I wanted to get to grips with Rose’s article on Researching visual materials and  other reading materials, so I could have a framework for critique of the artefacts created by all in the course.

I also experimented with other tools such as Prezi and Voicethread, and review Pinterest.  I made a response to Amy’s work by creating a voicethread visual and audio artefact.  And I  tried the same with Rose’s article.  I created a Prezi presentation of the automobile culture, with the visuals I have collected from my visit to the Autoworld museum in Brussels. It made me think of how I could define eLearning and digital culture, and consider the differences between the two technologies.

I revisited my coursemate’s EDCMooc response and these are some thoughts reviewing the tools:

a) Phil’s multilayering, reflects the adobe tools.

b) Amy brings home the fact that one can’t quite escape the use of text.  However, manipulating font sizes, and breaking them up in short phrases  is effective.

c) Steph’s thinglink presentation, as she pointed out, it is not a platform that invites discussion as much as we would have like it to be.  The choice of image, and decision on what is linked is critical.

d) Candance made effective use of Prezi,  introducing the brilliance of glass, and surprisingly the sound of glass too.

e) Nikki’s glogster: the title, the image of the frame reminds me of Roses frame for cultural thought, in this case of surveillance.

f) Anabel made good use of the  culmination of nominated songs, and the continued invite to add to the artefact.

g) Gina’s Pinterest board has generated a lot of discussion.  Her response to each comment is key to building up communities based on the visuals on the board.

Reference:

Rose, Gillian (2007) Researching visual materials: towards a critical visual methodology, chapter 1 of Visual methodologies: an introduction to the interpretation of visual materials. London: Sage. pp.1-27

Below are some of the feedback received which provide some engagement, though I failed to create an artefact which removes the reader as a passive spectator, as discussed by Rose. If I had been brave enough to allow people to add links to it, the effect might have been different. I need to consider how thinglink might satisfy the ‘design culture’ criteria.

“This is more meaningful and accessible to me than other types of expression that are pure image. You show how I have been moving through the course myself, using bookmarks and diigo to collect the bits that are more important to me. What I like about your artefact is you have added a layer that shows the pathway of movement outward, connecting and hopping in ways that are both organized and random, leading to unexpected points. This is a quick way to see the overview and to trace forward and backward. Kudos!” Martell Linsdell

“I really liked the use of lines and intersections–rather rhizome-ish! It struck me as a very good example of curatorship–obviously much more than being a ‘digital librarian’.” Candance Nolan Grant

“This image really begins highlight the possibilities of DATA mapping – what is hiding in learner activity? What knowledge will be uncovered when data is visualised big scale?” Phil Devine

On the whole, I think this is too much of an exhibit. If I were to do it again, some of the following questions I would like to ask myself:
a) how would my audience see this? Would they be able to interact with the material, change it, own it? Can this image be de-territorialised (Deleuze, 1972)?
b) can this image change the relationship of a spectator to something else? Does it flatten the hierarchies of class, ‘race’, gender, sexuality, able-bodiedness and so on? (Haraway, 1991)
c) Which would be the most appropriate technology for the particular purpose?
d) What would be the compositionality for the purpose of the image creation? (Rose, 2007:13)
e) Does the artefact act as a frame for cultural thought?

I have entitled this post week 4 as a play of words on post human, and also post week 4 edcMooc digital artefact response to Amy Woodgate’s brilliant audio summary.  Could a journey be more relaxed as demonstrated by the inclusion of a live performance at St Pancras and the inviting sound of the sea?

So I started by browsing through the discussion forum, and then stumbled on the edcMooc news which contained the blogs from participants.  I soon realised how much talent and skills already being exhibited by the edcMooc community.  I was reflecting on the films they have to watch and comment and the gargantious task of  the Mooc organisers to cater to so many.

Sol Le Witt’s work came to mind.  It was the perfect one to use to display some of the best work that I have seen from the participants.  Then the question of the tool.  There were too many to choose from and I was tempted to use the Prezi but was unsure about the zooming in and out effect.  I clicked on a few and I thought I would give Thinglink a go and see if it does the job for me.

It was easy enough to use and quite perfect for what I need.  I was hoping I could stream in some sound but first it did not permit embedding of sound, but secondly, there was no need for this particular artefact.  I think silence could be more effective, as there was already so much data to see and investigate.

I spent the rest of the week monitoring the various discussion groups, twitter and watching some of the films on edcMooc, while dipping in and out of my own reading on Digital and Design Culture.  I will discuss the reading on another post.  Suffice to note here, that I had not expected to read so much on design on the course!  It seems like my inner desire and childhood dreams of studying design is being realised in EDEC!

Intersections – the edcMooc community is made up of individuals with different needs and interests.  Here, in edcMOOC, their lives somehow intersect with each other, and create a vibrant community.  How the lines or sticks drop and pile up determine the strength of connectedness, and eventually, if the connections fuse with each other, it becomes an organic connection rather than just piles of lines or sticks.  This piece of wall installation is by Sol Lewitt.  (photo taken by T.Meckenstock in Aug 2013, at Mass MOCA, USA) Please move your mouse over the image to see links.