In looking through my backpack, I found that while my textbooks had multimodal texts, the most interesting ones were the applications on my phone. I use these apps every day and I never really noticed how many different modes of communication they use. I found that most of the reference apps, like DailyHoroscope and Merriam-Webster Dictionary only used two modes– visual and linguistic. The social media apps often include four to five modes of communication. This makes sense because on these apps, people are putting their lives on display and in communicating exactly what that life should look, it’s important to use as many modes as possible. Another thing that surprised me was how my packet of BIgRed gum used linguistic and visual modes to draw in consumers. I think after this dig I’ll be more aware of the modes I see around me and how I should use them to my benefit. 

On Monday, I made the decision to focus my blog as a professional portfolio and resume of sorts. I’m hoping the extra effort and depth will bring my site to the next level. 

What I did

• I added many pages, including one for my graphic design, my writing examples, and my resume 
• I completed my side bar which now has a picture, a short bio blurb, and my Twitter feed 

Why I did

I think by deciding on a focus for my blog site, it will be easier to see my blog grow. I plan on adding my examples to the pages in hopes to make my blog more creative and complex. 

Today I worked primarily on my “About Me” section, which I actually titled “The Man Behind the Portal,” semi-facetiously. I ended up with three pages that operate in succession if you read through the blog as I nudge you to. It begins with “The Man Behind the Portal,” then you are taken to my “Professional Interests” page (or you can follow a link to a new tab with contact info, and finally the “Professional Interests” page will lead you to my “Outside the Classroom” page, though once again you can choose to see either my resume or official ePortfolio in new tabs. Finally, but using the menu in the top left of the page, I enable readers to access a few of my Instagram images and ultimately follow them to my official feed if they so choose. 

I wanted my blog to have a little zest, so I tried to include fun and interesting images that were congruous with the blogs other images and main theme. I embedded hyperlinks within these images so that in order to advance to the next page the reader must click on the images. This draws attention to them as well as engaging the reader actively with the blog. I think it is a pithy way to keep things interesting. One problem I ran into was the sizing of the images on the last page of the “About Me” adventure. I couldn’t make them all the same size in my limited class time, so I’ll have to look at that on my own time.

What I Did

Today, I added the “About” page to my website. This page includes basic personal information about what I like to do, where I work, my goals etc.

Why I did It

The “About” page is very important to the understanding of the purpose of my website. It details my interests and will provide insight to the overall content of the site.

There are at least 2 other features that I would like to add to the “About” page: the first is a photograph. I want to add a picture that depicts what I do with my internship similar to the picture that resides in the header of my website. Also, I want to add an audio sample of one of my broadcasts to the page. Since WordPress doesn’t appear to allow audio-only files to be added to the site, I will have to take the audio file and upload it to YouTube so it can be uploaded to my WordPress site.

Today was a productive Monday to say the least. I added six new pages to the site including the required pages and a portfolio page, as well as updated my widgets. I added the portfolio page as a more refined area for my creative writing, focusing on the pictures I’ve taken around the world and what I have to say about them. I also added a link to my instagram account so people can get visuals of my life as it happens. I did all of this because this is what my blog is about– my life in pictures and words and how they come together as an artful, weird, funny mess that I consider beautiful and worth sharing.

Today was full of changing and updating. I as already happy with the overall progress of my blog, but today I made some adjustments that I feel made my blog stand out. I started by taking away all of my unused widgets. There were some widgets that were at the bottom of my page that were just taking up space and not adding to my blog. I took them out and added some that I felt enhanced the image and visual of my blog. I added a calendar as well as a mini map with location and hours of our class. They are minor, but they help the reader get a better feel for my blog. It adds more character to it. The biggest thing that I added was a new page titled “Virginia Tech Football History” this goes with my theme and adds a new page other than class projects. On this page I was able to add three highlight videos from present and past Virginia Tech Football games. This interacts more with the reader and provides different modes of communication (Gesture, Visual and Aural).

Those are the biggest changes I made today. The biggest thing I wanted to do was enhance my overall blog’s appeal. I added videos and widgets to interact more with the audience. I look forward to continuing this blog and making it better each and every day.