Multi-choice Photography self test

We have a group of 15 Year 9 students undertaking an NCFE level 2 qualification in Photography as a 20 week course. They are given one 50 minute lesson a week by the host school and need to attend an after-school class for 2 hours per week. Much of the time is needed for practical photograph taking and digital-darkroom on Adobe Photoshop. Consequently, theory based activities tend to be PowerPoint lectures and few notes are taken, especially in the 2 hour session as this is seen by the students as ‘their time’ and semi-voluntary. Reinforcement of key principles are reiterated during lessons, however I am unsure as to how much is retained. This will become more important when students undertake one of the their three final coursework studies where marks are awarded for understanding as well as use of principles such as lighting, composition and file optimisation.

To ascertain the students’ level of understanding I had hoped to make an exciting interactive game involving Flash-based drag and drops etc. This was too ambitious considering time-constraints at this time of year. I resolved to make a simple multi-choice test that could be completed in the 50 minute lesson using Hot Potatoes 6. It is possible to develop this test further and even host on the school’s VLE with a bit more tweaking. However, for first use it will be sufficient to give me an idea of the depth of understanding of some students and act as a diagnostic for those who seem not to have taken in any of the theory lessons.

The Java based version of Hot Potatoes 6 for Mac OSX has proved to be very easy to use and customisable per project. The output to HTML ensures that I can use it in our iMac base or develop for the school’s VLE and home learning.

Five things (2008)

Five things achieved this year:

1. Using RAW photos, DSLR camera and advanced Photoshop
2. Advanced tech skills producing podcasts with students
3. Left teaching (…sort of)
4. Commissioned and installed a TV Studio and designed curriculum around it!
5. Enrolled on an MSc

1. Last year I helped to design a Mac classroom and launch A level Photography at my school; this also meant I had to up my skills and even buy a new DSLR – luckily there is a wealth of tutorials on the web and I am several steps in front when it comes to Photoshop. As of March ’08, the students are doing very well – just wish we could also use darkroom techniques to complement.

2. Did a podcasting course with students from other European countries (all in English) and was amazed at how learning, producing and reviewing helped not just in the media production but also with their spoken English!

3. Went back to Doncaster to work. Left secondary school environment to work for Local Authority in a City Learning Centre, still kind of teaching but not same strains, pressures and personalities… Positive new experiences as part of job include filming and editing interviews with local over 60s (provided by Age Concern) as part of Doncaster Oral History project. This will eventually be part of a History web resource for ks4.

4. Innovation is the key with my new role so the opportunity to build a TV Studio (opened in October) and design a Curriculum for ks2 – 4 is exciting. Publicity material also produced to very high standard – now need to learn QuarkXpress to make edit revisions etc.

5. MSc Multimedia and E-learning started in Sept. as useful for post as well as self… new directions!

Painting a Photo

Stumbled upon this on Flickr; no not an example of Photoshop kung-fu either! Must have taken a lot of organisation… the full story can be found next to the image on the Flickr site.
Bottom pic is Georges Seurat’s Sunday afternoon at the Grand Jatte.

Image originally uploaded by Oldliner on Flickr.