Neat... line?
Yes, that is my neatline map of my ODU experiences. While I only had about five posts, I spent a considerable amount of time trying to figure out how to make the little dot appear where I wanted it. Then, when I got the dot on it, I went back to see what it would look like for someone coming into my document, and I'm in Africa again. It's like my reader has to search for me to start reading. I really like maps. especially when it goes along with a good book or series of books I'm reading to give me some reference, and I think this website has a great idea happening. But I am not impressed with how difficult the site was to use. I liked how you could use the hybrid form of the maps to see both streets and buildings. I would be lost without a 'real' view of the buildings I go in every day. So, in short, good idea, but it needs to be a little more user friendly.
Reputation is everything. I think if enough people mapped their experiences this way, the reputation of the university might change. For example, before I began ODU, I'd heard that their teacher preparation programs were terrific, but now I realize, that I was most frustrated with that department. If enough people went in and said they were frustrated with that department, the reputation of the university might change and student numbers may change as well once word gets out. In the same way, students might opt to take more classes in BAL when they hear good remarks about it's hospitable instructors and lobby. Perhaps what is lost in this form of narrative is the beauty of the writing. Although the examples surely showed how lovely the writings could be in this form, I feel that when they are separated on a timeline, words, facts, and details become very choppy and often distorted.