Unlike most of my classmates, I did not have a traditional service placement this semester. For one reason or another, the placements I was interested did not work out. When Dr. Willis mentioned the option of creating a website that documented student service learning, I jumped at the idea.

Two of my classmates, Sarah Morgan and Jennifer St. Louis, and I built the website. As none of us had any prior experience with website creation, we read manuals and took a basic class in web design. Hours of brainstorming, making and editing templates, and “FTPing” (a process in which the website is put online) were put into the creation of this site.

The goal of this website is to provide a place to display student service placements. From reading my classmates posts on Blackboard and their student service profiles, they have learned a lot from their placements. One of the most important aspects of knowledge however is one’s ability to share it. That’s what is so wonderful about the internet- it allows people access to information, and by having a service placement profile, others are able to connect with placement opportunities. Also, the website serves as a means of credibility for students who have completed service placements. The site is designed so that the viewer can browse by category, student name, or agency. The site is compatible with a screen reader to increase accessibility.

This site truly epitomizes teamwork. Its creation was not the work of one member of our group, but each of us, created and edited. Communication was a necessary skill, so that we completed our goals on time.

From this placement, I learned how to make a basic website, which is an incredibly valuable skill. As I am not very computer savvy, at times, it was quite a challenge. Also, I really got to know my partners, as we spent a lot of time working together. It was a wonderful experience, and one of the best collaborative efforts I have been a part of!

http://www.unc.edu/courses/2006fall/amst/398/001/