Jim's ProSem MM Blog

My ILP Proposal Very Rough Draft

2008-01-14T22:12:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

Here are the basics that I am trying to answer. Please give me comments!! :)

ILP PROPOSAL Draft

Topic: Informational Travel Website: A Business Plan for the Modern Professional Adult

“Travel (definition): is the act of taking a journey, for example, going on a trip or tour.”

Travel… relaxation or the ultimate vacation. Who does not like a vacation? These days travel is intertwined with the technology age. Travel agencies are becoming a dying breed. Travel websites are not just the wave of the future, they are the present they are the now. I ask what travel websites do you visit? Are you happy with what is it out there?

What I am proposing a business plan which is a website that is geared towards the “Modern Professional Adult”. The MPA is someone for on the average but is not limited to the ages of 25 to 40. It is for people who would like to have inexpensive lodging, adventure options, and tours. I see these types of options for the youth back packer but not for the MPA who is looking for their own comfortable niche. I am not looking to compete with the multitude of air travel websites. My goal is for more of information sharing website and network for fellow travelers.

Why am I interested in this topic? I would have to say that travel is a passion of mine. I have traveled to many places in the world. That led to me taking a job within a travel agency a few years ago. I started as a travel agent and moved into the technology department within the travel organization. I saw the value of the eCommerce department and how soon travel agents would loose their importance via the web. I also have a background in Anthropology. So learning about cultures and places outside the realm of my everyday knowledge peaks my interest. I would love to have people from many cultures share their knowledge, thoughts, and expertise within a certain framework. A place that is user friendly while be informative to enhance their next trip, holiday or vacation.

I have viewed a few travel websites and have not been very impressed with their format and content. They lack info that is easy to grasp, easy to follow, and up to date information of the modern needs. By incorporating blogs, photos, polls etc the website not only remains up to date they become fun, interactive and user friendly. I will be comparing what one can do on sites such as MySpace and Facebook and seeing if applications and information could be shared in a similar fashion.

Different opinions on what already exists in the marketplace will be a focus on whether or not what I am proposing can succeed. Once my research has been completed the hope is to assist other managers in constructing a business plan for the modern day informational travel website.

GOALS:

This is worth doing: because it is something that is not easily available to my knowledge
Practices: To share knowledge to the general public who have travel interests and are inspired to explore
Learn how to organize my own time and completes a project within the boundaries of work, school, and personal time
Using the knowledge provided by Cambridge College to develop my ideas

CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK:

What I plan to study:
I plan to view various websites that are similar to my plan of study.
My own experience in travel and how I see my website succeeding
Articles concerning travel websites
How to start a travel website and what it takes
Reviews and ratings of already established websites
How Web 2.0 has effected the way we look at the web
How the standard travel agency will become antiquated

I will be relying more on Qualitative research hence emphasizing methods such as observing, describing, and interpreting. There will have to be some quantitative methods to back up my observations.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS:

What do I want to understand by doing this study:

Constructing a successful business plan for a travel website
Understanding what other people think about travel
If a new designed website would work with today’s culture
Understanding what the industry has to say about travel websites
How to fund money for the development and design?
How to market it?
How long will it take to develop and build?
What resources would be required?
How much would it cost?
How will money be made?
How will social networking apply (Web 2.0 etc)?

RESEARCH METHODS

Personal research of travel websites
Personal research of modern tech tools to be used within the website
Researching articles and other literature concerning website travel information
Interviewing travel websites employees
Polling people within the designated age range

VALIDITY

Proving that people would be interested in seeing a website that offers information that is not only difficult to find on the web, but info that might or might not be geared to their needs. How Web 2.0 has affected the way we look at the web and how it will influence web travel.

Snowed in on Procrastination St.

2007-12-13T23:08:00.000-05:00

Hi All...It was a snow day today at the college...and in Boston in general. I attempted to do a bit of work on my ILP but kind of failed to do so. Anyone have any good tips to combat procrastination? Any tips would be appreciated. Personally I tend to get too distracted when I stay at my apartment to do work.

Happy is as Happy Does

2007-12-12T22:31:00.000-05:00

So I was just scrolling through some old New York Times articles and I stumbled upon a cool article about happiness. How often do you just concentrate on the bad things that are going on in your life? It is pretty easy to do so. Next thing you know are all stressed out.

Well I thought this article even on the first page just grabbed me. It goes into how there are various classes at different Universities that focus on how the happiness that you give yourself can easily be equaled when you do something nice for another. A positive for a positive...pretty elementary idea right?

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/07/magazine/07happiness.t.html?pagewanted=2&_r=1

Video Resume Info

2007-12-06T18:27:00.000-05:00

I thought this article gave a few good ideas about video resumes.

http://jobsearch.about.com/od/videoresumes/a/videoresume.htm

Video Resume Tips
From Alison Doyle,Your Guide to Job Searching.FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
How to Create a Video Resume
A video resume is a short video created by a candidate for employment that describes the individual's skills and qualifications and is typically used to supplement a traditional resume.
How a Video Resume Can Help
It's important to keep in mind that a video resume isn't going to get you a job. However, if can assist you in marketing yourself to prospective employers - if it's done right. Done poorly, it can, at best, hinder your chances of getting an interview. At worst, it can knock you out of contention and embarrass you. That's what happened to one student who sent a video showing himself lifting weights, serving tennis balls, and ballroom dancing. It made the rounds on the Internet and didn't impress, to say the least, any prospective employers.
Before you start working on your video resume, review resume video samples.
zSB(3,3)
Sponsored Links
Resume SamplesFind Providers of Sample Resumes. Your Business Solution Business.comwww.business.com
Free Sample ResumesUse Cover Letter & Resume Tips From Monster & Get the Job You Want!www.Monster.com
Free Resume SamplesFind Free Sample Resumes, Advice on Writing Resumes, Reviews, and More!www.Vault.comTake a look at other resume videos and learn from them, considering both what works, and what doesn't.
How to Create a Video Resume
If you need help getting started on creating a resume, About.com's Guide to Desktop Video has advice on shooting video for the web and directions on how to get started on YouTube.
Tips to Help You Prepare a Professional Video Resume:
Dress professionally in business attire, just as if you were going to an in-person interview.
Keep your video resume short: one - three minutes.
Look at the camera not at the desk or table below you.
Don't speak too fast.
Make sure there isn't any background noise and that the wall behind you isn't too busy.
Practice what you're going to say ahead of time.
Start by mentioning your name (first and last).
Focus on your professional endeavors, not your personal ones.
Discuss why you would be a good employee and what you can do for the company that hires you.
Thank the viewer for considering you for employment.
Where to Upload Your Video
What do you do with your video once you've created it? Some career networking sites, like Jobster and MyWorkster, have a section of your profile where you can include video. Or, you can upload your video to your own web site and link to it from there.
How to Promote Your Video Resume
Before you promote your resume online, ask friends or family to review it. They are more likely to pick up a glitch than you are. If it's not perfect, start over. Once your video resume is complete, there are several ways to promote it online.
Include a link to your video resume in your paper/online resume.
Include your video resume or a link to it in your professional profiles on career networking sites like MyWorkster, Jobster or LinkedIn.
Send the link to your networking contacts.
Video Resume Don'ts
Don't mix your personal life with your professional one. If you have information on your MySpace or Facebook page that you'd prefer employers don't see, don't link your video resume.
Don't expect your video resume to replace your traditional resume. Not all employers are interested and others are worried about discrimination issues i.e. hiring candidates because of how they look and sound rather than your qualifications. However, a well done video can bolster your candidacy for employment.
Video Resumes
Video Resume Video Resume Sites Where to Post Your Video Resume
Suggested Reading
Job Interview Guide How to Dress for an Interview Video Interviews
Share Your Video Resume
How to Share Your Resume
Related Articles
Video Resume Leadership and Management Success Tips - Accepting Vide...Brian Price, executive director of marketing for Verizo...Best Summer Time Wasters Newbie Tips, New Year Predictions

My ILP Ideas

2007-08-01T10:24:00.000-04:00

Here are my topics. They are very vague, but hopefully I can find a direction from these ideas.

Topic: Technology and IT Project Management

Description: Using technology to organize time management and departmental functions. Also I would be trying to develop a workplace team unit.

Topic: Technology and Travel (My Front Runner)

Description: Developing a web site plan that would cater to the people who like to travel from there 25-40. The main focus would be incorporating travel blogs for knowledge, using polls and rating systems to get info and interviewing concierges for info.

Topic: Technology and Archaeology

Description: Incorporating technology to link museums, travel, and funding for archaeological excavations.

Topic: iPods and Cambridge College

Description: Classroom learning with video iPods in an adult environment at Cambridge College. Podcasting, class recordings, and alternative methods of learning would be examined.

Blogging News

2007-07-31T15:34:00.000-04:00

I found this site and I think it had some interesting info for bloggers:

http://www.bloggersblog.com/

Google Guy in Providence

2007-07-31T12:27:00.001-04:00

Hi All,

I thought I might write about this a bit. I felt that I learned a good deal from the knowledgeable gentleman who presented. I have never been that involved with web pages so hopefully i can put that knowledge to practice. I would be interested in hearing more about what other folks thought about the presentation. I am guessing that many people in our class might have been in a little lost. What other topics would be of interst to you?

Multi Cultural Car Ride

2007-07-31T12:11:00.000-04:00

So...on my journey to and from Providence to see the Google Crawl seminar, I had the privilege to ride with four different students from our pro-sem class. It was a great way meet some of my classmates since I was unable to attend the first weekend of class due to work. I felt as if I had missed out on the introductions. So we had some good conversations about different cultures and travel among other topics. It very refreshing to be in a place where I can learn from so many different types of people and what they bring to the table.

A funny tidbit that I learned and for some reason never thought about was that within some Asian cultural practices, tanning is not a practice. I learned that people take whitening supplements and creams to make themselves look more pale. What a contrast it is too western culture which tries its hardest to battle with the sun and become tan. I am looking forward to learning more from my classmates in the upcoming months.

Power Point Presentation

2007-07-30T18:23:00.000-04:00

Hi All! I was wondering what some of you might be talking about in your presentations. Feel free to write me a comment. I am still undecided how and what I am going to be presenting.

Video Clips

2007-07-30T18:19:00.000-04:00

The video clips are a good way to express ideas in another fashion. In my clips I have used clips from my home town, a favorite band , an athletic activity, and one of my favorite places that I have visited. Now all have a glimpse of some of the things that make up "Jim".

Reinforcement

2007-07-23T22:23:00.000-04:00

I just want to say again how happy I am with the way the Pro Sem is going. We are learning in such a variety of fashions. Guest speakers, field trips, lectures, blogs, interesting readings, and class participation are all great ways to learn and keep the student constantly challenged. I have not been in SCHOOL in 12 years...this has been a great way to get my feet wet and re-enter academia.

I still have not created any great posts

2007-07-17T19:28:00.000-04:00

I think that I will write about my class experience in my next posting.

Blog Test

2007-07-03T18:51:00.000-04:00

This is the start of my blog. It will hopefully improve with time. :)