Basic Directing Workshop

The AICG held a workshop on basic directing with Direk Mangansakan II as resource speaker. I have learned much about film, directing, script, storyboard and different camera shots. I also had fun although there were moments that I was just talking with my seatmates and worse, I am just day dreaming. :D
Film is actually any motion picture which has story, directory, cinematography, sound and music, design and editing. Direk stressed out the resposibilities of a director. A director directs the look and gaze of a film. He is responsible in the over-all production of the film. He also visualizes the script and develop what he wants his audience would see. He also added that to be a good director you should have passion, discipline, patience and works well with the cast crew and not to forget, directors should watch more films and read more.
Shots are building blocks of a film. We have to decide what kind of shot to take so that the message will be delivered clearly to the audience. There are several types of shots. Close shots (extreme, close-up) are good for conveying expressions and emotions. Medium shots are good for establishing figures and body languages. Long shots usally show locations.
Storyboard is also a great help in the visualization of the film. It is a set of drawings of the different scenes or shots. It provides an overview and allows the production to check whether the presentation is accurate and complete.
It was a fun and fruitful workshop. I've learned a lot and I'm looking forward for more of this. :D

Blogging101

Blogging was not a new word for me but I only have a little idea about it. I have heard this stuff since I was in High School but I have never tried it until I reached college. Our teaher asked to create one for requirement purposes.
A blog is a site where you can write stuffs on and are being read by many people. It is actually an online journal that is available in a web.
Last January 23,2008, Mr. Ryann Z. Elumba, our ITMM teacher conducted a seminar called "Blogging 101". During the seminar, he shared lots of thoughts about blogging. These were the things I have learned in Blogging 101:
Blogging is a very good tool in sharing your thoughts to other people. You can write or post anything that interests you or others but we have to take note that we only have the reader's attention for few minutes so as much as possible blogs must be brief.
Blogs can be customized. We can add widgets, videos, photos and many more onto it. All we have to do is to add page elements on it. The look and feel of our blogs are important because they attract readers but we should put in mind that the content is more important.
We can actually earn money through blogs. Of course, in order to have it, we should post blogs more often. More readers or viewers means more chances of earning.

Blogging is really good. Aside from those I have mentioned,in some ways, it actually enhances our writing skills which is very important.

Well, thanks to the one who introduced blogging, to AICG for organizing such seminar and to Sir Rye for imparting us ideas about it.

Computer Aided Instruction

“Computer-aided instruction” (CAI) refers to instruction or remediation presented on a computer. Examples of CAI applications include guided drill and practice exercises, computer visualization of complex objects, and computer-facilitated communication between students and teachers.

CAI improves instruction for students with disabilities because students receive immediate feedback and do not continue to practice the wrong skills. Many computer programs can move through instruction at the student’s pace and keep track of the student’s errors and progress. Computers capture the students’ attention because the programs are interactive and engage the students’ spirit of competitiveness to increase their scores. Also, computer-assisted instruction moves at the students’ pace and usually does not move ahead until they have mastered the skill. Programs provide differentiated lessons to challenge students who are at risk, average, or gifted.

Computer-aided instruction packages are effective for many reasons. One of the most important reasons is that students like learning in the environment that the computer has to offer. CAI packages of today are much more user-friendly and entertaining than their predecessors. Students can now work at their own pace regardless of the level at which they are supposed to be. This promotes self-confidence because it gives the student a feeling of control over what they are learning. These packages are also effective because they deal with more practical examples than those in any textbook and give students virtually a hands-on experience. Students may be exposed to experiences or simulations that they would not normally encounter.

In some applications, especially those involving abstract reasoning and problem-solving processes, CAI has not been very effective. Critics claim that poorly designed CAI systems can dehumanize or regiment the educational experience and thereby diminish student interest and motivation. Other disadvantages of CAI stem from the difficulty and expense of implementing and maintaining the necessary computer systems. Some student failures can be traced to inadequate teacher training in CAI systems. Student training in the computer technology may be required as well, and this process can distract from the core educational process. Although much effort has been directed at developing CAI systems that are easy to use and incorporate expert knowledge of teaching and learning, such systems are still far from achieving their full potential.

Although CAI has come a long way, there are still areas for improving and in spite all of the challenges facing computer-aided instruction, some companies believe that its benefits outweigh its drawbacks they also believe that one of the first steps in designing an effective CAI program is to do so with these obstacles in mind.

http://www.k8accesscenter.org/training_resources/computeraided_math.asp
http://ug.cs.dal.ca/dispproj/cai.html
http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761553343/Computer-Aided_Instruction.html