Standards I

Informed Decision Making

Use technology-related terms, concepts, data input strategies, and ethical practices to make informed decisions about current technologies and their applications.

Reflection
In today's society, one of the most highlighted topics deals with ethical practices as they relate to technology. In order for students to understand the issues relating to ethical practices we must first understand the process of making decisions as to the proper and effective use of electronic information. As a result of this course, I have gained a better understanding of the implications involved in dealing with the use of electonic sources and information. As a learner, one must not be informed, but remain aware of the decision making process as it relates to selecting appropriate material for given audiences.

Caption 1

Indicators: TA TEKS I-III, 7.9s, 8.14s, 9.15s, 10.9s, 11.10s, 7.32s, 8.17s, 7.38s, 8.41s, 8.19s, 9.38s, 8.44s, 8.47s, 9.43s, 11.39s, 7.47s, 10.43s, 11.29s, 11.21, 11.25s, 11.4s

Artifact #1

Descriptors: Digital Graphics/Animation, Web Authoring, Multimedia, Video Technology

Title: Art Critique

Course: Foundations 100

Date Created: August 2002

Source: Individual Project

Media: Adobe GoLive, Adobe Photoshop

Description: For this activity, 5 examples from the various TA areas had to be located and evaluated using the following evaluation format:

1) Description: through which you try to find out when, where, and by whom the work was done.
2) Analysis: through which you discover unique features of a work of art.
3) Interpretation: through which you try to determine how the artist was influenced by the world in which he or she lived and worked.
4) Judgment: through which you make a decision about the works importance. industrial-age definitions of terms and concepts.

After retrieving the chosen examples the following TA TEKS had to be applied for each selection

1) Comparing and contrasting the rules of visual composition such as "rule of thirds" and "the Golden section/rectangle" with respect to harmony and balance as well as discord and drama.
2) Identifying pictorial qualities in a design such as shape and form, space and death, and pattern and texture to create visual unity and desired effects in designs.
3) Evaluating the fundamental concepts of a design, including composition and lighting.
4) Analyzing graphic designs to decide the point of interest and the attributes that determined the dominance and support of the subject.
5) Identifying quality in design, such as consistency, alignment, repetition, and proximity.

A web page had to be created to communicate the final product for this assignment.

Rationale: This particular artifact exhibits the decision making process based on prior knowledge. I chose to use this artifact because I think it displays a wide range of topics, yet it depicts the fact that there was a great deal of planning while selecting various images, animations, and video footage to meet the requirements for this project. As I began to create the web page, I noticed that everything began to fall into place somewhat like a puzzle. This project gave me a chance to evaluate several different forms of technology for their effectiveness which in turn caused me to see many images in a different light based on the design elements and principles that were used in each area.

Implications for future: I think this is an excellent activity to create awareness regarding the elements and principles of design. It can be used in many ways and it also provides skills in evaluation of technology related material. I would like to incorporate this activity or a similar one into an introductory technology unit. It such a wide variety of uses.

Reviewers Comments: "Your digital graphics is fantastic. :-) I love it when themed backgrounds are combined with text--it always gives a futuristic feel to whatever it is combined with. Also, your example of desktop publishing is very well constructed also--the girl in the background gave a nice directional view to the water and what was happening behind her although it helpd to focus attention on the words because her hands were 'pushing' them forward. Very nice."

Reviewer Name: Diana G. Saenz

Title: TATC Participant

Date Reviewed: August 2002