Reflections on Digital Creativity

Over the last couple of months, I have participated in several Adobe Educator Exchange Professional Development courses.  The one I am currently working on is called Digital Creativity in the Classroom.  We began by looking at Photoshop, then moved to Flash, then Premiere Pro.  It's really just a brief introduction to each product, but the best part of it has been the live sessions.  We've gotten to hear from and interact with some experts in the field related to each product.

For the Photoshop session, we heard from a professional photographer.  She recommended we consider doing the 365project.org, which involves taking a daily photo and journaling about it.  She said it really helps you improve your photo skills and I can see how it also would challenge your creativity as you search for just the right idea to capture the day.

Our project for the week was to create a big/little product, one which included two images of ourselves sized differently.  I hate looking at pictures of myself, but I decided to play a bit on my name being Jeannie and created something called When Jeannie Dreams.

My thought was that the housewife me was dreaming of having a Jeannie of her own to take care of everything, while the Jeannie me was dreaming of the chaos that a regular life would bring.  Personally, I would prefer the chaos.  And that is our real bunny Cookie making a fuzzy guest appearance.  

Our Flash session allowed us to meet Michael Patterson who did the rotoscope animation for Ah-Ha's Take on Me video (which I LOVE).  He also directed and did the animation for Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract (which I also LOVE).  He is currently teaching animation at USC (there's a course I would love to sit in on).  I had heard of rotoscoping (tracing over a cell of live film to create an animated cell), but had never thought of how to do it digitally.  I cannot wait to try a few projects using this technique!

For our weekly project, we had to do a frame-by-frame animation of the walk cycle.  I really struggled with my perfectionist nature to come up with something that looked OK.

I think he looks a little bit like he's skipping, and I decided the sun would have a little attitude.

For Premiere, we "met" virtually with Jeff Bloom (cinematographer) and Noah Kloor (editor and director) who are working together on a mini-series entitled The Wake.  It was fascinating to see how they use digital techniques to bring their vision to the screen.  I had never used Premiere Pro before doing our weekly lesson, but the product works pretty much like I expected it to.  I have a long way to go before I get to actually produce something worthwhile, but I can see a ton of potential for using this product in the classroom!

For this project, we were asked to make a book trailer.  I love this project, although I've never made one myself.  I went with the first book I could think of that I really, truly loved, and decided on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.  I would love to do more with my trailer as my Premiere Pro skills improve.

Our fourth session discussed blogging.  I am an infrequent blogger, but I think I am going to really try to become more active on the blogosphere.  We'll see how I do.

Join the Adobe Education Exchange and watch for their courses.  They are free, and you will be amazed at what you can learn.  I feel more inspired than I have in years, and I have enjoyed being forced to take some time to focus on improving my skills.  I think it will help me focus on how I can inspire teachers to do more digital creativity in the classroom!

Why Digital Colonist?

So why would I call myself a digital colonist?

 I've never loved the terms "Digital Immigrant" and "Digital Native." I don't think the term digital immigrants suits us.  To call us digital immigrants implies there was an entire digital world that we traveled to and hoped to find a place to fit in.  We are the ones actively creating that world.  We are researching, designing, adapting, and building that world on a daily basis.

I'm certainly not a digital pioneer.  Although I consider myself to be an earlier adopter, I don't have quite the financial means or the courage to be out there on the bleeding edge of innovation (although I did have a Commodore 64 when I was in high school).  My first iPhone was a 5, my first iPad was a 2.  I happily use a variety of Adobe products ranging from CS3 (at most of our high schools) to CS6 (on my nifty new work laptop) and I am still hesitant to purchase a new computer, but I have helped my son master Windows 8 (by "master" I mean "barely function").

So if I'm not an immigrant, nor a native, nor a pioneer, what am I?  I believe I am a digital colonist.  I have left my comfort zone as a teacher trainer and begun to set up roots in 21st century education.  I am not the one blazing the trails, but I am willing to set down roots here and begin rebuilding my structures in my new home.  I chose to come here, and I am happy here, but there are many challenges I still need to overcome.  There are days when I long for the simplicity and familiarity of my old world, writing my reminders on actual sticky notes and scrap paper, but I truly believe that this new world offers a better and more secure future, and I really do want to belong here.

Come with me on my journey and we'll find ways to make this digital world a comfortable home.  And we may even begin to bring some other folks along with us.