Sunday, March 22, 2009
Reflections of a Site Designer
Designing this site has proved to be more difficult than I had anticipated. Creating a basic layout seemed like an easy concept, but there is so much more that goes into the designing process than I had imagined. Although I am using a template as a guide, there are still alot of other options and choices that have to be made by me as a designer. How do I want my site to stand out from the next person's? I have to choose colors that are visually appealing and also complement my logo design. I am still not quite sure how the final outcome will become a functioning page. I hope to get the more technical aspects down since I haven't much time! I better get back to work.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Logo
So here is the logo that I came up with. It was difficult to find something that completely encompassed what interior decorating is so I took the aesthetically pleasing route which is necessary for good decorating. I specifically substituted the "I" in Inspiring with a flower to emphasize the tagline "let your inspiration bloom." This ended up being a pretty fun creative assignment minus the program glitches from my inexperience!
Friday, February 27, 2009
Logo Design
As I have been pondering all that a good logo should encompass, my actual logo design has become more difficult. It seems silly the amount of thought and research that needs to go into the making of something so small. In actuality, a logo can be the biggest influence for a company. It is crucial to find a balance in that little logo to ensure that it accurately reflects what it is you do and the audience you would like to attract. I am still having difficulty with my logo as I run through the pictures in my mind that come up when I think of interior decorating. There are so many aspects of decorating that no one picture seems to reflect. I am sure I will get it as I continue to play around and sketch!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Learning Online: Advantage and Disadvantage
An advantage of learning online is definitely the flexibility of schedule. It allows anyone to learn anything, and from whatever location they have available. I completed another online course just after I had my daughter. I was only able to do this because it was offered online. I liked that I could work around Lily's schedule, during naps and such, without any further disruptions of my schedule. I am also the type of person that works well by myself, and because of this, I am able to enjoy this type of learning.
On the other hand, a major disadvantage for me personally is the computer related gliches and failures. I don't know if computers hate me, or if I am completely ignorant to them, but something always seems to go wrong. For example, I remember writing a 10 page paper, and on the 9th page, the computer decided to shut down. I searched and searched for the paper after I rebooted, but it had been lost. Needless to say, I ended up pulling an all nighter. I also have a recent example using Blackboard. For the past week, Blackboard would not allow me to sign in and have access to the assignments and discussions. This aspect can be very frustrating and interfere with the sense of organization you need in order for an online course to be successful. Hopefully I will not run into any more problems, and always keep a backup!
On the other hand, a major disadvantage for me personally is the computer related gliches and failures. I don't know if computers hate me, or if I am completely ignorant to them, but something always seems to go wrong. For example, I remember writing a 10 page paper, and on the 9th page, the computer decided to shut down. I searched and searched for the paper after I rebooted, but it had been lost. Needless to say, I ended up pulling an all nighter. I also have a recent example using Blackboard. For the past week, Blackboard would not allow me to sign in and have access to the assignments and discussions. This aspect can be very frustrating and interfere with the sense of organization you need in order for an online course to be successful. Hopefully I will not run into any more problems, and always keep a backup!
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Informal Learning Environments
The two informal learning environments that I chose to evaluate were:
1. www.doityourself.com
2. www.hgtv.com
Both of these sites center around home and garden decorating and improvements. Both sites give tips and supporting links and examples for do it yourself decorating. I specifically chose these two sites because they both broadcast their information on their own television channel. I felt that there would be a sense of competition between the two sites, and a more equal playing field than comparing a small one man decorating site to one of these larger ones.
The www.doityourself.com’s home page is a predominantly simple white masked background, with pops of blue and black in the text. There are very few pictures to support the information which can be both a positive and a negative. I say this because it gives my eyes and mind a break by not being constantly distracted by the next picture, but the lack of pictures also makes the task daunting and a bit boring. The hgtv.com site also has a white background, but there are many more pops of colors from the added pictures.
Both sites are targeted to a more mature age group, I would say starting at about 18 years and up. Much of the information on both sites requires you to own your own home, but they have plenty of alternate information that could work for renters or as preparation for buying or selling a home. The do-it-yourself site seems to cater more to an audience that is in search of specific knowledge and help, while the hgtv site acts more as inspiration with plenty of examples from decorators and designers as well as the average person.
I prefer the hgtv site to the do-it-yourself site because of the layout and the before and after blogs and photos. Both sites have forums where online users can interact and ask questions, but www.doityourself.com takes a more how to and book knowledge approach, while the other site shows more real life scenarios and examples. When it comes to decorating, I prefer visual aides to accompany instruction. This helps to boost my creativity and spark inspiration for the current project that I am on. The do-it-yourself site is more specific dedicated, which would be good for projects that I may have no idea how to do myself, such as putting up crown moulding or the difference between tools.
Kevin Kruse talks about the importance of chunking information and organizing the menu structure in his article, “Designing e-learning User Interfaces Part 1: Assisting User Memory.” One of the points made in the article was concerning the number of items on a menu. “A menu should ideally have no more than seven items on it. If a menu has more than seven items, see if it can be split logically into a higher-level menu and a sub-menu.” The hgtv site does a good job of limiting the amount of items under one menu, making it easier to find what I am looking for, and remembering for the future. The do-it-yourself site has an overwhelming amount of information laid out on the home page with some menus being too broad. I feel that the site could benefit from some submenus by making the learning process quicker and less frustrating.
Another one of Kevin Kruse’s articles, “How to Write Great Learning Objectives,” talks about the use of Mager’s theory of behavioral objectives in the design of instructional materials. The three components that a behavioral objective should have is behavior, condition, and standard. After looking at specific topics on each site I found that they both did a good job in utilizing them. For example, on the do-it-yourself site, the behavior that was researched was how to remove paint. The condition was explained by stating three different methods, the tools needed, and definitions for terms that were used. The different scenarios that were stated helped to create the standard, and show a range of acceptable answers for the issue.
1. www.doityourself.com
2. www.hgtv.com
Both of these sites center around home and garden decorating and improvements. Both sites give tips and supporting links and examples for do it yourself decorating. I specifically chose these two sites because they both broadcast their information on their own television channel. I felt that there would be a sense of competition between the two sites, and a more equal playing field than comparing a small one man decorating site to one of these larger ones.
The www.doityourself.com’s home page is a predominantly simple white masked background, with pops of blue and black in the text. There are very few pictures to support the information which can be both a positive and a negative. I say this because it gives my eyes and mind a break by not being constantly distracted by the next picture, but the lack of pictures also makes the task daunting and a bit boring. The hgtv.com site also has a white background, but there are many more pops of colors from the added pictures.
Both sites are targeted to a more mature age group, I would say starting at about 18 years and up. Much of the information on both sites requires you to own your own home, but they have plenty of alternate information that could work for renters or as preparation for buying or selling a home. The do-it-yourself site seems to cater more to an audience that is in search of specific knowledge and help, while the hgtv site acts more as inspiration with plenty of examples from decorators and designers as well as the average person.
I prefer the hgtv site to the do-it-yourself site because of the layout and the before and after blogs and photos. Both sites have forums where online users can interact and ask questions, but www.doityourself.com takes a more how to and book knowledge approach, while the other site shows more real life scenarios and examples. When it comes to decorating, I prefer visual aides to accompany instruction. This helps to boost my creativity and spark inspiration for the current project that I am on. The do-it-yourself site is more specific dedicated, which would be good for projects that I may have no idea how to do myself, such as putting up crown moulding or the difference between tools.
Kevin Kruse talks about the importance of chunking information and organizing the menu structure in his article, “Designing e-learning User Interfaces Part 1: Assisting User Memory.” One of the points made in the article was concerning the number of items on a menu. “A menu should ideally have no more than seven items on it. If a menu has more than seven items, see if it can be split logically into a higher-level menu and a sub-menu.” The hgtv site does a good job of limiting the amount of items under one menu, making it easier to find what I am looking for, and remembering for the future. The do-it-yourself site has an overwhelming amount of information laid out on the home page with some menus being too broad. I feel that the site could benefit from some submenus by making the learning process quicker and less frustrating.
Another one of Kevin Kruse’s articles, “How to Write Great Learning Objectives,” talks about the use of Mager’s theory of behavioral objectives in the design of instructional materials. The three components that a behavioral objective should have is behavior, condition, and standard. After looking at specific topics on each site I found that they both did a good job in utilizing them. For example, on the do-it-yourself site, the behavior that was researched was how to remove paint. The condition was explained by stating three different methods, the tools needed, and definitions for terms that were used. The different scenarios that were stated helped to create the standard, and show a range of acceptable answers for the issue.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Design Draft
For my e-Lerning module, I plan to use my knowledge of interior design and decoration as a means of teaching others. Homes are places where people need to be comfortable and at peace, and when you have a design dilemma, the peace is interrupted. By creating a module that walks you through the do’s and don’ts of simple decorating, many of the everyday problems people have with their homes will be solved, and peace will be restored.
There are various types of audiences that a decorating site could cater to. There are the first time homeowners with a blank slate and a ‘decorating block,’ that just need a little inspiration to get started. Then, there are people who have not changed their décor in 10 to 20 years who need updating, and need to know what is up to date. Bachelors and newly graduated college students seem to face the same problem of hand me downs, and need to find their own style. Another audience could be renters who are very limited in the things that can be changed in their homes, but need a way to make their temporary residence feel more inviting and a better reflection of themselves and not the owners. Men and women alike could benefit from these decorating tips.
My first objective would be to ensure that the site was visually appealing and captivating to the potential audience. A well decorated room will draw people in, and those people will be more inclined to stay awhile if the décor is enjoyable. The same goes with a website. If I were to come across a page and it looked like a disaster, poorly organized, difficult to maneuver, and lacking in quality and effort, I would not spend very much time on that page. Creating a nice layout, visually appealing color scheme, and readable text will all aid in the creation of a good and successful flow.
From there, I can inform learners of the objectives of the site through stimulating recall of prior learning. I could pose a question, for example, “Having trouble decorating your home?” A question as simple as this can provoke so many different memories from different people because of how general it is. The broadness of the question draws the learner in, and creates curiosity on how the site can help with their troubles.
I would present the content of the site in various forms to reach the maximum amount of people. One such way would be simple text. I could make a chart of do’s and don’ts, but in addition, pair a picture with the do’s and don’ts to aid those visual learners. For those not familiar with decorating terms the pictures would help to teach the new vocabulary. I could also create step by step instructions for simple color combinations, revamping an old piece of furniture, or simple accessorizing as a way for the learners to practice what they are learning. Perhaps using a video of a “how to” would reach out to others who like the idea of a student teacher approach to learning.
If possible, I think that having an area for people to upload their unfinished or finished projects could help with providing feedback from me, but also from their peers. It is best to have a variety of opinions and comments in order to gain the most benefit from a learning experience. This would also prove as a way to assess the performance of the learners. Advising that a portfolio or notebook be kept of all of the tips and projects that are finished, will help to enhance retention of the information. If a question or problem arises, the information can easily be found if kept in one place and in an organized manner.
The learning objectives that I would like to incorporate would first start with recognition. If you don’t notice that something is wrong, then there will be no real drive to fix anything. After recognizing that there are issues, the next step is to recognize where mistakes were made. This is a huge step in any learning process, and possibly the hardest hurdle to get over. It is like an alcoholic realizing that they have a problem. I want to provide the tools for someone who has just realized that something is off in their décor and lead by example. Through the many examples that are listed above, I hope to help others walk through a wonderful journey towards discovering their own inspirations.
Fear keeps too many people from trying new things, and to be able to alleviate those fears will uncover so much potential in a room and a person. A fantastic thing about interior design and decorating is that every time you walk into that finished room all your efforts are worthwhile. It just takes one project to open up the floodgates of your creativity. Being able to feel confident in your own designs and decorating is a huge objective to overcome. Once you finish one room you naturally want the rest of your home to reflect your style as well, so that finished room is acting as constant encouragement to go on to the next project. I just hope to create a module that inspires along with teaches!
There are various types of audiences that a decorating site could cater to. There are the first time homeowners with a blank slate and a ‘decorating block,’ that just need a little inspiration to get started. Then, there are people who have not changed their décor in 10 to 20 years who need updating, and need to know what is up to date. Bachelors and newly graduated college students seem to face the same problem of hand me downs, and need to find their own style. Another audience could be renters who are very limited in the things that can be changed in their homes, but need a way to make their temporary residence feel more inviting and a better reflection of themselves and not the owners. Men and women alike could benefit from these decorating tips.
My first objective would be to ensure that the site was visually appealing and captivating to the potential audience. A well decorated room will draw people in, and those people will be more inclined to stay awhile if the décor is enjoyable. The same goes with a website. If I were to come across a page and it looked like a disaster, poorly organized, difficult to maneuver, and lacking in quality and effort, I would not spend very much time on that page. Creating a nice layout, visually appealing color scheme, and readable text will all aid in the creation of a good and successful flow.
From there, I can inform learners of the objectives of the site through stimulating recall of prior learning. I could pose a question, for example, “Having trouble decorating your home?” A question as simple as this can provoke so many different memories from different people because of how general it is. The broadness of the question draws the learner in, and creates curiosity on how the site can help with their troubles.
I would present the content of the site in various forms to reach the maximum amount of people. One such way would be simple text. I could make a chart of do’s and don’ts, but in addition, pair a picture with the do’s and don’ts to aid those visual learners. For those not familiar with decorating terms the pictures would help to teach the new vocabulary. I could also create step by step instructions for simple color combinations, revamping an old piece of furniture, or simple accessorizing as a way for the learners to practice what they are learning. Perhaps using a video of a “how to” would reach out to others who like the idea of a student teacher approach to learning.
If possible, I think that having an area for people to upload their unfinished or finished projects could help with providing feedback from me, but also from their peers. It is best to have a variety of opinions and comments in order to gain the most benefit from a learning experience. This would also prove as a way to assess the performance of the learners. Advising that a portfolio or notebook be kept of all of the tips and projects that are finished, will help to enhance retention of the information. If a question or problem arises, the information can easily be found if kept in one place and in an organized manner.
The learning objectives that I would like to incorporate would first start with recognition. If you don’t notice that something is wrong, then there will be no real drive to fix anything. After recognizing that there are issues, the next step is to recognize where mistakes were made. This is a huge step in any learning process, and possibly the hardest hurdle to get over. It is like an alcoholic realizing that they have a problem. I want to provide the tools for someone who has just realized that something is off in their décor and lead by example. Through the many examples that are listed above, I hope to help others walk through a wonderful journey towards discovering their own inspirations.
Fear keeps too many people from trying new things, and to be able to alleviate those fears will uncover so much potential in a room and a person. A fantastic thing about interior design and decorating is that every time you walk into that finished room all your efforts are worthwhile. It just takes one project to open up the floodgates of your creativity. Being able to feel confident in your own designs and decorating is a huge objective to overcome. Once you finish one room you naturally want the rest of your home to reflect your style as well, so that finished room is acting as constant encouragement to go on to the next project. I just hope to create a module that inspires along with teaches!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Final Project Brainstorming...Hmmmm...
I am in the process of opening my own interior decorating business, Inspiring Spaces, and thought that the final project would be a good way to teach others' a little bit about design and decorating. Maybe I could pull examples from everyday problems that people have with decorating, and then walk them through the solutions. I thought that I could use pictures as instructional tools, before and after, color combinations, etc. I am sure I will come up with more specifics as the course goes on and have a better idea of what makes a successful e-learning module.
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