1. After studying media for eight weeks in this class, what have you learned? Please be specific.
The one major concept that I've grasped for the first half of this semester is convergence and simplicity of creating media. In the past the power tools have always been in the main thing that I learn but this being my third year of using them it's more integrated and something I don't think about as much. Even in the past three years the ability of anyone to make multiple types of media has grown so much. With the increased popularity of flip cameras, online editing software, and smart phones it really comes down to anyone has the chance to have their work seen by the right people and with social media they can spread it around better. Even a 25 year old woman can make a movie by herself and make it look extremely well done and not have to be sponsored by a big corporation is amazing.
2. What is the most important thing you have learned about yourself as a critical reader, a writer, and a thinker in this class so far?
I'm getting more and more fascinated with being involved with news on a consumer level. I'm discovering myself going out and looking for stories instead of waiting for one to come to me. My computer's home page is BBC and I spend a lot of time looking at news, especially this semester with Egypt, Libya and now Japan. This class has helped me be a better researcher and consumer of news media and to almost always question what is being reported and dig deeper to find a multi sided more rounded story and becoming a much more critical reader, watcher, and thinking of the news.
3. What’s one thing you would do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
I would have tried to spend more time focusing on the reading. The books that we've read were really enjoyable and educational, but it was still homework and a time frame it had to get done in. I would have planned my time better so I could spend more time really reading and thinking about the reading. I like having to write blog posts about them because it does make me think, but I just wish I had managed by time better so I could do more.
4. What’s one thing you would like me to do differently this first half of the semester if you were to take this class again?
I understand the reason you chose the videos you do. I love them and they are awesome and I'm glad I get to see them again, I defiantly notice this I hadn't in the past. However, I'm not sure how fair it is. I've seen the videos you show for the tool sets at least 10 times each and with my mind and eye for film I can remember a lot of detail about them. I would have been able to fill out a note card on all of them with out having to have seen them again. I'm not sure how fare that is to someone who has never seen them in a class with you. Maybe for students who havent taken a class with you keep it the same, students who this is their second make them do something different, and third even more different. Like limit the power tools they can use, because there are some that its easy to use as a copout like testimonial, ownership, and aesthetic shift.
5. Please comment on the usefulness of the power tools, our quizzes, the course blog, your personal blog, our films, and our books (AMUSING, FEED, MEDIA/SOCIETY) as learning tools.
Like I've said before I love the power tools and quizzes and use of blogs because as a returning student I know what to expect, how to use it best, and how important they are. I love the books we've read this semester they dont just benefit me for my major but I think they are books that everyone should read. I enjoy blogging and I wish we used our personal blog for more than just four media meditations. I'm not sure what else you could find to use them but I would have liked that a lot. I'm not a huge talker in any of my classes but I love writing and talking on blogs and forums. Maybe the use of a wiki for a class where everyone whould have their own page or color to write in or something like that so we could easily view other's ideas and bring everything together in a way thats different than just commenting on chapter blog posts. Or have their be a requirement not to just get followers, but comment on peoples personal blogs.
Thanks for another great first half of the semester!
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