ALES 204: Farewell, the next step in the journey

As Ales 204 comes to an end, I reflect on everything that this course has taught me. If not for this course, I would not be writing this blog to my fellow readers had I not been introduced to Blogger. Among this site, I have learned how to use different tools of social media including: Twitter, Googledocs, LinkedIn, Audioboo, and Wordle, along with many other useful  sites that will be highly beneficial in my future career aspiration as a dietician.

Figure 1:
Social Media Footprint

When first coming into this course, my media footprint was quite small, and the impact I had on the world wide web was insignificant, if any. From posting a just a couple of statuses and photographs to my friends on Facebook, I did not strongly contribute to the online community. After this course, how significant is my media footprint now? With Ales 204, I have posted edited my first Wikipedia stub on Earls restaurant (see older posts) for everyone to view the information that I edited as well as started a Twitter account, with many followers keeping updated on my activities. I Although questioned about its credibility (or possibly its lack of), Wikipedia is nonetheless used by millions of people everyday as a research tool. By placing an article on Wikipedia for everyone to read and use, I am making a place in the largest encyclopaedia in the world. Talk about impacting the web now!

Honestly, I will not use everything I learned in this course, yet everything I learned was still a valuable experience and it was great to see how technology and social media has changed the way how mankind interacts. I will most certainly use Twitter in the future to connect with dieticians and those in my field, as well use it to connect with potential clientele. It is an effective way to spread your words or promote your business in the blink of an eye. I will also keep my professional facebook page (see older posts) up and keep it updated as a means of attracting potential employers and clients.

I am glad this class was mandatory for my Nutrition and Food major. Like my fellow classmate, Rachael Adams, states in her blog, Ales 204  gives you the initiative to step out of your personal life and expose yourself to the online community. Much like herself, I am generally a private person. This class has allowed me to connect with the world and with my classmates, by reading and commenting on one another's blogs. Along this journey, I have met many others, much like myself, going through the same struggles and successes in their field. Connecting with my fellow peers has made this class experience very enjoyable, and in a sense, self-discovering. Although I take the next step in my journey, this class will be reminisced and my classmates will not be forgotten! Some fellow classmates blogs that I have gotten a chance to read and comment on are found below:

Blogs:

1. Kelsey Trite's Blog

2. Caitlyn Erickson's Blog

3. Chau Chin Yo's Blog

4. Rebecca Miller's Blog

5. Christine L.'s Blog

A great thanks to my lovely professor and TA Jessica Lacetti and MC Roy. You have made the beginning of my journey to nutrition a wonderful one.

References:

Figure 1: Social Media Footprint [Photograph], (2012). Retrieved from: http://jsncafe.com/2011/12/28/social-media-what-to-expect-in-2012/

Wikipedia Stub

Wikipedia has been forever a useful tools for students and professionals to gain information about a variety of different topics. Forever being criticized for lacking peer-reviewed credentials, Wikipedia has been disapproved by professors for use in reference lists. Nonetheless, Wikipedia provides a broad overview of topics and allows changes and new content to be added on a daily basis. My fellow classmate, Shannon Fox states in her blog the benefits of using Wikipedia to start your research as it is comprehensible and inspirational, as well as their reference list can be a starting step in which sites to use in your research paper.

Figure 1
Earls Restaurant (Whitehorse Location)

This week I made my first attempt to contribute to the fellow Wikipedia community that I have so strongly relied on. Since I have been working at Earls for the last few years, (as a means to pay off ridiculous tuition fees!) I have decided to add to the Earl's (restaurant chain) Wikipedia Stub to expand on the corporation that I have devoted a large portion of my life too. Apart from regular menu offerings, Earls can offer more health conscious and reduced fat offerings, as well as a peanut and gluten free menu.

Figure 2
"Earls (restaurant chain)" on Wikipedia

At first, I found posting on Wikipedia a little tricky to manoeuvre, with adding external links, italicizing, bolding words, etc, but with this handy Wikipedia Cheatsheet, expanding on my stub was a little more manageable, although I still had troubles with the referencing list on the bottom. The question is, what does posting on a site like Wikipedia have to do with a nutrition student like myself? Many reasons actually! Search up any term on Google, Yahoo search bar, Bing, etc. and the Wikipedia site will likely appear in the top five search results. As my goal is advancing education to the public about nutrition, Wikipedia may be a useful tool to spread my messages as it has a lot of publicity and is so often used. This site here lists the pros and cons of having a business Wikipedia page. The benefits include great exposure of smaller businesses, but the downside can entail that competitors can put negative feedback as anyone can edit the articles. In perspective, I think Wikipedia will expand my career toolbox as a means of exposure to my business, and education awareness. With time and persistence, I am sure I will be able to master the coding of the Wikipedia community! Check out the results of my newly edited Earls (restaurant) Wikipedia article!

References:
Figure 1: Earls Restaurant Whitehorse Location [Photograph], (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.tripadvisor.com/LocationPhotos-g155047-d1547364-Earls_Restaurant-Whitehorse_Yukon.html.

Figure 2: Wikipedia "Earls (restaurant chain)" [Personal Photograph], (2012). Retrieved from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/75254019@N02/6860784044/