Back to Basics
As I begin to write my comprehensive portfolio, I also continue to read deeply. These readings emerge from my writing when a topic or idea requires substantiation. These readings are also tied to my research with an ever present need to know more about methodology, methods, theories, epistemologies, and ontologies. I’ve realized that I need capture the essences of these readings in order to maintain some understanding of what I have read, and to ensure that my understanding is clearly captured for future reference should these readings find a place in my portfolio or dissertation. So I’ve made a decision to go back to the basics from DS1 and DS2 by capturing search details when I dive into the archives and also writing reflective memos and/or four sentence summary of articles, book chapters, and web documents. [read Tracking My Research].
As part of my standard mode of operation, I colour code the action I’ve taken with articles and readings while simultaneously maintaining URL links and organizing PDF files in a specific way [read Citation Creation]. What I have neglected to manage in this new stage of my PhD journey is the writing of summaries or descriptive memos from works I’ve read. In the past I’ve captured these in a document on my computer in a topic related BIN, but at this point I’m reconsidering how and where to record these summaries. I could use NVivo to build themes and categores OR I could put these annotations into Zotero to ensure they are fully searchable and editable, adding to the body of work for my portfolio and dissertation. I am more inclined to use Zotero since I have upgraded my account in order to accommodate this additional content since I am less proficient or fluent in my code breaking and meaning making with NVivo.
The other ‘back to the basics’ with a new purpose and intention is in the area of web publication. As I begin working with Scalar to produce the comprehensive portfolio document, I am going back to some of the basics of web publication by examining previous web production techniques, reading about new web design strategies, reviewing accessibility standards, relearning basic HTML coding and hex codes, and examining how media elements become immersed into the Scalar environment. Grounding my comprehensive portfolio in efficient and effective web design techniques will ensure that readers understand and can intuitively navigate through and within this web-created document.
While Scalar is not a new digital tool, it may be new to some of the readers/viewers of my comprehensive portfolio. Going back to the basics means that I’m taking another look a my previous portfolio production [see My Renovations] and comparing/ contrasting media elements from that work to this current creation. I am cognizant of ensuring that this portfolio maintains an academic and scholarly appearance, while also reflecting my media making creativity, so I’m going back to the basics of APA publication.
Going back to the basics doesn’t mean returning to old habits or ways of doing things. Basics are foundational skills and fluencies upon which new ways are shaped. When telling time, a basic understanding of hours and minutes is foundational. In mathematics, knowing your addition or multiplication facts are considered basics. In science, following the scientific method is foundational and basic to how you investigate and work. In art, knowing the colour wheel is a basic skill. In sport, basics in the sport include foundational moves and routines that prepare for innovative performance. For this comprehensive portfolio, I will rely on the basics of research and writing, but the end result will be something new and as yet un-imagined. For my Scalar creation, the basics of web design and research writing will be foundational to leaps in innovation as yet un-realized.
Analog clock image photo by Monty Allen on Unsplash
