Week 1 assignment 1.2- EDLD5366 - ET8047

In Week 1 assignment for EDLD5366-Digital Graphics and Web Design we are to investigate an ancient manuscript and books.  This is to give us insight into the history of graphic communication and how the principles of design were used in early manuscripts. 

I went to the British Library online and actually looked at the following:  Bible from Ethiopia, Lisbon Hebrew Bible, Baybars' magnificent Qu'ran, and Outstanding 15th-century church book.  I wanted to view them all and found each to be extremely fascinating but will focus this assignment on only one -the Lisbon Hebrew Bible.  It is viewable at:  http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/virtualbooks/viewmostviewed/index.html#

At first glance the beautiful and elaborate cover is visually appealing.  I believe the use of gold signifies the importance of the book.  The cover also uses the design qualities of contrast, alignment and repetition.  The use of the the Star of David in the corners of the cover, the inside corners of the rectangle and in the center are use of repetition as well as the circular design.  Alignment is represented on the cover through the use of lines and the centering of the Star of David. 

Throughout this book you will find the four design principles used.  The use of color for contrast is used in the actual text - gold against a white velum background is one and another is the use of a red background with gold text indicating important text.  On pages 2 and 3 you will see an elaborate border with features that are carried throughout the book resulting in repetition-use of color, design features, shapes and flowers.  Alignment is represented throughout the book with text being inside decorative rectangular areas and later in the book the text is aligned in columns separated by the use of variations of the design from pages 2 and 3.  The representation of proximity is evident throughout the book as well.  Information is well organized, not crowded and visually appealing.  Pages included well spaced text with elements throughout that belong together.

The study of these beautiful manuscripts is very enlightening.  I don't know if these were written with the four principles in mind but they do meet these qualifications.  I find it fascinating that we can find these principles throughout history and that we still follow them many years later.

Week 5 EDLD5301 - Research

Week 5 is ending and this class is almost history. This has been a very interesting and enjoyable course.  I must admit that what I thought this class would be and what it turned out to be are entirely different.  That was a pleasant surprise. 

As I mentioned in my discussion board post, when I attended college in the 1970’s research meant an entirely different thing.  At that time when a class required research or a research paper you went to the college library to start.  Of course back then the thought of using a personal computer and something called “Google” didn’t exist or enter the minds of college students.  We used the card catalog to start finding resources.  Hopefully if you needed a periodical such as a magazine it would be available and not already in use by another student since there would only be one copy!  Once your materials were collected you started taking notes, not on a computer but by handwriting them on 3 x 5 note cards.  My how times have changed.

When I first read that I was going to have a “research” class what I expected and what I received are on different ends of the spectrum.  I honestly expected that we would be taught how to gather data and cite sources correctly.  Having been out of the classroom as a student for over 25 years I realize that research has changed just as life has changed. 

Research to me now means something totally different and this really is a good thing.  Action research as we have learned isn’t about reading books and writing a paper.  It is about actually developing a topic that you want to research using a process involving others. 

Through the course of this 5 week course we have learned how to develop and fine tune our action research project.  We have worked not only with one another to develop our plans, but with our site supervisors and the professor as well.  Through the use of videos, readings, discussion boards and blogs we have learned so much.  We have learned how to write the plan of action and develop a template which will give us organization in our plan and research. 

In addition, I am really excited to start my action research project.  I know in the past just the mention of research brought horrible thoughts and memories.  That is no longer the case!

Action Research Plan

It is getting time to narrow this down, fine tune it as you might say. 

I am Instructional Technology Specialist and am working on my M.ED in Education Technology it only makes sense that my "Action Research Plan" would include technology!  It was actually very easy to come up with an idea as it was something "rattling" around in my head anyway. 

We opened our wireless through out the district the last month of school during the 2011 -2012 school year.  I worked with all the teachers in the district offering them ideas for lessons as well as websites that were easy to use with their classes.  I know that not 100% of the teachers embraced and even used this new tool.  But, I also know that several did and the students enjoyed it! 

That lead me to my action research plan ---"Does BYOT/BYOD affect student engagement, student passing rate and behavior referrals?

Week 4 -EDLD5301 Research

I'm quite concerned that no one has posted any thoughts about my action research.  As part of our assingment this week we are asked to review 2 comments.  I can't review 2 since I have none!  If you are following this blog could you please post something for me to review?

My action research is:  Is there a correlation between the use of BYOT/BYOD in the secondary classroom and student engagement, student course passing rates and behavior refferals?

In reviewing last weeks post it copied over really strangely and maybe that is why no on has responded.