Sample Student Videos

Coming up with ideas for a project can be difficult, but by looking at examples of other students’ work, the possibilities open up. The videos posted on the blog provided a starting point for examining what works and what does not work in a film.


It’s Like Cooking
I like the footage from the cooking video. The frames are clear, they show the process of making the meal, and they include some really great shots, especially the lighting of the stove and scenes with the skillet.

While the film is visually appealing and flows with his use of steps in preparing the meal, the audio could use some work. He probably could have done without the dialogue. I think he tries to convey a deeper meaning in his words, but the message gets lost because he says too much.  

The music is a little darker than I would typically choose for a cooking video, but I do like the way it speeds up at the end as the meal is presented. The sounds of the kitchen, such as the chopping, the flame igniting, and the sizzling in the pan, really add to the atmosphere of the film as well.
 

Life Is a Ride
Out of all of the videos we watched, this one was my favorite. I really liked the way it told a story, starting with the bike and ending in the wheelchair. Even with still photos, he was able to capture the idea that life is a ride and that he was constantly in motion until the accident. As the pictures move from the outdoor adventures to the hospital, there is a definite change in mood.

The use of post-its was a clever and unique strategy for conveying a message in text and the music flows well with the film. I also like that even though the story was very sad, he was able to end on a high note. His optimism is reflected in the video and the final question leaves the viewer thinking.


Seriously
The “serious” video was a really clever idea. Throughout the film, it seems as though the subject is telling about herself, but in reality everything she says is a lie. However, she does tell us about herself in a way because by using this strategy, she shows her sense of humor. That sense of humor is further emphasized by the fact that she has a guy in a wig pretend to be her in the video.

Overall, the film conveys the opposite message of what it seems.  “Life is too short to not take seriously” clearly comes across as life is too short to take seriously.


All of the student projects provided some great ideas. While there are things that could be probably be improved about each, they were all well done videos. It gives me hope that we will come up with something just as good.

Wikihow: How to travel abroad while studying in London

London is a great home base to have while studying abroad in Europe. Once you know your class schedule and have set up a routine, it is time to start planning your side trips. Here are some travel tips and a few recommended destinations for your journey.

1. Choose a destination.

• Search airline websites for flights to places you would like to visit. Sometimes prices can decide your destination for you.
• Check dates for festivals and events in various cities, such as Oktoberfest in Munich or Carnival in Venice.

2. Book a flight. Try to book as far in advance as possible to find the best fares.

• Ryanair and EasyJet offer cheap flights, but watch out for additional fees and baggage limits.
• StudentUniverse and lastminute.com provide flight comparisons to find low fares.
• Thomas Cook sometimes has great deals on flight and hotel packages.

3. Flying is not the only way to travel. Especially when traveling within the UK, trains and buses may be a cheaper, more efficient way to travel. For better fares, you may want to book these tickets in advance, but they can usually be purchased at the station as well.

• National Rail, Virgin Trains, thetrainline.com, and redspottedhanky.com are a few sites where you can purchase train tickets online.
• When traveling to Ireland, you can take a train and then a ferry. For ferry prices, try searching directferries.ie or Irishferries.com.
• Take the Eurostar to Paris or Brussels.
• With various train lines all over Europe, train travel is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to get around.

4. Book hotels or hostels.

• Compare prices and book rooms at Hostelworld.com or Hostels.com.
• If you are planning to spend the whole trip in one place, you may want to book ahead for rooms just to be sure that you have somewhere to stay when you get there.
• Before you book, be sure to check the location of the hostel in relation to other places in the city.
• CouchSurfing and Only-apartments are other options for finding accommodation.

5. Book tours you may be interested in taking.

• Some places can be difficult to get to without a car, so a tour may be the best way to go.
• Evan Evans Tours and Premium Tours offer day trips to places like Stonehenge, Oxford and the Cotswolds.
• Hop-on, hop-off buses, like those offered by City Sightseeing can be a great way to learn about a city while getting around.
• Many cities offer walking tours as well.
• Ghost tours are a fun way to see a place at night. Not only are the spooky stories entertaining, but you get an idea of the city's history and hear tales of the people who lived there before.
• Pub crawls, especially in Ireland and England, are a great way to meet new people and sample some of the local brews.

6. Do some research.

• Look at maps of the city. Find out where your hotel is in relation to the places you want to visit.
• Find out how to get to your hotel when you arrive, whether it is on foot, by subway, by taxi, or on a bus or shuttle.
• Have a few ideas about what you want to see and do. Plans can change, but at least you'll have a starting point when you arrive. Tour books, such as Frommer's or Lonely Planet, and TripAdvisor are good places to find suggestions.
• Check the weather reports to help make packing decisions.
• Most of the people you meet in your travels will probably speak English, but if you are traveling to a non-English speaking country, try to learn a few key phrases. Hello, please and thank you are a good way to start.

7. Don't be afraid to talk to people.

• Get to know any flatmates and classmates. They may even be interested in traveling with you in the future.
• Traveling alone can be fun, but it can get a bit lonely. Take a tour and meet some new people. You might be surprised what you have in common.
• Locals are typically very friendly and like talking to travelers.
• If you know how to speak a foreign language, even just the basics, don’t be afraid to try. The only way you will improve is with practice and locals love to see that you are trying to learn their language.

 
England

• London
• See the crown jewels in the Tower of London.
• Take a ride on the London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe.
• Take a boat ride down the Thames.
• See the Rosetta Stone at the British Museum.
• Visit the eclectic shops of Camden Market.
• Take a walk through Hyde Park. If it is a Sunday, stop at Speaker’s Corner, where it is tradition for anyone who has something to say to have a platform to say it.

• Liverpool
• Have a Beatles Day.
• Visit the childhood homes of John Lennon and Paul McCartney.
• Journey to Albert Dock to explore the Beatles Story Museum.
• Spend the evening at the Cavern Club, where there is live music every night.
• Take a walk around the city and admire the architecture. Add places like St. George’s Hall and the Liverpool Waterfront to your list of stops.

Scotland   

• Edinburgh
• Stop at Edinburgh Castle and be sure not to miss the one o’clock gun.
• Walk the Royal Mile, one of the most famous roads in the world.
• For whisky lovers, take a barrel ride and learn how Scotch Whisky is made before a tasting at the Scotch Whisky Experience.

• Stirling
• Climb the 246 steps to the top of Wallace Monument.
• Visit Stirling Castle, the crowning site of Mary, Queen of Scots.

Ireland

• Dublin
• Have a pint at the Guinness Storehouse along with a tour.
• Learn about the production of whiskey at the Jameson Distillery.
• Go on a pub crawl through Temple Bar.
• Take a free walking tour through the city with SANDEMANs NEW Dublin Tour.
• Explore the hallowed grounds of Christ Church Cathedral and St. Patrick's Cathedral.
• Venture through the gates of Trinity College, whose graduates include Jonathan Swift, Bram Stoker, Oscar Wilde, and Samuel Beckett .

• Belfast
• Take a free tour of City Hall.
• Make the trip up Cave Hill to Belfast Castle.
• See where the Titanic was built at Titanic Belfast, the largest museum of its kind.
• Do some shopping at Victoria Square and be sure to stop at the observation deck to take in the view.
• The hop-on, hop-off bus tour is highly recommended because it covers history and parts of the city that you may not see otherwise.
• If you have time, plan a side trip to Giant's Causeway and Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge to see some of Ireland's natural beauty.

 
  France

• Paris
• Visit the Cathedral of Notre-Dame.
• Spend a day admiring the masterpieces at the Louvre.
• Climb to the top of the Eiffel Tower.
• Take a boat ride on the Seine.
• Enjoy the view from Sacre Coeur.
• Visit the final resting places of Chopin and Jim Morrison at Pere Lachaise.

• Nice
• Spend a day lounging on the beach.
• Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais.
• Find a market and browse through the selection of food and goods. And be sure to try the crepes.

Italy

• Rome
• Visit the ancient grounds of the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
• Throw a coin in the Trevi Fountain.
• Enjoy a meal in Piazza Navona.
• Take a walk along the Tiber river and stop at the shops and bars.
• Go to Mass at St. Peter's Basilica.
• Stroll through the streets and enjoy a gelato.
• Appreciate the night view of the city from Castel Sant'Angelo.

• Florence
• Admire the master paintings at the Uffizi
• See how the Medici’s lived at the Pitti Palace
• Visit Brunelleschi's Duomo in Santa Maria del Fiore.
• Gaze over the city from Piazzale Michelangelo.
• Explore the markets. Florence is known for it’s leather works.

Germany

• Cologne
• Journey into the Cologne Cathedral.
• Walk across Hohenzollern Bridge to see the love padlocks as well as beautiful views of the city.
• Visit EL-DE Haus, formerly the Gestapo headquarters.
• See how chocolate is made at the chocolate museum.

 
Tips:

• Pack light.  One of the best things about having a home base in London is that you don’t have to lug everything around with you on your side trips.  (Though you may want to bring a towel for certain hostels.)
• Don’t forget to bring any chargers you may need and the proper converters.
• If you are traveling outside of the UK, you may want to have some Euros with you until you can take out more cash.
• Spend some time walking around in cities and towns as well. Some of the best trips can come from just admiring the sites and talking to people you meet on the way.

What is Web 2.0?

My Thoughts on Web 2.0

Web 2.0 is difficult to define.  It is interactive, it can be used anywhere, and it allows for two-way communication in ways like never before.  While websites were once flat and one-sided, people can now provide feedback to companies, organizations and even to each other through messages in the form of text or video.

Web 2.0 is already becoming the center of everything. It can be a place to store files, engage in conversation, encourage creative thinking, and circulate new ideas.  It is used in schools, at work and in social relationships.  

Does Web 2.0 live up to the hype? Well, yes and no. There is no longer a limit on how far discussion can travel.  With Web 2.0, people from all over the world are able to be in contact and the potential for ideas to circulate has increased exponentially, not to mention the entertainment value it provides. And all of this is right at our fingertips.

However, sometimes this instantaneous realm of possibility can have negative side effects in the real world. People now tend to have less patience and fewer people skills. Feedback online can sometimes get carried away as well. Due to the sense of anonymity afforded by Web 2.0, people are not usually afraid to say whatever they feel and do not typically have to face reactions to their comments in person.

Regardless of some of the more negative sides to this new interactive web, we are likely headed toward the next step in internet.



The Features of Web 2.0

Web 2.0 tends to be defined by its features and technologies more than anything else. Some of those technologies include interactive information sharing, interoperability, user-centered design, and crowdsourcing.

Interactive information sharing is done through things like social media websites, where people are able to share digital information with each other, such as photos or videos. Web 2.0 also allows people to choose who is able to see the information they share and there are four design patterns that those selections typically fall into; one-to-one sharing, one-to-many sharing, many-to-many sharing, and many-to-one sharing.

Interoperability is the use of different platforms to access the same content.  With the use of XML, RSS or a similar format, websites can be accessed from a PC, a Mac and even a phone, instead of a single device.

User-centered designs are a main feature of Web 2.0 because they are based on how users actually use websites and change based on testing of the site. Google is a great example of this because it changes with users. Google is often thought of in association with Web 2.0 because unlike programs like Microsoft, it is packaged as a service and not a product.  It works without installations and software, and does not attempt to control of a user’s operations like Microsoft.
 
Crowdsourcing is another key feature of Web 2.0. Crowdsourcing was not created with the web and follows a structure similar to a company contest for people to come up with new ideas for a product. Instead of allowing a task to be completed by one person, it is opened to a group. The idea behind this tactic is that the data will improve as more people use it and add to it.  Wikipedia is a fantastic example of how this works.  

Technologies such as these make Web 2.0 what we know today. It is molded by its users and can change just as quickly as they do.

Social Networking: The Pros and Cons

When it comes to social networking sites, people are constantly trying to weigh the list of pros against the list of cons.  For better or for worse, sites like Facebook and Twitter are probably here to stay (that is until the next new site comes along), but it is important to understand both sides of the argument.


Positives

Social networking sites have brought us many advantages, some of which we barely take note of.  Personally, there is no way I would be able to keep in touch with half of the people I met in my travels without the help of Facebook. Many of us realize that it allows us to stay connected to friends and family and to form new relationships, but it creates the means to nurture those relationships in ways that surpass the boundaries of ‘real life.’  

In the past, a long-distance conversation could take months as people waited for letters to travel back and forth, but time and distance really pose no obstacle today. Instant conversations can happen between people all over the world, encouraging participation and inclusion.

This connection also allows for debate and information sharing that can lead to new ideas and conversation.  As Siegler explained, it is an “extension of ‘real life’” and it is just as safe as communicating with a person standing right in front of you, only the person may be thousands of miles away.  

Social media can also help raise awareness about issues and events. People are able to subscribe to pages, receive updates about issues and visit links for more information. The potential to learn and stay informed has increased exponentially.


Negatives

The trouble with social networking, however, is that we inadvertently offer insight into our lives and share our interests with sites like Facebook based on the pages we visit and the things we “like.”  It is that information that companies are seeking and they are willing to pay Facebook to get it.  I’m not certain that I am comfortable being sold as a product.

The article mentioned using algorithms based on Facebook friend lists to make conclusions about traits such as educational level, university attended, and hometown. I have never really considered what friend lists can show about a person, but I suppose the locations they are in and the interests they have would correlate with the individual’s own interests.

I can see why constantly being on Facebook or texting could cause problems resulting from isolation, such as depression or poor academic performance, but it would surprise me if the average person spends enough time online to experience major health concerns. From what I have seen, it seems most people check Facebook in passing, but continue to have most of their daily interactions in the real world.

I also wonder how many of the other listed possible effects that have not had conclusive results actually play a role. While it is true that people can inadvertently provide information, poor grammar usage, poor spelling and “allowing the spread of misinformation...even in light of evidence to the contrary” is a result of individual actions. It is possible to write properly on sites like these and to research information before jumping to conclusions, but it is an individual decision not to do so.

While there are dangers associated with social networking, being aware of the risks goes a long way to prevent future problems.  If it used properly, social networking can be a great advancement in learning and interacting with people.

Do you remember life without the internet?

Katie Swaine and I discussed our first experiences with the internet and we realized that neither of us has any one specific memory our first time using the web.  Instead, we have more of a collection of memories related to our introduction to the internet.

She talked about AOL kids and the chat rooms she used to visit when she was younger.  Looking back on it she laughs that chat rooms are creepy, but she liked to be able to talk to new people about interesting topics.

We both have memories of tying up the phone with our internet usage or waiting for our moms to get off the phone so we could go online. And who can forget the classic "you've got mail" introduction to AOL?

Because we have been exposed to the internet for most of our lives, we sometimes have difficulty understanding why our parents can't use the web or struggle with computers in general. Both of our moms recently got Facebook accounts and are learning how to use social media, but it isn't a central part of their lives like is for most of our generation.

Today Katie follows Twitter very closely.  I am not a Twitterer myself, but she explained that there are many misconceptions about Twitter being used for mundane purposes. After it was first introduced, she and her friends would use it to chat with each other like texting, but she now uses it to get daily news updates and she can also follow certain topics and use hash tags in a way similar to visiting chat rooms about a certain topics.

It is interesting to see the similarities between our experiences with the internet because we are so close in age.  The internet has come a long way since we were in elementary school, but we have adapted with it and now it plays a central role in our lives.