Process Report Update

I believe this will be my final blog post!

In tandem, our team is currently working on the process report presentation and our final project. We divided up tasks to help complete the process report. For the process report, we decided to create a website and that will house and organize the artifacts that we created throughout the process. Also, we may attempt to create a clickable image that directs users to different artifact categories within the website. This image will likely be a layer cake with each layer representing a separate artifact category. For example, clicking on the bottom of the cake may direct the user to our original drafts of the scripts we use for video narration. In order to quickly and efficiently complete the website and image we divided up tasks. One member collected and organized the artifacts, one elaborated on how each artifact fit into the project as a whole, one integrated the artifacts into the website, and the other two members worked on the clickable image. The website was created using wix.com. I highly recommend wix because of the easy to use tools and creative templates.

I look forward to seeing how everyone's project is progressing on Monday! 

Project Changes

This past week our group met to film several live action scenes illustrating good and bad practices for academic public speaking. We utilized the design studio so we could have access to a curtain background and green screen. Several of the “bad idea” filmed scenes were intended to be humorous. For example, to contrast the “good idea” of wearing proper clothing during a speech, we filmed scenes in which someone has the bad idea of wearing silly clothes and accessories.

Also, I recently met with one of IU’s Public Speaking professors. Throughout the interview it became clear that he did not believe that an online instruction with the goal of improving public speaking would be successful. The problem, he explained, was that students need the chance to practice speaking in front of a real audience in order to reduce their fear. Our team is adapting our instruction based on his suggestions by focusing more so on academic speech writing. Many of the preliminary design decisions, including what formats to present the instruction in, are able to be carried over into this new idea. Also, because of limited time, our group is looking forward to being able to focus on a more defined subject area.

Project Update and Spring Break Plans

Project Update:

Our team has decided to create a single instructional video on the topic of eye-contact during speech giving in order to assess how long the process of creating a video takes. Although we are still in the process of conducting interviews, we believe we have enough information to begin creating the single video. Because it may be difficult to sync narration with what is happening on-screen, our group has decided to film a person lecturing on the topic while giving visual examples of what to do and what not to do. We have reserved a flip camera from the Education Technology Services office and will begin filming tomorrow!

Plans for Spring Break:

There are several internships that I plan to apply for during spring break. Many of these require knowledge and experience with specific design technologies. Therefore, I also plan on taking several Lynda courses to gain the necessary skills. Here is a list of some of the technologies I hope to become more versed in over break. (AdobePremiere, Audacity, Camtasia, Dreamweaver, Javascript, Photoshop, Fireworks, Prezi, Keynote). I may be biting off more than I can chew but my goal is only to become more familiar with these technologies. Wish me luck!

-Scott