Welcome to Colburn's Corner
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CEP 817: Learning Technology Through Design
Fall 2002

This was a GREAT class! We spent time learning about technology through designing movies using i-movie. We looked at "The Writing Life of Anne Dillard", Scott Mccloud's, "Understanding Comics" and Roger Ebert's "Home Movie Companion, 1989" as well as many other thoughtful readings. We had an opportunity to peruse examples of good design and bad design and the chance to truly learn through designing our own movie projects.

We also engaged in lively discussions (online through Blackboard) and learned about technology, about teaching, about making and viewing movies and aesthetics. We focused not so much on the product, but rather, on the process. Why did we choose the topic we did? What did we want to convey? How did our ideas evolve over time? How did we make filming and editing decisions? We brainsormed, planned, shot the footage, looked at the film, brainstormed some more, storyboarded some more, planned some more...all the while learning and growing...evolving ourselves.

I'm learning to say thank you.
And I'm learning to say please.
And I'm learning to use Kleenex,
Not my sweater, when I sneeze.
And I'm learning not to dribble.
And I'm learning not to slurp.
And I'm learning
(though it sometimes really hurts me)
Not to burp.
And I'm learning to chew softer
W hen I eat corn on the cob.
And I'm learning that it's much
Much easier to be a slob.

~Judith Viorst

Once again let us set out,
Our faith balanced by doubt,
Admitting every step we make
will certainly be a mistake,
But still believing we can climb
A little higher every time...

~W. H. Auden

First Reflection: The idea for the reflection journal entries was to spur creativity, innovation and most importantly, class discussion. This was my first journal entry. These discussions took place online, during the week between each face-to-face class session. The topics were personal preference.

Letting Go of Expectations: This was my second journal entry and again, the idea was to get the class to open up and discuss the ideas presented, offering various points of view on the topic.This entry accomplished just that.

Final Reflection Paper: This was the final written assignment for the class.It was to be a reflection paper expounding on what we had learned regarding about technology, about teaching, about making/viewing movies, aesthetics, about the process and finally about what we personally took from the class.

Poem Project: For the first few seconds of this movie, you will see nothing but black screen. This was done purposely. this was the first movie we created for the class. We all had to take the same poem and develop a short movie to it. Each group had a set of restrictions that they had to adhere to. We had to use only one shot to create the entire movie.

Ph.D. Project: This movie takes a few minutes to download and is faster with a faster Internet connection. This was the final group project. This was to be a a commercial for a big idea. It was to be creative, engaging, evocative, intriguing, communicative and most importantly, short!

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