Blog Post 10: Semester Reflection

I think that I have taken a lot out of the digital/interactive readings that we have had this semester. Through interaction with the readings, I found that I was more engaged in the material than simply reading words on a page. I think the VR element was especially helpful in depicting a narrator's voice, and understanding reality from their point of view. For example, in "Clouds over Sidra" we were able to completely insert ourselves in the life of Sidra from the interactions with her family to life at school in a refugee camp. I think VR adds to the personalization of Sidra's story and how she seemingly is living a normal life, despite her circumstances being far from ordinary. As a reader taken along through the eyes of Sidra, it may seem as though we are watching the life of a child who has childlike dreams and goals. While this is true, the realness of our point of view is also a stark reminder that she and her family were displaced by violence in their country and don't have any idea when they will be able to return to the home they know. Without the virtual element, we would still be able to visualize Sidra's life through descriptive language, but VR allows us to be fully present in her life and daily activities.  

Although we all had some difficulties with stories involving interaction and VR, I think it was worth it to try something new and different from what we typically read in English classes here at UNH. I have enjoyed doing our projects such as the Timeline, and now this final project on StoryMaps. As I said in class, I am currently reflecting on my time here at UNH as I wrap up my last week and a half here before graduation. This assignment has allowed me to see my progress over the years through tools such as maps and images. If I'm being completely honest, it does make me nostalgic to scroll through the stages of my life over the past four years. Although my time here at UNH is coming to an end, I think I will take some of the digital elements that I learned from this class, and use them as a hands-on tool as I begin my career in news writing/journalism. I love reading interactive articles on news sites such as The New York Times and other publications. Videos/ images throughout an article offer somewhat of a break from reading and help me as a reader to visualize and think about the story that I'm reading about. I would love to be a part of a story or article like this in my career!

Thank you so much for offering this class Professor White, I enjoyed this semester a lot. I hope you are able to continue a course like this in years ahead. Good luck with everything! Good luck to everyone in class as well, I can't wait to see where everyone ends up!