1. Are you glad you took this class? Why?
I am really glad I chose to take this class. I am always somewhat hesitant to take classes that are two and a half hours because I find it hard to stay focused and engaged in what I'm learning after a while. However, in this class I am never bored. There is always some kind of stimulating sight, sound, or motion keeping me entertained.
I am also glad that I took this class because I am learning so much about how to keep up with different kinds of social media. After I graduate, I will be working in the public relations field where it is crucial to stay current with new forms of media. Many companies today are relying on the younger generations to manage media like Facebook and Twitter that the older generations higher-up in management have less experience with. This class is teaching me how to use sights, sounds and motions on social media in order to keep outlets like Facebook, Twitter, blogger, or google plus eye-catching and informational.
2. What did you learn that you did not know before coming into this class? What can you do that you could not do before taking this class?
One of the biggest things I have learned from taking this class is that it is good to take advantage of the constant sights, sounds, and motions going on around you. On the first day of class, Dr. Chris said that he wanted to encouraged us to take out our phones and video or record things going on in class. The idea of simply taking videos of Dr. Chris' trials in class, for example, was such a foreign concept to me that I was initially very hesitant to do so. However, by the third class, I was constantly seeking out opportunities to capture a sight, sound, or motion that would make my blog more interesting. I can relate this to my public relations studies because I learn as a PR student that when I go out and work in PR, stories will not just fall into my lap. I have to go out, look for, and create compelling stories that appeal to media outlets. Dr. Chris has encouraged me to be more aware of my surroundings and given me the confidence to take advantage of them!
I also feel that through the group presentations each week, I have learned how to engage an audience. Throughout my high school and college years, different classes have always required me to give presentations. Before taking this class, my presentations would usually consist of me and my group reading words from a powerpoint slide. Now, after being in Dr. Chris' class, I know that there is so much more that goes into a presentation - mainly sights, sounds, and motions. For our first presentation in multimedia, my group (Las Mujeres) basically put together a powerpoint presentation with only words. This is the kind of in-class presentation we had all been accustomed to giving. However, because of Dr. Chris' constructive criticism, our second and third presentations included pictures, videos, and different sources of information (i.e. YouTube, our blogs, our powerpoint, etc.). All of these new aspects of a presentation I have learned about so far in multimedia are essential to incorporate in all my future presentations because they ensure that the audience will be more engaged and interested in the subject.
3. Evaluate your group's performance, your own personal growth in this course, and please give your opinion on the direction of this class.
As I mentioned above, I think my group has improved greatly throughout the course of this semester. We were able to demonstrate what we have learned by taking Dr. Chris' constructive criticism and incorporating it into our sequential projects. For our last presentation, for example, we used multiple ways to share our information with the class. We didn't simply lecture and read the information from the book, we used sites like YouTube and Google images to show the class what we were talking about.
I feel that I have personally grown as a result of this class in several ways. The fact that Dr. Chris encourages us to use several forms of social media for class has inspired me to take advantage of these outlets more in my personal life. I never thought of myself as someone who was "tech-savvy." Actually, it always seemed to be quite the opposite. Using blogger, Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, and Google + in all these new ways has really challenged me this semester, but it has also forced me to step out of my comfort zone and realize that I have more knowledge of technology and social media than I have always thought. This new confidence in myself is a direct result of the personal growth I have experienced in this class. I am developing skills in areas that I never thought I could.
After the first day of class, if someone were to ask me what direction I thought this class would take, I can honestly say that I would have absolutely know idea. This is not the typical class where students can practically recite the syllabus in their sleep. After taking multimedia for about two months now, I truly am pleased with how the class has been going. Each class is engaging and hands-on. Because of this, I learn something new each week and often surprise myself. I believe that if the class continues on this course, I will walk away at the end of the semester satisfied with the knowledge and experience I have taken away from the class.
4. Finally, you must evaluate me. Be fair but truthful. Have I been helpful, did I listen to concerns that you had, have I tried to work with you through individual and group situations? Do you like the way the class has been conducted? Do you understand the purpose of putting people on trial? Here's a hint - it is not to embarrass you.
After the first class, I really wasn't sure what to make of Dr. Chris. I knew that he would be extremely entertaining, but he was so different from every other professor I have had at Loyola that I was still undecided about my feelings regarding the class. However, I can say today that I am extremely glad I stuck it out! Not only is Dr. Chris entertaining, but I have learned so much from him already. I suppose this is where he gets his "edutaining" concept. It's an interesting and innovative way to teach, but most of all, it is effective. I find myself having so much fun throughout each class that I don't realize how much information I am absorbing. After class, when I begin to write my class reflection, I am often surprised at how much we covered and I learned in class.
One clear example I can give of this is when Dr. Chris was teaching us about 3 point lighting. Rather than simply explaining how lighting works, Dr. Chris went around with his cell phone light and made us hold the light up around us demonstrating where the 3 lights should be placed in relation to the subject being filmed. Dr. Chris didn't just tell us the information, he showed us how it would apply in the real world. This kind of hands-on, engaging teaching has definitely helped me to learn.
In terms of listening to concerns and helping me in individual and group situations, Dr. Chris has always been good at this. He doesn't conduct the class in a manner where anyone can really fall behind. During the second class, for example, we were learning how to use Google +, something I had never even heard of before. When I raised my hand to ask about a feature on the site, Dr. Chris stopped his lecture and took the time to come over to me individually and explain it. I really appreciate this kind of teaching because while all of us might have the same capacity for knowledge, not every students works or learns at the same pace.
One of the most unique aspects of Dr. Chris' classes - although there are many - is when he puts people on trial. I believe that the reason Dr. Chris does this and conducts them the way that he does is because it is an engaging way to hold students accountable for their actions and give them an opportunity to fix something before punishing them. In my experience, many teachers are not particularly interested in the student's perspective on certain situations. However, when Dr. Chris has a trial, he allows for the student to plead his or her case and make up for negative actions.
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