Final Project-Essay

1. How has this class helped you strengthen your communication skills in the following areas: 1) technologically, 2) visually and 3) interpersonally?

The most significant thing that helped me strengthen my communication skills technologically was the audio recorder and mic. This strengthened my communication skills by getting me out of my comfort zone. I have been able to increase my communication skills with every project and expand my comfort “bubble” as I’ve interviewed friends, my mom , my professor, and fellow students. From the first audio project onwards, the recorder and mic have helped me adapt. Through the use of my camera I have both technologically and visually been able to build upon my communication skills as I try to get good angles and ask to take video or photos. For example, during the A Day in the Life and Scene on Campus projects I was in public settings and had to step out of my comfort zone by asking people if I could get a good shot. Communicating to my interviewee where I would like the picture/video to be taken and at what time of day helped my communication skills significantly and also my visuals.

My interpersonal skills have strengthened through the aspects of listening, socializing, and communicating verbally and nonverbally. With each project listening has been key with communication not only when checking to see if an area is quiet enough, collecting natural and ambient sounds but also when conducting an interview. Another huge aspect of my interpersonal skills that improved was learning to socialize better so that I could get interviews with a good story and a person connected to the story or project. With each project I was pushed out of my comfort zone more and more but eventually it got easier.

What I noticed with each project especially the Scene on Campus project was that being able to communicate with someone I did not know that well was a bit hard but worked out. I developed a better understanding for the schedules of my interviewees but was also able to communicate when it was good to meet and what shots I needed or what questions I was going to ask. Throughout this semester I was able to develop these skills with each project that we did until I was comfortable asking someone I did not know well if I could interview them. The skills that I have gained here not only with communication but with software will stay with me long after I leave this class as they are useful to other classes I have, jobs, and everyday life.

Scene on Campus: 11th Annual Powwow

The president of the Native American Student Association, Brianna Minjarez discusses her role in NASA and why she is passionate about the club. She also discusses how NASA was able to fundraise for the 11th annual powwow they’ve been able to sponsor held on the 12th of November. Through various gourd dances, music, festivities, and food the cultural tradition of a powwow in the Native American culture was celebrated.

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Live tweeting an event

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The 11^th annual Powwow put on by NASA at St.Mary’s University on November 12^th in the Pecan Grove. There was food, vendors, music, and performances throughout the event.

This was my first powwow and because I didn’t know what to expect I had to figure out what was going on and what to capture. What went well is that there was plenty of events going on to capture and at various times of the day. What I found challenging was finding the appropriate time to take a picture since this was a cultural event and at times it would have been rude to just take out my camera. Getting in the right position to take a photo or to tweet was also difficult. There also weren’t many names or people announced, it was mostly an announcing of what was going to happen next. So, my tweets were mainly about what was going on rather than people or quotes. What I would’ve done differently is maybe going around to get presenters names or the names of the dancers to present them properly in my posts. But the powwow wasn’t about individual dancers but the event as a whole. Using twitter to announce what was happening was difficult but made me think of what to say or post quickly. The message came across through the tweets especially since I included pictures with every tweet. Having to think quickly and take a photo on the spot enhanced my storytelling and communication skills as I had to constantly look for things to tweet about and how to announce it.

SANS News Podcast

This podcast consists of a news brief, commercial, sports segment, and weather all created by me and put together on garageband. My news has a mix of world news and local news as well as ranging from topics such as politics and animals. The sports focused on football since it is football season. I picked a commercial about syrup to cover. I also included various music and sound effects to make the podcast flow better and create more entertaining material.

Chili

Chili by Lucia Vera

Videography and Production by Isabel Vera 

Lucia Vera is an alumna of St.Mary’s University. She has been cooking for over 30 years and learned to cook from her mother. She has taken this knowledge to create her own recipe for the dish, chili. She is known for her chili and is often asked to make it at family gatherings. In this video she is demonstrating how to make chili. This video is a continuation of my second class project titled “Let’s Cook Together”. In this video project Lucia makes the dish mentioned in the audio interview.

Recipe for Chili

Ingredients:

• 2 lbs. ground beef
• 1 (15 oz.) can of diced tomatoes
• 1 (8 oz.) tomato sauce- optional
• ½ small onion diced or sliced
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 tablespoon of flour
• 1 tablespoon of salt
• 1 tablespoon of chili powder
• 1 lb. of pinto beans (raw or canned)
• 1 (15 oz.) can of kidney beans
• Large pan, small mixing bowl, whisk, tablespoon, teaspoon, large spoon/ladle, measuring cup/tea cup, knife, cutting board, smaller pot, serving bowl.

Recipe:

Start by preparing raw pinto beans in advance. Wash them thoroughly, place in pot, add 6 cups of water, 2 teaspoons of pepper, 2 teaspoons of salt, boil on medium heat for 2 hours. Add water as needed. If you do not want to make beans by hand, use canned pinto beans instead. Next cook raw beef thoroughly. Add 6 cups of water to beef, as it is still raw. Cook until beef is brown, drain the fat. Chop or slice an onion and add to cooked meat. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, diced tomatoes and chili powder to chili. Let the chili simmer on medium heat for 30 minutes. In a small bowl, add flour and 1 cup of water.. Whisk flour and water until it is a liquid consistency. Mix in whisked flour to the chili. After mixing, let chili simmer for 5 minutes. Add the whole pot of either canned pinto beans or the pinto beans made in advance into chili. Add can of kidney beans. Mix them into chili and let simmer for 10 minutes. Mix all ingredients again and add salt, chili powder, pepper, and garlic powder as you go along until you get the desired taste and consistency. After you are satisfied with the end product, let stand for 10 minutes before serving. A great compliment to chili would be corn bread or any side dish you desire. Lastly, enjoy the chili.

Come Along with Jacqueline Pena

Jacqueline Pena is not only an assistant director of resident life but also an ND professor. Her day consists of not only fulfilling her duties as an assistant director such as selecting new student staff and meetings but also interacting with students and getting to know them. She talks about what she hopes to achieve as a professor and as a director through her role at St.Mary’s.

Let’s Cook Together

This is an interview about cooking and the practice and skill it takes to create tasty dishes that people will enjoy. In this interview my interviewee is a St.Mary’s alumni who is discussing when she began cooking, how she learned to cook and what she likes to cook.

My Classmate Interview

This is an interview of a classmate in my Media Production 1 class. The interview talks about hobbies and interests and me getting to know a classmate.