Fashion Nail

# Epilogue

In recent years, many more people have developed interest in fashion, which refers to a distinctive style, especially in clothing, makeup, shoes, and accessories. Nowadays, nail art is attracting great attention from women as an important aspect of beauty. I also think nail art makes me more fashionable, and it means to me that I am taking good care of myself.
This short film for my final project engages creatively with digital media and the arts and based on my own personal interest in nail art.
We already experienced how to use iMovie in class during this term, and I also made a mini demo- iMovie for the midterm with my partner. So I have a close affinity with iMovie, and that this is reason why I made a short film.
What is iMovie?
iMovie is Apple’s basic video editing application, which can import video and photo files from a hard drive. From there, I can edit the photos and video clips and add titles, music, and effects, including basic color correction and video enhancement tools and transitions such as fades and slides.

In the process of making a short film

– Import my video and photo files from a digital camera.
– Click File (New Project).
– Drag my video and photos selection to the Project browser.
– Add titles (change pont,color, and size)and captions (I used Photoshop and Powerpoint for captions).
– Add transitions (using with various type).
– Add video effects (using vignette effect).
– Edit duration time of video clips and photos clips.
– Add music “Havana” from iLife Sound Effects (I choose the rhythmical beat of music).

So my goal was to learn to make a short film and applying my creativity to filmmaking in the digital age.
In the process of making a short film, I gained lots of knowledge about how to shoot good video, how to use images and jpegs in a film, how to use titles, how to add soundtracks to my film and how to come up with engaging creative ideas for my project.
For this film, I went to nail art shop, located in Yaletown (downtown), for shooting the video and taking some photos. It took over 2 hours to shoot this film, and I spent a long time editing. In fact, I kept editing the film for 3days.
The mid-term with my partner was very helpful for both of us, and we shared knowledge while creating the final product. I felt the last project was harder than the mid-term, during which I worked with a partner, because the final project involved working individually.
I put a lot of hard work into this final project. I think my film hardly shows my efforts, but I am proud of my efforts, and hope you enjoy it!!

This is my last reflection essay !!!:)

Reflection #3

The second educational revolution: rethinking education in the age of technology

by Collins, A. & Halverson, R.

          Over the past few decades, advances in science and technology have brought us numerous benefits in different ways. The technology basically made our lives easier across the world, and many of us embraced the advantages of the technology naturally. Before we knew it, people already shared technology at work places, schools, and home. Due to developing technology, education is going through a second revolution which affects the way we learn. Educators in the age of technology play an important role for learning people. However, in some cases they have not yet changed their notions that the way of delivery knowledge must involve standardized teaching, and they need to change the system of assessment in school.

For example, many of educators use multiple-choice and short answer items on tests for evaluating students’ abilities and acquisition of knowledge. My knowledge also has been evaluated by standardizes assessment in classes, but the EDCP class uses a different system in which there is no standardized teaching and learning. In my opinion, this class provides learning and assessments better than in other classes. Our final project, an e-portfolio, use a different assessment tool to measure self-expression, user’s abilities, creative thinking, and learning record over several years. The e-portfolio is a new technological system in education, and I think that this project will provide me with what I need for my developmental goals. This system seems to be suitable for learning digital technology in the age of technology, and gives me practical experience and help. At beginning of this class, I was unfamiliar with this system. But now I am learning a lot of things and experiencing how to use and treat digital technology in this class unlike the standardization classes.

In the article, Collins and Halverson (2010) argue that our school leaders and teachers need to understand technology, and also proponents of information technology need to work to develop new approaches in collaboration with educators for the new technological revolution. Collins and Halverson (2010) point out that we will have to adapt more to education in many different ways and places such as home schooling, workplace learning, distance education, adult education, learning centers, computer games, web communities, technical certifications, and Internet cafes. I can see that some of my friends are taking courses by distance education, and I can even take some of these courses myself. I think they want us to understand the new system of education as something that needs radical changes, and make us notice that education is not only schooling but also happens everywhere and whenever we want to learn. Based on a survey, parents in the US have seen a drift towards children being in home schooling and distance learning in the last several decades.

When I watched the news on television quite a while ago, home schooling had started in Korea. But home schooling was just issue for a short time. In addition, it did not attract the attention of educators and parents who supported the standardized system in Korean society. Collins and Halverson (2010) are right in that, as we have the benefits of new technologies, we should rethink our views about schooling and learning. Our education system has been overlooking their importance. We have come to think that we need to focus on our current educational institutions. But instead, Collins and Halverson (2010) argue, people need education in the age of technology that emphasizes the role of more responsibility, customization, less competition, and active systems. Society should move on, and one way to improve education is to improve the schools.

Education is endless learning during our lifetimes. Actually, my conception of education was that I was not going to study anymore after graduation, and that this is my last education in my life. However, I realize that education, especially with new technology, brings valuable experience, golden opportunities, and my own development. Collaboration of new technology and education is one way that will lead to an improved future society, economy, and culture all over the world. This is the time to rethink our current education system, which tends to overlook the digital impact. We must also think about the potential gains and potential losses from being in the midst of a technological revolution. Of course, we need lots of time to reflect on the major change for the future. However, after reading Collins and Halverson’s article, my thinking about education in the age of technology has changed, to make me interested in the vision for an educational system, and realize educational reform could not happen without everyone’s efforts. We are in state of tensions between conventional schooling and the new system of education with digital media. There is time to catch up with technology even if we think it is too late!!!

References: Collins, A. and Halverson, R. “The Second Educational Revolution: Rethinking Education in the Age of Technology” Journal of Computer Assisted Learning (2010), 26, 18-27.

Reflection #2

Technology as Arts-Based Education: Does the Desktop Reflect the Arts?

by Peter Gouzouasis

For the last few decades, art and technology have been central social issues that raised concerns among many artists and arts educators across the world. More recently, some have recognized the endangered state of the arts, as becoming overshadowed by technology, which may lead to various problems to the lives of the future generation. Nowadays, most educators use computers to help with lecture concepts when they are teaching, and present information in class using Powerpoint or the Internet. All students also use computers for assignments, class projects, and viewing lecture notes. I am writing an essay while listening to music on

a computer now. I think this illustrates how arts and technology may collaborate because listening to music and writing an essay are types of art, and the tool that facilitates them is technology. Technology is not a negative development.

For example, if educators did not use Powerpoint or the Internet, they would probably have to write lecture notes by hand, which would be inefficient for both educators and students. Nowadays it seems terrible just to think about life without using tools or technologies such as Youtube or Powerpoint. Yet technology alone is not sufficient. In his article, Gouzouasis (2006) argues that technology without art lacks something important – the most important thing. He also points out that these days people have a tendency to use technology without recognizing the importance of art in society, in our thinking and in our education system. Gouzouasis (2006), in his analysis of technology, thinks this modern tendency is dangerous mistake because he recognizes true artistic creativity is something more than being able to use technology. Someone may have full knowledge of how to construct houses and buildings, but this cannot produce the beauty of architecture. Gouzouasis (2006) points out that the artistic skills of the architect are different from the technological skills, and learning technological skills is not enough. I think he wants us to understand technology as something that has helped artists to express themselves.

For example, the invention of musical instruments has helped artists. In addition, the inventions of paints, materials, cameras, computer animation have helped visual artists, but these inventions could not replace the artist.

When I learned how to use the garage band program in class, my concern was how to control this program and how to mix music with various instruments. Due to learning about the garage band program in class, I learned about the important role of computers. This work was so interesting and amazing. Now I realize that my attention was on using technology and not on what was inside the artist’s mind such as creativity, thinking, and his or her soul. Gouzouasis (2006) is right in that, as we are impressed by technology, we may overlook the artistic impulse that lies behind the technology. Our education system has been overlooking their importance. We have come to think that we need to focus on technology. But instead, Gouzouasis (2006) argues, people need “arts-based” technology education that emphasizes the role of creativity, critical thinking, imagination, and artistic expression. Without these things, we have only digital noise or digital garbage – no matter how highly developed our technologies are.

Digital media are part of our daily lives. Actually, I have never deeply thought about the digital media and did not have any particular opinions about digital media prior to this course. My previous conception of digital media was something which was simple to handle, useful, and offered diverse information easily. Through reading this article, I now understand the interconnection between art and technology – which is a useful tool for expressing our imagination and creativity – and understand how art and technology affect each other. Either one without the other leaves our culture unbalanced. These two things are both needed in our society. If we fail to understand that, and if we ignore the value of art, our lives will be meaningless, lifeless, and empty. As technology continues to develop more, our thinking has to be changed to include and deal with art, and educators must recognize the need for an integrated arts and technology curriculum for students who may be leaders in the future.

Technology education must never underestimate creativity. Of course, technology is a great invention in human civilization because we receive the benefits of it. However, , after reading Gouzouasis’s article, my thinking about technology has changed, to make me to not focus on technological skills, and realize technology could not stand without art. If we do not want to miss more cultural opportunities from technology and art, we must move on and rethink our perception of them. Then there can be a wonderful combination of technology and art!!

This is my first reflection (autobiographical) essay.

 Reflection #1

‘ Music Shaped My Life’

In the course of our daily lives, listening to music is so commonplace that it does not affect us anymore. Many of us experience music, either by actually listening to music or perhaps against our will such as by walking along the street, shopping at a store, watching ads on television, or watching movies. The very first experience of music in my life goes back to the time when I was in my mother’s womb. My mother used to listening to music that had a good prenatal effect on me, and I think it greatly influenced my life. There were a lot of music CDs of many kinds in my home, so I could encounter music naturally since I was born. Accordingly, I have precious memories associated with music. When it was my father’s birthday, I danced for him while playing music. I clearly remember the pieces were Lambada by Kaoma and Dancing Queen by ABBA. These pieces make me dance me even until now, and make me indulge in reminiscence. From that time I love to dance and listen to music because music is a big part of my memories and always evokes memories of my past experiences. When I went to kindergarten, I started to learn to play the piano. I was so interested, and I was amazed to learn how to read musical notes, which to me looked like bean sprouts. Unfortunately, my curiosity about the piano ended 7 years after I had begun learning it.

When I was an elementary school student, I was a member of the choir in my school. It was a valuable chance for me to learn the spirit of team work, harmony, sensitivity, and attitude needed for singing, and also confidence, all of which were to dominate my future development. In the middle of elementary school, I learned to play the violin for one year. My violin teacher often invited me to her concerts. I remember that I felt comfortable feeling listening to the calm parts, and that some parts gave me magnificent feelings. These concerts moved me like a roller coaster ride.

Toward the end of my graduation from elementary school, my mother highly recommended that I learn the clarinet. I think I was a very curious young girl who wanted to learn new instruments but lacked tenacity. Eventually, I started to learn the clarinet for about 2 years. Honestly, I think that I learned a lot of instruments compared with my peers, but I could not perfectly play any one of them. Nevertheless, the experience was precious and let me know the beautiful sound of the piano, strings and wind instruments.

As I grew up and had some deeply sad experiences, my favorite genre of music changed from dance music to ballades. The lyrics of ballades touched my emotions directly or indirectly. At first I did not understand the lyrics and paid attention only to melodies. However, when I understood lyrics, I realized their importance and began viewing music in a new way. From that moment, I loved listening to music more, and it made me give special meaning while listening to music, and now music reminds me of those moments and memories. Often I got lost in memories. Some kinds of music made me gloomy and sad or mournful of the past, other kinds of music made me excited and cheerfully appreciate life with happiness and gratitude. Both had greatly influence over me. When I went to secondary school in Canada, I usually listened to the radio, which gave me and introduction to western music, and it was kind of cultural shock. It felt like falling into a black hole, and had an unusual impact on me for a while because it was totally different form music that I usually listened to. After I become of legal age, I often had the opportunities to enjoy parties. At that time I was into hip-hop, rap and pop; I could not get out of the party life. Following changes in my life pattern, my musical tendencies also changed. Recently, I like to listening to electronic music that makes me want to go party, but also gospel songs that I listen to in the morning or late night.

This autobiographical essay makes me think deeply and look back on my past while I am writing about music in my life. Honestly, writing an “autobiographical essay” is unfamiliar, unusual, and quite interesting to me. But I can generally say that music has great power in that it controls people’s feelings – music is even used by psychotherapist or doctors and helps children’s personal development. This amazing thing is called “music”. How can I not love music!!

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