Reflection 2, Week 3.

Introduction

In this week's task we were given three ICT tools to further explore and examine our findings on one of these tools. I have chosen the website and will explore this in further detail. First I explored the website creation through Weebly then how this could be used as a tool in the learning environment. Then I conducted a Positive, Negative and Interesting (PMI) overview on having website creation in the learning environment.

Website Building

In my last year of university I studied writing code for HTML (Hypertext Mark-up language) and (CSS Cascade Style Sheets). This is the first basic code writing for creating a website. As it states in the name HTML, (language) it is like learning another language. Like any language there are many anomalies unique aspects which are not learnt until practicing the subject. 

In the course we basically worked on designing a website and the important aspect was to create some kind of interaction of the website with the user. This week's task in some way is much the same however I have had to tailor my interactions of the website to a new audience of students, rather than potential customers as per my past websites.

This week I have used a "What you see is what you get" (WYSIWYG) software website or blog building application called Weebly to design a basic website. Weebly basically gives the ability for anyone with basic computer skills to design and develop their own website or blog. It has a large range of templates which help give the user a starting point on the design and layout of their creation Fanini, Rusenko, & Veltri. (2006).

Much like Google Blogger there are many little hidden discrepancies around the design process. For example I have found often when pasting content into Blogger from another source the data is often corrupted or hard to style the same as the existing content. Also often in the draft mode this can appear very different then when published. This is often the case with typical code programming for websites. This is a challenge students would need to overcome and find ways around glitches in software coding programs that can be inhibiting at times.


At first my thoughts around this was how will students learn about website construction if using this type of format rather than the traditional code writing practice of HTML. In some ways this could be compared to going to the library and researching a topic which was the more traditional method. To now the common method of conducting your research by searching online for your content. 

However as I explored the Weebly software I discovered many similarities in traditional code writing, as there where many limitations. This is much the case in the practice of typing HTML code. As you delve into programming you require more technical responses from your website. This then requires more knowledge in the HTML programming language. The Weebly software does not offer certain features unless you are willing to pay for the service. This is a challenge that all novice website programmers will face. What the Weebly software does however offer is a sample of website building for students. The students who then find this interesting can then pursue this field further and obtain more knowledge in this area. 

Website Task for Students

My thoughts then moved onto creating a website that would encourage students to want to learn more on this topic. Perhaps a promotional tool for young web programmers to encourage them into the field.

I based the website on displaying what the day in the life of a programmer who had chosen this as their choice of career could look like. I obviously added some spin as Bachelor in Business Graduate would naturally do. I did this by creating a character who was much like a modern day James Bond secret agent. 

To view the website simply click on the below link or image in Fig 1 to take you directly to the website.

Fig 1

http://patrickmcnallyss0269779.weebly.com/

A task that this could be used for in a learning environment could be for students in a Business Studies subject to create a website for a small business, government agency, blog site or even a not for profit organisation. This would encourage students to research the topic so they knew and understood what kind of content was required for a website. At the same time exploring their skills in the design and program aspect of creating a website.

Positive, Minus & Interesting (PMI) for Website design in the classroom

After mocking up a dummy website on the Weebly website creation application. I decided to conduct some further thought in regards to the controversy of allowing website design software into the learning environment. A Positive, Minus and Interesting (PMI) is a useful tool for weighing up the positives and negatives of a decision or course of direction you intend to take. It also allows you to look at the situation and decide if any action is required. The PMI was developed by Edward de Bono in 1982 Hill (n.d.). 

During the process of the PMI I struggled with any positives and it really looked like it was going to fall under the category as a negative or no go topic. However as I continued to think about the topic I found more positives started to flow through. I now also realise from the process it would work a lot better in a group situation where different personality types and opinions could be collected to obtain a greater diversified range of responses. Unfortunately I did not have access to a group but this certainly could be a great tool to use for a Wiki with my fellow colleagues that are also currently studying this course.  In the end I believe the positives outweighed the negatives which is evident in Fig 1 below. During the PMI process under the category interesting I became aware that most of the negatives could be controlled in some way or mean. The negatives could also become areas of teaching greater awareness to the students to aide avoiding these negative implications. For a better view of the PMI I created please refer to the below link Fig 2 where I have included this in my Weebly website where there is a larger and clearer view of this image.

Link to PMI on my Weebly Website.

http://patrickmcnallyss0269779.weebly.com/pmi.html

Fig 2. PMI.

Well thanks again for reading my blog and if you would like to contribute or have something to say about my blog I would love to receive your comments.

Week 3.
Final Post: 26.03.15

References:

Hill, R. (n.d.). Mind Tools, Weighing the Pros and Cons of a Decision. Retrieved from http://www.washington.edu/research/rapid/resources/toolsTemplates/plus_minus_interesting.pdf

Fanini, C. Rusenko, D & Veltri, D.  (2006). Weebly [Computer software]. San Francisco, CA.