Multimedia+and+Video+Technology+Course+Reflections

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1.	What outcomes had you envisioned for this course? Did you achieve those outcomes? Did the actual course outcomes align with those that you envisioned?

Working in teams must have been the most challenging part of this course. On one hand, team members may be hundreds of miles away from one another; on the other hand, the depersonalization of the online individual sometimes discourages personal intercommunication. To address this, we decided to make wide use of all available online resources to divide labor. I offered my assistance in explaining some aspects about shooting video, lighting, and monitor flicker as many years ago I worked at a television station. My partners shot video and wrote a first draft, sent their videos online, and I edited and posted the PSA. As a result of this, the development of the project as well as the assessment of results entirely took place online. I honestly believe that this was a very enlightening experience which will prove to be a model for me to follow in the years to come.

2. To the extent that you achieved the outcomes, are they still relevant to the work that you do in your school? Why or why not?)

I am currently visualizing a process of making how-to videos to share with some of my special students who need frequent feedback and considerable repetition. Due to their special needs, I'm thinking that if I am able to devote one session to record one process (for instance, division with remainders) and one day or afternoon to edit the resulting recordings, I can perhaps precondition my students to retrieve this experience in their memories after having seen themselves perform the operations on the monitor. I can make a center where students should follow the model provided by a video. Maybe I can also utilize this knowledge to film small vignettes featuring mnemonic devices employed to remember processes. I could model division as I use icons to represent Dad (divide), Mom (multiply), Sister (subtract), Brother (bring down) and Rover (repeat/remainder.)I am also considering the usage of this technology to create material for staff development sessions to add to my presentations.

3. What outcomes did you not achieve? What prevented you from achieving them?

I have to admit that, for the most part, my previous experience in digital storytelling had been on an individual basis and this has been one of the very few occassions where I have worked with somebody else. Although I do believe that I can produce instructions in digital media for others to follow, I guess that in future endeavors I will try to establish technical specifications for submission of files, as not doing so results in a diversity of formats which in turn makes it imperative to use more than one program, more than one system, more than one computer, different filters, etc..

4. Were you successful in completing the course assignments? If not, what prevented or discouraged you?

My partners encountered at first one very evident difficulty which could have affected the outcome of the project: at the present time, school is out. The universe of available students and teachers was thought to be very limited, and the quality of the shots was considered by them to be sub par. At some point I thought of suggesting a different approach to completing this assignment, given what I perceived as lack of diversity in shots and subjects; however, once I got the videos, and knowing that it would only be a minute long, I decided to work with what was available. In addition, the mere fact that it had taken me too long to find partners for this project could have affected my completion of assignments too. Luckily, I was able to find these teammates and I am proud of them because they worked very hard as camerapersons and storyliners.

5. What did you learn from this course: about yourself, your technology and leadership skills, and your attitudes?

Application of multimedia technology can only support the curriculum. It does not detract from it; it adds to it. I believe we have a moral responsibility to encourage colleagues and students to become increasingly technologically literate. I admit that, even if at times I may encounter some technical difficulties such as a broken hard disk drive, no internet access, stuck systems, insufficient RAM, etc., I still have a very positive attitude toward technology. At the present time, I am also working on an ambitious online version of PTA which may include a wiki, an online spreadsheet, videos, electronic presentations and some sort of live communication. By promoting the use of all the digital resources on campus, our collaboration and general functioning can be streamlined. Taking this course has also allowed me to visualize digital projects in very strict and short amounts of time. Being able to edit 1 exact minute requires precision and visualization of a storyline.