Jinxuan Wang——StoryMap

Research – Why did you decide to use this content to build on this theme?

The theme of our group assignment this time is a personal experience. I think a lot of important things have happened in my life in recent years. Since 2020, I have been preparing for and reviewing the entrance examination for Chinese graduate journalism and communication. From 2020 to the end of 2021, I took two postgraduate entrance examinations for Chinese graduate journalism and communication. My major is digital publishing, which is related to journalism and communication. I have a strong interest in journalism and communication at the undergraduate level and love this major very much. For nearly two years from the beginning of 2020 to the end of 2021, I have had a year and a half to prepare for this exam. In this process, I feel that in addition to professional knowledge, I have cultivated a lot of abilities, such as information collection ability and time planning ability, which makes me persistent and more able to stick to my goals and work hard for them. Although I failed these two exams, this experience is very valuable to me.

Design – how do you agree/design what it is – for example, why is it text rather than audio, why timeline instead of video, why map?

I think the timeline can better reflect the trend of events in the past two years and the causality. Examination, work, resignation, and going abroad are inseparable. The timeline clearly shows my experience in the past two years. The map can show my life trajectory. Choosing a video and the form of interviews was decided by our group because it can better enhance the relationship between a group and make this form more watchable. Secondly, I think the expression of the video can better convey my ideas.

Implementation – how does it work – how successful is it in achieving your initial goal?

I think my ideas can be better expressed through the combination of websites and videos. At the same time, it can be easily digitally transmitted.

Reflection – What works well? If so, what difference will you make?

I think our group personally experienced this theme, mainly in the form of video, and interview as the content, and shared it on the website. It is very good to show my important experience this year through the expression of timelines and maps. If I change the form of expression, I may take the form of a combination of graphics and text and put it on the website.

Xinyi Zhang——StoryMap

Research – why did you decide to build this on this topic, with this content?

Our theme is “My Experience”. Experience is unique to everyone and is an integral part of life. I think this theme is pretty meaningful. From personal experience, you can also review some significant things in the past or things that have a great impact on you, summarize past successes and failures, learn a lesson, and reflect on what you should do in the future to become better. For me personally, because I have too little personal experience, I want to have a better understanding of the people around me. By watching other people’s life trajectories, I can have a deeper understanding of the people you are interested in.

 

Design – how did you agree/design what it would be –  for example, why text and not audio, why a timeline rather than a video, why a map?

First of all, five people in our group conducted interviews with each other in the form of a video. Next, use Timeline and Storymap to display each person’s experience. In the end, summarize it in WordPress. Because videos can tell one’s own experience more intuitively, it increases the interaction between two people compared to pictures. Timeline can clearly display every time point of personal experience, while Storymap focuses on the places that each person has visited. WordPress serves as a summary of everyone’s work.

 

Implementation – how did it work – how successful is it in achieving your initial goal?

It implements each function through clicks. I personally think it has achieved the initial goal very well. It would be better if it added a little more interaction with the audience.

 

Reflection – what worked well?  What would you do differently if anything?

I think Storymap works better. If there is better technology, each person’s experience can be drawn into a 2D short film, with sound and special effects, as well as richer pictures, which can attract readers’ interest in watching. The disadvantage is that it takes too long to make and requires good painting skills.