Mike+Rybinski

[[image:rybinski1.gif align="left"]]
For this 300 assignment, I have chosen to alter or completely create all the images that I've posted throughout the sites specifically to relate to its given topic. Just the same as within CCT333 built pages, I'm a firm believer that visuals enhance the overall composition of an Online Space given that it follows its correct theme and subject. Whether it was giving the images a logo, watermark or creating entire banners and headers from scratch, I've attempted to alter each page to make it complete and whole. Through the Images, Research and Organization, I want to establish a full understanding of the chosen subject. I hope you have enjoyed my work as much as I have enjoyed doing it!
 * Contributions:**

Exhibitionism - After the initial creation by another user, I created all the titles, images, and added the majority of text and research... My goal was for an organized Presentation of the Topic of Ehibitionism as a Genre. This attempt was not only fun and interesting, but taught me about a topic that I wouldn't have researched if it wasn't already established. Facebook - Organization of the page, including all graphics, headers and minor edits in the script. Facebook was a site that I was intoduced to in the CCT300 class this semester. Because of all the hype (buzz advertising) about this topic I chose to organize the site with information that was current and applicable to the course topics/content. I am still opposed to putting information on thise community (Facebook) sue to my own personal privacy issues (and not wanting the constant bothers that it will cause - from long lost friendships that I'm not interested in rekindling) but have learned a great deal about its usability and focuses. Online Communities - Edits to the main tab in "Benefits of Online Communities" and all images and organization of the site. This was a topic that was interesting to me because of the nature of this particular assignment. Online Communities are growing faster then expected and I've been lagging in its acceptance, but with this course along with the 333's wiki assignment I have gained an appreciation for organizational learning and intend on continuing with it's engagments.
 * Sites:**

(grammer, organization, minor research and addtion of information and spacing) Billboards MSN Messenger Design Podcasting
 * Minor Edits:**


 * When first encountering wiki at the beginning of the course.**
 * **What do you think/feel about this collaborative learning environment?**
 * I didn't agree with the idea of sharing all my work with everyone because I thought that my hard work and research may be stolen and 'shared' with other peoples pages... Also, because it is always "editable" someone could actually change my information and make it seem as if it came from me. Also, because of the extra tutition that I pay to be in CCIT, I would think that the hightened cost was based on the profressionals that are sharing their information with me, the student, to better my chances in getting a job! Not because of the Free WikiSace where other students are to be teaching students!.
 * Collaborative learning may seem like the new way of doing things, but when my mark is on the line and my money is spent on my education (that is to be granted through instruction and guidance from professionals): How professional is it that a student (that may be lazier then myself), be altering my work.
 * **What are your expectations for yourself?**
 * I want to fully understand why this way of collaborative learning may aid in my overall experience in CCT300. Perhaps my negative thoughts towards such a method of learning will alter and prove me wrong as I progress and grow with the course. I would like to master the options that wiki provides and create Professional Pages with themes, colours and images that make it look like a true website that is Designed, rather than just pieced together.
 * **If you have previously used wiki in another course, then describe what you have previously learned and how you want expand your understanding.**
 * I am currently enrolled in CCT300 and need to participate in the same activities in CCT333 for with the WikiSpace assignments. Though the assignments in Wiki overlap, the overall concepts and topics covered in the courses are different and just as interesting as the other. Therefore, I'm looking forward to see the difference in the overall composition of the FINAL products. Mainly to compare the differences found in the two courses... It should be a great contrast (or maybe I'll see many others just copy & pasting from 300 to 333 and vice versa)
 * **What can you contribute as an experienced participant?**
 * I hope that my Photoshop and Illustrator skills come to play and add colour and style to the pages, as well as my great 'Googling' Skills in researching Topics (as any third year student... I think I can find info on just about anything) I want to compose pages rather then just piece them together on Wiki... yes the options seem to limit a Designer in his work, but I hope that I can manage to still create a few materpieces.

While Working on Wiki throughout the Course

 * **How do you choose which postings to contribute or change? What do you look for?**
 * After searching through the table of contents, I found some topics that I would have fun creating sites about (for example - Exhibitionism - a topic that I could use various images to represent the topic and add another level of understanding to the site. Also, because the site was so underdeveloped at first, I thought that it would be easy to add to the site without making the original poster feel as if I stole their site.
 * **What are your thoughts on adding, editing or re-arranging other people's work?**
 * I'm enjoying that others in the class are talking about some very interesting topics that allow for me to add my personal passions towards them. However I sometimes leave messages for the original creators to get back to me on what I've done and ask for feedback so that I don't step on their toes too much... Though it is understood that we will be altering other peoples work, I want to make it clear to the classmates that it was done for the sole purpose of community building and not because I didn't like what they already had.
 * **Do you regularly check your own postings for alterations? Has anyone changed your work and how have you felt about it?**
 * I don't check my own postings at first because I want to give the others a chance to develop what I have already started... also because I initially posted the information, I'm giving everyone else a chance to alter my work as I'm doing to theirs. My mission is to organize the pages that have interesting topics and present them in a manner that looks profressional and clean, so as I work on the sites thorughout the WikiSpaces I will expect that others will change my work, but I'll understand and maybe even FORGIVE!

3. As a final reflection for the course, post your thoughts and ideas on
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 * **Challenges or limitations you experienced while working collaboratively on wiki**
 * Challenges in wiki were only posed to me when I worked in a group project. Because I felt as if my skills in making the sites well organized and look like they were designed to convey the same message with a consistent look across every page; One member of the group was little disappointed that I altered their page as I included images and headers in their composition. Though I never intended to annoy them, and I thought that it would impress them or make them feel as if I wanted to enhance their work (and aim for a good mark as a group collaboratively) I obviously stepped on some toes without realizing it. The only limitations that I found were the lack of editing in HTML and the lack of embedding multimedia applications (such as Java). It would be nice to have a little more control, but I understand these limitations due to the freeness of the site!
 * **Advantages or benefits from participating in this wiki**
 * The most significant part of wiki is the variety of information that is posted by other users. Because each person was encouraged to post information that applied to the course, but interested their own personal finding, there was an abundance of topics for me to choose from to further my research and explorations. I thought at first that this was going to be an assignment that I would find tedious and boring, but the vast amount of topics and information lead to my interest and involvement in the project.
 * **Things about the course you thought worked well and/or suggested improvements**
 * I really enjoyed this course and put in a great deal of effort in my assignments; also, the content of the course allowed for my full attention in class and text - which hopefully showed in my final exam. I would also like to thank you guys for allowing such broad topics to investigate, it really allowed for use to research topics that were of interest and I thought made for a greater experience in learning the specific themes of the course. The only improvement I would like to see is a little more emphais on media creation... Understanding that everyone does not have the ability to create/design various media forms, but enrolling in a Sheridan course I would like to gain experience in a more 'artistic' way because the UofT experience is far from interactive and creative. Though the topics allowed for my personal engagements in such designs and copostion, I would have enjoyed some lessons in creating something in a program that I have never experienced or fully explored. Otherwise, this experience has been a very interesting experience... KEEP DOING WHAT YOUR DOING! IT WAS A BLAST!