Project Update: March 27th, 2016

As I brainstorm my interactions for the week, I look to the reading to help form questions and responses. 

*Engage, enthusiastic participants- While I want my participants to be engaged all throughout my presentation, I want them to feel as if they have learned something.  If homesteading is  not an interest for them, it will at least provide them with a knowledge base for future conversations.

*Quality of the activity- Instead of using interactions just to "have them", they should be meaningful.  This should be a place for my participants to reflect on their activity.  This also a place for two-way communication to take place to gauge the effectiveness of the project/presentation.

I hope my interaction and participation  in this project helps to guide future student learning to be authentic and engaging.

March 14th, 2016: Project Update/ Weekly Readings

My project is coming along, slowly but surely.  I am struggling with the physical work in Articulate Storyline and how to make certain points happen in my presentation. I have kept the idea of "following" a woman through her homestead and learning about each section.



The weekly reading helped me gain some perspective where I am headed, specifically the following points:

*Flow analysis- my presentation is slated to be a step by step guide to homesteading.  In order to have various elements, information is kept at a minimum for each topic.  The user is essentially "shadowing" the character.

*Historical Analysis- I read and applied this a bit differently than what was intended.  At the actual homesite I would like to provide some information on the roots of homesteading and the returning trend of small living and self-sufficiency.

*The ending "quiz" will be more of a reflection for the learner- what do they think an actual day of a "homesteader" is like.  Is it time-consuming? Rewarding? Do they plan to implement any of the elements discussed in the story?

Journal Entry - Week of 2/24/16

The desk crits this week were helpful as I was able to receive a second opinion on the layout of my homesteading project.  With the use of our layout project this week, I am going to try and layout the farm and perhaps experiment with triggers.  I doubt myself about my skills and if I am on track, but Krause says to have confidence in my work, so that I will try to do.

Additionally, Krause points out to make sure everything is consistent with a theme.  Since I have narrowed my scope, I need to make sure that my slides and information are in line with my end goal.   I want to make sure is aesthetically pleasing and not a convoluted project of random information.

My audience is, of course, my classmates but I also want my information to be relative to those who have a genuine interest in the subject.  All of this information should meet my theme, per Krause, and fall in line with my mission statement.

Second Post: February 7th, 2016- Project Narrowing and Reading

Hello!

After working with a partner on Desk Crit #1, it was suggested to narrow my homesteading focus.  Krause states it is easier to start larger and scale back than to do the opposite.  I have decided to focus on the following:

Homesteading: How do you get started?
Definition and Reason
   What is homesteading?
   Self-sufficiency
   Environmental and economical impacts
Property/Acreage
   How much is needed?
   Modern movement: homesteading on an acre
   Zoning
Crops
   Seasons
   Cost
   Labor and maintenance
Poultry
    Meat chickens vs. eggs
    Hens/ Rooster
    Coop
Bees
    Pollentation
    Wax/ honey
    Government grants
    Profit
CSA
   Like-minded folks

With the text slides this week I hope to start to incorporate some of the aforementioned ideas.  I do not know much about Articulate Storyline so I am attempting, as with GIMP, to learn as I go.  Focusing on the visual texture and composition of the wording is important, as I want to make sure my project slides are engaging and clean.  Krause also mentioned lines, bordering, and backgrounds.  I feel these are more simple ideas on which to focus initially.
I want to make sure my project slides, and forthcoming project are all tied to my theme, engaged, and "different" than similar presentations.

First Post: January 23rd, 2016: Project Ideas and Reading

Hi there!

I had decided to focus on homesteading for my project.  This would include:

*Homesteading and its definition/purpose
*Acreage/Zoning/Fencing
*Poultry: Hatchery vs. Chickens
*Beekeeping
*Crops
*Canning
*Profits

However, after viewing some of the Articulate Storyline examples, I am thinking of something that relates to government and my current content:

Election 2016
Crime Scene Investigation
Felonies/Misdemeanors


I think I may work a bit for each for our Articulate Storyline mini-assignments and see where I can be the most creative.  According to the constructionism article that means I am following their approach of "learning by making".  Instructional/Graphic design is somewhat new to me so I am going to approach it as baptism by fire and jump right in.

I started the Design Basics reading after "completing" my first GIMP file, which was quite the experience.  Hopefully some of the things I read can help guide my next photo.

*Unequal spacing- I love this element because visually I don't always like things to "match"
*Associating messages- I like this idea in work but I will have to find something with which to work.  Finding a picture and coming up with ideas is a bit of a struggle for me right now.
*Short attention spans- something has to quickly grab my attention or I move on to something else.  I hope my work in this class is eye-catching and continually improves.


Many of these design elements seem to be present in infographics which is why I think I find theme so aesthetically pleasing.