I was feeling particularly nervous about returning to college after the two week break from the course, especially about this module because the work we need to do for this module was really confusing me. However, I was soon reassured by Neil and Lynda and they reminded me of what I needed to do, and also that we haven't covered everything that's in the module handbook yet, which we were going to start working on today.
However, a lot of the other students weren't too sure about what was being asked of them in this module either, so it was reassuring to know that I wasn't the only one that felt this way.
In today's lecture, we started the part of the module where we need to work as a group to promote our work using online/social media, such as Facebook, Tumblr and LinkedIn. To avoid distractions, Neil moved us all to the library, so we could concentrate on the task more, and I do definitely think that this helped successfully. At first the idea of using social media to promote my work did make me feel a bit uncomfortable, because of my lack of confidence and worrying a lot of others judging my work, but soon after the class started discussing ideas with each other I did start to feel more comfortable.
One of the first things we needed to do was to nominate a project manager, who would overlook the project and make sure everybody was doing what they need to do, and help others if necessary. We briefly discussed this, but nobody was openly willing to nominate themselves, so we all decided to vote for who we thought should be the PM. I got one vote from Ananda, but this could be because he doesn't know anybody else in the group that well. Denise, the mature student in the photography group got the most votes, so she was the PM.
We then discussed which social media we would promote our work on. Because we are all familiar with Facebook, and I have everyone in the group as friends on Facebook, that was the obvious choice. However, Neil did point out that we should promote our work on more than one social website, so other social media that was mentioned was Tumblr, Flickr, LinkedIn and Twitter, all of which I'm a bit less familiar in, and probably don't have everyone in the group as contacts on these websites.
We then had to consider different roles for the group project, and also a theme for the artwork we were going to share online. This did make me realise even though both New Media and Photography are Digital Media Production courses, they are both very different and produce very different work. Also New Media work seems to be much more time consuming than Photography work, so if we were to create something new, we would need longer to make it. Anyway, we did decide that colours were a good theme, although it took us a while to decide that each artist would produce work in a different colour rather than have everyone make art of the same colour. Also, a storyline was considered for our work, but because the two courses are so different, this did make me feel quite nervous. We were then given different roles, and I am the designated Illustrator, which relates to my current work greatly, not only at college, but on my work placement too. I also really enjoy drawing in my spare time, so this was ideal for me! Also, my work is going to be blue, which is my favourite colour, and a lot of my friends associate me with the colour blue too, possibly because I usually wear a lot of blue and that my favourite character is Sonic the Hedgehog!
We also had to consider the timescale for this project, because we only have 3-4 weeks to complete this project. We decided to run this project for a week, with a different person submitting their work on social media on a different day that week (there are 7 people in this group, so each person will post their work on a different day) , and then leaving the page for a few days after everybody has submitted their work so the people who post their work later in the week will get a fairer chance for their work to be viewed. I got Sunday, so I will have the longest time to complete my work, which does feel reassuring because I know how time consuming my work can be.
After today I feel that everybody had a much better idea of what is being expected of them, so I do feel today went well. However, I did feel quite stressed during the meeting, because everybody was trying to talk at the same time in such a small space. Although not everything is sorted yet, I am looking forward to working on this project. The notes taken today will definitely help me with my work and will remind me of what has been discussed today.
Also, today I was working on an outside project, which is to share pictures of Pokemon over Facebook, and if anybody "likes" the picture, then I need to assign a Pokemon type to that person. Last night I liked two of these pictures, and one friend gave me Steel type and the other gave me Water type, so I decided to combine the two and post a picture of the Pokemon Empoleon! I was feeling creative, so I decided to create my own digital image using Photoshop, with a neon light effect. I did later think that, because Empoleon is partially blue, I could actually use this for some of my work for this project as well!
Thursday, 27 February 2014
Reading Week/Half Term
Over reading week and half term break I knew I would still need to do some work relating to my projects at college. Fortunately, before my last lesson at college I was able to borrow a few issues of 3D World from the college library, which I did find very useful for ideas of what I could build in Maya for my video tutorials. I also considered other things such as robots, characters and architecture from trips I have visited with college and included them in my research for things I could build in Maya for my video tutorials. Because these tutorials are aimed at beginners, I wanted to find something reasonably basic to build, but interesting at the same time. So far my favourite ideas are building a 3D version of the classic Pac Man game grid, including Pac Man and the ghosts, and building a robot, similar to Pixar's Wall.E.
I also needed to look at video recording and editing software, because I have never really used them to make videos. I specifically looked at QuickTime Player and iMovie, because they are already accessible on my Macbook Pro. I feel that, after reading the information I have gathered a few times, I should be able to confidently make the videos I need to for this project. One good thing about Quicktime Player is that it will let me record my screen activity, which is ideal for this project, because I can then show the audience what I'm explaining how to do in Maya.
I have also looked at existing tutorials, both for 3D software such as Maya, and also for other things too. One thing I thought to look at was the children's show Art Attack, where the presenter would do something arty and show the audience how he is doing it. One thing I could do for my tutorials is show how to do something for a bit, then, like with Art Attack, show a completed version of what I was demonstrating. Also, some of the 3D tutorials seemed a bit improvised, like they couldn't really do much planning for what they were going to say (one was a seminar, so they would have definitely needed to answer questions they might not have been expecting), so I feel that one way I could make sure I will explain things correctly is for me to devise a script for each tutorial, so I know exactly what I will say when the tutorials are being recorded.
One thing I was quite concerned and confused about during half term was the Professional and Contextual Studies module, and the work I needed to do for the module. This might have been because there was a big break, and I felt the module handbook was quite confusing, because I couldn't remember if some of the things in the handbook were covered in the lectures. One thing I did manage to complete, that was mentioned in the module handbook was a draft of an application for a funding grant for an art project from the Arts Council. Beforehand, I actually wrote an actual proposal for this, because I was finding this module so confusing. I based this draft application form on what I am doing on my work placement, which is helping others using the art skills I have obtained during my time at college.
Of course, I didn't spend all my time doing coursework. I did actually manage to go and see the Lego Movie, which was AWESOME! Just like the soundtrack for the film says so. I also really enjoyed a couple of days in Wales with dad, which I felt really helped me to unwind and relieve my stresses from the work. However, I do feel nervous about going back to college, because I don't know if I have done enough for my course to be where I am supposed to be, even though I feel I have done as much as I can.
I also needed to look at video recording and editing software, because I have never really used them to make videos. I specifically looked at QuickTime Player and iMovie, because they are already accessible on my Macbook Pro. I feel that, after reading the information I have gathered a few times, I should be able to confidently make the videos I need to for this project. One good thing about Quicktime Player is that it will let me record my screen activity, which is ideal for this project, because I can then show the audience what I'm explaining how to do in Maya.
I have also looked at existing tutorials, both for 3D software such as Maya, and also for other things too. One thing I thought to look at was the children's show Art Attack, where the presenter would do something arty and show the audience how he is doing it. One thing I could do for my tutorials is show how to do something for a bit, then, like with Art Attack, show a completed version of what I was demonstrating. Also, some of the 3D tutorials seemed a bit improvised, like they couldn't really do much planning for what they were going to say (one was a seminar, so they would have definitely needed to answer questions they might not have been expecting), so I feel that one way I could make sure I will explain things correctly is for me to devise a script for each tutorial, so I know exactly what I will say when the tutorials are being recorded.
One thing I was quite concerned and confused about during half term was the Professional and Contextual Studies module, and the work I needed to do for the module. This might have been because there was a big break, and I felt the module handbook was quite confusing, because I couldn't remember if some of the things in the handbook were covered in the lectures. One thing I did manage to complete, that was mentioned in the module handbook was a draft of an application for a funding grant for an art project from the Arts Council. Beforehand, I actually wrote an actual proposal for this, because I was finding this module so confusing. I based this draft application form on what I am doing on my work placement, which is helping others using the art skills I have obtained during my time at college.
Of course, I didn't spend all my time doing coursework. I did actually manage to go and see the Lego Movie, which was AWESOME! Just like the soundtrack for the film says so. I also really enjoyed a couple of days in Wales with dad, which I felt really helped me to unwind and relieve my stresses from the work. However, I do feel nervous about going back to college, because I don't know if I have done enough for my course to be where I am supposed to be, even though I feel I have done as much as I can.
Thursday, 6 February 2014
Professional and Contextual Studies 05/02/14
Today mainly included a quick lecture about Equality and Diversity in media. This was surprisingly easy to understand, because they are things I have studied and considered before. However, something that really confused me was what I need to do for this module, which is a portfolio of work including worksheets we have done in the lectures, as well as a written account of how it affects and relates to our work. I also need to research topics discussed in lectures in my own time. Even though I did feel a bit unsure and worried about what I needed to do, I was very grateful that Neil calmly explained to me what I would need to do. This also made me think how well a situation like this was dealt with compared to in the past during my time at college. In the past, if a situation like this happened I would have probably left the room afterwards, as soon as I could, feeling very upset. I also feel that Neil, and my support Lynda understand me and get on with me better than ever, which I am also grateful for. It makes coming to college a lot easier and a lot more comfortable if you get on well with the people there. To be honest I feel that during my time at college, even though I can still be a bit shy and anxious sometimes, I've got on well with most people, both students and staff.
Other than this lecture, I didn't feel like a great deal was going on in this morning's lecture, so I wasn't too sure what I was supposed to do at this point. The other students seemed to be looking at using social media to promote their work, or maybe they were just not doing much, but I was just a bit unsure myself of what I was supposed to be doing. Towards the end of the morning Lynda showed me a jobs website, WM Jobs, that I have discussed with some careers advisors previously. I think that Lynda and lots of other people helping me with finding the next steps of what to do after college, as well as looking around myself during my time off college will be a great help to me, and I really appreciate this help. I think I will look at my career options in a lot more detail during my time off college these next couple of weeks, as well as catch up with college work I need to do.
Other than this lecture, I didn't feel like a great deal was going on in this morning's lecture, so I wasn't too sure what I was supposed to do at this point. The other students seemed to be looking at using social media to promote their work, or maybe they were just not doing much, but I was just a bit unsure myself of what I was supposed to be doing. Towards the end of the morning Lynda showed me a jobs website, WM Jobs, that I have discussed with some careers advisors previously. I think that Lynda and lots of other people helping me with finding the next steps of what to do after college, as well as looking around myself during my time off college will be a great help to me, and I really appreciate this help. I think I will look at my career options in a lot more detail during my time off college these next couple of weeks, as well as catch up with college work I need to do.
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