Mayalife

During our technology classes at school, we learned about digital stories. We looked at different types of stories and also compared the applications and materials used to make them in this document. I think it was a very interesting unit.

The MYP design cycle

During this task, I think I did well in my Plan section. I was able to design and plan out my digital story well and effectively. Also, I wrote most of the effects and scenes in my storyboard and script. Another area I improved on was the Create section. I used a variety of materials an applications to create my digital story. Also, I followed my time plan I made well. I think I could have done better in my Investigate section. This is because I didn’t recognize enough key feathers and story structures which I ended struggling with.

For this assignment, I could have improved more on my Investigation section. If I did, I wouldn’t struggle and could have gone through the assignment easily. Another thing I could have improved on was my create section. I rushed in my create section so my video still have some of the mistakes that I haven’t change like how one part was cut of. Also I should have planned my time more effectively because I ended up rushing through my work at the last minute. If I was going to do this again, I would try to work more harder on my work and use my time more effectively so I would hand it in time.

Outline your overall investigation process and include details and specifics relating to the task. Do you know the elements of a story? What did you discover regarding tools to use? How have you been working in class and how has your attitude been? This can be done on your notes or on your blog, or both!

During Technology class, we learned about digital story telling and what kind of topics that can make a digital story. We watched a few digital stories during class and we discussed the topic, story structure and the key features. Also, we looked at different applications that can be used to make a digital story. For the applications, I chose Google presentation.

This is what I discovered about my application:

Google Presentation is a application where you can make slideshows and present them . You can only reach this online and if you don’t have internet connection, you won’t be able to use it. The advantages of this application is that you can easily share it with your friends and it would save every time you update the slide shows so it saves the time saving your documents. Plus, there are different fonts to choose form and about twenty different themes to choose from. Google presentation is very easy to use especially for beginners because it is simple as well. The disadvantages of this application is that you cannot record your voice like Microsoft Power point. Also, you cannot save it on your desktop. Although Google presentation have disadvantages, I think it is a very user friendly application.

I think my attitude during class can be a little better because I usually get distracted with things around me. From next class onwards, I will try my best to keep focus on what we are doing and work hard on the assignments. I am looking forward to the next assignment and typing another reflection again.

Investigate Reflection

Plan Reflection

Create Reflection 

During Technology class at school, we made tutorials about different topics. My topic was Speaking properly. I learned a lot about making tutorials during this unit. For example, adding themes to your videos and uploading them to Vimeo. It was a very exciting experience to become the creator of a tutorial.

What I learned the most during this unit is to make a well detailed tutorial so the audience would understand. Without this, the tutorial would be hard to understand and the tutorial is no use.Another thing I learned was step  by step. It would be easier to copy or understand. I also learned to speak out loud so the audience could hear exactly what you said. On the other hand, if you mumble, the audience would not hear and they would only watch it half way through.

I feel very proud of my tutorial because it turned out better than I planned to have it to be. Thus, I tried my best so I am very happy with my finished work as a result. I think I improved on my iMovie skills while editing my video because I wanted to try out new ways so my tutorial would not look like a normal tutorial made using iMovie.

This unit was difficult for me especially planning because I didn’t have an idea of a tutorial and I had to start blank. Luckily, I had already made a topic for my tutorial so it wasn’t that difficult. Another thing that was difficult was speaking. I sometimes pronounce my words wrong because I feel nervous infront of the camera.

I feel that my tutorial fits the 6C criteria, simple, detailed and one step at a time. I feel that my tutorial was simple because it was easy to see and understand. My tutorial was detailed because I included a lot of infomation in simple sentences so the audience would be able to follow easily even though the directions are short and simple. I feel definately that my tutorials have one step at a time. This is because I made the tutorial step by step so the audience will be able to remember the tutorial steps even when they are not watching the video.

To create a better tutorial, I would learn to put in more examples inside. Without the examples, I think it is hard to follow if the creator doesn’t speak clearly. I would also include a introduction for my tutorial if I am going to make another tutorial so it would  be better than this one.

I commented on two tutorials last time. Lucy’s tutorial and Josepine’s tutorial. I learned from Josepine’s tutorial to zoom in and zoom out so the audience would know what to do. I think that if I am going to do another tutorial, I would zoom in and zoom out where nessesary.On Lucy’s tutorial, I learnt to include good tone of voice. When I look at my tutorial I feel that it is boring compared to Lucy’s one. I would definately use more tone of voice the next time.

In conclusion, this unit was very challenging and exciting compared to the other units. I think I learnt a lot about making tutorials and I also learnt how both sides, audience and the creator feel when they watch or make the tutorial. I really enjoyed  making the tutorial especially editing it because I found some cool things you can do with iMovie. I f I am going to do  another tutorial, I would use more tone of voice, zoom where needed and include more examples for the audience.

During Technology class, we learnt how to make a tutorial and went through the steps that we need to do before making the tutorial. I learned that tutorials have a lot of steps before being presented. Also, I realised that tutorials aren’t just a video but a video from a person’s hard work.

My topic: Speaking properly

My plan demonstrates excellent tutorial design because I broke my steps down so it is easier for the audience to see and understand my video but the steps are still detailed and simple so I didn’t skip nor combine my steps. Most of all I found confident in was Demonstration. I felt that my demonstration had good language and simple steps that anyone can follow.

I ensure that the viewer of my tutorial would learn this skills by having a small practice session and also, I am going through the steps a few times so the viewer would not forget anything. Although I mentioned about repeating it, I am not really forcing the viewer to remember the tutorial steps because it is their choice to be better at the topic they chose.

All I need to learn now is to insert words to the tutorial the way and place I want it to be. If I have more time, I would try learning how to make a tutorial that anyone would enjoy watching. Then in the future, people would be able to communicate and speak confidently with each other. Another thing I need to learn about is recording my voice so I can put it in my tutorial. I really want to have sound effects in my tutorial too! And, I would find out how to do these by asking my technology teacher or looking at other tutorials on the internet.

In conclusion, I  have many things I have to do and also I need to work hard to make the tutorial I wished. I hope the tutorial would go by plan or even better. Good luck to my tutorial.

We talked about tutorials this unit. We found out about good tutorials and how it is good. Then, we did a small research about tutorials by ourselves. I looked at a few tutorials and I found out that even one tutorial means a lot work to someone. I looked at Kate’s and Layna’s blog and commented on the tutorial they posted on their blog. It was a nice unit to start with.

Looking at Layna’s blog, I can learn how to draw adorable hamsters. This tutorial starts with a small sign saying that the creator is drawing a hamster so it helps a lot.The advantage of this tutorial is that the steps are very simple and the creator gives examples of the shapes so anyone could draw it well. Also, the creator uses a dark marker so the picture of the hamster stands out better.What I really thought was really helpful was that the creator gave a link to her website so anyone could go to her website and watch more tutorials from the same creator.The volume of the creator’s voice was very low and was difficult to hear them.In conclusion,her video is perfect for beginners because it has many advantages and little disadvantages. Looking at Kate’s blog,her tutorial teaches you really well how to draw a manga eye as it says on the header.The good thing about her tutorial was about how the creator explained the steps one by one clear and simple definition. The disadvantage about her tutorial is that the creator didn’t show what kind of pencil to use when you draw a manga eye.In conclusion, I think this tutorial is very useful especially for beginners. If I need to learn how to draw a manga eye,I would definitely look at hers!

I learned that the perspective from the creator and the audience is different. If I was to create a tutorial, I would like to make one that the audience would enjoy. For example, link to blog or, use dark marker so it is easy to see.

I would need to learn how to take a video of my tutorial. Also, I want to know how to add voice and edit the tutorial.

In conclusion, I learned many skills and tips on how to make a good tutorial. This unit was interesting and fun. I enjoyed this investigation. I can’t wait till the next unit.

It has been a while since 2012 started. I totally forgot about my goals for this year!

Here is three things I was proud of last semester

1. I was able to beat my goal for cross country
2. I had great marks for my Chinese
3. I scored full points for all my Kanji test (Except one)
   

These things really gave me confidence to my goals. I guess it was really a precious thing for me.

Since it is 2012 (Already) I made a few goals for me to keep track of!

• To manage my time
• To improve on my English
• Keep my locker clean

These goals are perfect for me! Now all I have to worry about is to achieve them!

During Technology class, we are learning about tutorials. We did a research about different tutorials. I looked at five tutorials and the tutorial I liked the most is about” How to make a bracelet“. I chose this because, the video is not too long and the images are clear. The description of the steps are easy to understand. The creator gave extra tips so that we can try out simple variations.The bracelet was simple and easy to make too! I learned that there are different types of tutorials explaining different things in different ways. It was interesting looking at many tutorials and describing it. I can’t wait till the next part of this unit!

What was the most important thing you learned during this project ? Why is it important?

I think planning was the most important thing during this project. Usually I never plan before my work but I learned that planning would make my work even neater, easier and faster. If you plan properly, your work will be neater. For example, if you don’t plan your poster and you just start drawing on it, you will have to erase it if you make a mistake, which makes pencil marks and crumpled paper. Secondly, if you plan properly,  your work will definitely be neater. The reason is because you know what you want and  need and you will not make a big mess on your work. Last, if you plan properly, you can finish your project faster because you already had planned what to do instead of wondering what else to include or take out.

Did the Technology Design Cycle (Investigate. Plan.Create, Evaluate) help you organize and complete your project? Why Or why not?

The Design and plan cycle helped me organize and complete my work really well. I think this “Design and Plan Cycle” is a very useful thing to use. If there was no such thing, people would just start on their icing instead on their cake when they need to do a project or presentation. By doing this, people will care more on the decoration compared to their information or research.

Which of the IB Learner Profiles do you think you demonstrated during the course of this project? How did you demonstrate that profile?

I think I was reflective. I chose reflective because I reflected a lot on what we did during class. For example, I reflected on what we did during the classes, what I could have done better and how I did better. Reflecting helped me to make a good improvement from something that happened before. For example, I was not interested to this unit but I reflected on the type on student I wanted to be so I decided that I am going to do well during this unit. In the end, I really love this class and unit.

How can you use the skills you learned during this project in the future? In other classes? As a university student? As an adult? Why would these skills and how would they help you?

I think I could use these skills when I grow up and become an adult. I could make a blog talking about difficulty at work or home and I can help the people who is experience what I am experienced before or now. In this way, I could get feedback for my life and I also can give feedback to other people. Another time I could use this skills is when I need to make a blog for a company. Since I know about the menus and widgets really well, I could help make a company’s blog. Also I wanted to be a designer so probably I could study deeper about blog so I could design blogs too!

There are different places I can use this skill but it is another goal that I achieved too! I am looking forward to the next unit so I could reflect and also achieve another goal for my life! Thanks to the Technology Design Cycle, I became very organized. I hope I am about to achieve another goal!

Thank you Ms.Cofino! (My Technology class Teacher)

During our technology class, we learnt how to create the widgets & so our blog would look like how we wanted it to be. I had so much fun during this unit because we learnt about the design of the blog and also about theme too!

I think I really like my blog theme. This is because it shows my personality really well. I like to look different sometimes compared to how I really look. Simply, I like to try on things that I usually don’t try on. By doing this, I would never be bored and my blog will never be old fashion. My blog is very precious to me so I also want it to glimmer!

The thing I am most proud of my blog is the posts and pages. I am trying my best to make my blog original. Simply, I want my readers to feel as I am talking to them when they read my blog. This is because I want people to understand the feeling of what is happening in my life when I am typing my post or page.

To be a better blogger, I want to learn how to type posts that people would enjoy and entertained. I really love to entertain people so I want to try to entertain my readers so they would comment more on my blog just as how I comment on my friend’s blog. To learn how, its quite difficult but I would try my best if I have the chance to.

In conclusion, I think this “Create” part of our unit was really fun. I enjoyed almost every  part of this unit. I hope the last unit, “Evaluate” would be a really interesting one too! I am looking forward to it!