Seminar in Educational Technology AEET/EDET 780 Sp 2003 University of South Carolina Aiken

Andrea J. Spano

Personal PhilosophyComputers were not in use, much less calculators when I was in high school. A slide rule was a big deal. In college, computers where only used in class registration and in the sciences for research and the only electronic enhancing equipment even close to my field was in music with electronic synthesizers. There were no laptops or PC's for term papers; just manual or electric typewriters: not Spell Check. My initial introduction to computers was when I inherited my Dad's computer, a Tandy 1000 (please hold the chuckles). I thought I was a big shot every time I turned it on. That in and of itself was an accomplishment. We didn't even have computers in our classroom offices till about nine years ago and I have only been using computers in the class for the last seven years. The Honors Art classes are using the computers. I am constantly looking for new graphics design programs for these classes to have access to. Freeware and Shareware are good places for me to browse through. I don't have to teach basic computer skills, because we have a well developed computer lab along with the A.L.S. lab and business computer classes.

Personal Philosophy cont… My main objective is to introduce my students in Honors Art

to specific programs. Even though these are older programs (I can't afford newer ones) the underlying designs will carry them through to more complicated editions. This information will at least allow them to get their foot in the door in the world of computer arts.There is not doubt that this technology is here to stay, and students are learning sooner and faster in their young lives. We as educators, must make absolutely sure that they get the basics in whatever subject it might be and that they understand this information before they just plug in some data and an answer is spit back. I can certainly appreciate what the technology has done in my field of study. I have an old college roommate who has been a commercial artist for years. I don't want my students to become complacent or lose sight of the fact that to produce art of any kind, they must become technically proficient. It doesn't hurt to be gifted or talented as well. Often they want to use the computer as a quick and easy way out. It is my job as their educator to only use this technology when needed and to guide them towards self-reliance.

Personal Philosophy ReflectionWhat a difference five weeks make, nothing earth shattering, just some basic observations and where has the time gone? After rereading my initial personal philosophy, I am still of the opinion that my main objective is to introduce my students in Honors Art to specific programs. What has happened in the course of this program is that now I know where to look for topics relating to their programs, that if I an in need of any tutorial or expert advice, there is a world of information of there that I wasn’t aware of before. There is still so much more out there I know nothing about. This information will be equally valuable to my students in research projects that they may need to do in the future.

Philosophy Reflection cont…

When the assignment was first announced about our philosophy, I thought well, I’m not sure. I have been presenting this program for so long it has become intuitive. Verbalizing on this was quiet another matter: it still is. I have now begun to look at each area I teach in my program in a different light. Even though it is basically studio orientated, how can I make it more challenging? This is due to all the readings we have completed, the variety of research materials studied and just exactly what is being looked for in those studies. I’m sure I’ll be more vigilant in looking at various learning styles, how majority-gender plays a role in classroom dominance and management, and just what is important within life-long learning skills acquired through my program.

Professional Community

“What the world has to offer”

“What the experts have to offer”

Who makes the hot new toys?

A show-and-tell show.

Community ReflectionWorld offerings: Listservs. This service literally offers you the world’s experts and their research and opinions to all who have a need or a question, free. It’s as good as going to Google or Yahoo went it comes to posing a question. You won’t just get a single answer, but conversations worth of questions and answers. I’m still having some trouble with replying but now that I know what the service is for, I will continue to use it in the future. I need to locate some pinhole camera experts as well as digital photographer experts in the commercial field of photography.

Expert offerings: Onliners. This service offers you not just individual opinions and expertise but collectively the advice and suggestions of educational organizations that have a myriad of resources and materials at their disposal. Many of these Onliners are responsible for computer and educational journals that are published monthly.

Community Reflection cont…

Onliners cont…: These groups are equally as effective in assisting those in need, but I would be less inclined to use them as often as I would the Listserv. I will however continue use subscribe to the magazines that are representative of these organizations.

Hot new toys: All in all, the interview with David Vernier of Vernier Software and Technology was very exciting. I had heard so much about this man and his contributions from a colleague of mine (who works in the summer with him in his ‘ think tank’ division) and had actually observed the use of some of the instrumentation, that talking to him was very interesting. I think that the next interview will be just a little more organized though I did try to group the questions. I feel that if anyone going into the field of education or research should acquire a comfort level and sophistication needed for interviewing. This will certainly help the interviewee.

Community Reflection cont…

Show-and-tell: How hard it is to state an objective in fifty words or less? Very. Even though this is a fictitious proposal, the conference is real. I will only have perhaps seven students in my Honors Art this coming year and this is a doable proposal with the class. We do discuss slides as portfolio options but I would like to try it with all their projects. They will be using a CD to store their photo shots already and have easy access to digital cameras, so why not develop some simple format for inputting their as they go? I should have used this as the real proposal for the SC EdTech Conference. Hindsight is 50/50.

Research Interests

Critiques: 1&2 dated 5/19/03, Spano, Andrea

3&4 dated 5/27/03, Spano, Andrea

5 dated 6/09/03, Spano, Andrea

Dissertations Reviews: #1, #2, #3, #4, #5

Group Research Project: Motivational Factors of Digital Cameras in the Classroom, #2

Research Interests Reflection

Critiques: At the start of this assignment, I was very overwhelmed with absolutely no idea where to look or even on what to be looking for. The topics I picked were not too terribly related and in the case of ‘Visual signs in the age of digital reproduction’ by G.Sonesson, I as still not sure what the article was really about. The other critiques covered Web-based assessments, surfing the Web, science Internet use and constructivism in the middle school. All at least were centered around the effectiveness of Internet usage in the classroom. Some of the writing format (digital reproduction and constructivism) were at times difficult to follow or understand, but given practice in researching research, I’m hoping that the educational legalize will become clearer with time. The use of Listserv helped later on with the reading of such research papers. I know this is all in preparation for the research we are expected to complete in this program.

Research Reflection cont…

Dissertation: Now these papers I found to be very interesting. I was able to find similar topics and I have actually observed some of the resulting projects.

As a history buff, I found ‘the corporate eye’ very interesting. I had to do some quick background research on the Progressive Era to refresh my memory. This was a most turbulent time in our nation’s history and the camera was able to capture all on film or glass, depending on the technology of the time.

I have only seen a hologram once. The State Museum in Columbia had a show of them back in the late 70”s. It was absolutely captivating. The mathematical computations that are needed to complete an image is quantum mechanics to me but the use of multi positioned cameras is comprehensible. It was interesting to find not one but three papers on a similar subject.

Research Reflection cont…

Rendering techniques for architectural design I use at school. I have three programs on my office computer including a landscape architectural program, that has all the 3-D rendering you need. It’s not in stereo, but you can almost hear the leaves crunch under your feet.Group Research Project: I was not happy with the assignment. Not the topic or the group, but with the format of the project. I suppose Dr. Lee has spoiled us with her formatting and very precise instruction on what is to be in the paper. Plus we had only four weeks and not the usual semester. The AECT guidelines were very loose and I suppose that is for a reason; all topics are not the same. The other drawback was having to do it online. We actually spent time on the phone, just too much new technology at once and do a paper. I’ve never used IM before, I’d rather hear a voice, but I’ll use it again. It works.

Research Reflection cont…

We were able to make some headway when we divided the work up between us, and then got all parts to read similar and flow nicely. I suppose that if online was the only way to do the work, then we surely could refine it. I feel that the confusion lay in the fact that this was a first for all of us and after about two weeks of shellshock, we got in the flow of it all.

I found our topic very interesting, but I think we already knew the outcome of the fictitious research because all three of us already use digital cameras in out classrooms for various projects. But now that we have completed this paper, I do plan to try to implement some of the camera use in my general CP classes.