Week 14 - Using Games for Teaching & Learning

This week we learned about Second Life's use in education. By providing an educational classroom in 3-D, students can explore places they are learning about and immerse themselves in a true learning experience. I think this is a great way to get the students excited about what they are learning because technology is always fun.
Using games for teaching has evolved a lot since I was a kid. I remember having simple computer games at the lab to learn math and only spending little time in the computer lab. Students now, even at a young age, have constant access to the internet and computers and have many different games for learning a variety of subjects. I think its great that education is evolving and students are getting to learn and retain information using fun, educational games.

I think using games for learning has a chance to impact the advertising industry because if it becomes very popular, it can become a great advertising medium. For example, companies can use games on their web sites to attract people to their product (such as the Dr. Pepper game that was used as an example for class.) Coke is another great company that provides games to entertain its customers. In addition, games are being incorporated into online commercials to keep viewers entertained. For example, I watch shows on abc.go.com and during the commercials, online quizzes or games are given about the product. I think this is a trend that will keep growing as more people are doing things online (such as watching tv shows).

An outside source I found is funbrain.com. This web site is another great resource for kids to play while they learn. I remember using computer games such as MathBlaster when I was young, but these web sites are so interactive and offer a variety of arcade games,web books/comics, and even incorporates movie characters. I would definitely recommend this site to my little brother:)

Week 13 - Distance Education & Virtual Schooling

In class we watched videos about universities offering online degrees and K-12 virtual schools. The internet is changing the way we go to school. In my opinion, this is positively impacting education by providing opportunities to those who may not have access to good schools. For example, my high school only had about four AP classes available, while the school in the more affluent neighborhood about 35 miles away offered three times as many. This puts students at my school at a great disadvantage when applying for college, etc. However, programs such as Florida Virtual School make classes available to those who want to take them. Students can expand their curriculum by taking foreign language classes or higher level math classes even if their school doesn't offer them.
In addition, many college classes are also taught online. While at UF, all of the business classes and some math classes I have taken were available online. Students can watch lectures at their convenience, work at their own pace, and only have to show up on campus to take the exams. I think these classes, as well as online degree programs, make it easier for college students to obtain their degrees because they can work on their own time and can balance work and family life.

Online education is impacting the advertising industry by allowing more people the opportunity to obtain professional degrees. More people becoming qualified will impact competition in getting employment within the industry. On the other hand, these new degree programs are being heavily advertised (especially online) and creating more revenue opportunities in the field.

This video, created by a high school student, explains the benefits of Florida Virtual School. I think it's great to see how many students actually like the program and don't want to see it go.

Week 12 - Creating a Professional Web Presence

This week we learned about Google Sites and the importance of having a professional web presence. As a generation that grew up online, we all already have a general web profile on sites such as Myspace, Facebook or Twitter. However, not many students have somewhere to direct potential employees. By using Google Sites to create a professional web site, we will have the ability to present ourselves in a professional manner, easily display resume and portfolio work, as well as provide a little insight into our personal life.

As a graduating senior, this is very relevant to me because I am currently looking for a job and this is a great way to stand out and make a positive impression on potential employers. I think it is a great way to present all of my creative advertising and research projects for employers to see. Also, it is very easy to maintain and update. Being able to work and navigate easily online is very important in the advertising industry, and having your own web site is a great way to show employers that you are capable of that.

I have chosen LinkedIn as an outside resource because it is another way to create a professional online presence. LinkedIn allows you to create a profile, update experience and employment activity as well as connect with other professionals. People can recommend you and its a great way to network and stay connected with professionals you have worked with in the past.

Week 11 - Open Source Software

This week we learned about open source software and the advantages that it offers. Open source software is free and available to the general public. It can also be modified by users, which is why it is constantly changing and getting better. Gimp is a free program that offers features much like those of Photoshop. However, Photoshop is a very expensive program only available for purchase from the manufacturer. I think more people would use the free alternatives if they knew about them. I had never really heard about open source programs before this class and I think once it catches on, people will begin using them more, as well as continue to make them better.

Open source software can impact the advertising industry in the tools we use to create ads as well as the experience students get before they enter the industry. For example, as a student I didn't have much experience in Photoshop or InDesign, the standard programs of the industry, because I never had the money to purchase them. My first introduction to the programs was in my upper-level advertising classes, and could only access them in the labs. This led to me being very inexperienced and learning at the same time I was trying to create my projects. However, I feel that if I would have known about free programs such as Gimp, I could have downloaded them on my personal computer and became familiar with them before those classes. This could have led to me producing better quality work, and in turn having more experience once I graduate.

I decided to incorporate this video as an outside resource because it shows all of the features available on Gimp and a tutorial on how to use it. I hope that more people find out about these free programs and use them more.

Week 9 - Social Tools & Cloud Computing

Cloud computing utilizes distant servers for data storage and management, allowing the device to use smaller and more efficient chips that consume less energy than standard computers (www.financenewmexico.org/glossary.html.) Some examples about cloud computing that we learned about in class include GoogleDocs and the social networking site Delicious. Cloud computing is really cool because it allows you to store information on the internet, allowing you to have more space on your computer while at the same time making the information available on any computer. For example, Delicious allows you to save bookmarks on the site that can be accessed from any computer. This is really convenient especially for students because we use so many different computers in the lab and for our classes, but the site allows you to access them from anywhere and keep them organized all in one place.

Cloud computing is definetly something that can be applied to the advertising field because the industry is becoming more reliant on internet technology. For example, GoogleDocs is a cool way for agencies and clients, or people working as a team, to stay connected and keep documents organized rather than emailing one another back and forth. Also, because social tools are becoming very popular and many people spend most of thier time using them, advertisers are using them to promote products more and more.

An outside resource I found is this great web site that describes how cloud computing works. It gives an example of using cloud computing and a creative illustartion to help describe how it works.

Concept Map: Social Tools in Advertising

Click here for link to concept map on Webspiration

My Podcast

Sounds in presentations can be applied to almost any field. In advertising, sounds can be used to create examples to be used for future presentations. For example, sample radio ads can be tested out on programs like GarageBand to give the team an idea about things such as timing. Podcasts can also be created to keep a team on track by recording their ideas and perhaps be used to demonstrate progress to the client.

For my podcast I decided to use a scene from The Lion King. Mufasa has just rescued Simba and Nala from the elephant graveyard and teaches Simba a lesson about what it means to be brave. I think this is a cool way to introduce sound into a presentation.

Josie Podcast - Josie Almazan

My Digital Story

For the Digital Storytelling Examples Forum I made a video using Animoto.com.
I used several pictures from my wedding to create a short video to capture the most important elements of that day. Hope you enjoy!

Week 7 - Digital Storytelling

This week we continued learning about visual literacy, but have moved on from still images to video. We watched a tutorial on iMovie which I think is such a cool program because it allows you to create videos in a short and easy way. We learned how videos can be created as a way to tell a story and viewed some examples that will help us create our own digital story. I think this is a cool way to use technology and teachers can incorporate these videos into their classrooms as a fun way to teach their students.

Digital storytelling relates to advertising because it can be used as a promotional medium. For example, companies can create short movies about how their companies got started and put it on their websites. Companies can also create digital movies about events and activities they host and post them onto social networking sites to create awareness with certain audiences.

I found this video on YouTube to further explain digital storytelling.

The video does a great job of explaining each of the following about digital storytelling:
-top 10 reasons for implemeting digitial storytelling into teaching
-the main definition used to describe it
-how digital storytelling can be applied to almost any subject
-the different types of digital storytelling
-and the different elements of a digital story
Overall the video was very informative and helped me gain a greater insight into the art of digital storytelling.

Week 6 - Visual Literacy

This week we learned about visual literacy and how it can be manipulated to distort original images. We also discovered how prevalent visual literacy is in our society, we use it everyday from street signs to bathroom signs. Visual literacy is also very important becuase it is universal. By using only images, it does not matter the language you speak because an image can portray the exact way something looks in real life. For example, a picture of an apple will be understood by anyone in any country. This week began our introduction to Photoshop which I am excited to learn because it is an essential skill to know when working in my field.

Visual literacy greatly relates to advertising because it is a crucial part of the creative side. Advertisers who create ads, especially for print, are required to know the basic design principles. In order to effctively get the message across, advertisers must ensure that the ads are easy to read and pleasing to the eye. As advertising majors, we are required to take a visual design and principles class, which demonstrates the importance of this element to the advertising field.

I chose a video from YouTube to gain a deeper understanding of visual literacy.


This video displays many images which can spark discussion in a classroom and help students relate to what they are learning. It was created to inspire teachers to use visual images in their lessons and presents several questions that can engage students in learning. I also liked the way the video incorporated different forms of visual art such as graphs, charts and scientific elements.

Week 5 - Media & Information Literacy

In this week's lesson we learned about media information and literacy. The presention we watched was very helpful in demonstrating ways of efficiently presenting information in a visual form. The four key guidelines were Contrast, Repitition, Alignment and Proximity. I think this information is usesful for our everyday lives. For example, these principles will be helpful when creating a powerpoint presentation for a class or even designing a resume. We also learned how to determine if a web site is authentic. I think this is important not only for teachers who are transmitting information, but also for students who are writing papers and conducting research. Because web pages can be created by anyone, it is essential to know that we are accessing valid information.

Media literacy is in essence a part of advertising itself because advertising is transmitted through different forms of media. As an advertising student, it is important for me to be aware of the different forms of media and how they each portray information differently. Also, in order to effectively reach certain audiences, it is critical to be aware of the different forms of media they are using.

I chose a video from YouTube called Show Your Media Literacy to explore different ways we can use media.

This video was really interesting and I thought it was cool that it mentioned several tools that we are actually using in this class. It showed blogger, delicious and podcasting as ways of transmitting or viewing information. It also talked about Creative Commons and properly citing information that you have used. I thought it was informative in an entertaining way.

Week 3 - Web Technology

In this week's lesson we learned about the history of technology. A presentation explained the history of the internet and different technological terms such as server, web browser and the different size terms used for a variety of media. We also watched a series called "Growing Up Online" by FRONTLINE that explained the impact of technology on today's youth. Many kids that grew up using the internet live hidden lives online that can often lead to problems such as online bullying. Teachers are also concerned with the amount of time their students spend online. "We almost have to be entertainers. They consume so much media. We have to cut through that cloud of information around them, cut through that media, and capture their attention," social studies teacher Steve Maher explained to FRONTLINE. I found this lesson very informative because I grew up as part of the online generation, but I see it being used more and more by my younger siblings.

Web technology definetly relates to advertising because the field is moving more towards online media. Advertising follows its consumers, and since the most targeted market is the younger generation, advertisers are following them online. Many companies set up web sites, advertise on social networking sites and produce online commercials to specifically target the audience that spends more time online than watching tv, reading the newspaper or listening to the radio. I think it is important for me as an advertising student to learn history of technology and how it is evoloving in order to apply it to my field.

I chose an article on Wikipedia about Google to explain the power of internet technology. Google transformed the way we search for things on the internet and has continued developments that constantly revolutionize internet technology. This article is relevant to this lesson because Google is a huge part of the internet and I think it is important to know about how they were created as well as their plans for the future, as they may impact they way we use the internet.

Week 2- Educational Technolgy

In this week's lesson we were introduced to technology and how it is being used to teach in today's society. While we now relate technology to the internet, in the past other mediums of technology were used. For example, I remember listening to audio tapes and using overhead projectors when I was in elementary school. While we now use more advanced forms of technology, it is important to note that technology has been used to assist educators for many years. A great example of today's educational technology is this very course. We meet in the lab once a week, and the other two hours are to be completed online. We have presentations to watch, forums to post and interact, and this blog to keep up with. This is very different from other classes because there is such a heavy reliance on technology.

Even though educational technology doesn't directly apply to advertising, I think it is still relevant because technology is becoming an everyday part of society as a whole. The skills that we learn in this class can be used in advertising in many ways. For example, while forum posts can be used to interact and teach by ordinary people, market researchers can view them to gain insight into their consumer's minds. Photoshop is also a great skill needed by advertisers who will create visual art. Even though the education field and the advertising field use technology in different ways, I think they relate to each other because the same skills are needed, it is just a matter of how you apply the technology.

I found a video on Youtube that was created to teach kids the proper way to wash their hands.

This is an example of educational technology because someone had to create a video, put it together with kids in mind, and post it on the internet for adults everywhere to have access to a fun, informative video. Instead of a chart or poster to teach kids, this video uses a cartoon to exemplify the correct way to sanitize your hands. It also uses a catchy song that will keep the children's attention and get them excited about what they are learning. I think this is a great exmaple of educational technology because the kids can learn from something they also find entertaining. Because germs help spread the flu, I'm sure this video is being used all over the country to explain to kids the proper way to wash thier hands.

Ethics & Technology

This past week we discussed copyright law and ethical issues in technology. I found this video on youtube that explains some terms about information technology issues such as phishing, virus, and hacker. However, I feel that our generation grew up knowing these terms and it's just something we watch out for on a normal basis because we spend so much time online. The video shows pictures of "good people" and asks where they all went, implying that our society is now comprised of only unethical people. I think there are still good people in this world, but the internet just makes it easier for the bad ones to commit these crimes.