Digital Media Portfolio: Digital Image, Audio, and Video Projects
The major take away from this course was seeing how the course was organized and presented. I would like to teach a course like this in the future, so it was very useful to see how this class unfolded as a student. The “learn by doing” approach worked for me, and it seemed to work for most of my classmates. That would definitely be the approach I would use as an instructor. While there are some things I might do differently, the course was a good model for me on how to teach a digital media class.
The most useful thing I learned was that taking editing software one step further can really expand my creative options. For example, I learned how much better Curves and Levels are in Photoshop compared to using the “auto” correction tools. In addition, before this class, I had only used Audacity to record music. Using the other tools and mixing tracks in Audacity made me realize the amazing power of this free program. I might start my own podcasts now that I see how easy it is to make them. If the course hadn't forced me to go beyond my basic knowledge, I would still be stuck with much narrower ideas of what can be done with the software I use.
There's no doubt that I will use the new skills I have learned to create more of my own content for my EFL classes. I already create a lot of graphics for my classes, but now I can add some of my own audio and video, too. Another thing I have in mind is to have my EFL students create their own videos and post them online. One project I have already mapped out is to have students create “How-to” videos that explain a simple process. I think it'll be a great way for students to be creative and to use the target language for a practical end.
I think the course covered the right amount of material and provided good exposure to a variety of digital editing programs. One thing I would have liked to see is some insight regarding aesthetic considerations when creating digital media. I am very much a “nuts and bolts” kind of guy. I can learn software. But using software to create something aesthetically pleasing isn't something that comes naturally to me. I will explore our textbook, “Digital Art," for some ideas in this regard.