Ummmm...I'm afraid of white space!

Okay..well...I am finished (I think) with my website. I am at www.dontbuythelye.webnode.com. I am for the most part finished, I guess, but I still haven't published it yet because there are some kinks that I have to work out. For instance, on my Resources page, I have homemade hair recipes listed but I haven't figured a way to align the table on the page (the right side of the page is cut off). It's weird. I have to admit that I am afraid of white space - it doesn't seem that I have enough information. Hopefully it will be okay but at this point I'm really not happy with it.
http://cms.dontbuythelye.webnode.com/

For the most part, it was easier to do the project in webnode. With that being said though, it still took time to navigate through to try and learn how to do things in webnode mode. For me, everything pretty much stayed the same from the storyboard to the final project. I basically kept it simple, trying to make sure that I meet all of the requirments for the assignment. I have to admit - this was not easy for me - I'm keeping it basic. I was suprised thought that webnode was not easier to deal with - I saw the click and drag option but wasn't able to do it.


Differences between the two sites: 1) Links - all you had to do is put type the link in and webnode automatically knew what you were talking about - Frontpage required you to highlight and insert link 2) Easier to deal with templates in Webnode - templates were way nicer in webnode 3) Tables - ironically, tables were easier to deal with in front page - in webnode my tables are a little off and not centered and I wasn't able to put captions underneath my pics - under preview mode everything was all jumbled up - couldn't figure out how to make it right 4) Menu option - Webnode has suggestions on what you can do as opposed to Frontpage - no help suggestions provided 5) Font - couldn't figure out how to change the size? 6) HTML Codes easier to work with in Webnode - when I inserted the code in Webnode the video actually showed up - in front page it didn't - one one of the pages I had to insert a picture to fill the space where the video should have been. Hmmmm....


Similarities - 1) Pictures - resizing functions were pretty much the same 2) Text - insertion of text was basically one of the easiest thing to do on both programs - just cut/copy and paste on he page. Of course it's important that you have a basic layout of what you want to do (storyboard) regardless of which program you choose to use - that's really really important!

I am so glad that this class is over. I am not looking forward to showing the class my final project - it just seems to be unfinished. I learned alot but it was very taxing on my brain. Looking forward to vacation - SC here I come!!!!

Are You Serious?

Wow - I just logged onto Webnode and it is so awesome!!!! I can't believe how awesome Webnode is making this process already. So much easier than FrontPage! YAY....!!!! To be continued.

Week 5 - Website Ideas

Okay...my website, Don't Buy The Lye! is going to be about natural hair - it will explain what it means, the advantages of being natural and will include web resources, links and videos. Hopefully it will be a clear and complete resource for those that would like to begin to learn more about natural hair. I intend for my site to be simple and understandable. I chose this topic because I have been natural for close to three years and I have spent a significant amount of time surfing the net in search of knowledge pertaining to natural hair. For the first two and a half years I chronicled my hair growth and hair change, thoughts, problems, solutions, etc. - I guess this past year I kinda fell off of the wagon because I don't chronicle anymore. All of my images will come from my personal collection - I looked at the free digital photo websites that were provided for us via alb.edu but unfortunately, I couldn't find any pictures that would fit into this topic. It's okay though - I will work around it. I do not have an HTML Editor and will be using FrontPage - I don't like the Personal Website Editor ( I think that's what it is called) that was shown to us in class. I am going to see if I can find FrontPage on the web.

Storyboarding helped me to visually plan out what my website as well as the specifics of what will be written on the page. I already did my storyboard but I will transfer it on the Storyboard example that is provided in Diigo. The questions asked on the syllabus has helped me to be more focused on the main goal of my website. This is a huge project that is making my tummy turn. UGH. I complain too much on this site. I know. I am sorry but this is tough.

Thoughts about the reading: WHOA. Big WHOA. I don't know if I am advanced enough to used the Advanced Tips and Tricks - but I must admit - I did try the Auto Sharpen tool that was introduced in this reading, but, as usual - this varied considerably from version 7 to version 6 (that I downloaded). So................... I had to search but I figured it out. It didn't work though - hmmmmmmmmm....

Winding Down

I am looking forward to the last two weeks of class. It doesn't seem like it's going to be too bad because this is the part where individual creativity comes in - not that I have any! I just hope that I don't forget to do anything - seems to be alot sometimes. Anway...I'm off...!

Week 4 Reflections

Wowzers. This past week was rough. I found that the labs took a long time to do. There was quite a difference between Photoshop 6 and version 7 that I downloaded from Adobe.com. I found myself using the Help section alot because the instructions were not clear (for one of my labs at least). I was glad to be finished with the labs. In my opinion, there is way too much homework in this class - but, that's my opinion - I don't get paid to think (ha!). I'm not very fond of Photoshop - I'd rather do HTML codes all day.

Accessibility - accessibility forces you to look at your potential web audience as a whole in order to customize content and web information for everyone, universally, regardless of impairment/disability (this pertains to physical as well as technical). There are many things to consider such as ensuring sure that 1)text can be re sized 2) forms are accessible and user friendly 3) having written transcripts for the hearing impaired 4) designing your website for those whose browsers do have support images by using alternative text 5) ensuring that the "shift" and "tab" keys can be used throughout your website (for those that do not have use of a mouse). Obviously, these are just a few checkpoints to think about on the technical side when designing a webpage. There are free programs on the Internet that can help you check your site for accessibility (Bobby and Wave).

Usability - making sure that yours site is "usable" and easy to use/user friendly. Your site should be easy enough to navigate through without making the user think too much. Awesome. I think I can do that part! Personally, as much as I love the Internet, if a site is not easy to use, regardless of how pretty the graphics and colors are, I will "x" out of it immediately.

It's awesome to be able to have the freedom to create your own website whether it's for commercial or personal purposes. The advantages/disadvantages of creating your own website as opposed to getting someone else to do it for you basically boils down to time, money and vision. Obviously, it is cheaper to create your own website but your website could suffer if you are not tuned into all of the technical information that is needed to make your website a success. On the other hand, if money is more of a friend to you than time is, it would be well worth it to hire someone to do this for you (providing that they are reputable and are able to clearly communicate and incorporate your personal vision and passion into your website - if not - well that's another page to incorporate in the Cumbersome WebSite Designing Process).

It's nice to have options right? As Michael Jackson would squeal "HE HEEEE"!!! R.I.P. Michael.

Photoshop Download

I was able to go to Adobe.com and download Photoshop 7 - awesome. I am happy!

Week 3 Reflections

WOWZERS...the lab, the reading, the evaluations were way heavy for me this week - but I got through it. Out of everything, I really enjoyed doing the HTML lab! Can't wait to add pictures. Yay! The information in the book was really helpful - I like the fact that the book is easy to read and alot of information is repeated. The chapters focused on how simplicity, organization and clarity is way to go. Wow - I had the CRAP principles working inside of me all along before I even took this class - I used to think that I was just being lazy when I didn't want to go through a website because of it being to wordy and not simple enough - see there - innate CRAP residue working on the inside all along! HA! The principles of index/site mapping, responsible linking, and mapping out a general plan/list of things to be included in your website it pretty much common sense. Information found in diigo and the Wilson Web database was much more technical. Actually, I used the information found in the "Evaluating Websites" in articles to complete the website evaluation assignment - these articles seemed to have the same information repeated in them for the most part. The Kim Guenther article was more difficult for me to understand though. WHOA.

The information that I have learned will not only help me to create an organized and clear website,but I will also have a "universal focus" and be mindful of the standard monitor settings - one size surfing (800x600) and alt labels for those that do not have graphics. As far as me being more critical of websites - yes of course - the more you learn the better you understand things!

I'm anxious about the lab due for next week - I wanted to get a head start on it this week but obviously this week was way way heavy so I didn't get to it. Wow. I hope I make it through this class in one piece. The day after the last day of this class (7/14) - I will be on vacation - a much needed one let me tell ya....

Oh - and I just realizd that I lost the second part of my web evaluation - one hour down the drain...here i go again.