iFixit Project
Fast Fix Proposal
One of the preliminary steps in creating an iFixit guide is submitting a proposal which conforms to an understanding of how the Fast Fix project works. The proposal consists of elements like procedures, tools, alternative repair topics, and repair experience.
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As someone who does not have a lot of repair experience, I thought of things I "fixed" in the past. This included regular maintenance of an aquarium filter. I proposed to create an iFixit guide dedicated to replacing the filter cartridge of an aquarium filter.
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The proposal made me thought deeply about my topic for the iFixit guide, particularly why this guide is necessary. In answering this question, I considered who my audience is and what the audience expects in my guide. I learned that part of creating an iFixit guide involves the use of technical writing-- having good visual elements, efficient use of language, and clear information (O'Regan, "Understanding Genre").
Learning what the genre is, and understanding the audience is useful for me in the future if I present my work to a specific audience.
Checkpoint 1
Checkpoint 2
After evaluating visual elements for an iFixit guide, I learned to create guide text that is easy to understand for a broad audience.
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In Checkpoint 2, I worked on creating clear guide text for my iFixit guide. Similar to Checkpoint 1, I analyzed other iFixit guides and determined how the text and images work together. To help improve my guide and identify technical writing aspects in other guides, I consulted iFixit's Student Resource on "Write Guide Text" ("Write Guide Text"). One of the aspects that was prevalent in constructing my guide text is using active voice over passive voice. Active voice allows readers to clearly understand information being conveyed (O'Regan, "Communicating Simply").
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Having the ability to write clearly and coherently for the audience allows me to communicate information to an audience with technical or non-technical backgrounds.
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Fast Fix Final
Fast Fix Proposal
Checkpoint 1
The next step of the Fast Fix project is to send iFixit photos that matched their criteria. In addition, I was required to evaluate online How-to-Guides based on iFixit's criteria.
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At this stage, I had barely any experience with photography. But, to gain insight and to become more knowledgeable about taking proper pictures, I referred to iFixit's "How To Take Awesome Photos" guide. The guide made me consider important elements like white balance, proper lighting, and using hands to demonstrate the action being performed (Suovanen). This information was not only useful for creating my guide, but also for analyzing other guides to determine which elements were effective or ineffective.
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Taking good pictures is one of the aspects of technical writing, and is a skill that I can apply in future work that involves the use of visual elements.
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Checkpoint 2
Fast Fix Final
The final part of the Fast Fix project involved finalizing my iFixit guide, peer review with my colleagues, and a reflection about the project.
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In the peer review, I learned from my colleagues about ways to make my iFixit guide more effective in terms of text and visualization. I considered the feedback of my colleagues and I made adjustments for the final version of my iFixit guide. In general, peer review helped evaluate my work from a broader perspective.
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When reflecting on this project, I talked about how my guide text appeals to the audience, and about the feedback I received from my colleagues and the iFixit team. Feedback from the iFixit team helped me determine if I was following the steps correctly in the Fast Fix project.
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After doing the Fast Fix project, I can use what I have learned over the course of this project in future endeavours. In projects similar to the Fast Fix project, I can first ask myself what the genre is, and who is the audience.
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