EDLD 5366-Digital Gradphics Reflection

In this course I have had the opportunity to read so much more into the use of digital graphics in the classroom. I found the course work and readings fascinating. I think the most beneficial portion of this particular course for me was our first lesson about design principals.

No doubt in much of what I have done there has been a bit of the design principals in all of what I do, but now I have a better understanding of the concepts of contrast, repetitions, alignment, and proximity. I did enjoy breaking down the reasons that I am attracted to particular posters, newspapers, magazines, and well anything printed. I found myself going back to the yearbook that I helped design a few years ago. As I reviewed the overall design, I found areas that I struggle in. My deepest area of struggle is overall proximity. I began to also look at my power points and scrapbooks and noticed the same problems.

I was also glad to look more into technology in the classroom. Especially the focus on gaming. In a professional development book club I am currently attending we have also been discussing gaming in the classroom. I am fascinated by the simple fact that so many opportunities exist online for students to safely play games that education is more real world. I had the chance to explore teen secondlife. I know that this virtual world can seem like a scary thing to teachers and parents alike, but seeing that students have to utilize money appropriately, must communicate with others, and essentially live life through a more idealized self.

Overall it seems that the opportunities were beneficial and many concepts, though mainly the two mentioned above, will be new additions to my classroom in the spring semester!

Animation Nation-from Scratch!

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So it was not creating a flash animation from scratch, but it was fun. I waited to finish my project until my daughter was home from grandma's house. She had fun telling mommy to add sound or make a fish move. Her favorite part the shark "eating" the fish. She did remind me though that in Nemo...Disney's Finding Nemo...that "fish are friends, not food!" We all got a laugh out of that!

I hope that you will enjoy the aguarium as my family has!