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: , , ,
by on 2016-02-08

Getting Started on Portfolios

This is the post for the Monday, February 8, 2016 class meeting.

Frog Meme, with caption, I find your WordPress site ribbiting.Today we’re diving into WordPress and learning about some of the features built into the publishing tools. By the end of today’s session, you should have created a WordPress site.

Creating Your Site

If you have used WordPress before, you are free to work at your own pace. Otherwise, follow along as we complete these tasks:

  1. Remember that your blog will be public, so think of a URL and a professional name that you can share with the world.
  2. Choose one of the following options, depending upon whether you have used WordPress.com before:
    • If you have never used Blogs@VT before, sign up for your own blog.
      • Enter a Username and Email address. Leave "Gimme a site" marked. Click the Next button.
      • Choose the Site Name (which cannot be changed) and Site Title. Leave everything else at the defaults. Click the Signup button.
      • Go to your vt.edu email address, find the activation email, and click the link inside to finish setting up your blog.
    • If you have used Blogs@VT before, log in.
      • Click My Sites at the top left side of the page.
      • Click the "Add New" button at the top of page, beside the My Sites header.
      • Choose the Site Name (which cannot be changed) and Site Title. Leave everything else at the defaults. Click the Signup button.

Setting Up the Basics for Your Site

  • Go to the Users tab on the left and then choose Your Profile to update your profile and login information. You can change the way that your name is listed with each post, for instance. You can also change your password on this page.
  • Go through the Settings tab and update the information. In particular, be sure that you do the following:
    • Go to the General setting and fix the timezone. You can also change the Tagline here.
    • Go to the Discussion setting and decide when you want the site to email you.
  • Don’t worry about the menus or sidebars. We’ll work on that Wednesday.

Creating Your First Post

  • Go to the Posts tab on the left and then choose Add New.
  • For the "Enter title here" field, choose one of these options, filling in the blank with whatever makes sense for your goals:
    • Why I Want to Be A/An ___________
    • Why I Want to ___________
    • Why I Love ___________

    For instance, I might use the title, Why I Want to Be A Teacher, Why I Want to Teach, or Why I Love Teaching.

  • Click on the Text tab if you want to code your own HTML.
  • In the body, tell readers about your career decision. This is just a first draft. You will update the page later.
  • Use the toolbar to add any formatting or links.
  • Click the Publish button in the right sidebar to save your page and make it live.
  • Go to your blog’s homepage, and your post should be on the front page.

If you need help creating posts, watch these Lynda.com videos:

In-Class Writing

Go to Quizzes in Canvas and choose the "WordPress Site Address" quiz to post the address of your WordPress site. I will use the link to check that you have your blog created and have written a draft of your first post, and to set up a megablog (sometimes called a motherblog) that includes everyone’s updates.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "WordPress Site Address" quiz in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 6 PM Tuesday (2/9).

For Wednesday’s session (2/10), do the following before class:

  • Outline your site, either on paper or using something like Word or Google Docs. Account for the following in your outline:
    • The menus you want to have, and what kinds of information will go under them.
    • What will appear on your homepage (Will it be static or changing? Lots of images or lots of words?)
    • What artifacts of your work/qualifications do you want to include?
    • Features you saw on the sites you gathered as examples.
  • Begin the process of exploring themes for your site:
    • Go to the Appearance tab on the left, and choose Themes.
    • Try the Live Preview to see test out a theme.
    • Choose the Save & Activate to apply the Theme and any changes you have made to your site.
    • Don’t worry about menus or how the sidebars work for now.
  • If you need help, try the WordPress Documentation and FAQs. Try contacting 4Help if you need additional help outside of class. Also remember that you can use the step-by-step WordPress Tutorials & Training at Lynda.com.

 
Last updated on 8th February, 2016, 12:25 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: ,
by on 2016-02-05

Project 2 Overview

This is the post for the Friday, February 5, 2016 class meeting.

Absences and Other Issues

Sick Lolcat under blankets with the caption, Ai habs a bad Cold. Stay away. But first bwing meh sum books, sum snaks, Mr. Skweezy-Bear, and turn on da Tee-Bee.Several of you have talked verbally to me about missing class for some reason (e.g., a funeral, a job interview, etc.). If you have not already done so, will you please email me with the information (even if the missed class has already happened) and tell me which class you are in. I track that information so that I can make sense of the attendance data in Canvas. Try as I might, I can’t keep track of all the individual conversations.

Also remember that you never need to ask me what you missed. Just come to this website and read the post for that day. Be sure that you complete any in-class writings/quizzes that you have missed before the grace period ends.

Questions about Project 2

We’ll use the same strategy that we used for Project 1. Go to the document for your class, and add any questions you have about Project 2. I’ll use your questions to guide the information we discuss for the project.

Portfolio Examples

We’ll get back into the same groups we used on Wednesday and look at one site from each of these collections:

As a group, analyze the positives and negatives, reflecting on the information we collected about good websites on Wednesday:

Be prepared to share three things you like about the portfolio your group examines and at least one thing you would change to improve it.

In-Class Writing

Go to Discussions in Canvas and choose the "Portfolios to Emulate" discussion. Follow the instructions to share the three sites you found for homework. You will make one post with your three site and then at least one reply to someone else. You can use the find command in your browser to find others in the class with similar career goals and/or interests.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "Portfolios to Emulate" discussion posts in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 6:00 PM Sunday (2/7).

For Monday’s session (9/14), do the following before class:

  • Watch these Lynda.com videos to learn some basic information about WordPress, which we will begin using Monday. :

    Focus on the basics of what the tool is and what it is capable of doing. We’ll go over the technical aspects in class. Note that you will NOT have to install WordPress since we are using the university’s multisite version.

  • Think about a name and the kind of design you would like for your site. You will set a site name and a site URL on Monday.

  • Begin taking (or finding) photos you can use to illustrate your blog.
    • You can use your identity image for your About page, but you will need more images.
    • Take some photos (or identify photos you have already taken) that will work with the name and design you are thinking of and upload them to some place like Flickr or Instagram so you can get to them in the classroom.
    • If you find images that you did not take, ensure that they are licensed for your use and keep track of where you found them.


 
Last updated on 5th February, 2016, 1:29 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With:
by on 2016-02-03

Characteristics of a Good Website

This is the post for the Wednesday, February 3, 2016 class meeting.

Willy Wonka meme, with caption 'I love how your website is impossible to read on my smartphone.'Seating Chart

If you weren’t in class on Monday, check in with me so that I can add you to the seating chart.

Discussing What Makes a Website Good

Based on the information from the lynda.com videos you watched for homework and your own experience, brainstorm answers to the two questions below on your computer or on paper. You will share the characteristics you list with a small group and then potentially with the whole class.

  • What are three things that make a good website?
  • What are three things that make a website that looks good?

After everyone has some notes, we’ll work in groups to combine lists, aiming for five items for each list. Someone in your group will need to work as a notetaker and email me (tengrrl@vt.edu) your group’s list of five things for each question.

We’ll end by combining the different group lists into a collected class list.

In-Class Writing

Go to the Quizzes tool in Canvas and take the "Suzanne Collins Analysis" quiz.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "Suzanne Collins Analysis" quiz in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 6 PM Thursday (2/4).

For Friday’s session (2/5), do the following before class:

  • Read the assignment for Project 2: Build a Portfolio. Note any questions that you have about the assignment to ask in class. Save technical questions for next week.

  • Find three portfolio-style sites that you like and want to emulate. Find sites where the authors show their work and/or their qualifications in their field. Be ready to post your links and say what you want to emulate on Friday. Some examples:
    • If you are a creative writer, look for the websites of some writers you admire. Be sure you admire the website. Admiring the writer is optional.
    • If you are a journalist, look for the homepage of some journalists.
    • If you are a teacher, look for the websites of some teachers.

    One rule: Don’t choose any site of mine. I want to avoid any awkward strangeness.


 
Last updated on 3rd February, 2016, 2:30 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With:
by on 2016-02-01

Peer Review and Submission for Project 1

This is the post for the Monday, February 1, 2016 class meeting.

Seating Chart

Today, be sure that you are sitting in the seat you will use for the rest of the term, so that I can set up the seating chart in Canvas (which will help me take attendance and learn your names).

Peer Review Cat Tears Ur Paper ApartImportant Dates

  • Today: Peer review; Project due by 11:59 PM
  • Monday, 2/8: End of grace period. Work must be submitted by 11:59 PM

Peer Review Activity

Today’s peer review is just a short activity where you look over each other’s papers and provide each other verbal feedback. Please complete these steps:

  • Pair up with someone else in class. You may have to work in threes if we have an odd number of people in class.
  • Share your projects with one another, using whatever method is easiest. You can probably simply read one another’s screens.
  • Provide feedback on the following:
    • Check the title of the file and document. Let your partner know if it is unique, clear, and effective.
    • If you notice any spelling errors, punctuation errors, or typos, point them out, but please focus more on the content rather than editing.
    • Look at the image and the explanatory statement. Comment on at least three things your classmate does well and at least three things that your classmate could improve on. If you aren’t sure what to comment on, refer to the tips below.
  • Be sure you end your conversation with a bit of encouragement.
  • Make any corrections or changes that you want to improve your work before submitting it.

Ten Tips for Project 1

  1. Wrap the text around the image, unless you have a specific reason not to (such as the image is too wide).
  2. Crop your image to eliminate distractions and focus on the important visual information.
  3. Make sure that the image and the explanatory text work together to create a unified message.
  4. Be sure that there are no unintended hidden messages in your image.
  5. Ensure that the text on the image is legible and that the image is clear (not blurry or unfocused, unless that is the point).
  6. Try to use the visual information in the image as a guide for where to place the text on the image.
  7. If appropriate, use the image and text to build a sequence or suggest a story.
  8. Include a photo credit if you did not take the image yourself.
  9. Refer to the Ten Design Tips and 20 Most Common Errors for more help.
  10. Compare your work to the rubric on the assignment page in Canvas.

 

Submitting Your Project

Once you have revised your profile, follow the submission instructions to upload your work, add the reflection comments, and submit your work. Your project is due by 11:59 PM tonight. If you are using the grace period, you have until 11:59 PM on Monday, 2/8 to submit your work.

Homework

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


 
Last updated on 31st January, 2016, 10:55 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes
by on 2016-01-29

Creating Your Identity Image

This is the post for the Friday, January 29, 2016 class meeting.

I think this might be Photoshopped memeFor today, you watched “Images and Words” from Foundations of Layout and Composition with Sean Adams. You will apply the information in those videos as you look at examples and create your own image, but first we’ll go over some design tips and look at some example images.

Example Projects

These examples were created by students who took the course in the Fall. As we look at these images, I will ask you to talk about how they illustrate the concepts from the videos you watched:

  1. Alex
  2. Amelia
  3. Anna
  4. Colleen
  5. Diane
  6. Elizabeth
  7. Hilary
  8. Jessica
  9. Kayleigh
  10. Paul

The student who composed Wanderlust took the class in Spring 2015 and was responding to a slightly different assignment. She used the Burn Tool in PhotoShop to create the effect in the image.

Embedding Your Image in Your Text

These videos demonstrate how to insert and wrap text around your images:

If you did not take the image yourself, be sure to include a photo credit. You can indicate that you edited the photo as well. Here’s an example:

Photo: Roberta Kowalski. Edited by the author using PicMonkey.

Photo: Detail from a photo by Emma Jones-Butler. Edited with FotoFlexor.

Editing Images

  1. PicMonkey logoGo to PicMonkey.com. It’s a free site, and it does not require a login.
  2. Watch for the crown logo, which represents Royale upgrades that you would have to pay for. Don’t waste time on them.
  3. Make sure you have a backup of your original image and that the image is available on your computer.
  4. Choose Edit and then upload your image.
  5. Crop out any distractions in the background so that the image focuses on the main point.
  6. Edit the image as you like, adding filters, special effects, and so forth.
  7. Add text to the image that complements the image and helps communicate the message you are making.
  8. Save your image with a new name and make a backup.

We are using PicMonkey in class because it’s easy and free. You can use whatever image editor you like for the image you create for Project 1. Other web-based tools you might use include FotoFlexor, Canva, Pixlr Editor, and BeFunky.

Regardless of the tool you choose, you need to crop out distractions and add some text to your image. See the documentation for the tool you have chosen if you need help.

In-Class Writing

Go to the Quizzes tool in Canvas and take the "Image Editing" quiz. All you have to do is upload the image you worked on in class and tell me whatever I need to know about it. It does not have to be polished or finished. It doesn’t even have to be the image you decide to use for the project.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete your "Image Editing" quiz in Canvas, please use the grace period to finish by 6 PM Sunday (1/31).

For Monday’s session (2/1), do the following before class:

  • Have a draft of your image and text ready to share in class. We will spend part of the session on peer review and part talking about how to submit your work and the reflection comments.

 
Last updated on 29th January, 2016, 9:57 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With: ,
by on 2016-01-27

Project One Overview

This is the post for the Wednesday, January 27, 2016 class meeting.

Tell Me Your Majors and Minors

New Yorker cartoon: On the Internet, nobody knows you're a dog.Login to your computer, and complete the Majors/Minors Survey for your class time. The survey is anonymous.

Why? I need an idea of your majors and minors to come up with examples for the course. Many of you have more than one major and/or minor, so the information I can see in Hokiespa isn’t adequate. Further, your major may not give me enough information. For instance, you may be pre-law, but all I can see is that you are a Language and Literature major.

Questions about Project 1

I’ve created a Google Doc where you can post any questions that you have about Project 1. Go to the document for your class, and add any questions you have. I’ll then use your questions to guide the information we discuss for the project.

In-Class Writing

Go to the Quizzes tool in Canvas and take the "Project 1 Audience and Goals" quiz. You will tell me about your goals and audience for the first project and your portfolio.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete the "Project 1 Audience and Goals" quiz, please use the grace period to finish by 6 PM tomorrow (Thursday, 1/28).

  • Optional, watch Personal Branding Basics with Lorrie Thomas Ross (“Understanding Personal Branding” and “Establishing Your Brand”) — a very professional, career-oriented view of online identity. You will need to log onto Lynda.com with your Virginia Tech PID and password (It’s free).

Before Friday’s session, please do the following:

  • 1:25 Class: I my be late, as we have a department meeting immediately preceding class.

  • Log onto Lynda.com with your Virginia Tech PID and password. View the “Images and Words” (11m 24s) from Foundations of Layout and Composition with Sean Adams.

  • Take a photo (or find one) that you can edit in class, and put it someplace that you will be able to access in class. It can be an image you want to use in Project 1, but it doesn’t have to be. Choose something appropriate for the classroom.

For Monday’s session, if you want to get ahead, do the following before class:

  • Have a draft of your image and text ready to share in class. We will spend part of the session on peer review and part talking about how to submit your work and the reflection comments.


 
Last updated on 27th January, 2016, 12:39 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes
by on 2016-01-25

Welcome to Writing and Digital Media

This is the post for the Monday, January 25, 2016 class meeting.

Meme of the Most Interesting Cat in the World, with the caption Welcome to Writing & Digital MediaWelcome to English 3844, Writing and Digital Media. This site is the official home for our course. All project assignments, class activities, and related resources will be posted here.

Class Work for 1/25

  • Go over the syllabus, including the course policies.
  • Keeping up with the course:
    • Check this site regularly.
    • Use the Twitter account @VTtengrrl (also in the sidebar).
    • Subscribe Via Email, using the form in the sidebar.
    • Announcements and notifications from Canvas.
  • Log into Canvas and explore the tools available.

In-class Writing for 1/25

Go to Discussions in Canvas and choose the 1,000,000 Words or Less post. Follow the instructions there to write your post and to read and reply to your classmates. Optionally, you can compose your text in a word processor (Word, Google Drive, etc.) and then copy and paste the text into Canvas.

Homework

For today, please do the following:

  • If you didn’t complete in-class writing, please use the grace period to respond to the 1,000,000 Words or Less post in Canvas Discussions by 6 PM tomorrow (Tuesday, 1/26).

Before Wednesday’s session, please do the following:

  • Go back to the 1,000,000 Words or Less post in Canvas and read any replies that you haven’t seen.

  • Read the assignment for Project 1: Online Identity Profile, and begin thinking about the kind of portfolio you want to make for the course. Note any questions that you have about the assignment to ask in class. We will talk about audience and purpose on Wednesday.

  • If you want, follow the Twitter account @VTtengrrl or Subscribe Via Email to this site. Check the sidebar for more info.

  • If you have any questions about Canvas, use the Help link on the Canvas site, and check out the Canvas: Getting Started for Students article.


 
Last updated on 25th January, 2016, 12:58 AM
Filed Under: Class Notes Tagged With:
by on 2016-01-20

Course Overview

This is the post for Wednesday, January 20, 2016.

Because the course website and syllabus were not yet ready, we went over some basic course details and looked at some sample projects using a handout on Google Drive. The content of that handout is included below.

English 3844 introduces the fundamental practices and emerging theories of writing with, and for, digital media, including basic computational authoring in HTML and CSS syntaxes, critical interpretation of online sources, social media management, and topics of computational abstraction for writers.  [tl;dr: we will explore ways to use computer technology to communicate with others.]

Textbook

Kristin L. Arola, Cheryl E. Ball, & Jennifer Sheppard. Writer/Designer: A Guide to Making Multimodal Projects. Boston: Bedford/St. Martin’s, 2014.

Four Major Projects

  • An online profile
  • A blog-based writing portfolio
  • An analytical web essay
  • A narrative remix

Final Project Examples

Class Survey

For homework, please complete the survey linked below by 6 PM tomorrow night (Thursday, 1/21) so that I have time to read your responses before class on Friday.

You will need to login with your VT.EDU email address and email password.

Survey Link: http://goo.gl/forms/sT9L5mPlwO


 
Last updated on 25th January, 2016, 12:36 PM
Filed Under: Class Notes