OBSERVATIONS

COMMENTS

12:10

Some Ss there when I arrived, labeled Ps on map.  Ss slowly came in. 

12:30

Prof arrived.  I introduced myself.  Aimee (A) arrived with her co-workers (C1 and C2) – gave me 833 materials (pre-ob, outline, etc) – explained that they had done presentation that morning and have changed things since – would be more collaborative

12:35

A chatted with C1 and C2 to reorganize their present. – all students have laptops – course is WRA 110, Writing in Sciences and Technology – laptops provided (I asked Ss) – room wireless – Theresa Barry is Prof

12:40

Prof roll call – website on Screen (sc) from Writing Center (WC) – A, C1 and C2 chatting – Prof intro to class – Wc presenting – go to Website for present. – Brief discuss of a portfolio and future assigns – A passes out “MAPS” – Prof introed Seth (C2), Aimee, and Costa (C1) (WC staff).  Praised WC – A paces – visual Rhetoric and Creating webpages

12:45

A thanks – free coffee – brief WC intro – Ask if Ss have visited – impresses digital and various offerings – movies, podcasts, etc. – C1 and C2 add – S16 comes in late – S14 asks Question (Q) – A mentions WC in library – 1st floor by café – “we’re there for you” – C1 mentions walk-ins – C2 mentions appts – A walks to make sure all Ss have handout – Prof praises WC again

12:50

A paces a bit – looks over notes – C2 intros presentation – A intros “MAPS” – walks around room as she intros “Mode” or genre – explains what a mode is – asks what kind, what mode – S17 comes in late – A asks Qs “What are building blocks of personal web pages?” – A walks around room – students quiet – Prof asks Q diff way – A asks what else is on websites – A answers “images, photo of you, things that convey you” – C1 types answers to Q into Laptop (LT) on Sc.

12:55

A asks about “A” in “MAPS” – audience – gets specific – silence, C1 and C2 chime in – everyone, Ss mumble C2Qs – A stands center – Ss quiet -
A asks more Qs about tone on pages – C22 mentions googling – many Ss (guy next to me) typing other things on LT – A asks “P – Purpose” – Qs what – one S answers – A asks Q – C2 explains appearance – A explains further CCS – template – Moves to S – C1 interrupts – S7 says “get a good grade” – Prof responds – C2 wanders – A stands still -
A asks how many have never designed webpage before – 3 hands – A returns to purpose – Moves to “S – Situation” again – asks Qs – challenges, C1 – adds, C2 closes classroom door – A discusses environments – silence – C2 asks if more Qs – A moves to podium

1:00

S18 arrives late – A gives handouts while C2 moves to next – “design principles” – A moves to front to talk to C1 while C2 continues to talk – A checks to make sure all have handout, moves back to center while C2 still talks – A adds about repetition of visual elements – and contrast and “sameness” – discusses “harmony” and “unity” – C2 goes on

1:05

A leans on LT cabinet – Ss paying more attention – A mentions “proximity” (contrast, repetition, alignment, proximity=CRAP) – “clutter and groupings” – C2 moves on – types in URL

1:10

C2 directs Ss to webpage for next – A looks to see if Ss are finding it – C2 asks for Qs – C2 makes point  about “robin Williams” – A agrees, nods – adds and reminds Ss that they have seen and now can be aware – C2 takes Ss to Zen Garden – CCs – A moves to front – gets drink of water – Stays – C2 asks Qs – A moves in front of Sc and back – discusses audience of Bug site

1:15

C1 mentions contrast – S19 comes in super late – A asks about repetition on sample page – A turns to sneeze – C2 by screen pointing – A stands back a bit – C1 controlling LT and Sc – A asks about connections – A mentions intentionality of bug placement and the importance of the bugs, placement – some Ss surfing through links on site – A mentions proximity – C2 expands

1:20

C1 discusses contrast – C2 fun! – A relaxes – hand in pocket – C2 moves on - C1 goes to “blue”  - A smiling – mentions class silence and C2 mentions awkwardness – move on to looking at Blue banner and contrast – many Ss speak up (can’t tell which) – Prof mentions ? and contrast (can’t read my notation) – A mentions rest of page – 2 dimensional – moves to audience – asks Q – who is it? – what makes it look more professional – C1 and C2 add – A says “Power blue, Wall Street Blue”

1:25

S9 talks (couldn’t hear Q) – A asks rhetorical Q – mentions hierarchy – C2 takes up discussion – S11 answers – C2 still @ screen talking – C2 asks Qs – Ss answer – A looks around room

1:30

C1 asks Q – answer A quiet – A mentions a repetition she notices – “more refined more polished look” – moves to “black and orange” – A asks about audience – no response – grandparents – asks “how is contrast operating”? – “what’s working here”? – RW(?) says contrast most important – no answer –
C2 moves to door

1:35

A asks “is it an urban setting?” – “anything else about contrast?” – an answer Ss – C2 answers – asks how many like this page – 3 yes – asks why – good response – hard to read, colors clash – hands up all over – S7 S8 – A reiterates S7 response – C2 explains diffs between “blue” page and “black and orange” page – A asks why C2 likes page – C2 says “breaks rules but follows 4 principles of CRAP – very deliberate – meticulously crafted to be bad so is the best! – A restates C2s comment – A asks about internal design of C2 – C2 asks again about audience – CSS Zen garden for web designers – A gives recap – why you’d go to CSS bew garden and benefits of site – C2 moves on

1:40

Nvu – web authoring – free w/mozilla – C2 brief overview of Nvu – C1 says to go to Nvu and download – asks if Ss want to take time to download – Prof says yes – go and download – Nvu.com – A stands – C2 talks while Ss download Nvu 

1:45

A chats with C1 – C1 gets to Nvu on Sc – A crosses to C2 – whispers while C1 talks about Nvu properties – stays by door – C1 goes through properties of WYSIWYG – C2 pronounces “whizzywig” – C1 explains how to design – A stays by door, laughts w/C2 – C2 discusses folder problems – Ss busy following

1:50

C1 and C2 (mostly C1) explain what to do – A quiet, stands, smiles – WC uses Mac – all Ss have PCs – some get a little confused – C2 discusses alt text – Prof brings up her blind nephew – A stands with hands on hips, scratches hair, crosses arms

1:55

External link, internal links, where to save – C1 and C2 continue to explain – A quiet, hands in pockets – C1 moves to tables (in web design) – C2 overview – demonstrating over – 2:03 – class ends @2:30 – Prof asks for general Qs before Ss work on their own