End Result

The end result is the same picture with a few additions. I learned how to add multiple layers to the original picture so that I can paint on top of the image. I also experimented with a few different tools (such as the blur tool) to try to make it look more aesthetically pleasing. I have never used photoshop before so I had to watch a few tutorials on YouTube about it. I am not a pro at photoshop and I still have a lot to learn but the image I created gets the message across that I want. From this picture, students can begin to see some of the muscle groups that they did not realize they are using or should be using. One muscle group that some of the students may not realize they should be using are the external obliques. Another one that they may not realize they are using are extensor muscles in the foot and ankle. I think if I really wanted to post pictures or posters that I create from photoshop, I will have to take a lot more time on them so they look more professional.

Final Project

I have found that many beginning dancers do not understand what muscles they should use to perform specific movements. This seems counter intuitive because dancers move their bodies all the time so they should understand where their muscles are and how to use them. However, in my dance experience I have found that sometimes I engage muscles all the time and then overuse them which fatigues them and if I do not stretch them out afterwards, they can bulk up. This is a problem because dancers typically want to be long and lean instead of bulky. Another problem is that beginning dancers simply cannot anatomically visualize where certain muscles are in their body. I decided to do a project that can help show my dance students what muscle groups they should be using while also teaching them anatomy at the same time. I used photoshop to complete this project. I first started with a simple image of a ballerina. I then went in to photoshop to add in muscles that I would want my students to focus on as they do that specific movement. This is also a way that I can teach muscle groups so they students can see where the various muscles are on a dancer.

Overview of Technology and this Class

I can't believe this semester is almost over! SO crazy! I feel like I have learned some valuable things from this class.

1. I have used technology to help me stay connected with others. I think social networking is a great way to gain more knowledge because there are so many things that you could learn about and often the easiest way to learn is through other people. I also use technology a lot when I research, it is the easiest way to get a lot of facts and articles pertaining to the specific subject I am looking for.

2. In this class and in other classes I have had the opportunity of collaborating with other students through technology. In this class, the collaboration was through commenting on other's blogs in the beginning of the semester. I liked seeing the other people's ideas. Sometimes if I didn't understand an assignment or did not have ideas on what I should post on my blog, I would look at my groups' blogs and see what they came up with. This was more of a brainstorming process for me than a "copycat" process. I often need to be able to bounce ideas off of others before I can come up with a solid solution or response. In other classes I have used google docs a lot for collaboration on study guides and group presentations. This is a great way to see what other people have learned or have questions about without setting aside a lot of time to meet with them.

3. One major way I will personally use technology in my classroom is through videos. I will share video clips and video tape my dance students so they can watch their performances and see what they can do to improve. I also want to create class websites or a class blog so that my students can always know what they should be working on and so the parents stay informed too.

4. I learned that technology is not as hard as I thought it was. I was always a little afraid to do things with technology because I was afraid I would do it wrong or break it or something. I realized that technology is very user friendly, and if you don't know how to do something, there are many resources available to figure it out.

5. Some specific things I learned was how to embed videos, how to create a website, how to create and edit a video, and how to download youtube videos. All four of these skills will be helpful to me especially because I want to use a lot of videos in my future class.

Project #3

For Project #3 I am going to work by myself so I will not be submitting something for the contest. One thing that dance students struggle with is remembering sequences and being able to perform them after you taught them. Usually they can remember right after you teach them but if you wait a day or two they will usually forget (especially if they are still developing and all of their brain functions/ memory skills are not fully developed). I'm not sure how technology could help with this though. Another thing that I struggle with as a dancer is knowing what muscles should be initiated the movements (for example when you are executing a grand battement--aka a big kick--you should be engaging your hamstrings instead of your quads, yet many times dancers engage their quads instead and their muscles get very tired and overused). Maybe I could find an application that helps students understand and see the muscles they should be using.

Internet Safety

The internet (and mass media in general) is becoming more corrupt and our children are not safe watching TV or using the internet without being bombarded with violence, sexual messages, pornography, and drug/alcohol advertisements. As an educator I want to educate my students about the dangers of the internet and how to use it safely. I will share with them what I know about internet safety (i.e., do not put personal information online, beware of chat rooms, do not download illegal documents). I will explain to my students why it is important to use the internet safely (avoid sex predators, will not get viruses on their computers, etc.). I think that once I explain logically why internet safety is important, my students will want to be more safe.

Downloading Videos

I downloaded one of my favorite youtube videos: Boys Will Be Girls. If you have never seen it, watch it! Its hilarious! My only problem was I had a little trouble trying to figure out how to add the 1-click Youtube downloading add-on on my PC, but after some playing around I finally got it. And once the add-on was installed, downloading the video was very simple. The quality of the video was very good, I was surprised how well it looked, even when I made the video bigger (it wasn't as fuzzy and pixilated as I thought it would be). As long as I use the videos that are meant to educate my classroom, that is fair use. However, I do not think that I should download videos all the time, it will just be once in a while.

Video Assignment