iPhoto

With all theses interesting and amazing Mac functions, I really started to regret buying a Windows computer even it was very cheap! For the next one, I would definitely buy Mac!

Today we covered iPhoto which can edit any photos and turn them into your favorite looking photos. I have this kind of photo-editing-software in my PC, but iPhoto is easier and plus it enables me to edit photos into more professional looking.

We also saw a short tutorial video for "skitch". It seems fun to share snaps with friends. However, skitch is for only Mac users, so I don't have a choice to use this thing...!

prezi

I really loved shantonu and saori's guiding class for prezi. Since I already knew about the prezi and was amazed by its unique presentation displays, I was playing around with it for several times (never used it for actual presentation). But, I realized that I had little knowledge about its functions....for example, I never noticed that colors and fonts can be customized! that's so basic thing in making presentations lol Their lecture was very beneficial and I really want to thank them :)!

new friend

Do you know Tumblr?It is a social blog for sharing photos and text. Similar to Twitter, you can follow other people and check what they have posted. You can enjoy tons of interesting photos which were taken by professional photographers. Just try once if you like those kinds of stuffs!


In Wednesday's class, I shared my theme-writing-information with Hirotaka whom I talked for the first time. Then I created a google site, a very easy and simple homepage. Rab said that we all would finish this course with our own websites containing all information about essay topics. I really need to spare some time to pursue my research on the topic! Hmm... I need TIME!

Apple is incomparable!

Today, for the first time, I used Keynote which is a presentation-maker for Mac users. It was AMAZING! Keynote is incomparable with Powerpoint (which I have been using for my whole academic life...) in many ways. It got numbers of stylish and sophisticated presentation themes so you can find the best theme which would match perfectly to the topic. Also, what I favored especially was a function to organize the way it appears during an actual presentation. For example, there were many unique ways to move to the next slide and to make text appear.

If one manages to use keynote properly, anyone can make an appearing and interesting looking presentation like Rab did in our NP class!

The only BIG problem is ..... I'm not a Mac user!! :/
I truly hope that in near future, Windows will come up with something similar to keynote!

presentation practice

With prepared presentation slides, we learned more effective way of showing information and images. Simple and strong images make audiences attracted to your presentation. In order to present effectively, you need to make sure that audiences are listening to your speech, not reading slides. The best way to train your presentation skill is to practice repeatedly and record them to listen how you speak. I'm very bad at talking in front of people, so I really need to improve the skill to do a speech...!

first time survey

For the first time, I created "Forms" at the Google document, and it was very professional.
You can choose the most suitable way of survey depending on your question. After receiving answers, the google doc automatically creates charts and graphs of responses. It is well organized and easy to use :) I actually conducted the survey and send it to SE members, and got an interesting reactions. Hearing different voices is always interesting!

We also worked on our presentations. I need to improve my skill to provide an interesting and appealing presentation!

essay topic

Knowing reliable academic sources is essential when conducting a research for anything. In CM(Communication Via Multimedia) page which you can access from google group, there are numbers of web pages for better searching. Also the CM1 -Research page introduces more practical way to do a research. By understanding them, finding sources can be no problem at all!

The saying, a picture is worth a thousand words, tells us that a photo or a picture plays an important role when you want to address a statement. flicker from Yahoo offers pictures with no copy rights, therefore you can use them in your essay without any anxiety of being arrested!!


About the essay topic, I was gonna write about the Emperor system in Japan, saying that we should abolish the system because (to me) the benefit of their existence was unclear and our tax was used for their living. But... maybe I'll change the topic since I found it difficult to find sources in English ...even I used the pages that Rab taught us in class. Now (because I did some research on the Emperor and learned their importance for Japan)I'm thinking of saying that we Japanese should be more aware of the greatness of our Emperor and realize its contribution for the peace. I think it can be arguable since there are a few communities demanding abolition of the Emperor system....

I'll look for much information on this topic!need to put sources in zotero!!!