Birthing OP5

The purpose of this page is to share the design processes I utilized to outline my learning review and create this output packet. 

Context

I began organizing materials for my learning review in late January 2014 while visiting my stepfather (whose lukemia had recently returned) and family in Laguna Beach. I would sporadically work on outlining this project over the next three months while traveling between central america, the amazon basin, and the peruvian andes. I worked on the report dilligently with greater organization and focus after returning to the States in May.

I started by creating a linear timeline of major events and key experiences which unfolded in my life over the two years since entering Gaia U. I also made a map of the central points of focus which I have engaged in over this period. I recieved a short form 'OP5 requirements' list from my advisor, Jen English, and referenced it to begin writing/journaling for the core report of my learning review. In March, while in the Peruvian Amazon, I designed a draft template for how I would create the OP on Mahara. I listed the pages of the project and sections with information, tasks, and goals to be covered within the report. In May, upon returning to Laguna, I began a more rigorous work-flow to complete my learning review. 

I referenced my previous outline material as well as made new design/task list formats to more effectively meet the requirments of an acceptable OP5. I met resistance with the process when feeling overwhelmed at the workload and a lack of clarity around how to most efficiently organize my information and input it into a coherent marhara template. I remedied this challenge by 1. scheduling an advising session with Jennifer to more clearly understand what was expected of me for the project 2. asking for feedback from friends and family 3. directly following the design latout and best practices of fellow associates' learning reviews. 

OP Design Process

I created this report in a 'Design as I go' format, meaning that I completed each section of the output in a linear progression on the mahara site, while refferencing other OPs and crossing off self-made task-lists as I progressed foreward. Throughout each page on mahara, I first made the subject text boxes, and then input the appropiate information into the sections dissimenated throughout the OP. Rather than implementing meta-level big-picture design inspirations I concieved for this report, I instead took a simple and more linear approach so that I had a clear set of straight-foreward guidlines to follow from A to B while designing this project. I am not sure of how I will execute my design process with my next outputs, though I intend to have a clearer understanding of my intentions for the report while maintaining integrity with the requirements and guidelines of Gaia U.