Are You A Digital Native?

Digital natives were briefly mentioned in my Advertising Media Administration class at Sheridan College and the concept got that little engine in my head going (yes, I know that can be dangerous because once that engine starts its pretty difficult to put the brakes on). The idea of a digital native shouldn't be all that surprising since we live in an age where technology has engulfed so many areas of our lives. Since I majored in Media, Information and Technoculture at Western University, which is a fancy way of saying that I studied communication methods and society's reliance on technology, I immediately recognized the label as being heavily associated with how much we daily interact with technology. It's hard to escape the temptation of everything being right at our fingertips now that we've had a taste of it, but what about the most recent generation that is growing up with touch screens and google searches?

"Upside Learning"

You may be asking yourself, what is a digital native? Google defines a digital native as… "a person born or brought up during the age of digital technology and therefore are familiar with computers and the internet from an early age." It is an interesting concept to think about especially since I used the technology mentioned in the definition to define the term itself. I grew up with the Internet and computers but I used them to play games on websites for Polly Pocket World or Neopets when I was a child. Does anyone else remember those? Anyway, the new technology never stopped me from being active and involved with sports (I was awesome at basketball… I really tried at soccer). I still play recreationally and go running in the warmer months at twenty-two years old.

I have two younger sisters and watching them grow up with the advanced technology is fascinating. Mandy is thirteen years old and Leeza is seven. Mandy absolutely adores learning. When she first received her laptop two years ago, much earlier than I owned a laptop by the way (no, I'm not jealous…),  she googled everything. When I was unsure of something Mandy found an answer with a few taps of her keyboard, even if I had asked my mom the question. Leeza is significantly younger than myself and does not own a phone or a laptop, which makes her more inclined to go outside to play. The general consensus around digital natives is positive in terms of technological progress yet somewhat negative in terms of laziness. However, witnessing these two young girls grow up in different environments from one another, they are so active that I can hardly keep up with them. Between taekwondo, soccer and dance, these girls are far from lazy and they have a thirst for knowledge. They are merely lucky enough to live in an age where if they want to learn something new, they can search it online and be reading it in seconds.

What are your thoughts on digital natives?

Let's Get Creative!

Who doesn't enjoy a fun art project every now and then?

Life is way more exciting when you conceive an idea that you can share with others. Have you ever had an image in your head that you wanted to bring to light? Sheridan College offers plenty of opportunities to get creative and put that imagination to good use.

Through the creative communication courses at Sheridan, my imagination has poured into my work to produce advertisements that are in no way actually used by these companies. However, in generating these "advertisements" on Adobe Photoshop and InDesign, I've developed important technical skills that I use for more than just school work. In my experience with book cover design, understanding how to utilize those same Adobe programs can only enhance your level of professionalism with the design. These tools are incredibly handy even if you merely want to add some original or inventive touches to your portfolio or resume.

The images here are a few examples of the kind of creative work you can accomplish with the use of these programs. The image above has also been turned into a gif that you can view here: Nikon Advertisement gif

If any of you are fascinated with the idea of bringing an image to light through the editing of colours, enhancements or manipulations, Adobe Photoshop and InDesign will help you along the way.

Learning about these programs through the creative communications course at Sheridan College has made a difference in the level of imagery I can create. Even if I need a refresher once and a while to remember the insane amount of tools available to turn that mental image into a real physical copy, I enjoy the time it takes to make it happen. Now I find myself goofing around with images merely for fun.



I could get lost in these programs for hours with how many interesting and new ways you can alter an image to convey the message you want. If you're interested in the advertising industry or merely being creative in general, get a hold of Adobe InDesign.
It will change your life.

Or maybe not, but it's still fun.

Sheridan Life

I've never written a blog. This will be the first one. Ever.

I've written short stories, novels, twenty-paged essays, but a blog? Not until I began my second semester at Sheridan College. Before anyone gets the wrong impression, I'd like to make it clear that I am a total nerd who loves reading, writing and learning. Creating a blog was bound to be the next step.

My time at Sheridan College thus far has definitely been an interesting experience. The Tim Hortons Express has saved my life on multiple occasions, especially with the Wintery days only becoming colder. I love skiing and snowboarding, but you could not pay me enough to make the trek from the student parking lot to the G building without first entering the SCAET to avoid the frigid air.

Coming from Western University, where almost everything is theory based, to a smaller campus where professors really get to know your strengths and weaknesses and provide you with hands on experience, makes all the difference. I feel like I'm getting a better grasp on the advertising industry and its many different areas. Granted, my program at Western University did not focus on advertising per se, which is why earning my certificate at Sheridan is building my confidence in terms of applying to positions in the industry.

As the line goes, "knowledge is power," and that power is what seems to be increasing my inner most confidence. Through presentations, media buying demonstrations, creating ad campaigns and designing the advertisement content itself, I feel as though I'm better understanding what is required of me before I begin a placement. It's invigorating and inspiring. Not only am I inspired to enter into the work force, but I'm inspired to let my imagination run wild. I'm invigorated to write more fiction novels. I'm excited to design book covers and promote my novels on my own. I'm motivated to learn more about the advertising industry and the different companies I could potentially fit into in my upcoming co-op placement. Even though I'm halfway to receiving my certificate, I'm looking forward to learning even more and sharing my experiences with those of you who have found your way to my page.