Life Goes On

Classes this semester went very well!

I got A's and A-'s for all 4 classes (digital collections, metadata, government resources, and project management).  In 3 out of 4 classes, I came away especially pleased with an element of the class.

The project management class was the one that never really clicked for me; I understand the theory of project management and the reason that a structured approach is necessary, but I guess I don't understand the reason for a universal form that all project plans must take.  Every industry and situation will demand different considerations, so doesn't it make sense that individual project plans will also be tailored to these unique needs?

In my government resources class, I wrote my final paper on the topic of government response and efforts to keep up with emergent web technologies.  In the very near future, I plan to be researching the way that my research group at work can use emergent web technologies to their benefit, so this was an interesting start.

In my metadata class, I feel like I breezed through.  I ended up having several discussions with classmates who were struggling with an assignment on XSLT; I have never actually used XSLT before, but it was very easy to pick up because I have designed my own CSS for various web projects and I do a decent amount of hobbyist programming.  I was a little surprised that the class put so much emphasis on XSLT, because I think that trend was (mostly) in and out in the '90s, but I guess the principles for application remain.  The one hitch had to do with an assignment on a crosswalk between Qualified Dublin Core (a metadata standard I know nothing about) and XML (which I am decently competent with).  Students who I had helped understand XSLT helped me understand Qualified Dublin Core, for which I was very grateful.

In my digital collections class, I was involved in a group project which I am especially proud of: Artistic Reflections on Deepwater Horizon.  We made a digital collection of artist responses to the Deepwater Horizon BP oil spill in the Gulf.  I did the lion's share of the technical stuff, which sent me back to Linux (the software we used, Omeka, on runs on *nix-like OS).  There were some very interesting problems encountered during the implementation, and I had to create some interesting and innovative technical workarounds.  I also stepped outside my box by contacting some artists to ask permission to use their works on our site, and did a small part of the metadata.  The artists were all very pleased to have their works involved, which was incredibly rewarding.  I am currently trying to find new hosting for the site, and get a better domain name, to keep it running.

This fall I will be tackling a (personal record) 5 classes as I make the final sprint to the finish line on my MA and my MLS.  For the MLS, I am taking Global Information Infrastructure, Web Design, Intro to Information Architecture, and Capstone.  For my MA, I am taking User Centered Design.  After these classes, I am done with my MLS, and I will only have to complete the comprehensive exam in the spring to complete my MA.

During this time, I am also trying to wrap up my incomplete in NLP and get my application for PhD together.