Reflection:
This class showed me take risks, and that the risks could be rewarding. The class was unconventional, and that was refreshing. The mediums which I used to create my work were unconventional, and that was frustrating. The work that I created from those mediums was unconventional, and that was rewarding. I worked out of my comfort zone for the duration of the class, but in the end I worked through what was unfamiliar and walked away with new knowledge of creating and displaying my ideas.
Writing
I will not think about writing and what it entails as I did before entering this class. My idea of what writing is has been transformed and elevated into something different than my previous conceptions. Writing comes in many forms, and not just pen to paper with your ideas streaming through; instead it is giving life to your ideas. These ideas can live through the traditional way of writing with a pen or typing them on the keyboard, but they can also live through other means. I discovered that my ideas can be expressed through more than just a journal or story that consisted of words written in a traditional manner. The first project that showed me how writing can be expressed in different ways is the twitterive. I told a story, that, like a traditional story has a beginning, middle, and end; but I did not use a traditional medium to express my ideas. My story was told through letters, prayers, poetry, pictures, video, and simple words. I used a variety of ways to tell my story, and it was successful. My story would not have been as successful if I used only words in a traditional essay format. The different modalities used gave life to my story and showed my transition from pain to happiness in a way that words only could not have accomplished.
The untraditional writing showed me how to be more expressive with my thoughts. This was true for the twitterive as well as blogging and tweeting. When blogging I wanted to make sure I expressed my thoughts in a manner where those who read it could connect to it. It was much different than writing for my profesor's eyes only. When it came to tweeting I had to learn to be expressive within 140 charactrs or less - not always an easy task. I worked through these unfamilair ways of writing though, and have become a better writer because of it.
The untraditional writing showed me how to be more expressive with my thoughts. This was true for the twitterive as well as blogging and tweeting. When blogging I wanted to make sure I expressed my thoughts in a manner where those who read it could connect to it. It was much different than writing for my profesor's eyes only. When it came to tweeting I had to learn to be expressive within 140 charactrs or less - not always an easy task. I worked through these unfamilair ways of writing though, and have become a better writer because of it.
Research
Research is something that when mentioned can evoke frustration and agony. These are two feeling that resided within me when I merely read the course title. What will I have to research? How will I have to conduct my research? I slowly found the answer to my questions and the agony disappeared. I still had frustration at times, but that is normal. The first thing I researched in class were my tweets, which is something I would have not considered research before entering this class. I had to find a common thread among them, and it was not an easy task for me. There were so many emotions that were tied to my tweets that it was difficult going through them and narrowing my selection. Research, though requires that we narrow our subject in order to express our findings clearly. I think the research took a longer time because I knew too much about the words that were expressed in my tweets; therefore I had difficulty finding something specific when going through my thoughts.
I have to say the research for the collaborative project was less frustrating. I think it was less frustrating because I wasn’t emotionally attached to it. I was merely searching for information that wasn’t connected to me. When there isn't a personal connection, it can be easier to narrow down and focus. It helped that the project was collaborative when finding the research because where one person wasn't sure to turn, there was another person willing to help.
I have to say the research for the collaborative project was less frustrating. I think it was less frustrating because I wasn’t emotionally attached to it. I was merely searching for information that wasn’t connected to me. When there isn't a personal connection, it can be easier to narrow down and focus. It helped that the project was collaborative when finding the research because where one person wasn't sure to turn, there was another person willing to help.
Technology
When I began this class I thought technology was going to be my nemesis. I was introduced to many forms of technology that I have never considered using before. I was nervous creating a website and making a YouTube video, but I did it. It may have taken me a lot longer than many of the people in class, but I did not shy away from trying new technologies. The Weebly website is something that I will continue to use. It is a place to showcase my accomplishments as a writer and reflect on the process. The site is also something I will continue to use in my career as a teacher. I feel confident in my skills navigating the various tools on the website. It took a lot of practice, and I spent countless hours changing, deleting, and adding components of the site in order to become familiar with it. I was once told that practice makes permanent, so that is what I did, I practiced using the various tools supplied; and when I wasn’t sure of something I either clicked the help tab or emailed for help.
One thing I did not have help with was making a YouTube video. In fact I made two of them for this class. The first video I made was for my twitterive, and it took about four hours to complete. It wasn't a complicated video; it simply had pictures set to music. The reason it took me so long was that I had no prior experience creating a video; it was all new to me. When I started putting the video together I wanted to give up. I was overwhelmed, but I continued to see it through. No matter how long it took, or how simple it may seem, I am proud that I finished a project that was unfamiliar. When I made the video for our collaborative research project I was supposed to just transfer the video onto one of my partner's computers, but of course my camera wouldn't allow that to happen. Instead I had to create another YouTube video. I was scared to start another video after the first one took so long to create, but I set aside my time in order to accomplish the task. Surprisingly the econd video did not take nearly as long to create as the first one did.
I wil continue to be frustrated by technology, but I will also continue to use it. It wasn't my downfall, but more of a bridge. It gave me a way to create and display my ideas that I have never thought of before.
One thing I did not have help with was making a YouTube video. In fact I made two of them for this class. The first video I made was for my twitterive, and it took about four hours to complete. It wasn't a complicated video; it simply had pictures set to music. The reason it took me so long was that I had no prior experience creating a video; it was all new to me. When I started putting the video together I wanted to give up. I was overwhelmed, but I continued to see it through. No matter how long it took, or how simple it may seem, I am proud that I finished a project that was unfamiliar. When I made the video for our collaborative research project I was supposed to just transfer the video onto one of my partner's computers, but of course my camera wouldn't allow that to happen. Instead I had to create another YouTube video. I was scared to start another video after the first one took so long to create, but I set aside my time in order to accomplish the task. Surprisingly the econd video did not take nearly as long to create as the first one did.
I wil continue to be frustrated by technology, but I will also continue to use it. It wasn't my downfall, but more of a bridge. It gave me a way to create and display my ideas that I have never thought of before.