Positive Experiences with Classroom Technology by Emma

Positive Experiences with Classroom Technology by Emma - January 2020 Scholarship Essay

Since the dawn of 1906, the art of animation has been a huge part of our society as it shapes our modern world and positively impacts classrooms. Whether in the United States or United Kingdom, people of every ethnicity, career, and age have been exposed and impacted by animation. Animation has become a positive impact on people because it falls into these three categories: education, entertainment, and engagement.

Firstly, animated videos have become a main positive teaching tool throughout the education system as a technique for teachers and professors to effectively teach their students. Animation provides a way for students of all ages to understand difficult concepts and develop a desire to learn in an enjoyable, interactive approach. Tutorials that include animated characters likewise gain interest and increase attention spans of students as they study. In addition to schools and universities, animation is used as a teaching tool for other areas of society, such as banks. By using short animated videos, a bank can educate viewers on concepts such as loan options and money savings in a way that is easy for the average person to understand. Learning banking also helps students gain a positive outlook with their finances.

In addition to education, entertainment provides a positive impact on people as it is the most popular form of animation and can be used as stress relief during testing and weekly assignments. Animated entertainment is a popular form of storytelling. This ranges from many genres, themes, and topics. There are several ways animated entertainment can be utilized. It provides laughter through comedy, educates people with history, and explores new fictional worlds like Star Wars and Avatar. Animation is entertaining and provides stress relief. There is something for everyone. Amateurs through experienced professionals can view and love this medium that is always advancing. People do not become tired of it. Animated entertainment allows artists to stretch their creativity beyond the limits and into the unknown with endless possibilities. Therefore, people are continuing to utilize and explore it. Professional animators and teen artists can entertain their viewers by developing characters that are relatable, realistic, or cartoon-like expanding creativity and interest.

Similar to animated education and entertainment, the latest generations in society, known as the Millennials and GenZ, have become completely engrossed in the world of animation. On social media platforms, such as: Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube, animation is a part of everyday life. The two generations are using animation within these platforms for an unlimited amount of reasons. Communicating with each other, sharing information, and making a name for themselves are three popular actions practiced. Online communities have arisen from this world of animation. People are discussing animated shows and movies in online chatrooms and creating fan made videos with elements from other people’s animations. Not only are these two generations influenced, but the effects of animation have continued through many past years. Disney animation is another great origin of animation that continues to touch the lives of many people. Animation brings to life laughter from sadness, good from evil, love from grief, hope from fear, and so much more. Animation continues from black and white, to still images, to the first use of color and Rotoscopy animation, to the 1990s, and all the way into digital media captivating its audience with every new story created.

Animation provides a new modern and creative method to explore stories and communicate emotions within the classroom experience and world technology. Unlike basic writing of past centuries, animation has opened a brand-new world for our classrooms. Whether a young child or professional artist, anyone can express their feelings and tell a story through animations. They can design and manipulate characters to display any factional expression and preform any type of movement. Viewers become emotionally attached to these fictional animated characters because similar traits are shared, which include expressions, history, behaviors, personality, words, and dialogue. Additionally, characters created through animation allow artists to represent a wide range of diverse styles, including traditional 2D, computer-generated 3D, motion graphics, stop motion, and clay animation. Animation has taken storytelling, entertainment, engagement and education to the next level. The thought of animation connects and shares stories with people. Anyone who is visual appreciates pictures and image sequences. Sometimes writing or expressing words to others may be difficult, but with animation, a story can be told through images. A familiar saying of “a picture is worth a thousand words” is what animation can mean and gives diverse viewpoints to others. Animators create meanings of pictures and bring feelings, topics, and expression to society using animation.

As Animation continues to create impacts on classroom experiences, this also influences my career as a video editor and deepens my personal love of designing and viewing stories. The enjoyment of animation is never ending. Through hard work, dedication, gratitude, relationship building, and love, I am blessed to make a small difference in the world we live in. I hope to continue to grow in all of these as each new day begins. This scholarship will help not only financially, but also allow me to concentrate on school studies and continue to grow in the love of animation. I am very thankful and filled with appreciation to be included in this blessing. Thank you for taking time to read my views on Animation and for this amazing opportunity to be a participant for the Varsity Tutors Scholarship.