Final Reflection

1. Which assignment in COMM 372T was your favorite? Why?

My favorite assignment in COMM 372T was the Application Analysis project from Module 4. The reason for this is that the assignment allowed me to think creatively about one of my favorite game franchises, Persona, and how it correlates with platform infrastructure and the affordances that come with it. I enjoy it when courses like this allow me to incorporate hobbies or my other major into assignments because it makes them more entertaining to complete. Additionally, it helps me understand the material better as I am already taking something I am comfortable with and applying it to new information, which offers new perspectives I haven’t thought about before.

2. Have you changed the way you engage with media since taking this class? Why or why not?

I have changed the way that I engage with media since taking this class. I haven’t been able to deconstruct new media technologies in previous courses, so doing that here helped open my eyes to how media operates on a deeper level rather than just taking it at face value. I didn’t look at how affordances work for technology beforehand. Technological affordances make up most applications or platforms; without them, there would be no reason or use behind technology. Also, looking at new media and how it has influenced culture today was especially interesting. I got to look at how other people view new media technology differently than me. Seeing how the online space has changed and become more advertised over the years due to consumerism and branding was fascinating. It helped me understand what to look out for when I’m online, as I have become more aware of how presenting myself online can matter in the long run and influence what I see in my feeds.

3. In what ways do you think you have improved your professional online presence after completing or curating your COMM 372T ePortfolio this semester?

In a previous COMM course, I created my original portfolio through Wix. I used that ePorfolio and updated it to include more relevant information. I uploaded an updated resume and included more in my about me section that didn't pertain to my career goals. I feel that I am on my way to having a fully functional ePortfolio that I could attach to my resume for employers to look at when hiring. I plan to add other course projects to my page so employers can see more of the work I have completed to have a better understanding of the skills I can offer.

4. What advice would you give to future students about potential uses or designing a COMM ePortfolio?

The ePortfolio is not as daunting as it may seem at first. A lot of resources are available when developing your portfolio, and ODU offers help services and various videos surrounding the topic. Also, Wix offers a lot of templates to choose from that you can edit and change to your liking. It also outlines certain sections if you are unsure what to include information-wise. One of the biggest things is not being afraid to start your ePortfolio; you will learn more about how a portfolio operates as you create it. It’s okay not to understand at first, but by engaging with the application, you will better understand what is needed. Waiting until the last minute to complete your ePortfolio is also not a good idea, as it takes time to set everything up if it is your first one.

Before Images:

These images show the changes that I have made to my portfolio. I added new sections to my ePortfolio in the menu tab that were not there before. I also uploaded a PDF version of my resume that consolidates the information I had on the page before.