The student used various new media technologies at different stages of their project. During construction and research, they used search engines to find models and conventions. Planning involved using Adobe Premiere Elements, Paint Shop Pro XI, Music Shake, and Photoshop. They struggled at first with Premiere but learned skills from last year. For evaluation, they used Blogger, YouTube, SlideShare, PowerPoint, and screen recording software to record their process and gather feedback. While some technologies posed challenges, the wide range overall helped produce high quality final products.

1. How did you use new media technologies in the construction & research, planning and evaluation stages?

2. My ExperienceI was familiar with some of the software but I did find it challenging at times because I had to get to grips with new programs that did take me some time to understand. Taking the skills that I learnt last year helped me to built on them to produce work of a better quality this year and I feel that the development of my skills really did help me to produce my three products. I think that my final products have benefitted from the wide range of technologies that are available to use.

3. Construction & Research!Internet & Search engines- This was the most important part of my construction and planning because it helped me find models and gave me an idea of the conventions that top companies would use. This helped me to identify the conventions being used and whether I would follow, challenge or develop them when it came to making my own products.

4. Planning! AdobePhotoShopPaint Shop Pro XIMusic ShakeAdobe PremiereElements

5. Planning!During the planning stage I used mostly Adobe Premiere Elements & Paint Shop pro to help me create my products. I also used Music Shake and Adobe Photoshop.Adobe Premiere ElementsI was new to using this software and I did struggle with it at first. After some practice I understood the basics to help me create my trailer. Using this software was hard for me to create the vision in my head because I did not understand all of the programs functions. AdobePhotoShopI didn’t use adobe PhotoShop for much of my work but it helped me to edit photos and cut out images from other sources. As I don’t have much experience with the software I decided to use an alternative program called Paint Shop Pro for my ancillary texts.

6. Paint Shop Pro XIPaint Shop Pro is similar to PhotoShop but because I have more experience with it & find it easier to use, I decided to create my poster and magazine using this software. It gave me more confidence when I was making my products and because I feel I don’t have enough skills with PhotoShop I used the next best product, that I thought I could create a better ancillary text with.

7. Music ShakeClick to Play >This program was easy enough to use to create my music and I was really happy with the end results but when it came to taking the music I created, it was hard to get it formatted without sounding of a bad quality. This meant that in the end I couldn’t use the music I had made.

8. Evaluation To help me with my evaluation I used lots of different technologies, these included: BloggerWindows Movie MakerMicrosoft PowerPointYouTubeSlideShareTopViewSoft screen video capture

9. Evaluation stageTopViewSoft Screen video captureI used this software for the first time when I was creating my evaluation. This software was very useful and enabled me to record how I made my music. BloggerBlogger has been used throughout my coursework but I found it most useful during the evaluation stage because it enabled me to use lots of different technologies. YouTubeYouTube has enabled me to upload my work to their site as well as easily post it on the blog. SlideShareSlideShare enabled me to upload my slideshow I created and post it onto my blog. I was new with the software but found it really easily to use and understand.

10. Evaluation stageMicrosoft PowerPointMicrosoft PowerPoint enabled me to create this presentation for my evaluation. As I have lots of experience with it I created it without any problems which helped save time. I decided to use PowerPoint rather than just blogging because it gives variety to my blog and its a different way to portray my evaluation. Windows movie makerWindows movie maker enabled me to create my audience feedback video. It was quick and easy to do because I have lots of experience with the software and I could easily record myself on my webcam and add it straight to the video. It also let me re-order my recordings and add transitions to it.

11. ConclusionOverall I think that the wide range of media technologies I used to help construct my main product and ancillary texts during the construction & research, planning and evaluation stages really helped me to create my product to the best of my ability. I think the wide choice of technologies enabled me to create my final products with some flexibility because I could turn to another technology if one wasn’t working out. Even though I did have some trouble I am fairly happy with my final products I have created.