Final Blog --Mariane Machado

I can't even start listing the things that I learned and enjoyed in this class. This class was full of wonderful, and fun experience. I remember getting switched into this class and not having a clue what was going on. When i walked in, I was welcomed with a warm smile and a teacher ready to help and work with me throughout the year. For starter, The Day Wolf was a really interesting, creative and fun video to make. Having to wear the blond wig , having to lay down on the floor of the cemetery, and being chased by a werewolf were experiences that I will forever hold with me. Especially all the bloopers! At the end of it though it was all worth it, look at the wonderful video we, altogether made. One thing that we can definitely say about this class is that everyone is ready to help each other at any time needed.

One story that influenced my life dramatically was the video Growing Up Online, on Frontline. During that video we saw that cyber bulling is getting bigger and bigger on social websites. Parents are deeply concerned about what's going on with their children lives and if they are being bullied in any form. I learned that Cyberbulling lead to much more severe consequences than just getting angry, and upset, it can lead to suicide. I remember watching about the video about Ryan Halligan. He was a young boy with all his life ahead of him when bulling got a little out of control. I know that bulling is real; I know it happens everyday, but for the fact that a 12 year old boy killed himself because he couldn't handle it was horrific. The worse part in this story was that there was a deeply disturbed kid giving him wrong advices online, showing him websites on how to kill you. When the pain got too much to handle he did it. I think that if you don’t have anything useful to say then don’t. That got me mad. How can there be people out there that are playing around with someone else life.

I learned so much in this small amount of time that i spent in this class. I personally didn't think it was possible to do everything we did in such a short period of time. Before we actually started to work on any projects we had to start messing around with the GarageBand and the Final Cut Express HD. Those are not easy programs, they are filled with interesting and some complicated gadgets. I tried my best to get as much as possible out of this course, and surly i did. The only thing I truly wished is that the course was a full year class, everything else was perfect. I loved the way Ms. Ventura taught us. She was calm, patient and always ready to help.

My favorite part of the whole class was working on my radio show. At first you look at the ones people from other classes did and say "Oh that's easy", Its really not that simple. First of all we have to brainstorm. We had to come up with an interesting and funny radio script. After editing the script assigning parts and all we had to record. That was one of my favorite parts. In order to record, everyone gathered in a tight, squished circle so that their voices could be heard, that was fun! After recording we started to learn how to mess with GarageBand. There not too much to it, you just have to make sure not to delete anyone lines. On GarageBand is where we added special effects, edited the recordings, added songs etc. After that we started to gather pictures to start our visual part on the radio show. That's when we stared to use the Final Cut Express HD. We learned how to move the images, how to make transitions and everything. I would love make more videos in the future. If I had to chose I would probably choose to do documentaries.

I can use what I learned in this class anywhere I want in the future. Everything theses days are so technological. Everything you do has something to do with technology; Everything is digital. I could use what I learned to make homevideos, or even work with it as a carer.

I think that Ms.Ventura is a really good teacher. I thank her for everything I learned this course. I thought she was calm and ready to help you whenever you needed. Thank you very much for being an awesome teacher Ms. V.

Final blog - Steffy

I came into this class half way through the year when they switched my schedule not knowing anyone in here and didn't really know what to expect in this class. I wasn't to sure if I would talk to anyone or make friends but I was wrong, I made friends pretty quick. My weakness in this class was being able to get the work done on time because it's difficult for me to sit in one place for a long time without having to move around or walk around to get my focus back. It was difficult for me the past few days because I was thinking that I was never going to finish the final project because there is still a lot of work to do on it. I wish we used Garage Band more to work on more projects. My final project I didn't get the chance to finish it no matter how much I worked on the project I knew that it was going to take me forever to finish working on it and get it finished on time. I liked the experience of learning how to do new things even though I can't focus on many things at once it was interesting learning about them. I can see myself probably using some of this stuff in the future when I'm in college because I want to do photography and I could use it to make videos of my pictures that I've taken. I liked when you showed us videos and then had us talk about them. I didn't really like the blogging part of it because I'm not really good at writing on my own. I think that if we had talked more in a group it would have been easier to understand things more.

Final project

I've had lots of fun these two last semesters in this media class, I can't believe its over now. I've learned a lot of new things things that I didn't even know about before. Such as this website Blogger, where I learned how to write blogs. I think that I would probably use this website in the future. Another thing I learned in your class was Final cut Express, I had never used it before or knew how to use it, and now thanks to this class I do. In this class I also felt like a knew more about what was going on in the world. What I'm trying to say is every day that I would walk into this room you had a new story to tell us about something that was going on. Like one day it was the oil spill on the gulf of Mexico, the bomb in a car in New York, or even the bombs that were in Watertown and etc.

In your class I learned a lot about my strengths and weakness. I figured out that writing is one of my weaknesses and that I have to get better at it. In the other hand I figured out that I can be very creative when I try. In your class one thing I wish we could have done more of would be doing more recordings in garage band, I really enjoyed working with that. Another thing I wish we did more of would be recording, I really enjoyed recording the wolf-man movie in the beginning of the semester. I wish that we had a chance to have used the recording studio more often.

I really enjoyed working our final project, but sometimes I would start to get a little frustrated because I couldn't always find the pictures that I wanted. It was a good experience for me though, I had never done anything like that before and I learned a lot too. I hope that we could do projects more like this one in the future if I happen to have this class again. Well we never really know what were going to do in the future and with the future always fuller of electronics. I think its very likely for me to use all the things I learned in this class again someday. A skill that I learned that I think is very useful would be blogging, because I have a feeling that someday I will have to us it again.

Well I had no problems with your teaching skills I actually liked them. I think its cool how your a young teacher who doesn't get mad really quickly, and who talks a lot. Since you are also young you understand us. I also like it how you are that teachers who your students can come to and talk to and you can give very good advices. Well right now I don't remember anything that I didn't like and if I were a teacher I would not have thought this class any different.

Saying goodbye to media:( BY: Damon Michael Torell Weiser.

Looking at this last project from beginning to end I am very happy with what has come out of it, but I still think about things that I would change about what I did to the project in these last couple months.

I think the assignment that I enjoyed the most was the Frontline programs. In this project we got to choose a Frontline program to watch. Some of us watched it in class, other finished at home. What we did was watch the most interesting t us, and then we blogged about it after.

Looking back on this year, and the blog, I can see lots of things that I had fun with. Learning was a big part of my experience in this media class. I learned how

to work Garage Band, and Final cut HD. These two programs have also taught me a lot, and they are fun to work with. In Garage band I learned how to import, export, create tracks, and edit a final piece. Moving on to Final Cut HD I learned how to further edit my piece by adding Pictures, videos, and text blocks.

I liked our final project a lot, I think it was a good idea, and the outcome of th

e project would really reflect on who we are. I liked the script writing part of the project, it really made the class dip into our creative side, and project that onto the script. I think the persons project that i enjoyed the most out of all the projects that we have worked on is Joseph Markarians project. Seeing the script in the beginning, and then seeing it on the screen in the end was really cool. I thought it was very funny. I can see myself using these programs in the future for professional reasons. Maybe if I were working at a company I could use the thing I learned from media class to make an advertisement or and animated logo.

I liked learning from you Ms.V this class was different than i expected it to be, bu

t I liked everything that we did. I liked the way that we connected through the projects that you out together. I feel you made the class connect through the projects by having us get very personal, and in depth. These things made the class interesting and more understanding of each other. So all together I feel that i not only learned a lot in this semester, but i can take a lot of what i did home and show off. Thank you for a great semester! I hope to learn more next year. Goodbye I had lots of fun. Damon Michael Torell Weiser.

Mass Communications Reflection

1) During our time spent in this class, we have written many blogs and seen many videos. However, the most influential blog to me is Meth Epidemic, by Mariane Machado. With all do respect, the other blogs were also very informative and well written, yet they just didn't do it for me; I didn't find them as interesting. The topic of this particular blog was very attention - grabbing. The blog was very informative about Meth and its effects, not to mention the picture contributed to making me look down upon drugs even further.

2) In this class, we blogged about videos, worked on the radio project, and wrote blogs about things that are going on today, such as the car bomb suspect that lived in Watertown. My strength was blogging about these events that took place, because I like writing, which made the assignment convenient for me. However, I did have a weakness too, and that was to come up with a good script for my radio project. I had a tough time figuring out what the plot would be, and once I did, i stumbled upon another barrier, which was to sync in the pictures correspondingly with the lines, but eventually I successfully finished it. I wish we had done more radio projects, because it was a fun experience for the all of us in the class. If I could, I would like to make music in the class; 2 to 4 minutes songs that we make according to what genre music we like.

3) Making my final project "Improvisation Class," was an enjoyable assignment that had me looking forward to coming to class every day. From making this video, I have become experienced in Final Cut and better at making presentations without using Microsoft Powerpoint. If were to take this class again, I would like to make a project that is video only, unlike the project that we did this term which was pictures only.

4) In the future, I can make the skills that I learned in this class by making presentations for my other classes like the one I have to make for my science teacher as a final. He gave us the choice writing a five page essay, or making a Powerpoint presentation. Due to this class, I have chosen to make a presentation that I know will be acceptional.

5) As a teacher, Ms. Ventura's strength's are being able to explain how to use a new application for those of us who haven't used it before. For example, I though Final Cut was very complicated when I first opened it, but after an effective explanation, I easily finished the Final Project. Yet like all humans, some weaknesses are apparent. The one and only weakness was allowing students to publish their blog a day or two late. Although it was a nice act, many students learned to take advantage of it. If I were a teacher, I would teach this class the exact same way I was taught.

My Experience

What to say? What to say? This was my favorite class this semester. This was one of the few classes I looked forward to going to. One of the few classes I tried getting to on time. This class kept you interested and for me, awake. We would always be doing something different. We would we talk about different things everyday. The oil spill, NYC bomber, the bombers in watertown,etc.

Things that have influenced me:

Resident evil

Metal Gear Solid

Darksiders

KoRn

Are You Ready?

Disturbed

Indestructible

Slipknot

My fav song by them

Godsmack

I Stand Alone

Cannibal Corpse I started listening to them not too long ago but their awesome.

Eviseration Plague Warning! If you can't stand loud music...well turn the volume down a little and listen anyway.

What you need to do to someone if someone hurts you or anyone close to you Warning! Again its loud.

Randy Orton A man that will do anything to get what he wants.

See here happens at the 0:20 mark

And here happens about every five seconds can't miss it.

This is how you drop somebody

and again

Look at how focused he gets usually he doesn't get interrupted (that kick) and the two things go together

Shawn Michaels

One of my favorite moves happens in the beginning

High flier miles!

Imagine being put in this

My super favorite person below

Jeff Hardy my biggest influence. he never gives up and follows his dreams. I think of him when things are turning bad around me.

Can fate be changed?

Can you hear the wind talk?

More high flier miles! he broke his neck doing it from that high

Everyone in this class I hope to see again next year. Everybody was different and brought something unique to the table. Joe, sometimes unsure of himself, he always works hard. Me and Steffy with our varying styles of metal. Jesse with his rap. Ana, kinda quiet but friendly. Marinae, always happy and cheery.

I learned a lot in this class. I learned to how to use garage band and final cut. So if I get a Mac I won't be completely lost. I wish we could have done more videos. It allows put out our creativity and part of ourselves. This class had a great curriculum, there isn't anything I would change.

I enjoyed doing the final project. I wish we could have done more like it. It allowed me to show part of myself and the things I like. I was able to show off some of my creativity and some of things going on in my head. It a allowed me to vent some of my emotions. If I had this class again I would like to do more videos and things similar to them.

Taking what I learned here I could show other people how to work garageband and final cut on their macs. I could also show them how to make their own videos.

Ms. V is a great teacher. She is really nice and cares about her students. She will talk to them and get to know them personally. Sometimes even talk over personal problems in their lives.

Her teaching style is great. She lets people be themselves, open and through that, work better without any kind of hindrance.

It's So Hard to Say Goodbye!

Dear Class,

It has been a wonderful experience working with all of you this semester.
I hope you will continue to explore this wonderful world of muti-media, information, and creativity that surrounds us on a daily basis.

As a closing (aka final) in blog format:

1- I would like for you to reflect upon your experience in the class. Review your blogs and your classmates. What information/stories most influenced you and your life (include links).
2- Reflect upon what you have learned in this class. What were your strengths and weaknesses. What do you wish we did more of? Would you include anything in the curriculum?
3- Talk about your final project. What was the experience like? In what ways did you grow from making your video? What kind of videos would you like to make in the future if you had this class again?
4- Where can you see yourself using what your learned here in the future? How will the skills you acquired be useful?
5- Finally, what are my strengths and weakness as a teacher? What part of my teaching style did you like and what part didn't you like? If you were a teacher how would you teach this class?


How this is graded:
1--Well written (grammar and sentence construction).
2--LINKS
3--PICTURES
4-THINK THINK THINK about what you are going to say.

Make these great. I will miss all of you!!!!
Ms. V

Twitter By: Mariane Machado

Links About Gulf Coast Oil Disaster

A TIME LINE
INTERACTIVE MAP 1
INTERACTIVE MAP 2
PHOTOS
VIDEO 1: Coastal Community Braces for Oil
VIDEO 2: Oil Spill Threatens Wetlands' Ecosystem
Underwater Footage
President's Address
Ariel Shots
 

Oil Spill on the Gulf of Mexico

An accident happened on the Gulf of Mexico where the British Petroleum (BP) were drilling oil from the bottom of the ocean. On April 20th an explosion destroyed the pipe and killed 11 workers. Ever since the accident, the US Coast Guard has estimated that 6m liters of oil has already spilled into the waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and further 800,000 liters is thought to be pouring from the stricken well every day. This disaster is said to change the ecosystem dramatically if nothing is done to stop it soon. The oil is very toxic, making aquatic animals die, it also is doing harm to birds and humans.

As the time passed more bad new arose. June 1st is known as the first day of hurricane season. The gulf is a super-highway for hurricanes that form or explode over pools of hot water, then usually move north or west toward the coast. It is now the site of the worst oil spill in US history and along the general path of some of the worst storms on record. Scientists seem to agree that the sprawling slick isn’t likely to affect the formation of a storm, the real worry is that a hurricane might turn the millions of gallons of floating crude into a crashing black surf. Another worry that they have is of the oil moving into the other oceans and affecting the rest of the world.

Many people lost their jobs with this spill, fisherman, shrimp catchers and other people dependent on the sea. Many people lost their income sources. The BP company claims that they will pay them back for all their losses.