We did it...

Well, the program is now behind us so we can "Easy like Sunday morning". Not! Its time to prepare for school and put all that we have learnt (especially in Advanced Digital Composition) into practice.

The Digital World

This summer has being a fun filled, entertaining and educational one. I have learnt so much especially in Advance Computing. I found the digital palette very interesting in that we looked at all the means of communicating in the 21st century using frames, text, image, video, sound, 2D&3D graphics animation,sensors and reader input. However the one that I enjoyed doing most was the sound. We were given the task to create a poem in which we had to put sound to it. In order to add sound effect to our poems we had to use the software "GarageBand". The experience was quite amazing and when I return home I am surely going to be doing this with my students.

The Changing World

Change is not easy, people tend to be resistance to change. This change I am referring to is computer development, it is either we move with the times or remain ignorant, it's your choice.

Flash Animation

The first time I sat and did this thing on my own(flash animation) I screamed (in a happy way). I did it!

I have become much more confident in my technology experience.

This really was a cool class after all!

Tracy caught Dr. Bob's "fever"

The digital world!! wow. It was really a head full each time I left my computer class. From the first day of class intensity kept building up to the point where I thought I could not manage. Now that I am looking back I fell transformed, renewed, and eager to see how much of this I can contribute to my home country, Jamaica. 

Illuminate live is a world of wonder. With this I can communicate with a group at a time, sharing information, getting feedback and new information. The members of my group can be anywhere in the world and be able to see and hear each other just as when we would share the same physical space. 

The digital literacy palette is the new wave of communication. It involves sound, images, video, sensors, animations and other means of communicating. Garage band was what we used to create sound.  Voice can be added to a track to make a recording. Video was my keen area of interest. I can now successfully create a movie - edit the film, add sound and credits and much more.  

There is so much I am taking back with me from these classes. Dr. Bob was so passionate about the exponential changes in the digital world, one couldn't help but catch the "fever".

Exponential Age of Digial Literacy

Digital Literacy has changed the read and write method of teaching to composing and understanding. Web browsers,software, applications and numerous devices enable our students to learn exponentially

The 21 century communication

Throughout my reading of what it means to be literate in the 21st century and beyond.  It came most forceful to me that we use a number of skills to research, read, sort and evaluate information in 'the digital book.' It re-defines what is mean to be literate based on what was conventionally looked at as decoding words on paper.  It means therefore, that we (humans) are not totally literate since new skills are acquired as we navigate the pages of different websites.

Garage Band

One of my most interesting encounter was the garage band software used to create sounds. I had the option of choosing instruments to create my own sound and to later add voice and/or environmental or instrumental sound. It was pretty awesome. The group created some great compositions using different features of the software. You could hear the sound of the wind, thunder, drums and other instruments. I believe this is a great software that can be used to teach not just music/audio but can be integrated in various aspects of classroom instruction.

I have already downloaded the software and will not only use it at my school for personal gains, but will definitely share the ease of use and educational attributes with fellow staff members. I know the students will love it especially the boys...

Digi Palette

Using these means of communication was like knowing the back of my hands. BUT, being in Dr. B's class, I was brushed of my feet when I found out there was more to these applications.

Hats off to you Dr. B.

History in The Making

In this course, I discovered there was not anything you can learn as if you searched yo can find programs that offers on line tutorials which can teach you "from a pin to and anchor".
Although overwhelming at times I am happy to be apart of the genesis of emergent learners of the Jamaican Digital literacy Palette Crew. I can now just relax
Thank you all for the opportunity of working with you and knowing you.

ADV CLASS

I have been enjoying my time in class from day one. The focus of this course has been to manipulate the features of the digital palette. This spans still image, video, animations, sound, 3d and 2d, sensors and robotics, text and frames. to this end several applications have been used: garage band, paint, movie maker or i movie, adobe flash, second lite and leggo robotics. I had the privilige of viewing a cave - (Cave Automatic Virtual Environment) it the experience of a lifetime.

New Gained Knowledge

I really learned a lot in this course. The topic that stood out to me are in the order of usefulness to me as a general teacher in the classroom:

1st- Using garageband to record voice, poem, music and poem.

2nd-Working with still and moving images. (Importing pictures and videos from digital camera and camcorders, videoing and making movies)

3rd- Google Earth( I see where this can be very helpful in teaching Landforms in Integrated Studies.

I have become more knowledgeable about the various use of the computer, besides typing , printing etc.

The Digital Palette

Oh! How little I know about the digital world.

How much do you know?

Frames

Text

Images

Video

Sound

2D Araphic Animation

3D Animation

Sensors

Reader Input

Can you honestly say you know it all?

I can't but this summer really had me thinking about a lot of this stuff. Some of these things I had never seen or heard of before. But guess what? I made it through and now I know a little about each of these areas. Enough to make a simple composition in each of them.

Things I've learnt

I have learned about how to create a website, import and use pictures from my digital camera,collect information from various sites, record voice and put music to my recordings and sharing these with others.

I have also learn of ways I can use some digital devices to teach my lessons. I have been introduced to using animations, and how to find a place where some one lives at any place in the world. This is going to help me in teaching Social Studies Using Google earth.

I am sure that even though I have not mastered all the topics, I will continue to practice until i'm perfect in using these skills.

In this class I experienced a renewed inspiration to a dream. Ever since 9th grade i developed an interest in animation and cartooning. I received instruction in Flash animation and other software built for animation in this class. I am excited to be able to pursue cartooning with greater focus instead of being frustrated by the fact that I cannot draw very well. 

Thanks Dr. B

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE IN THE ADVANCED DIGITAL LITERACIES CLASS

The Advanced Digital Literacies classes at Western Carolina University this summer (2009), have certainly served as an eye-opener, especially to the changing meaning of 'literacy' in the twenty-first century.

During my five-week experience, i have come to terms with elements of robotics, 2D Animation, 3D Animation (Second Life), in addition to Movie Making, Sound Composition (Garage Band)and Image Composition. I was also privileged to be among a group of students who visited a CAVE set up at the Blueridge Community College.

Using these elements of digital literacy in my teaching should bring excitement to the process. I plan to have my students create their own movies, for example, for presentation purposes.

I will make a determined effort to put some handouts together to make a presentation to the members of the teaching staff on which i work, to bring them up to date with the digital palette that so befits teaching and learning in the twenty-first century.

What I have learned

 Hi colleagues

I have learned to embrace changes.  I have learned that the digital palette comprises of  various pallets; namely sound, video and images just to name a few.  These are my favourite ones.  I am still a work in progress, how ever the tutorials will aid my learnings.  When I go back to Jamaica I will be able to internalize these.  I will use them in my lessons.  My students will love working with these..  I have written and record a poem with sound effect from the garage band.  The title of the poem is what is this feeling I am feeling.

Even though this course was challenge I am glad I did it.  It has broaden my knowledge. 

This Summer

I have learnt about all the elements of the digial palette which includes: frames, text, images, video, sound, 2D graphic animation, 3D graphics (second life) and sensors (robotics). They were all very interesting content and I can hardly wait to get home to share the new knowledge.

I enjoyed working with Adobe Flash to create animations. The turorials viewed were a great help to understanding the content. I just wish I had more time to go deeper into robotics. Well, I will be using tutorials to increase my knowledge anyways.

TO THE WORLD
Digital Composition Class
WCU '09'

Digital Palette

For the past four weeks I have gained a wide range of information about 21st Century Communication. From frames, images, video, sounds, 2D, 3D and sensors. During the journey around the digital palette realize many ways I could use these applications in my classroom. One of which is the use of iphoto and photoshop (image). I really enjoyed this course.

21st century communication

I have learned a tremendous amount of information within a short period of time that helps me to understand more about the digital palette and its relevant in this the 21st century. Some of the new things I have learn is the difference between the paper palette and the digital palette. While the paper palette is mostly reading and writing the digital palette has various branches that equips one to use sensors, create 2D animation, to create composition via the Garage band application; to create videos incorporating sounds and pictures; to creating images and frames and so on. I truly appreciate gaining these skills as well as to learn how to apply them. These applications will be useful to me for enhancing my teaching learning environment. My continuous practice of these skills will help me to be more efficient in my using of technology and to help my students as well as other.

I also learned how to access different websites and to create my own.

what I have I learned?

This course is very useful in a twenty first class. I have learned many programs, but the one I'm most interested in is called garage band, this program is used on a Macintosh computer and it allows you to record voice, then add musical loops to track. I felt as though I want to go to studio to a studio to begin recording. I also learned about video editing, which is apart of still image composition on the digital literacy palette. this has prompted me to attend C.P.T.C. This is institution in Jamaica that trains persons in areas of voice training, videography and recordings for television and radio.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE 21st CENTURY

Most all information needed can be derived from a computer, not just in written language but audio as well. This knowledge is not really new to me, what really is, is the idea of being tutored free of cost in audio form!

This new found knowledge has prompted me to continue upgrading my self in areas outside of teaching- AT NO COST TO ME!

T he most outstanding or exciting moment of the course for me is having used a sound software such as garage band to put sound to a poem, my students are going to be all excited about this; I definitely am going to teach them this skill.

Having done the assignment where we created a web page, our area was sound, this is where I learnt that there are many sound software out there; this knowledge has ceased the concern I had in the back of my mind that i just may not be able to access garage band back home- in other words I have options.

Youtube is a helpful video website, and has become a new and close friend of mine, since it can be utilized for a range of different learning opportunities.

My thinking has become more colourful since I have now realized how possible it is to make a lesson more interesting and appealing to the students.

In my experience of teaching in the classroom I often times became quite frustrated because the google search software does not provide me much information as would be necessary in the specific area of search. Video editing has proven the aspect of the digital palette, that I know will along with sound, be utilized most by me. My students' interest levels are peaked by what they see and hear.

I don't regret having remained a student of this class!

Music creation

I learned so much about garage band I'm so excited. Especially the part where I had to record my voice. Wow! that was so cool. Using the flip camera add some icing to the learning, I was like a producer going around capturing actions up on actions. It was totally great!

Sensor- Robotics

Hi,

I encountered the concept 'robotics' while in high school.  Then, I saw it as a concept that only selected professionals will use.  I  never encountered robots in any form but I was mindful that it utilizes  sensors along with other programmed instructions to carry out given tasks.

My encounter this time around was different.  I was actively involved in the assembling of a robot then program it using given software to transmit commands. The best part of it is that it worked!!

I felt like a pro...

Dr. B.. u r the boss!!!!!

Garage Band

Hey guys,

I learned about his really cool application called garageband. It is awesome. You can use this to create different genres of music. You can select the different types of instrument you want in your composition and edit your composition to suit you.

The really great thing about this application is that you can record your voice or external sounds.
You can use this with your students to indicate changes in their reading. you can also use it as a motivation tool to help them become more comfortable with recording and listening to their own voice. children can experiment making their own voice as they can select different vocal representations.

It is really worth your time.

Dgital Literacy Palette

When I signed up for this course, I thought it would be a sail through for me. However, when it started I realized that I just started my quest I started learning about some of the aspects on Digital Literacy Palette. The Adobe Flash is a program that I have learnt a lot about, however, the challenge is that I wont be able to use it back home as I have no access to a Mac PC. I have not yet mastered 3D but I know I will be exploring. I would love for my students to experience this virtual world but the issue of not having internet access in the community.

Wow!

I really need to start using this blogging site more. I am going to invite all my friends to this site.

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