Media Lab
"Teaching in the Internet age means we must teach tomorrow's skills today."
-Jennifer Fleming
Photo and collage editing with PicMonkey
The first collage I edited demonstrates basic understanding of the tools available in PicMonkey. The second collage below shows more in-depth knowledge and comfort with the available tools. In the second collage I was able to play around with different colors, exposures, textures, backgrounds and framing options.
Reflection
Today in Media Lab, I learned about some amazing new tools related to image editing as well as video and audio editing. I made the collages above using a site called PicMonkey. Because I have never used any type of photo editing sites or tools, this was all new to me. I really loved working with PicMonkey. I found the site to be user friendly and very intuitive which allowed me to sit back and create, as opposed to struggling with the site and becoming frustrated. The drag and drop ease of features makes this a very easy tool to learn and use. I think that it is very easy to become frustrated with technologies that are new. Quite frequently, I find myself abandoning these technologies when I get frustrated never to return. When a new tool is easy to use and intuitive, I see the benefits of using it especially in the classroom. I am sure middle school students will love video editing tools. However, since I am a preservice teacher in middle level education, I have to brainstorm how to make this tool relevant to their learning. Perhaps, I will have students use it as a visual to explain a project they have done. For example, they could use it to make a collage of all the countries the Lost Boys have been to. I believe the visual representation would enhance their learning of the boys' journey and all the obstacles they had to overcome. Students could also use PicMonkey (or any photo editing tool, like Tagxedo) to get to know one another at the beginning of the school year. Students could use the visual representation to talk about themselves and what they did that summer, rather than an oral presentation.
The second part of media lab focused on video and audio editing. Using tools, like iMovie and Garage Band, I found I was able to make and edit my own movie complete with my voice over recording. I felt so accomplished after completing this project. Once again, I have never worked with video editing tools. I focused more on iMovie because I wanted to use it for my final student product. Although I didn't find iMovie to be as intuitive as I would have hoped, I do see how it would be popular with students in the middle level. I think this tool is a great way to enhance student learning because it promotes creativity and originality. I believe when students are given the opportunity to be creative and original, they are more vested in their learning. The possibilities with these technologies are endless. Students could create a presentation, interviews, songs, plays, public service announcements, to name a few. While iMovie and Garage Band would be popular tools among students, I do feel it would take a little bit of time to scaffold how to use it and demonstrate what you can do with it. But I also believe students would be so excited about the possibilities that they would pick it up pretty quickly.
In terms of Bloom's Taxonomy, photo editing as well as video/audio editing fall under creating. Students are responsible for finding their own content to mix and remix in an effort to create a unique product.
The second part of media lab focused on video and audio editing. Using tools, like iMovie and Garage Band, I found I was able to make and edit my own movie complete with my voice over recording. I felt so accomplished after completing this project. Once again, I have never worked with video editing tools. I focused more on iMovie because I wanted to use it for my final student product. Although I didn't find iMovie to be as intuitive as I would have hoped, I do see how it would be popular with students in the middle level. I think this tool is a great way to enhance student learning because it promotes creativity and originality. I believe when students are given the opportunity to be creative and original, they are more vested in their learning. The possibilities with these technologies are endless. Students could create a presentation, interviews, songs, plays, public service announcements, to name a few. While iMovie and Garage Band would be popular tools among students, I do feel it would take a little bit of time to scaffold how to use it and demonstrate what you can do with it. But I also believe students would be so excited about the possibilities that they would pick it up pretty quickly.
In terms of Bloom's Taxonomy, photo editing as well as video/audio editing fall under creating. Students are responsible for finding their own content to mix and remix in an effort to create a unique product.