Upon starting Digital Art Media class, I thought that I was pretty
‘fluent’ in technology, but throughout the course I learned over and over again
that there certainly was a whole lot that I didn’t know. This class was both a
learning experience… and fun (say it isn’t so)! I got to
discover new websites on the internet that I never knew existed before this
class and would have totally been all over! Sites like Animoto, Aviary,
Textorizer, and my personal favorite, Tagxedo, really allowed for us to explore
what’s out there and apply our personal touch through different forms of
digital media. A plus to the class was that everything Phoebe found for us was
FREE (I love the sound of that)! Not only does that make it less stressful and
more enjoyable, it also increases the chances of using the websites and other
resources again :)
Our first assignment was called ‘Urban Landscape,’ where we went
out (in the brutal cold :P) with our beloved phones and captured a handful of
pictures. I was skeptical at first, but (minus that once again, brutal cold) I
actually had a lot of fun doing it. I learned different techniques, angles, and
what to look for through our reading material. The following week we got to
edit the photos on Picnik, something I had used a DOZEN times. As Phoebe would
have it, I actually learned some new things. Although Picnik is now shut down,
what I learned is not. I learned exactly what it meant for a picture to be too
‘grainy,’ and what saturation, contrast, and sharpness all contributed to a
photo. At large, I learned what the names of the ‘effects’ actually were.
Another favorite was the ‘Day in the Life’ assignment. Using
Google Docs Presentation maker, we all made presentations of, just that, a ‘Day
in the Life!’ What do people love talking about more than themselves?… Er,
nothing! ;) All joking aside, it was another case of the ‘learning-without-knowing-it.’
Combining my newly-found exceptional photography and editing skills, I
incorporated them into a little story to input into Google Docs. The theme that
was followed throughout that week (and a few other) was cloud computing, and means
of making, editing, and storing things online. It was a great concept to learn
because it is definitely 'new age,' and I know how we can all struggle to keep
up with the times (besides Phoebe, she's hip).
In the end, it was fun to share my ‘life story’ and venture into
those of my classmates (another favorite human quality: nosiness)! I am
graduating, with one summer class to take, and will be starting my internship
this summer as well. I am in Public Relations/Communications and it is
definitely a field where digital media comes in to play. I will be helping
promote events and maintain my company's online material and I can foresee
myself using parts of this class to aid me in my adventures! All in all, it was
a great semester and learning experience. Phoebe, you did awesome and I will
definitely recommend your class! :)
