ET-IDP

Educational Technology-Individual Development Plan

I met with cc the other day to help her develop a plan to improve her knowledge of technology and how she integrates it into her classroom. The meeting was very quick because cc already had goals in mind. She was also sure that she was at the developing tech level in both use and integration in her classroom.

In the next two weeks cc wants to improve her understanding video production. In particular, she wants to improve her knowledge of her video camera. Using the manual focus and the menus are of particular interest to her. She also wants to effectively manipulate the zoom features on her camera. She also wants to develop her understanding of video editing programs. She wants to be able to manipulate footage on the timeline effectively.

Over the next year, cc would like to offer professional development opportunities/courses for fellow teachers at the early and developing tech levels. In these courses, she wants to address the personal basic needs of the teachers.

As these goals are her personal goals, she will be responsible to follow through with them. I'm looking forward to hearing from her about her progress.

MSU Personal Website

I'll be honest. I don't care what happens to my MSU website. Even if I update it, I won't go back to it after the course is finished. If I am going to post a professional portfolio on the web, it will be in a different format on a different site (one that is more universal.) What I will do for my PDA, I don't know. However, the MSU website is not the answer.

iImage

"That which does not kill us makes us stronger." A simple statement, and very true. It is one of the ideas incorporated into my iImage. At the base is a tragedy mask, and rising from it is a flower. Simple.

The image actually came to me as I was drifting to sleep last night. Why? I dunno. I had been trying to create an image that was compelling. Yes, David, I said, "Compelling." After being in Plymouth for two summers, and knowing a lot of what was out there, I knew that I wouldn't find the "right" shot in the time given. I also wanted to try my hand at creating images with Adobe Illustrator (mentally stick in all the trademark stuff yourselves). But what image did I want to create? I had played around with a bunch of stuff. I had created a cool visual using the 3D generator, but it needed text to illuminate my message. *The 3D generator in Illustrator is cool, but not without it's bugs.* Yes, the text helped me figure out what I wanted to say, but it was the wrong image. I wanted the image to speak on it's own. I had a thought, but the image wasn't forming. Then as I drifted to sleep the image you see here came to me and I settled into a quite slumber.

What does it say? It's art. It says something different to everyone. If not, how can you call it art? For me it is another step in processing my experiences this year, hopefully bringing me closer to catharsis. Metaphorically, it's a release, an admission, a hope, and perhaps a small prayer. Most of all, it's a reminder.

I wanted the design to be simple enough that even I could create it. I also wanted as little as possible to distract the audience from the message. Could I strip the message down to as few lines as possible? What pieces were necessary? What embellishments may still be required? The focus had to be the flower. It had to be the brightest piece of the puzzle. Um, yellow and red. The blue in the mask serves two purposes. One, it's not as bright as the flower. Two, it,s metaphorical. This is a preliminary image. I will continue to work on it for a bit. I'll see what happens.

I don't do journals

As if you couldn't tell, I don't do journals. I think I have completed the online course, and now we are up and running for our final summer. We'll see how this goes. I doubt I'll use this much--even if we are assigned to do so.

Oh My God!

Could I have possibly chosen a worse time to start a online course? I have just finished two shows; I'm in the middle of a third project, and we have just begun starting our school musical. Needless to say, I'm getting a late start. I'll be playing catch up, but I'll make it through! :)