Student Learned Outcomes (SLO)
Project 1
Organizational Design
For this project, I relied on my research skills to help with organizational design. I started by looking at Google’s official support pages to learn how to create a portfolio on Google Sites. Using Google Sites myself gave me a better sense of how to organize my video in a way that matched what users would see. After that, I focused on making my written content clear and well-structured. I also checked out other online resources and tutorials to see different ideas for building a good portfolio, which helped me learn more about best practices. By taking these steps, I was able to plan my instructional video so that the information was organized and easy for viewers to follow.
Written Communication
When it came to written communication, I wanted everything to be clear and easy to understand. I wrote the narration and dialogue for my video in a friendly, step-by-step way so beginners would feel comfortable. Since my audience didn’t need in-depth web design details, I kept my instructions simple and encouraged viewers to feel confident. I avoided technical language and used short, clear sentences. I also added captions to highlight important points and make the tutorial easier to follow. After getting feedback from my peers, I revised my script several times to make my explanations even clearer. By keeping my audience’s needs in mind, I created a script that was both helpful and supportive. Next, I worked on making the visual communication just as effective.
Visual Communication
For visual communication, I focused on making things as clear as possible. I used screen recordings with highlights and text callouts to show each step, so viewers could always see what I was doing. I kept the layout simple and used one color for highlights to make important parts stand out. I also added short on-screen instructions and used the same visual cues throughout the video to help guide viewers’ attention. These choices made the video easier to follow and more effective as a learning tool.
Project 2
Project Planning
I began by writing a complaint letter from a student's perspective about issues with Google sites. This helped me understand the problem from the audience's perspective. After that, I thought about what students need, value, and expect. I also considered how an administrator would respond in a professional and empathetic way. For research, I used the UNM Career & Professional Development website, Google's support materials and sample response letters from Technical Communication Today. I focused on tone, structure, and standard letter formatting. To organize my project, I outlined the main sections: introduction, background, action plan, and conclusion. I then expanded each section into full paragraphs, revised for clarity, and made sure the letter fit on one page.
Project Analysis
The main audience for this project was undergraduate students, like the fictional Jordan Mitchell, who might have similar technical issues. I identified this audience by reviewing the original complaint letter and thinking about how communication works in college settings. To better understand their needs, I reflected on my own experiences as a student and considered what tone and support would be most helpful. I used real university emails and official messages as models, which helped me balance professionalism with clear, simple language. The final project addresses a student's concern in a helpful and supportive way, highlighting the value of community support and digital literacy.
Content Development
I followed the formal business letter format, including letterhead, date, greeting, body paragraphs, and a closing signature. This structure guided my language choices, organization, and tone. I used details from the UNM department and considered the student audience to decide what to include, such as tutorials and workshop dates, and what to leave out, like technical or institutional jargon. These decisions helped me write a professional, easy-to-understand response.
Project 3
Reviewing and Editing
When I revised my Request for Flexible Work Schedule project, I paid close attention to my audience, tone, and how clearly I made my points. Since workplace administrators and managers would read my proposal, I made sure each version was professional and direct.
In my written proposal, I wanted my argument to be convincing and practical. I removed repeated ideas and added data, like productivity statistics from companies with flexible schedules, to back up my points. I kept a professional tone and focused on employees, matching the organization’s values. I also used a mix of sentence lengths, subheadings, and bullet points to make the proposal easier to read.
For the presentation, I kept the text simple so the slides would support my main points instead of repeating the written proposal. I chose contrasting colors for better readability, kept the slide layouts consistent, and used alignment to guide the audience through each slide.
In both the written proposal and the presentation, I focused on what the audience needed. I gave detailed explanations and used professional formatting in the proposal. In the presentation, I explained the main ideas clearly and visually without repeating information.
Content Management
Turning the written proposal into a presentation meant I needed to organize the content differently. In the written version, I explained complex details using paragraphs, data, and smooth transitions. I used text to explain the 9-day/80-hour work schedule, its benefits, and the plan.
The presentation had to be short and visually interesting. I restructured paragraphs into short bullet points and used infographics and charts, including ones showing productivity and employee satisfaction. These visuals helped me convey the main points clearly and easily.
I also focused on making smooth transitions between sections in both formats. In the proposal, I used subheadings like Plan, Qualifications, and Benefits to organize the content. I often ended a section with a sentence that led into the next, such as moving from the 9/80 schedule to the goals and objectives by pointing out the expected results.
In the presentation, I used titles, subtitles, and icons to show when I was moving to a new section. For example, I began each section with a header slide and a matching graphic, like a clock for scheduling or a team image for collaboration. These design choices made it easier for the audience to follow. Working with both formats taught me that written text needs detail and flow, while presentations need focus, simplicity, and unity.
Production and Delivery
Creating both a written and visual version of the proposal showed me that the way you deliver information changes how it is received. The written proposal needed to be well-organized, formal, and backed by strong evidence. The presentation had to be brief, interesting, and visually clear.
While turning the written text into a presentation, I learned to use images, color, spacing, and short text to support my message. I realized that a good presentation does not just repeat the written document. Instead, it highlights the main points in a way that is easy to understand and captures attention.
This process helped me improve my design and technical skills, especially in making balanced slides and choosing visuals that supported my message. I also practiced delivering the presentation, working on pacing, tone, and emphasis to keep the audience interested. If I could improve one part of the project, I would make the data visuals in the presentation even better. I used good visuals, but adding more interactive charts or comparison graphics could have strengthened my argument.
I am most proud of how I turned a complex workplace proposal into a clear, professional, and persuasive multimodal project. Balancing professionalism with empathy for employees’ needs was my biggest achievement. I learned that successful communication, whether written or visual, depends on understanding your audience’s expectations, choosing the best way to deliver your message, and making sure your ideas connect logically, visually, and emotionally.
This project helped me improve my revision skills, manage content in different formats, and share information in different ways. By focusing on what the audience needed, using good design, and keeping things clear, I created a proposal that was convincing and visually appealing.
This experience showed me that strong writing, good organization, and design thinking all work together. These skills are important for professional communication and for managing digital projects.