DD5HW4 Project #1

Final Project 1: How To Use Pixlr

Rhetorical Situation: 

The purpose of this set of documents was to show the Campus Health Service, specifically, the Health Promotion and Preventive Services department how to use Pixlr. This department often uses images and photos for health marketing and media, such as posters, websites, online brochures, and e-magazines. The target audience is entry-level professionals who already have the Pixlr Autodesk application installed on their office desktops. This set of documents will be shared via email as an attachment and uploaded to a shared Campus Health online folder. There will not be a printed version; however employees are encouraged to print themselves a copy, as needed.

The first document, How to Upload an Image to Pixlr, will be beneficial for all Pixlr users. This is the basic first step in using Pixlr and you cannot proceed to any other steps until you have completed this one.

The second document, How to Edit an Image in Pixlr, will be beneficial for all users. The Health Promotion and Preventive Services department requires high quality vibrant photos to be used in their health material, so all employees will need to learn how to use the various editing features.

The third document, How to Crop an Image and Add a Border in Pixlr, will be beneficial for all users to know; however, they will not all need this set of instructions every time they use Pixlr. Some images may need to be cropped, but may not require a border, or vice versa. This will depend on the specific health media.

Project:

• What are you most proud of in the entire project? Why?
• I am most proud of the final document; specifically because I actually finished it. I did not know how to use google drawings or pixlr when I started and I have learned a lot throughout this week. I am still unfamiliar with some of the tools, but I am proud that I took the time to practice and learn. 
• What do you wish you had time to further expand, include, or revise in the project?
• I wish I had more reasons to use pixlr and practice with the various editing tools. I also wish I had time to further expand on inserting and editing images on google drawings and google docs. I spent hours each day going from pixlr, to google drawings, to google docs, but found there is always more you can do to enhance an image and a document. 
• When and where did you get stuck while working on the project? How did you overcome your problem? 
• I initially became stuck when I first read the Technical Instructions prompt and tried to conceptualize the project, but as I completed more and more steps I was able to understand more. I had some difficulty with google drawing at first because I had never used it, but after watching the provided tutorials and videos numerous times (and googling some questions I had), I was able to use the tools I wanted. I have always thought I was tech savvy, but realized that I definitely need more practice, especially after my younger sister was my reviewer on my first draft and knew a lot more about these technologies than I did.  

Learning:

• What technologies did you use to complete this project? Why were they appropriate? What processes did you take to learn the technology application/s? What did you learn? What more you hope to learn in the future? How/why might you use the technology application/s again?
• I primarily used my laptop for this project, focusing on the Autodesk Pixlr application and Google Drive (Google Drawings and Google Docs). I was familiar with navigating google drive, specifically google docs, but had not used google drawings. I learned how to add images, shapes, lines, and arrows. I also learned how to highlight and edit colors. In pixlr I learned how to navigate the application, upload an image, edit colors, add filters, crop images, and add borders. I hope to use google drawings in the future for work-related projects, and Pixlr for professional and personal use editing images and photos. The more I use these technologies, the better I will become and will find more uses for them. I also learned a lot about the assigned topics- Instructions and Procedures, Editing and Proofreading, Grammar, Format and Tone. These are all topics I will continue to use in the future on these technologies/applications, as well as others. 
• Discuss at least three of the course outcomes you feel you worked towards with this assignment. Provide evidence of your learning by pointing to specific aspects of the project. 
• 1. Critique and use flexible strategies for reading, drafting, reviewing, collaborating, revising, rewriting, rereading, and editing using a variety of technologies. (Process)
• I worked towards this outcome throughout all of Project 1. Initially we were assigned to read the Project 1 prompt and comment on it, then we began drafting. We reviewed our own documents, and then our peers, before we reread our own, rewrote aspects of it and continued to edit and make changes until we submitted our final project. This outcome is routinely followed when completing schoolwork, although it isn't always assigned as conveniently as it was for this class.
• 2. Identify need for and then manage, analyze, synthesize, and implement multiple streams of simultaneous information through various technological and document design processes. (Information Literacy & Management)
• My final documents from this project include various types of technological and document design consisting of a combination of text and images.  I used screenshots, listed instructions, images with captions, and various headings, fonts and colors. These documents were constructed solely online using my laptop and the Pixlr and Google Drive applications. 
• 3. Reflect on the development of composing practices and how those practices influence their work.
•  Reflection is done throughout the development and creative process. I spent a lot of time re-reading and editing my documents, and then taking some time to reflect on the process before proceeding again. Writing this blog is also a huge part of the reflection process. 
• Discuss at least one personal course goal you feel you worked towards with this assignment. Provide evidence of your learning by pointing to specific aspects of the project. 
• Personal Goal: To be able to practice time management, as it applies to this class coursework.
• I learned a lot more about time management while completing this assignment. I had set time aside to work on this class, which I originally thought would be enough, but after the first week realized I needed to reevaluate my time. My goal was to work on this assignment every night when my daughter went to sleep, but I learned that I needed to allow myself more time since I was unfamiliar with most of the technology used in this class. I don't usually like to work on things the night they are due, but because of my schedule and the quick turnaround for assignments, I have had to finish assignments shortly before their due date/time.
• What did you learn about yourself as a technical writer?
• I learned that with enough time and practice, I am able to teach myself and use various technologies well.  I also learned that there there is always room to grow and increase my knowledge, especially because technologies are always expanding and changing.