Reflections on ALES204

I really did not know what to expect from ALES204. I knew it was about communication, but I had no idea that it would encompass so many resources for such a variety of media types. From sound files being shared with AudioBoo to uploading images with Flickr, I realized that there are so many opportunities to interact with people all over the world personally and professionally.

Source: http://slrhs.wordpress.com/2012/01/06/mid-year-exams-graduation-2012-and-communication/

Before the class, my social media exploration was limited to Facebook. I really like using it because it gives me the opportunity to get in touch with friends from other cities in Canada and around the world; to easily plan and coordinate events; and to let my friends know what was going on in my life while keeping up with them. I was skeptical at first when I started using Twitter for ALES204. I did not really understand the point of 'following' strangers and allowing them to 'follow' me. But as I used it more often, I began to value how easy it was to learn about what was going on in the world and how quickly information became accessible. With Twitter trends, I became aware of how one topic could have so many perspectives, whether it was concerning a relatively superficial topic such as Justin Bieber's hair or more politically and socially controversial movements like the Kony 2012 campaign by Invisible children. I also learned about events and exhibits going on around the world concerning my areas of interest.

While I appreciated learning about different outlets of communication and connectivity on the internet, I was also concerned about putting my information out there, where anyone could see it. I understand that pretty much all website offer privacy settings, but it still made me uncomfortable to sign up for so many different websites that asked for my personal information. I think it is strange that someone could google my name and find out information about me without my knowledge. With identity theft being a big issue, I tried to be careful about how much information I displayed. For example, I used a fake name and invented information for my Facebook page rather than posting my actual contact information.

I did not know that this course would also teach me about topics such as professionalism. I valued lessons about this the most because I felt that I could apply skills such as writing a well-planned CV and presenting a   PowerPoint that wasn't dull to the audience the most in my future. The lectures concerning Pecha Kucha presentations were very beneficial because they opened my eyes to a new method of introducing information in a way that kept viewers attentive and interested. The lectures that focused on how to read efficiently and how to write scientific articles were very useful because they were things that I struggled with. Equipped with tips on how to better handle these topics, I feel more confident in handling my future years in university.

Brittany Stewart has another perspective on the ALES204 class which you can check out here.

My blog comments can be found in the links below:
Shannon Fox
Brittany Stewart
Marisa Salon
Rima Tabet
Becky Shapka

Thank you to Dr. Jessica Laccetti and Bibaswan Ghoshal for a very informative semester.