Reading the Hinck article brought new insight into my perception of digital learning. I have never thought about how template websites could actually be hurting our creativity, I simply thought of them as an easier way to create and design projects. I agree that using more open-ended platforms can help students grow overall as creators, but I worry that this may be difficult to integrate into every-day classrooms. Subjects such as the Digital Media class that Hinck teaches may find it easier to utilize these platforms because learning how to use new technology is what that class is all about. However, when trying to integrate technology into a science class, for example, more complicated programs and software may not be practical due to time constraints, and the limited technical knowledge of the instructor. Though I think that we can easily give students more creative freedom on a smaller scale, such as instructing them to create their own themes on Powerpoint by using their own mixtures of fonts and colours instead of using pre-set themes.
During the process of completing this assignment, I came across some technical difficulties. I started out using the platform Animaker which allows users to “easily” create animated videos. I found the platform to be very slow and lagging, so I decided to switch to what I know best, which is pen and paper. I enjoyed creating this Sketchnote, and found it to be quite relaxing and fun. In the future, I hope to utilize more technology for my Multimedia Reflections.
Nicole Langlois
