Thursday, January 26, 2012

Creative Education

What are you talented at? Writing? Drawing? Playing Music? Playing a CD? Making money?

I've found a love for scientific problem-solving, art, and procedural graphics. The only down side was that I wasn't even aware of its existence until I was 21 and in my second year of college. Is there a way to reorganize public education such that the natural interests and talents of students are discovered and emphasized? Watch this video from Sir Ken Robinson for more on this idea.


And my next question: Is technology the answer to helping students find their creative spark? I love new technology. It's exciting and flashy, but it will ALWAYS lack the human element. One truly dedicated teacher is of greater worth to a student than any amount of computers, projectors, iPads, or flash-bandeezles that you could come up with.

My opinion: technology in the classroom is only truly advantageous to a student when skillfully used (or left unused) by an inspired teacher — not to mold a child's interests, but rather to bring out their natural talent.

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Consider This

An interesting conundrum has been posed this morning. See 1 and 2.
With all the genius and ingenuity that this world has to offer, what do we do with it?  Or rather, how do I expend my efforts and utilize my knowledge? Just yesterday I was shown an iPhone app which records five seconds of footage and renders a missile explosion on top of the video you just recorded.  Entertaining?  Extremely. Worthwhile? Probably not.  Another example? "Adventure Time."
This blog is focused on visual effects and art as a medium, but introspectively: A medium for what? As a matter of personal principle as well as advice to colleagues and students, resolve today to determine to what end you will utilize your talents.  Just remember:
Mindless humor may be hilarious, but it's still mindless.