Documentation:Digital Tattoo Student Orientation/Working With Content

From UBC Wiki

This section contains general tips and information on how to work with the different kinds of content on the Digital Tattoo site.

Creating Blog Posts

Goal: To maintain currency and relevance by commenting on (from a student perspective) current news stories that have relevance to digital identity and linking to related tutorial content on the site where possible.

  1. Search relevant content (via Google alerts http://www.google.ca/alerts : “digital identity,” Twitter feed, etc)
    1. If possible, use relevant academic sources/research eg. Academic Search Complete (via http://library.ubc.ca)
  2. Keep at a readable length (~200-450 words is usually pretty good)
  3. Try to maintain a somewhat neutral position, while not neglecting personal voice
  4. Keep at a conversational tone –always keeping audience in mind
  5. Ask questions
  6. Always keep “digital identity” aspect as central theme of post eg. http://digitaltattoo.ubc.ca/2012/11/28/google-search-friend-or-foe/
  7. Insert an image (while crediting appropriate sources with Creative Commons licensing – try Flickr! – use advanced search to search only within Creative Commons-licensed content)
  8. Link back to relevant content on the DT site
  9. Categorize to:
  • BOTH Updates and the section most closely aligned with your post topic (ie. ProtectUpdates). Following these steps will ensure that the link to your post will appear on the Homepage as well as the landing page for the appropriate section.
  • the literacy that the content most closely address (see Tutorial Objectives).

NOTE: Avoiding Glitches

When posting blog entries, there are several problem that can potentially take place:

  1. When copy and pasting text from MS Word straight into Word Press, you are also bringing over a lot of garbage code from MS Word that may not be compatible with Word Press. Therefore, it is recommended to, from MS Word, copy and paste your text onto Text Edit, and then copy and paste it onto Word Press.
  2. Make sure that, when editing from the Visual side in the Edit interface, that you hit "Return" at the end of the post (ie. there should be a space after the last line of code on the post).
    • On the HTML side, scroll to the bottom of the page and make sure there is a   tag. This will prevent a glitch from happening, where the blog archive page will automatically break at the bottom and leave posts hanging outside the body box.

Creating Wiki Pages

When you want to end this or the Digital Tattoo educational resources Wiki. There a a few steps that might not be completely obvious if you haven't worked with wikis before. It is important to follow the correct naming conventions for documentation.

The html link and page name must be: Documentation:Digital Tattoo Student Orientation/_______ ____ <-- is name of page you are trying to add.

If you are trying to add a page to the Learning Resources Wiki the name must be: Documentation:Digital Tattoo Curriculum/


Remember
An extra space after the forward slash will automatically place the new page at the bottom of the list of links. Be sure to use correct capitalization and no punctuation.

Page Content Management

Creating New Pages

Goals: * To create content that addresses students concerns related to digital identity, reputation, participation and brand. * To ensure content addresses the learning objectives outlined for the project as well one or more digital literacy competencies.

Create Content

  1. Create at least 3 questions to stimulate self reflection. Questions should stimulate critical thinking about the topic and reflect at least one of the Digital Literacy competencies. They should speak to the general question: "What is this about?"
  2. Locate or create a video that has potential to address the topic. Created video can be uploaded to the DigitalTattoo YouTube Channel. Video or example should relate to the questions and provide insight that would support reflection on each one. Ensure that the video authors are credited and linked back to the original host (ie YouTube, etc). Video should speak to the general question: "So What?"
  3. Identify some practical next steps for those who want to take action. This section can also include links to additional (recommended) resources. Think before you ink section should clearly outline what to do or where to go to address any of the issues raised in the video and should link back to the questions for reflection. This section should speak to the general question: Now What?

Add Related Links

  • These should be specific to the content of the page.

Add page to the Navigation

  • in the Widgets section, add the page to the section navigation (need screen shot here).

Maintaining Pages

Goal: To ensure that the content is kept up to date and functional for the users.

Check for alignment of content

  1. What? Questions should stimulate critical thinking about the topic and reflect at least one of the Digital Literacy competencies.
  2. So What? Video or example should relate to the questions and provide insight that would support reflection on each one.
  3. Now What? Think before you ink section should clearly outline what to do or where to go to address any of the issues raised in the video and should link back to the questions for reflection.

Check for outdated links on website

  1. Click through to links
  2. If it’s a dead link, go to step 4. If it’s not, go to step 3.
  3. Look at the date, skim the content. If it seems that you can find more relevant material, then go to step 4.
  4. Find relevant material to replace it if possible, and then delete the current content.
  5. Pay close attention to ensure that other sources (wiki, powerpoint, etc) are not referencing this content, and make changes where needed to reflect the deletion made

Check for out-dated content in general

  1. Go through the website every couple weeks and read through the content
  2. If something seems a little out of place/outdated, make note of it
  3. If it’s a big change, do not make changes to page itself. Create an alternate template page and save that as a draft. Do the rewrite there, and then send for review to Julie and Cindy
  4. If it’s a minor change (a couple sentences,) make changes right to the page. Be sure to let Julie and Cindy know of the modifications at your next meeting.

Videos

Check out the Creating a Video section for a guide to the video production process.

"Think Before You Ink" Webcast Series

Digital Tattoo produces a webcast on current social media trends and technologies, and how they can affect one's digital identity. Target time for the video is about 2-4 minutes. Current approach to style is humorous and slightly tongue-in-cheek, but very informative with a focus on the message rather than the entertainment value. To keep this series up and running, there should be at least 1 video created every month.

Video Break-down

Think Before You Ink is organized into the following sections:

  1. Intro animation
  2. Brief Introduction to the show and topic
  3. Detailed investigation on what the topic is about, usually through actual examples shown via screencast
  4. Talk of implications on digital identity
  5. Closing remarks about topic and end-show shout outs
  6. Extro animation

Important Things to Keep in Mind While Filming

  1. !! Always back-up video data on a hard drive!! -- can get it from Julie
  2. Video equipment (camera, tripod) can be borrowed from the CLC desk, or IKBLC Circulation Desk
  3. All filmed participants must sign a photo consent form
  4. Try to avoid being in direct sunlight when filming to avoid shadows
  5. Sound is often a big issue, use a line mic input whenever possible (it will help a lot!) – can get from CTLT/Cindy
  6. Faces of other students cannot be in the background of your shot, unless consent is given
  7. Framing the shot closer to the interviewee (aka a headshot) will be more clear than a distant full-body shot

Housekeeping items/Recommended Actions

  • Note Quizlets in analytics and check in a month to see activity
  • Update pages that are more than 4 months old (refer to Page update spreadsheet (include link here))
  • Move blog tab from the bottom to the top right, and move About tab to footer
  • Note the fact that major changes to the site will not be made until CLF implementation in the summer (2013)

CSS and HTML Basics

If you are unsure of CSS and HTML, see the documentation on: Sandbox:CSS Basics