Feedback on Part 1

I hope you have had a chance to look through the Blogs of new students on BAPP. Easy enough to view using Google Reader (check the Getting started with Web 2.0) on Libguides if unsure.

The first two weeks ‘tasks’ are clearly about getting you to feel part of a learning community, to get some Blog content, images and video up online and to explore the technologies. I am impressed how many students have got to grips with these and who have managed to post worthwhile, thoughtful Blogs. Where I have identified particular work I want to emphasise this is because I have seen a particular quality that I want to communicate to you. Please don’t see this as some sort of patronage if I mention you, or failure if I don’t! My purpose is only to offer my observations on some of the good practice, good ideas, good processes etc. I strongly recommend spending an hour viewing and commenting on other people’s Blogs as there is already a lot of valuable ideas and perspectives out there.

Flickr

I though some good examples of good use of Flickr are Cerys and Ross. I thought in their own ways, they capture the feel of Professional Dance and Musical Theatre well, and reminds me that these disciplines are visual as well as kinaesthetic.

YouTube

In terms of YouTube, I thought there was some really good work. For clarity and coherence I thought Alana’s was very good. This mixed media in an interesting way and had a polished quality. I was also particularly impressed with Stephie’s video. The focus of Stephie’s video is herself, talking about her aspirations. The video captures her ability to communicate effectively and the content of what she says is mature and convincing. As a visual artist, Stephie is able to articulate how she is going to make use of the wider creative community within BAPP.

Pros and Cons of Web 2.0

Many Blogs provided some very good evaluation of the Web 2.0 tools and their potential and actual roles within our professional practice. I thought Melissa in particular makes a good set of arguments and Mark does an excellent job taking us through the arguments. Also, the various groups at our first campus sessions put together some very good clips looking at the pros and cons and well worth a look (Campus Sesion 1 summaries from the groups).

Overall, those students who have engaged the first part of the programme have already created excellent online presence, and started the work of thinking and reflecting in a critical way… which incidentally is the topic of part 2 of BAPP.