Mel's Exploring Your Digital Portfolio Blog

            Chapter three of the Connected Educator focuses on the process of learning, and what that looks like. A theory from Cochran-Smith and Lytle about knowledge is described in the chapter, on how there is knowledge for, in and of practice. Knowledge for practice is when reputable information is shared from educators to others, so that we can properly teach others. Knowledge in practice describes the stage of experimentation that comes with developing knowledge, where trying different things helps you learn more along the way. Finally, knowledge of practice describes how educators can learn with each other to develop new ideas and processes for effective education, in and out of the classroom. The Connected Educator has a constant focus on in the classroom versus out of the classroom approaches to learning, and how both are necessary and useful.            The process of ...

 My Smackdown:  (Feel free to speed up the video! It ended up being longer than intended!)           Coolors is just one of many web tools for artists I have found recently. In my smackdown, I cover its features and its uses for any digital artist or designer. Coolors mainly functions as a color palette generator, but also lets you explore the palettes of others, determine value, and color pick. The pro version includes even more tools that assist with designing, but I focus on what features are in the free version, as that is what I personally use. Coolors is used by many reputable designers and is a great way to brainstorm colors and get more cohesive designs for digital work. I would even argue that palettes through Coolors can be helpful with traditional work, as comparing the contrast between colors is just as useful in translation. This tool also features an option to pick palettes out of images, which can be great when working from references, o...

 Storyboardthat: Pixton: Make Beliefs Comix:

                   This Chapter of the Connected Educator covers several online tools relevant during the time of writing that support the connected learning model. Many of these online tools would not be as useful today, due to shutting down, or irrelevance in both the professional and personal aspects of people’s lives in 2025. One tool covered in this chapter that I think has actually increased in popularity is podcasts, though this tool is mostly used for expressing opinions and entertainment. I personally listen to several podcasts, some of which are professionally helpful in the aspects of self-help. I find the format of podcasts to be very reliable to me, as I can listen while working on projects and still register the information in a good way. Podcast recordings on philosophical topics are also easily digestible and interesting to me, and I think help me think about myself and my art in a uniqu...

 My Smackdown:           Magic Poser has been super useful for me and many other artists for years. It's my personal choice for reference making in visual art, and it is still extremely helpful when using only free assets. References are extremely important in visual art, especially when still studying and honing your craft. As a student, apps such as this make daunting aspects of studying much easier, while still providing knowledge. With Magic Poser, you can use a variety of character models and props, changing size, shape, rotation, and even color to create a scene that fits your referential needs. There are also tools for editing lighting and shading that I find especially useful and unique to Magic Poser. Using reference pictures from the internet is very useful until light and perspective are considered, and that's where an app like Magic Poser comes in. You can use Magic Poser for 2D and 3D work, and export and save your references into other applica...

          Personal learning networks are curated for each individual, having the ability to provide the exact resources you need for your interests and professional career. These networks can become anything you want them to be, with technological advancements creating lots of flexibility. Knowing what you want to gain and what connections you want to establish are the first parts of curating your own personal learning network, followed by finding which tools you feel comfortable using. The most advanced tool is not necessarily the most useful tool for you.            Chapter 6 of the Connected Educator continues to describe social media applications and tips for finding good connections, but I feel this section is very outdated, as trending social media is constantly changing. Our standards for good connections on social media are also changing, and as a visual artist, professional ...