Things have been relatively busy in the world of Stub of late, which unfortunately has lead to a lull in activity in this space over the past few weeks. And though its been frustrating not to spend as much time writing as I typically do (that is, frustrating for me, likely a godsend for you), its been at the hands of some really exciting projects.
The bulk of my time has been taking up by an increased role in the Blogs@PSU Initiative where we've been:
If you are looking at this post through an RSS reader than you'll likely not notice, but the old schoolers in the crowd were greeted with an all new look to ChrisStubbs.com today. In case you were wondering about that professional template I mentioned earlier, this site is an example of what it looks like.
There is a certain irony in that as I was devoting so much time to working on blogs I was neglecting my own. But stepping away for a few weeks, as it turns out, was far more valuable than I could have anticipated. Through working with Carla, Brad, Chris, Erin, and others over the past few weeks my eyes have finally been opened to the nearly limitless potential of the blog to be more than a blog - to be a true personal publishing platform. Much wiser people than myself have long since seen this vision, and thats whats been so exciting about these recent projects. They have helped me to get it, on a level much deeper than I had before.
But with that understanding comes the need to start walking the talk.
And that brings us back to the new look of ChrisStubbs.com. Though I intend to keep the blog itself pretty much the same, my hope over the coming weeks is to create a true Stub Hub - and I'm not talking about some ticket selling site (which, by the way, did not ask my permission for such a name, and will be hearing from my legal team). A place which will serve not only as my blog, but as a crossroads for all of the activities which inspire it. My blog, my tweets, my links, and a more comprehensive look at games (oh the games) are just a few of the things I'd like to add to this space. I want this website to, as my friend Chris Millet proposed, join all the small pieces of my web 2.0 self together. A place that represents me in a much more complete way and one that hopefully helps to continue creating new opportunities to move the grand conversation forward.
So my apologies in advance if I spam your RSS reader with half constructed pages and perplexing plugins. Its all in the name of progress. Or at least thats what I'm telling myself.
Stay tuned as we bring the one stop Stub shop to life. This should be fun.
The bulk of my time has been taking up by an increased role in the Blogs@PSU Initiative where we've been:
- working with Dr. Carla Zembal-Saul on preparing a framework to allow the blog to serve as an ePortfolio platform for Education students.
- working with Dean Chris Brady of the Schreyer's Honors College to pilot a program where a select group of incoming Honors freshman will blog throughout their college careers. Not only with this set up unprecedented opportunities for learning and experiential reflection, but also an entirely new way to think about student advising.
- working internally to upgrade Blogs@PSU to Movable Type 4.2 in line with the beginning of the new semester. Though any upgrade is meaningful, this upgrade is particularly significant because of the addition of the professional template set (a very easy way to use the blog to create a professional looking, 'non-bloglike', website).
If you are looking at this post through an RSS reader than you'll likely not notice, but the old schoolers in the crowd were greeted with an all new look to ChrisStubbs.com today. In case you were wondering about that professional template I mentioned earlier, this site is an example of what it looks like.
There is a certain irony in that as I was devoting so much time to working on blogs I was neglecting my own. But stepping away for a few weeks, as it turns out, was far more valuable than I could have anticipated. Through working with Carla, Brad, Chris, Erin, and others over the past few weeks my eyes have finally been opened to the nearly limitless potential of the blog to be more than a blog - to be a true personal publishing platform. Much wiser people than myself have long since seen this vision, and thats whats been so exciting about these recent projects. They have helped me to get it, on a level much deeper than I had before.
But with that understanding comes the need to start walking the talk.
And that brings us back to the new look of ChrisStubbs.com. Though I intend to keep the blog itself pretty much the same, my hope over the coming weeks is to create a true Stub Hub - and I'm not talking about some ticket selling site (which, by the way, did not ask my permission for such a name, and will be hearing from my legal team). A place which will serve not only as my blog, but as a crossroads for all of the activities which inspire it. My blog, my tweets, my links, and a more comprehensive look at games (oh the games) are just a few of the things I'd like to add to this space. I want this website to, as my friend Chris Millet proposed, join all the small pieces of my web 2.0 self together. A place that represents me in a much more complete way and one that hopefully helps to continue creating new opportunities to move the grand conversation forward.
So my apologies in advance if I spam your RSS reader with half constructed pages and perplexing plugins. Its all in the name of progress. Or at least thats what I'm telling myself.
Stay tuned as we bring the one stop Stub shop to life. This should be fun.
Always a pleasure to meet a Chris Stubbs...
V/r
Chris Stubbs
(A different Chris Stubbs)
I like the new look Chris. Could you incorporate a computer generated Chris to present the blogs. Maybe that would add some warmth, like a fireside chat - endless possibilities I think. Can't help but want to see you
I like the way you're bringing all of "you" to one place. I myself for better or worse remain quite a compartmentalized person. I don't want to out and out say I have multiple personalities...
I wanted to jump on the MT 4.2 bandwagon, too, so I created a much more primitive--and boring--portfolio blog at http://www.personal.psu.edu/mja11/blogs/portfolio/. After seeing your example, I think it needs a little more, uh, something!
The upgrade was easy like Sunday morning. Just a few clicks to a much better looking (and more functional) site. Better content on the other hand, well... that takes a little more effort =)
Liking the new look! Was it hard to upgrade this to the new 4.2 professional template? Seems so much richer of a space. Very cool!