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Online Platforms as Tools for ICT Content Development

Online Platforms for ICT Content Development

We will focus on platforms that will allow us to share our own content with the rest of the
world. We will also create a few of them to experience what it is like to use all of them.

1. Social Media Platforms. Websites like Facebook allow you to create not only personal
accounts but also pages and groups where you can share content. The only downside
of this is that you are restricted to Facebook's "one-size-fits-all" design. On the plus
side, Facebook has billions of users. LinkedIn is another example of a social
networking site where its focus is on business and professional networking.
2. Blogging Forms. Websites like WordPress, Tumblr, and Blogger focus on content and
design. It typically looks like a newsletter where you are given options to change the
design to your liking. Though you can manipulate the design, social media platform's
popularity is still unrivaled. The amount of customization in blogs is also unrivaled
depending on the content management system implemented by the provider.

The same goes for making your own blog and creating our first post: we used the editor from
Word Press. These are referred to as cloud computing because we did not need to install
any software on your computer. The software is in the "cloud" or over the Internet. Here are
some advantages and disadvantages of cloud computing:

Advantages Disadvantages
1. No need to install 1. Can be hampered down by slow
2. Saves hard disk space Internet speed; no connection,
3. Easy access to your software/files; noncloud computing
can be run anywhere as long as there 2. May still require compatible software
is Internet connection like browser
4. Saves you money from buying 3. You do not own the software; you are
software licenses and additional hard simply renting it
disk space 4. Security risk of doing things over the
5. No need to update because it Internet as opposed to your personal
updates automatically computer alone
6. Minimum system requirements 5. More prone to hacking
7. Back and data recovery are relatively 6. Limited control over the infrastructure
easier than on a physical device itself

Basic Web Page Design Principles and Elements

The Principles of Design

1. Balance occurs when all the design elements are equally distributed through the
design. There are essentially two types of balance: symmetrical and asymmetrical.
Symmetrical elements are arranged equally on both sides of a composition to suggest
a stable or static motion. Asymmetrical elements create a deliberate imbalance to
suggest variety or dynamic movement.

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2. Emphasis indicates the most important element on the page based on the message.
It's the element that stands out and gets noticed first. The most emphasized visual
element in a design is called a focal point because it attracts the viewer's attention
first. How can you create emphasis in a design? By taking an element and making it
bigger, bolder, or brighter, by putting it in a contrasting color, or by surrounding it with
white space.

3. Rhythm is a pattern created by repeating elements. Rhythm denotes the movement in

the way that elements direct our gaze to scan the message for understanding the
information. The term sequence is used to refer to the viewing order of the elements
and to determine the flow of a multipage publication such as a magazine, book or large
web site.

4. Unity is achieved when all the design elements relate to one another and project a
sense of completeness. A viewer will always seek unity in a message. Without it, the
viewer will lose interest. Designers use ideas drawn from gestalt theory to help unify

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their designs. Gestalt theory is the psychological process by which a viewer unites
disparate design elements into a whole form that is greater than the sum of its parts.
Two such ideas are grouping and figure/ground. Grouping happens when elements
are close together and visually appear as part of a group. Figure/ground occurs when
a viewer can identify an object (figure) as a shape distinct from its background
(ground). This perception is dependent on the design principle of contrast.

5. Contrast stresses the visual differences in size, shape, and color between the
elements to enhance the perception of a message intended. Contrast also draws and
directs the viewer's attention to specific areas of information.

The Elements of Design

1. The line is the element of length as a mark connecting any two points. Lines can
organize, direct, separate, be expressive, suggest an emotion, or create rhythm. They
can join elements or divide them using a rule, which is a line that separates one
element in a design from another.

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2. Shape refers to the external outline of a form or anything that has height and width.
An example would be the three basic shapes: the circle, the square, and the triangle,
considered to be the fundamental shapes found in all design.

3. The texture is the look and feel of a surface. In two-dimensional form, the texture is
essentially visual and adds richness and dimension to work. Texture can also refer to
the pattern, which is visual texture.

4. Space refers to the distance between shapes and forms, but it is best understood in
design as white space or negative space—terms used to refer to the empty but often
active areas that are void of visual elements.

5. Size is how big or small something is in scale to other objects. Scale refers to the
process of making size relationships. Unless there is a scale of reference within a

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design, it is impossible to discern the relative size of objects and the meaning they
represent. Value is the relative lightness or darkness of an area or object. Value adds
dimension by creating the illusion of depth in a design. With the addition of color, you
can create and convey a mood to enhance a strong concept.

6. Value is the relative lightness or darkness of an area or object. Value adds dimension
by creating the illusion of depth in a design. With the addition of color, you can create
and convey a mood to enhance a strong concept.

Reference: Design for Communication, Conceptual Graphic Design Basics by Elizabeth

Resnick http://learn.daveharperdesign.com/design/

Basic Web Page Creation

The Internet is free. It is free courtesy of many website providers that provide basic
functionalities for our website to function. Back in the day, you actually have to learn HTML
(Hypertext Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) to be able to create a
decent website. Today, we use a WYSIWYG editor.

WYSIWYG
WYSIWYG is the acronym for What You See Is What You Get. This means that whatever
you type, insert, draw, place, rearrange, and everything you do on a page is what the
audience will see. Like using the Microsoft® Word, WYSIWYG shows and prints whatever
you type on the screen.

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Other Ways to Create a Website

As mentioned earlier, people use HTML codes to create pages and CSS codes to design
them. If you have taken up these coding skills before, it will help you in creating pages using
WYSIWYG. If you have not, WYSIWYG is designed for anyone who has not or does not have
prior coding skills.

In creating a website, here are some elements you should add:

1. Homepage content – entices your visitors with contents like photos of your hobby or
interest plus text content
2. About Me/Contact Me – adds a page containing a form element which allows visitors
to email you. You may also add links to your Twitter page.
3. Blog – creates a page that includes details about your blog and a link to it
4. Photo Gallery – A page that contains photos from another photo account
5. Community – a page that contains links to ten of your classmate’s websites including
the short description

Collaborative ICT Development

Facebook would not be that interesting if it were not for all your friends. In fact, the more
friends you have, the more content you get. This also rings true for other websites and blogs.
It is now time for us to create a collaborative ICT content.

Web Portals
A web portal is a website that contains information from different sources and places them in
one location in a uniform way. An example of a web portal is Yahoo! (www.yahoo.com).
Yahoo.com offers a web portal where news, email, weather, etc. are found on one page. The
information found in the image came from different websites/sources.

Online Collaborative Tools

Working together does not necessarily mean you have to be physically together. The: tools
can help your group "go the distance" and work as if you already have. your own office.

There are plenty of online collaborative tools:

1. You can use Facebook groups to create a group page that will allow people your group
to communicate your ideas.
2. WordPress also allows you to multiple contributors for a single blog.
3. Google Drive and Microsoft® Office Online allow multiple people to work c different
office files and even have their own group's cloud storage.
4. Microsoft's Yammer offers companies to have their own social network that allows
sharing and managing content.
5. Sites like Trello offer an online to-do checklist for your entire team.

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