Introduction
The documentary unit was a very different experience for a school project than I had ever done. It was the longest of all of our units so far but I am very proud of the product I have been able to create. In this unit for english I wrote a research paper, interview new people, and create a book.
when the project was introduced we were asked to chose a topic on a specific person, topic, or place. Through interviews and research to learn about the topic that we chose. Using our research and interviews we wrote a research paper about why the topic mattered today.
Going into the project our english teacher Mr Greco introduced the documentary book “Seeing Silicon Valley” which helped us see an example of a professional documentary book. He also showed us some of the past projects of other freestyle students to see something similar to what we might make in each elective.
When we first started brainstorming topics only one thing came to mind. That was sports, which I am very familiar with. After planning ahead of possibilities of specific sports I could research and eventually make a book about I landed on soccer. This topic wouldn’t be very difficult for me to research because resources such as photos and interviews were very accessible to me. To make my topic more specific I narrowed it down to technology and how it affected the sport today.
After many revisions I had managed to get the green light to publish my writing for my documentary book I had been working on in design.
Design
In the Design documentary unit we were asked to make a minimum 30 page documentary book using the chapters we had written in english. As well as use our past illustration skills from other units to create graphic design elements for our book. I was able to make multiple changes to my book to make it more appealing to the reader with photos and the use of C.R.A.P.
English
After multiple attempts to schedule an interview with coaches that had experience with what I was writing about in my research paper. I ended up being very unlucky with a lot of my attempts. Where it was a coach getting a new job in San Diego State, or just issues with finding time for the interview. I was able to interview Jacob Valadez the head girls varsity coach at Los Altos High School.
During the interview I asked him a series of questions.
- How has your experience as a player at UCSD affect the way you coach high school today
- Did technology ever effect you as a player how so
- How has using technology changed your experience of reviewing a game or preparation for a game
- Have you ever seen athletes improve or make a change in the way they play because of technology
- Ai and technology are controversial do you think that the use of ai like the use of a VEO camera give an unfair advantage to teams that don’t have access to that technology
- If you were talking to another coach who was unsure of adopting technology to his/her team what advice would you give that coach
- How does technology influence players decision making
- How do you balance the input of technology/Ai with your coaching instinct
- How does technology influence your coaching strategy
Reflection
While working at freestyle working with InDesign and multiple other adobe platforms I was able to make a product that I am extremely proud of. Dedicating my time and staying after school to work on this project was something that has pushed me to do something that I can show my friends and family. And know that they will also be proud of the work I have put into finishing my book.