Journal #4

Site title - Write It Out

Developer - Lindsey Bistline

Rational or focus - The focus of this website is to help visitors begin writing a novel.

Main features outline - This website will include character, location, and scene sheets that visitors will be able to download and use as they begin to plan their novel. A large section of the site is dedicated to the planning stage of the novel writing experience and allow visitors get a clearer understanding of the story they wish to create.

Content - The site will contain roughly 9 pages and 4 PDF files, as followed:

• Home Page
• Getting Started
• Benefits of having a story outline page
• Different types of plot structures page
• No Idea? No Problem! (page to help get juices flowing and find a story idea)
• Resources
• Downloadable Files
• Character Sheet PDF
• Location Sheet PDF
• Scene Sheet PDF
• PDF of alternate words to use to enhance your writing
• Page listing various software for writing
• Stay Inspired (quick tips on how to keep writing)
• Where to find help (page listing various websites/forums that can keep you writing, even when you're in a slump)

Target audience - The typical audience of this site would be anyone who is interested in writing. This would be for all ages and of all story genres in the fiction world, including that of fanfiction.

Design considerations - I want the site to have a clean, minimalistic look. Authors should not be cluttered by unnecessary things and should be able to easily get to the information they are looking for. As of right now, colour palette wise, I am leaning towards whites, greys, and a spot colour for visual interest.

Limiting factors - The challenges that I see arising from creating this site would be providing too much information. I do not want this site to become a novel in itself, but focus on streamlining the pertinent information to visitors.

Site Map

Wire Frame

Journal #3

Kessler, S. (2010, September 29). The Case For Social Media in Schools. Retrieved October 18, 2015, from http://mashable.com/2010/09/29/social-media-in-school

I'll be honest — I read both articles. I wasn't sure which one would resonate with me more and let's say that Kessler's article was one I agreed on much more than Dr. Norm Friesen's article. 

Kessler talks about how social media is a big part of kid's lives and it's going to continue to get bigger. This article was written five years ago and in just that small period of time, the "net" has grown exponentially. She talks about how when students are engaged online, they are learning better and they are enjoying it. Students who did homework for no credit, but just the pure enjoyment of learning used to be made fun of when I was in school for being a "nerd" or a "geek." But now that the platform is one they are familiar with and having fun whilst learning? This is something all kids won't mind too much doing.

As someone who is involved deeply (too deeply) in the One Direction online community, I can see how using social media is a very effective way to connect with others and sharpen a skill set. Maybe students are learning the basic facts that are taught in school about the presidents or biology, but I see so many people willing to share stories, artwork, and various other creative pieces online and receive feedback from it that helps inspire them to follow a passion. Students are able to learn from other's, whether it's those in their classroom or someone 15,000 miles away in another country, and be exposed to all sorts of cultures. And this is exactly what Kessler mentions in her article about social media being a collaborative entity. I have heard so many stories of people making great friends because they were able to bond over a shared interest over the Internet.

However, this does bring up the topic about online safety that Kessler talks about. Using sites such as Twitter, Tumblr, and Facebook should be done carefully. Kessler mentions that there are platforms like Edmodo and KidBlog specifically designed for school related social media learning. Depending on the grade level, I do feel like it would be vital that a teacher does stick with this confined social media platforms. The Internet is a big place and while parents should be careful of what their kid's do online, kid's are getting smarter and smarter and many of them know how to turn of the parental controls.

Kessler mentions one teacher that uses cellphones to text students that are often late and while I understand the thought behind this, personally, I think this is a red flag. Such direct communication through a non-educational device seems wrong. Perhaps I'm a bit old-school, but something about this just rubs me the wrong way. A student may be late all the time due to their parent's inability to take them to school and the student can't help it; by texting them, it could create anxiety and unwillingness to talk to the professor about issues. Maybe I'm exaggerating or thinking too much about it, but perhaps there's an alternative to this teacher's method.

Q. 1 | Would using social media as a platform for learning in a classroom help increase participation, especially those students who may have social anxiety or be more introverted?

Yes; I wholeheartedly believe online discussions can help those who are not as vocal in the classroom as their classmates. As someone who is on the shyer side, I have found it much easier to express myself via written word than spoken word. Introverted students could write out and proofread their comments in a discussion to make sure their point is being expressed correctly. I think this should also then be taken into account towards the normal "participation" credit for a class. Raising your hand in class can be intimidating and even if you know the answer, you may not want to do it; therefore, you get docked the points because of your personality. By having online discussions, the stress of losing points could then go down.

Q. 2 | What is a good alternative to a teacher texting a student who is chronically late? 

I think one good alternative (yet pricey) would be to have school issued phone for students that could only allow students/teachers to send limit messages back and forth. This isn't realistic, of course though. Another could be to create or find an app for phones that would act like a social media environment between teacher and student. It could be something that would not allow images to be sent (for safety reasons) and maybe a time limit option. It could be something where maybe the teacher enters the absences/tardies in the app and the student receives a push notification once they have a certain number. Perhaps if it escalated too far, the parents would then be notified to make sure the student isn't skipping class. Granted, the parents would need to be involved in any of these options to make sure the privacy and safety of their child is kept.

Journal #2

Using a Digg Stream to monitor various topics you are interested in is a helful way to view everything at once. With that being said, it's also a way to easily get disracted wth with other topics that are not targeted towards your professional development. I did my best to load up my Digg sream with sites that would provide various tutorials for motion graphics and Adobe Illustrator, but created another folder to keep up-to-date with any One Direction news. I guess this would be a good lesson in self-discipline and possibly only create a Digg Stream based on professional sites and not mix it with with anything personal. However, I do think using Digg is useful. If you are busy and don't have the chance to visit each site you could be interested in, a quick cursory glance a your feed could get you up-to-date for the time being. And then on the flipside, when you do have down time, it is an easy way to look at things without the hassel of going to individual sites and tracking down which articles you've missed. I would recomend to others to use Digg or another RSS feed reader service, especially as we continue into the digtal world.

In regards to the affinity group, I had a heck of a time finding a group that would work for me. As someone who is more involved in the video/design side of this program, I was hoping to find a group target towards that. However, almost all the grous that seemed to match this criteria on the list receive a 404 error. I ended up joining Edutopia, as their site looked the most professional and had more of a design influence. We'll see what happens though!

Q.1 | How can you avoid getting distracted while using your Digg Stream?

I think the best bet here would could be two-fold: one being you limit your time on your stream. Set a time or tell yourself after you finish your coffee, go do something else. Two,  don't mix personal interests into your Stream. If you know you get easily distracted, don't set yourself up for failure. And if getting distracted with personal interests isn't the problem and you're just finding yourself getting lost in the feed, maybe the feed isn't for you.

Q.2 | How can you share your finding on your stream with others to help spread the knowledge?

The most obvious answer is email or text. It's a digital aricle, so you can easily share it digitally. Another option though is to create a book club type of group. Sharing information online is quick and easy, but something does get lost over the web. Maybe a bimonthly meeting where a group of colleagues get together to share some highlights and you can discuss them in more detail. This not only helps you to discuss various topics, but the in-person, social interaction helps on another level as well.

Journal #1

 Robbins, J. (2012). Learning web design: A beginner's guide to HTML, CSS, Javascript, and web graphics (4th ed., pp. 3-46). Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly. 

Within these first three chapters of Learning web design, readers are able to get a glimpse into the life of web designers and developers across the world. Robbins discusses not only the history of the Internet and how websites are put together (in layman's terms), but also the various hats a web designer may wear throughout their career. It's both interesting, and reassuring, that it is understood that not all web designers/developers are expected to know every facet of creating a website. As someone who has worked as a web developer, I always felt like I needed to be a "full-stack" developer to be successful and while it is beneficial to know multiple languages, it is also important to be specialized and have a specific trade.

 Frost, B. (2012, March 29). This is the web. Retrieved October 4, 2015.  

I have to say, I am in love with Brad Frost's image of "This Will be the Web." Robbins' book was written in 2012, the same year Frost posted this image to his blog. That was only three years ago. And within that span of time, the web has become accessible in all the devices on that image. Cars with WiFi; watches with WiFi; fridges with WiFi?! The web has grown so exponentially that when someone says they don't have a computer at home or smartphone or rarely use the internet, we look at them like they're from another planet.

These first few chapters show us that the web is growing and so are the means in which people are accessing information. We have to not only learn how to design and code, but grow to accommodate new technologies every day.

Q. 1 | How are we, as designers and developers, supposed to stay up-to-date with constantly evolving technology in a way that our sites stay optimal looking?

It is important that you stay apprised of new technology if you are in the web designer industry. Robbins' mentions "progressive enhancement," so that you still are able to provide the basic information to your viewers, but when new technology is introduced, you should find a way to test your site to make sure it is meeting that standard. Signing up for newsletters like Smashing Magazine or visiting the A List Apart blog allows designers to hear what may be coming around the bend. Going to various conferences or participating in forums/webinars could be included in your job responsibilities. You don't necessarily need to have the latest iPhone, but knowing that different technology is out there will make you more aware. Another aspect you could utilize is Google Analytics. You, of course, want your site to work it's best on all of your viewers' platforms, but sometimes that isn't feasible. By having Google Analytics (or other metric systems), designers/developers can determine what browsers and devices their viewers are using. If only 2 people out of 2,000 are using Internet Explorer 7, then you shouldn't beat your head against a wall trying to get something to work. On the flip side though, if 90% of your audience is accessing your site in a mobile manner, maybe take a look to make sure they're able to get what they need.

Q. 2 | There is a higher amount of people becoming hobbyist web designers as the web gets more integrated in everyday life; how is/will this effecting those in the professional web design industry?

I think a good comparison of this idea would be professional chefs and home chefs. Just recently I watched an episode of Food Network's Chopped in which the competitors were all amateur chefs. They faced the exact same challenges as the professional chefs would whilst on the show (crazy ingredients and very limited time restraints), but were expected to perform to somewhat the same caliber. These chefs gave their all and used whatever knowledge they had to create amazing meals for the judges. The same goes for hobbyist web designers, I'd say. Hobbyist designers learn as they go and do the best they can for someone who may not be professionally trained. Those who have a piece of paper saying they are a "master" of web design have an advantage in that they have dedicated time (and money) to crafting their trade. They have been in classes and have been given a seal of approval for industry professionals to hire them. Hobbyist designers can elevate their rank and get that piece of paper or gain enough experience where they are equivalent to a professional web designer. This isn't to say a professional designer is better than a hobbyist designer. In some cases, hobbyist designers are not limited by the rules professional designers may have learned and may be more apt to try out different ideas and have a more creative streak. Yet to be hired as a web designer, you almost always need that piece of paper. One good way to look at the ever growing number of web designers (both hobbyist and professional) is that there are more people to come up with creative ways to deliver information to viewers. More people to develop different platforms and create a web greater than Peter Parker could ever imagine.