How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

NOTE: Numbers correspond to the images displayed below, click on the image to enlarge

1. Final Cut Pro – This programme was one of the main bits of software we used throughout our project. It is a piece of editing software that provides a wide range of tools in order to create a modern video. Although our group were mainly unfamiliar with this particular piece of software, only using it in the summer for some trail short films, we found that it was fairly easy to use after seeing past the initial complexities of its interface. It gave us great flexibility in what we wished to create with already pre-existing effects that can be easily applied. As well as this it also made things such as grading a lot more practical without having to export it to another programme such as Adobe After Effects etc. Without the ease of access to this programme the process of making our trailer would have been greatly heightened and would have resulted in a very basic product.

2. Blogger – This website is key to the management and presentation of the whole project. It is a free website that allows anyone to set up a make shift website that can be easily updated and labelled. It is a simple lay out that works on a posting structure, where the user can make regular updates of text, picture or video with details displayed along with it. This website provides great flexibility in presenting work as it allows the user to make links to various other websites such as Flickr in order to create this overall experience that utilises modern technology and shifts away from the traditional essay format expected in educational projects. The website allows gives ease of refining the presentation of the work as it gives a wide spectrum of colour, font, style etc. That all help the reader of the blog understand and interpret the work better. I have used this programme in my free time as well as media in AS and at no point, even beginning using it, did I find it complex or difficult to use. I can boast of the success and versatility of this website as a former student of this college now has a blog (refer to unnumbered picture on the right) in which he does reviews of recent football games (www.bencarrfootball.com). And because of this websites simplicity and universal use it is helping him break into a competitive journalist industry from the comfort of his bedroom, which would not have been possible 10 years ago.

3. Freeplaymusic.com – This was a website our group used to gather the additional sound effects and music needed to complete our final product. It provides free public domain music that doesn’t infringe any copy right. The website categorises all the music it has by style, feel and volume. This came in great help as upon searching for music to match a horror trailer, it was easy to look via the ‘feel’ section and look under ‘horror’ or ‘tension’, speeding up efficiency and productivity within our group. Without the simplicity of this website, the overall soundtrack (which was highly complimented) could have been a lot poorer.

4. Sony VX2100 – During filming we used a Sony VXS2100 for the majority of filming. This was the highest standard of camera available to us and provided vivid images as well as a simple user interface meaning multiple members of the group could use it with ease. Although it is a rather large camera it was still reasonably light and easy to manoeuvre for our POV trailer. We also felt that it would give our final piece a balance of not only quality in image but also an authentic look and feel.

5. Flickr – This is an image based website that allows the user to upload images and annotate them with captions that appear if you move your mouse over that area. It was of great use when trying to explain intricate bits of images that would be made unclear from a simple essay style answer. It allows great focus to be given on individual elements of an image without taking away from the image itself. The website also links to Blogger so that once annotations have been made to the piece it can be easily blogged to the users blog making it easier to keep track of work and also display images without long boring segments of text.

6. Photoshop CS5 – This programme takes on a similar role to that of Final Cut Pro in the sense that it is used to break down separate images and bring them together to make something new. I am widely familiar with this programme, using it in my previous year in AS, as well as outside of class. It makes creation of image based products easy and heightens the overall finish to my work. I largely used it in the creation of both my movie poster and my film magazine cover, where it provided simple tools such as the text tool to create text of any font or shade to compel a reader to read further into the magazine. As well as this there are hundreds of other tools to my disposal that can modify any image into something much more interesting. As well as using it for the ancillary texts, it also proved very useful in other things that will improve my overall project, such as the banner heading for my blog etc. It is a professional, simple program that is easy to use and gives a wide range of tools to the user in order to create vivid final texts.

7. YouTube – This website is widely known and very popular among nearly everyone. It is a user-based video sharing site that allows people to comment and subscribe to users that provide regular interesting media. In addition to this, it also makes displaying work a lot easy as it is so universal, as well as giving myself an easy way to embed our final piece into my blog. The comment process and like system in place on YouTube could also open up the possibility of audience feedback in addition to the feedback session with the class.

8. Survey Monkey – This is a free website that allows the user to set up a survey that can be sent via e-mail or on social networking sites. It collects the feedback which speeds up efficiency as we don’t need to constantly go round collating data. In my groups case we made a survey with multiple choice quantitative answers or typed qualitative answers that resulted in valid and in depth data that we could apply to our ideas.

Advances in media technologies are clearly going to have an impact on all stretches of life including education. Traditionally it would be expected to write an essay in response to a question, but with these advances it gives opportunity to individual’s creativity and ability to present their work. Although I personally prefer an essay type format I did however concede to some of the advantages of using internet based websites. Social media or web 2.0 is so influential now it would be absurd not to utilise it. I felt that these leaps in technology were especially apparent in the collection of data and research through the application of Survey Monkey to collect information as well as social networking sites to host a link to it. But not only in the collection of data do I suggest there has been an advance. Upon creation of my groups final piece it was immediately clear that there has been clear improvements in the equipment we were using as we were getting high quality image and versatility from the Sony VX2100 which may not have been available simply 5-10 years ago. Creation of the products also was greatly assisted by programmes such as Photoshop and Final Cut Pro that really broadened the opportunity in which to create something we wanted. As I already suggested earlier in the Blogger section of this response, web 2.0 websites such as blogger really open up prospects for younger aspiring students in the sense that it is so flexible in what you can do with it and so simple to use. But it doesn’t just make it easier for the user to make and develop their work, also, I suggest that the reader of the work on websites such as blogger are given an overall more enjoyable experience upon reviewing peoples work as they are not restricted to just reading and assessing but can follow the developments and links to other websites that improve the overall feel of the individuals work.



Overall I felt that these advances sped up productivity and opened up opportunity previously not available to students. It provides the chance for students to make creative contributions to what would have been a boring essay and to expand their ideas by linking and utilising modern websites. Although I am somewhat a traditionalist in the sense that I enjoy a simple essay structure, I do admit that these new media products definitely improve work and have more prospects that potential cons especially when applying to all stages of my project.