Reflections ideas

Overview/Introduction: the main idea of my introduction would be reflections on my first experiences with online writing communities and some of the useful applications I can use them for (Wikitravel in URI Travel Writing class, general use in planning trips; blog use for entertainment value, potential advertising and networking uses; web design applies to a very wide range of subjects and is in high demand in job skills today)

Enthusiast blog reflection: I enjoyed this project quite a lot, it was very interesting to start a blog and write about something I'm personally interested in. It may be difficult to gain interest and an audience, but even without the gratification of viewers, the experience is enjoyable and potentially very useful in professional endeavors (see above)

Wikitravel reflection: It was also very satisfying to contribute my personal knowledge on something I am intimately familiar with to a large-scale community that the entire world can see. While lacking the same applicable use of a blog or web redesign skills, Wikitravel offers a much more casual use for people interested in new places or planning trips. (Focus mainly on first idea, or develop on latter, or create a new idea as well)

Web Redesign reflection: Experiences with web design open up a host of opportunities if explored in-depth. Getting our feet wet with this project was the equivalent of getting our foot in the door, but extensive web design skills allow a very useful means of furthering personal and professional lives. Especially for people involved in businesses, or in contact with them, most everyone that sells or wants to sell something wants to cater to an online audience, etc.

SNS reflection: Social networking for a positive cause allows mass gatherings of people with a common goal. The difficulty lies in attempting to get the project off the ground, but with enough effort and support, change can be enacted. Outside of the realm of causes, networking can be very rewarding personally and professionally as well. Connecting with other people fosters rewarding relationships on any level. (Focus ideas)

Portfolio theme ideas

1. Breaking into the field of online writing (blogs, online writing/information environments, etc). This would be the most likely candidate for a portfolio theme, since during the course of this semester I had my first experiences with a variety of online writing communities and endeavors, and as such is the most prominent concept I've been engaged with. The difficult thing about this theme is presenting the idea, especially to people have had extensive experience with online communities and tools.
2. Assignment experience useful for future classes. This theme doesn't seem nearly as relevant as the first, but still makes for a useful consideration. For example, Wikitravel could (and probably is) used extensively as part of the Travel Writing course here at URI. The Website Redesign could be useful in Web Design courses, and so on. This information would be mostly relevant to younger students like myself, but is still a close runner-up to my first idea.
3. Contributing to online information ecologies. As outlined in the Boyd and Bennett articles, modern technology calls for a shift in means of communication and interaction. Highlighting this concept could be a theme for my portfolio, but seems the weakest idea and most potentially difficult to express successfully. The theme would reflect the use and importance of the interactions and communications significant to the online communities we saw in this class.

Project Revision Ideas

Of the projects that we did, I think I would most like to revise projects 1 and 2 (my Enthusiast Blog and Wikitravel article, respectively). I would like to revise these projects because they are the ones that I most enjoyed and feel that I would be best able to revise.

Project 1(Enthusiast Blog): I enjoyed this project because it was based on something significant and enjoyable to me, and it was an interesting experience overall because I had never been involved with a blog before, and my first step into the field with this project was definitely an interesting one. I think I would be able to revise this project well because I enjoyed it, and because it is quite simple to edit posts, add posts, and make them longer/shorter, making revision very easily accessible. And because the topics in my blog are widely spread (rather than exclusive to one area or topic, like a written assignment), I have a lot more leeway in what I can do in my revisions.

In my revising, I mostly plan to go back through my posts and rewrite areas that are weak or wordy, establish better ethos (and maybe pathos) in my posts, and add more video or audio content. I may also add further posts if time and creativity warrant it in addition to my revisions.


Project 2 (Wikitravel): I enjoyed this project because it was also based on something important and interesting to me, my hometown. I have used Wikipedia extensively for years before being given this project, and to actually contribute some of what I know to such a large source of knowledge was very intresting and satisfying. I think I'd be able to revise this project well because there is a lot of potential content in my town that I passed over when first completing this project, so there is plenty to add in my revising. Also the tools for editing on Wikitravel made edits, posts, and revisions quite easy as well. Google Sites and Ning were both a bit more complicated.

To revise this project, I plan on adding more places and things to do to my Wikitravel page, since I was focusing more on establishing content in a balance of breadth and depth when first completing this project. Now that I can revise the page after having submitted it, I can pay more attention to breadth, and/or depth, rather than on just one. I also noticed that a lot of well-done Wikitravel pages included images of the place being described, so I will definitely add pictures to my own page to improve it. I'll also read through some "star articles" and look more closely at the language used and attempt to improve my own writing from before.