Reflection

After I attended Vision IT, I felt confident that I could do well. I found a group of people who seemed to be on the same level as I when we were learning new techniques and developing projects. I also was confident because I had some experience in teaching a multimedia class in a middle school. I was allowed to create this class on my own, so I had learned the necessity of a continuing investigation of new hardware and software and that I would have to teach myself how to use these before I could teach the students. I had also developed meaningful and creative lesson plans, finding ways of integrating them into all academic disciplines. However, my level of confidence quickly changed as TATC began and I saw the work of other students, many of whom had years of experience teaching these classes for which we sought certification. I remember telling someone once that, "you will not know how much you don't know until you go to graduate school. That is where you learn how much you have to learn." I should have written that down for myself.

The year has been filled with learning new software and hardware, applying new concepts, learning new vocabulary, and interacting with creative and knowledgeable classmates and instructors. Many late nights of frustration have been followed by the relief of a finished product with some degree of satisfaction in its quality. I have delighted over the implications the assignments have for future projects for my students and agonized over the fact that I do not yet teach these classes in a high school. 

I was surprised to find that I am seeing a "Joshua Tree" in everything these days. The "Joshua Tree", from a book by Robin Williams, refers to the idea that one does not see that for which they do not have the name. I have more "names" these days - types of fonts, the elements and principles of design, types of shots in a movie or commercial, and so on. Besides the affect that TATC will have on my teaching career, I believe the "Joshua Tree" effect will be the most influential in my life in the coming years.

Each standard we identified held special significance in my learning experience; however, each one became intertwined with the others to generate the full complement of application and ideas.

Standards I - IV represent the overall application of computers to identified tasks. Today we hear computer terms in our daily communication. A large percent of new terms in the dictionary are technological terms. As a technology teacher, I struggle to keep students apprized of these terms. Part of my growth has been the addition of many new terms to my personal technology vocabulary. I am also given the task of informing students of ways to acquire new information, evaluate its source and apply it to identified tasks. As a student in TATC, I have applied the skills of research, communication, synthesis, and presentation as methods by which I can influence my students and the world around us in any endeavor now and in the future. My growth in these areas includes exposure to a wider variety of sources and techniques which I can use. Each effort was shared with other TATC learners and offered in formats that communicate to a wide audience.

Standard VII addresses the concepts of Desktop Publishing. Even though the adage is that "a picture is worth a thousand words," the first universal method of mass communication was through the use of text. Publishing information in this form is still of utmost importance; however, several changes in this medium have occurred because of computer technology. Before the class began, we were asked to read Robin William's book, The Non-Designers Design Book. This book not only offered the information in a clear, concise format, but it also offered great illustrations the concepts. The sheer ease of understanding the ideas was the best illustration of the effectiveness of good publishing techniques. This was a lifesaver for me. I had little experience with these concepts before the class began. In fact, I dreaded this class more than any others at the beginning of  TATC simply due to my inexperience. The assignments for this course, however, gave me a heightened appreciation of the importance of fonts and the arrangement of various elements of a product in an effort to bring about the most efficient method of communication. I learned to analyze how professionals use these skills and how to apply my own new skills to a variety of items. Having thought that the subject would be less interesting than graphics or multimedia, I was surprised to find the many ways I could apply these new techniques. I began immediately to incorporate these into my classes. Even my history classes benefited. I was also pleased to find how the elements and principles of design applied, not only to the creation of appropriate graphics to accentuate a published item, but also in the layout of these items.

Standard VIII allowed me to investigate digital graphics and animation. Is there a more current and influential area of computer application than in these areas! And what a wonderful and fulfilling experience it has been. I had some elemental knowledge with these skills, but my awareness of the possibilities has increased exponentially. Having discussed the phrase, "a picture is worth a thousand words", I now want to reverse perspective and consider how this adage becomes an axiom. Rightfully so, especially in a world now attuned to visual media. Our class was introduced to this area of computer application at the beginning of the TATC curriculum. With the other students, I listed and reviewed and applied the elements and principles of design in Foundations 100 and in all the classes that followed. I had some background in art history and evaluation many years ago, and I was enthusiastic about re-learning the concepts and with adding new ideas. The assignments were ones which I looked forward to each night after school and I used some of them as sources for instruction in my classes. I occasionally had some difficulty working with the animation software because it was new to me. However, I learned the basics of more than one type of software and, by doing this, I also increased my awareness of aspects of software that are to be considered during evaluation and selection.

Standard IX pulls together all the skills and knowledge for a multimedia presentation of information. I certainly believe this to be the premiere area of visual communication because it combines all modes of reaching the audience. Animations, graphics, sound, video and text come together to create unique combinations of experiences for the viewer. To achieve this, one must be able to identify the best combination of software, hardware, and design principles. This is the class that I looked forward to from the beginning. I felt more at ease with the concepts; however, I have now added more software to my repertoire and new skills for putting together a good presentation. In part, my growth in this area has been in taking the time to develop a product that met certain criteria. I continued, though, to be frustrated by my inability to achieve what I consider a professional-looking item. I believe I came closest to doing this in the final project for the class and I consider it, therefore, one of my best works.

Standard X was the area that made most class members anxious. I looked forward to it, but found it very challenging. Having a brother who is a nationally-known professional in video production, and a son who aspires to be involved in the business, I have now begun to understand their interest in the art. I have learned that when I am given a major project, I focus in on creating visual images in my head about how I want it to look. I then pour on all my energy and attention to bringing that about, sometimes to the detriment of smaller assignments. This is what made the video course a bit more frustrating for me. I began the class shortly after completing one of my observations at my brother's workshop at the University of Oklahoma. Having been surrounded by people who have spent years in the field, I was focused on one thing - the final video. Unfortunately, that meant I missed some valuable information in the early readings. The first assignment was a group project. I found all group projects difficult, but this one worked out well because the instructor created the groups and my partners were knowledgeable, helpful people. Another project was analyzing a video. I was amazed at how easily this project developed. Because of it, I have a new "Joshua Tree". I had the most difficulty in streaming the video. I sent many emails concerning this and re-read the materials, but ended up just working my way through it. Most confusing was in finding the best compression while considering space and quality at the same time. I also struggled with sound and how it affected the size of the file. Making the sound correspond to the action in the movie was much harder for us since we did not have the new software called Smart Sound, which the new class will have. I both enjoyed and, at the same time, was frustrated by the filming the videos. (I actually filmed three). I felt like a true Hollywood visionary when I found myself laying on top of my truck, hanging over an overpass taping a busy freeway, dodging volleyballs in a university gym, standing on a ladder in my back yard, scouting athletic stores and sitting on the floor of a deserted gym while I threw out a bag full of volleyballs. After all the frustration with "actors" and locations and software, I found that I would have to also identify my final videos as my best work. This might be because they became like my children, the fulfillment of my labors. It was also because I came the farthest in my knowledge and skills. I began the work in video production knowing absolutely nothing. All my understanding and information comes from my investigations and projects in TATC.

Standard XI provided me the opportunity to learn more about web page development. I was anxious about this course because I knew my limitations. I had no experience writing html, and I knew how difficult it is trying to keep up with new techniques of construction and delivery. Ideas such as optimizing, and viewing web pages on different browsers or monitors, however, were elements about which I had no awareness. I learned the importance of structure such as the choice of navigational schemes. Writing html is less important now, I believe, than being aware of the capabilities of different web page software. In this course, too, I was pleased to find the reinforcement of the principles and elements of design. I had never stopped to consider these as important in web page construction. My frustration is still in the effort to make my product appear professional. I have not been satisfied in that regard yet. I hope that the portfolio will be a reflection of my continued efforts in that area.

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