Category: Week 7 (use this one)

Considering the feedback that has been given in the previous  weeks, I have obtained many insights that will prove useful in improving my project for the creation of awareness of sickle cell disease in Sub-Saharan Africa through the use of ArcGIS mapping and audio visuals like videos. This feedback from the project mentors as well as from the potential users of the project, peer reviews has helped to reveal major areas that may require amendment as well as received useful suggestions about how to improve the content, the form of the project and the overall penetration of the project in conveying complex information in a concise and comprehensive manner.

Among the provided pieces of feedback, one can identify the issue of the lack of clear maps as well as better navigation. To overcome this I will use labels clearly plus a legend. I also received valuable input on what kinds of maps to use in my project. This is useful to me as at first I had not planned to include a map of Africa highlighting the countries in Sub-Sahara and because of this feedback, I have been able to develop this map so that the reader is able to have a feel of my work. Another problem that intervened concerned the layout of the maps: changing the layout in the sidecar, from floating to docked, had the effect of avoiding superimposing the text onto the maps. Personally, I considered the notification valuable to me because it provided an insight on how to organize the mapped data on the website.

Information regarding accessibility has been useful when shaping up the work done for the creation of sickle cell disease awareness. This feedback has pointed out certain areas where adjustments are required in realization of the project goal of getting to and positively impacting as many beneficiaries as possible inclusive of those with disabilities. This feedback is critical for it would be ideal to make sure that all the arcs GIS mapping and the embedded videos within the providing web-links can be viewed by the target user group with impaired vision. This entails; availability of screen readers, text descriptions of all graphics among other things.

Therefore, the feedback obtained over the last two weeks has helped in establishing areas where my project addressing awareness of sickle cell disease in Sub-Saharan Africa could improve on.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve received valuable feedback on my research project. One such piece of feedback was related to the need to delve deeper into the impact of social movements, specifically Black Lives Matter, on Pennsylvania’s criminal justice system. I realized early in my project that I wanted to include this to provide context for the topic, but in a way where my language wasn’t performative. I’m glad I received this feedback and am able to take a second look at my language, approaches, and methods. 

Another key takeaway was the importance of taking a topical approach during my presentation. Although we were talking about presentations, I realized that I wanted to incorporate this into my site as well. By focusing on concise descriptions of the causes and effects related to each component of the justice system (law enforcement, courts, and corrections), I want to provide clear insights into how COVID-19 has shaped these areas. This approach not only helps maintain clarity but also ensures that I stay on track without going into unnecessary tangents.

I was also told that the conclusions I draw from my data should be a bit more focused. I am working to reword my findings into concise and impactful takeaways, emphasizing the specific effects of the pandemic rather than broad aspects of the justice system as a whole.

Regarding the timeline of my project, I’ll be changing it to better reflect the interconnectedness of events related to COVID-19 and its effects on the justice system. This means ensuring that each event included contributes directly to the narrative of how the pandemic has influenced law enforcement practices, court proceedings, and correctional facilities in Pennsylvania (or at least providing more information to show how). 

I’m excited to incorporate these insights into my research and I look forward to sharing a more focused and insightful project. Stay tuned for the final project!

Note: One thing I’m still really trying to figure out is the actual title of my project (yes I’m aware that this is week 7) but this is what I’m thinking right now….