The only things i feel i need to significantly change is the animated instructions which were occasionally difficult to read within the text box on the screen. So what i’ve decided to do is simplify it by getting rid of text box and changing the text into a more user friendly format (Arial or Helvetica as opposed to Silom) that fades over the video. This will resolve the issue of the text instructions distracting the audience when they’re trying to follow the tutorials.

Other than that its good stuff, a little frustrating that most of them don’t won’t to be recorded for the benefit of my making-of video but i’ll see what i can come up with.

Website structure flows fluently although as long as i sort out the interactive tutorial errors by the end of this week i’ll be able to relax a bit.

PDFs done. Videos will be done once i figure out these fiddly compression settings. IMouse is almost complete and ready for testing.

Well back to work…, hopefully this will be in a polished, completed and tested format by the time this month is nigh.

The most significant change is the decision to alter the cinema 4D interactive tutorials to Flash based ones. I felt that despite the quality of the models in cinema 4D, i would be unable to complete the quantity i’m planning to produce. By basing the tutorials as a sort of Flash learning game i feel that it will provide a more useful and fun learning experience, as opposed to just viewing a few animated models. I intend to add customised mouse cursors for the tutorials, for example a section that requires you to clean the sensors of a money counting unit the cursor will be a yellow cleaning cloth or a miniature marigold glove.

The rest of the work is progressing reasonably smoothly, the site is developing from its prototype into a final product. The videos tutorials are almost complete and i have a collaborator finishing the PDF. walkthrough guides. The iMouse is still undergoing modelling but will be completed in time for user testing.

- finishing the website prototype (it’s based in a car, based on the idea of your journey of learning)

- editing video tutorials/PDF instructions

- designing models in cinema 4D for interactive tutorials.

- finalising the design for the iMouse (the navigational tool)

Prototype is functioning well (will post up the URL shortly), having some trouble with the Cinema 4D modelling (which i aim to feature in the interactive tutorial bit) but will be looking into lots of tutorials to hopefully sort all that stuff out.

Video editing for the video tutorials are nearly done (as are the PDF instructions), just got the compression to sort out; was thinking it would be easier to have them as an FLV file so that they would fit in with the rest of the Flash interface.

The iMouse (a wireless mouse integrated into a glove, bit like Minority Report) is currently going through a few design stages (see the images above) but one idea is to make the glove like the mouse that the user must move over an object to control the cursor.

Handed in my PA though i’ve now been tempted to take the final project in a slightly different direction; studying the limitations of the webcam (and the lack of any tutorials) i have decided to pursue the idea of attaching a mouse to a glove and using it to point and click round the site. It’s something quirky inspired by that film Minority Report, although i figured i wouldn’t have the time or money to create a large screen to navigate stuff around. This iMouse (original name?) will enable users to use a wireless mouse without being confined to the keyboard. Now i just need to figure out the design i’m doing for the website.

It’s all a bit abrupt right now but i’ve got a dissertation to do – will provide an update soon

Dissertation is the main focus at the moment and i’m currently working through my first chapter (half the word count is made up of quotes, but i’m getting there!)

Following on from my pitch presentation i’ve branched into the idea of developing a more interactive training resource, where the user can navigate around the site using the webcam – whilst in the process learning how to use money counting products. This method will certainly allow the audience more involvement and immersion in the project as opposed to just clicking and playing videos. Currently i’m experimenting with motion interface in Flash so we’ll see how it goes

Last summer i completed two work placements, totalling eight weeks, and gained a variety of skills in software programs such as Photoshop, Flash, Dreamweaver, Final Cut Pro and Quicktime video compression.

Before Christmas i completed the concept development unit of this final year, which was an online training resource for developer’s to refine their products. Was quite disappointed with the end mark i got but now need to take on board the feedback i received and refine my idea for the final graduate project.

Over the Christmas holidays i’ve also been working on my dissertation. Got a positive response on my dissertation plan and from the feedback given i have gone onto further reading and starting to draft my first chapter.

This essay is going to analyse and reflect on my personal development during my second year of studying Interactive Media Production at Bournemouth University. Throughout this essay I will be referring to my blog, my project work and academic literature, and discussing how they have helped me develop my skills, including refining my CV, securing a work placement for the summer and my further understanding of the course.

Reflecting back to the end of the first year I had gained a lot of good skills in the software packages Dreamweaver, Flash and Photoshop. Over the summer holidays I was able to expand on my basic knowledge of web languages HTML and CSS by developing my own website, http://www.ejacksononline.co.uk, which also incorporates Flash coding and Photoshop designs. This year I wanted to expand on those skills, in particular the more complex languages of Dreamweaver such as PHP, which I had identified as one of my main weaknesses in my previous essay. I had found PHP quite a daunting coding language to learn because of the many achievable possibilities and so was quite nervous about the first project of the year because it relied heavily on PHP to organise all the online artefacts. However by attending all of the software tutorials, and asking numerous questions on areas I didn’t understand, I was quickly able to pick it up and also learn how to link it in with additional software, such as MySQL. The outcome of the project was to create a content management system called “The Station”, and by attending all the software tutorials and learning the necessary steps I was able to incorporate the PHP with my knowledge of HTML and CSS to create a coherent and dynamic website. Following the completion of this project I felt much more confident in using PHP in future projects both in and outside of university, as expressed in my blog.

http://erjackson.wordpress.com/2009/11/26/a-november-update

The following project had a larger timeframe of twelve weeks and focused on developing an online game that allowed me to enhance my knowledge of Actionscript in Flash. I feel that I have learnt the most in Flash this year because I was able to bring together everything that I had learnt so far to create an animated website, aimed at young children, that would support an online Flash game. Aside from attending all the tutorials I conducted my own individual research through renting out software books from the library and watching various online tutorials, one site called Tutvid has become a very useful online resource for further developing my web building skills as it covers both advanced methods of coding and the basics too, which I always find useful for refreshing my memory if I forget something.

http://www.tutvid.com/tutorials/flash/tutorials/businessCard.php

I have also applied my learning of Flash to external projects as well, such as my personal website where I’ve created an animated business card, fhttp://ejacksononline.co.uk/contact.html, whilst also taking my individual learning a step further by researching into other Dreamweaver languages such as XML, creating RSS feeds, and also participating in outside tutorials arranged by the University that teach us how to use Arduino circuit boards that interact with the computer. All of these components are a valuable learning resource in preparation for my final year and developing an idea for my final major project.

Academically I did digress slightly from my action plan set at the end of the first year by not arranging a tutorial. I chose this because I wanted to develop my own personal learning style rather than focusing just on theoretical references and texts given by our lecturers. I did this by following up the “authorship skills” section on my action plan and over the course of the previous summer began reading into a variety of media texts; Lev Manovich’s text The Language of New Media became a key interest of mine throughout this year and his ideas of authorship in the chapter The Principals of New Media were a particular inspiration for developing my dissertation proposal. However because I was focusing more on advancing my technical skills throughout the year I found myself unable to properly plan and construct some of my essays and as a result my marks were lower in comparison to last year. By taking on the feedback given by my tutors I aim to schedule set times during a project to develop my argument/production analysis that will help me create a clear and concise essay for my third year.

Before studying at Bournemouth University my CV was quite an untidy two-page compilation, consisting of lots of work experience I had done and going into great detail about it. Following feedback from the placement office, who suggested reducing it to a one page CV and improving the composition, I researched the Careers and Placement section on myBU and generated a CV based on one of the examples (see Appendix, example 1). I was still hesitant about restricting all the information to one page though because I felt I had a lot of relevant skills that would stand out to an employer. It wasn’t until I attended the Professional studies lecture series, a very informative and helpful series of lectures with industry professionals explaining how to make it in the industry, that I finally understood it was necessary to condense my CV to a single page. The industry professionals explained that because employers receive thousands of CVs for one job application that it is necessary to have a CV that’s informative, concise and eye catching. Following this I researched into a variety of CV designs that would help me craft a CV that was unique and presentable, one of my main inspirations being an online competition called the “Steve Stevenson project”, where graphic designers had to create an eye catching one page CV for a fictional character.

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/01/10-handy-tips-for-web-design-cvs-and-resumes/

From this research I’ve learnt that a CV needs to first be able stand out to an employer and by analysing a few examples from the “Steve Stevenson project” I was able to develop a more unique CV (see my CV attached) in contrast to my previous example. I chose a landscape layout because it is instantly noticeable in comparison to the linear layout of my previous CV and by attending the PDP lectures I learned that it was necessary to restrict the amount of typefaces used and to alter a CV specifically for each job application, such as prioritising the more relevant experience that would appeal to a potential employer.

Securing a placement was quite difficult because unlike a lot of people on the course I didn’t have any previous work experience that related to web and graphic design. By attending the PDP and Professional studies lectures I learned that it was important to start early and persist; continue to send out emails and CVs to lots of companies and be able to support the abilities suggested on my CV with an online portfolio, such as my personal website. I followed the advice given in the PDP lectures to edit my CV for each job application and was finally rewarded with a response (see Appendix, example 2). I was also given useful guidance from third year students of the course, who suggested that you keep in contact with whoever you’ve secured a placement with, through email or a phone, to ensure they haven’t forgotten about you when it comes to starting the placement (see Appendix, example 3).

At the end of the first year I had effectively established myself as a team player; somebody who was willing to listen and put forward ideas during a team-based project. This year I wanted to be able to go into a group project as somebody who confidently contributes ideas from the beginning, in comparison to my group projects in the first year where I was overcome by shyness. I conducted research into how to strengthen my abilities as a team player and discovered a very useful book by Sandy Pokras, which suggested a variety of simple but important methods.

“Focus on speaking up and listening openly so you build trust. Recognize one another’s strengths and respect your differences. Aim for synergy, where the sum of all your parts becomes greater than what you could do individually”

Pokras, S. 2002. Helping your Team.

Working in Teams: a team member guide book. P10(lines 17-19)

By combining this with what I’d learnt from the first year I was able to go into a project with much more confidence and even develop project-managing skills for our final group project of the year (see Appendix, example 4). As a result I received very positive, constructive feedback from my team on the University’s peer assessment site, CASPAR.

http://caspar.cemp.ac.uk/bournemouth/student_view/project/progress/224

In conclusion I believe I have demonstrated my ability to adapt my own personal learning style in both the technical and academical aspects of the course. Throughout the year I have used my blog to monitor my progress and have developed good, effective contingencies that will help me where my progress is underachieving before I go into my third year.

APPENDIX

EXAMPLE 1

EXAMPLE 2

EXAMPLE 3

EXAMPLE 4

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Baker, N. 2009. Tutvid.com tutorials. USA. Available from: http://www.tutvid.com/tutorials/ (last accessed 7/6/2010)

Friedman, V. Lennartz, S. 2009. Smashing Media Magazine. UK: Function. Available from: http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2009/04/01/10-handy-tips-for-web-design-cvs-and-resumes/ (last accessed 6/6/2010)

Manovich, L. 2001. The Language of New Media. Massachusetts: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Pokras, S.2002. Working in Teams: a team member guide. Canada: Webcom limited.

Currently I’m working on my personal development planning essay and i’ve got quite a bit to write about. Aside from improving on the many software packages we use on this course i feel i have also made an improvement on my team-working skills. Whereas in the first year i was pretty committed to working endlessly on dealing with the software (editing the video on our narratives project and making the website for our summer project), this year i feel i have grown much more confident in suggesting ideas for team-based projects, such as elements of the story in our games project and how to lay out our presentation for the professional studies unit. I actually researched on how to become a better team member, using a useful book called “Working in Teams: a team member guide book“, which explains that by analyzing the project brief into three specific stages it makes it much easier to get your head around the daunting task that lies ahead.

Placement is pretty much sorted, and now onto finding a house…