Final Thoughts

     Before I begin with my final thoughts on this semester, I wanted to post a link to my Community Service Hours.  For some reason, Moodle would not let me add a link. 

 
    For my final posting, I will be discussing learning in a constructionist environment, my strengths and weaknesses, and dealing with frustrations.

Learning in a Constructionist Environment:
  This approach was definitely new to me, but at the same time provided me with many opportunities in which to learn more about myself.  I appreciated the fact that we could choose our own project basing it on something in which we have a passion.  This freedom allowed me to focus on something I believed would help others at my school and to also learn more about the passions of my classmates.  It also allowed me the time to explore different tools that I had not thought of using.  Being able to share our work with others while receiving critiques was also beneficial, and it helped me to develop as a designer. 

Strengths and Weaknesses   
    I feel one of my strengths is that I'm a self-directed learner.  Being able to have control over what I learn, how I learn, and when I learn contributed to my success in this course.  I constantly felt that I was in charge and that my success in this course depended on the effort I put forth both inside and outside the Studio.  Throughout the semester I was constantly setting goals to ensure that I would not get behind on designing my project.  My biggest weakness is that I have never considered myself creative much less a "designer".  To cope with this weakness I searched for tools that would bring out my creative side.   

Frustrations
     Another weakness this semester was that I allowed myself to get worked up and frustrated over the things that didn't go my way.  Knowing that not being able to update myWeb was out of my control and in the hands of UGA was extremely frustrating especially when I did not know that it was UGA's problem.  The lack of resources in this course was frustrating as well.  Lynda was great, but when our trial ended I had to resort to Google and Adobe TV for help.  To cope with these frustrations, I asked fellow 1st timers and 2nd timers for help and took LOTS of deep breaths knowing things could only get better.  Lastly, I found it very frustrating that at the end of the course I knew just enough about Muse, Captivate, and Photoshop to put together a basic website.  I am far from being an expert on them.  Perhaps there should be a basic tools course taught before Studio for those of us that are not familiar.

Goals 
    As I move forward, I am trying to remain positive and know that there is much learning and discovery ahead.  My hope is to focus on Dreamweaver in my spare time over the summer to catch up and to have a basic understanding of its basic functions.  I would also like to have some conversations with the LSTC at my school to learn more about her job and possibly what I could do for an internship.