EDLD+5366+Reflection+for+Course-Embedded+Assignment

EDLD 5366: Digital Graphics and Web Design In Digital Graphics and Web Design we were asked to post and comment on the class Discussion Board, create a personal logo, an animation, and to work collaboratively with group members to create a group website. Having never done any of these, this class was relatively challenging and a good experience, and has been a great resource in implementing the use of Higher Order Thinking Skills, as explained in Bloom’s Taxonomy of cognitive objectives (Churches, 2008). Other than our assignments, we use the Discussion Board to reflect on questions asked by our professors and are able to see how our classmates have answered those same questions. Just as I said above, doing this is a great technique in allowing us to see other points of view and to see things in a different light, in ways that we otherwise might not have. Although I have used Photoshop before, it was only to edit pictures and never to create a design, such as our personal logo. I learned about and used different features of Photoshop and this quickly became my favorite assignment of the class as I tried to “persuasively communicate this brand to the world” (Goldsmith, 2007). The animation part of the assignment proved to be the most difficult for me. I have never created an animation, making me pretty much clueless in every aspect of the assignment, and therefore making it my least favorite project of the class. I watched numerous YouTube tutorials before deciding to use Scratch to produce my project. I had no idea all the time, effort, and details that go into creating an animation, and have a newfound respect for those that create them on a larger scale, such as cartoons and movies, because “when used effectively, animated content can improve learning” (2008, September). The group website was a fun project because I really enjoy working with the other members in my group. We worked together on our last project and decided that we would work together again on this project because of how well we were able to communicate and collaborate to complete our previous project. Each one of us took a page to complete then worked collectively to finish the website as a whole. Through our group experience I have learned the value of working with colleagues to collaborate and share ideas with one another to make our project better as a whole. This is a great method for students in the classroom so they may think of things or view things from a different perspective, thus adding to their learning experience. Websites are valuable tools to use in the classroom. In my line of work I would use a website as a means to keep student-athletes, parents, community, and administration informed of all the happenings in the Beckville girls athletic program. I would use the home page as a way to introduce myself as the Girl’s Coordinator and give a brief explanation of the girls’ athletics program and its expectations and traditions. To allow my players to be involved in the website, each player would have a bio which would include a player photograph, sports information, and personal information (a short survey of questions, not address, telephone, etc.). Players would be responsible for the creation of their bio page, and team captains would have editing access to make changes to the sports pages they are involved in. Pages to be included on the website would include: a page for each individual sport, player bios, coach bios, athletic rules and code of conduct, contact information, maps and directions to the gym and fields, action photographs, and team/individual awards. While certain areas were more trying than others in Digital Graphics and Web Design, each area was designed to foster my learning and to make me think and push myself to do things I have never done before. It is in doing those types of things that I become a good learner and a smarter student, which in turn will make me a better educator for our students, the future of America.

Churches, A. (2008, April). Bloom’s digital taxonomy. Retrieved on February 20, 2012 from []
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Goldsmith, M. (August 2007). Authentic personal branding. Retrieved on February 21, 2012 from []

Understanding Multimedia Learning: Integrating Multimedia in the K12 Classroom. (2008, September). Retrieved on February 21, 2012 from []