Racial Cards

"Just equality, no more, no less." I really liked this race card because among the others, I thought that this one was the one that actually captured my feelings towards race. I feel this way because if you under-treat someone, it's rude and that is one of the main issues, but then again, if you treat someone like a queen or king, it can be interpreted as mocking, or may just be very uncomfortable for the other person. This is why all you have to do is treat one person with respect and equality.

Skin Color, Why Does It Matter?

PSA

This unit, we had to create a PSA. I decided to create a PSA about bullying and the need to be careful online when posting images, or texts. I had to use my peers as actors and actresses for my PSA, and I am very pleased with how they made my PSA look. Considering that I had to use the recourses found around me, and the time we had in class, I think that overall the outcome of my PSA is quite admirable. There were a few bumps along the way, with trying to figure out new techy equipment and programs, but I was able to overcome that and work through to make my PSA.

Create Phase Reflection

Reflection:

     This unit, we had to create a productive blog. I decided, that since i had an interest in music, my blog should revolve around music. We then spent about 2 months working on the blogs and finally finished this week. We had to go through all the different design specifications and the create phases of the design cycle. I have to admit, i had a tough time trying to keep on top of all the different tasks and often since my computer is a little of a late model, often had trouble applying these different things to the blog and my progress reports.

      I feel that my blog has really progressed since the first product. I started off with just a blank webpage and a ton of ideas. But, throughout this unit i learned to put them all into words and make them into a functional webpage. However, i do feel that i could have made this so much better if i had completed all my assignments to the best of my ability. The colors of the blog fit to me for they are more natural and not too bright. Also, the pianos that show on my background display my love for music, but do not take away too much from the actual content of the blog. 

      I am most proud of the way that my blog looks. I feel it looks spacious but cozy. I am proud of the way that it is appealing to my audience and shows of a little bit of who i am. 

      This blog meets my design specifications. It is visually appealing and organized which are both 2 very important things because without these aspects of a blog, one will not want to read it! My blog also contains relevant content due to the subject i am writing about, and includes pictures that help the audience walk through the steps i took. My blog also follows the theme of music which adds an aspect of what my life is like and of who i am. 

      If i was to change a part of my blog to make it better, i would probably change the effectiveness of my blog and work more on organizing it by page not just the way it looks. It is OK now, but i feel i could make it even better with a little bit of advice and effort. 

      If i was to expand my blog to better my community, i would definitely stick with the theme of music and work with that. I think that i could make a blog to share useful information or something that would fall under my interests. I would possibly want to work with a friend, so two entirely different ideas could go into 1 blog under 2 different pages. 

      I do believe that my blog has turned out really well, although i do think that if i had taken more time when A. writing my reflections, and B. working on the different stages of the design cycle, could have helped my blog turn out a lot more. However, despite what i could have done, i do think that my blog turned out really well and is really functional to my purpose.

Evidence Of Learning

During the year, I will be updating my blog with posts that show evidence of my learning.  Each of these posts will be labeled so that you can easily search through them according to my classes.

Design Mock- Ups Reflection

         While looking at all the different possibilities for my blog background, I thought back to my original theme of my blog, music. I felt that since music is often rather abstract and different, I would find just that. So, I ventured into the 'Backgrounds' section of the template and something grabbed my eye instantly. 

The design that i chose for my first Mock-Up design was an artsy abstract painting. This design matched task specific rubric in the sense that it is eye grabbing, relates to the topic, and is colorful. However, although it looks nice in the sense that it can be portrayed as musical, if someone saw it alone, i'm sure music wouldn't be the first thing that came to mind.  This design also includes all that was in my design layout. A title, caption, widgets and the main body. I think that this is a very good design, but perhaps something a little more musical?

For my Design Mock-Up number 2, I decided that since my blog does relate around music, to go with the more literal way and actually use an instrument for the background. Piano, being my first instrument seemed like it fit into the theme and myself, therefore, I chose to use pianos for the Mock-Up #2. This design is both simple but sensible. It includes the layout that I had originally drawn up, but this time the gadgets are on the opposite side of which i like better. I used a see-through body so that more of the background could show throughout the entire blog page. The colors are not too intense.  

Lastly, for my design Mock-Up number three, I decided to go with a much more simple look. I used different shades of green, and used a textured background. I felt that even though the only colors that would be used were green, it should still be more interesting, so i needed to put a textured background. With my original profile pic, it also fit into that color scheme for the colors were very vivid. Although not very eye popping, the vividness of the green makes up for it. It is simple, includes a caption, title, and widgets. This design is more plain, but falls under the category of organized.

My final decision for the blog design is Mock-Up number two. This design includes both patterns, color, and includes music in the actual theme, not a representation. It is not too overwhelming and relates to me and my past experiences. It is eye grabbing, and still organized. 
      

Investigation Reflection

        Blogging is a very free way for the blogger, to post anything he or she desires to put on the internet for his or her audience to see. A person might have an idea to share say, recipes of food that he or she likes and has tried. Then other people who might want to see such a blog would view it, wright comments, post feedback and other sorts of stuff onto the post the the blogger had originally made. After a while the blog that the blogger has made can view whether the audience likes it or not. This is feedback. If the blogger looks at the blog he or she made and finds positive feedback, he or she has made a positive effect on the community by posting and blogging about interesting recipes that the viewer may like to try. Blogging can both affect a person in a positive or a negative way. For example, if a blogger was to write a post containing inappropriate material such as profanity, personal information about him or her, etc. anyone, even if the blogger happened to take the post down, can see what was posted. Posts such as this can effect the blogger, and their community in a very negative way. This is why it is important to "Think Before You Post!"
          A blogger is able to post anything on their blog. Most times, what is posted is something that interests the aspired blogger. Creating blogs is a way to get a persons word out about stuff that he or she really cares about. I have learned that all blogs need a way to "grab the readers attention!" This is simply solved by an interesting background or font that pops out when a person first sees the blog. Titles should be interesting, not boring. I know that if i was to read a blog that had a title as simple as "Food" I know i would be less likely to look at this blog, and more likely to look at a blog titled "Easy, Enticing, Food You Will Love to Make". Another interesting thing that I think a blog should have is something that a good blog should have, is eye catching images when able to. For example if a blogger wanted to post something about music and fingerings, one might take a picture of the instrument and highlight the keys one needs to finger in order to truly get the message across.  
When creating a good blog, it is important to follow criteria, I think that the most important criteria that a blogger needs to follow is, to be eye grabbing. I think that without this criteria, no one would even want to bother to look at your blog! Without your blog being eye grabbing, i don't think anyone would want to take the time to read it let alone follow it and post on it. People want something that looks professionally done. If you want to make your blog successful then take the time to make it look nice. I know i would definitely not go on a blog that did not appeal to me. I think that if i was to make a blog, this would be the number one thing that i would try to work on. My second thing that would be most important would be content. Something that the blogger knows a lot about and can actually keep a continuous blog with new posts and information. It is important to have good content so that the reader can actually get into your blog. No one wants to read a blog with a lot of gibberish in it. If someone started a blog labeled "Cats", and then the blog, halfway through started talking about dogs. It would be very confusing to the reader and will make the reader uninterested.

Research Form
 When making my blog, i plan on following the criteria i have set up for myself. I am planning on doing this by, first choosing a topic i am interested in and know a lot about, second writing a first topic. Once i write this, i will choose a small section of the topic i am interested and talk a little about and write a few posts. If i get positive comments on my blog, i will know that the criteria that i have set up for myself is being accurately followed so that viewers like my blog.