What my classmates had to say about my project:

WG

"New Zealand Scrapbook Wiki

A scrapbook everyone can view at once. I really like this idea. Aspen has a wonderful groundwork and background set up for her grand adventure at this point. Her choice to include back story – as it is truly where any story starts – is an inspired one. The reader is able to see how her live progressed from the inception of her idea to abscond to New Zealand for her student teaching, way long ago on January 24th of 2003.

More than a scrapbook of memories, Aspen is shaping this project to be a diary and study of revelation in her own life. She includes items and occurrences from her life that aren’t directly related to her experience in NZ (that’s ‘N Zed’ for those uninitiated), that one may ask to what relevance? Aspen puts it quite simply, “Because it's life. It's all interconnected. This experience altered me, my perception… It was life changing and significant.” I love when one can see that no matter how distinct any experience is, it’s only so because of every other experience one has.

I enjoy learning about someone’s hopes and dreams through their memories, especially someone I find to be an interesting personality anyway. Even more, I enjoy learning of those hopes and dreams becoming achievements and cherished experiences. It is an overall uplifting and pleasurable experience.

One other thing I find worth mentioning is that Aspen hasn’t chosen her favorite parts to start with and then fill in the blanks and flesh out the story. She’s started at the very beginning (a very good place to start) and endeavored onward from there. She has an engaging story here, unfolding through her memory, both intrinsic and electronic, given through the points she deems to be most salient. Almost like shorthand of the memory."

JH

"What the writer intended

ProjectProposal states that Aspen is creating a scrapbook on a wiki with text, photos, and videos. Her wiki will be sequential and tell the story of her preparation and actual time in New Zealand for student teaching. She intends it to be a story, like a depiction of an adventure. She will include text from her blog as part of the journal aspect.

What the writer is doing

I have really enjoyed looking at this wiki. So far, Aspen has added all of her blog entries for the time before leaving for NZ. The posts are chronological and easily accessible in the month by month categorization. I enjoyed reading through them and seeing her trip unfold. Not only did she include information about preparing for her trip, but she also included blurbs about life changing events during this time of preparation. This gives the reader a better feel for what was going on and the emotions that must have been flowing. The blurbs aren't too long to read. They are a medium length and a good way of showing a journal.

The before section is the only one completed, but she has her other pages ready to be set up. I also looked at the mynotes pages and really enjoyed the test videos. I hope that there are many videos in the finished product. The picture I saw was gorgeous, and it looks like the rest will be of similar fashion. I look forward to more. I'm curious for explanations of these videos as well, because the mystudentshaka was amazing, but I have no clue why male middle schoolers would decide to do something like that.

Another perspective

At first I wasn't sure why a wiki was used, but I understand now. She doesn't want other people changing the wiki, but the format of the wiki is good for this kind of project. It's an easy way for her to organize her month by month activities and edit them as she goes. It's more of a final product kind of thing than a blog would be. If she had used a blog, the overall picture may not be looked at, but the individual posts would be. It seems that Aspen wants the reader to be able to click on the links and figure it out a little more on their own. There is chronology to the wiki, but it's not as enforced as the blog.

I like that the reader can click through all of the months and then move onto the next section and keep going. It's a very clean and organized way of doing things.

What's Strong

Originality. Nobody else can make a wiki like this. She gives her own experiences, but she also provides a ton of information about New Zealand. It's amazing to see all of the preparation that she put into it. It's great to learn more about NZ but also learn more about Aspen at the same time. I'm so excited to see more!

More development

I don't know if Aspen has been keeping up with her 6 days a week thing, but she has been keeping up with 250 words on a page. I'm just excited to see this trip unfold.

Great Job Aspen!"

SP

"Interesting: After looking at mostly blogs, it took me a minute to figure out this is a wiki. I know, it's right there in the link, but ... thank you Aspen for the map! It works really well in your wiki, and it helped me regain my bearings. The videos are great; it literally puts the reader in the passenger's seat! A very successful wiki documentary that leaves me hanging on the edge of my seat.

Strong: I love the way Ms E has used color, and her choice of color, in the wiki. The orange gives her wiki a lot of energy and pizazz that you don't find on a simple white wiki page. I also like the way her wikiwords are randomly capitalized. The visual stimulation is very refreshing. I am looking forward to seeing more of New Zealand through Aspen's eyes.

Other: I did have some trouble navigating until I really studied the way her wiki is laid out. I don't think it has anything to do with the design, but more to do with my feeling uncomfortable with wikis. Still, some excellent work here! "

DS

"(Sorry for the shotty introduction, I just realized I started it the exact same way I started the previous tour) had no idea what I was looking for and where to find it. It took me about ten minutes to come across your project proposal and to make sense of the wiki. I almost passed up this wiki because I could not make sense of it until finding the proposal. I wish navigating around the wiki (especially the project proposal) was easier.

After reading your proposal, the wiki began to make sense for me. The first thing that stood out is your use of little extras within the wiki itself. I love the color, absolutely love it. Also the use of different forms of media such as photo’s and videos gives the wiki an uniquely educated feel. I think this is the nicest wiki I have seen so far. I also am very impressed with the amount of information posted. You really seemed to reach way back (04) and pull information and memories out. Although it is arranged by month, I still think that it is lacking in organization. I am still struggling to find things on the wiki. I tried to log on, but it would not let me register.

The images were breathtaking. The rainforest ones were my favorite. I am jelous of you and your travels. The balloon pictures seem to tell the visitor a story, especially when combined with the captions. The different media options are the strength of your wiki. It gives it an awesome feel and some real life. I am finding myself more interested in the pictures and videos anything else. You got an awesome grasp on how to operate a wiki inside and out. Very impressive!

I like the wiki a lot. At first glance it can seem very overwhelming and confusing (I was lost for about ten minutes on it). It is very visual and looks superb. I also like how your reaching back to your old blog entries and examining them. A more descriptive first page that is easier to navigate and a possible link to the project proposal or another kind of introductory statement would really enhance it. Keep up the good work!! "

M

"Wow. First of all, I have to say, that after reading your project proposal I was very enthused to read you project blog, although a bit taken aback by the depth of the project that you set out to tackle. I get the sense, though, that you enjoy the challenge and are truly interested in your subject matter.

On your post titled: "Sydney Opera House"

I was ecstatic to see someone blog about the play "Twelfth Night." It is, by far, also my favorite Shakespeare play. So, I could not help clicking the link that you posted to it. I laughed at how you mentioned the Sydney Bridge ALWAYS being painted. Honestly, your personality truly sparkles through every detail of your documentations, and this enriches your project as a whole.

I like the contrast in your blog (between professionalism and informality). By this, I mean that the blog's white background, grey buttons, and orange links are very professional looking. Yet, your writing style, though professional, is not professional in a way that makes it either impersonal or serious. Your writing style is very friendly. And, your page design, though professional, is very light and fun - with it's orange links! The balance of appearance and content is beautiful.

On your post titled: "Rain Forest" (Train Ride, Rain Forest, Aboriginal, Birds and Sky Rail): That link to the video of the "Rainforest Guide" was what really made this blog entry come to life for me. It was so amazing, to share your experience this completely. It's one thing to read about your experience, or impression of a person. But, reading falls a universe short of reading, seeing AND hearing. Thanks - you really do go the extra mile for your readers.

And, from the very first entry I read, really, I appreciated the links you put at the bottom of each post. It was very appreciated (by me, as the reader of your blog). In your project proposal, you said you wanted "to provide some navigation for the viewers," well, I believer you did so successfully. I can't really say I've ever explored a blog that was more viewer friendly than yours. By your project proposal, it seems you've accomplished most of all you set out to do! I feel like I've read the saga of a true adventurer.

If I could see more of one thing though, it would be more serious reflections of how this all affected you personally. In your project proposal you wrote "I know I have changed a great deal from these experiences." I would like to hear more about that; but, I expect I will see more to come along that line, in your unfinished "Time Since" category."

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