Even though I’m proud of what I’ve done with the site, I would do things differently if I could do it all again. I think there is so much opportunity to take independent investigation for this topic further. I would have liked to create a lot of videos to share information with users, as I feel like a lot of the time people go for videos on this sort of thing. Creating my own representation of the course could have also extended my knowledge and understanding further, as it could have possibly encouraged me to view the course in ways I haven’t thought of.
I don’t even know how I managed to produce a website, never mind one that is doing pretty well according to feedback! My teacher and I created a list of ways to attract an audience for the website to generate feedback, and it’s been pretty effective so far I must say. I posted in various HSC forums online, my teacher emailed numerous schools doing the same module/elective, as well as posting on the ETA Facebook page. I also went to my peers for direct feedback. Everything I’ve heard has said that it’s a helpful resource, so I’m pretty proud. I think it came down to the whole “breaking it down” method that was at the heart of my website. I got a particular comment on how the Exchange is really helpful, so I have hope that people will contribute their own responses in the future (it’s so important to share resources!)
So I’m in the final stages of website building before the publication date. I’ve allowed about a week and a half to generate an audience and feedback, mainly just to get a feel for if the website works or not. I’ve received feedback from a few peers and my teacher to help me refine.
WHY IS IT SO HARD TO PUT ALL THE INFORMATION I WANT INTO THE WEBSITE. I DON’T KNOW WHAT I WANT TO SAY. AHRFUWCJHSBN. It’s so difficult to not only break down the information on the texts into understandable language, but also simultaneously juggle the rubric and resources. There’s just… so much.
And at the same time, I’m thinking about all the stuff I’m saying and who knows if it’s even right or accurate in terms of teaching other people. I’m just putting in my interpretations of the course and what I’ve figured out. And if I’m honest, I don’t really know if I have figured out a lot of the stuff (especially the more recent stuff) for myself yet! So I’ve put together a half plan/overview of how I’m tackling this as a way to wrap my head around what I need to do.
I want to have some Board of Studies resources available as a reference point, but I also think having too much of that can be too complex. So, I’d like to prioritise including a breakdown of the module and elective rubrics, aiming to put them into ‘human terms’. I feel like this was one resource that would have benefited me greatly when I was starting the course! The act of creating the website has been extraordinarily time consuming so far… More so than expected! It’s gradually getting quicker because I’ve actually figured out how to use it properly (a process that took far too long haha), but the massive amount of information that needs condensing is still taking time. I think the hardest part about creating the site isn’t making it ‘look pretty’… it’s figuring out what the hell you want to say and teach about the course. Because really, there is SO MUCH. And you can’t say it all! There isn’t the time, and that isn’t the point! Picking out the crucial bits, being discerning and making decisions about what I see as most important in the course is pretty pressuring… Because I don’t want to give the wrong information!
Having to approach the issue of “what is too much sharing?” has been a constant challenge. As a student, I know that I wouldn’t say no to all the answers being given to me. But on the other hand, you need to look at it from a teacher ‘learning’ perspective in this assignment as well. I don’t think it’s that useful overall to give students the answers straight up; otherwise they won’t be able to think for themselves. That’s why I chose to publish a lot of starting points rather than full answers, so everyone can expand their own ideas and take something more valuable away.
How can I create a resource which will benefit students and teachers of HSC Extension 1 English Module B and the Elective, Navigating the Global?
I’ve had previous experience with designing techy things -- but more with video making. So making a website should be pretty challenging! The main thing that I keep thinking is… what am I even going to say about the course? I don’t want to just throw on a chunk of words that no one is going to read or sift through. And I don’t want to put on information that would just go over everyone’s heads, or stuff that is difficult to use practically… |