Project Write-Up #1

I. INTRODUCTION

 

This blog post serves as a self-reflection on a recent assignment where I was asked to create my own website (https://sites.google.com/site/emilyhartportfolio/) and blog in order to establish or enhance my intentional web presence and to familiarize myself with new aspects of working online. The goal of creating a personal website is to give myself an area in the web where I can establish a pre-professional e-portfolio. On the site, I will be able to share my art and academic projects I have been involved in and will be involved in throughout my time at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. By uploading my work unto a personal website, I will begin to establish more of a professional image that may be helpful both while I am still at school and for when I leave and seek work as a professional performing artist. Additionally, the second part of the assignment was to create this blog, where I may put my DMA projects on display and also write reflections on my work in DMA project-write ups (this being the first one). Overall, the outcome of creating a website and blog caused me to begin to meet the main goals of the Digital Media for the Artist course, which are to develop/become more aware of my intentional web presence and to learn how to work effectively online.

 

II. SELF-ASSESSMENT

 

1.      WHAT THE PROJECT ENTAILED, MY CHALLENGES, AND SOLUTIONS

 

Here’s the link to give specific requirements for creating the website using Google Sites: https://sites.google.com/site/uncsaeportfolios/how-to-make. Basically, I just had to create a username and password, and there was my blog. In addition to that, I mainly just set up the template it would be in. That was the easiest part of the assignment. The other part of the assignment was much more time consuming and detailed. It basically required that I follow 10 steps: 1) understand assets (the products I produce) and platforms (the spaces where I share my work) 2) fill out a terms of use form, 3) create or log into my Google account, 4) create a Google Site, 5) set up navigation panels on my site, 6) create new pages on my site, 7) create links to my pages from my navigation panel, 8) set the sharing preferences for my site, 9) add text and a photo to my homepage, 10) save the web address of my site onto a directory. Several of the steps involved watching video tutorials and following them step by step.

 

I did not really encounter many challenges. The process was fairly easy to follow; it simply took me a fair amount of time because I would usually pause the video tutorials to follow the directions step by step. Also, when I thought I was getting the hang of something, I would stop following the directions and go with my memory and instinct, which sometimes led me to errors that I had to correct. I suppose, the only other aspect I mainly struggled with was knowing what to write on my site. I tend to be too lengthy in my writing (just like in this assignment, quite possibly) and I didn’t know what direction I wanted to take at first in my self-introduction.

 

My solutions to the above challenges were to first go back to the tutorials when need be and follow the directions carefully as well as to use common sense, my recollection, and trial and error. I believe that my strategy worked in the long run, but it may not have been the most efficient method. Now, I know to just be patient and to take my time and pay closer attention to detail. My solution to knowing what to write as an intro on my website was basically to focus on my worldview or outlook on life.

 

2.      THE PROJECT’S RELEVANCE TO ME AS AN EMERGING ARTIST

 

I most certainly feel that this project is extremely relevant to me as a young, emerging artist, because it is giving me new tools to promote myself in a professional and personal sense. Not only is it practical in teaching how to enhance my intentional web presence, but also, it has made me reflect on how I want to present myself online. Additionally, the blog and website are now spaces where I can put my work on display as an artist—or even just share my creative visions—and reach out to a larger audience. Thus, I find the project very helpful in my artistic endeavors, because it serves as a networking tool.

 

3.      OUTSIDE APPLICATION

 
After creating a personal website and blog, I may want to share my perspectives and work from other UNCSA courses during my time as a student here. In particular, under the “Music Perspectives 1” tab, I might want to upload music that inspires me to choreograph or just musical artists that motivate or influence me as a dancer and individual. Additionally, under the “Dance Perspectives 1” tab, I may want to list which choreographers, companies, or dance works inspire me as an artist/dancer/performer. Furthermore, under my English Composition courses, I may feel that uploading my essays would give the public a better understanding of my mental processes and opinions—especially in regards to the arts, since several of my essay topics have to do with the arts. Overall, I can see how helpful the website and blog will be for me in establishing a stronger web presence as an artist and a person by sharing other information outside of my DMA coursework.

 

4.      CORRELATIONS IN MY WORK PATTERNS IN THIS PROJECT AND OTHER WORK

 
I noticed that I follow certain work patterns that translated over into this assignment. I tend to procrastinate doing assignments, but when I complete them, I do put a lot of effort into them. I try to be very conscientious and thorough when I am given almost any task. In this case, I should have begun working on the assignment sooner in order to give myself more time to work through it in an effective and efficient manner. When I finally got to the work, however, I paid close attention to what the requirements were and tried to complete them to the best of my ability.

 

5.      SELF-EVALUATION

 
I think that I followed the guidelines to the assignment fairly well, doing what was asked of me, and I certainly put in effort. I read all of the directions carefully and sought to follow them very cautiously. I especially worked hard in the formation of the homepage on my website in regards to the text portion of the project. I met my expectations as far as following the basic requirements and writing thoroughly on the homepage; however I think that I let myself down in regards to the appearance of the blog and the website. From what I gathered, it was not required that I work on the aesthetics of the blog and website, yet I think I could have improved in that sense. Additionally, I could have spent more time on the text of the website and organizing the formatting. Overall, however, I feel that I put honest and strong work into the project although it is not by any means perfect.

 

6.      CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS TO MAKE

 
I would like to improve my performance as a student, first of all, by forcing myself to work ahead as well as to get more outside help and to use the resources around me when I need them. Basically, the improvements that I want to make are what I have said above and below, where I focus more on the visuals of my website and blog. Furthermore, I would like to slightly alter the texts on the sites.

 

III. CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS I MADE

·         Add a personal picture to my blog

·         Change the backdrop on my blog

·         Write a self-description on my blog

·         Include some more background on my dance training on my website

 

IV. CONCLUSION

 
The purpose of the project was to develop ways to promote my intentional web presence as well as to learn new ways of working effectively online. This project accomplished the task by having me create my own blog and e-portfolio website. Moreover, the project-write up has caused me to reflect on my work, how I approach work, and has allowed me to better understand the purposes and values of the assignment. I am grateful to be learning from the process of completing the project and of evaluating my work, because I feel they will help me to improve as an individual, a student, and an artist.