Assessment 1 - frequently asked questions

Hello all,

I thought I would jot down a few FAQs for the first assessment. This is a straightforward assignment, but there ARE lots of things you need to consider to produce your best work. If there are any further questions you have, please note them in the comments section below and I will respond to them directly, in order that everybody can see any q and a badinage. The trick with assessment one is to plan and manage your time as effectively as possible. Think about your other modules, work and personal commitments, as the blog and podcast deadline will creep up before you know it!

FAQs

Q. I have not done a mock blog, is this a problem?

A. Yes, it is, is the short answer. You should all have put one together, and you will be asked to comment on this for both assessment 1 and 2, in the reflective commentary sections. The task was designed to help you navigate and select a blog platform, try things out, make mistakes, do things well, gain knowledge, get feedback from peers and assessor, acquire inspiration from other blogs and much more. Many members of the class chose to change their blog as a result (colour palette, platform, form, layout etc.) You can still draw one up in retrospect and I would seriously encourage this. It is never too late (prior to the deadline for assessment 1) to e mail that over to Mark. This link is helpful to see what your peers have been doing: Communication and Digital Content Creation: Mock blogs - your handy work (in progress) - 2/3/22 session part ii (napiercdcc.blogspot.com)

Q. How important is the style of writing and the accuracy of the spelling and such like?

A. This is really important. Each blog will have a different feel, depending on the topic. You should always aim to be inviting and use appropriate tone. Your spelling should be immaculate and read like a piece of professional communication. Poor spelling, grammar and punctuation will be heavily penalised. There are many helpful resources available to you and I would encourage you to get a second opinion on your work if you feel writing is not your forte. Getting it right in year one is always going to be beneficial as you progress on the Programme year on year. I would be inclined to write your text on a Word document first for spelling and grammar problems and then transfer onto your respective blog posts. Hope that helps.

Q. Am I allowed to amend my blog once I have submitted it to Mark by e mail?

A. No, please do not be tempted to do that. Once it is in, it is live for the assessor to look at. It is perfectly understandable that you may wish to amend it in retrospect, but you can use the presentation (assessment 2) for that, should you need to. 

Q. I have forgotten to reflect on my pitch, despite numerous prompts to do so. Am I too late to do that now?

A. No, it is not too late and it is strongly recommended that you do so. Not doing so will affect your mark, which is totally avoidable as you will have delivered a successful pitch, whether live, by Zoom or via an audio file. You will be asked to reflect on that as part of the criteria for assessments 1 and 2. This is the link and will not take you long. If you are having difficulty posting a comment, Mark is very happy to accept your reflections by e mail and he will post for you by proxy. Don't forget to use Google Chrome - Communication and Digital Content Creation: Reflecting on the pitches today (napiercdcc.blogspot.com)

Q. We have looked at you tube videos on both audacity and anchor in class, are these the only podcast software choices we can use?

A. No, there are lots of options out there, but both are free, and in fact Zoom is also an option. I would be inclined to try things out before you commit. You are unlikely to be a highly skilled podcaster at this stage of your university career, but you are learning new skills all the time, so embrace them, try things out. Make mistakes and learn from them. Do things well and improve on them. That is the ethos of this module after all and what learning should be. This is a handy weblink for you to consider if you thought Zoom could be of assistance to you, if you are interviewing remotely for example - How to Make a Zoom Podcast (And Other Alternatives to Consider) (riverside.fm)

Q. 2-3 minutes for a podcast is quite short, so could we add some extra material on another post on our assessed blog? 

A. Yes you can. Remember, you have been asked to create a professional blog which has at least 6 different posts. Mark has clarified what the content and headings are in both the written assessment brief and in a blog template for you. It is encouraged that you make your blog as appealing as you can and sometimes that means using supplementary audio or visual material, which is absolutely fine. The assessment template should be of assistance and you should always consider the function of your blog. It should not JUST be seen as an assessment submission, but to enhance and help develop your personal brand. Here is the link to the template for you - Template for Assessment 1 (napier01.blogspot.com)

Q. I know you went over some helpful podcast and blog links in class, but could you post them again please?

A. Yes, of course. Here is the link - Communication and Digital Content Creation: Useful links - podcasts and blogs (napiercdcc.blogspot.com)

Q. How important are the word counts in the 6 mandatory posts we need to include in our finalised blogs?

A. Adhering to word counts is crucial. The word counts, time limits etc. are clearly noted in the assessment brief and the blog template. You will be penalised if you go over the limits (word counts, photos, duration of podcast and videos etc). Mark has allowed for 10% either way where there is a criterion for the written sections. 

Q. I am worried about using a word that may be firewalled in my blog web address, as we saw in the mock blog exercise. Is there anything I can do to prevent such a problem?

A. That is a very fair question. When Mark is assessing your blog, he is likely to do so at home, so it should not be an issue. That said, it COULD be an issue when you try to log into it within the University, due to restrictions on a selected word that the ‘system’ might not like, even if it’s well within context. A good idea would be to send the link over to Mark in class beforehand to check that he can access it and especially if you have not 'launched' a Wordpress blog properly. Google how to do so if you aren’t sure. You are asked to make sure you display and showcase your blog in the second assessment, the 5 minute presentation, which Mark will go over in the lecture on 30.3.22. The word ‘junkie’ from an existing blog, prevented it from opening on the university system surprisingly as it was (presumably) an unacceptable word. If in any doubt, play safe. 

Q. I am a little concerned that I am not putting enough work in when I see what other people are doing already. Is there a rough number of hours that I should be putting in for this module? 

A. There is an agreement that you should all be working at least 13 hours a week on every module, so that should give you an idea if you feel you are not being industrious enough in your studies. Whilst it is always good to acknowledge what others are doing, concentrate on your own work though and try and manage your time as efficiently as possible. Nearer the time of submission, you should factor in assessments for other modules, your work and leisure commitments etc. as I noted at the start of this post. You are all performing well as you have a project title which has been given the green light by Mark. There will be time to discuss your work in a progress presentation, one to one etc. as per the weekly schedule of work. 

Q. I see there is a page devoted to referencing within assessment one. Does that include photos too and such like?

A. Yes it does. Photos, blogs, websites, pages from the class blog, you tube sites and any associated reference points. It is likely that this section will prove to be quite lengthy, so please ensure you keep a note of everything you have used for research. There is a post on the assessment template blog which signposts the "Guidelines for referencing..." document authored by Pauline. The document is found on the module Moodle page for you as well as being signposted here for quick access - https://my.napier.ac.uk/-/media/mynapier/section-images/your-studies/documents/academic-and-study-skills/saci-harvard-referencing-guidelines.ashx 

Q. Would it be OK if I used a Spotify link for my podcast?

A. Yes it is, or any other audio platform / weblink for that matter. That would be great if we saw some podcasts going out ‘live’ as it were. It is important that Mark can open the podcast link though, all links in fact. It might be prudent to check with him before your final submission to avoid any technical challenges. 

Q. I was thinking of coming up with a punchy and appropriate name for my blog. Is that a good idea?

A. In a word, yes! It is likely that all blogs will have a suitable name. Think of the impact a good name can have. Be clever with your words and make it stand out from the rest. Again, each blog will look and feel different, due to the wide variety of research topics the members of the class have chosen. Feel free to run these ideas by Mark and your peers. Feedback is generally helpful, right? 

Q. Can I use the same URL as my mock blog? 

A. Yes indeed. As long as I have a note of you having done a mock blog, that is fine. And a good question too!

If you have any other questions, please pop something in the comments section and I’ll be very happy to answer them for you. You can also e mail them to me and I’ll incorporate them into this post for you all. 

All the best, and I hope this is helpful to you.

Bonne chance. 

Mark