Dr. Katz did not accept my research proposal because she was not clear about how the information would be analyzed and used. I have to rewrite this part to give her more background about usability testing. This is a setback but should be doable. I also met with Frank to set up the Front Page server at Marlboro but we (he) couldn't get it to work. I will try again with David Stewart on Saturday. That's also when I need to tie up my legal homework for this week and talk to Claudine about what to expect in that course while I am away.
I do feel as if I made some progress by writing out two pages about my conclusions about LD web sites. This needs much more work but allowed me to empty my head to hold new information. Unfortunately new information comes with a price. I have been reading more on usability (because of Katz) and realize that this manner of usability testing may not be the best for my project. This feels familiar - that each step I have in front of me feels outdated. I have been telling friends who ask about the capstone that I don't know how to end it. That's because this thread of looking at this issue will only have to continue into the fall and beyond. I even has some concrete ideas of where to go and what to do next. I should list those and include them in my presentation.

 
after a morning of work on sites I felt totally defeated. Today was my deadline (this is a bit slippery since there will be more time to come) to finish up. I didn't get to the accessibility review that I had hoped for and that may have to wait until we return in July. Plus I haven't found a way to capture my thoughts about the conclusions of this project and I fear if I go away they will be hard to recover. I do think I have the 3 sites tweaked enough and tomorrow meet with Frank to set up the server to host the front page sites. I fear this will be harder than anticipated and may not even work.
Met with Peggy on Saturday and talked nearly nonstop for 2 hours. I was able to put out what I have been thinking - using best practices web design, to combine content and process, think of web site as a concept map, providing structure but haven't been able to put these ideas down. The other undone task is the summary sheet/guidelines that I should try to prioritize. This along with change and legal homework, Cait's birthday, E's event, and getting ready to go away, it all feels too much now.
In thinking it over, I realize that one thing about this program is that when you add an element such as technology the potential is so significant that it remakes the situation (like having a kid, you are the same but the world is different). The technology can be a mirror if you want it to be - I mean it is, but you have to look. You see your limitations and that's what I felt today - my limitations. I'm not a strong enough tech designer nor technical person to make the things happen that I want to.