MCT590Ruidiblog

We actually enjoyed some, digital stories about life and family in our last few weeks of learning.

Enjoying other people’s digital stories about their families is a special and heart-warming experience. Often featuring family and friends, these stories show the emotions, memories and bonds that exist between family members. When watching these stories, I was often struck by the warmth of the family, and the authenticity of the stories, while also being able to recall my own family experiences and emotions.

The digital stories of the family and friends genre have a strong emotional resonance for me, and I can understand and feel the importance of family and the emotional bonds between family members. The stories show beautiful family moments, challenges and growth through a variety of mediums such as pictures, videos, music and words. One digital story that stood out to me was a picture of a boy and his friends on campus, where they seem to be not static, but have a dynamic energy, teenagers at a turning point in their lives, with ambition, hope and innocence and insecurity in their eyes. All of these resonate with the creators in an emotional way. They remind me to cherish my family and friends and to create more beautiful memories in my life.

Watching other people’s family digital stories also inspires me to think about and reflect on family and friendships. They remind me of my own childhood days, family activities and interactions with loved ones. These stories are not only insights into other people’s families, but also reflections and memories of my own family. They made me examine the meaning of family and realise that family is an important force that supports and accompanies our growth and deserves to be cherished and maintained. I therefore added the element of my family to the digital story I eventually submitted.

Enjoying other people’s family digital stories is a soul-touching experience. They make me feel the warmth of family, the emotional ties and the authenticity of life. It made me rethink and cherish the importance of family. By observing other people’s family digital stories, I am able to learn creative skills and expressions from them and apply them to my own creations to create authentic and touching family storytelling pieces.Meanwhile, Digital stories are tools recommended by scholars to enhance students’ success in science and math education.( 2016, Y)

Regarding the vocals and pictures I use in my own digital stories, they are all my own, the sound effects : light waves coming in /After sea from freeSFX; Sound of waves/running on grass sound effects from ai

Reference:

Yuksekyalcin, G., Tanriseven, I. and Sancar-Tokmak, H. (2016) ‘Mathematics and science teachers’ perceptions about using drama during the Digital Story Creation Process’, Educational Media International, 53(3), pp. 216–227. doi:10.1080/09523987.2016.1236970.

I have had a challenging and inspiring learning journey with Photoshop, a powerful image manipulation software. In class, I learnt the basics of Photoshop. From image editing to keying, from colour grading to retouching, I gradually learned about the wide range of areas in which the software can be used. I learnt to use different tools and techniques to realise the creation of my own stories.

Through my classroom learning, I discovered the endless possibilities of creativity. Photoshop provided me with a blank canvas to explore and express my ideas freely. I learnt to use features such as filters and effects.

I also faced some challenges in the classroom. photoshop is a powerful and complex piece of software and it takes time and patience to master it. I encountered some technical difficulties and confusion about the process, but through hard work and guidance from my teacher, I gradually overcame these challenges. This process has taught me persistence and problem-solving skills. In addition, the collaboration and interaction in class enriched my learning experience. Ask your classmates for advice on how to use and techniques. This communal learning atmosphere has motivated me to love and enjoy the learning process even more.

By learning Photoshop, I have not only mastered a powerful tool, but also realised the importance of image manipulation. In today’s digital world, images are the vital link that connects us to our viewers and audiences. Through Photoshop, I can tell stories, convey emotions and make a point in a unique way. Overall, the classroom experience of learning Photoshop has been an unforgettable journey.

In my journey of digital creation, Adobe Premiere, a professional video editing software, has opened up a wide world of creative possibilities for me to tell stories, express creativity and emotions in the form of images. Looking back on the experience of learning Adobe Premiere, I realise that Adobe Premiere, as a professional video editing tool, is the foundation for creating digital storytelling creations.

By learning Adobe Premiere, I have acquired the basic skills of video editing. I learnt how to import footage, edit and organise clips, adjust audio and video effects, add transitions and effects to emphasise emotion, create atmosphere and convey the ideas I wanted to convey, and export the final product.

Learning Adobe Premiere also made me realise the importance of editing. Through the selection and manipulation of material, I was able to shape different emotions and story lines. Editing decisions and creative decisions have a significant impact on the effect and look of the final product.

Through the use of digital media, I am able to blend elements of image, video, audio and text to create a rich, moving and memorable storytelling experience. Through studying Adobe Premiere and digital storytelling, I have also become aware of the interplay between content creativity and technology. The technical tools provide the basis for creativity to be realised, while the creativity of content gives greater meaning and impact to the technical tools.

However, my digital storytelling is still a bit thin, and I still have a lot of inexperience when using Adobe Premiere.Often, the key to success is experimentation and practice with the equipment, prior to formal use for assessment. Support from your peers and working effectively as part of a team with specific roles and tasks assigned both on and off camera will foster success.Master these techniques and develop new communication skills that are also likely to be valued by future employers. I will become skilled in its use in my future life and studies. I look forward to applying the knowledge and experience I have gained to future creative projects and continue to explore the dual fusion of creativity and technology to create richer, more insightful digital stories (2011, France).

Reference:

France, D. and Wakefield, K. (2011) ‘How to produce a Digital story’, Journal of Geography in Higher Education, 35(4), pp. 617–623. doi:10.1080/03098265.2011.560658.

Design Touch Board interactive display

We spent almost a full day working on our group’s Touch Board interactive display, the theme of which was ‘hope’. Before starting to work on the display, the basic ideas were developed. I drew a picture of a little girl walking with a puppy and a rainbow in the sky, which to me represents hope and beauty.

It was actually a challenge for me to work on a project like this for the first time because I was faced with an unknown outcome and I didn’t know if I would be able to show you a piece that would look better and have a clear theme at the end. I was involved in a complete creative process from start to finish and our group worked very well together.

The process of creating the story script for ‘Hope’ not only made me try to think inwards, remember past experiences, dissect my own inner emotional changes and think deeply about my understanding of hope. Firstly, I realised the importance about story structure and narrative technique, I realised that a powerful story needs to be able to resonate with the audience and convey deep emotions. It is important to strive to demonstrate the power of hope through well-designed narrative structures and memorable plots that resonate and inspire within the audience. Secondly, through the use of various digital media tools, such as images and audio, I have learnt to skillfully weave together the elements of the story. In addition exercised my creativity and expression skills to express and communicate my ideas with the group members. The way we communicate in a team determines whether our individual different stories and ideas can be blended into a whole in an exhibition. Finally through the digital storytelling project, I learnt the importance of self-expression. I found that through digital media I could communicate my thoughts and ideas in a more visual and vivid way, and connect with the audience in my own unique way.

There were many challenges in the process. One of them is how to effectively communicate complex themes with limited time and resources. Also, technical challenges came up from time to time, and I felt unable to find a good state of mind when recording and going about expressing my emotions. It is still difficult to convey emotion through the voice and requires imagery and practice. I also need to learn and master the creative tools of recording and video editing in order to realise my creative vision.

Discussing interactive digital stories

During the workshop session this week, we each shared our stories about HOPE. I shared my story about how I had bad feelings about a previous date and then had the courage to stop the date. This story gave me the feeling that it is important to have the courage to face up to your thoughts in emotions and to pay attention to and respect the flow of your emotions.

As the group gathered around to share stories, I found that I really enjoyed listening, learning about experiences I had never experienced before and discovering new things from other people’s experiences as I listened to them talk about their own. Especially being in an international class, surrounded by students from different countries.

What struck me was the story Renu shared about how her family was infected one after another during the global epidemic, and how one desperate night, when the anxiety and fear reached its peak, she finally saw the new world again at sunrise the next day. As she recounted it, it was as if she was back in the story of that time, emotions and sadness welled up and she cried out. Such genuine sharing and emotional outpouring infected every student as well. The atmosphere was so sincere that it must be a moment I will remember and cherish for a long time.

Everyone was immersed in the workshop with the most sincere attitude of communication, and it was the most touching moment to be the most trusting person to each other, not just as classmates in the classroom. Therefore, I think that apart from the external presentation of sound and video, digital storytelling should be exquisite, the content of the story must be one’s true feelings, even if the language is plain, it can still make the audience feel genuine.

In this week’s workshop we learned how to record with the H2n Zoom, a professional device.

Learning to use the H2n Zoom gave me an understanding of the fundamentals and technical aspects of audio recording. I mastered microphone placement and positioning techniques and the H2n Zoom, as a professional grade recording device, provided me with a high quality recording experience. Its multiple microphone modes and flexible setting options allow me to adapt to different recording scenarios, resulting in clear, lifelike audio results.

Through studying the H2n Zoom, I have discovered that audio recording is a nuanced art. Each voice carries a unique emotion and message, and H2n Zoom has allowed me to capture and render these nuances. I have learnt to focus on the quality of the audio, the handling of ambient sounds and how to improve the audio through post-processing. By recording and editing audio, I can express emotions, tell stories and even create sound effects.

Apart from the technical improvements, learning H2n Zoom has also given me the opportunity to think deeply about the art of audio. I began to focus on the beauty of sound and realised the importance of audio in film, television and radio, etc. Learning H2n Zoom has enabled me to better appreciate sound and musical compositions.

After listening to the teacher, we practised recording conversations and interviews with our classmates. In the workshop, the audio of my own digital story was recorded. However, the real recording process is still far from the imaginary recording, and there are respective small flaws when using the equipment, so we still have to improve with continuous practice.

We chose photos and drew pictures together.

In this week’s lesson, the teacher had a number of photographic images on the table and we chose two based on our first impressions and then shared with the group why we chose them. I chose the photo of the bottom of the sea and the Aurora Borealis. I chose these two photos because I feel that being in my 20s is a threshold between a mature and immature age, with some experience but still a relatively young mind. I would like to have the opportunity in the future to go on adventures, see the Aurora Borealis, travel around the world and meet interesting strangers, it is a time of endless possibilities and a wonderful time. So I chose photos that represent, in my heart, the vision I have for the future.

Cleverly, from the stories shared by the panelists, they also mentioned some of their own traumatic memories, or good memories, or how they went through pain and came out healed. What struck me was Emily’s mention of the body shaming she had been subjected to, which had left her very hurt for a while, and then she found the confidence to wear what she liked, so confident and dazzling in her halter.

This story really touched me. Then the teacher gave us a bunch of coloured pens and cardboard to draw pictures of what we wanted in our hearts. I drew a picture of swimming at the bottom of the sea, encountering danger, thinking I was encountering a fierce beast, but I looked up and realised it was a cute monster. Enjoy the process and enjoy what you experience.

Overall, I enjoyed the moments when we all came together to tell stories of our past and to think about the future.

Week 3

We shared our 100 word map digital story scripts with the group and put them in our Google Maps

This week each of us brought a photo of the story, or an item related to the digital story, to share with the group. During the workshop we sat in a circle so that we could hear each person’s voice clearly. This is something I have rarely experienced in my previous learning experiences. So at first I was nervous because I had to share my story and feelings in front of everyone. But after a while, hearing other people’s story scripts, so real and lovely, I relaxed. I shared a story about sitting on the beach in Xiamen last summer talking with my hairdresser. I think the joy of life is brought about by the little moments, the little moments that heal me. I was intrigued by the digital stories of the group members. For example, Fire shared a story about her and I cooking together in the dormitory, the details of which made me feel warm and the small things that I usually find mundane came to the surface in one scene.

What I liked most about the story sharing session was that after each person had shared, other students would ask questions or talk about their own feelings. I felt that in these frenetic and fast-paced times, it was really memorable and appreciated that someone listened to my stories and feelings.

But the first time I wrote a digital script, I didn’t have enough skills in conceptualising the story and therefore didn’t find it engaging enough, so after the discussion, I asked my teacher for advice on how to make the story seem more engaging. Later, I found it an interesting process to record my story and find ways to make it logically structured and creative.

As Jason (2006) would said, digital story’s technologies give voice to a number of otherwise quiet students and to students whose skills don’t fit the usual academic mold. But As the technology becomes more powerful, their stories become weaker, illustrating the truth of the saying ―What happens when you give a bad guitar player a bigger amplifier? The problem for many students is their focus on the power of the technology rather than the power of their stories. So when I create digital stories, I will focus on refining the details of the content.

Reference:

Jason, O. (2006) ‘The World of Digital Storytelling’, educational leader, January, pp. 44–47.

The first time I watched someone’s digital storytelling in class, I was often captivated by the atmosphere and storytelling of their videos. The technology and creativity of digital media combine to create stunning visuals that immerse the viewer. The use of colour, the manipulation of images and the fluidity of the animations all give me a sense of the endless possibilities of digital creation.

Watching the google map digital stories of other people also gave me a sense of the wonders and diversity of geographic space. Through the presentation of maps of different regions, I was able to learn about the cultural and social issues of each place. Map digital stories have made me more curious and open to the lives of people in different countries through the presentation of geographical space. Watching other people’s digital stories is an exciting experience.

Viewing other people’s food digital stories is a wonderful experience. Food digital stories evoke taste and emotion with their beautiful visual presentation and love of food. The visuals of food digital stories are breathtaking. The creators have brought out the colours and textures of the food in such a way that the viewer can feel the aroma and taste of the food. Secondly, the food digital stories also sparked a love and curiosity for food. Viewers can learn about the culinary traditions and unique flavours of different countries and cultures. In addition, food digital stories evoke emotions and memories in viewers. Food is a force that touches people emotionally and is closely linked to family, friendship and shared memories. Digital food stories are not only entertainment, but also an emotional bond that allows people to watch and share their stories and memories with others.

At the same time, watching someone else’s digital story is also an emotional connection. Through the narrative and visual representation of a story, we can develop an emotional connection with the creator. The themes and emotions they explore can strike a chord within us, making us empathise, think and feel. Digital storytelling can sometimes convey information in a visual and immersive way, allowing us to more deeply understand and experience the feelings and perspectives of others.