Reflection Essay

100 Points

Write a 500 hundred word (one page single-spaced or two pages double spaced) answering some of the following questions: On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate your experience in Computer Graphics this trimester? What are the three most useful things you learned in this class? What did you like most about this class? What did you like least? Any suggestions for future projects? What suggestions do you have to make this class better? Which projects were your favorite and least favorite? What advice do you have for future students about how to succeed in this class? Was the class too hard, was it too difficult? What suggestions do you have for making it harder or easier? Would you recommend the class to a friend? What kind of instructions worked best for you (printed, web site, verbal instructions with the projector)?

You will not receive the full 100 points unless the essay is typed. You will NOT be graded on your opinions. Grammar and punctuation always count! It is due at the end of the exam period for this class. If you are not present in class during the exam period or are more than 20 minutes late, you will receive a 50% deduction.

You may email your essay. I will not accept “my printer ran out of ink” as an excuse!

Due at the end of the exam period.

Example:

Everyone has at least one favorite class in their schedule. For me, it was this class. I loved Computer Graphics- I always looked forward for my D period class during all my boring classes. On a scale of 1 to 10, I would rate my experience in this class “9”, because I learned so much, and I was able to be creative. It was really different how I was able to be creative, because normally, I can put my creativity on a piece of paper, using my hand, just the way I want it. But with computer, it’s hard- there are many tools you can use, and in this class we learned the best way to use the tools, and how to use them so that the graphics would look as if we did it with our hand- as if we had total control over it.

One of the three most useful things I learned in this class was Illustrator. It was like using the program “Paint” but better- a lot better. I love to draw, and paint and do creative things, such as make cards, and it was useful to learn how to use Illustrator because I could do what I do normally on the computer. Another useful thing that I learned was about advertising. Not only did we make our own ads, we learned about it, and it was really useful because I learned things that I didn’t learn in my marketing management class, which actually helped me a lot in the end. And I think that is important information to learn that applies to real, every day life, not just for marketing management class. Lastly, the third most useful thing I learned in this class was Photoshop. My dad is a photo maniac, he takes millions of pictures for everything. And sometimes the picture comes out bad, and now I can use Photoshop to edit the pictures for him, and finally start on the scrapbook we’ve always talked about making.

The thing I liked most about this class was that we were given instructions, and we were sent to work on the project for the rest of the class. For me, it gave me time to relax from other stressing classes, because we were on our own, but it still kept me on track, working, because we had something to work on, and it was never boring- I liked to work on the projects. The thing I liked the least about the class was the distractions. Some people were really distracting, whether it was talking about really weird things really loud, or just create commotion in class. It sometimes was really hard to concentrate.
I think to make this class better, the time spent on Photoshop and Illustrator should be equal, or closer to equal, because we spent so much time on Photoshop, and not as much in Illustrator.

My favorite project was the cards on Illustrator, and my least favorite was magazine layout on InDesign. I think we should’ve just went on to doing the Yearbook layout and be taught about InDesign (black arrow, white arrow, pica, etc.) than, rather then doing a different project which was boring, sort of pointless and took two whole days. For me, the printed instructions worked the best. I don’t think the projected instruction worked at all, because most people were talking through the whole thing, or not paying attention at all, and ended up asking questions that were answered during the instruction, all over again. Turning off the computer screen didn’t work either, because then people weren’t on ESPN.com anymore, but still not paying attention. I think the printed instructions would work the best if they were good, specific instructions, because people would have them there, and if they forget a step in the instructions, they could just refer to the printed instructions. Since people loose the printed instructions, you could maybe laminate the instructions and put them on the cubby on the bottom of the desks. Or, you could just post them on the internet, then people could just use that. I think people asking questions, personally to you, about the things that were already said, because they weren’t paying attention, takes away from the time other people who really need help with other things that weren’t said on the instructions. After all, there’s only one instructor, and so many students, so if we had instructions visible, people would ask less questions, then you could have time to help people who are having trouble with the programs.