Photography blog

This week, I learned a lot about photography. In the three articles that I read, they all reflected distinct but useful elements that would make a great photographs compelling to the eyes. I guess that I may have known what would be appealing to me in a photography but putting words and terminology to it makes my appreciation for photography grow even more.

In terms of imaginative bridge, photography is definitely underused in student affairs. Student affairs professional do interact with students on a daily basis but have to think about different ways of keeping them engaged or encouraging them to use the available resources. Eisner talks about the forms of aesthetic and I believe that photography can be a great tool in encouraging students to use the resources. For instance, while working in the International Center at Michigan State University, I could start a photography contest between students who study abroad. There will be guidelines such as what elements make a good photograph in order to direct them in the right path in creating a compelling picture.

Photography

Graphic Arts

This week's topic made me think more about my environment and how compelling it can be depending on the amount of thinking one puts into it. Regarding graphic arts, it seems like every element of a poster/flier/visual graphic (whatever you want to call it), plays an important role on whatever message ones wants/needs to deliver. The size of the header/object,font, the color chosen for each component, and the location of each element play an important role in making the graphic more compelling and appealing to the eyes. Another factor that I have never thought about prior to discussing the assigned graphic was that our experience and memory also contribute in visualizing a graphic or making it more compelling.

As imaginative bridges, I believe that all of the components above need to be taken in consideration in creating a compelling graphic. Of course, we would need to know the content/context while designing the graphic but also the audience that we are targeting. For example, college students and senior citizens may be two totally different audience to consider while creating a graphic. Another important factor to consider is the branding of the graphic (font, color, logos, etc.). For instance, MSU branding looks very distinct from any other institution making it recognizable to internal audience because they are familiar to the branding. As mentioned before, the graphic plays with our memory  and past experience and appear more compelling to some than others. Below are two examples of MSU posters/fliers that contain the MSU branding.

Eisner - Aesthetic Modes of Knowing

Eisner wrote substantially about aesthetic forms in creating compelling experiences. In higher education, more specifically teaching, the interaction between instructor(s) and students can often get in a regular routine, making the content of the learning insignificant. The methods of teaching is often done through lectures and PowerPoint presentations. Furthermore, in a history course for example, with the fact that there are dates and specific periods in time that need to be remembered, the course can easily turn into a boring session in which students could get disinterested.

In order to make the history course a compelling experience, the instructor will need to know the content (obviously), the audience (what type/generation of students is in his/her course), technological resources (in case the audience finds it easier to learn through technology), or other compelling experiences. Nowadays, in a traditional college course, most students are compelled by interaction, discussion/engagement, and technology. Different ways to create imaginary bridges (in this case: innovative teaching methods) is simply to know the audience and what motivates it. For the history course, several ways to keep the students engaged is to involve some kind of technological platform. For example, students can answer anonymously to questions via text messages, use of technological devices such as digital camera, iPad, laptops, video camera, and/or compelling YouTube videos could be played regarding the topic of the course specifics. Other interactive teaching methods would include small groups discussions, debates, poster presentations, etc.

Eisner's book provides several great ideas and relationship between concepts in order to create compelling videos. Education is a constant changing field, with new technology, student demographic, course content, and research discoveries. Teaching pedagogies need to keep up with the consistent change that education is facing.