Multimedia for Social Change

Multimedia for Social Change was an enriching and engaging experience.  This multi-faceted course incorporated a collaborative learning process, hands-on learning with the community partners, learning in virtual space vis-à-vis the wiki, and reflecting on all of this knowledge via the blog.

I enjoyed learning about all of the thematic topics introduced over the course of the semester; issues of access, multimedia literacies, subcultures, public art, stylistics, entertainment education and games were particularly stimulating.  The fact that each member of the class was asked to participate in devising the class syllabus (enabling all of us to be active in our education) was inspiring and unique to other courses at USC.  In addition, structuring the course syllabus as a wiki that allowed for flexibility and change depending on our interests supported this three-dimensional learning style.  At the IML, we are constantly immersed in everything simultaneously; learning new software, academic material, virtual communication, physical communication, research, media, the list goes on! This is the beauty of the IML in its entirety – it teaches students to function in a non-linear manner just as new technologies require us to do – entirely relevant and necessary given the current and future day and age! At the IML both the readings and media clips are viewed equally as literacy tools and this course was no exception.  For example, studying remix videos was a good way to illustrate tactical media.  The workshops were helpful in increasing skills and understanding of various technologies, the introduction and inclusion of Prezi and Vuvox was especially useful as they communicate the information at hand in exciting ways.

In regards to MM4SC, we learned to ‘design social change’ both conceptually (by creating projects that would empower communities and provide opportunities for social change) and literally (by physically carrying out the projects and designing them to extend across multiple platforms).

The challenge of this course was juggling all of the different components, balancing time between doing the work for the nonprofit and the work for class.  I would tell other students to come up with a concrete plan so that they can manage their time appropriately and stay on top of everything.  There are many people and many people’s schedules to consider throughout the process.  Developing the work plan was crucial in the success of the project.  I would also tell them to utilize the workshops offered and keep building on those skills to enhance their projects, seeking assistance when necessary.

In terms of ways the course could be improved, just ensuring that it is one cohesive course with the discussion and lab time put together for four units.  I wish I could have attended the discussion portion on the readings in its entirety (as I found all of the material interesting) but I appreciated that my class conflict situation was understood and accommodated, and I still got to experience the readings and media clips through the wiki and blog.  In addition, maybe choosing a few things to spend more time on would work well, whether they are skills learned in the workshops or the themes discussed.  I liked that we had exposure to lots of different things all-around, just wish we had had more time to spend on them! On the other hand, this format lent itself well to our class because we were a small group, thus everyone was able to contribute and participate evenly.

I thoroughly enjoyed Multimedia for Social Change and would encourage any student to take it.  The course stimulates different and alternate modes of thinking while teaching ‘real’ skills that can be applied to academic and professional environments.  I look forward to future courses at the IML!

Multimedia for Social Change has been one of the most unique and applicable classes I have taken in my major. I knew this class was going to be different after the first day, when we were given sticky notes and the opportunity to help shape our syllabus. I loved that we all had a say  in shaping the class and I think it worked out really well. I also liked that the class was split up into two parts, it gave us a chance to not only learn about the different types of social change but also gain the skills in how to make multimedia.
In the first half of the class I really enjoyed the lecture on games for change. Susanna Ruiz shared valuable insight on how games can be used to promote social change. I also found the card exercise to be really helpful in getting our creative juices flowing. Multimedia literacies, entertainment education and youth media were also very interesting topics we discussed. The only problem I had is that I felt like there wasn’t enough time to actually learn about these many different topics we discussed. It felt rushed.

The skills part of the class was very helpful. Prezi and slideshare were two online tools that I didn’t know about beforehand and prove to be very helpful.

I highly recommend this class to other students who are interested in taking what we learn in other COMM classes and putting it into action. My suggestion is that there is only one class and people really try to come on time so we can all be on the same page.

When I first signed up for MM4SC I really didn’t know what to expect. After the first day I knew this would not be like any other class. What I really enjoyed about the class was the unconventional methods the class to approach topics. Also, students had an active voice in what is being taught. On the first day we brainstormed on topics and skills we would like to learn about. From that, we formualted a tenative syllabus for the semester.

Although the class is still in the developing stages there is still great potential for future students to fine-tune the class. There are some tribulations I faced this semester. For example, because the class is
open for exploration it is easy to be over ambitious. How the class is structured you start working with your non-profit on the third/ fourth week. Thus, time because of the essance.

I learned that working a non- profit can be challenging. I faced lack of resources, miscommunication, and cooperation by participants.
When working with a non-profit or and organization collaboration and compromise becomes key to your project.

To future students I have three essential recommendations.

1. Have a focus plan. This will help you with time management but also give your community partner an over outline of what you are
going to do.

2. Know what your community partner needs and be able to distinguish that from their wants.

3. Take this class for four units. It’s worth it.

Finally, to all those who are considering taking this class. I enthusiatically say Do it! The class always you to be involve with an underserved community in LA, learn and produce multimedia, and in the smallest sense create chanege.

Not only did I find the objective of this course to be exciting and necessary, I found the execution process to be invaluable. This semester has been very insightful and enlightening. I have learned a lot about the world and how to make an effective impact by using multimedia tools.

Growth

I learned new programs like Zotero, Wiki, WordPress, Prezi and Final Cut Pro. To be honest, I have had little to no experiences with any of these programs prior to this class. This class has given me a new perspective on technology and how it can affect the world. I have learned ways to be resourceful and creative in helping KEEN.

I’ve enjoyed discovering innovative ways to evoke change. One of my favorite lessons was the Games for Change session. After playing a few of the games online, I saw that there is plenty of opportunity to reach young minds through online game play. Large corporations who partner with organizations of change should further explore this area. As a huge game person, I found the game we played with Susanna to be really interesting and thought provoking.

On a different note, I was able to apply some of the principles of Final Cut Pro to other class projects. For my advertising class, I had to create a radio spot. The cutting and moving of video bytes in Final Cut Pro helped me navigate through GarageBand (which I had never used).

Some of my favorite lessons/readings were grassroot initiatives and multimedia literacy.

I loved that we learned by reading, watching, talking, playing and doing. I feel like this is the definition of multimedia and was an integral part of our class. I’m eager to continue to expand my multimedia literacy.

Difficulties/Challenges

One of my biggest challenges in Multimedia for Social Change was being less tech-savvy than the class. Although this was difficult in the beginning, I learned to use the class as a resource instead of a barrier. By asking questions and learning new tactics, I was able to expand my multimedia and technological knowledge. Because the class was small, it lent itself to a very collaborative and interactive experience.

The other challenge that I had was learning a new software editing system: Final Cut Pro. Prior to this, I had had no experience with filming or editing video footage. I overcame this challenge by asking questions and seeking the guidance of more experienced friends/classmates. It was a great learning experience and I feel much more confident using a camera and editing software.

Suggestions for future students

• Engross yourself in the non-profit. Become familiar with their mission, needs, objectives and team. This is essential in growing their multimedia. By knowing what they have, what has worked and what hasn’t, you can cater your project specifically around their needs.
• Google everything that comes to your mind for the project. If you think you can’t do something, there is a solution for it. I learned that there are plenty of blogs, comments and websites that explain or provide resources for thousands of technological bumps.
• Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to seek the help of the instructor and your peers. Initially I was shy when it came to asking questions that seemed obvious to the rest of the class but then I realized it was my learning experience too and the best way to learn is to ask questions and get hands on with the work.
• Open your mind to learning about different global problems and expand it to create innovative solutions. Part of this class is about exploring problems, creating answers and finding creative ways to enact change.

Overall, I truly loved this class and learned so much this semester!

Below is my first blog post.  I had posted it to the wiki at the time (from my blog) but am moving it here with the rest of my blog entries!

Coup d’etat

By kathleencamarda

Thank you all for your comments – Meghan and I appreciate all of the feedback very much! We both enjoyed ourselves and learned a lot throughout this entire process! Immediately following our final presentation we emailed LACAN requesting that they review the final versions of the blog, map, and video.  As a result, we have a few updates since we last met and since our original final post last week…

Currently, we are in the process of adding the LACAN website link to the final frame of the video, and plan to re-upload it asap.  The week prior to the final (Prezi) presentation we sat down with LACAN and reviewed the video frame-by-frame to get their feedback.  The video that we showed for the final presentation (the same one that is posted on here) is the by-product of the requested changes.  On a related note, we were considering switching the host from Vimeo to BlipTV (as mentioned in our final presentation), but after carefully reviewing Blip’s Policies and Penalties section, we were afraid the video’s audio would quickly suffer the same fate as it did on YouTube (yikes!) so we chose to stick with Vimeo.

The map has undergone a few changes too since both last week and the final presentation.  We went back through and added the screenshots to the Ordinance Passage, changed the LACAN video screenshot to look uniform to the Ordinance, and changed the screenshot images for San Julian Park and the Alexandria Hotel KTLA video.  Aside from adjusting the screenshots, we took another look at all of the text and content to make sure everything is clean and consistent, checked for typos, grammatical errors, etc.

In terms of the blog, we played with the layout of the sidebar one last time (in hopes of bumping up the Blogroll that contains LACAN’s main website and the VozMob link) but due to the fact that we can’t get multiple icons/links on the same plane, it shifted the Pages section down too far.  Unfortunately this section needs to be visible right when the user opens the page, thus we left it how it was on the day we presented – the same version that was posted here last week.

In regards to the distribution, we had discussed tweeting, blogging, and reaching out locally at our final meeting right before the final presentation.  We recently received an email from LACAN stating that they have sent the blog, map, and video out to supporters and people are responding really positively.  In addition, they would like to add the video to the website, but will have to go through their consultant in order to do so.  In the meantime, it is their current tweet, they made it a featured page on the blog (like the map!), and it was the top post when it first went up! They thanked us for our work and were happy with the blog, map, and video.  All great to hear!

This week we compiled a comprehensive list of all of the account information we created for them throughout the semester (including their existing accounts) and sent it to them for future reference so that they have a single complete list that is ongoing.  In addition, last week we returned the remaining CDs that were in our possession to their office.

YOUTH RADIO – Adam

Adam’s experience with Youth Radio is very compelling. I think he brought an acute vision to their program by evaluating their specific needs. Particularly, I enjoyed how he set up varies programs with specific numbered steps for Final Cut Pro and Soundslide. I feel that this was an effective and interactive way to reach his audiences, the teens and employees of Youth Radio. This method was simple, concise and could be repeated with a different proctor.

In terms of Adam’s final presentation, I enjoyed the structure of his powerpoint. I liked the layout with different color schemes. However, there are still a few typos in the final presentation on slides 4 and 12.

Tutorial Reviews

• Slideshare: I loved the screen shots and the detailed directions. I feel like it would be pretty easy for a less tech-savvy person to figure out. This is my favorite tutorial.
• Final Cut: Very detailed! I like how you laid out the objectives for each step and incorporated new steps that apply previous ones.
• Photo: Great suggestions! I think they are very helpful to teach the teens how to effectively tell a story.

Overall, I think that Adam did an excellent job! Not only did he include a few media pieces that he created with YR students, but he provided them the tools to sustain such projects. The tutorials and steps are very straightforward. Great work!

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KIWA – Amanda & Sylvia

Sylvia and Amanda made a really positive impact on KIWA. I like that they provided KIWA with materials and also taught them how to sustain them. Their two-part approach to the project provided KIWA with deliverables and knowledge. The training was an integral and successful aspect of this. I hope that more KIWA members interact with the blog to keep it relevant and engaging.

I think they did a really great job incorporating a strong branding image of KIWA throughout all of their media. By keeping KIWA’s logo and coloration within each channel, they have generated a consistent, recognizable image for KIWA.

For the video, I like a lot of the elements. The live fonts and drums in the beginning are very engaging and peak your interest. I like the quick shots that go with the music. I also liked the combination of voiceovers, clips and stills. It incorporated the culture of KIWA while engaging audiences. My only suggestion for the video is to use different music for the second part or to make it quieter. It gets a bit distracting toward the end.

My only critique is that I would have liked to Sylvia present the video and Amanda present the website so that they could demonstrate what they learned from each other.  Overall, they did fantastic!

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LACAN – Katie & Meghan

Katie and Meghan did an excellent job assessing LACAN’s needs and developing a project around it. They successful created online cohesion with LACAN’s fragmented media. In particular, I liked how they used to map to incorporate LACAN’s different projects/info. This is very sustainable, concrete and unique.

The interactive map is very engaging. I like how they incorporated small images and categories for teach point. My only suggestion would to incorporate a distribution strategy so that others can use it. It’s a terrific resource that I would hate to see untapped.

The video is very good. I like that it is black/white, gritty and raw but still looks professional and produced well. The music is also very appropriate for the content. Here are a few suggestions for the video. The bolding and the shadowing of the font make it a little difficult to read. I like the idea of incorporating stills of newspaper articles, but I think they would be more effective with music behind them. I’m not sure if there was supposed to be music, but with that gap in sound toward the end, it seems like the video is over. I would make sure that there is sound throughout all of it so that viewers don’t close the video prematurely and miss the cool stills at the end. Also, the ending seems a bit abrupt…I think you should put LACAN’s website on the final frame.

I really liked the structure of their Prezi. The layout was interesting and captivating, both up close and from a bird’s eye view.

Overall, I think you guys made a really positive impact on LACAN. I’m glad you gave them sustainable tools! Great work!