Group Project Personal Statement

Over the past three months, I had the unique opportunity to participate in a group project centered around the creation of a digital story. This experience was novel to me, as I had never before applied my digital literacy skills to such a collaborative and creative endeavor. This process provided me with an array of invaluable skills, both social and digital, while also offering significant insights into my own capabilities and areas for growth on both a professional and personal level.

Benefits of Digital Story Creation.

Creating digital stories for educational purposes offers benefits on various levels. For this reflection, I will focus on its relevance within the course, its professional prospects, and its implications for the future

Each member was assigned tasks based on their strengths, which helped us achieve our goals and manage the workload effectively. However, cooperation depends heavily on the overall engagement of all members. While most of us contributed actively, some members were less involved, leading to an imbalance in productivity and time management issues.

In my role as the technician, I leveraged my expertise with digital tools to support the group's objectives. I also assisted other members, such as the scriptwriter and content creators, to expedite the process. Despite some members' lack of active participation, we managed to find common ground and collaborate effectively at crucial moments, such as drafting the initial scenario and deciding on the art style for our video. Our brainstorming sessions and collective decision-making were instrumental in reaching a consensus on tools and methods.

Creative Process and Technical

We agreed on a hybrid futuristic, underwater style inspired by anime, "Jack Sparrow" (Verbinski, 2006), and "Avatar" (Cameron, 2009). My tasks included creating AI-generated images, using Photoshop for character and background modifications, and employing tools like Magic AI remover and Adobe Editing for further refinements. Through trial and error, I achieved a high level of accuracy and cohesion in our presentation.

Personal and Professional Growth

This project pushed me to experiment beyond my comfort zone and overcome various obstacles. Professionally, it prompted me to reconsider traditional educational practices and reflect on the future of TEFL. The project underscored the importance of digital literacy and active viewing skills, such as language and content comprehension, in modern education. It also reinforced the need for English educators to adapt to the technological habits of future generations, making digital storytelling a valuable tool for engaging and effective teaching.