I Know What You Mean Jelly Bean! (and other ways we learn)

     Week five's lessons were my favorite thus far. This is most likely because I learned a lot about myself which is something I enjoy doing because I'm not so great at self-reflection like a lot of people are. Not only did I learn about myself, but my awareness was heightened of how others work and what makes people tick.
     The first thing I learned is that there are three main learning styles: Visual, Auditory, and Tactile-Kinesthetic. I am a visual and tactile-kinesthetic learner which means I remember what I read and right as well as what I do. It was no surprise to find out that I am an interpersonal and intrapersonal learner because I am a social butterfly, I love to give advice/am usually sought after for advice, I'm good at understanding people, and I am constantly setting goals.
     Knowing that different people have different ways of learning is something that I can use to make my PR presentations better.  I am now more aware of the different aspects that go into making an effective presentation when trying to appeal to a diverse audience of learners. When using visual shows like Power Points, I will make an effort to to repeat concepts for auditory learners so they don't get lost in the visual presentation. For the tactile-kinesthetic learners, I should include a quick activity because they remember what they DO. So something like a short handout survey would be best to get them involved in the presentation. For my presentations to have the biggest impact, I need to make sure that I am appealing to all three types of learners. 
     My outside resource for this week's lesson could be used as a supplement to the material that we already have. It is a PowerPoint which, for linking purposes, has been converted to an HTML format. It gives teachers ideas on how to appeal to the different types of learners they encounter in their classrooms.  The information shows teachers how to differntiate curriculum and learning environments so every kind of learner has the same advantages in the classroom. While the presentation is definitely geared towards teachers, it can also be applied to presentation-making in general.

Copright and Fair Use Explained in "Mickey Mouse" Terms

Instructional Media Isn't Just for Education Majors

     In week four's lessons we learned how to use instructional media. At first, I thought I wouldn't get much out of it because it seemed to be geared more towards Education majors, but as the lesson progressed I saw more and more ways I could use the information as a Public Relations major.
     The slide show on instructional media taught us how to make the most effective presentations. The acronym C.R.A.P. is worth much more than the word it spells. Contrast, Repetition, Alignment, and Proximity are concepts that I hadn't thought about, but that after reading the slides realize how much of an effect they can have on a presentation.  For instance, font size seems like such an insignificant thing, but when projecting something, font counts. I learned that 28 point size font and larger is best for projection. Another point made about instructional media is that not only is it okay to have a lot of white space, but it is actually a good thing. I always thought that the more abstract the slide, the better; but after viewing examples, I have come to the conclusion that my previous perception was definitely wrong.
     As a Public Relations major I make countless Power Point presentations. So as my post title suggests instructional media is not limited to the use of Education majors. In fact, when making pitches to a company about PR or advertising designs, you are basically educationg top executives of a company or firm about your new idea. The YouTube video on multimedia provided me with a lot of tips on how to enhance my presentation by using animation and eye-catching graphics. So this lesson is most definitely pertinent to my area of study.
     My outside resource for this blog is a PDF which further explains the concept of C.R.A.P. I preferred this PDF to the one we used in class becuase it very clearly describes what each aspect of C.R.A.P. means while still providing excellent examples. It gave me a better model to go off of, and I will definitely reference it when I have to make my next project presentation for my PUR3500 research class.

     The man in the gray flannel suit on PR...

"You got a clean shirt, you bathe every day...

That's all there is to it!"

Don't Take Your Web for Granted

     As a 20-year-old living in the 21st century, I can hardly remember a time when the internet was read-only 1.0 Web. Not being able to share information with billions of people across the globe is a concept I cannot completely grasp. So it's difficult to believe that the 2.0 read-write Web I know today has developed within my lifetime, and not long ago there was a different kind of Web altogether.
     In the week three lessons I learned that, indeed, there once was a read-only web and it wasn't as ancient as I had thought. In fact, I was in the fourth grade when Web 2.0 started to gain popularity and usage. Since as early as the fifth grade I remember having a My Space page; most of the information I used for my eighth grade science fair project came from Wikipedia; and once I hit high school I was all about Facebook. I realize now all that I had taken for granted. I am a spoiled child of the Web 2.0 era.
     On the other hand, I also learned a lot about the read-write websites that I have been missing out on. For instance, I absolutely love this site I found called Smile.ly. Not only can you try new brands for free and get coupons (as college students we all love free stuff), but you can leave feedback on brands which can help other consumers like you.
    In the future, as a Public Relations director of a Fortune 500 company (I dare to dream big) I will use Web 2.0 to create interactive websites to include blogs and surveys so consumers can provide feedback and ask questions. Web 2.0 is a PR major's dream because it makes research so easy and accessible. 

     This video brought up a couple of good points about Web 2.0 that I hadn't thought about. First, Web 2.0 essentially allows average people to be authors. People can express their creativity whether through written work, pictures or videos without being formally published. The average Joe can do it himself.  Also, the internet truly is forever which is an aspect of the Web that new users such as young children need to be constantly reminded of. Once you put something on the Web, you can't take it back, and stressing the importance of safety and discretion when putting yourself out there is imperative.

Mac vs. PC

In our first week's lessons I learned a thing or two about why I, the devoted PC consumer, should make the switch to a Mac. I have to admit, the arguments were strong, and the Mac commericals made me second-guess my PC loyalty, but by the end of the lesson my loyalty to PC was still there, and I walked away with an even deeper connection to Microsoft after learning of their first contract with IBM.
The commercials made two main points that stuck out to me. First, Mac is more compatible with your life (i.e. photos, videos, creating websites, music, ease of use and even the powercord magnetic pop is thought out.) Secondly, Mac can run Windows and anything else you would have on your PC. As I dig deeper into my Public Relations major, I do think their will be times that owning a Mac would be advantageous. Mac would allow me to be more creative with my projects and presentations.
This music video is a spoof of the Mac vs. PC commercials. It accentuates Mac's ease of use and trendiness while drawing attention to PC's professional reputation. It's a funnier spin on the ad campaign and is a bit less biased.

The history nerd in me enjoyed reading the articles and learning about how both Apple and Microsoft got started. I thought it was particularly surprising that Apple, a company which I view as fairly liberal and progressive, has had issues with criticisms of labor practices in the past. Apple's redeeming quality is that it has been named Most Admired Company in the World three years in a row.
I grew up in a neighborhood that was across the street from a major IBM industrial park in South Florida. So I enjoyed learning that Microsoft got a jump-start by making a contract with IBM that kicked off their most profitable era. It didn't surprise me that Microsoft dominates office suite market. I absolutely love using my Microsoft office suite to make diagrams and charts which enrich my various presentations I have to make in class and for campus involvement positions. It is also useful for building portfolios which I have sent to future employers when applying for internships and jobs.