Reflections+EDLD5366

I enjoyed the all the readings, lectures and assignments throughout this course, the main project was to create a newsletter using Microsoft Publisher. Before we could be ready to learn how to create our own newsletter, we had to learn the four principles of graphic design, Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity, also known as the CRAP of design. I recall how important all four principles of graphic design are to ensure that you grasp the interest of your audience, contrast must be evident throughout the design, small versus large, black vs. white, new vs. old. You see these differences in the text, the objects in the picture, and colors all of this is important when trying to catch peoples attention. Our professor, John Yearwood wrote, “Contrast is the single most important element in a design, usually. Properly done, it makes the design come to life.” Next, was repetition you must repeat your logo, format, colors of your design in several places to gain audience recognition. Then there is alignment, this is how you align objects and words in vertical and horizontal positions within the design. When alignment is properly done correctly, the design is appealing to the eyes. Finally, the last principal is proximity, how close items, objects, words, etc. are in relation to others that belong together.
 * EDLD 5366 Digital Graphics, Animation and Desktop Publishing **

Before we started creating our newsletter, we had to create a rubric for how we should be graded on our newsletter. Understanding these principles as they apply to graphic design and creating our own rubric helped me understand how I wanted to create my newsletter. I took pictures of different activities that we did as a campus and of my students. Then I wrote several stories and asked another teacher to write one story for the newsletter and she kindly agreed. I created a name and logo for my newsletter as I was learning how to use Microsoft Publisher for the first time. The name I chose for my newsletter was “Claws and Paws Newsletter” and I created a very nice logo, I used the school colors within my logo. I truly learned how to use Microsoft Publisher and I made sure to integrate the CRAP of design within my newsletter to make it eye catching, appealing, and entertaining. The experience gave me confidence in my understanding of graphical design and the ability to teach others how to use Microsoft Publisher to create their own newsletter or pamphlet. In my opinion, creating this newsletter was a great experience and I am very proud of the newsletter I created. I presented the newsletter to other teachers and our principal so they could read it and provide me with feedback and advice regarding the articles and the newsletter itself. Their comments were positive and reassuring that I had created a very good newsletter.

Though the assignments in this course were not collaborative, I learned through the discussions I participated in with other students in the course. The discussions provided different point of views and suggestions that helped me as I was creating the newsletter. The effective tone of the students was positive and I honestly believe my colleagues had a good experience participating in this course. Questions I have concerning the course are not related to the newsletter, but rather another assignment in the course that involved virtual animation. The questions are; how do we ensure students are safe when participating in a virtual game such as Second Life? How can we use virtual games as a means of learning and collaboration? What tasks or activities can we assign students to accomplish in a virtual game? These are questions I would like to research and learn more about. What puzzled me most is how to integrate virtual reality games as a means of teaching our students while providing a safe experience for them to learn.

Reference Yearwood, J., (2009). //Basic Design Principles.// Brighten Course Ware, Week 1 Demo 1.1