Introductions – Summer ’09
By Josephine. Filed in Introductions |Tags: bios
Hi, all! Welcome to the blog for the Virtual Learning Environments class in the graduate media studies department at the New School. We will examine VLEs, ranging from text-based fora to 3D immersive worlds, and will focus on optimizing virtual environments for learning experiences. We’ll be learning about VLEs while being inside them, eventually culminating in the development of an educational project for real-world implementation.
I’m very excited to be teaching this class! Let’s begin by introducing ourselves…let the networking begin…
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 2:35 pm |
Hi, all. I’m Josephine, and I’ll be your instructor. I’ll start off the introductions – here’s a bit about me:
The short version: I’m a media artist, educator and social entrepreneur. I like to dance and make noise and pictures and it’s especially cool when I can make them with electricity and numbers, and then send them over the ether. I also like to jump out of planes.
The long version:
Josephine Dorado is a New York-based media artist, educator and social entrepreneur. In her work, she explores the extension of the performance environment with technology, often utilizing movement-based, sensor-driven synthesis and networked telepresence. She is also interested in the process of cultural exchange through creative interplay in virtual spaces, which led to founding ZoomLab and initiating the Kidz Connect program, which connects students internationally via creative collaboration in virtual worlds such as Second Life. Josephine currently teaches at the New School, where she received her M.A. in Media Studies in 2006. She was a Fulbright scholarship recipient and an artist-in-residence at the Waag Society in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and continues her involvement with Fulbright as a member of the Board of Directors. Performances include interdisciplinary productions for the ISEA and Romaeuropa Festivals as well as speaking engagements at SIGGRAPH, Queen’s University in Belfast, and London Knowledge Lab. Upcoming ventures include Fractor, for which a MacArthur Foundation award was received, and several mixed reality projects involving dance theater, motion capture analysis and Second Life performance. Josephine’s experience ranging from theater for at-risk children to technology and design, brings perspectives on theater-inspired collaborative methodologies as well as the issues of working within a virtual context.
Nice to meet everyone!
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 3:48 pm |
Hi Everyone, I am Alex Swidler. I am just finishing up my Media Studies masters, and I am really excited for this class. My interests in this program have kind of been all over the map, but after taking a number of online classes, I found this one to be particularly interesting. I am currently living in Pittsburgh (Go Penguins!) but I am originally from Connecticut. I got my undergraduate at Emory university in English and Psychology in 2008.
I enjoy baseball, hockey, yoga, photography, laughing, and doing anything and everything creative. I look forward to meeting and learning more about everyone in this class.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 5:42 pm |
Hey Everyone! I’m Michelle Groene, and I’m finishing up my first full year in the Media Studies program. I live in Brooklyn, I also work full time in advertising for McCann Erickson. This will be my second online class (I took the required Ideas course online as well) and I’m really looking forward to this. I’d like to teach one day and I think this will be a useful tool for my own education.
In my spare time I enjoy reading, dancing, working out, walking with my dog, Gertie, and writing. This summer I’m also doing a bit of traveling…as we speak I’m in my parents’ house in Cincinnati, Ohio, so I’ll be joining our class discussions from all over the place!
Looking forward to meeting everyone else!
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 5:46 pm |
Hi everybody, I’m Katharine Relth. This summer marks my third term in the Media Studies MA program, and I should be done here after Spring 2010. I started as an undergraduate at University of California, Santa Barbara where I received a BA in Film and Media Studies in 2007. After this program I am looking into several different PhD options in the field of Media Studies.
I maintain a personal blog that includes almost everything I write, whether it be for class, for pleasure, or as commentary. What started as a place to post my film reviews has slowly grown into a place where I review all things related to media.
As far as my studies at this school go, I am interested in early childhood media education, the sociolinguistics of computer-mediated communication, and media theory. In my free time, I love to watch and write about films, make and listen to music (live and recorded), read in Central Park (just a short walk from my new UES apartment!), drink and discuss wine, travel, and visit museums.
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 7:38 pm |
Hi Everybody! I am Kelly Dolan or Kelly Supahstar. After two semesters of introductory courses I’m really excited about this class! My career plan is to use all that I’m learning at the New School to find a job that combines education and new media. I know that’s kind of general but you have to start somewhere! I’ve been a social worker, a yellow page ad composer, a print shop assistant, an art teacher and an after-school site director. I have a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and am certified to teach K-12 art in Pennsylvania. I currently live in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado and love living here! I’m looking forward to experiencing and creating VLEs and meeting everyone in this class!
Tuesday, June 2nd 2009 at 7:43 pm |
Hello – my name is Stephanie Swane and I will be graduating this Fall with an MA in Media Studies. I work for Simon & Schuster in NYC and my role is to create custom books for retailers in North America – I am starting to create value added digital content for the same marketplace and started with working with the Entertainment and Video Game Industries recently to capitalize on added value for DVD and video game packages – I started a publishing company with 2 friends and we are about to publish our 2nd book – checkout our site – http://www.punkhouse.org. I love gardening, cooking/baking, creating art and travelling – I currently live in Hoboken NJ but I’m from the Bay Area in CA.
Can’t wait to have fun – this is my third class with Josephine and looking forward to new places in the virtual world!
Cheers!
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 at 9:33 am |
Hi everyone, my name is Vicki Gomez. I just wrapped up my first full year in the Media Studies program, and needless to say it is great and I am loving it so far. I am a recent graduate of St. Michael’s College in Vermont, where I received a BA in Journalism and Mass Communications. Upon the realization that I didn’t want my knowledge of media to end there, I enrolled in the New School Media Studies program to learn more about this field and gain better experience. I am only 23 (as of yesterday!) so I am young and somewhat inexperienced, but I hope to gain a lot from this program, which I already have, and continue my career in media. My interests are widespread as there is a lot one can do in this field, but I am really interested in television and advertising, especially working behind the scenes for a network or production company. This summer I will be interning at Refinery Post Productions in midtown, learning the ropes and becoming better acquainted with production and advertising. I am really looking forward to this class and finding ways to connect virtual learning environments with my overall experience at the New School.
On a side note- I am originally from Maine, but have been in the city since August now. I just moved to the upper east side, which is great so far. I enjoy reading, listening to music, the outdoors and spending time with friends.
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 at 2:47 pm |
Hey Everyone,
My name is Atiya Frederick and I just completed my first semester in The New School?s program. Yaaay, I survived! I?m originally from the Philadelphia suburbs in Pennsylvania and am currently logging on from Northern Virginia. I?ve been in this area for 8 years including my time in undergrad at The George Washington University in D.C where I majored in Business with a double concentration in Marketing and Sports and Event Management. I?m a part time New School student because I work full time at a large family entertainment company in the D.C. area.
In my spare time, what little there is, I?m a movie-a-holic. In addition I love all things Broadway and have been taking private voice lessons for 3 years as something fun to do in my spare time. Everyone wants to be able to sing Happy Birthday with confidence right? I?m really excited about this class and can?t wait to get started!
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 at 2:47 pm |
Hmm why did all my ‘ turn into ?…well you get the idea
Wednesday, June 3rd 2009 at 7:19 pm |
Hi folks,
My name is Jonathan and I’m going into my last semester here at The New School. I spent my first semester onsite in the sociology department, but I’ve since moved out of NYC and enrolled in the online media studies program. So far, I’ve been extremely satisfied with the coursework and I really look forward to learning with all of you in this class!
Background:
I’m 24 years old and graduated from Dickinson College with a degree in sociology. I currently live in CT and spend much my time working (ugh), exercising, watching tons of movies, reading as much as I can about space, philosophy, and zombies, and listening to music. I enjoy dark beer, cigars, eating good sandwiches, firm handshakes, and outrageous people. Additionally, I’m a certified personal trainer and love all things health and fitness.
Although I have little occupational experience in the media industry, I really hope to use my degree to break into an exciting field. Ultimately, I want a challenging career that allows me to make a positive impact on people’s lives. Hopefully I’m not just being overly-idealistic
I look forward to working with all of you!
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 2:12 pm |
Hello All,
My name is Debra Glassco and this is my second semester in the New School’s media studies program. I have a Bachelor of Arts in Education from Mississippi State University and a Master of Science in Communication from New Jersey Institute of Technology. I was born in Mississippi and, for the last 23 years, have lived in New Jersey. I worked in the publishing and printing fields for 21 years and 2 years as an educator. My primary goal in returning to graduate school is to study the intersection between government and media with regard to propaganda and information dissemination during times of war. This is my second distance education degree and, although there are many who doubt such, I believe DL is the future of education.
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 3:16 pm |
Our summer break was fast! Those couple week between last semester and now flew by! Anyway, My name is Mark Zmitravich. I’m currently living in Philadelphia where I work at Nationwide Insurance as an Accident Investigator.
I’m looking forward to the class. I think the content will be interesting. I’m also taking Nano Narratives and Educational Media, both online. The combination of the three classes should serve as an interesting summer!
I’ll see everyone in class!
Thursday, June 4th 2009 at 8:17 pm |
Hello,
I am Olysha (though I may be recognized as Eva, my first name). This is my 2nd semester in the Media Studies program. I have a BFA from University of Florida and I currently reside in Florida. I teach K/1 at a rural elementary school. School lets out tomorrow! Hurrah!
I am very interested in technology in education, virtual learning, and film and video. My interests are varied but I think they all fit together.
I am very excited about this class. I would someday like to explore teaching in a virtual learning environment so this class is especially relevant to my potential future as an educator. I am currently taking online classes only and I am not sure I’ll take any on-site so I am a believer in quality education through VLEs.
Olysha
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 3:31 pm |
Hey there, everyone… Mike von Wahlde finally checking in. I too have just finished my second semester as a Media Studies student here at the New School and I too am a Connecticut resident (one who actually travels in for classes a day a week during the normal year). I’m looking forward to the projects in the class in the midst of what will be a busy summer (along with traveling for four weeks, designing a series of skateboards, shooting photos for a book, prepping for an art show in Sept, buying a house, attending conferences and moving, hanging out with wife and daughter… and learning backside airs on vert).
I am an AP English and Communications teacher at a large public high school in Stamford, CT. I’ve been in the classroom for about six years in total. My moonlighting assignments vary: photographer, graphic designer, gallery curator, bicycle mechanic… and I somehow am able to pull most of that into a lot of the practice and theory that I integrate in my scholarship, both as a teacher and as a student. I’ve done some “cool” media stuff with my students in the past and am hoping that this class helps open up some new ideas for collaboration in the virtual classroom.
Friday, June 5th 2009 at 3:34 pm |
Hello all,
My name is Henry McDonnell. This is my second semester in the Media Studies program. I am from California, but moved to New York in January to attend the program. I received my B.A. in History from California State University in San Bernardino. I worked as a tutor and substitute teacher before deciding to return to school. I chose the Media Studies program because of my interest in documentary film and propaganda. This is my first 100 percent online course, but I have taken several hybrid courses and I was relieved to see that this course would not be using Blackboard.
Monday, June 8th 2009 at 12:04 pm |
Hey Mike, I’m actually from Stamford, my family still lives there, I’m Westhill Class of 2004, is that where you are teaching?
Monday, June 8th 2009 at 9:16 pm |
Hilarious! Yes, Westhill. I would assume Craig is your brother? I’ll see you at graduation in a couple weeks then, I assume!
Thursday, June 11th 2009 at 1:39 am |
Hi my name is Helen and I’m in my second semester here at the New School. I’m really interested in children’s media, and finding ways to create positive media that rivals the likes of ‘Gossip Girl’, etc…
However, as a generally positive person, I found myself surprised last semester at my compulsion to delve deeper and deeper in to the layers of children’s propaganda. The outcome of this has been a strong wish to understand children’s online learning processes more fully, so that I can be a part of enhancing peace education through media literacy.
Thursday, June 18th 2009 at 6:55 pm |
Ozan Adam was born in 1976 in Ankara, Turkey. He studied art and cinema in New York, worked in film production, advertising, commercials, media, stage construction and design industries. His body of diverse artwork, which consists of text, design, illustration, painting, sculpture, animation, film, video and installation, has been exhibited in solo and collective exhibitions around the world. He taught film, video production and experimental cinema courses at İstanbul Bilgi University and supervised workshops at Bilkent University, Middle Eastern Technical University, Netherlands Institute for Higher Education, Boğaziçi University and has been invited by institutions such as The Bauhaus Foundation in Germany. He is currently teaching documentary and video production courses at Bahcesehir University. His film “Zymotic-Amaurosis” was awarded with the Special Jury Award in the 14th International Ankara Film Festival and another film of his titled “The Two Names of A Testimony About The Execution of A Happening and A Suitcase Full of Broken Records“ was awarded as the Best Experimental Film in the 17th International Ankara Film Festival. Many of his films have been selected and screened by international festivals, galleries and museums.