Question 4: how did you use new media technologies in the construction and research,

planning and evaluation stages?

Throughout my research, planning and evaluation stages, I used several new media
technologies such as the internet, One Drive, BBC iPlayer, blogger, YouTube, and Prezi in my
research stage, adobe premiere, Photoshop, garage band and InDesign in the construction
stage, camera, voice recorder and smart phones in the hardware stage, and outlook (Email)
and WhatsApp for communication.

When researching, we watched a documentary ‘Supersize Me’ (picture 1) that was shown
on DVD in the classroom with a projector. We understood general documentary
conventions from this and after learning about modes and types of documentaries, we
decided our topic for our documentary. We used BBC iPlayer (picture 2)to research
documentaries related to mental health and anxiety, we could watch these on our smart
phones and mac computers.

1 2

OneDrive (picture 3) was one of the main new media technologies that was used in
research. It is online cloud storage, and being very secure, our files relating to the
coursework were stored and easily accessible with this software. This is development from
AS as I did not use an online storage like this before. I would have to use a memory stick
which is not as practical as it can easily get misplaced whereas using the online storage is
wireless and allowed me to access my work from anywhere. Although I was confused on
how to use the technology in the beginning, I adapted and eventually understood it. Having
all the documents uploaded in one place allowed organisation within the group, as well as
the folders which could be created allowing all specialised documents to be in specific
folders. It was especially effective in research and planning as each document that a group
member made could be sent to OneDrive to be viewed by another group member, and then
uploaded to blogger.
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Blogger (picture 5) is the blog, which is assessed by my teacher, it is a collection and blog of
all the posts from the construction, research, planning and evaluation stages. Having
blogger allowed us to keep track of which group member did which post, as well as which
posts would still need to be done. Although I used blogger in AS, I understood how to fully
use it in A2 with features such as changing the date/time of a post or embedding a post
easily. We would embed using scribd (picture 4) or slide share, which would allow Microsoft
power points to be uploaded and embedded. I am more familiar with embedding
documents, presentations, or videos into blogger, saving time and improving my time
management.

We used a range of hardware such as a canon video camera or sometimes a Panasonic

camera, a tripod, a microphone etc. We controlled all footage in terms of brightness or
contrast. After filming for many days and the approval of our teacher, we were able to
gather clips that we could use in our documentary. We used a shotgun microphone for most
of the audio, especially in voxpops. This was to be held outside of frame when recording and
was still successful in capturing audio. With the expert interviews, a microphone was
attached to a piece of their clothing so their voices were clear. Sometimes, the microphone
would become muffled and the audio was unclear. We noticed this, replaced the
microphone and did a few more takes ensuring the audio was clear. By using headphones,
we ensured the sound levels were normal and all the same. (pictures 6 to 8) Using a tripod
ensured the camera was steady and ensured the footage was smooth, although it was
difficult to carry around to different locations. All hardware ensured high quality footage in
our documentary. (pictures 9 to 11)

6 7 8

9 10 11

Clips were then edited together in adobe premiere for the documentary in the construction
stage. We could edit sound levels, insert titles, and insert sound. We experimented with the
timeline before making the documentary and understood the layers of sounds and footage.
Texts were easily added over some parts of the documentary, such as when a statistic would
show. As well as effects such as blurring the screen, this gave more focus on the voiceover.
Clips were sometimes unnecessary therefore could be easily cut using the razor tool. Certain
parts could easily be deleted and eventually the correct clips were transitioned into one
another. (pictures 12 and 13)
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I used garage band when making my radio advert, this is mostly in the construction stage. I
did not use this software in AS so I had no knowledge on how to use it. We used a voice
recorder when recording audio for the radio advert. We ensured we were in a quiet room
and recording our voiceover, this was effective and was easy to back up the recordings onto
the computer ready to edit in garage band. I chose “Voice” and started a new blank project.
I recorded the script for my radio advert using a separate microphone which I then backed
up the files from onto the mac I was using garage band on. I inserted the takes into the
project and cropped each time a pause occurred. I inserted several sound effects and a
music bed. Eventually, my radio advert sounded professional, and was 60 seconds long.
(Pictures 13 and 14)
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Indesign was also used to make the double page spread in the construction stage. Text was
easily added and overall it looks professional. Columns were set on the page as a layout was
useful to where everything would be positioned. The image was edited in Photoshop to
remove the background and keep the main image of the model. Effects such as brightness
and contrast were also used to make the model look more darker and mysterious for the
seriousness of our topic. This is advancement from AS because although I did use InDesign
in AS for my music magazine, I was much more familiar with the features in A2 so I did not
waste time looking for a feature. Being from the same conglomerate, Photoshop and
InDesign were similar to use. (Pictures 15 to 18)
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Outlook (email) was mainly used to send around documents to someone in the group, the
work could easily be attached and sent around so they were available on all computers. In
planning, outlook was used to plan and arrange interviews with experts. A new email could
easily be composed after logging in and pressing “new” and emails could be easily
forwarded. However, it was easy to forget to email a document sometimes, perhaps from a
home computer to a computer in college, causing time delay. I used email mainly before I
learnt how to use OneDrive. Being from the same conglomerate, the software’s are both
similar to use. (Picture 18)
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WhatsApp was another new media technology which I used throughout the construction
and research, planning and evaluation stages. This was mainly for communication between
me and my group members. We could easily tell each other what we had done and which
tasks need to be completed. I did not use this in AS as I worked independently, but having a
group chat with my group in A2 ensured that extra or less work was done. This ensured
good team work and communication skills, as well as being available on mobile phones, the
technology was portable and could be used anywhere. (Picture 19)

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