Response to Joann’s Tech and Resource class assignment

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Response to Joann’s Tech and Resource class assignment

Joann’s homepage and assignment pages were really very fascinating, after observing her submittals I found everything to be well thought out both visually and content wise. I would first like to talk about her animation page. After taking a peek at all my other classmate’s animation pages, Joann's animation page stood out head and shoulders above the rest! Although all my classmate’s animation pages were well done, it was Joann’s animation page that put a big Kool-Aid smile on my face!

Joann’s final project page was very rich and fruitful, since this was a group effort, kudos to all the other team members as well! The given assignment, dance using technology, was very useful (and fruitful) to me because dance is my passion and I really appreciated the information Joann shared. I learned a lot about Salsa, as stated in her page, “The word Salsa in Spanish means ‘sauce’ and like sauce the Salsa dance form is a mix of different ingredients that come together to make one final product. Salsa dance is a fusion of different dance styles such as Mambo, Danzon, Guaguanco, and Cuban son that originated on the islands of Cuba and Puerto Rico. Salsa is a social dance and involves a lot of partner work, however there are also solo steps called “shines” where each dancer can show their individuality.”

I discovered pertinent information to incorporate into my classroom and to use to build upon other forms of dance I currently practice. She also included a resourceful PowerPoint presentation that could potentially be used as a blueprint for teaching the history of Salsa dance and music in the classroom.

Response to Gianna’s homepage assignment

I was enthralled viewing Gianna Lamone's homepage and assignments. Gianna is obviously very savvy with navigating the software on her computer and the various Internet programs and applications. As I began viewing her homepage, along with other pages, I realized the other assignment pages where further carefully planned and extensively creative.

Considering the homepage again, I preferred autostart set to” false” control to give the viewer control of the music. However, what I appreciated most about Gianna's pages was the incredible creativity; use of color and imagery, i.e.: children’s faces, real objects (photo of a car on her image page taken by her), human faces and images depicting a diversity of races. Best of all, Gianna’s literacy page was enticing, this page alone made me want to take a peek at all of her other pages.

A brief response to Caroline’s Technology and Resource class assignments

I appreciated the risk Caroline took in using a tiger face on her homepage. To my recollection from class, she used approximately (400) height and (400) width as the size of the tiger jpg picture. I found this size gave the page a greater intensity of excitement. Caroline’s animation page gave that kind of excitement. I would have appreciated more information and creativity to Caroline’s other pages, i.e.: variations of pictures, more explanations, etc., to help incite my interest a little more.

Learning Html @ NYU

I began to ponder why would NYU Home provide a tool for learning html?

My hunch was that, students, if not already, will begin to use the internet as a tool for learning as well as gain access to a wealth of information.

Understanding the world of HTML coding allows one the ability to create various internet pages and manipulates them to appear distinctive, executing unique products. Having the skill to generate pages without having to dupe, copy and paste HTML codes from internet sources gives one an incisive sense of thinking, and challenges them to a higher cognoscente of computer literacy. Furthermore, providing a tool to learn HTML codes though considered a basic fundamental of higher learning, HTML or “Hyper Text Mark Up Language,” is a set of tags that set rules for pages and layouts. (msykes.com). However, the real truth is, HTML is a huge asset for many reasons; it gives you the freedom to create your own internet pages, in order to advertise, network as well as gaining access to an enormous amount of information that can be used for projects, assignments, research, etc., and for information for school purposes.

The Key to Success!

As I was pondering technology and how it will contribute to my success as a dance educator? Then it hit me! Remembering one day during a training session while working with Xerox as a Marketing Representative, I asked the coach at the time, "What is the key thing that would contribute to my success in this business?" She answered, "Good organization is the key to success!"

Good organization is the key to success in every arena of life, including technology. Once you have learned how to navigate the software, it is important to keep track of your files in order to locate your saved information. Good organization will afford me the ability to keep student records and files, lesson plans, media files, music files etc. in an electronic format for faster, easier accessibility of teaching tools. Maintaining an organized paperless working environment will in turn contribute to my success as a dance educator in the classroom.

Pray! Oh Boy, Me and Technology

Pray, Get fit, Get started!!!!!!! This is what I had to tell myself the day I walked in my Technology and Resources class. The first day I walked into class I felt like I had just walk into a foreign country. To my surprise, I thought I knew a little about technology. I guess like knowing a little about Spanish, like uno, dos, tres, believing I could go to Spain and make my way around. Yes, not using good wisdom. Wow, was I embarking on new horizons. I entered a new world of technology and resources that I never experienced nor thought I would have to experience. Knowing that I am more than a conqueror, and an overachiever, I knew I had to pray, get fit for the challenge, and get started working hard, yet smart to overcome the obstacles that I clearly saw coming my way. Believe it or not, I did’nt even know how to open up a new folder. How embarrassing. But, I can tell you now, I can know open up a new folder, navigate my software system, create my own web homepage, use various programs such as audacity, movie making, Fotoflexer and the list goes on and on…
Funny all my IT friends that would question me about the course I was taking, said to me wow when you finish, maybe you can show me a thing or two. They all were unfamiliar with how to create a web page and unfamiliar with the programs I was using for my assignments.
I am truly thankful to have an awesome Professor who's patient with his teaching style. Wow! What power it is, in prayer!

The Challenge!

Learning how to create a web page, is very exciting. It is becoming more clearer how this learning experience is going to enhance my ability as a dance educator/teacher and my learning experience as a student at NYU.