Audio Response

The Fire

The ANIMOTO software was fairly simple to use, and I think I had a pretty clear idea of how I wanted to frame my story in the first place. I knew what song I wanted playing, and I also knew what words I wanted to flash, so that was all pretty simple. The only problem occurred in getting words as images. To do this, I created a power point and then captured the image of the screen. Also, I didn't like how I couldn't control how long the images flashed on the screen, so I had to tweak with which images I wanted to 'spotlight.'

At first, I hated the scrapbook website. I didn't like how I couldn't control the music, and I also didn't like how there was no movement within the slides. However, this forced me to rethink my story. I liked it because I had to get creative in order to make my project fun and exciting. In the end, I enjoyed this one the most.

The Voicethread Version.

The Voicethread was fun because I got to tell the 'backstory' to the main story. I also liked how I could add video comments and side notes. It was like being in the director's chair and pointing out what I wanted to convey. I think this would be extremely valuable to an English class, not only for creative story telling purposes, but for peer editing in general.

Hikikomori

I think the internet's impact on kids is immense, but to me I see it as just another part of life, as I am sure many other kids also do. I think the Internet is so ingrained in our lives that we take for granted how much progress it has made within the last few decades. 

In the Frontline special Growing Up Online , there was a great deal of talk about social networking websites, such as myspace and facebook. They mentioned how kids try on different personae, which allows them to portray alternate lifestyles and beliefs that they may not necessarily believe in. One teen mentioned how relieving it is to know that there are other kids out there who are just as frustrated with their lives and who they are- that they are all searching for some sort of closure in regards to their identities. I think it's great that kids find some sort of escape with internet socializing. I think it's safe, as long as they don't relieve anything too personal to a complete stranger, and relieving. Who's to say how we release stress? Some of us run, some get an instrument and rock out, and some like to talk online. I think that online talk is almost as liberating as fiction; kids are creating narratives about where they have come from, what they have experienced, and who they are trying to become. Why dampen that? 

However, I also recognize how some kids take this to the extreme, as in cases of hikikomori, which is an instance of extreme social withdrawal. I suppose my view is that while the Internet is liberating, it also should not replace any sort of real relationships. I found the English teacher's plight close to heart; she was trying to make the kids appreciate thinking, appreciate taking time to reflect. The one problem I have with the Internet is its ability to appear to give a satisfactory answer, when it may indeed leave out personal opinions and feelings.