Web 2.0 platforms, the pros and cons

 The development of Web 2.0 platforms has completely altered the way a ‘user’ uses the internet. I have put speech marks around the word user because Web 2.0 platforms have transformed the user into a creator. The internet is no longer solely a source of information but a tool for sharing information. ‘The key to competitive advantage in internet applications is the extent to which users add their own data to that which you provide.’ O’Rilly,T.2005, Web 2.0. www.ttivanguard.com  We engage with the internet, sharing all sorts of information, uploading information gaining feedback and responses from other like minded people, people who you may never met face to face.  It has created a global community. But is this a completely positive move forward?  As artists we are taught to never work in a vacuum, to allow inspiration to come from, and to be influenced by everything around you. With this idea in mind Web 2.0 platforms seems like a great tool for an artist to use.  But can you become too influenced by other people’s thoughts and ideas? Using the way in which our course is conducted as an example; we are encouraged to post thoughts on the readers, what our interpretations of them are and any theories and conclusions we have drawn from them. After commenting on each other’s thought so much is there not the possibility that we might all come up with the same collective conclusion? And what is stopping someone from never drawing their own opinions, merely agreeing with what others say and then just regurgitating it as their own. Please don’t get me wrong I think this is an excellent way to conduct a course and as I have mentioned before, I thinks way of working will really benefit me as I prone to going off on tangents and like to get constant feedback on what I am doing. I just think there is a fine line between being influenced by and plagiarising and I think we will all have to tread carefully. 

You tube Channel

OK, Just set up my You tube channel, bellow is a link to it. I haven't uploaded any videos yet but will do shortly.
Stephie's You Tube channel

portfolio slide show on picasa

Hi, i have also uploaded my  portfolio onto picasa here is the link:
stephie's online portfolio

A bit of help/ advise if anybody needs it...

If like me you like to type up your post as a plain word document before you post then, and then cut and paste them into the new post text box. Make sure the font you use is verdana if you don't the HTML code isn't right and you won't be able to publish it. Something I learnt after may frustrating hours when building my website.

Getting back into it...

After reading Sandy's  blog I started thinking; up until this point I was not really concerned about returning to university having being out of higher education for about 5 years. It was just something I had to do, I want to be an art teacher, I need a degree to do that so I have to go back and finish it. Seamed quite straight forward, it was only when I read some of the other student’s blogs and started to go through the readers that I realised, not that my brain had gotten lazy but that I would need to retrain my brain to look at things in a more critical way. I have become very use to reading something and just accepting it as right. In his blog Sandy talked about his previous university experience and how web 2.0 has changed the way in which students learn, implying that in the past students were spoon fed information which resulted in stinting creative thinking. I don’t completely agree with this, at Central St Martins I was definitely not spoon fed but I was much more isolated then I will be on this course. We had lectures and seminars where we could discuss our project ideas and essays with our peers but essentially when it came down to the written work you were on your own with your ideas and your notes. The only feedback you got was in tutorials after the piece of work had been marked. So I am really looking forward to hearing what people think of my theories and ideas as I have them. Especially seeing as often I can go off on some pretty obscure tangents. It will be nice to have people around to tell me I am doing this and put me back on track.
Like Sandy I am also worried about fitting everything in, I love my job and thus find myself doing extra research in my free on projects that the children are doing in school. I don’t want to stop doing this because I think it is important to give the children as many different ways to approach a project as possible; otherwise we will just end up with 20 very similar outcomes, but I don’t want this to monopolise my time, and fall behind with my course. I think some very careful time management will be needed.

First day

Hi, my name is Stephie Montgomery i have just started the BA professional practice course and this is my first official blog. Any one else who is in the same boat please get in touch let me know your thoughts. Unfortunately I was not able to attend the induction day as i was at work. What went on anything fun?