the students’ studies.  In addition, adding maybe a calendar for the semester would help parents better understand what is going on.  I could also post PowerPoint presentations or supplementary materials for students to aid them in learning and studying.

            While working on the current project, I learned how to create a wiki in a group setting and format a wiki page.  These skills can be useful to me in the future.  I felt as if the assignment was doable in the amount of time given to us.  Group projects in general make me anxious because I am consistently afraid I’ll be the only one doing something but the organization of our group and the division of the working being equal and purposeful was helpful.  The only thing that I say could have been fixed was the clarity of the instruction because I consistently found myself feeling confused.  I can use these skills in my career as I want to take the journalism route and since news is becoming so digitized, simply working with technology is beneficial to me.   

Blog Post 5

             

           Web 2.0 tools such as Prezi, YouTube, blogging platforms, Quizlet, social media, and sites such as Edmodo are useful tools for the classroom and progress as a teacher.  Not only can students learn and share new concepts via these tools, they begin to gain knowledge on the workings of technology. The podcast does mention these topics and leads me into the next piece.  As helpful as these tools may be, they can be equally hindering if not used with purpose and safety in mind.  These tactics often involve user-created content, meaning any number of this information found could be inaccurate or inappropriate.  In addition, the privacy of the students must be kept in mind while implementing these tools into the classroom.  Computer hardware necessary includes a keyboard, mouse, monitor, and system unit. In addition, an internet connection is crucial to the use of Web 2.0 tools.  Periphery equipment such as audio computer devices and projectors are necessary to display information to students and fully utilize Web 2.0 tools.

            A Web 2.0 tool I find interesting and used constantly throughout my high school career was Quizlet.  Quizlet is program where the user inputs information and it is translated into different forms such as flashcards, tests, and games to facilitate studying and information retention.  This is web-based tool so an Internet connection is necessary to use the program. In contrast, the website is very accessible in the fact that it can be used on a computer, tablet, or mobile device. This also students to bring their study materials with them practically anywhere.  The program I have described can be found at this link:  https://quizlet.com/

            When teaching, I would avidly incorporate Quizlet.  As an assignment, I would have student work in groups to create a Quizlet set based on a topic we are studying.  I would check the content for accuracy and then I would have the other groups in the class take a test on their peer’s Quizlet sets and then print email me their scores. This not only engages them in creation of content, but truly learning and understanding it. These sets will work as constant resource for studying, which they can use during mid-terms and finals.

            When creating a concept map, I learned how to format, create, and organize information into a visual within Microsoft Word.  I gained knowledge on which map would work best for the message I am trying to convey and how I could use maps to express ideas.  This gave me a new platform for organization in personal thought and academic work.  I was able to change the color, input text, and change the shapes from the given template. This made me more aware of the feature in Word and how limitless the options are. 

Blog Post 4

After having taken a look at some standards on the CPalms website, I chose the standard “Enduring Understanding 2” which applies to high school students taking a visual art course.  This requires students to be reflective both on their art and other’s art.  This is the link to the standard: http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewIdea/Preview/1318.Students could utilize numerous web-based resources, but the most beneficial would be their own personal digital art making accounts and blogs where they post progress photos of their work, create art in an artist community, write reflections, connect with their classmates, and research other artists. They could websites such as blogger or wordpress and art software such as Adobe Illustrator. This would fit under graphic software. I would have the students familiarize themselves with digital art and traditional art using both Adobe Illustrator and traditional media. I will then photograph and upload these pieces along with progress shots. Once uploaded to their blog, they will write reflectively regarding their art-making process and comment on their fellow classmates work to facilitate an art community.  

The Internet is endlessly useful for student research. The time when the Web isn’t beneficial to pupils is when the information is faulty or incorrectly stated. The Internet does provide wonderful resources such as academic journals, peer-reviewed articles, and large databases. Research must also be age-appropriate and meaningful in the curriculum. It’s not appropriate to give elementary students full access to internet databases because of content issues. In addition, using information from the Internet also brings in the issue of copyright and citing sources.

In my academic career, I have used Google predominantly to research. I really liked using Britannica Encyclopedia because it provided me with valuable and reliable information. I realized a source wasn’t reliable if I didn’t contain any sort of citation when stating statistics or facts. I was often told by teacher what is and isn’t a valid source, like the Wikipedia isn’t a valid source. I would also go with the aesthetics of the site, which is not a sign credibility, but if looks nicer people tend to trust it. The podcast describes a much more systematic way of evaluating sources using the acronym ABCDT. This method analyzes websites based off author, bias, content, design, technical elements. Stability is also important.

The web hunt gave a few new skills as I searched for the various items on the list. For example, I learned how to restrict what results would come up by placing a minus sign in my inquiry. In addition, I learned how to prioritize search items. For example, I would put terms that aren’t as important toward the end of my search. I didn’t really encounter any surprises.

Web Challenges:

·         Find painting by Van Gogh

·         Find article pertaining to the Vietnam war and have it be of the time period

Blog Post 3

         

     An infographic is a visual which presents information to the reader using elements such as symbolism, diagrams, charts, and text.  The infographic I am critiquing speaks on the education of girls in an international perspective. The title automatically tells the reader what they’re getting into and provides a clear purpose.  The aesthetics consist of bright eye-catching colors and appealing visuals. The infographic is set up in three categories, divided by color. The purple section discusses the consequences of not education women, the pink presents the benefits of educating women, and the orange displays the results of their current efforts. There are examples and statistics which work to provide evidence backing their claim.

     In the situation that I were a teacher, I would love to implement blogs and emails in the class curriculum. This would give students the opportunity to express their creativity and stay connected outside the classroom. In terms of digital citizenship, privacy and appropriate behavior online will be my main concerns. The best way to prevent any issues arising is working with parents and filtering what the students can access. I would try blog with students at the high school level  and would implement software which blocks off inappropriate websites and have parents and students sign an agreement regarding online use.     

     While working on the newsletter, I learned how to use different functions on Word and worked to make my document aesthetically pleasing. I liked that I was able to be creative and make the newsletter my own. Word did give me some problems and would often re-position items on the page when they didn’t need to be moved. I also learned how to change the color schemes and create items such as text boxes.  

     Here is the link to the infographic: http://www.educationforallblog.org/issues/girls-education/investing-in-girls-education-delivers-results-infographic

Blog Post 2

                As a student, I have used Microsoft Word for a variety of reasons. For example, I have utilized this software to write papers, write lab reports, create graphs, create tables, write stories, and write articles. Microsoft Words is very versatile and accessible, which is why it has remained a constant throughout my educational career. In terms of teachers, they often have often used Word to create handouts, worksheets, tests, and quizzes for students. My previous educators used Word for its functionality and ability to work as an effective word processor. When reading through the text, creation of quality instruction could be made using Word. Writing ideas, planning, and designing an effective way to teach can be easily recorded with Word and allows for future editing.

                In an educational setting, copy writing and fair use of materials has come up quite a bit. For example, when working on projects such as PowerPoints or research papers citing sources is necessary. I have used MLA and APA formatting to give credit to website, articles, and books which helped me further understand and explain my topic. In addition, I encrypted my AP art portfolio images so they could not be reused. Watermarks have also been useful with photography. As a teacher I will show my students how to protect their own creative work and original knowledge.  I will also serve as an example of how copyrighted information is to be treated and cited.   

                I did not have Twitter previously to needing one for my first semester of classes. I know now the mechanics of the site, understand its popularity, and have grown to appreciate how it facilitates community. For example, twitter has allowed for me to stayed tuned with my fellow classmates and explore new content related to educational technology. The use of hashtags also makes navigating the social media platform much easier and makes particular topics accessible. 

Twitter User Name

My twitter user name is @_briana15.

Blog Post 1

     Computers are a critical component to the education experience because we live in the technical age. The world is fast-paced with the communication that smart phones, tablets, and any device with internet connection can offer. Ideas and concepts are constantly developing and emerging with the aid of new innovations. For students to become successful post-graduation, there is a need for technological literacy. At the time when students leave school, being able to function in a tech dominated workforce is imperative to their future.  Teachers must integrate technology into curriculum in a meaningful and purposeful manner to truly reap the benefits. Standards regarding technology in classes help to enforce and encourage the preparation of students for the real world. I do agree that having teachers current and encouraged to implement creativity, critical thinking, and communication via technology is highly beneficial to the students and the future generations.
     I think within this particular class I will be using computers to create presentations, express ideas, create blog posts, communicate with fellow classmates and my instructor, along with making spreadsheets, and conducting research. The text mentions the use of digital tech and analog tools to facilitate learning and teaching, which is what I feel will be a ubiquitous occurrences in this course. I hope to apply my existing computer skills to different tasks, become more proficient with Microsoft Office programs, and explore the career of education, which will prepare me for success, but also give me the knowledge to prepare others.
     I agree with the term digital native, as it means the group of people who have known technology for their entire existence. Just become someone is considered a digital native doesn't mean they are the most proficient with digital tech. For example, my mom, a digital immigrant did not grow up using a computer, but is much more acquainted with them than me because she works in an administrative position where these skills are required. I am more familiar than perhaps my grandmother or some of my previous teachers who can get by using computers, but do not truly understand them. I use technology out of convenience and enjoyment while digital immigrants use because it is required of them to. Personally, I am an analog type of girl. I enjoy writing with pen and paper, listening to vinyl records, and using film cameras. So working with digital immigrants makes me feel at home and hasn't had a negative effect on my educational experience. There will be a difference in my future students because I didn't grow up using technology as frequently as today's children do. My little cousin had an iPad by elementary school and I didn't even get a basic cell phone until late middle school. The next generation of students is going to be very in touch with technology as it has been a part of their lives since birth. I liked to go outside, ride my bicycle, and plant gardens as a kid, but the future is going to have very different recreational interests, which will include social media and video games. Teachers will have to learn to relate to their students, as they    evolve.

Blog Post 0

     With technology being a constant element in our daily lives, my personal experiences come from a range of settings with varying objectives. In the classroom, I have utilized programs such as Word, Excel, Publisher, and PowerPoint. In my economics class, we created presentations on entrepreneurs using software in Microsoft Office. I have also familiarized myself with word processing and research in writing papers for literature or world history. Photoshop was an interesting experience as I learned to edit photos for my art portfolio. Beyond the educational setting, I enjoy blogging on Tumblr, which allows me to post music files along with photos and text posts. It allows me to express my ideas and my interests to community of people.

     As I enter my first class in college, I have high hopes and expectations in regards to the amount of knowledge I am here to acquire. I feel comfortable with technology, but I would like to become more experienced in Excel as that is the program I've worked with the least. In addition, I enjoy the fact that this particular curriculum is focused on education, which allows me to explore the ideas of a potential career path and become familiarized the impact technology has on youth. Within the semester, I am aiming to create connections with my fellow classmates and improve my level of proficiency with both computers and writing. 

     This morning I was given the opportunity to take a brief survey which analyzed my learning style through a series of questions. The results show I am an active listener which means I am more prone to working well in discussion- based environments. With the next characteristic, I am considered a very intuitive learner which provides insight into my dislike of repetition and strong attraction to discovery. This helps me realize how I could tailor my study habits in the coming semester. I am fairly balanced on the verbal and visual learning which tells me I can incorporate both styles of learning into my personal methods. I am leaning slightly toward sequential learning who often takes in information step by step, which helps me be self-reflective on how I process information.