Reading Time: 4 minutes
The third semester of my content strategy studies at the FH JOANNEUM is over and thus it is time for a recap again. The workload was extremely heavy at the beginning of the semester and I was struggling to get things done in time. The motto was: Don’t think, just do! In the third semester it is too late to quit the programme because you have already invested too much time. But it was no fun! And I needed a three weeks break over Christmas to reload my batteries. I have handed in my feasibility study yesterday 1 day and 4 hours before the deadline which is a new record. I still can hardly believe that I managed to finish it for the first hand-in because this semester was madness.
Content Modelling und Styleguides
This course was a combination of theoretical input and learning by doing. We were introduced to the concepts of intelligent and modular content and learned about domain and content models, structured authoring environment, editorial practices and how to use schema.org.
The first task was related to schema.org. Then we created customer journeys and all tasks had to be organised according to information types (which sounded much easier as it was, haha). And when it came to adaptive content modelling, things got really tricky in my opinion. I think that especially this topic would require much more time because I do not feel confident that I could create an adaptive content model on my own.
Brand Values, Message Architecture, and Strategic Communication
The course title already summarises perfectly well what this course was about. A variety of time-consuming tasks had to be completed during the most stressful time of the semester.
A content audit had to be conducted, a brand-driven content strategy had to be analysed, a message architecture had to be created based on a card sorting and finally a pitch for a content strategy proposal had to be prepared and presented.
Personally, I think that although we learned a lot, we did not learn enough because too many topics were squeezed into the course. It may make sense to focus on brand message and message architecture.
Open Space and Portfolio 3: Social Media Formats and Platforms
As each semester, it was our task to extend our portfolio and I still struggle a bit with having to write blog posts. I mentioned in my reflection in action post in our course channel that the one thing I really “hate” about writing blog posts is that I MUST write them. I would not use this blog as a reference for professional purposes because it does not provide enough content strategy-related posts. If I wanted to show expertise, I would have to research a lot and I simply do not have the time for that.
We also had to evaluate the portfolios of our colleagues and I recommend reading my blog post COS17 – The Content Heroes because it refers to the interesting portfolios of my colleagues.
Content Marketing and Community Management
This course comprised too many topics: community management, content marketing, campaigning and strategy and values. There was no time to adequately deal with any of the topics. We rushed through all of them although each of them would require more attention that I would be able to say that I am confident to set up a Facebook campaign for example. Due to the different topics, the workload was high. Probably too high!
Organisational Communication and Public Relations Research
As I have no experience with public relations, most of the topics in this course were new to me and I really enjoyed it. The topics were presented clearly and in a very structured way. The lecturer talked a lot about her professional experience which provided us students with a clearer picture. The range of the tasks was reasonable.
Interface Design and Typography
This elective course was dedicated to fonts, typography and branding. We got theoretical input and had to analyse three websites over the years by using Wayback Machine. Type in the URL of a website and you will find out how it looked like years ago. That was my favourite task this semester because it was fun. Additionally, the lecturer provided us with many useful links.
Knowledge Management and Internal Communication 2
This elective subject was the sequel of last semester’s course. The focus was on applying techniques from knowledge management and internal communication to a case study.
Feasibility Analysis for the Master’s Thesis
The feasibility study is a pre-project done for the master’s thesis. I have analysed master’s degree programme pages of a university website and tried to find out if content strategy could help to improve the user experience.
It was my first project paper I have not written for the company I work for and it confirmed something I already had expected. It is much tougher when the paper can only be written during your private time.
Conclusion
The third semester was tough and it was the semester I have been thinking a lot about quitting the programme. The workload was overwhelming! I am exhausted. The next webinar of the fourth semester is already next week and I hope that my motivation returns until then.
However, only one semester to go. Yay!
© Photos: Alexandra Wurian
Schreibe einen Kommentar