Category: Week 04

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5 things and you are good to go.

As a development communication student who is currently taking DEVC 10 and DEVC 11, I would say that the five most essential items that a DevCom student must have are items needed for note taking and data gathering. Especially in DEVC 11, we need tools that will help us look for and gather data such as the primary source and secondary source information that will be needed for straight news and the succeeding exercises in the lab. Aside from that, note taking tools are needed, of course, during the lecture and discussion in both DEVC 10 and DEVC 11

1) Phone

Using our very own smartphone can be really helpful in doing data gathering. Inside that device are various apps that you can use in gathering data from people, in the web, or even in the place or setting. For instance, if you need a recorded interview from the person, you may use the audio recorder of your phone to record the voice of the respondent. If an audio-visual footage is needed, you may use the camera to record the respondents. Aside from that, you may also use the Notes app to input important information while doing the interview or during fieldwork. Finally, if you are in need of additional information for your data, you may use the Browser app to surf the web (given that you have internet connection). Our phone is a multipurpose device that you can use in data gathering, it is also handy and portable at the same time (which is an advantage everyone when going out)

Aside from that, our phone is used for communication purposes, which is in fact its main purpose. While you can call people in the traditional manner, online chats or video chats are mostly preferred by everyone especially those who have the Messenger app (or Viber) for its convenience and farther reach to people.

2) Camera

While our smartphones already have a camera attached in it’s body, having a separate camera such as a Digital Camera, SLR, or DSLR can be very essential in doing a photoshoot or a video footage. The quality of production is higher in a professional camera compared to a camera phone. If you are in need of a video footage of higher raw quality and is professional looking, a professional camera aforementioned earlier is what you will be needing. One of its advantages over phone cameras is its ability to shoot higher quality video or photo in low light conditions. Moreover, in terms of color and overall detail, the professional camera can produce better videos or images than a phone camera.

3) Laptop/Computer

A working laptop (or a desktop) is also a must for a devcom student. In editing you photos or videos, you will be needing a laptop or a desktop in order to do that. Aside from that, the laptop is useful in many other ways such as creating documents, papers, or thesis (in the future), making slide presentations for a report or defense, as well as posters, infographics, and publicity materials for your events or projects. Like the smartphone, you can do a lot of things in your laptop or desktop as it enables you to run several softwares that caters to services mentioned above. While laptops are less handy and portable than smartphones, you can do a lot more stuff in your laptop than in your smartphone.

4&5) Pen and Paper

What happens if there is no internet connection, or all of your devices run out of battery life? Then your go to items would be the pen and paper. It is the earliest, if not, one of the earliest tools used in gathering information. This is evident in a class setting where we use our pen and paper in note taking as well as copying what is shown in the slide presentation of our professor. Though technologies like smartphones and laptops already exists, the pen and paper is still the most effective way of note taking because more information can be retained by our brain if we write it. Also, in choosing the type of paper to use in class, yellow pad is highly recommended because when our professors suddenly conducts a surprise quiz or bonus quiz, they usually ask for a 1/4 sheet of yellow paper. It is also cheaper than your spiral notebooks by the way!

Laptops, smartphones, power banks – these are some of the tools that students value, regardless of their course. Competency in these tools is important in the field of development communication, but why? In this article, we’ll be contextualizing their use in the life of a DevCom student.

1. The Laptop

Practically speaking, laptops make things easier to do. You won’t need to borrow other people’s laptops, go to the library or computer shops and print documents from there, and you can keep your personal files with you as you travel.

In the DevCom context, what once was a luxury item is now a necessity. Communication-related studies must keep up with the state of technology, seeing as how media has evolved over the years. In here you’ll most likely be putting your notes, presentations, documents, recordings, photographs, and videos.

2. The Smartphone

Considering its ability to fit in your pockets, the smartphone has now become one of the most versatile pieces of technology. Uses in the field of DevCom include the following:

• Photography
• Voice and video recording
• Livestreaming
• Map and location search
• Mobile photo and video editing
• Web search
• Note-taking
• Communication (texting and calling)
• Access to social media
• …and more!

Your proficiency in smartphones can greatly improve your output in journalism classes and more. Investing time in learning these skills will be very much worth it in the long run.

3. The External Drive

While external drives are known to be one’s saviors of space, these see further use DevCom as the bridge for your files between your devices. They come in several forms, such as the large, passport-sized drives, and the thumb drives that are much more portable. I highly recommend that you get USB On-the-Go (OTG) compatible thumb drives, because not only are they compatible with computers; they can also plug right into smartphones. You can also get separate adapters for external drives that don’t have the specific connectors for phones.

4. The Power Bank

We all dread the moment our phones run out of juice. On normal days, that means one less way to access the internet or communicate with people – but it’s a lot more troublesome when you’re out on the field.

While many phones these days come shipped with large-capacity batteries, some DevCom work will require us to be away from charging stations for extended periods of time. This is important to remember especially if you need to do a lot of battery-draining activities, such as live streaming or covering events through live social media posts.

Note that having a power bank around can other people might they need it. Who knows? You might just help someone cover an important story that you as group would not have been able to otherwise, or even help keep them away from danger by providing them with a means to communicate with home base.

That’s one way to build social capital.

5. The Pen and Paper

Finally, this duo deserves a spot in this list for a few obvious reasons. One, you’ll need these for note taking and for quizzes in class. Two, they don’t require batteries or other pieces of equipment to operate.

More overlooked is how you can quickly jot down notes on paper while doing interviews so you can verify things that you might not be able to understand properly in the recordings. Remember that you can also create drawings and diagrams to aid your note taking.

Knowing DevCom, there will be a lot of work to do in activities, assignments and paperworks. You will be sometimes assigned to a task where you need to work like those people behind the camera of tv news programs that will require the top five items to bring with you to perform your best at work.

The first item is a smartphone. With its different features and capabilities, You will have access to what other devices does. For example, you can use the camera (if your phone has good qualities) to take photos in an event like what cameras do, the voice recorder to have a copy of your conversation with an interviewee (like the function of the voice recorder), or the memo for listing datas and information. A smartphone truly is an all-around item, having the functions of other devices.

Moving on to the second item, it is necessary to bring a laptop just in case you need to work with documents and files immediately. Most of its advanced functions are not present in smartphones, which means that a laptop is one of the must haves.

On the third item, you need to bring cash. Yes, it is a basic need because almost everything that we need (food, water, clothes and other necessities) are bought at stores. You may say that you can bring food and water to avoid bringing cash so that you will not spend it, but you will never know if for example there comes an emergency that requires cash for it to be solved.

For the fourth item, the items come in pair, which is the pen and paper. Yes, these two are considered one, and even though you can use your phone in documenting something, the traditional way of writing never gets old. You may discover the advantages of having a pen and paper with you.

The last item is a tumbler with water, the simplest one yet it may help you in a big way. In this time of the year, the extreme hot temperature emitted by the sun can cause dehydration, headache, dizziness and other harmful effects on the body. Drinkable water is beneficial to help our body in maintaining its healthy state.

Being a Devcom student is hard, so you must have these essential items or tools to help you in your way to becoming a great media writer.

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The taxpayer’s money pays for our tuition in UP. Studying in UP lightens the burden of our parents and lets our families have more disposable income. I wanted a lot of things since there was no tuition to be paid, saying that I “needed” it for school. But what do I really need as a development communication student? here’s the essentials.

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There are lots of things that a person needs to be able to survive living, and so are Development Communicators-in training.  Mixed of happiness and stress, that is how I am going to describe my first month as a DevCom student, and to be able to go through different hindrances and circumstances I got to face along the way there are tools I find helpful and necessary for me to accomplish what I needed to finish for the course. Here are the 5 handy things I believe is very important to a DevCom student.

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Phones are very important to us. During an interview, incentives coverage and/or exercise laboratory activities, you will find your phones the most necessary tool that is both accessible and easy to use. Since your phones already have a big space necessary for your mp3 and mp4 files, not mentioning the documents and slide deck files of your professors and the selfies you take every time it is a very great help in storing all the things you needed for your classes every day. Also, at times you feel bored while waiting for your lab partners and is trying to calm yourself because another human interaction is needed for your activity and you are a socially awkward person, an earphone and a playlist will save the day.

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Always remember to bring your pen and papers everywhere. This serves as your sword to our battlefield where you expected to be ready every time. Note-taking is very important to us, it will be a great advantage to us if we will write our thoughts in papers. Through this, we will not forget our ideas and will be able to look back to it and find inspiration.

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Specifically, are its applications. From knowing Indesign and Premiere and different basic apps like Microsoft these skills will save you from stress and difficulty into accomplishing your tasks. Your laptop is also a tool you can use to edit and store different stuff.

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To be able to store more of your activities you needed for your portfolio. Your flash drive will enable you to access and send files, just make sure that you’ll not be the cause of virus spread to other gadgets owned by your friends or colleagues.

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The only intangible thing that I believe is the very most important of all these things is faith. This is something nobody can ever take away from you. If you believe that nothing is impossible and that you can do anything you are boundless and unstoppable. Faith is believing ahead of time that you can do things no matter how rare and risky it is for you, this is your assurance that everything will be alright, and if not you’re still optimistic of experiencing the best.

“Now faith is confidence in what you hope for, and assurance about what you do not see.”

Hebrews 11:1

So, there you have it folks, these are the five necessary things I think will give you a helping hand in your first sem at UPLB at the College of Development Communication. We are hoping for a great start of semester for you. Always believe and you’ll surely conquer.

It is very essential for every students to have their tool kits, whatever their courses are. In the case of development communication students, here are the top 5 must haves.

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Mobile phone

A devcom student should have the most important of all, a mobile phone. It contains most of the important applications, files, and necessary contacts needed in your daily activities. It provides easy access to all the information you needed.

Laptop

Aside from mobile phone, a devcom should also have a laptop since this is where the magic happens, the editing of your files, photos, and videos. This provides a much clearer and easier way to edit and proofread your files. This also enables you to edit properly your photos and videos.

Power bank

Since a devcom student is always on the go, it is a must to bring a power bank to ensure there’s extra power source for your mobile phone or laptop. This can lessen your hassle in finding power outlets in case your phone or laptop ran out of battery.

Tumbler

It is a must for a devcom student to always bring a tumbler with water to ensure s/he have enough water supply all throughout her activities. It is important to prioritize also the health so that a devcom student can effectively do her assigned tasks.

Money

Above all, a devcom student should have enough money to finance all the expenses needed in her activities. Transportation, food, and other necessary things to buy should be covered by her money.

If a devcom student have these five essentials throughout her journey, s/he have the ability to effectively do her job in serving the people.

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