CT 101 Reflection

 

Hello all, I still cant get used to the fact that we’re still in a Panasonic. Sorry, I mean a panini. Excuse me, what I really meant was a pandemic. Even with its drawbacks, I think online learning actually makes sense for this particular class. Its a communication’s technology class…..that’s being held strictly online. This does a lot to emphasize the practicality of communications technology and how to use a combination of some new learned skills and creativity to create new content. Anyways, back to the main topic. It’s been six weeks since we’ve been in class. Sheesh, time flies indeed.

So far I think I’m doing pretty well in this class. I put a lot of time and effort into my blog posts and try to add as much personality as I can. I used to rush to complete assignments but now I take my time to make sure I make each blog post “reading worthy.” I don’t want my blog posts to sound like an assignment, or a research paper. I want them to sound like something you would actually read in your free time.  In terms of grading I think I’ll give myself an A-.

I seriously hope my parents didn’t hear me say “A-.” They’ll kill me if I get anything less than a 105% in any class. The reason I gave myself this grade is because I still have a lot of improvement to do, such as making my posts more engaging and adding more creativity. Creativity has never really been my strong suit, as I’m more of a “logical” and “sciencey” person. I promise you that’s not as boring as it sounds. Speaking of which, I have learned how to unlock the creative side of me. I never was the person to do things such as painting, draw, etc. I though I just didn’t have it in me. However, in this class I get to  build my creativity one week at a time and add on to it. By the end of this semester, I should be completely comfortable with my creativity and maybe even find ways to monetize it. So far my greatest learned asset is learning how to create a blog post. A blog post has several components, which may include hyperlinks, gifs and memes. I’m one to always laugh at memes from the internet, but learning how to make my own memes is even better. I also make sure to develop my expressive skills. I discovered that I don’t like writing in a monotonous voice. I like writing as if I’m writing a conversation, where there’s change in tone and emotion. In my opinion, the closer a blog post is to a casual conversation, the easier it is to read. Ya dig?

Through self reflection I can assess my performance by keeping track of my blog post content. Also, over time my blog posts should get progressively longer. So naturally, I can track my progress in this class based on how long my blog posts are getting, However, quality should also increase, as quantity doesn’t always equate to higher quality. By self reflecting here and there I can see what I need to improve and what I need to keep consistent. In this class I now know that the traditional route of learning isn’t always the best. By traditional I mean the classic “going to class, taking notes, going home to study and taking exams based on the learning material.” Through this class I learned a different approach of learning, where new skills are taught in real time and we get to apply them immediately.

Since the first week or so I’ve been putting a lot of energy into my blog posts. I set the bar really high when I created the meme stocks blog posts. From that point, I made sure to expand my blood posts with m ore creativity and taking more time to curate my content. As this semester progresses I hope to be able to write entire blog post articles. Well, this concludes my reflection. Hopefully you didn’t fall asleep halfway through. Till next time, I’m OUT.

 

 

CT class reflection over the weeks

This is my favorite class this semester, and I feel like I’m doing my best in it. I don’t have to worry about having a bad grade because I’m doing my best. The skills I’ve gained in this class are creative learning and thinking because I’ve learned and applied what I’ve learned to my next thought. By responding to and interacting with my peers’ work, I’ve also improved my communication skills in this class.

Working in class contributes to my weekly progress because I apply the skills I learn in class outside of class during my free time. I’ve honed a variety of digital skills, such as writing posts on social media about topics that interest me.

In this class, I discovered that I have a strong desire to complete work as soon as possible. However, in recent weeks, I’ve reconsidered and told myself that creativity is a process that takes time. I wanted to do more of the creative process and thought for people to enjoy with this critique I took of myself. To be honest, I used to feel insecure about my work, as if it wasn’t creative enough for this class, or that my colleagues’ work was more creative and better than mine.

Mid Semester Recap

How am I doing in CT101? What grade do I believe I am maintaining? 

At the beginning of the semester I had high hopes for this class and i still do its been lots of fun and straight forward. In this class I’ve been able to do many things that I wouldn’t see myself sitting down to do like making a Gif. This class is making be able to express myself other than just using words. The grade that I believe I’m maintaining I think be a calm A if not a A- because I’ve been doing all the assignments but not joining every call because I feel like this class is straightforward that you can definitely do it asynchronously.

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

In this class I feel like I’ve learned everything like creating a meme and make a gif but my greatest learned asset in this class would be running the blog. The blog is fun, cool, unique to me and a experience that I’m loving and is helping me learn how I would run my own website and how to put in hyperlinks, a post element and more and I’m still learning it, playing around with it every week.

What skills have I developed , cultivated and displayed regularly in my posts?

This would definitely be the use of the gifs although I don’t display them as regular within my post I did learn how to do them.

How do I assess my performance through self-reflection in this class?

I asses my performance from the post that I put out, if I feel like the effort was there then I feel like I’m doing good within the class.

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

I can use a gif as a answer to a question in this class, I use a website for assignments in this class, other than that I expected everything else that the class had to offer.

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

My post you can argue kind of seems the same most of the time but I feel like each one is slightly different but I will try to make some changes to that by adding more gifs extra hyperlinks and much more to make my posts more creative.

Mid-Semester Reflection ?

I will entertain, inspire, and engage you 😳

How am I doing in CT101?

That’s a great question.  Before this class, I was a little nervous if I’d be able to keep up because prior to this I had no background in the creative techy arts, but Prof. Seslow does an awesome job making this class easy to understand.  His process has allowed me to not only keep up but to relax enough to be my authentic self and show my personality in these creative assignments.  I’m no filmmaker yet, but I can make a mean meme and gif now…from where I started up to now, I think that has earned me a solid A. 😃

What grade do I believe I am maintaining?

I still have more to learn but I think I’m maintaining a solid A.  With each assignment I try to make it honestly, but also with a touch of humor, maybe thought provoking, but easy to digest…a balance.

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

I think the thing I’ve learned the most is everything in this class, how to make a gif, a meme, how to arrange it on the blog with narrative so that it flows and it pleasing to the eye, to keep all the images uniform size.  There’s not one thing I’d say I’ve learned the most.  It’s all been equally beneficial.  Likewise, my greatest asset learned is the same, everything that I have learned that I can now use even after the class is over for personal or business purposes, which is pretty exciting. 😃

What skills have I developed , cultivated and displayed regularly in my posts?

I think the biggest skill I’ve developed that I’m still improving on is the art of telling a story in a blog using gifs and memes, but not to add so much content that you lose the reader, or too little that the message is not clear.  This process has helped me become a better storyteller overall I think.

How do I assess my performance through self-reflection in this class?

I think the best way to assess my own performance is to take an honest look at where I was when the class started, what I had no knowledge of prior to the class, then look at what I can do now, look back at my own assignments and see if they were clear and entertaining, thought provoking or both, and was I honest in my assignments overall in how I represented my ideas.  To me, honesty and projecting a story in a way that is entertaining or inspirational is the mark of progress in this kind of class.

Y’all listening? This man speaking facts! 😳

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

Before taking this class, I had no idea how to make a gif.  I would always see cool gifs and react to them on facebook, but I had no knowledge of how to make them.  Now I do which is cool.  I knew how to make memes but by looking at other classmates’ memes I’m drawing inspiration how to make mine better.  So this class has been a great experience overall. 😃

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

I think so far my blogging work might be ok because I’m still in the beginning stages learning to use my voice with narrative, gifs and memes in a blog given the weekly assignment.  There are a number of interests that I have that I would definitely like to express at some point when the opportunity presents itself in future blogs.  I think it’s just a matter of not continuing in the spirit of being authentic and honest but light hearted and fun.  Trying to find that balance while using creativity and my voice to tell stories. 😃

You are getting sleepy! You are thinking my blogs are worth an A 😳

Mid Semester Post

How am I doing in CT101 so far???

How am I doing in CT101? What grade do I believe I am maintaining? 

I think that in CT 101 I am maintaining a high 70 or low 80 kind of grade. I have completed most of the blog posts in the beginning of the semester but admittedly have been on a downward slope in terms of getting my assignments posted on time or at all. This is something I plan to fix moving forward however.

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

I wouldn’t say this is my greatest learned asset in the class but something that I definitely learned that I didn’t know before taking this class was how to make my own animated Gifs.

What skills have I developed , cultivated and displayed regularly in my posts?

A huge takeaway from CT101 that I slowly start incorporating in some of my other classes is the usage of hyperlinks. Hyperlinking sources or websites to my work was something that I never done before when doing online assignments. And while It hasn’t made siting sources and website easier or harder by any means, it makes essays and other assignments look very clean in my opinion.

How do I assess my performance through self-reflection in this class?

I think in this class the way I assess my performance the most is if I have a good understanding of the assignment that we are completing for the class. Even if its something that I’m not necessarily interested in a deep understanding of the concept can usually go a long way.

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

One of the things, as stated before, that I didn’t know before taking the class that I know how to do now is how to make my own animated gifs. Gifs is something that I know a lot about and I really like looking at gifs as a form of entertainment. But making them for myself was something I had never done before or knew how to do before the course.

I’m Having An Old Friend For Dinner (DS106 writing assignment)

There is no one I’d want to invite to dinner more than my old friend Nia, a native NY’er that now lives in Florida. Since I’m not the best cook, I would have our nice dinner catered…in other words I’d order takeout, but it would be from the best soul food restaurant in my area.  I’d order us the works…fried fish and shrimp, with all the good sides like collard greens (of course), candied yams, corn bread and mac & cheese (even though I’m lactose intolerant 😞).  I’d be so excited to see her though, I’d be willing to suffer through that cheesy goodness.😃

Soul Food- Fried fish & shrimp, collard greens, corn bread, and mac & cheese. 😃

I’d ensure we had a nice big pitcher of red drink to wash down all that soul food yumminess. 😃

Red Drink- Is it cherry flavored? Is it hibiscus tea? Who cares! It’s red & sweet! 😃

I’d be really excited to be meeting up with my old friend that I haven’t seen in several years now.

While we enjoyed our dinner we would have a great time talking about the parties we used to dance at and our old party friends we kicked it with. We would reminisce about the djs we used to prefer partying to and which ones played the better music.

Pretend us talking about parties and djs. 😃

After dinner, we would likely play some great tunes on my sound system and do our dance moves in my living room while laughing and trying to outdo each other. She is definitely the better dancer since she used to dance professionally. I’m really tall and stocky so my moves aren’t as funky as hers but every now and then I’ll do something that’ll make her crack up and then she’ll do a funky move that’ll make me crack up. 😃

Us doing our funky dance moves…having fun! 😃

We would end the night probably watching one of our favorite movies about partying in NYC and talking about how much we can’t wait until the pandemic is over so we can start partying again. 😃

An idea of the music we party to and how we dance…pre-pandemic memories! 😃

The Mid-Semester Assessment Post

Mid Semester Point- Mayday! Mayday!

How am I doing in CT101? What grade do I believe I am maintaining? 

Ct101 has been a really fun, engaging, and mentally stimulating class thus far. As a political science major, I’m very used to writing-intensive papers and the actual workload is a lot! but CT101 has allowed me to release my creative juices. I feel like the assignments are becoming more intense but in a good way. It’s forcing me to think and analyze each assignment in a different way, surely different than I’m used to because each assignment tackles something creatively different. I’ve utilized what I’ve learned so far as well as trying my own hand (whether I figure it out or not) to create interesting blog posts. I feel like overall I’m doing “okay” in CT101. I definitely started off stronger in the beginning but as the weeks have gone by I think a lot of people can relate to this feeling of being burned out by the semester, online learning, and what’s going on in the world. I know I can maintain an A but it requires me to be a bit more vocal and active, which is something I plan to work on for the second half of this semester.

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

I think besides learning how to use BlackBoard Commons and obvious technical skills I think the knowledge I’ve acquired thus far is the greatest asset. The knowledge about the “digital world” I find to be beneficial for someone who is very new to this. Learning about intricate details, things I didn’t even think of as being significant such as domain names for example. At the end of the class I know I’ll always have this knowledge and can go on to building my own website if I chose to or even show someone else how to. Something I found to be equally satisfying is learning how to actually blog. Writing down my thoughts, opinions, and ideas I’ve found to be therapeutic but has also helped to strengthen my writing skills. I appreciate this kind of digital journaling.

What skills have I developed, cultivated, and displayed regularly in my posts?

Other than sharpening my writing skills through blogging, another layer I can identify is the story-telling abilities I’ve applied to each post. I’m essentially narrating what’s going on in my head in a healthy way. I’ve also developed the ability to make gifs/memes and the technical aspect that comes with that: animating them, embedding them, etc. and I think that shows in my post. I learned on a minor level through a very late all-nighter, determination, and a lot of music how to use Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, as well as hyperlinking things in my post, embedding videos so of which I need to incorporate more into my post.

How do I assess my performance through self-reflection in this class?

Honestly, I think self-reflecting is a well-needed skill and it’s one I use often, but, this class has shown me looking back at previous blog posts can help me to improve my future ones even if it’s the simplest thing. So let me reflect here on the work I’ve done so far.

Blog Post 1 – my very first post asked me to think about my slice of happiness on the internet but it was also my first blog post which is a bit obvious. I enjoyed the content but I think it was “chaotic” in the flow of the post.

Blog Post 2 – in this post I not only got to make my first animated gif but I improved in the flow of my post. I preferred how I wrote this blog and how each gif connected back to each of my thoughts.

Blog Post 3 – my third post I can safely say I got the flow how I want my post a bit more down pact – telling my narrative! however, I think I’m also getting a bit too comfortable with this pattern and need to branch out just to try and mix it up and make more interesting posts.

Blog Post 4 – this was one of my favorite but very frustrating assignments because I took a leap of faith to try something completely out of my comfort zone. I don’t think my blog post was done well enough to me but I think it’s cause I spent the majority of the time trying to get the 80s theme Sci-fi VHS tape to be perfect (as far as perfect goes) especially cause I never used Adobe applications. I see where I need to balance between the blog and if I have to create something . . . alas progress!

Blog Post 5 – this is my least favorite assignment in part cause I struggled with trying to figure out domain names. I tried my best and think I finally came up with good ones but it wasn’t easy, but I did include more hyperlinks which is an improvement.

Between these 5 blog posts and the one on The Internets Own Boy, I have improved my writing skills, the flow of blog posts, using more media forms but I need to try to push the boundaries more and try embedding videos for example.

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

For one thing, I had no idea how to blog, or even create memes/gifs even though I use them every day. Pretty much everything I’ve learned so far is something I didn’t know how to do before.

all this knowledge … buffering

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

Indeed I see my blogs expanding creatively in terms of trying to include more media and but I also feel like I’m stuck in a bit of a loop where my post has this certain flow or look to it and I would like to change it up but I’m not sure how to go about doing it. I think trying to use other media or playing around with the format, adding catchy titles and such can help. It’s a work in progress but any suggestions are welcomed!

Almost done with this semester . . . I look forward to the next set of assignments and my website to come and hopefully with all this reflection I create something really creative and cool.

spring 2021 got me like

Mid-Semester Assessment

How am I doing in CT101? What grade do I believe I am maintaining? 

I have enough self confidence in what I’ve done so far to know I’m definitely not failing. This may sound weird but I like to shoot for A- since it let’s me know I’m a couple steps shy of “perfection” and the A in my first name is technically supposed to have an accent. I’d like to think I’m close to my goal so I’d say I’m…

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

My greatest learned assets so far are the trifecta of making gifs/memes, embedding video, and applying them to my narratives.

What skills have I developed , cultivated and displayed regularly in my posts?

GIF/MEME making for sure and simply applying visuals. Judging from my first post, up until my last, I’d say I’ve come a little way from knowing close to nothing about what CT101 has exposed me to.

How do I assess my performance through self-reflection in this class?

I assess my performance by looking at what I’ve done, thinking about what I’d like to do, and looking at what others have done and/or are doing. Taking all those things and knowing this class will set me up with my first domain where I can start working on ideas that I’ve been thinking about for years is the best way I can assess myself through self-reflection.

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

How to take what already makes me happy, turn it into a gif, a comprehensive blog post, and more.

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

I do see myself expanding creatively because that’s exactly what I want to do. I’m low key hoping, waiting for the right opening between life, my other class assignments, and this one to tackle another DS106 assignment to help me with that expansion. I say that because as much as I enjoy creating the perfect gif/meme. I don’t want to become monotonous creatively and I think tackling a couple different type of assignments will help with that. But who knows maybe between now and the end of the semester I’ll get caught up with anything else Prof. Ryan Seslow has in store for the class.

The Internet’s Own Boy – Reflection Post

The Story of Aaron Swartz

The documentary “The Internet’s Own Boy: The Story of Aaron Swartz” was truly an inspiring but very tragic story. I, for the most part, felt a sense of being proud of what Aaron stood for and fought for but by the end, I was very much discouraged and even a bit afraid. One part that particularly stood out to me during the documentary was right around 1 hour and 12/13 minutes in and the documentary was discussing Aaron’s role in fighting the SOPA Bill that Congress was trying to introduce that would essentially tighten the reins on censorship on the internet. I think what makes this part so significant was the fact that the threat of going to prison was looming over his head yet he saw an opportunity to continue to fight for what he believed in, even though it looked really bleak. My dream is to become a lawyer and Aaron’s political activism inspires me. One person can make a difference in the world and watching how his effort led to the “SOPA Blackout Day”, the number of people who signed petitions and protested against the government for a cause makes me feel even more sure of my dream of being a lawyer can help to make a change in the world. The government did make an example out of Aaron, but he is also a symbol of what standing up for what you believe in can go a long way, no matter the obstacles. Open Access can save lives.

Assignment #5 Domain Names!

Domain names are really tricky

I’ve been struggling with this assignment and that’s partly why I’ve been putting it off. I honestly could not think of domain names that would be interesting, catchy, or speak to what I would want to represent my website, but, I think I’ve finally figured it out. This is really new for me and I’ve never thought about the intricate details behind building a website and figuring out domain names sounds fairly easy but it takes time to really come up with something. Hopefully, one of these options is a good choice.

Potential Domain Names
  • bestdayever.com – This option is inspired by one of my favorite songs by Mac Miller and it felt right.
  • everydaybytashema.com – This option infuses my middle name which is very special to me and a few ideas of what I want my website to be about.
  • pursuitofhappiness.com – This option is inspired by one of my favorite songs by Kid Cudi.
  • regulardegularlife.com – This option once again is in line with what I want out of my website.
  • thereslifeoutside.com – This option once again is in line with what I want out of my website.

These examples represent good examples of the website I will build because the idea I have for my website is a tiny corner on the internet dedicated to everyday, regular life that promotes positivity and happiness. Someplace someone out there can relate to and give them a bit of joy. I want my website to be an infusion of my interest in Sims, gaming, politics, movies/music, sneakers, and such but in a light heartful way. I am really open to exploring different avenues with this website. I’m really excited about this new “digital” chapter, this is very new to me so I’m also very hesitant about producing quality content that can connect with people.

Websites I Like:
  • Simscommunity.info – This is probably one of my go-to websites just because I play a lot of Sims and it keeps me updated about anything sims-related.
  • Sneakernews.com – This website I enjoy popping onto now and then to see updates, release information, and such on new sneakers.
  •  Wizardingworld.com – This website is just for my inner Harry Potter self, it’s basically a fan club website.

Domain Name Registration, Hosting Set Up & WordPress Installation!

Domain Name Registration, Hosting Set Up & WordPress Installation!

“The Journey Begins!”

**Please read through this post carefully as it contains a lot of important information**

*Coupon codes for the set up will be e-mail from blackboard – be sure to check your York e-mail to get the code. The code can only be used 1 time.

 

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/8 (Thursday Section)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TDTB0GQC0XVP2iIeeOiQfs8eMsD78LVtDr1nFequozzrLIITsCqE1Knep2eTiMqE.2UxTknK0aL5Qbvnb

Passcode: +sQ5c^33

 

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/6 (Tuesday Section)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/jFVxZkAV3TEVQmyyO5mawXSFM904IDZ3HTehC-7R_jRzpmzpVwOEBt-STqWAiGFM.0ma0RoR-Uxc7UJre

Passcode: Lj302W#M

 


Last week we began talking about Domain Names and what role they play in creating a digital identity on the web (and as a part of this class.) If you missed the first that post check out our course schedule page under week #7 as it has context and will help make this next step a bit smoother. 

This week we are going to get started! We are going to register a domain name and also set up web hosting, which will allow you to put files up online and will be discoverable through your new domain name! We are going to use a form of ‘shared hosting’ where you get a portion of a server – think of it as having an apartment in a building. With this shared hosting you will be able to do a lot of things including installing your own instance of WordPress (remember, this is NOT wordpress.com but the open source version of wordpress.org) so you can start building your website for your domain name.

We use a company called Reclaim Hosting, with which we have a contract with so you will enter a coupon code and start your account for free.

*The coupon code will be e-emailed to everyone via blackboard on the morning that your class meets during week #9

We chose this hosting company because they have a lot of experience working with students just like you, that are likely getting their first domain name and web hosting account. You will be creating an account just like you would with any online vendor with which you want to purchase something. So it’s not a ‘CUNY’ account, we’re just giving you the coupon code to pay for the year’s service.

You do not need to pay for anything, so please reach out if you have questions – [email protected]

With that said, you will need to provide a name, address, and phone number. Lets go to this sign-up page <— to get started with the domain name selection process.

1. First you will need to pick your domain name, make sure that it is available and make your selection to proceed. (I suggest sticking with the .com or .net extensions)

pick-a-domain-name

2. On the next page, check the ‘add ID protection.’

no-privacy

3. On the next page you should see two items in your cart and a price of $45 with ID protection, you will then enter the needed information for your account and provided coupon code and validate it. (you will NOT be charged for this, its already included in the course.)


validate-code

4. Your total should now be $0. If it is not then check the items and your cart and adjust.

5. You should now fill in your personal information, and select the payment by mail option. (again, you will not be charged anything.)

6. Complete the order and check your email for your account information and a verification of your e-mail, e-mail. With your new account information, log-on to Reclaiming Hosting. You must verify your e-mail by clicking on the link they provide.

7. YOU ARE NOW ALL SET AND READY TO START WORKING WITH YOUR NEW DOMAIN NAME AND WEB HOSTING ACCOUNT!

8. Its now TIME TO INSTALL WORDPRESS. – You will soon refer to the video below (coming after class on 4/6) and follow the step by step guide to install wordpress correctly. 

Coupon codes for the set up will be e-mail from blackboard – be sure to check your York e-mail to get the code.

 

 

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/8 (Thursday Section)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/TDTB0GQC0XVP2iIeeOiQfs8eMsD78LVtDr1nFequozzrLIITsCqE1Knep2eTiMqE.2UxTknK0aL5Qbvnb

Passcode: +sQ5c^33

 

**Here is the Step by Step Video from class on 4/6 (Tuesday Section Only)

https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/jFVxZkAV3TEVQmyyO5mawXSFM904IDZ3HTehC-7R_jRzpmzpVwOEBt-STqWAiGFM.0ma0RoR-Uxc7UJre

Passcode: Lj302W#M

 

 

The Mid-Semester Assessment Post

The Mid-Semester Assessment

This past 6.5 weeks in CT101 has been a great learning experience. I have learned so much in such a short time. I think embedding a video and hyperlinking were two great things that I learned. It is not overly complicated but it was good to learn how to express myself by putting videos and hyperlinking word in my blogs.

Post #1  was about me expressing myself and the happiness that the internet brings to my life. I posted a video and some Gifs that showed people a little bit about my sense of humor.

Post #2 allowed me to talk about my major in school and reason for taking this class. I was also given the opportunity to create my own Gif which described how I felt about CT101.

Post #3 was about the art of memes. I began this post by searching up the history and origins of memes. Memes help people express their creative sides, it also allows us to relate to one another. What I like best about memes is the ability to relay your messages in a clear and concise manner.

Post #4 allowed me to choose an assignment and replicate its outcome. I chose to do a collage which was a combination of my bucket list ideas through images. I also had to insert a caption in each image to tell the reader what my bucket list goal is.

Post #5 was the most interesting because it allowed me to choose my domain name and talk about what my website will be about. I inserted a screen shot of my favorite car website and place a couple hyperlinks for car websites I visit often. I enjoyed doing this post the most because I got to talk about cars and it is the first step before we start creating our website.

How am I doing in CT101? What grade do I believe I am maintaining? 

I feel like I am improving in every new post I create. I think I am currently maintaining a B grade in the class because I still have to go back to my post and add some more content to them. Since I learned new things in post 5, that means that I can improve on my earlier posts.

What have I learned the most? What is my greatest learned asset in this class so far?

In my opinion, I have learned how navigate online generators to create Memes and Gifs the most. My greatest asset I learned in this class so far has to be hyperlinking and embedding videos. Although they are simple tasks, not everyone knows how to embed videos or create hyperlinks.

What skills have I developed , cultivated and displayed regularly in my posts?

I have developed the ability to create a chronological flow in all my post. I have also been able to combine memes, gifs, videos and hyperlinks in all my posts.

How do I assess my performance through self-reflection in this class?

I think the best way for me to assess my performance through self-reflection is to read the comments that people post on my blogs and make adjustments if needed. I also feel like if I comment on other people’s post it will give me a different perspective on how I view my own post.

What do I know now that I did not know before taking this class?

Before this class I did not know how to create a meme, gif or hyperlink words.

Do I see my weekly blogging work expanding creatively? If so, please explain –  or am I stuck in a loop where my posts seem to look the same most of the time, how will I change that?

I see my blogs flourishing as I advance in my blogs. For example in Post # 4 I was able to combine the meme generator with the collage generator to create my collage project. I feel like the more I learn the more creative my posts become. I cannot wait to learn more and add them to my future and previous posts. If my posts are stuck in a loop I will seek out new types of generators or be more creative with the subject of my posts.

Domain Names

I never thought of a domain name as a child before but now I see that the name of a domain gives it meaning.

I think my website will be about cars because I have always been a huge gear head. My dad has been a mechanic for over 30 years and I would love to compare specifications and the body styles of different cars. I will also like my website to show people how to find exotic cars for cheap.

Motor trend is definitely one of my favorite websites to visit.

You just have to love the Mazda rx7 rotary engine or the Toyota supra twin turbo.

Cars are all about top speed and 0-60. Another favorite website that I love to visit is Top Gear.

Here is a list of a few domain names that popped up in my head.

Junkorjuiced, gear2gear,speedstars, rockyowhip, flipthewhip, sharegear, feedmyspeed, gasforbrass,speedspectech,speedsweatech

 

DS106

This assignment requires you to make collage from your bucket list and place a caption in each picture. All my images were retrieved from BeFunky. My captions were edited in makeameme. I started off with this image which represents me in a career that makes me smile. Most people work in a career that makes them miserable.

I stumbled across this video to help me with my thought process on a realistic bucket list. In my opinion, the ideas that you need to put into your bucket list collage requires motivation.

In my military career I use to jump 1200 feet from airplanes into a pile of dirt. I would love to jump 30,000 out the air into a peaceful field like this one.
It has always been my dream to see the northern lights. As a kid I would always see them in Disney movies.
My wife tells me that I am a great cook but I always wanted to cook meals that looked like it came out a 5 star restaurant.
I would love to explore the ocean and all the plant life that have yet to be discovered.
Like most people I want to travel the world and experience what every culture has to offer.
This is the final product of all my pictures combined to create my bucket list collage.

#4 Project Flexibility DS106

In this project, I chose two different assignments: one is the Movie Mashup Assignment and the other is cipher typography photo images one of the visual assignments that I found on the DS106 website.

1. Movie Mashup assignment:

So this assignment asks to select two movies that are often compared and combine them to create a new movie poster. The information and link about the assignments are posted below.

Movie Mashup

For this assignment, I chose the Netflix original series Stranger Things as there are many different movies that are often been compared to it. I created two movie posters for this assignment.  The posters were created using a web-based graphic editor Photopea. To create the first movie poster I chose the 1979 film Alien and gave it the movie title: Stranger Things ft. Aliens. In order to create this poster, I combined at least 5 to 6 images from both Stranger Things and Alien movies and edited them with the help of a Photopea editor. This was my first time photoshopping so I had to teach myself various techniques of layering and blending the images for this poster with the help of youtube videos. The end result is shown below.

For the second poster, I chose the combo of Stranger Things with the 1982 movie E.T where I combined the original movie poster of ST season 2 and E.T.  Final result is shown below.

And, finally, below are the various images I used for the two posters:

       

       

 

2. Cipher Typography Visual assignment:

This assignment asks to use the concepts of typography and silhouetted images to create a coded message. It is another assignment that I would be willing to try because I love cryptology and deciphering stuff. This project was really interesting to me as I loved the concept but at the same time,  I wasn’t sure of the right tools to use for the assignment.

Cipher Typography Photo Images