journey into myspace

have just joined Myspace. Still exploring what the point of it is and how it can be used. Quick and easy and simple to use although from a networking point of view facebook seems to have the edge. Not as many novelty applications on myspace and seems better for business, serious networking. I have put some of my art work and photos from workshops on it so far. It also has a blog option so I will have to consider the best and easiest way to keep blogging.

Photoshop exploration!

Just had a little go on photoshop to make a poster for my choir. Some of it is straight forward and other elements make more sense after going through the process a few times. Pleased with the outcome though. I will want to make everything in photoshop now!

animaniac

wow i have made a film! and to do so I had to learn the following:

1. sound recording using podcast factory




2. audacity-sound editing software




3. Monkey jam-stop frame animation software




4. Movie maker-movie making software




5. uploading film to face book to share with friends

It's a fantastic creative tool. Just right for how I love to work, in layers with mixed media. The experience of making the film was much more satisfying than yesterdays attempt at blogging. I feel really proud of what I have made.

ICT is Rubish

O.k. had some trouble posting the blog in the right place and ended up with about three blogs all called my first blog. Managed to upload a photo to my profile but having some trouble putting an image with my blog. The cause of which Martin doesn't get yet either. Lots of barriers already and if I didn't have Martin I would have had to have given up I think! Apparently he says it's not normally all this difficult...........going to try something different now. Going to have a go at creating an animation from a series a photos that we took with class 1 at school, I'll keep you posted on how that goes!

First Blog take 3

Wow this is my first ever blog!

As part of my MA in education I am going to try and learn how to use ICT more effectively so that I can use it in my own creative practice. I hope that I will become proficient enough to be able to use ICT as another creative tool, like printing, drawing or painting. As a practitioner I tend to lean towards natural materials and natural experiences and so even though I acknowledge the benefit of ICT I don't necessarily use it as part of my practice.

I was involved in a days workshop aimed at the youth group of a charity that I work with. We made mixed media paintings of our hands as an expression of ourselves, which would be a typical project for me. During and after the workshop I realised that some of what we were doing was almost alien to the group and that I wasn't engaging them in the way that I hoped. Not that I think that technology should replace basic art skills but I wondered if there was a middle ground; is there a way to engage with real materials but then use technology to make those experiences more up to date and relevant for a younger, changing audience?

ICT is not instantly accessible. It requires time and commitment to learn how it all functions and to overcome the barriers that appear to be there. Bit by bit I am going to learn what I can, use it in my own practice and record the experience using technology. I aim to create a website that uses different aspects of technology to record and exhibit my experiences. I am interested in the idea of virtual sketch books and note books and would like to explore film as a creative medium on the net. Several issues spring to mind:

1. I do not know how to make a web site
2. I do not yet know how to record video and upload it to anywhere!
3. The kind of web material that I am interested in is multi layered and faceted and I will probably need to learn how to use photoshop to achieve the look that I want
4. How do I get access to the appropriate technology and equipment?
5. What is the most appropriate and interesting way to record experiences on the net?
6. Is there a financial implication with needing equipment firstly for my own learning and secondly for working with groups?
7. Although I consider myself to be computer literate I am sketchy on the details of filing documents in the right places in the right way, scanning images and retrieving them to work with,and other basic ICT issues.
8. Will I be able to create an assignment that can be fully submitted online or will I have to supplement it with other written material?
9. Fortunately I am married to an ICT teacher/web designer so I do have access to the right information and expertise. I am left wondering though what the gaps are between what he knows and what I want to know.

O.k. enough for now

I wonder what this blog is going to look like and how it works and if it will get published in the right place?