Mini Art School #3

I felt that the theme for this week's mini-art school revolved around perspective.  I created three various projects for this week that reflect my various thoughts and perspectives with regards to these assignments. 
For the first part of Mini Art School, I completed the cropping activity from the book, Design Basic Index. I took six photographs that I had previously taken and cropped them to create different photos. The differences among the photos were very interesting in that they all contained the same subjects but contained different perspectives. 
Here is a sample of my work:

The above photos are of my dog, Sebastian. I tried to crop the photo so that I would remove my friend's arm from it as well as focus more upon him as my subject.

The above photos are of my boyfriend's father's dogs. He has nine Chihuahuas, and it was almost impossible to garner a good photo of them all at once. Cropping came very much in handy with these pictures.

The above photos were taken during my vacation over the summer to Florida. I felt that the effects of this photo changed dramatically when I cropped it in various angles, and it created a variety of designs that emphasized different parts.

The above photos were also taken during my vacation in Florida. I felt that when I cropped these photos, I was able to change the photo into a panoramic photo of a street. These tools could definitely be useful when creating designs because the crops can completely change a photo.

 The above photos were taken at Lake Wallenpaupack in the Pocono Mountains. I love this picture because of how clear it's focal point is and the way that light plays upon the image.  In this case, I like the original photo best because it is just so beautiful to begin with.

This last photo was taken at a park by my home in New Jersey. I took this photo because it is a really beautiful scene that could be taken for granted if perhaps a photo was not taken of this site. In this case, I believe the cropping does not do the photo justice and it is perfect in it's natural state. The pictures were all cropped above using Fotoflexer software.

For the next part of this assignment, I created two book covers. I have a slight obsession with my dog and I wondered what would happen if we wrote a book together (crazy, I know.)

I am a bit torn about which cover I like better. The focal point of my cover is my dog, Sebastian. (I gave him credit for the book also, because they are his thoughts.) I tried to stay true to one color palette for both photos to create a theme in which the photos went well together with the type and it was not too distracting. This cover as well as the work below was created using Microsoft Publisher.

Above, I created the conveyance exercise. I tried to write the words that I was feeling in  a natural order to convey the thoughts that I were feeling at the time to the audience. I feel that there is a flow and a movement to these words due to the directions that they are facing.

Thank you for reading my blog! 

Mini Art School #2

For my second assignment for Mini art school, I decided to focus on two aspects of effective graphic design and graphic design layout. Mini Art School has really helped to broaden my conscious into being more aware of graphic design and how I receive it in my daily life. 

1. For the first part of this assignment, I decided to complete a word portrait, based upon the exercise suggested on p. 241 of the book, Design Basics Index.  For this assignment, I had to use a variety of fonts and think about their meaning. This project really made me think about how we perceive various fonts for various messages. For this, I had to write words that I thought would represent the message that the font would convey and then I wrote a word that was the opposite of what the font was trying to convey. (As shown in the example below.)  This was a very interesting assignment because I had never previously thought about the sub-conscious messages that fonts attempt to convey through their style. As our text book, White Space is not your Enemy suggests, "The best designers are experts in type and typesetting because they understand that well-styled type not only sets the document's tone but also directly impacts it's readability, legibility, and visual hierarchy" (Golombisky & Hagen,  2010, 86). This assignment was important to me as someone who is beginning to learn about design and the fundamental power and knowledge that one should obtain with regards to working with fonts. Below is my example of my word portrait: (ps. I created my word portrait with Microsoft Publisher.)

2. For the second part of this assignment, I decided to try this! exercise on page 56 in our book,  White Space is not your Enemy.  "Put your hands on a high-end magazine. Find a feature story layout that you believe really works. Then, use the elements and principles of design to explain why the layout works. Now do the same thing with an advertisement from the same issue" (Golombisky & Hagen, 2010, 56).
Luckily for me, this assignment was right up my alley. I am like the magazine queen of New Jersey and I receive so many magazines on a daily basis, that I really can't even keep up. Today, I just happened to receive my new issue of W magazine for March 2013: "Spring Fashion in Full Bloom." W magazine is an extremely upscale magazine that caters to upscale consumers of fashion; like one who will purchase a $2,500 Chanel pocketbook. I like to read these magazines and dream about the fashion that I will not be able to purchase for a very long time; if ever; but I love to peruse these magazines and look at the gorgeous photos. 
For the layout that I felt that worked was this:

This layout reminds me of the works every time layout. This layout has a main focal point of the picture of the woman on top. This picture draws my eye in and then down to the larger font, then following a progression, my eye exits through the right side of the page. The white background of the negative space in this layout allows for a contrast that enables my eye to clearly view the picture on the top of this layout and then follow the progression of the page. The two columns underneath the picture create a balance for this layout that is both aesthetically pleasing, simple, and easy to follow along.  The movement  that exists in this layout is extremely obvious and easy to follow (as previously mentioned). The desired pattern for one's eye is extremely obvious, simple, and makes the layout very strong. I believe that the principle of movement is the strongest point of this layout and it makes this layout as successful as it is. This layout demonstrates the importance of movement and how it can make or break an artifact of design.

Next, it seemed like an obvious choice for me to analyze a Michael Kors advertisement for its graphic design elements. I am a huuugeee  fan of this designer and of his style. Michael Kors is known for making his products to be simply made but beautiful and this advertisement is no exception.

The main focal point of this advertisement is the gorgeous leather MK bag that the model is holding. As soon as I saw this ad, my eye went right to the pocketbook. There is definitely a major implementation of the contrast principle at play in this advertisement. The colors of the clothing that the model is wearing allow for the whiteness of the bag to stick out in contrast. Mr. Kors also uses the white for his logo to appear on this advertisement because of the stark brown background of the desert scenery. The white in this advertisement really pops against the background and the diversity of colors that exists.  There is also the element of balance at play during the conveyance of this message on this advertisement. The model is holding the bag on an angle because she is sitting on an angle. This idea represents the unity that exists within this advertisement. This advertisement is very simple but it manages to transmit its' message to me, "BUY THIS BEAUTIFUL WHITE LEATHER MICHAEL KORS BAG."  

Mini Art School #1

Hi everyone!

I had a lot of fun creating the visual and design aspects of this blog that you will get to see. It was great for me to actually use the software and create visuals using the design rules that I have read about in the texts for this week's class.
Assignment 1
For the first part of this blog post, I went to one of my favorite blogging websites, Hellogiggles.com and critiqued it's graphic design according to the "Ten Web Design Rules that You Can Break," from the website Webdesigner Depot that was linked to our eCollege course page. I created a screen-cast, using the software "Screencast o matic." I  have previously used this software and find it very easy to operate and access.

Here is the link to my screen cast!
http://screencast-o-matic.com/u/MDp/hellogigglescreencastly

Assignment 2
For the second part of this week's blog post, I decided to do the assignment, "Design Basics Index: Decisive Design Presentation exercise"  on page 71 in the text. For this assignment, I had to draw a variety of borders and within those borders create sketches using geographic designs. I created my drawing on my iPad using the application, "Doodle Buddy." I experimented with the type of brush I used (size, type...etc.) and the effects that were available in the program (glitter and smudge.) Experimenting with this program provided me with a wonderful activity to see how my iPad can be used to create various aspects of graphic design, especially the initial stages. (Unfortunately, I am not the most artistic individual so please excuse my drawing if it looks like it was done by a five year old---it was me.)

It was very interesting to see how I could use the various tools within this program to create a graphic design. It was also very easy to export and send, which is something very important that I would like in a design software. This aspect of the assignment allowed me to be creative and use my iPad for a different purpose (rather than browsing on Facebook or pinning on Pinterest)

Assignment 3
For the third section of this blog post, I decided to create the "Design Basic Index: Harmony Exercise,"  which was listed on page 58-9 of the text. For this section, I decided to create three various posters for a summer music festival. I chose my type of music to be techno or house music because it carries a stigma for using bold graphic design in it's advertisements and shows. I used the program, Microsoft Publisher, to create my posters. I have not had too much experience using design software so I was not comfortable using other software products. (I tried to use the software Gimp, but as I was very confused.) I am hoping to be able to use other types of software to create more designs in the future. As I started creating with this software, I became very comfortable with the idea of creating design and I started becoming more creative with my work. As one can see, as my progression of designs grows, so does my creativity (I hope.)

Thinkfinity Groups

When thinking about my upcoming Multimedia Montage Project, I have joined two additional groups on the thinkfinity.org website that I think will enhance my project. The two groups that I have joined include: Technology Integration K-5 and Reaching English Language Learners.

I have decided to join the technology integration group because I believe my participation in this group will help me answer the essential question from week 1, "What are 21st century skills and why are they important?" I hope that that my membership in this group will prove to be fruitful; in that I will gain a practical insight into how (specifically) technology is being integrated into elementary classrooms. I chose to focus on elementary because I think that my project will focus on the audience of elementary students (since I student taught K-5 ESL- I have some experience teaching and appealing to this audience.) When I think about the implementation of  21st century skills in an elementary classroom, the idea from the "Curriculum and Instruction: A 21st Century Skills Implementation Guide," and how it addressed the manners in which schools can meet the needs of these learners in a time when "pen and paper" methods of teaching are becoming obsolete. "To meet the needs of twenty first century learners schools need to adapt a twenty first century skills  curriculum and employ methods of instruction that integrate innovative research proven teaching strategies, modern learning technologies, and real world resources and contexts" (Partnership for 21st century skills). I am hoping that my membership in this group will enable me to learn how to teach to students who have grown up with today's digital tools and access to multimedia and smartphones.

I also have decided to join the group, "Reaching English Language Learners," because I hope that this group will be able to provide me valuable insight into how to teach my specific my specific content subject matter of ESL.I am hoping my participation in this group will help me create my "toolbox," full of teaching resources and strategies that I will be able to use during my future teaching career.

Coffee and Consumerism

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TRlgc6GA924

INTRODUCTION 
For this post, I have decided to analyze and discuss a Starbucks commercial featuring the singer, Michael Buble. To begin with, the brand Starbucks itself contains social connotations and assumptions in our society. For example, the Starbucks experience is very different than the Dunkin Donuts experience. Starbucks is a more upscale chain with a different aesthetic piece than Dunkin Donuts. Starbucks is all about the coffee and the experience whilst Dunkin Donuts is more about the coffee and the food (as well as being much more cost efficient than Starbucks.) Starbucks' locations are usually much more inviting than Dunkin Donuts with couches and comfortable places to sit and chat. It is integral to think about the differences between these two coffee chains when discussing and analyzing a Starbucks commercial. When one views a Starbucks commercial, they are already well aware of the target audience as well as the message that is being conveyed by the video. In our society, Starbucks has a reputation for serving coffee that is more expensive than other chains and providing a more upscale, or exclusive experience than other coffee chains.  Starbucks is seen as a brand that caters to "yuppies," and this knowledge is integral to any analysis of a Starbucks commercial. By definition a "yuppie" is "a young, ambitious, and well-educated city-dweller who has a professional career and an affluent lifestyle" (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/yuppie). A yuppie is the stereotypical definition of a Starbucks customer and their targeted audience to whom they market to. Below I will be analyzing the above commercial as both a consumer and or a video producer/ or creator. 

ANALYSIS
The purpose of this video is to sell pre-made Starbucks Frappacinos that can be found in your local grocery store. The message of this commercial is that if you drink a Starbucks Frappacino, your life will be perfect while you drink this coffee and you will be able to relax and have some "you time." The notion of this "you time," would be an exclusive idea in itself because time to relax is unfortunately only available to those who have the financial means to relax and to take some time to themselves. (note: I am not saying that only wealthy people have access to relaxation but the idea of relaxation can only permeate other societal classes when they can afford the expensive coffee and more importantly the time to relax, or time just for themselves--which can be difficult for anybody in any financial status.)  
This commercial is selling a "perfect" version of reality in my eyes. I would love to drink coffee that would make Michael Buble appear and all of my problems disappear--however, that just isn't going to happen. The reality in this video is one of where everyone is happy and the coffee is a symbol of being able to relax and have time for yourself--an exclusive notion in itself.

AUDIENCE
The targeted audience of this commercial would be "yuppies," or more specifically women who are "yuppies." These women are very well-educated (hence the lady's glasses in the video), have money to spend, and they are stressed out. (They also might happen to have a thing for Michael Buble.) One could believe that the targeted consumer would think "Wow, that is a wonderful idea, I would love to have some 'me time' with a delicious frappacino." The information in this video is conveyed through the main woman in the commercial. The woman grabs a Starbucks drink and suddenly her day is transformed to being a little better than before. (i.e. The man selling roses is suddenly Michael Buble- what an improvement!) This commercial is told through her eyes so that one can easily obtain the main message of this video which is that this coffee drink will make your day better and allow you some time for relaxation. 

REPRESENTATION 
The main character in this video seems to be bookish and nerdy. She is dressed in a business casual manner with jeans. Perhaps she is either a student or works in a very informal environment. This woman looks like the epitome of the Starbucks customer. She is well-educated, well-dressed, and a bit stressed out. She is dressed in this manner so that the target audience could relate to her. Perhaps they are young working professionals who need a break during their day for some luxurious coffee. Her clothes and styling reveal the target consumer of this product.  The purpose of the window-washer and the flower seller (who turn into MB (Michael Buble.) is to show how mediocre, daily experiences can change for the better because one has had a Starbucks coffee drink.  I that men's voices have been left out of this commercial. MB does not really appeal to men for reason that he appeals to women (his dreamy looks and smooth voice.) I know my boyfriend is not going to drink a Starbucks frappacino because everyone will turn into MB and he will have some "him time." 

DESIGN
Primarily, I would definitely see this commercial being broadcast on a cable subscription network  such as Bravo, HGTV, or the Style network which cater to similar audiences. I think the medium of a TV commercial was chosen because it can reach a wider audience than some other mediums; like an advertisement in a magazine. The TV commercial gives this advertisement an additional dimension in which the desired message can be conveyed to the target audience. A TV commercial makes the most sense in the case of this advertisement because it has the music as well as the before and after effect that can be easily understood in this medium. 
It looks like the set has been modeled to mimic a ritzy office space in a city. The connotation of a window washer would prove that this would be a city-scape. The luxurious details in the crown molding of the set suggest an upscale or exclusive experience that is occurring in this commercial.  The couches in the lobby in this video are orange which suggest radiance and brightness which mimic the main sentiment of this video- that drinking Starbucks frappacino is a relaxing, happy, and positive experience as well as luxurious.  

"Steer Less and Suggest More"

First of all, Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I am trying to get all my work done so that I can enjoy the last few days of break (homework free). Since I have some free time now I decided I would work on my blog. I am also a little sad :( to say that this will be my last entry into this blog. I enjoyed keeping it and I would love to keep another one. My main problem is that I do not have motivation to write in one on my own. I do not really have anything to write about or any extreme passions or what not. Hopefully one day I will find my passion to blog about something. One kind of blog that I really enjoy are ones that are like year long projects. For example after reading Gretchen Rubin's Happiness Project (2009), which was turned into a book. You can see her blog here:http://www.happiness-project.com/. I really enjoyed her idea of documenting one year of her trying various techniques to find happiness. (I highly recommend the book). Interestingly enough, one of her projects was to start a blog. She found that it brought it her a lot of happiness because she was able to interact with her readers on an intimate level through the comments section. If I were to start my own blog, I would definitely model it after hers.
Anyways, in closing I would like to make a few remarks about my experience in the Introduction to Teaching with Digital Tools course. I highly enjoyed this course. It opened up my mind to the myriad of possibilities of using technology when I teach. Prior to this class, I had a slight interest in technology but I never knew how to apply it to my own pedagogy. This class definitely provided me with a lot of inspiration that I plan to implement once I start teaching. I love the idea of using a wiki. I would love to set up a wiki for my students in which they can access assignments, websites, documents, and interact with one another. I also plan on implementing skills for Twenty First Century learners into my lessons. I feel that this class has prepared me for becoming an educator in these modern times and provided me with positive attitude about creating and implementing change in the classroom. One quote that I really liked and would like to leave you with was, "Steer less and suggest more" (S.Nash as cited in Richardson p.143). I think this quote summarizes the direction that 21st century educators should be moving. They should move toward a goal of not spoon feeding students with information but with providing them with the knowledge and tools that they need to find the information for themselves. I would like to implement this style of teaching into my own pedagogy.

Teachers and Apples

(picture from: http://blogs.ajc.com/get-schooled-blog/files/2011/02/ipads2.jpeg)

          Teachers and apples go way back. I am sure you have heard the old cliche about the teacher's pet giving the teacher an apple. But what does this adage mean for today's classrooms. Clearly the apple has fallen off the tree and into your local mall or electronics store. The technology company Apple has seen success in a way like no other. For the past twenty years (or so), they have been light-years ahead of their competition with their innovative products that have essentially changed the way we live. Currently, the iPad (see above) is being adapted for use into classrooms for instruction and other purposes. As Dr. Falkenstein mentioned in the screen cast (http://screencast-o-matic.com/watch/cX6tqoOMk), iPads provide many benefits within the education world. 

            He mentions benefits for both teachers and administrators. I have first hand seen some of the great instructional benefits that iPads and Apple Applications can provide in the classroom. Unfortunately, I do not currently have an iPad but I do have an iPod Touch and an iPhone. I have used these devices to supplement my lessons that I am currently teaching at a private learning center. The kids absolutely adore the innovation and creativity that the applications from these tools have brought to the classroom. I can specifically recall that I did one lesson with the students about the Magic School bus and the human body. I was able to use my iPod to show the students video clips from the television show and we were able to calculate specific events in our lives according to the human body calculator app. I loved using these technologies with my lessons and I hope to use more like them in the future! Some other useful apps that I have found on the Apple network are the Math Puppy Bingo Game, (where the students can play bingo to solve math problems), I feel ...Electric! (This application teaches the students about different feelings and various vocabulary words, the students can listen to music and create their own mood pets in this app as well. I also want to discuss the Talking Tom app. This app repeats whatever the students say. My friend who is a speech pathologist uses this app in order to help her students hear and understand their speech and language. Below, I have included some screenshots of these apps from my iPhone:

(In their respective order: the first picture is a screenshot from Math Puppy Bingo, the second is from an application that allows the students to practice writing, the third is the feelings and emotions app entitled I feel Electric, and the last one is Talking Tom). 

         With these applications and more the possibilities for iPad use in the classroom are endless. Also, I would like to include this video that further demonstrates the uses of iPads in the classroom. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bw6oZh_spAs.

        As Dr. Falkenstein has mentioned, the iPads provide tremendous benefits for classroom instruction as well as administrative duties. Since the iPads are small and portable, they are very easily used by students in small groups or centered activities and the teacher can also the iPad to monitor the student's progress. The administrator can also use the iPad for walkthroughs of the classroom, since they are small and portable and allow for mobility. 

         I can not wait to see how this technology is going to change the world of education!