What an interesting way to reflect on the course material by revisiting our first assignment! Looking at the Volkswagen advertisement, I see its purpose as selling a car to an average middle class, all-american family with the suburban house, stay-at-home mom, two kids and dog.  In line with the purpose, I see the intended audience as the average middle class family. Using the remote key to "lighten" up the car for Darth Vader is a clear indication that Volkswagen also is appealing to the "non-drivers" in the family. What better way to have your child rally for a 4 door sedan! I would think that the advertising team on this ad considered how children beg their parents for the minivan with the table in the middle and the high tech video system throughout. What car can complement the minivan for the family that may already have one? One with special Star Wars powers, perhaps? The mom's voice is probably not represented but does she really care? Is this ad about her? She probably already has her minivan or SUV so how can the dad's car be cool? How can he impress his mini Vader? The design is simple and completely relatable. The mom in the kitchen, the sister not home so the little brother can get in her room, the dog on the rug, the little boy playing Star Wars and "controlling" everything in his path. Every middle class (two parent) family can relate:)

Cited.org

I can see myself using Cited.org for the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development in many ways. First, it is an another excellent resource to share with the center members for up to date, evidence based strategies to improve literacy instruction in the classroom as well as move toward the integration of the Common Core.
Adding another vehicle for teachers to gain information can only strengthen everyone knowledge and the importance of the center. Secondly, I love the way it is broken down into resources for teachers, for administrators, and for professional development coordinators. This creates an easy path for me to follow when choosing and sharing appropriate resources.

This leads me to the next reason why Cited.org is such a great resource.  Since the literacy center is an "out of school" activity, members do not always have the time to devote to looking at and downloading the available resources. Some resources I chose for my toolkit are exactly focused on that.... how to infuse technology and online learning into their lives. Not only does Cited.org allow the access to excellent resources, the resources in reference are the ones that help you maximize online learning opportunities!  As a co-director of the center, I can only provide the platform for extended learning of its members and hope they take advantage of the available resources. Cited.org definitely helps!

Lastly, one of the main missions of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development is to build capacity for ongoing learning in the schools. It is our goal to provide teacher leaders with research based resources to turnkey to colleagues by scaffolding the learning.  It is our intent for teacher leaders to lean on the center for resources and eventually be able to train on their own.  Cited.org's link for professional development coordinators fits perfectly with our goal. The resources there provide excellent ideas for teacher leaders when turn keying information and building capacity of literacy learning in their schools!

Learning Element

I created an online resource center for teachers. In essence, and for the purposes of this blog, I view it as on online "lesson plan"for members of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development.

Teacher Resource:
The wiki I created is intended for K-8 literacy teachers, supervisors, administrators and building principals to continually learn about best practices in literacy instruction and how they relate to the newly adopted common core standards.

The focus is to stay abreast of evidence based research and how it can be applied to practical classroom learning opportunities. Learning is created through the scope of online tools such as downloadable resources, instructional videos,  discussion groups and links to literacy organizations.

Learning Level: K-8 literacy teachers, supervisors, administrators and building principals

Prior Knowledge: All members of the literacy center attend with some literacy knowledge already. The levels of knowledge vary greatly from novice teachers to Language Arts coordinators who have 30 + years experience.

Knowledge Objectives: The members of the literacy center gain deeper understanding of research based literacy instructional methods for their learning and ultimately increasing student achievement.

Knowledge Process: Through the wiki, members can communicate, collaborate, think critically and create learning opportunities through the various online tools.

Knowledge Outcomes: see objectives

"Ruff Bully"

SKI BUMS

Crop Exercises

This picture was taken last summer. I love the look on the look on the little girl's face as she lays on her dad's chest in the sunlight. She is showing a part sadness and part relief to be with her dad after not seeing him for three weeks. The first shop is slightly cropped to show the dad using a stuffed animal as his pillow. The dad is equally as sad/relieved. The close up of the little girl shows her vulnerability and sweetness. The last cropped shot, I wanted to focus on the dad's hand on the little girl's chin.  Cropping it this way enlarges the hand and conveys sensitivity between the two. 

Border Variations

Will you be my Valentine?

Fontolicious

Mini Compositions (page 71).. take 2

Then and Now

Part of my job responsibilities at Rutgers is providing professional development workshops for teachers.  Since we are a self-supporting center, there is no budget for a marketing person.  I was the one responsible for creating flyers to advertise events.  The first one you see at the top is an advertisement for behavior modification workshops, offered by a child psychologist which I created last year. I now wonder if we did not have a big turnout because the flyer was utterly unattractive and sent NO message to the audience! The all white paper with tight black wordy font would make a graphic designer cringe upon first look!
Not even a second color anywhere! It is difficult to read cluttered with too much information. Perhaps text boxes would have been more appealing since it was necessary to include the workshop descriptions on the flyer.

The second flyer I created is for a workshop this year (next week, actually) where I think (I hope) I improved with my graphic design. Based on what I have read so far, I incorporated contrasting color and simple font.  The logo of the back to back kids reading is synonymous with the literacy center and the bold font highlights the event is from the Graduate School of Education (which attracts a certain audience).
The margins are centered all around and the red on black color pops out when read. Although, I think that i can improve, I see a huge improvement from last year's to this year's.

Who would like this?

Mistake # 1:Know your audience- This website is designed for people interested in the science field. I am not sure the design is intended to attract the right people.

Mistake #2: Font Faces- There are too many font faces on this site. It is distracting to the user.

Mistake #3: Use of Colors- As our readings suggest, too many colors is not recommended. Stick to a few basic colors to create a more attractive design.

Mistake #4: The site's goal: While perusing this site, it was not clear at all what the goal of the site is. I spent time in utter confusion trying to figure out what the academy is and who should be a part of it.

Mistake #5: Navigation: Navigating a site should be a simple process. Here, you notice navigational links on both sides, vertically and horizontally.

Mistake #6: Design is well planned- NOT! This site looks like it was thrown together from a million different directions and hardly updated

Mistake # 7: Design Communicates- The only message this site communicates is confusion! 


Mistake #7: Make pictures and words work in the space- No comment necessary!

Mistake #8: Keep it short- Web users tend to be lazy readers (Golombisky and Hagen, 22). Keep get short, this site falls short of that very important rule

Mistake #9: Visual- Keep a key visual at eye level. This will attract the users to your site and message.... not so much with this site.

Mistake #10: Keep it simple!- This site goes against any form of attractive simplicity.

Where do I belong?

So, I started to think about what online communities I should join and why? You see, I am not in an elementary classroom any more. My current life has me working as a graduate assistant co-directing the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development and teaching two courses at the GSE on the side. When thinking about online communities, I wavered between the two "hats" I am currently wearing. Administrative vs Teacher? Where do I belong? I chose the administrative route since a) it will help me with my project and b) I am hoping it can help build my knowledge base for my dissertation work.

I joined the International Reading Association(IRA) and the Ohio Literacy Network Communities.  IRA is an organization that fully supports the mission of the Rutgers Center for Literacy Development and houses all of the relevant information we use for the center. Let me explain... the Literacy Center is a multi-faceted professional development initiative from the Graduate School of Education.  Created in 2006, its sole mission is to create a network of lifelong learners whose shares our vision of improving academic achievement through increased literacy knowledge for both teachers and students.  Our goal, at the center, is to create change agents that can turnkey expert knowledge to their colleagues as they encourage communities of learners within their schools.  Our intent is to foster teacher inquiry through the center and have it spill out into the schools, through the literacy center members.  Connecting with IRA members can only enhance and expand the opportunities that I can use to help support the center.

The Ohio Literacy Network Community looks like a similar initiative to the Rutgers Literacy Center.  Networking with this group can work like IRA in helping to build and support our current resources.
Also, working with a center like ours can help overcome some of the challenges that we face a directors and the planning processes.

With my project, I hope to be able to enhance the services and opportunities provided by the center. Connecting with expert knowledge from IRA and those in Ohio that serve a similar purpose, these are two communities that I see as beneficial for my work with this class... and beyond.

Eminem Vs Diddy (if that is what he is referring to himself as these days)

The ultimate coolness. drinking with Diddy, Puff Daddy, Sean Combs..... What does this commercial want you to walk away with? Drink Ciroc- be a part of an elite crowd,  fancy clothes, upscale parties, the high life... This 30 second stint wants you to be a part of a fantasy world when drinking their vodka (for the everyday person). Or... it can connect to the wealthy elite who spends their typical evenings in tuxedos and evening gowns, sharing fine food and fancy vodka in a fancy setting.

Reading that this commercial was shot in one of Sinatra's former homes while his music plays in the background also depicts a feeling from that time period. Again, the ultimate "cool" of Diddy coupled with the ultimate "cool" of Sinatra creates a feeling drinking vodka and feeling "cool."  Diddy, comparing himself to Sinatra and the crowd he hung out with in his day. Interesting, the untied bow tie on Diddy and the camera focusing in more on the women than the men. Drink Ciroc.. get more women? Perhaps that is an underlying intent. Important to note is the age range that this commercial is aimed for.... not your typical college student looking for a cheap bottle of liquor to party with. Ciroq, as depicted in this commercial, is aimed at the 30-40's with money, able to travel in elite social circles or those who wish to feel like they can. Also, the use of the music can include an older crowd, Sinatra fans...

When designing this video, it is apparent the directors were going for that upscale feel. Fancy home, clothes, jewelry- lots and black and white- stark contrasts in color.  Straight lines, modern architecture gives a fancy feeling.