Dafu's CAI Journal Page
January 20
Today is the first meeting of our class. I am glad to know that we are going to learn lots of new things which are interesting and useful in this class.
Like every other classes, Professor Gilbert told us the requirement of this class at the beginning. When I raised the problem of internet space limitation for our internet accounts, professor suggested us to apply for more space to the ITS. I wish we can get enough space soon since I have almost run out of my quota (50MB) in NYU account.
Professor Gilbert spent much of time to go over the history of computer technology as well as music education technology. In my understanding, he just wanted us to keep in mind that we should combine these technologies to better maintain our music education. Don't be afraid to use the latest technologies.
Besides, Doctor Gilbert told us a good news: the NYU computer store are giving an nice offer to students---a Macromedia studio MX for $199 only. The studio contains four software: Dreamwaver, Flash, Fireworks and Freehand. We are going to use those softwares to build our websites this semester.
January 27
We learned how to use Dreamwaver and FTP program to edit webpages today.
After getting familiar with HTML codes, I felt much comfortable to use Dreamwaver since it's much simple than using HTML commands. Actually, using Dreamwaver to edit webpages is very similar to editing Word files. This program creates HTML codes automatically when we input text. As to creating links in the text, there are several ways to make it: use "modity/make link," use "Hyper Link" button or paste address into the down-left side "Properties/link" bar. Also, Dreamwaver can adjust the size of image file directly, without using Photoshop or ACDsee.
FTP is a software program that helps converting files to the server. We needn't use it since NYUhome provides webpage editing format for users. I think FTP is an important software that we should learn how to use since we might not have a editing windows for server in the future when we need to build a website. However, I was a little confused about the detail sequence of converting files. I will have to figure it out later.
February 3
We learned how to create personal radio station today. Before we have IV and internet, radio was one of the most important mass media. Today, radio still plays an important part of many people's life. On one hand, compare to the internet or TV, it's easier to make radio signal covered a certain place. Also, people can carry a small radio to wherever they go, it's much easier than carrying a TV set or laptop. Besides, radio broadcasting meets people's very basic learning skill---listening. So radio can't be put aside when we consider multimedia education. Fortunately, it's very easy to maintain radio broadcasted today when we combine the internet technology here. Needless to buy lots of equipment, we can simply build a radio station online. The function is the same as real radio station. We get more actually ---a radio website at the same time.
February 10
We learned how to create an animated text file with Flash today. After inserting one key frame, we can type text in the work area. Also, the text can be transformed or resized like an image. Then we insert the second key frame. When we set the "Tween" option to "Motion" and hit "Return," the text will start moving from the first key frame to the next with the motion we set before. If we set transform motion again before play, the text will show the transform motion when moving. This is the flash file I made tonight:
Before showing how to creating animated text, Professor Gilbert explained the original concept of using Flash file on the webpage: inter-media have started converting information in different ways. It's a combination of different technologies. As a future music educator, I think we should keep this idea in mind.
February 17
I had been using PowerPoint in teaching for a few years before I came to NYU. I firmly believe that it is a nice tool to enhance education. First, PowerPoint is easy to learn and almost as simple as Word file editing. Second, we can not only edit text file at PowerPoint, but also insert image or sound file in it easily. Third, PowerPoint file can be saved as ppt. file, word file or webpage. The audiences have lots of choices to view a PowerPoint file.
However, there's a critical problem for PowerPoint file: it cannot keep the sound file or animation for images when a ppt. file was scorched to a webpage. Besides, it still needs a folder of files which includes all relative files to support a PowerPoint html file be play on the web.
This is a PowerPoint file I made: Classification of Chinese Musical Instruments. (click here to download) In this PowerPoint file, you will see all kinds of Chinese musical instrument and learn how they are classified in China . It's much different from the classification of western musical instrument.
February 24
We have three classmates given PowerPoint presentations today. Lisa talked about her "Online Guide to Alto Flute" which is a rather big website plan. Lois described his "Musical Sims" which is also a very creative idea. I learned a lot from them. So considered my own project, I might have made it too broad and I will have to narrow it down and touch a specific point only. Also, I know that we don't have to design a real practical project. Doctor Gilbert encouraged us to use our imagination and think broadly, try to make a creative plan.
March 3
Last night I spent some time to make a flash file which contains text, image and background music. I built six tracks for this file and each of them has different contents. A tricky part is the sound track. I found it's difficult to make the animated images or texts matching the music. So I had to edit my sound file again after setting texts and images tracks, then I added my new sound file again. The second time it seemed much better than the first and the file was not as big as the previous one. For safety purpose, I saved my work as a fla file first then I exported it as waf file and html file. Because fla file cannot be played at the website, I had to save my work in both formats.
Tonight I gave my presentation, "Melody Dressing." Doctor said that the problem I wanted to solve had been done years before in Garage Band. So I will like to check this software later.
March 10
I spent several hours in the second floor computer lab in order to figure out the iMovie function this week. First I made a movie with some bird's images and bird sound, but I didn't figure out how to insert a text page. I checked each command of iMovie but found no "insert" command there. Later I realized that it must have a simple way to do that ----dragging a text page to the image track. So I made another movie which contains sound, images and text pages. It's a simple introduction of a Chinese musical instrument ----Yangqin. I first downloaded some Yanqin images from the google.com and put them to the images track with different transition ways, then I wrote a few lines about the Yangqin and put them to two separate page. After dragging the text pages to the images, I add a traditional Chinese Yanging melody ---"The Color Light Chases the Moon" to the sound track. When all things were added to iMovie, I saved the project to the desktop. To save this movie as a movie file, I opened the project folder and open the movie file and saved it as a movie to the desktop. Then every thing has been done and I convert the new movie file to my website. The other problem is: the iMovie is rather big (more than 25 MB) and occupies lots of my internet space. This is my iMovie page.
It's a pity that there's no Microsoft version iMovie, otherwise it will be popular on the internet because it can be played with sound, text and images on the website with iMovie plug-in in a computer. In addition, I learned an important difference between Microsoft and Macintush system. The Maxintush commands involve lots of dragging command whereas the Microsoft system keeps offering hints for the following step.
March 17
I am thinking about my final project these days. The idea is: using computer and multimedia technologies to build an online guide for piano pedaling. To show the pedaling sequence clearly, I might need two or more images display on the serene at the same time: one for hand movement, one for foot movement, another of the damper movement. I think it would be clearer to see the damper mechanism function in the grand piano than in the upright one. So I need to reserve a grand piano room for video-type the movie. Before that, I will write the project outline and the explain for each type of the right pedaling. Also, I think I need to ask for academic help from my piano teach, Dr. Donohue.
March 24
We went over the iMovie program today. It's a simple but really useful and amazing software. First, Dr. Gilbert shown us how to edit and split video clips with this software. Then we went over the sequence of adding title page and making image transition, advance setting etc. The professor also took my iMovie project, "The Chinese Piano: Yangqin" as an example to show a simple way setting iMovie page. He also pointed out that the movie images couldn't show the full size on my webpage due to the width and length of my movie had't been set properly. I will figure out that later.
March 31
I did some research online as well as in the library these days. At first I had difficulty to find related source since there pedaling skills was not a big topic that had lots of book to explain it. But later I did found quite a few piano theory books had at least one part relate to the pedaling technique. Some of them have the whole chapter to discuss the pedaling skills. Also, I found a several dissertations and webpages about the piano pedaling. They will be very nice references for my final project.
April 7
I had an individual advice session for my final project with my professor this Monday. Dr. Gilbert gave my very reasonable advice: link the pedaling skills to hand skills, use a narrator when videotaping my piano playing.