MCOM 210 Visual Communication - Grier

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About This Article

This article describes how mobile computing, specifically tablets, was piloted in Prof. Tom Grier's MCOM 210 Visual Communication to transform teaching and learning.

Intended Audience

WSU instructors interested in past faculty experience with tablet devices in the classroom.

Fall 2013 iPad Pilot

Students in this course had access to an iPad tablet to use throughout the spring semester along with several apps selected by Dr. Grier for use in class and in the field.

How the iPads are Used in MCOM 210

Students in Professor Grier's Visual Communication class receive a new assignment each week. In many cases, the assignment involves taking a photograph that demonstrates understanding of the topic at hand. Some of these assignments required the use of the camera in the iPad instead of their personal camera.

Students also partook in a group video project that was completely shot and edited using the iPad. The video, which was limited to 30 to 40 seconds in length, needed to be storyboarded, shot, and edited in a way that conveyed a specific message to the viewers.

The objectives of the pilot were:

  • Learn to communicate visually. The overarching concept of the class is that communication does not require words. Photos and videos were used to purvey messages and proof of understanding. The student is challenged to think in new ways and to convince others to see what they see. The iPads were used to creatively record and edit raw stills and videos to clearly establish the message for the viewer.
  • Use the brain, not the machine. Anyone can point a camera and shoot an image. The successful Visual Communication student works hard to compose the underlying message long before picking up the camera. Because the iPads made the recording process simple, students could experiment with varied ways to capture their ideas and fine tune their presentation.

Outcomes

Changes in the classroom

  • Easier to shoot, share, and edit videos. Because of the nature of the tablets, capturing video, collaboratively building a raw product, and editing it into a final piece became easier. Video cameras are expensive, yet every student could record and edit with their iPad.
  • Varying photographic equipment reduced reliance on customary devices. Students with personal cameras are generally quite familiar and comfortable with the device. Changing the device to the iPad caused these students to rethink their work and rely more on their talents and skills rather than the automatic features of a camera.

Recommendations

  • Continue on with iPad usage. Using the iPads in the class was a boon to the creativity and collaboration.
  • Investigate ways to use the iPad to further learning.

iPad Applications Employed in MCOM 210

Professor Grier used the following applications in his MCOM 210 iPad pilot:

  • iMovie
  • Photoshop Express
  • Dragon Dictation
  • Interview Assistant Pro
  • Evernote
  • Hokusai Audio Editor
  • Highlight by Cohdoo

Descriptions, pricing, and links to iTunes for each of these applications is available on the iPad Pilot Applications page.

More Information

Related Wiki Topics


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