An important part of progress is to monitor it. This allows you to judge how well you are going and which direction you are moving. So how do you measure progress? What tools are available?

Well this checkpoint will be a subjective one taken by your personal impression. Before I get you let me know what you think, I would like to tell you how I’m feeling so far.

Practical ability to leverage off web 2.0 to enhance personal branding.

• Bought a domain (jason-v.com) and found hosting within Australia (Sydney)
• Established the site using a leading open source solution (WordPress)
• Created a Twitter account (jasonvandyk) and integrated into my site
• Made available RSS feeds for users to subscribe to
• Established a Facebook account
• Regular two way feedback on both my site and other blogs through various commenting systems

Manner and consistency of participation in weekly workshops activities and your contribution.

• Regular posts on Enterprise 2.0 topics based on workshop activities and self inspired topics
• Regular feedback on workshop activities, through digitalorgs.net and student blogs
• The using of trackbacks to highlight relative posts and relation to workshop activities (only student so far)

Ability to appraise Web2.0 strategies and solutions for organisational and personal success.

• Continuous engagement in self improvement of my personal brand
• Ensured Andrew McAfee’s SLATES has been used and applied to my site
• Used critical thinking to post on the effects of “negative web presence” when most of the focus has been on creating a positive
• Created topics / posts which are relative and trending (above post) which has become a page 1 ranking using basic / common key words

Ability to engage successfully with the wider community (including  people outside of QUT) using Web 2.0 tools and techniques.

• The use of twitter to raise an issue with the font colour of the comment box which received feedback and highlighted additional fields the needed to be modified
• Posting feedback on other blogs, which has been constructive – ie: http://brendanread.wordpress.com/2009/08/19/wiki-at-worki
• Received feedback on most posts on my site (finding various styles/ posts enabled greater engagement than others – ie: long posts/ no images = less engagement)

Leadership via the ability to contribute to the structure and format of the workshop activities, and the smooth running of the online community.

• Provided feedback to surveys posted by the lecture
• Identified problems / hurdles students are having and created posts to aid – Your blog – Getting over the first hurdles
• Suggesting ideas to improve or expand on the current activities – http://www.digitalorgs.net/wp/?p=97#comments
• Comments on student blogs to give additional value on their posts – http://benmccallum.wordpress.com/2009/08/13/to-twitter-or-not-to-twitter/
• Creating posts, that help inspire others. The result in similar topics or mentions – http://enterprise.anotherbyte.net/2009/08/ways-i-promote-my-blogs/
• Posting this checkpoint post early and allowing students to read this. Providing a baseline and example.

There are many posts, which address the criteria and I find it hard to highlight each one. I’ve categories all relevant posts in the “Study” category. A lot which have already received feedback from Jason Watson and students.

Overall I’m making good progress and my site/posts as a whole is an example of this. I’m using existing web 2.0 technologies whilst exploring new ones constantly. I would appreciate any comments or feedback as I’ve taken the steps in making this publicly accessible for everyone. (let me know if you want me to comment on your reflective post!).