Stacy-Ann's Final Project: "Search Basics"

Enjoy,

~Stace

Stacy-Ann's Photostory: Skydiving May 7, 2010

Enjoy,
~Stace

Another "response" to On Lionel Kearns.

This is song that I enjoy by Flight of the Conchords called "The Humans Are Dead." They have a cool binary solo at the end that I remembered when looking at the On Lionel Kearns page. I hope you understand and enjoy the humor. : )



~Stace

Stacy-Ann's Final Project Description

Stacy-Ann Edwards
Digital Literacy
July 13, 2010
Final Project Description

            I am still debating which of the two options presented below will be the actual finished final product. I have interest in both search marketing and guitar for difference reasons. 

            I worked as a digital media planner in the advertising/marketing industry for a few years. While working I focused only on “display banners” (an ad with images or interaction displayed on the web). Recently, I became interested in search because my brother in-law, who is a small business owner, expressed his interest in using search to grow his business. He asked my advice knowing that I working in the online marketing realm. In our conversation, I gave him a brief run down of how Google search worked. He quickly reaped the benefits of search marketing/advertising when groups from out of state reached out to him to learn more about his services. I had never been truly interested in search before this although I worked closely with the search team on my accounts and assisted in interpreting and presenting the data. I decided that while I took a break from the industry to explore teaching that I would strive to become certified in Google Search Analytics. After which, I could use my knowledge to assist small business owners or make my self more valuable if I decided to return to online marketing. 

            Guitar is of interest to me because it is my “stress release hobby.” I use it to unwind and well as stretch my creative muscle. I recently discovered than my 8-year-old nephew has an interest in guitar. He wants to play. I would love to send him to this amazing guitar summer camp in Manhattan, but I have neither the time nor money to make this dream a reality in his life. We have also grown a part over the past few years and I have not been spending any time with him or his younger brother. I thought that this project would give me an opportunity to share my basic guitar knowledge with my nephew and help to forge a relationship with him via the web since I have no time to actually spend face-to-face with him. I have been playing guitar for about 1.5 years now and believe I have enough skills to impart the very basics about guitar. It would also be a good way for me to reinforce what I have learned since I haven’t been too diligent this year due to graduate classes and work. Perhaps his younger brother would want to learn as well! 

            Both options will be beneficial to different people/groups in different ways. Option 1, a final project about Google Search Marketing 101, could be used to start a consulting business on the side or used in client presentations if I return to marketing. This task is more daunting and will require an immense amount of over simplification and “thought” on my part. Option 2, a final project introducing the basics of guitar, would allow me to forge a closer relationship with my nephew(s).  

Option 1: Google Search Marketing 101

For the final project video, I plan to create a simple Google Search Marketing 101 video discussing:

1.       What is search and search marketing?

2.      How Google differs from other search engines (briefly).

3.      How to purchase keywords on Google (perhaps).

My audience would be small business owners and entrepreneurs seeking to utilize search to grow their presence on the web and, subsequently, their business. In this case I would focus on writers or teachers wanting to be published or wanting to promote their website.

The tools I would use are:

1.       iPhone 4/iMovie to conduct interviews with classmates about their knowledge of search.

2.      Jing to capture images from the web, specifically to highlight the different elements of search on Google. Or, to captures charts for search statistics.

3.      Google to get other miscellaneous images.

4.      Wordle for a unique font design (perhaps).

5.      iTunes library to add music or sound of some sort.

These tools will be best to provide an idea of what people (in the class) know about search and will assist in the flow, clarity, design and layout of the overall presentation.

Option 2: Intro to Guitar Lesson 1

For the final project video, I plan to create an introductory guitar lesson for my eight-year-old nephew.

I would discuss:

1.       The guitar parts.

2.      How to read the strings on the guitar.

3.      How to read basic tablature.

4.      Two or three basic chords that could play a simple song.

The tools I would use are:

1.       iPhone 4/iMovie to record the lesson or chords I’d like to teach.

2.      Jing to capture images from the web such as guitar chords and parts, and the sheet music for one guitar song with the chords I used to teach the lesson.

3.      Google to get other miscellaneous guitar images.

These tools will help me to record my lesson and clearly illustrate the basics of guitar (its parts, chords, etc.).

Response to “Using Facebook as a Teaching Tool”

Using Facebook as a Teaching Tool by Elaine Childs discusses just that: her use of Facebook in her English 101 course at the University of Tennessee. The course, entitled, “’It Was Like That When I Got Here: The Simpsons and Postmodern America’” emphasizes teaching basic rhetoric.

First, anything involving the Simpsons is always a plus in my book. I practically grew up on the Simpsons (and Married with Children). How could a course about rhetoric based on the Simpsons not be successful with the social commentary made in each episode? Couple that with social media and it should be a “cake walk.” Surprisingly, Childs’ article reveals it wasn’t the great success expected. I was disappointed. She wrote that, “[She] had hoped that the discussion broad would take on a life of its own and that students would create topics that asked questions or created a horizontal discourse among students, but that didn’t happen.” Perhaps the students didn’t truly understand the practical meaning of rhetoric? Undoubtedly, they used it each day when conversing with friends on Facebook.  Perhaps, in the academic realm it seems daunting? 

Childs is a “good” teacher because in the article she questions her effectiveness at facilitating the organic discussion she hoped to see. She decides to try a different approach by having a “weekly Facebook hour” which I think would help with fueling discussion, but I am still doubtful of how much change will be seen.

Although I read some disappointment in the article, Childs’ use of Facebook was successful in that she tried it! Many college professors are timid about using any digital media. Childs’ is brave enough to acknowledge the change and try to work it into her pedagogical practice. There is no perfect formula in doing this but I believe experimentation helps. I will try to host a Facebook page in future class even if it is just to “[place] course material in students’ social space” providing them with additional access to me as teacher and the course.

Web Tool: Flavors.me

Hi Class-

This is a summary about the web tool I found called "Flavors.me."

Flavors.me allows you to create an elegant and dynamic website using personal content from around the web.

The basic version of Flavors is available for free and provides a taste (a small taste) of what Flavors has to offer. This includes basic fonts and layouts, customizable color palettes, basic statistics, and up to four connections with RSS feeds and social services.

The full version, which costs $20 per year, gives you the true Flavors experience, with an extended font collection, beta layouts, a contact form, detailed statistics, metadata and unlimited services.  They accept payment through PayPal or Google Checkout.

I selected this site because many of you mentioned interest in creating a website, but it seemed daunting and expensive. This is a cheap and stylish solution! You can host and design a "professional" website using this web tool.

Enjoy,

~Stace

Stacy-Ann's Prezi - "Guitar"

Intro to Guitar on Prezi

Enjoy,

~Stace