Thursday, April 30, 2009
Last Post!
For my last blog post of the semester, I would like to list all of the valuable skills that I have taken from this class.
In no particular order:
1. Lots of fancy techie terms that I never knew before
2. Basic web design skills
3. How to use Dreamweaver relatively well
4. What CSS is, and how it works (to an extent)
5. How to make powepoint presentations really quickly
6. What a web author actually does
7. That I can build a website for myself that I can be proud of! :D
--
This class has been extremely valuable for me. I never would have expected that I could actually do well in a class like this, and that I could enjoy it so much. I was really worried about taking this class in the beginning of the semester, and I'm really glad that I decided to stick with it. I hope that I can take the advanced web authoring class in the near future, and other classes about web authoring and website creation as well. I think that this class has taught me a lot of valuable skills, and I doubt that I could have learned them any other way.
In no particular order:
1. Lots of fancy techie terms that I never knew before
2. Basic web design skills
3. How to use Dreamweaver relatively well
4. What CSS is, and how it works (to an extent)
5. How to make powepoint presentations really quickly
6. What a web author actually does
7. That I can build a website for myself that I can be proud of! :D
--
This class has been extremely valuable for me. I never would have expected that I could actually do well in a class like this, and that I could enjoy it so much. I was really worried about taking this class in the beginning of the semester, and I'm really glad that I decided to stick with it. I hope that I can take the advanced web authoring class in the near future, and other classes about web authoring and website creation as well. I think that this class has taught me a lot of valuable skills, and I doubt that I could have learned them any other way.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Why did you hire me?
This article is geared (probably) ... not towards me. At least not yet.
I can appreciate the information that the author has provided, however, a lot of it, I feel, doesn't really apply to my present situation. However, the information about negotiating/dealing with clients, and setting rates for yourself (that you will stick to) I found quite valuable.
The scenario that the author presents about job security vs. actually doing your job, is a good one, and probably quite common. I think that overall the author provided an abundance of good advice, however, unfortunately, I worry that none of it applies to me at this current time.
I can appreciate the information that the author has provided, however, a lot of it, I feel, doesn't really apply to my present situation. However, the information about negotiating/dealing with clients, and setting rates for yourself (that you will stick to) I found quite valuable.
The scenario that the author presents about job security vs. actually doing your job, is a good one, and probably quite common. I think that overall the author provided an abundance of good advice, however, unfortunately, I worry that none of it applies to me at this current time.
Content Delay Syndrome
The cure for content delay syndrome article is probably geared more towards those of us in the professional writing field who are planning on going into the editing field. However, the article can also come in handy for others who, like the author, have clients who are unwilling to hire someone to write content for their website.
The idea that the author suggests of bringing an editor in after the client has their content written is probably a better, more reasonable idea for most people who want to write their own web content. The issue of knowing what you are writing about, rather than having to tell someone about the topic so that they can write about it could really save time for a lot of people, however, it could sacrifice quality.
However, it is important to remember not to wait too long to write up your web content. Information can quickly become obsolete when working on the internet. As we saw today in class, a few students still had yet to upload their content to their websites. We're working as our own editors for these projects, however, it is still highly important to make sure that our content is correct and current.
As the author continually emphasizes, editors are important!
The idea that the author suggests of bringing an editor in after the client has their content written is probably a better, more reasonable idea for most people who want to write their own web content. The issue of knowing what you are writing about, rather than having to tell someone about the topic so that they can write about it could really save time for a lot of people, however, it could sacrifice quality.
However, it is important to remember not to wait too long to write up your web content. Information can quickly become obsolete when working on the internet. As we saw today in class, a few students still had yet to upload their content to their websites. We're working as our own editors for these projects, however, it is still highly important to make sure that our content is correct and current.
As the author continually emphasizes, editors are important!
Monday, April 27, 2009
Wednesday Presentation Outline
1. My target users are professionals, typically those looking to hire; most likely journalism professionals. The elaborate Journalism section of the website helps to illustrate the fact that the dominant users will be in the journalism field. I have provided multiple examples of some of my written work, as well as provided a brief history of the journalism classes I have taken here at Michigan State.
2. The main purpose is to provide an easily accessible website for professionals to review when considering hiring me. As I said before, the site is mainly tailored towards journalism professionals, however, I have provided sections for each aspect of my major, including Middle Eastern Studies and Professional Writing.
3. My site uses most of the CRAP principles well. Although there is not much contrast throughout the site, as all of the pages have a very similar layout, all of the other elements are demonstrated well. The site is very consistent; for example, the navigation is located in the same place on each page. This makes important information easier to locate. As for the site's alignment, I like to think that things are well aligned. The navigation bar is aligned to the right, as is the link which returns the user to the main page. Each page's main title is aligned to the left, but I think it works well. As far as proximity is concerned, I think that important information is located just far enough away from each thing that users can easily tell what pieces of information are related, and which are supposed to be separate.
4. Design in relation to target users and main purpose:
5. Addressing usability and accessibility concerns:
2. The main purpose is to provide an easily accessible website for professionals to review when considering hiring me. As I said before, the site is mainly tailored towards journalism professionals, however, I have provided sections for each aspect of my major, including Middle Eastern Studies and Professional Writing.
3. My site uses most of the CRAP principles well. Although there is not much contrast throughout the site, as all of the pages have a very similar layout, all of the other elements are demonstrated well. The site is very consistent; for example, the navigation is located in the same place on each page. This makes important information easier to locate. As for the site's alignment, I like to think that things are well aligned. The navigation bar is aligned to the right, as is the link which returns the user to the main page. Each page's main title is aligned to the left, but I think it works well. As far as proximity is concerned, I think that important information is located just far enough away from each thing that users can easily tell what pieces of information are related, and which are supposed to be separate.
4. Design in relation to target users and main purpose:
5. Addressing usability and accessibility concerns:
Final Thoughts
The assignment that has been the most beneficial for me during this course is probably the final project. There are so many different elements that go in to creating an online portfolio for myself and so many ways that I can mess up, that I have already learned a lot even without having completely finished the final project. For instance, yesterday night when I was uploading copies of my published articles to the website: I ran into some trouble getting the copies to upload properly, and I still acually have two that don't work, but I worked through the issue (on my own, at that! :D) and I was able to get most of them to work. A semester ago I never would have been able to do somthing like this, let alone on my own. I have learned a lot this semester, many valuable skills. I hope that I can go on to take more advanced web authoring classes, because its really fulfilling being able to show someone my website and say "I built that." It's not a skill that everyone posesses. Hopefully the skills that I am taking from this class will be valuable for my future, especially considering the fact that the internet is always growing, and so many aspects of journalism are beginning to function in an online format. Paper is becoming obsolete, so it is my hope that this class will help me to better function in an ever changing online world.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
JPG, GIF, OMG!
I am so fed up with attempting to put images on my website! I got one image to show up so far by converting it from a BMP to a JPG to a GIF, which finally worked, but the others aren't working... and I have eight more images to upload!
The good news is, the images that I am trying to upload are of my articles that I wrote for my high school newspaper. My mom and brother came over to visit me this afternoon and were kind enough to bring along copies of my old high school newspaper. I just wish this wasn't so difficult!
I've decided to include separate links to each of my articles, each linking to a new web page. The only problem is that the image (when it does show up) shows up as a gigantic, overpowering image... nothing subtle about it. I think I know how to make the image smaller, but I'll worry about that bridge when I cross it.
The good news is, the images that I am trying to upload are of my articles that I wrote for my high school newspaper. My mom and brother came over to visit me this afternoon and were kind enough to bring along copies of my old high school newspaper. I just wish this wasn't so difficult!
I've decided to include separate links to each of my articles, each linking to a new web page. The only problem is that the image (when it does show up) shows up as a gigantic, overpowering image... nothing subtle about it. I think I know how to make the image smaller, but I'll worry about that bridge when I cross it.
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