Module 3 - (optional) Standards task

Raising the bar...

A summary of my 5 most important online writing rules:

1. Place most important content at top of pages and start of sentences.

2. Be concise.

3. Make your text ‘scannable’.

4. Use bulleted lists.

5. Write for your audience and remember;

• accessibility
• literacy rates
• attention spans, etc.

I have subscribed to Jakob Nielsen's ‘Alertbox’ for many years, so I was delighted to see him being used as a source. I am bound by a style directive at work it is (at times highly prescriptive) and much of his writing is referenced there.

Mr Nielsen is still right after all these years (in my humble opinion), but he does go back and edit his own writings as he finds more as does Dennis Jerz, both of which set good examples, so in this way keeps his advice current.

The 'Newbie Web Author Checklist' appears to be largely common sense (eg
Do all your links actually work?) but still useful. It complements the works of authors such as Jakobs.

By adhering to standards, writers for the web can ensure that the many levels of users are catered in a consistent manner, so, as these users become more familiar or experienced with the web, they will find it easier to use and navigate the web.

References

Jerz, D.G. (2007). Top 5 Web Conventions (Writing and Design). Retrieved July 20, 2008, from http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-text/conventions.htm

Jerz, D.G. (2007). Newbie Web Author Checklist: Before you publish that project... Retrieved July 20, 2008, from http://jerz.setonhill.edu/writing/e-text/checklist.htm

Nielsen, J. (1997). How Users Read on the Web
Retrieved July 20, 2008, from http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html

Nielsen, J. (2007). Blah-Blah Text: Keep, Cut, or Kill?
Retrieved July 20, 2008, from http://www.useit.com/alertbox/intro-text.html

Module 3 HTML task

Cracking the code...

I can code – I made my first page! I do feel a sense of achievement – as this is something I have never done before and I am really looking forward to completing my first page.

Some difficulties

I got stuck when I tried to change the background colour – I typed in

<.... bgcolour="#ccffcc">*

and couldn’t change the background no matter how many times saved my notepad then refreshed...

I re-typed it then I tried again...

<.... bgcolor="#ccffcc">*

...no...

Then I 'copy and pasted' from lesson 2 To compare what I had typed...

Aha!

The perils of American spelling - no ‘u’ in colour! An important lesson I learned is to literally type what you see on screen and not what you think it should be.

This also happened with ‘centre’ and ‘center’ but I was more aware to look for it this time.

I can bold and italicise but I understand that you should never used italics on a websites, as Baxter (2003) states, it makes the words difficult to read as pixels are not rendered properly.

I learned that spacing is also very important! Missing or adding just one space plays havoc with your code (and when your eyeballs have dried out is quite tricky to spot!).

Other problems included; my Internet explorer kept blocking pop ups and running scripts so I was constantly having to select 'yes' for 'do you want to allow this ?…' and at times, the 'refreshed' page didn’t always take on the html it was supposed to.

“One more note about links... It is perfectly acceptable to link to someone's web page(s) without asking. Links are what makes the Web the Web. Again, because this is a very common newbie misconception... if you want to link to another web page... just link to it. You don't have to ask permission, even if you really really feel like asking would just be the polite thing to do... it's just not necessary. (Barta, n.d)

I don’t agree with the above from Page Tutor…our linking policy at work is very stringent and we request that people ask permission before they link to our site.

Cool stuff

Unordered (bullettted lists) and ordered lists were fun to make! and I like the comments section – hidden messages eh! the comment must start with

Validator check is cool I corrected the deliberate error in the html to get a ‘passed validation’ message to understand more about how they are presented.

Chalk and cheese! there are many differences between HTML and blogging

Before I started the HTML task, I thought that the differences between html and blogging are with a blog you need to concentrate on your content – how you express yourself and you can let the systems take care of the formatting. I still think this and the tutorial reinforced this opinion.

For now, blogging is much easier (given my time contraints), but from a satisfaction point of view I really liked the challenge of learning a new language - I enjoyed the tutiorial although I was very long and I had to complete it over several ‘uni study sessions’. Sometime I was frustrated when I could not figure our where I had gone wrong (colour/color) but it did teach me to pay attention.

I also now look at the view source and it makes much more sense – before I could only pick out little sections of source such as this is bold. I have a great appreciation now for people that code in html!

* I have to truncate the html, otherwise it will not show up on the blog post.

References

Barta, J. (n.d) So, you want to make a Web Page!
Retrieved 20 July, 2008, from http://www.pagetutor.com/html_tutor/lesson14.html

Baxter, B.(2003). Making the Web Work. Designing Effective Web Applications. Indianapolis : New Riders, p354.

Module 3 - Initial investigations

HTML, SGML, HTML - OR - The case of the curiously disappearing vowels…

I approached this task with great interest as, at work, I am usually writing content but it is manipulated and published by others. I (currently) have a very limited understanding of HTML (eg I knew that strong = bold in my parlance!) So this will be a great opportunity to understand how it works for ‘the other side’ of the process.

Before I started the tasks, I think that the differences between HTML and blogging are; with a blog you need to concentrate on your content – how you express yourself and you can let the ‘system’ take care of the formatting.

Using HTML, you need to also concentrate on the formatting the code is intrinsically related to (or combined with) the content (text, links text) “form and content became inseparable in html” Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us (Wench, M. 2007).

Using mark up which is “character text or binary codes 'added to' data content in order to convey particular information about that data.” (What is SGML, 1997) you have much more creative freedom in an html page that you create and also with usability and navigation elements.

Mark up is used to describe “ the nature, function, or type of content” (What is SGML, 1997) and not “…how that data content should be displayed, printed on paper, or otherwise processed” (What is SGML, 1997).

Blogs are restricted to what the blog software can offer you or what the application owner wants you to be able to do.

With HTML, you can create you own CSS (cascading style sheet) which is portable. It also means that identical content can be manipulated quickly and easily using a CSS.

A great example of this is the Zen garden, (Zen garden, n.d)
where the same content can be manipulated into various styles.


“Blogs …combine elements of hypertext with what is in many ways a much more ’linear’ form than most websites. This is because new posts are organised chronologically“. (Contributing to the Infosphere: e-writing?, n.d) is this a reason why blogs are so popular – because humans can relate easily to them back to them back to books?

References
Wench, M. (2007) Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us.Retrieved July 13, 2008 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gmP4nk0EOE

Module 3, Contributing to the Infosphere: e-writing? (n.d).Retrieved July 13, 2008 from http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_b/scripts/serve_home

What is SGML? (1997). Retrieved July 13, 2008 from http://www.isgmlug.org/sgmlhelp/exetwhy.htm

Zen garden (n.d)
Retrieved July 13, 2008 from http://www.csszengarden.com/

Reflections on Module 2 - Communicating

The untimely (quasi-demise) of CherryBlossom Parx*

“What the web does is change the shape of communication” Tim Berners-Lee (Farndale, 2008).

Communications are greatly enabled on the internet, but you are reliant on technology working as it should.

Interacting with many people (individually and severally) over the past few weeks via chat, email and newsgroups has been a fascinating experience. Having a common interest (even just if it is Net11) is a great ice breaker – most people are very willing to give of their own experiences.


Sharing what you think is part of it. You get out what you put in Concept 20 generating awareness through participation (Allen, n.d.). Regardless of the way you communicate, being and active and interested (and interesting!) participant are sure ways to make the most of these kinds of communications.


Communicating can be tiresome at times; because of various glitches – both technical and human. You are also reliant on your chat mates’ ability to correctly (or similarly) use the technology. Plus, you need to be available at the same time for chat (or thankfully, not so available for other ways). It took several days to be admitted into the Skype chatroom and I was unable to successfully register on second life and bring my semi-created avatar (Cherry Blossom Parx) into existence.

Over several hours 1 evening, I was continually reassured to try again soon. Actually this was a relief as once I had finished this task (which was the sole reason for bringing Cherry into existence) – what was I to do with her once she had ceased to become a useful ‘tool’ for me. Would I leave her to her own devices? Make her do away with herself - is this even permitted? Thankfully this is one dilemma I need not wrestle with.


Via our discussion boards, I organised a chat as I couldn’t make a previously organised one. It was great to chat with others. Group chat is overwhelming at first, but following the threads becomes easier once you’ve had some experience of it.

Online communications are varied and the best channels depend on the requirements of the communication. Communicators need to ensure that the right communications channel is used and just because new technology exists, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it should be used in place of other methods, eg face to face. IM and chat are great for social and some work applications...

* CherryBlossom Parx was the chosen name of my Second Life avatar, whom, sadly never became real due to technical issues on SL.

References.

Allen, M. et al (n.d).Internet Communications
Concepts Document, WebCT, Net 11. Initially retrieved 6 June 2008 from http://webct.curtin.edu.au/SCRIPT/305033_b/scripts/serve_home


Farndale, N. (2008, June 21).World Wide Wizard. The Sydney Morning Herald. Good Weekend p. 50.

Module 2 Tasks - Chat and Group Chat

Are you there?

I couldn't make the first chat as arranged through web ct so tried to arrange another on Friday night (4 July).

Technology is fantastic until it all comes crashing down on you. 1 of my course-mates was unable to join the chat as she was having computer issues. I also tried (unsuccessfully) over the course of an evening to create and 'bring to (Second) life an avatar to try chat that way.

I thought it would be a quick process to download Yahoo messenger and, well , cut a long story short, we didn't have a group chat on Friday...

I did have a fantastic chat with Mandy though : )

Organising a group chat

I had ‘advertised’ for a group chat on web ct and also our Yahoo grouplist for Monday night (7 July). At one point on the night, (before group chat time) I was chatting with Mandy and also having a separate conversation with Sarah, both over YahooChat.

I was also in Skype (finally got let in!). Gaynor had invited me for a chat on Skype (we had been trying to hook up for a few days but had had technical issues).

Mandy couldn’t get to Skype, so I invited Sarah to join Mandy and I on YahooChat. I conferenced them in to a chat together.

So I was chatting with the large group as well as a smaller group.
The group chat was held together quite well - there were about 8 of us. I found it easy to contribute to both conversations, but had to type frantically!

Skype was good for general ‘q and a’ style conversations, whereas I found the smaller conferences and chats on platforms such as YahooChat are great for getting to know course mates better – Hi girls! ; )

Module 2 Tasks Newsgroups

Abracadabra!

Took a tour of usenet sites and newzbot but thought I would cut to the chase and use the link to access Usenet through Google from Module 2 tasks - time is getting away!

There is an amazing amount of newsgroups I feel naive that until this task, I really had no idea that these really existed. So after some perusing, I joined 'Dumbledore’s army' (thought it was most likely to be G rated (I have seen some creepy stuff over the past few days watching these newsgroups) and would be a bit of fun.

I chose this because I have read all of the Harry Potter novels (yes I am a child at heart!) and chose this one because of its 'about us description': "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities" - Albus Dumbledore (Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets).

http://groups.google.com/group/dumbledore retrieved July 6 2008

Recently, the group has been concerned with the recent influx of spam and in fact many of the newsgroups I looked at had a lot of spam and particularly adult content.

Here is my post:
Lulu
View profile
If I ever get to meet my patronus I hope it would be a swan...as they are serene but there's a lot going on under the surface lol. Swans are symbol of love and I like the idea of that an 'ugly duckling' can transform into a beautiful swan. I think that Hermione's character was one that transformed the most throughout the HP series...what do you think?

More options Jul 6, 12:42 pm
From: Lulu.hunter@yahoo.com.au
Date: Sat, 5 Jul 2008 19:42:12 -0700 (PDT)
Local: Sun, Jul 6 2008 12:42 pm
Subject: Re: ponder over patronus

Off to make some magic ; )

Module 2 Lists

On the Rich list?

Inspecting the content on http://groups.yahoo.com/ and also http:/lists.topica.com/... my first impression was how do people make time for all of this?

Had a quick scan around – topics I would feel conformable contributing within (books, literature , September births etc) and those that I really would not (guns, romance and relationships)

Even a cursory scan on the public email lists showed that some people were not following the rules – eg I saw many ads and other posts that did not appear to be related to the topics (which were quite specific).

Some of the yahoo groups appear to be thinly veiled (or even obvious) groups for products on June 30 there were groups for curves female gym, special k challenge and All-Bran Challenge - are these people all in need of losing weight because they sit in front of a screen all the time?

Email list pros

· A wide range of opinions and information on many topics.
· Can be totally public or membership only.
· Contribution can give you a sense of reward.

Email list cons

· Being so publicly searchable can attract a wider and therefore potentially more unwelcomed audience.
· You may get the impression that a conversation is between you and another list member, but in reality, there may be thousands of people reading your opinion (Concept 19).
· Need constant input from members to keep interesting and engaging – humans are fickle creatures and with so much information competing for one’s attention, members of the groups can quickly move on to the next item of interest whatever that may be.
· Can contain posts of inappropriate content ( from ‘off the topic’ through to obscene).
· You need to contribute/ post so people know of your existence (Concept 20).
· May not receive timely answers to queries or comments.
· Discussions can become more private in nature which “alienates other list members” (Concept 19)

Discussion boards pros

· Select audience – eg WEB CT discussion board, so more ‘private’
· More specific content/ interests
· Creates a sense of community and support for people having similar experiences.

Discussion board cons

· So many threads, there is a danger of being completely overwhelmed by the amount of information contained on them.
· Need constant input from members to keep interesting and engaging – humans are fickle creatures and with so much information competing for one’s attention, members of the groups can quickly move on to the next item of interest whatever that may be.
· You need to contribute/ post so people know of your existence (Concept 20).
· May not receive timely answers to queries or comments.

Email lists are more suitable for:

• Information sharing
• Advertising / advertorial
  

Discussion boards are more suitable for:

• Discussion
• Educational purposes