Wrapping it Up: Fall Semester and Christmas Gifts

Amazingly, we are wrapping up the fall semester while it actually still feels like fall. Usually at this time of the year it feels pretty wintery, but with the lack of snow on the ground it’s hard to believe that it’s Christmas time. And that means I’ve got to wrap up a few other things – Christmas gifts!

As I have said in my previous blog post, I will be completing my Audio-Video certificate this semester. I’m amazed at how much I have learned and how many portfolio pieces I’ve created in just three semesters. I have commercials, animated logos, instructional videos, green screen and product videos, and an animated infographic (just to name a few) to include in my portfolio.

So, what’s next for me now that I’ve earned my certificate? I will be taking a short break from blogging, but I will be back to share the next stage in the life of an MPTC graduate. I will be exploring alumni opportunities and sharing my job search progress. I will be continuing my internship and using my research and learning skills I’ve developed at MPTC to learn some new things on my own. I’ve been encouraged by my instructors to participate in Portfolio Night, which is held once per academic year, at the end of the spring semester.

Congratulations to all the college students who are wrapping up the semester. Take a much-needed break, enjoy some time with your family and friends and have a very happy holidays!

The Process of Planning an Animated Infographic

The funny thing about creative projects is it’s very easy to do one of two tings: Jump right into creating something or feel overwhelmed by the blank page in front of you. The problem with both of these scenarios is there is no planning involved. And as we learned in our Pre-Production class, lack of planning costs more time, money and includes more roadblocks.

That’s why when I sat down to work on my latest Post-Production assignment, an animated infographic, I decided I was going to invest in the pre-production process before jumping into creating it. And it really made things go smoothly, and I’m very pleased with the outcome.

Everyone has a different process, but I thought I’d share what I’ve learned about the planning process through completing my assignments.

Step 1: Understand the concept and choose a topic

We were given an assignment to create an animated infographic based on a topic we chose. An infographic is a visual way to represent information. I began planning for my project by watching several animated infographics to get a better understanding of what they were and get some ideas. I chose to create a self-promotional infographic. I thought it would serve a dual purpose of showing future employers I could make a video like this and also present information about myself.

Step 2: Gather, Group and Organize the Facts

Now that I knew what an animated infographic was and had a topic to pursue, it was time to gather the facts. I tried to quantify facts about myself since much of the infographics I saw included lots of statistics. I wrote down how many blogs I’ve written, how many social media accounts I’ve managed, years of experience I had in certain fields and more. I then took my long list of facts and grouped them into categories and put those categories into an order that seemed logical to me. In the margins I made a few notes and thumbnail drawings of the images and animations I thought I might use.

Step 3: Storyboard the video and choose a visual theme

At this point I was feeling very good about the project. Ideas were coming to me, and I could see it staring to form in my head. I drew a storyboard in my notebook of the different panels I would create. I jotted notes on the animations I would use to move from panel to panel. I chose a color scheme and the fonts for the video.

Step 4: Create the Graphics

Based on the storyboard, I knew what graphics I was going to create. Some of my graphics I was going to need to create in Photoshop before working in After Effects, where the video would be put together. This step was very helpful. If I had jumped right into working in After Effects, I would have been jumping between After Effects and Photoshop, creating the graphic once I got to that part in the video. While this would have worked just fine I assume, the workflow went much smoother.

I should also mention that this is when I created a folder specifically for this project. All my files went into this folder. That way, I wouldn’t have trouble finding where my files were and if I needed to move the project to another computer or storage device, it would be very simple to do so.

Step 5: Create the Video

When I opened a new project in After Effects, I imported the graphics I made in Photoshop. I followed the storyboard I made earlier. I made a few changes as I began to put it together, but there really wasn’t much trial and error like you have when you jump right into making something without planning.

Even though this project was complicated, by researching and planning I didn’t feel overwhelmed. There was no staring at a blank project, getting stuck part way through making the video or starting over because I didn’t like what I made. I think I ended up with a video that is well thought out and has a consistent look. I’m glad I invested in the planning process.



How do you plan creative projects? Please share your tips and thoughts in the comments.

Have We Really Come This Far Already?

It wasn’t until I saw a post on my Facebook newsfeed that I realized how far along we are into the semester. The post was from Moraine Park reminding those who will be graduating this December to fill out their graduation candidacy form ASAP if they haven’t already. When I read that I realized that message pertained to me. I’m earning my Audio-Video Certificate this semester. With classes, the holidays coming up and making plans for the future, it’s easy to forget something like that.

At this point of the semester I’ve completed quite a few projects for my classes. I’m really proud of this last one. I incorporated four or five elements from scratch to create a promo graphic for the IMD (Interactive Media Design) program. I based the design on elements I’ve seen used in the news graphics I’m fond of. I also found this assignment to be very practical. I could see myself using something similar to this in the future.

In my Pre-Production class we have determined crew requirement and equipment requirements for a TV commercial. Next, we’ll be researching actual talent (the actors in the commercial).  In order to better understand the pre-production process, the commercial we chose at the beginning of the semester is the one we base all our assignments on. I am at the point right now that I feel I could actually film this commercial for real (well, after we finish the last few lesson plans that are important parts of the pre-production process, of course).

Besides focusing on my projects for homework, I’m also working on projects at my internship. Recently I’ve created a 3-D rotating sphere with a logo, which will be placed in the bottom corner of one of their TV programs. While editing some green screen backgrounds, I was taught how to manipulate the image for a three-point camera set up. I’m excited to see what that will look like once the footage has been added.

In between putting in some internship hours, class and work, I decided to stop in on an IMD/Graphics Club meeting to see what they were up to. Right now they are working on getting things in order for their annual poster sale. Students in the club create posters and they raffle them off.  It sounds like a great way for students to improve their skills and use their talent to raise money for the club. I got to see a few examples one member was working on and they looked great! I also heard the club may go on a trip to a comic convention in Chicago. How fun!

It’s been a really great semester so far, and I’m looking forward to finishing the semester the same way. Good luck to my fellow schoolmates who are also working hard these last few weeks of the semester.

Opportunities for Photography Lovers on Campus

I was kindly invited to the first-ever Photography Club meeting by a fellow photography enthusiast. I was curious to find out what kind of expectations the potential members had for this new club. Fortunately, I was able to go to the meeting, and I’m really excited about the possibilities of this group.

A photo I took while out for a nature walk

Everybody who came had great ideas to share. The club would like to contribute to our college by taking photos of events on campus, such as the pinning ceremony for the nursing students. The club may invest in some t-shirts so we can be identified as photographers during these campus events. Weather pending, we could go photo-hiking and capture images of nature in Wisconsin. We also spoke of the possibility of offering family Christmas portraits for students and their families. Along with taking photos with a purpose, we may have an educational aspect to the club so we can learn more about cameras and software.

If you’re interested in joining the club, our next meeting is Tuesday, October 28 at 11:30am in the West Bend cafeteria. Bring your ideas and your camera.

Other new clubs have been formed this semester besides the Photography Club. If you’re interested in extracurricular activities for fun or for your resume, ask your instructors, fellow students or see your Student Involvement Specialist. There’s something for everyone, and if there isn’t, you can help create a new club that suits your interests or career goals.

How I Answered the Question, What Should I Go to College For?

Photo credit - Ashley Kaul

I think it’s pretty rare for someone to know exactly what he or she wants to be when they grow up. No matter what stage you are in life– an 8th grader, a high school senior, a college student or 40-something– that question can be difficult to answer.

Technology makes it even more complicated because old job positions become obsolete, and new job positions are created all the time. In middle school I was taught that computers were going to be very important in our future jobs, but there was no way of knowing then that the job title, Social Media Manager would be something you could hold. Facebook and Twitter didn’t exist then– if you can even imagine!

So, how do you choose what to major in or what program to pursue when there seems to be so many possibilities and they are changing all the time?

Through my own experiences I have a few suggestions that may lead you down the right path in choosing a major or program when you want to go to college but you don’t know what you want to study.

Ask Yourself What You’ve Taught Yourself to Do in Your Spare Time

I’ve heard advice similar to this. Whatever you like to do in your spare time, that’s what you should be doing as a career. Well, I like watching TV in my spare time, but I can’t really make a career out of that, can I? That’s why I think the real question to ask yourself is, what have you pursued in your free time that required effort, learning and practice? This is the question that’s helped me on my current career path. What was I actively learning to do in my spare time? Was there a new skill I was teaching myself?

After watching YouTube videos I was inspired to create my own videos. I opened up the editing program that came with my computer, and I followed tutorials. I investigated the software, tinkered around with it and found out what it was capable of doing. I looked to forums when I had questions. I was learning without realizing I was learning. I was learning on my own without someone telling me I needed to learn it. That was a good sign that I had the drive to pursue video editing. What’s also great about learning some things on my own is that I was already slightly ahead of the game when I started taking my audio-video editing classes.

Visit the Career Center

Photo credit - Ashley Kaul

I think the most helpful thing you can do if you really have no idea what kind of job you want is to visit the Career Center. If you aren’t sure what kind of job would be interesting to you or aren’t sure what your strengths are, they will be able to help you figure out both in the most tangible way possible.

At the Career Center, you can take a series of aptitude and interest assessments. Some of these assessments include the MBTI (personality preference), Strong Interest Inventory (career personality/interest), CareerScope (interest and aptitude), EDITs (CAPS - aptitude, COPES- values and COPS-interest), Values assessment, Motivated Skills and more.

When you merge these types of assessments, you find out where your interests and abilities overlap and are provided with a list of jobs that are likely to suit you. The people in the Career Center will print out this information and discuss it with you so you can understand what it all means. They will help you choose the appropriate program to enroll in so you can pursue specific careers. They have the tools for you to research these careers as well so you can narrow down the list.

Photo credit - Ashley Kaul

If you are interested in this option, I recommend taking the Career Assessment Course. It only takes a few hours of your time during one day to complete. I took it, and I think it’s a great way to learn more about yourself, your interests and the skills you already have that can be applied in the classroom and in your future job. It’s available at all three Moraine Park campuses (Fond du Lac, West Bend and Beaver Dam) and it’s FREE for everyone – students, prospective students and the general public.

The Career Center is an invaluable resource in any stage of your career life. I recommend checking out their other workshops: LinkedIn, Dressing for Success, Interview Tips and Practice, and the Job Search, just to name a few. To find out more information, visit the Career Center’s webpage.

Look at Programs

Look at the list of programs MPTC has to offer and find one that is interesting to you. Click on the list of required classes and their descriptions. If you think you’d like to take the majority of those classes, it may be the right program for you. I did this when I decided that I wanted to learn more about video editing. I clicked on the Audio-Video Certificate classes, read the description and I wanted to take all the classes. I wanted to learn how to do everything that the description said was taught in those classes.

Conduct Informational Interviews/Job Shadow a Professional

Talking to someone who’s currently working in the field you’re interested in is a great way to see what a career is like from the perspective of someone who’s living it. You’ll be able to ask questions about what they like and don’t like about the job, what their job duties consist of and what a typical day for them is like. This is also a great way to network and/or find a mentor.

Volunteer to Get a Feel for the Atmosphere

Do you think you’d like to work in a hospital? Do you think you’d like to work in a school? Find a way to volunteer in the work environment where your potential career is located. It’s also a good way to find out what kinds of people you’d like to work with such as children, the elderly or some other demographic.


By following the above suggestions, I was able to really narrow in on the kind of career I want. I took assessments to find out what I liked and learned what skills I possessed. I discovered a hobby that was more than just a hobby. I’ve volunteered different places to see what atmosphere suited me. I learned what age group and type of people I was most interested in working with. I learned about the job market and how to make myself more employable. It’s a process, but it is well worth it when you get to enjoy the outcome.

If you have other suggestion for how you chose your program, major or career, please share in the comments.

Mud, Camera… Action!

My friends participating in a Tough Mudder jump

We live in a time where people want to share their experiences with more than words; they want to share them in photographs and videos. And they want to share it with more than just their friends and family; they want to share it with the world. Technology has allowed us to do just that. This was evident to me when I was a spectator at a Tough Mudder event recently.

I saw several participants with GoPro cameras attached to their heads. No doubt they were going to share footage from these small, HD cameras on an online platform such as YouTube or Vimeo. I think that’s pretty cool, especially since I would never participate in such an extreme event, to see what it’s like to complete these mud-covered obstacles from their point of view.

I spot some GoPros!

I also saw some other cool video and audio technologies on my first day of my internship. After filling out some paperwork and signing in, I was shown around the offices, storage rooms and studio. There were cameras, computers, microphones and switchboards. There was a lot of things new to me, too, so I don’t remember what all the equipment and systems were called. I haven’t done any work yet, but it sounds like I will be doing some editing soon.

In my Post-Production class, we’re learning how to work in 3-D space in Adobe After Effects. You can create layers, say, with city skylines, and zoom through the space between them. You can also take flat images, give them depth and animate them. I’m working on a project with an After Effects icon I built in the program for practice. It’s really awesome to picture something in your head and create it in a program exactly how you imagined it.

Speaking of brining a concept to reality, we’re learning the beginning stages of how to do just that in my Pre-Production class: Taking an idea and turning it into something visual. During our last meeting, we looked at commercial scripts and learned how to line them. This is what you do to plan what shots you need. From that, you can build a storyboard. Our assignment this week requires us to do these activities on our own.

Between homework, classes, the internship and work, I’m trying to get some friends together to play disc golf at the West Bend campus. I played for the first time last year and it was a blast. I figured we should do it now while the weather is good enough to enjoy being outside. Let’s hope I can squeeze it in soon because it looks like Mother Nature might race through the fall season.

My Labor Day with the President of the United States

Ticket to see the president's speech

I had the whole day free. No class. No work. So when my dad invited me to march with his union in the Labor Day parade in Milwaukee, I said yes. And after I said yes, something exciting happened.

It was announced on the news that President Obama was going to be speaking at Laborfest. How awesome, I thought, but I was sure that people would be lined up for miles to get tickets. I probably wouldn’t see him. But then I heard on the radio that those marching in the parade would receive tickets to hear the President speak… That meant me! I was going to hear the President of the United States speak in person. Wow.

We left early that morning because we figured security was going to be tight. We wore shirts with the union logo and carried flags. They provided us with ponchos when it started to rain right before we lined up. But as it was time to start walking, the rain let up and we were able to take our ponchos off and march down the streets of Milwaukee. Our marching took us down to the Summerfest grounds where the President was to speak at one of the stages.

Lining up for the parade

As the ticket had explained, we went through airport-like security. They checked our tickets, our purses, and I walked through a metal detector. Surprisingly, we got there early enough to sit on the benches. I was glad to have a seat after marching quite a distance in what had now become a very hot, sunny day. We weren’t very close to the stage, but not very far either. In fact, we were near the cameras that were set up on a platform. Since I am studying video production, I took notice of the camera crew getting situated while we waited two hours for the President. We knew he was on his way soon when we saw his airplane fly over.

It was an exciting day and well worth the sunburn across my face and arms.

Taking my seat before the speech

Security

The camera crew setting up

The president speaking on stage

The Bread of Video-Making

You know that part of the story maybe about three-fourths of the way through the book? It’s the part that’s the most exciting; you just can’t seem to put the book down because you are smack-dab in the middle of the action. I feel like that is my life right now. I am at a climax.

It is my busiest semester and it’s also my last semester at MPTC. While I am not a full time student, I am taking two 3-credit classes this semester on top of my full time job and an internship.

Yes, I just mentioned I have an internship this semester! I will be working and learning at WBCTV. I haven’t started yet, but I think it’s going to be a wonderful learning experience that will help me reach my career goals. I will be working with professionals and professional equipment. My instructors are always looking for ways for students to get real-world experience, so I very much appreciate my instructor brining this opportunity to my attention. Thank you!

After attending the first week of class, I can see there is still much to learn in the classroom about making videos in addition to what I have learned already and will be bringing to my internship. I am taking both Pre-Production and Post-Production, which I refer to as the “bread” of the video-making process (with production – the actual filming – as the meat).

Pre-Production is the planning part. We only had an overview of what pre-production is in class, but from what I remember this includes the script, storyboard, delegating roles and responsibilities of crew members, equipment needed and deciding what you may need to create in post-production for effects. I’m sure there is even more to it than that, and I will have the rest of the semester to learn more.

Post-Production is the editing part of video-making, to put it simply. It includes sound and video editing, title sequences, special effects, sound effects and touching up errors that may have occurred during filming. Your job in post-production is to mesh everything together into one cohesive story. As I learn more, I’ll be sure to share my class experiences with you. I’ll also be sharing my internship experience, and whatever else this semester brings, in my blog. Keep reading to find out what happens next in the story of my life, my future and my MPTC.

This Summer

This summer is going by quickly. Summer always does, especially when it’s busy. But I’m okay with that because I am looking forward to taking my last two classes. Along with Pre Production, I have recently signed up for a second class, Post-Production. That means I will be earning my certificate a semester earlier than originally planned. I’m really looking forward to Pre-Production where we will delve into storyboards a bit more. I love coming up with stories and planning them. Storyboards are a great way to show your ideas to others and make sure everyone involved understands the plan.

I’ve been working overtime every week this summer, but I have managed to have some fun outside of work, too. I went to Summerfest where a friend and I shared a paddleboat ride. A half hour paddling will sure earn you some muscle! I also hosted my annual Peep Roast. My friends and I have been roasting Peeps for several years now. The sugar melts and turns into a crunchy, golden glaze. It really is the best way to eat a Peep.

I’ve managed to carve out some time for career-related things as well. Since I have several more items to add to my portfolio, I’m working on updating my portfolio website. I’ve had to refresh my memory on a few things, which is why I’m glad I’ve kept my notes from when I was enrolled in the web design courses at MPTC.

Helping others is something important to me, so I’m pleased to have the opportunity to do so for two events this summer. One, which already took place in June, was an event to honor and help veterans; another one, which is happening this week, is called GISHWHES. If you haven’t heard of it, look it up. It’s a scavenger hunt that raises money for charities and encourages participants to do random acts of kindness.

For my friends heading back to class this fall, enjoy the rest of your summer vacation. With the slightly-cooler-than-normal temperatures we’ve been having, I’m hoping for a mild fall. And if you’ve never roasted a Peep over a fire, I highly recommend trying it before summer is over!

My Video Demo Reel - Capturing and Editing Video/Audio

Note: Please change the settings of the YouTube player to HD for best quality.

Since I shared some of my work from my Motion/Visual Graphics class in a previous blog, I thought you may also like to see some of the footage I filmed and edited for my other classes: Video Camera/Lighting Techniques and Video/Sound Editing. It's only a sample of my work, not the full videos, so I'm amazed I have  a full four minutes worth of footage in this demo reel. It didn't seem like it at the time, but I've already made quite a lot of videos in a relatively short amount of time. I've got two more classes to take, which are Pre Production and Post Production, and then I will have completed the Audio/Video certificate-- and I'll have a whole bunch of new projects to include in another demo reel!

My After Effects Demo Reel

Note: Please watch this video at it's highest quality by adjusting the YouTube player settings if necessary.

As promised, I have put together a collection of projects from my Motion/Visual Effects class. All these projects were created in After Effects, a really cool program used to create animations and title sequences. We completed the tutorial exercises in class, and then we were asked to create our own original projects. What you see here are the pieces I've created along with a description of the techniques used for each one.

This class has given me the foundation to create more advanced motion and visual effects on my own. Recently, I've used the program to construct a kinetic typography ad for a gaming community which raises money for childrens' hospitals. I enjoyed learning After Effects much more than I thought I would, and I plan on using it a lot in the future to supplement my Adobe Premiere projects.

Digital Switchers and Summer Plans

Digital switcher with multiple camera views

Well, another semester is over and it’s summer for MPTC students. I had a pretty memorable classes for our last week. We filmed a mock multi-camera live production in my Video-Sound Editing class using a digital switcher. The event was tabletop paper football game played by the students in my class. We even had a designated commentator giving play-by-plays. We used three cameras to capture the action from different angles. I took a turn at the digital switcher. It’s a device that lets you view all three cameras and choose which shot will be used. You can edit footage on the fly as you’re filming. It’s like those behind-the-scenes of live TV you may have seen (but on a much smaller scale).

Later on, we learned how to edit footage from multiple cameras on our computers. This is another way you can edit multi-camera footage. We had to sync the footage together. Much like the digital switcher, we could play all the videos at once and edit on the fly by choosing what shot we wanted to use.

Also during the last class we watched everybody’s green screen productions. They were great and really fun to watch. One group “teleported” themselves to different places. They even figured out how to create an effect that made them look like the zapped out of the space they were standing in. After class, my group and I celebrated a job well done by going out for ice cream. I will miss seeing them every week while we are on summer break.

Speaking of summer break, I’m really not getting a break this summer. I’ll be working overtime at my job. I’m also working on some side projects. I’ll be making videos for a gaming community that raises money for children’s hospitals. I’m in the process of making a video for them now using kinetic typography in Adobe After Effects. It’s a challenge, but it’s one of the coolest things I’ve made on my own so far.

How will you be spending your summer break?

My Video and Sound Editing Class

It seemed like a great way to allow everyone in my group a chance to show their creativity without the constraints reality would impose. It would also allow us to explore more possibilities with the Adobe Premiere software. So, we agreed that for our last assignment in our Video-Sound Editing class to create a series of dream sequences. People got to direct their own “dream”.

With the use of a green screen, we weren’t limited to location. We could be on a boat or in space or wherever. The opening and ending, which were the parts where we were awake and not dreaming, tied everything together so we had a story. I was amazed and impressed by what my classmates came up with. I am very proud of the finished product. I’d like to give a shout out to my team. You guys are great!

Despite the fact that this was an eight-week course, I feel like we accomplished a lot in a short amount of time. We started out with simply learning how to operate the camera and record video and audio. We each made a video with examples of different types of shots, like the pan, tilt, zoom and pedestal shot. We tested the different options we had for recording audio, like a hand mic, lapel mic and a shotgun mic. We recorded the same sounds with all the different types of mics to see how differently they’d pick up the sound.

We did some practical things in class such as editing wrestling match footage and exporting the video in different formats to compare file size and quality. We learned how to properly light a scene for interviews. We did some silly things when it came to editing sound and adding sound effects to video.

As a bonus, our instructor showed us how to create a DVD with a menu and chapter titles in Adobe Encore.  This will be helpful to know how to do if you want to create a demo DVD of your work. After I learned this, I took a video I filmed of our family’s Easter egg hunt this year, burned it to a DVD and gave it to my grandma.

Since I do have a lot of work to share from this semester, I thought I’d make a demo reel so you’ll be able to see a sample of what I’ve made. Look for it on my blog soon!

Portfolio Night and Car Show

It was convenient that all I had to do was walk down the steps after class and I was at Portfolio Night. The tables were lined up in the main entrance foyer with students’ work they had completed during their time at MPTC. There were demo reels of animation and video.  Students showed off their graphic design work. The web design students brought their laptops so we could view all the websites they’ve created.

I knew many of the students who participated that day. It was good to see them since some I have not seen in a while. Four of my previous and current instructors were there as well. I was there for two reasons: One, to support my friends and classmates. Two, to get an idea of what to expect for next year’s Portfolio Night when it’ll be my turn to show my work to the faculty, staff, students, local employers and the community.

I was happy I was able to attend. I don’t get to do as much on campus as I did last year due to my busy schedule. But fortunately this week it worked out that not only did I get to go to Portfolio Night, I also got to go to the Car Show in Fond du Lac on Sunday. I’ve never been to it before, but I’ve heard about it and was curious. There were lots of cool cars and the weather was perfect for being outside.  Hopefully we can keep that weather nice from now until the end of the semester.

Part 4: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student

Note: For better video quality, change the settings of the video player to HD.​

This is the fourth and final installment of my "Week in the Life of an MPTC Student" video series. Join me during the first Saturday and Sunday in March as I explain how I created my videos, spend time with my friends as we play trivia, and as I reflect on the week.

You can view Part 1 here: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student - Part 1
And Part 2 here: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student - Part 2
And Part 3 here: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student - Part 3

Part 3: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student

Note: For better video quality, change the settings of the video player to HD.​

Here is part three of my "Week in the Life of an MPTC Student" video series filmed during the last week in February. Join me as I bundle up for the weather, submit my assignment electronically and talk about an exciting work project.

You can view Part 1 here: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student - Part 1
And Part 2 here: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student - Part 2

Part 2: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student

Note: For best video quality, change the settings of the video player to HD.​

Here is part two of my "Week in the Life of an MPTC Student" video series. Tuesday was a full day of work, homework and class. I also talk about a cool project I've been working on.

You can view Part 1 here: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student - Part 1

Part 1: A Week in the Life of an MPTC Student

Note: For best video quality, change the settings of the video player to HD.​

Here is part one of my "Week in the Life of an MPTC Student" video series. In this series you'll be coming with me to class, attending on-campus events, going to work and accompanying me to an Oscar party.

A special thanks to Yvette Johnson.

A New Appreciation for the News

Not too long ago I saw a shot in a news segment where the camera was in a sink facing up towards the faucet. The water came rushing down onto the lens. I thought to myself, that seems like an awfully elaborate shot just for a simple news story.

Since then, I really pay attention to news segments – the shots they set up, the transitions they use, creative camera angles and graphics. A lot of thought, planning and creativity go into presenting news stories.

There are shows I watch where the writing and the acting is great, but the camera work and editing are equally as great. One of my favorite shows uses text in a creative way. The text and graphics on the screen allows you to see inside the mind of the main character. I was watching this show last night, and it was exciting to see particular effects that I admire and figure out possible ways to recreate those effects in After Effects, the program I am currently learning in class.

Speaking of my Motion/Visual Effects class, it will be ending soon. It’s an accelerated class and will be ending before spring break. After spring break I have another accelerated class starting called Video/Sound Editing where I will be learning more about Adobe Premiere, a video editing program. I can’t wait to learn more about the program so I can make even better projects.

I’m working on a project for this blog you’ll see soon hopefully. I’m trying to do it the proper way and incorporate some of the things I’ve learned in my program this past year. As the saying goes, stay tuned!

The Perks of Being a College Student

I am pro education. If you know me, or have read a handful of my blogs, you could probably tell that is true. But I’m not just pro college; I am pro knowledge through whatever outlet it can be acquired.

There are so many ways you can obtain new information and new skills besides going to college. You can find a mentor in a field you want to enter, like photography, and learn from them. Books, obviously, are great sources to learn about history, art, science and anything else you’d like to learn. You can start at the bottom of a company fetching coffee and learn everything you can by watching and asking questions, and then work your way up. You can go online where there is no limit to what you can learn through articles, blogs and video tutorials.

As you can see, there are lots of options out there for you to learn something new whether it’d be for personal enlightenment or for your current or future career. So if you have all these options, why should you consider college? Well, the way I see it, college incorporates all of the above outlets to obtaining an education plus there are additional benefits to being connected to a college.

How Different Options for Learning Are Incorporated Into the College Experience

Built-In Mentors

As I had just suggested, you could find a mentor in your field and learn from them. That means you’ll need to seek out somebody knowledgeable and willing to teach you. I have that at MPTC. In fact, I have several mentors who are professionals with experience in their fields. They are my instructors. And I didn’t have to search them out; I simply signed up for their classes. They are the college’s built-in mentors.

Traditional and Technology-Based Learning Tools

I mentioned earlier that you could learn through books and the Internet. I’ve been asked to use all kinds of learning tools throughout my time here at MPTC. I’ve been assigned to read online articles and view video tutorials. Through searching online, I’ve been asked to find information and additional resources. I’ve also read textbooks about customer service, grammar and JavaScript. If I wanted to step outside of the required reading, I could find a fresh batch of new books each semester in the library about topics relating to any of the programs offered at the college.

Real-World Experience

So, how do you get real-world experience by being a college student, like the example I gave about the individual who works his or her way up the ladder by learning from the higher-ups?  You become an intern. Oftentimes, interns are college students. If you work hard and learn from them, they may hire you after you graduate and you can start climbing that ladder. As a student in the Wisconsin Technical College system, I have access to a statewide online employment information system that posts internships (as well as jobs). It was probably the best perk I received as a student, because it is how I found a job. Actually, my current employer found my resume on this site and contacted me.

I’ve had instructors who’ve notified my classes about competitions that not only offered real-world experience but also, for the winner, offered something nice to ad to their resume. In fact, I was told about three graphic design competitions I could enter right now. I would not have known about them if it weren’t for my instructor.

The Additional Benefits of Being Connected to a College

Equipment and Discounts

I’m not going to lie, college costs money, but it can save you money, too. Let’s suppose I would have decided to learn about video production and editing by myself instead of enrolling in a program at MPTC. I would have to buy a camera, a tripod, microphones, and a couple of lighting kits. Well, that would have been more than I could afford to buy, especially all at once! But, I enrolled in a program where I have access to that equipment, so I don’t have to run out and buy a soft box or a boom mic.

If I weren’t a student, I wouldn’t have received a student discount on my editing software. The cost of these professional software programs is pretty substantial, so I’m glad I was able to save a nice chunk of money by attending school instead of purchasing it on my own.

Services, Resources, and Activities

As a student, you have access to resources you may not have access to if you weren’t connected to a school. I’ve probably said this more than twice in my blog posts, and I know I have given this advice to a lot of incoming students: Use the campus’s resources and services. They are free. Use the library; use the career center; use the counseling services. These are all things you have access to, and it’s one of the greatest benefits you have as a college student.

Being connected to a college, you have the opportunity to take advantage of free entertainment, free speakers and free food. Some events even give away prizes. If I weren’t a student and didn’t attend events, I wouldn’t have the new Blu-Ray player I won playing BINGO in the cafeteria last year. It’s not something I necessarily needed as part of my educational experience, but it’s definitely one of the perks of being a student.

After Graduation

There are perks even after you leave campus. As a graduate, you are an alumnus. You are invited to networking opportunities, and you still have access to the career center should you need help updating your resume or finding a job.

Speaking of resumes, one of the most obvious benefits of going to college is that, at the end of it all, you get to put something on your resume. In the education section you’ll list your degree. It’s one line of written proof that you’ve learned something.

As I said at the beginning of this blog post, I am pro education. In fact, I enjoy learning for the sake of learning, and it’s been beneficial to me as well as my employers. I encourage everyone to learn, whether it’d be by attending college, on your own, or by some other means. We as a society can never be too educated nor can we have too many educated people. So if you’re thinking about learning something new, I hope you consider college as an option because it does have its perks!

My New Schedule

An animation I'm creating in After Effects

It may take some time adjusting to my new schedule this semester. Last week was the first week of the spring semester, and with a new set of classes comes a new routine for me. Since I have class twice per week, I have to make up my hours at work by going in early and staying late certain days of the week. But, it seems to be working out just fine.

My class this semester is called Motion/Visual Effects. We will be learning how to use After Effects, a program used to make those pretty cool graphics you see in movies, TV shows, on the news, and the Web. We started going over the interface in class. My homework for this week included working with some exercise files. After we get a handle on how the features work, we’ll move into some more creative projects.

Despite the fact that some of my days are really busy, I do have one day every week where I don’t have work or class during the winter. I use this day to work on homework, do some cleaning around the house, and continue my volunteer work for a local educational non-profit.

Unfortunately, I can’t attend as many fun activities on campus as I like, but there are a few I’ll be able to take part of in the future. I was looking at the upcoming events on the myMPTC portal, and I was happy to see that many of the acts I suggested we have on campus are booked for this semester. I discovered these speakers and performers at the conferences I went to with Student Senate last year. At the conferences we got to watch these people speak or perform, and we also talked to them one-on-one. Please check out the events calendar and attend some of these events. I’m sure one or two of them will spark your interest.

My schedule will change yet again in March for the second half of the semester. The class I’m taking now is an accelerated course. Once this class is over in March, my other class, Video/Sound Editing, begins. I have been looking forward to this class for a long time. I noticed it a few semesters ago in the course catalog when it was first offered. Having made a video as an assignment for one of my other classes, I was really interested in learning video editing. I am fortunate to be in a position now to take it, along with other classes in the Audio-Video Certificate.

Good luck to all those who have begun classes. It’s going to be a great spring! (Especially after the snow melts and this bitter cold ends!)

Don’t Let Your Brain Turn Into Mush This Winter

It may sound a little strange to say, but I already miss going to class on Monday nights. It’s been three weeks since we’ve finished, and I miss my classmates and all the cool stuff we’ve gotten to do together. I am still in contact with a few of them, and that has been nice. Some of us are continuing our education through the break by working on building our portfolios and doing extra research online. One of my classmates has an interview for an internship, so I’m crossing my fingers for him.

At work we’ve purchased a new camera that takes excellent photos and HD video. So far I’ve only taken photos, but soon I’ll be filming. I have learned enough in class this past fall to do a few short videos. I’ve jotted down some promising ideas.

During the winter I have an extra day off of work each week, so I’m choosing to spend time teaching myself more about filming and editing. I also don’t want to lose any knowledge I’ve gained in class. I’m also hoping that there will be some awesome events on campus on my day off so I can attend them. I haven’t been able to participate as much as I did in the past recently.

I was watching a YouTube blogger today, and he was talking about New Year’s resolutions. Instead of resolutions, which tend to be pretty generic, he suggested making a list of New Year’s accomplishments. This would be a short list of things you want to accomplish by the end of 2014. I love that idea, especially since it’s attached to a timeframe. And, if you accomplish them by New Year’s Eve, you really have something to celebrate! I want to write down three things to accomplish this year. I want them to be attainable and something I’m proud of completing, so I’m going to give myself some time to think about it.

If you’re on winter break too, enjoy the rest of your time off, and don’t let your brain turn into mush! Keep learning and you’ll fall right back into place come spring semester.