LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL! Wow, we've almost made it... I can almost taste the feeling of accomplishment! The past few weeks have been intense but I am extremely proud of our team and our final product. It was great to see that tensions didn't elevate beyond control as they sometimes can in the zero hour.
Even though many hours and days were spent together in succession, most of us were always very focused and the work progressed! We could always count on Dr. Choi to keep us company in the building too :)
This past week was spent polishing loose ends and completing the remaining documentation. We also spent some time sorting through the presentation so that Carrie felt that she could give the dynamic explanation that the project deserves. While the client has of course seen our finished project, we are eager for him to experience this project in our home environment on Thursday!
I'd be glad to tell you what I will be doing in the upcoming week but it would have nothing to do with studio since we are FINISHED! While this course is obviously not the Grammys, I would like to acknowledge those around me for their part in this journey that we took. i would like to thank my team for their patience, persistence, and impeccable talents. I especially want to send a hats off to Carrie and Greg for their leadership and support. I truly learned many lessons this semester.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Service
This semester, my service hours have been fulfilled (or attempted) in ways that are not what I usually expect from the studio experience.
I've emailed back and forth with my assigned mentee various times throughout the semester. Since I was ill during the group mentoring session, I found other ways to contribute (even though I was told that "good faith effort" was sufficient). To feel that I really did fulfill the spirit of the service hours, I gave extra desk crits that I have not documented formally on my blog and even was an alpha tester for the other 6210 team.
I've emailed back and forth with my assigned mentee various times throughout the semester. Since I was ill during the group mentoring session, I found other ways to contribute (even though I was told that "good faith effort" was sufficient). To feel that I really did fulfill the spirit of the service hours, I gave extra desk crits that I have not documented formally on my blog and even was an alpha tester for the other 6210 team.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Desk crit- Yang
Given to: Shengyun Yang
I very much like that you took advantage of the freedom of 6190 to do something that interested you. The concept is a really good one and it is encouraging to hear that your family was interested also!
As discussed in person, my suggestions are to include a "key" or "legend" for the maps&photos page and reorganize your menu. As to the "legend" concept, it would be helpful to either have text that explained what a red circle versus a pink dot indicated or have an illustration like the "legend" I've suggested.
I also think that it would be advantageous to put the "hot spots" page as a subcategory of the maps&photos page since it is simply another way to organize your information (and not new information- at least from what I gather).
On each of your main link pages (home, introduction, maps&photos, etc) I would suggest putting the title of the section on each page in the white browser area. All of us can forget sometimes where we are within a website!
Great work!
I very much like that you took advantage of the freedom of 6190 to do something that interested you. The concept is a really good one and it is encouraging to hear that your family was interested also!
As discussed in person, my suggestions are to include a "key" or "legend" for the maps&photos page and reorganize your menu. As to the "legend" concept, it would be helpful to either have text that explained what a red circle versus a pink dot indicated or have an illustration like the "legend" I've suggested.
I also think that it would be advantageous to put the "hot spots" page as a subcategory of the maps&photos page since it is simply another way to organize your information (and not new information- at least from what I gather).
On each of your main link pages (home, introduction, maps&photos, etc) I would suggest putting the title of the section on each page in the white browser area. All of us can forget sometimes where we are within a website!
Great work!
Desk crit- Choi
Given to: Jea Choi
Fabulous use of color for your target audience. I enjoyed that your navigation was emphasized so clearly.
I am still confused about what "sequence 1" and "sequence 2" mean in the top right corner of the lessons page. I would like to also suggest that you include the description of each section that you provided in the rollover on the page when the user comes to it. It would not be advantageous to the user to have to go back to that first page for that.
Great work thus far!
Fabulous use of color for your target audience. I enjoyed that your navigation was emphasized so clearly.
I am still confused about what "sequence 1" and "sequence 2" mean in the top right corner of the lessons page. I would like to also suggest that you include the description of each section that you provided in the rollover on the page when the user comes to it. It would not be advantageous to the user to have to go back to that first page for that.
Great work thus far!
Desk crit/Alpha testing
Given to: Genesis Learning Solutions
I very much enjoyed the screens with colorful illustrations as I went through. The examples about Joe Camper were also effective :)
There are some major bugs though going on with the site. In every unit the navigation buttons were not working properly. In most units when I hit next at some point it would load to a blank page??? In other units I would get to a point in the site where, when I hit next, the same page would just come up again. This is very confusing to the end user who is unaware when your information is complete. I kept wondering if there was more that I was missing because of the malfunctioning navigation buttons. In one unit, after I took the self test, the site took me back to the beginning of the same unit... you all might want to check on that.
You might be aware also that there are points where it says "click ____" or "see illustration" and there are no links inserted.
In unit 5 some of the objectives at the top straddle the decorative line that you have there. My suggestion would be to just make this consistently spaced for every unit.
The navigation buttons at the bottom of the entire site are also confusing. I don't understand their purpose and when I am supposed to utilize them. It seems that you might want more cues for those lovely buttons.
I wish you guys the best as we finish everything up!
I very much enjoyed the screens with colorful illustrations as I went through. The examples about Joe Camper were also effective :)
There are some major bugs though going on with the site. In every unit the navigation buttons were not working properly. In most units when I hit next at some point it would load to a blank page??? In other units I would get to a point in the site where, when I hit next, the same page would just come up again. This is very confusing to the end user who is unaware when your information is complete. I kept wondering if there was more that I was missing because of the malfunctioning navigation buttons. In one unit, after I took the self test, the site took me back to the beginning of the same unit... you all might want to check on that.
You might be aware also that there are points where it says "click ____" or "see illustration" and there are no links inserted.
In unit 5 some of the objectives at the top straddle the decorative line that you have there. My suggestion would be to just make this consistently spaced for every unit.
The navigation buttons at the bottom of the entire site are also confusing. I don't understand their purpose and when I am supposed to utilize them. It seems that you might want more cues for those lovely buttons.
I wish you guys the best as we finish everything up!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
15-5 thirteen
I think this project has become our full-time jobs this week. I guess this is not surprising since we are getting close to the end of the semester. Even though it is stressful to be on such a deadline, it is quite amazing when I realize that the group put in about 50 hours as a whole just on Sunday! Those hours were spent programming, video editing, and creating rubrics (among a multitude of smaller tasks). The end is in sight but it can't get here soon enough!
This past week, I would describe my role as "catch all". Since Lindsay, Audra, and Carrie all set up camp on one goal each, I would create higher quality videos than our originals and find pictures and other elements that they would eventually need to import. Even though there were already enough hands on the project, I did get the opportunity to work a little Flash this week, (which was fun to learn more about)!
This week, I will go to Clarke Middle School to beta test with Audra. We have our assessments ready and our subject matter expert will be there to help. Of course, I will also lend a hand in any other way that I can as things arise.
This past week, I would describe my role as "catch all". Since Lindsay, Audra, and Carrie all set up camp on one goal each, I would create higher quality videos than our originals and find pictures and other elements that they would eventually need to import. Even though there were already enough hands on the project, I did get the opportunity to work a little Flash this week, (which was fun to learn more about)!
This week, I will go to Clarke Middle School to beta test with Audra. We have our assessments ready and our subject matter expert will be there to help. Of course, I will also lend a hand in any other way that I can as things arise.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
15-5 twelve
Is it Wednesday again already? Why do the weeks go by so fast when there is so much to be done? The past week has been full of a lot of team collaboration on details with still much individual work. Audra has produced a quite impressive storyboard and flowchart this week. It is with the client being approved. Amy has been out of town and sick but is still working on some drawings that we need. I've mainly worked on video editing and the presentation for dress rehearsal. I've been so busy that I'm not sure I've even caught what Lindsay is working on but she is always working hard. Carrie has diligently (and maybe feverishly) working on putting the components of the project into Flash and onto the web.
I'm not really sure what all is in store for us this coming week. That does not mean that there won't be a TON of work to do, but rather at this point it will be difficult to pinpoint large tasks beforehand. I do know that Audra and I will be going to a school to do some evaluation work on Thursday though. Personally, I will try to spend some time giving more desk crits and writing up my service hours. Just a little bit longer... then I can say I survived the entire studio experience!
I'm not really sure what all is in store for us this coming week. That does not mean that there won't be a TON of work to do, but rather at this point it will be difficult to pinpoint large tasks beforehand. I do know that Audra and I will be going to a school to do some evaluation work on Thursday though. Personally, I will try to spend some time giving more desk crits and writing up my service hours. Just a little bit longer... then I can say I survived the entire studio experience!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
15-5 eleven
At this point it is difficult to find things to write about in the 15-5. This past week I've reworked some documentation that we have turned into our client again for approval. Now I am focused on some video editing for the module. We want the "dock talk" to be longer and also need to adjust the volume on some of the clips so that the background noise isn't so distracting.
The group as a whole continues to divide and conquer. Carrie, Audra, and now I think Lindsay too are all developing while Amy and I work on video and documentation. The work seems to be coming together but the dress rehearsal date still looms.
In the upcoming days before the dress rehearsal, I will continue to work diligently on all tasks that I'm currently involved in. I will also have the opportunity to consult with 6190/6200 members. I am also setting a goal for myself of giving 2 more desk crits this week! Wow, so much to do... I really should get back to work!
The group as a whole continues to divide and conquer. Carrie, Audra, and now I think Lindsay too are all developing while Amy and I work on video and documentation. The work seems to be coming together but the dress rehearsal date still looms.
In the upcoming days before the dress rehearsal, I will continue to work diligently on all tasks that I'm currently involved in. I will also have the opportunity to consult with 6190/6200 members. I am also setting a goal for myself of giving 2 more desk crits this week! Wow, so much to do... I really should get back to work!
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