Final Post: Reflections and lessons

Dear class,

Thank you for a very pleasurable learning experience. I cannot wait to present my final work tomorrow...and see what the class was able to produce. It's been a privilege working with you this past term.

Without further ado...



What is the most significant thing that you've learned about digital publishing?
It is rather difficult to reduce this question to a blog entry response. We’ve reviewed four books this semester – McChesney, Sunstein, Bolter & Grusin and Williams as a group. Independently I studied Powazek’s Design for Community, Prezi, Captivate and HTML. It’s been a lot to absorb…but a rewarding process.

My most important learning has been that the media and message must be aligned with the exigence. The problem being addressed dictates the appropriate response. It begins not with learning something nifty about technology (although we did that!), but instead understanding the possible contributions of digital production to the rhetorical situation. Whether using a digital or traditional media, always explore exigence first. Then the exigence will dictate the design and content parameters…Also, from this approach, the parameters for how to select the media are determined ahead of time.

On a closing note, I think Dr. Fishman raised an excellent point in class discussion directly relevant to this question. Technology has the equivalent of a “born-on” date. The continuous software and hardware innovations make it impossible to rest on our e-laurels. Less important than technological proficiency is the ability to learn new technologies. This class brings me current in several areas. However, I feel there’s much more I can (and will need to) learn!

What are the strengths of your project?

I’m proud of my project. Much of my time was spent considering the product not as a publication, but a new organizational entity entirely. I went off the course to do it. Budgeting…reviewing the process of incorporation…looking at the current state of film patronage in SC…and crafting community rules and vision were some of my steps. Design became the last priority to review this material first.

The society design is a novel approach. Using a community design, I created a project for film conversation remediated by a wiki, blog, and several support sites. This group, if successfully formed, will also produce funding for South Carolina film charities. In short, the society meets the needs for virtual collaboration on an enterprise of public benefit and cultural awareness.

I used several modalities to accomplish this…including a blog, wiki, prezi, video on Utube, twitter presence, and several html. documents. It was an ambitious undertaking for the time available. I’m proud of the idea…interaction design…use of digital media theory…and level of technological comfort I gained from the process.

What will you do with your new knowledge?

Learn more. I’ve got my eyes set on Adobe certifications and active involvement with MMUG group the year ahead. I’d like to see if I can get the Film Society off the ground. And I’m not done with my formal education . In short, this is not the end of the learning process for me.