Now that you've got your domain set up and are hopefully getting comfortable with Slack, it's time to get started on the real work of the semester, exploring the first of three categories of modules. In this first case, the focus is on "digital creativity." Modules are self-guided, self-paced, and self-directed explorations of a specific content area. You'll work on this individually, but within a community of support via a dedicated Slack channel for whichever module you choose to work on.
By the end of today's work, you should have completed the following
(NB: I think everyone is using WordPress, so I'll continue explaining how to do things with WP. If you're using something else, the advice may not apply, so feel free to ask for clarification.)
Now that you have your WordPress installed, you should take some time to customize and secure it. This is software, and like the apps on your phone or your computer, there's the possibility of hacking and spam, especially if you don't keep things up to date and locked down (within reason). I strongly recommend you
WordFence will block some kinds of hacking attempts and remind you about security updates. Akismet will block comment spam -- the setup is pretty well-explained, but when you get to the payment step, it's OK to slide the dollar amount to 0. And turning off comments entirely will block spam but also prevent conversation. If you don't want people having conversations about your site on your site, then there's no reason to have comments at all.
Now, once your site is secure, it's time for something more fun: making it your own by installing and setting up a new theme. This is important for making your site's design look intentional (i.e. not just the default theme). You'll also notice that many themes are built with certain purposes in mind -- many of them are photo-oriented, for example -- so by choosing a theme with a particular direction, you're choosing a purpose for your site.
Whatever you do, share the results in Slack. Also, as other students share their updated websites, give them some feedback. If you like what they did, say so! Or, if you see an error or have a suggestion, let them know.
Vannevar Bush was a scientist and engineer who worked on the Manhattan Project during World War II. At the end of the war, he published an influential essay speculating on how we might now use the technology developed for fighting the war to solve other problems -- specifically the problem of the vast, unknowable reams of human knowledge and culture.
Read "As We May Think" to see what Bush proposes, and in a dedicated Slack channel discuss how his ideas anticipate some of the technologies we now have. Specifically, how does the Memex work like web? Or WikiPedia? How is it different? How are "trails" like hyper links? How are they different?
Technology is never value-neutral, so what are the cultural implications of Bush's imagined technology? Who is using it, and for what purpose? Who isn't using it, and why not?
As you carve out your own space on the web with your domain, what lessons can you take from Bush to help you think about what you're doing as you build your way into that space?
We've been using Slack for a few days now, but because we can't see each other in person, it may be difficult to build that sense of community that ordinarily takes hold in a face-to-face class. To help us think about our selves and our interactions, and to ensure that the community we create is as safe and inclusive as possible, we need to write out and agree to our community standards and code of conduct.
I've shared a collaboratively-editable Google Doc in the #terms-of-use Slack channel, and many of you have already added to it. Many of these are good suggestions, but this document can also be a conversation. If you want to revise something someone already wrote, add a comment suggesting your revision. (Use Insert->Comment).
Once everyone has had a chance to contribute to this document, I'll invite you all to "sign" it indicating your agreement to try and follow our code of conduct.
Finally! It's time to start working on your first module. The instructions you'll find here describe the general process you'll follow for each iteration of the module assignments. For this first one, I have a few more specifics to add. We're focusing on creativity this first time around, so please choose one of the following modules:
I've created Slack channels for each of these three modules. Respectively, these are: #animated-gifs, #creative-coding, #interactive-fiction and #new-aesthetic. Please join the channel for the module you want to work on.
Like other assignments, all work for this module is due by midnight on Friday.
Have fun!