Archives for February 2016

by on 2016-02-29

Peer Review for WordPress Portfolios

This is the post for the Monday, February 29, 2016 class meeting.

Important Dates

  • Surprised dog meme, with the caption, What do you mean I'm not perfect?Today: Peer review in class
  • March 4: WordPress Portfolio due by 11:59 PM
  • March 18: End of Portfolio Grace Period at 11:59 PM

Canvas Documentation (in case you get stuck)

Portfolio Peer Review and Revision

In class today
Give feedback to the two classmates who are assigned to you,  following the instructions on the course website. If you did not turn in your site by 11:59 PM Sunday, you will not have peer review partners, so you may work independently on your site instead.

Once you finish giving feedback to your classmates, use your class time to continue work on your site. The students who review your site may not be in the same section that you are, so you may have to wait for your feedback.

After 2:30 PM today
Revise your draft based on the peer feedback you received, using the Canvas Documentation to find your peers’ feedback. It is possible that there may be a slight delay in receiving feedback if your partner is sick or something similar.

Homework

For Wednesday’s session (3/2), do the following before class:

  • We’ll go over how to turn in your portfolio, and you will have additional time in class to work on your portfolios.

For Friday’s session (3/4), do the following instead of meeting in the classroom:

  • Class will work online. There will be no office hours.
  • Finish up work on your portfolio, and submit your work following the submission instructions (not yet posted) by 11:59 on Friday, 3/4. If you need more time to work on your site, use the Grace Period, which ends at 11:59 PM on Friday, 3/18. If you turn in your work, I assume it is ready to be graded. Remember that there are no rewrites or revisions after work is graded.

For Monday’s session (3/14), do the following before class:

  • Read Chapter 1 of Writer/Designer and be ready to apply what you read about the modes of communication in class.

 
Last updated on 29th February, 2016, 10:18 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: , ,
by on 2016-02-26

Portfolio Reminders

This is the post for the Friday, February 26, 2016 class meeting.

Tips and Resources for Your Sites

In-Class Work

You will have time to work on your sites, and I will try to check in with everyone to answer questions.

In-Class Writing

Submit your portfolio site link and related information to the "Project 2 Peer Review" Discussion in Canvas, following the submission instructions by 11:59 PM on Sunday, 2/28. You can continue working on your site after you have posted your link for the peer review. You can also edit your post later if something changes.

If you still need to submit Your Individual Evaluation for the Stock Photo Project, follow these submission instructions to submit your work in Canvas.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "Project 2 Peer Review" Discussion Reply in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 11:59 PM Sunday (2/28). If you do not submit your draft by the end of the grace period, you will not receive peer feedback.

For Monday’s session (2/29), do the following before class:

  • Ensure that your portfolio site is ready for peer review.
  • Be prepared to provide feedback on your classmates’ sites in class. We will use the Peer Review tools in the Discussions in Canvas.

For Wednesday’s session (3/2), do the following before class:

  • We’ll go over how to turn in your portfolio, and you will have additional time in class to work on your portfolios.

For Friday’s session (3/4), do the following instead of meeting in the classroom:

  • Class will work online. There will be no office hours.
  • Finish up work on your portfolio, and submit your work following the submission instructions (not yet posted) by 11:59 on Friday, 3/4. If you need more time to work on your site, use the Grace Period, which ends at 11:59 PM on Friday, 3/18. If you turn in your work, I assume it is ready to be graded. Remember that there are no rewrites or revisions after work is graded.

 
Last updated on 26th February, 2016, 1:44 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With:
by on 2016-02-23

Stock Photo Submission Day

This is the post for the Wednesday, February 24, 2016 class meeting.

Open Lab Hours

Cat with dogs running towards him, with the caption, That one friend who would die for a good Snapchat storyThe English Department is offering open lab hours in Shanks 360 at the following times:

  • Wednesdays: 12:15–1:00 PM
  • Fridays: 12:15–3:00 PM

We’ll only keep the open hours available if the lab is used, so please do take advantage of it!

Group To-Do’s

Homework

For Friday’s session (2/26), do the following before class:

  • Return to your WordPress portfolio and create a to-do list of the work you still need to complete.
  • Be prepared to work on your WordPress portfolio during class.
  • Follow the submission instructions to post the link to your site in Canvas by 11:59 PM on Sunday, 2/28.

For Monday’s session (2/29), do the following before class:

  • Ensure that your portfolio site is ready for peer review.
  • Be prepared to provide feedback on your classmates’ sites in class.

 
Last updated on 24th February, 2016, 12:01 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: , ,
by on 2016-02-22

Stock Photo Writing Day

This is the post for the Monday, February 22, 2016 class meeting.

Group-projectClass Discussion Topics

Group To-Do’s

  • Review the possible examples and focus suggestions in the writing assignment, and choose a direction for your piece.
  • Register a group login on the Multimodal Projects site.
  • Compose the text, using whatever techniques your group desires. Just be sure everyone is involved.
  • Upload and embed the images you took on Friday. You can take additional photos if necessary.
  • Make your plans for Wednesday’s class. Ideally, you should be ready to proofread your group work, write your individual evaluation, and submit your work by the end of the session.

Homework

For Wednesday’s session (2/24), do the following before class:

  • You’re in charge of your own homework. As a group, decide what you need to do before class, and what you need to have with you to work together on your projects in class.
  • You should be ready to turn in your article by the end of the session.

For Friday’s session (2/24), do the following before class:

  • Be prepared to work on your WordPress portfolio during class.

 
Last updated on 22nd February, 2016, 3:06 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes
by on 2016-02-19

Photo Shoot Day

This is the post for the Friday, February 19, 2016 class meeting.

Guidelines for Taking Photos

  • Photo of Cattle with the caption, Stock PhotographyYou can leave your belongings in the classroom. I will remain here or lock the door.
  • You can go anywhere in Shanks or the surrounding area. If you need to go further, talk to me before you journey forth.
  • Don’t disturb anyone working in the building.
  • You can borrow props or move furniture, but please put everything back the way it belongs.
  • If you have a questionable prop, tell me before you wander away, so I can help you if someone questions you.
  • Contact me immediately if something goes wrong. The classroom phone number is 231-1651.
  • If your photography runs over into the next class, that’s okay. Send me a message. After 10:10, I’m the only one who teaches in this classroom on Fridays.
  • I will be grading and writing in the classroom. Please pause before you walk around the desk so I can obscure any student work on the screen to protect your classmate’s FERPA rights.

Group To-Do’s

  • Take your photos. I suggest that you take more than five photos, just in case something doesn’t turn out. Try different angles or perspectives just in case you need something else.
  • Share your photos with your group and with me (tengrrl@vt.edu), so that everyone has access to them. The best option is to set up a Google Drive folder that everyone has access to.
  • Save the images to a secondary backup location for the images.
  • Begin discussing how you will present your images. Your assignment is to write a Buzzfeed-style article using your images. You can also look at the Hubspot article as a model. If you need feedback or are unsure, ask me. Here are some (but not the only) possibilities:
    • Satirical rules for taking stock photos of college students or stock photos in general
    • College student stereotypes
    • A comparison to the inspiration photos (see this original for the Vince Vaughn images)
    • What to Expect in College, told by a stock photographer
    • A Mythbusters-style article, exposing myths (obviously) about college students
    • What not to do in your first year of college
  • Make your plans for Monday’s class. Ideally, you should work on your images and text together in class.

Homework

For Monday’s session (2/22), do the following before class:

  • I’ll send out a detailed assignment for this project (current draft) by email this weekend. Read it before class.
  • You’re in charge of your own homework. As a group, decide what you need to do before class, and what you need to have with you to work together on your projects in class.
  • You will have all of class on Monday to work together.

 
Last updated on 19th February, 2016, 1:06 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With:
by on 2016-02-17

Stereotype Assignment Overview

This is the post for the Wednesday, February 17, 2016 class meeting.

Stereotypes about College Students

Lazy college student meme with the caption, Due Tomorrow. Do Tomorrow.While I’m taking roll and getting set up, visit the Google Doc for your class and brainstorm some stereotypes about college students. We’ll use the list you come up with later in the class. I’ll close the file at the end of each class session, and then add them back this afternoon.

WordPress Updates

The horror! The horror!

Group Activity

We’ll combine satire and design to create stock photos and related material in small groups.

Stock photos of college students:

Project inspiration:

Today your group will

  • exchange contact information.
  • decide on roles for group members.
  • choose a focus for 5 images (either original or based directly on existing stock images, all on one theme or on several).
  • make plans for a photo shoot on Friday (and Monday if necessary).
  • prepare to take all photos in or around Shanks.

Homework

For Friday’s session (2/19), do the following before class:

  • Gather whatever props, wardrobe, and other materials you need for your group’s planned image. Obviously do not bring anything illegal or inappropriate for campus and the classroom.
  • Be sure your cell phone is charged if you will take photographs!

 
Last updated on 17th February, 2016, 2:00 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: , , ,
by on 2016-02-16

Addressing WordPress Issues

Contact with 4HELP

Cat chewing keys on a computer keyboard, with the caption, Load you piece of crap! LOOOOOOOOOAD!!I have had some contacts from 4HELP, and they have confirmed the speed issue. Their initial analysis is that the web company where the blogs are hosted is having some issue with their network & ISP. They have reached out to the host and are working to resolve the problem. There’s no estimate on when it will be fixed.

Suspend Work on WordPress Temporarily

So given the 4HELP situation, I’m suspending work on the blogs until the site is back up to speed. I don’t think it’s fair to ask you to continue trying to work with a site that isn’t functioning properly.

Your work will not be lost. Once WordPress is working properly again, we’ll go back to the project and finish it. But in all seriousness, stop working on the blogs.lt.vt.edu WordPress site. If you want to compose text in a word processor so that you are ready to add it to WordPress, that’s fine; but you do not have to go to the blogs.lt.vt.edu site until I let you know it’s fixed.

Plans for Wed, 2/17 and Beyond

You have no homework for tomorrow (Wed, 2/17). Because we are suspending work on WordPress, we will do something else in class. Admittedly, I haven’t decided what. I’m a very linear teacher, and I’ve never had to stop and skip ahead to a different project before. In the workplace however, this kind of thing happens all the time.

For now, we have no date for peer review or for when Project 2 will be due. I will give you time and plenty of notice.

We’ll talk about the whole WordPress situation more in class tomorrow. You can have a meltdown, cry, rejoice, and/or otherwise tell me how you feel.

For the 1:25 Class Only

We have a department meeting tomorrow, so I may not be able to get to the classroom early. Occupy the tables and chairs in the atrium. I’ll get downstairs ASAP.

Anything Else?

We should have plenty of time for questions tomorrow in class, but if you have a personal question, email me or catch me before/after class.


 
Last updated on 17th February, 2016, 12:56 AM
Filed Under: Announcement
by on 2016-02-16

Making Up the Snow Day

Cat, looking out the window at a snow cat, with the caption, He-Mocks-Me-Every-DayWe’ll adjust the calendar to give you an extra class day on Project 2. We’ll just shift everything forward a class:

  • TH, 2/18: peer review drafts are due by 11:59 PM
  • FR, 2/19, peer review takes place in class
  • MO, 2/22: Project 2 due

We will get back on schedule as we work on Project 3, so that the other due dates should not need to shift.

Keep working on your project, and I will address your various questions on Wednesday. I have submitted a 4HELP request about the speed of the blogs.lt.vt.edu site. Because of the weekend and the snow day, they haven’t yet replied. For now, try to be patient with the site. I hope we’ll have a fix soon. If not, the speed of the site certainly won’t influence your grade. If necessary, I will help you all migrate to a new site.

Stay warm. Drive, ride, bike, and walk safely.


 
Last updated on 17th February, 2016, 12:38 AM
Filed Under: Announcement
by on 2016-02-12

Portfolio Widgets and Plugins

This is the post for the Friday, February 12, 2016 class meeting.

Dog with glasses and a book, with the caption, I graded your homework. It was delicious.Grading Confessions

In short, I’m working on it.

Using Widgets

Depending upon your theme, you use Widgets to add content to your sidebar(s), footer, and header.

  • Go to the Customizer, and click the Widgets tab.
  • Click the Add Widgets button to see the options that are available.
    • Browse the list and try any that are interesting to you.
  • Watch the Lynda.com video Using widgets if you need more information.

Using Plugins

Use Plugins to add functionality and special content to your site.

  • Go to the Plugins tab on the left to see the tools that are available.
    • Browse the list and try any that are interesting to you.
    • Try the Visit plugin site link for more information on them.
    • Avoid any that require a premium ($$$) upgrade.
    • Look for settings or options; or look for more info in Widgets.
  • Recommended Plugins:
    • JetPack: enables proofreading, Contact Forms, and more. Requires a WordPress.com account (Sign up).
    • Google Doc Embedder: lets you embed PDF, MS Office, TIFF, and many other file types.
    • iframe: embed content from YouTube, Vimeo, SlideShare, SoundCloud, Twitter.

In-Class Writing

You can begin work on your second blog post, which you will need when you submit your project. Choose an idea from the Blog Post Topics page. You do not need to submit your post separately. I will check it when I grade Project 2.

Homework

For Monday’s session (2/15), do the following before class:

  • Have some content that you want to include in your portfolios, like PDFs of essays, videos you’ve made, poems you’ve written, etc.
  • Review the Ten Design Tips, which we will apply as we talk about building pages and resources for your site.
  • For homework on Monday, you will post the link to your site for peer review.

For Wednesday’s session (2/17), do the following before class:

  • Be ready to share your portfolio in class for peer review. We will use the Peer Review tools in Canvas.

 
Last updated on 12th February, 2016, 1:18 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes
by on 2016-02-10

Portfolio Appearance

This is the post for the Wednesday, February 10, 2016 class meeting.

Doge Meme with WordPress phrasesFor extra help with the features we cover today, watch the Lynda.com videos on “Changing the Appearance of Your Site” (45m59s). Choose whatever portion of the videos you need.

I will use the 3844 Portfolio Demo site on Blogs@VT to provide examples.

Required Portfolio Contents

  • Posts: You will include at least two posts on topics related to your career goals and portfolio topic.
  • Pages: You will write the following:
    • an about page, where you tell visitors about yourself. You can revise your identity statement for this page.
    • a site information page (like a colophon in a book), where you tell us about the tools you used and the design decisions you made. Be sure that you give credit for any resources (like an image) that you use.
    • pages necessary for your portfolio, such as pages for your creative works or essays you have written.

Creating Some Placeholder Pages

Use the outline that you created for homework to create some pages for your site.

  • Go to the Pages tab on the left, and then choose Add New.
  • Use the titles you have on your outline. You will be able to change these later if necessary.
  • In the body, add some temporary text. You will update the page later.
  • Click the Publish button in the right sidebar to save your page and make it live.
  • Repeat this process so that you have several pages to work with in the following steps.

Setting Up Menus

  • Go to the Appearances tab on the left, and choose Menus.
  • Give your menu a name. PrimaryMenu is a good choice.
  • Click the Create Menu button.
  • Change the Settings at the bottom if you like. I recommend clicking "Primary Menu" for Theme Location.
  • Select all the Pages on the left (these are the placeholders you made).
  • Click the Add to Menu button.
  • If desired, add any links as menu items (e.g., if you want your LinkedIn page as a menu item).
  • Customize your menu:
    • Drag the menu items around to get the order you would like. You can change these later.
    • Click on the downward-pointing triangle to change the text of the menu item or add a title attribute (pop-up text).
  • Click Save Menu button at the bottom right when you are happy with your arrangement.
  • Check the menu on your homepage. Made any adjustments that you like.

Quick Editing and Removing Sample Content

You can make some simple changes without going in and editing a page or post.

  • Click on Pages (or Posts), and the list of your pages will appear.
  • Hover over the title of one of your pages, and a row of links will appear under the title.
  • Click Quick Edit.
  • Make your changes, and click Update.

To make the same change to several files, on the list of pages:

  • Click the checkbox beside the titles of the pages or posts you want to change.
  • Choose Edit from the Bulk Changes menu at the top of the list.
  • Click the Apply button beside the menu.
  • Make your changes, and click Update.

Adding Images

  • Go to the Edit screen for a page or post that you want to add an image to.
  • Click the Add Media button at the top (between the title and the toolbar).
  • Click Upload Files.
  • Navigate to your image (or drag it into the window), and click Open to upload it.
  • Click the Insert into Page (or Insert into Post) button to add it.
  • Click on the image to bring up buttons to change how it appears on your page.
  • Be sure to Update the page or post to save the changes.

In-Class Writing

Go to Quizzes in Canvas and choose the "WordPress Appearances" quiz to let me know what you have done so far and ask any questions. I will address any major questions in class on Friday.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

For Friday’s session (9/18), do the following before class:

  • We’ll talk about plugins (which add functionality, like the ability to embed PDFs and videos).
  • Sign up for a WordPress.com account, so that you can enable the Jetpack plugin on Friday. 
  • Begin adding content to the pages on your site. You should have a draft ready on Tuesday.

 
Last updated on 10th February, 2016, 12:33 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: , , ,