Matthew+Denomme

Major Contributions
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 * Added topic "Unrestriced Creative Freedom" under article Graphic Novels with one source
 * Added my opinion to the Console Wars page under "Comments" (number 7) backed with a recent news source
 * Formatted Console Wars page slightly
 * Created Action-Adventure page

**Analysis & Reflection**
1. When first encountering wiki at the beginning of the course. > > >
 * What do you think/feel about this collaborative learning environment?
 * What are your expectations for yourself ?
 * If you have previously used wiki in another course, then describe what you have previously learned and how you want expand your understanding.
 * What can you contribute as an experienced participant?

I am looking forward to taking part in the collaboraive learning experience Wikispaces provides this semester. I have previously used Wikispaces in CCT 205 last year. I found it to be an enjoyable and valuable experience. I find it interesting to see what topics others are compelled to post on and how these articles evolve through the collaborative input of many. Having already used Wikispaces I am familiar with the community maintenance and continual contribution the assignment requires. It is important to maintain the structure of the space in order to make it coherent and usable. Also, it is important to respect the work of others. While collaborative editing is one of the main purposes of a Wiki it is important that one does not disregard the work and opinions of others. Lack of proper references and blatant copying from Wikipedia were the main problems I found with the CCT 205 wiki. As an experienced user I hope to contribute articles in a scholarly manner with proper citations. Hopefully this will offer a proper example for new Wikispaces users to follow. I also plan to keep my references to Wikipedia to a minimum, as I feel copying information from a wiki to another wiki is redundant. This is a class wiki after all and the information should be specialized to our course. This semester I hope to expand my understanding of Wikispaces by integrating more features into my articles such as anchors, embedded media, and images.

2. Think about the following and answer to the best of your ability: >
 * How do you choose which postings to contribute or change?
 * What are your thoughts on adding, editing or re-arranging other people's work?
 * Do you regularly check your own postings for alterations? Has anyone changed your work and how have you felt about it?

I choose the topics I post on, and the pages I wish to edit, based on my interest in the topic/article. Working in a space with such a large selection of people with diverse interests and tastes, it is easy to find something you'd like to learn more about or comment upon. This is my approach to posting on the wikis. I am really enjoying the CCT 300 wiki. Its focus on media in all forms provides an invaluable reflection of our collective media interests. I find it very interesting to see what types of media people consume and how they are thinking about them critically. I also like the idea of informing others of some of my media consumption practices. I have posted on the graphic novels article as comics are my favourite media form. I was thrilled when I heard of their inclusion in this course and am really enjoying the comics-related articles on the wiki. I also plan to contribute to the page on Alan Moore, one of my favourite authors. I am considering doing cyberpunk or absurdist comedy for my main genre contribution. I am comfortable with the idea of collaborative work and peer editing. I really like to write and edit, and find that I can really strengthen a written work with a quick read-over. While working on the wiki I tend not to edit others' work heavily. It is by their personal thoughts and effort that the ideas are on the (web)page and I wouldn't feel right totally butchering a section or cutting out something they felt was important. I mostly edit for simple things like spelling, grammer, page layout and space maintenance. Also, I often add sources where I know one of relevance, or care to find one, because they can really add to an article's credibility (especially on the web). If a passage can be strengthened by a quick rewording I will do that sometimes too. However, I never edit to the extent that the original author's voice is diminished. I often check my postings to see if others have made any alterations. I actually enjoy seeing others edit and contribute because it means that they have at least read what you have done and have some interest in it.

3. As a final reflection for the course, post your thoughts and ideas on:
 * challenges or limitations you experienced while working collaboratively on wiki
 * advantages or benefits from participating in this wiki
 * things about the course you thought worked well and/or suggested improvements

I felt that this course's implementation of the Wiki provided a nice supplement to the course and a valuable learning experience. This course encapsules a broad range of topics that I felt the Wiki was well-equipped to capture. I really enjoyed reading about other people's media interests. The open nature of the topics and genres in the course were also well-suited to the Wiki's collaborative features. Different people could post their personal opinions and knowledge on a range of media genres. The Wiki also allows for personal reflection and communication on our own media consumption practices. I also found the Wiki to be invaluable in coordinating information between group members for our culture jamming assignment. Some challenges I encountered in the Wiki were establishing a consistent sourcing method and using advanced features such as anchors. These are sometimes difficult to use and perhaps the toolbar interface could be improved to support things like this, especially in an academic-based wiki.