My Grad School Statement of Purpose - by Kenny McNett

UCSB v2_Final

Kenny McNett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:40:06 +0000

Statement of Purpose
Kenneth A. McNett
Department of Communication at UCSB, PhD Program
Entering Fall 2010
As technology trends toward real-time communication across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of face-to-face conversation. Yet, in my professional work, I have noticed varied resistance to the newest services that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I am interested in performing doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Department of Communication at UCSB is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
When I compare my research interests with those of the faculty at UCSB, Dr. Miriam Metzger and Dr. Andrew Flanagin stand out as ideal mentors. My focus is complementary to their studies of user privacy and information organization, and my research would benefit from their association with the CITS and their overarching interests in technology and new media. The recent book chapter to which Dr. Flanagin contributed regarding the potentially destructive nature of communication technologies (Flanagin, Pearce, & Bondad-Brown, 2009) is just one example of his related work. His general classifications, when applied more narrowly to real-time shared work environments, could yield the motivations businesses have for shying away from such environments.
Their ongoing work via the Credibility@UCSB Project is particularly relevant to my research interests as well. How does a person’s perceived authority affect others’ decisions to share and edit documents with them? Moreover, constantly assessing the reliability of rapidly changing real-time content is as challenging as knowing which theories to believe during a lively academic roundtable. If a trusted advisor contributes incorrect information, which safeguards will best identify the error on the fly while preserving users’ confidence in the collaborative process? As a research assistant for the Credibility@UCSB Project, I would be able to investigate these facets of my intended focus and add breadth to the project as a whole.
Ultimately, my career goal is to teach at the university level. In all of my teaching opportunities—from sharing life skills with strangers in Brazil to instructing high-level professionals about computer technology—the sparks of knowledge have burned brightest when my students were able to put principles into practice. I hope to sharpen that approach via teacher assistantships at UCSB.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
In my professional and volunteer work as a communicator, I have led hundreds of people spread across California and beyond. I have developed shared communication infrastructures for them and given guidance about new technologies, enabling distant teams to work together in the face of demanding deadlines. Through my artwork and public performances, I have culled valuable lessons from diverse forms of group collaboration and communication. Indeed, my life experiences have led me to identify my passion. However, I have learned for myself as an active student, volunteer, and citizen that the key to fueling my passion is more than identification; the key is contribution.
At UCSB, I look forward to continuing my education, perpetuating my passion for communication research, and contributing to the field of collaborative technologies.
.
.
.
Flanagin, A. J., Pearce, K., & Bondad-Brown, B. (2009). The destructive potential of electronic communication technologies in organizations. In P. Lutgen-Sandvik & B. Davenport-Sypher (Eds.), The destructive side of organizational communication: Processes, consequences, and constructive ways of organizing (pp. 229-251). Mahwah, NJ: Routledge.

Achievements v2_Final

Kenny McNett — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 03:37:02 +0000

Achievements and Contributions
Kenneth A. McNett
Department of Communication at UCSB, PhD Program
Entering Fall 2010
I am a mass communicator by birth as the eighth of nine children in a patchwork, boisterous family. We grew up poor in our double-wide near Seattle, four boys to a bedroom and five girls all crimping their hair around the bathroom mirror. That left me with hand-me-down clothes, lukewarm bath water, and my saving grace: a free public education.
My family always encouraged me in my educational pursuits, though none of my parents, stepparents or grandparents had a college degree. When courts, jail time and drama tore us all apart, I stayed out of trouble, kept my grades up and watched my mom put on a smile for me. I pushed through to become my high school’s student body president, a competitor at the national speech and debate championships, an athlete and an Eagle Scout. My scholastic effort earned me a four-year academic scholarship to a private university where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Marketing Communications and a minor in Advertising Design. Now, my family celebrates my determination to be the first among us to receive a doctoral degree.
Since my first paper route when I was eleven years old, I have held a job of some sort. Every morning for the four years I attended college, I worked from eight to noon at what I call my “second education.” The twenty hours I spent each week fixing computer hardware and software not only helped me be financially self-sufficient, but also afforded me the continuing opportunity to stay abreast of the newest communication technologies and put them to immediate use at work and in class.
My experience as a professional comedian during and after college has taught me how to adapt humor to diverse audiences, an understanding with considerable benefit to my ability to endear audiences to my messages in a variety of media. Moreover, the countless workshops I have held for budding comedians have reinforced my affinity for the role of teacher and honed my presentation skills. It is my goal to become a university professor and I feel that my performance experience will help me teach and connect with students.
Volunteerism is a permanent fixture of my life. Through church and community, I donate many hours of service each week. Between high school and college, I lived abroad in rural Brazil for two years as a missionary. Visiting with people in their homes gave me an appreciation for the advanced communications technologies we enjoy in the United States. At times, the only way to deliver an important message was a long walk under a solzão, a big sun, or beneath a chuva brava, an angry rain. I learned to rejoice in the ease of receiving a phone call, the dependability of a trusted postal system, and the simple, powerful gifts of education and literacy.
A byproduct of my service in Brazil is Portuguese fluency, which allows me to understand not only Brazil’s tongue and traditions, but much of South American and romantic European language and culture as well. I look forward to continually applying to my research the many practical lessons I have learned through my volunteerism, including an intimate comprehension of the sheer joy of selfless giving.

Achievements v1

Kenny McNett — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 17:40:03 +0000

I am a mass communicator by birth as the eighth of nine children in a patchwork, boisterous family. My father went to war in Vietnam and my stepfather went to Columbia as a missionary, but neither went to college. So, we grew up poor in our double-wide near Seattle, four boys to a bedroom and five girls all crimping their hair around the bathroom mirror. That left me with hand-me-down clothes, lukewarm bath water, and my saving grace: a free public education.
My family always encouraged me in my educational pursuits. When courts, jail time and drama tore us all apart, I kept my grades up and my mom put on a smile for me. I pushed through to become my high school’s student body president, a competitor at the national speech and debate championships, an athlete and an Eagle Scout. My scholastic effort earned me a four-year academic scholarship to a private university where I earned a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Marketing Communications and a minor in Advertising Design. Now, my family celebrates my determination to be the first in my family to receive a doctoral degree.
Since my paper route when I was eleven years old, I have held a job of some sort. College was no exception. Every morning for the four years, I worked from eight to noon at what I call my “second education.” The twenty hours I spent each week fixing computer hardware and software not only helped me be financially self-sufficient, but also afforded me the continuing opportunity to stay abreast of the newest communication technologies and put them to immediate use at work and in class.
My experience as a professional comedian during and after college has taught me how to adapt humor to diverse audiences, an understanding with considerable benefit to my ability to endear audiences to my messages in a variety of media. Moreover, the countless workshops I have held for budding comedians have reinforced my affinity for the role of teacher and honed my presentation skills. It is my goal to become a university professor and I feel that my performing experience will give me an advantage as I try to teach and connect with students.
Volunteerism is a permanent ingredient of my life. Through church and community, I donate many hours of service each week. Between high school and college, I lived abroad in rural Brazil for two years as a missionary. Visiting with people in their homes gave me an appreciation for the advanced communications technologies we enjoy in the United States. At times, the only way to deliver an important message was a long walk under a solzão, a big sun, or beneath a chuva brava, an angry rain. I learned to rejoice in the ease of receiving a phone call, the dependability of a trusted postal system, and the simple, powerful gift of education and literacy.
A byproduct of my service in Brazil is Portuguese fluency, which allows me to understand not only Brazil’s tongue and traditions, but much of South American and romantic European language and culture as well. I look forward to continually applying to my studies and research the many practical lessons I have learned through my volunteerism, including an intimate comprehension of the sheer joy of selfless giving.

UCSB v1

Kenny McNett — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 12:31:09 +0000

Kenneth A. McNett
Statement of Purpose
Department of Communication at UCSB, PhD Program
Entering Fall 2010
As technology trends toward real-time communication across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of face-to-face conversation. Yet, in my professional work, I have noticed varied resistance to the newest services that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I am interested in performing doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Department of Communication at UCSB is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
Dr. Miriam Metzger and Dr. Andrew Flanagin are a tried and true team whose association with the CITS and overarching interests in technology and new media make them ideal mentors for me. Their studies of user privacy and information organization are complementary to my focus on collaborative workspaces. One example is the recent book chapter to which Dr. Flanagin contributed regarding the possibly destructive nature of communication technologies (Flanagin, Pearce, & Bondad-Brown, 2009). His general classifications, when applied more narrowly to real-time shared work environments, could yield the motivations businesses have for shying away from such environments.
Their ongoing work via the Credibility@UCSB Project is particularly relevant to my research interests as well. How does a person’s perceived authority affect others’ decisions to share and edit documents with them? Moreover, constantly assessing the reliability of rapidly changing real-time content is as challenging as knowing which theories to believe during a lively academic roundtable. If the most trusted advisor contributes flawed information, what safeguards will best maintain correct information on the fly while preserving users’ confidence in the collaborative process? As a research assistant for the Credibility@UCSB Project, I would be able to investigate these facets of my intended focus and add breadth to the project as a whole.
Ultimately, my career goal is to teach at the university level. In all of my teaching opportunities—from sharing life skills with strangers in Brazil to instructing high-level professionals about computer technology—the sparks of knowledge have burned brightest when my students were able to put principles into practice. I hope to sharpen that approach via teacher assistantships at UCSB.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
In my professional and volunteer work, I have led hundreds of people spread across California and beyond. I have developed shared communication infrastructures for them and given guidance about new technologies, enabling distant teams to work together in the face of demanding deadlines. Through my artwork and public performances, I have culled valuable lessons from diverse forms of group collaboration and communication. Indeed, my life experiences have led me to identify my passion. However, I have learned for myself as a first generation college graduate that the key to pursuing my passion is more than identification; the key is education.
At UCSB, I look forward to continuing my education, perpetuating my passion for communication, and contributing to the field of collaborative technologies.
.
.
.
Flanagin, A. J., Pearce, K., & Bondad-Brown, B. (2009). The destructive potential of electronic communication technologies in organizations. In P. Lutgen-Sandvik & B. Davenport-Sypher (Eds.), The destructive side of organizational communication: Processes, consequences, and constructive ways of organizing (pp. 229-251). Mahwah, NJ: Routledge.

UPenn v4_Final

Kenny McNett — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:50:37 +0000

Kenneth A. McNett
Statement of Purpose
Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, PhD Program
Entering Fall 2010
As technology trends toward real-time communication across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of face-to-face conversation. Yet, in my professional work, I have noticed varied resistance to the newest services that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I am interested in performing doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
Aside from Dr. Keith Hampton, who is an unmistakable choice as a mentor for research into new media, allow me to highlight two additional professors whose work is also complementary to my intended focus. Since increased real-time information sharing will likely change the way in which people associate content online, studying with Dr. Joseph Turow would help me explore the effects of link creation and cross-references in rapidly shifting content. How should we reconcile links that have their targets frequently edited or relocated within a shared document? Must link placement in group work be unanimous? Additionally, noting the collaborative approach he used in gathering ideas and essays for his Hyperlinks project, I would like him to influence the methodology that I will employ in my investigations.
With the rapid growth of internet communication technologies, I think we will see live collaboration in media more technically advanced than spreadsheets and text documents. Given his connection to the Visual Communication Laboratory, Dr. Paul Messaris would be an ideal support to me in my research. What would result from online strangers mixing a song together, making a short film, or jointly cutting video footage for breaking news they just discussed via Twitter? I would hope for help in exploring the qualitative consequences of real-time multimedia editing.
Ultimately, my career goal is to teach at the university level, so I would also like to be influenced by Dr. Messaris and other professors who harmonize with his viewpoints about learning by doing. In all of my teaching opportunities—from sharing life skills with strangers in Brazil, to instructing high-level professionals about computer technology, to coaching street performers in comedy workshops—the sparks of knowledge have burned brightest when my students were able to put principles into practice. I hope to sharpen that approach while I am a teaching fellow at Annenberg.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
In my professional and volunteer work, I have led hundreds of people spread across California and beyond. I have developed shared communication infrastructures for them and given guidance about new technologies, enabling distant teams to work together in the face of demanding deadlines. Through my artwork and public performances, I have culled valuable lessons from diverse forms of group collaboration and communication. Indeed, my life experiences have led me to identify my passion. However, I have learned for myself as a first generation college graduate that the key to pursuing my passion is more than identification; the key is education.
I look forward to continuing my education, perpetuating my passion for communication, and contributing to the field of collaborative technologies under the banner of the Red and Blue.

UCSD v2_Final

Kenny McNett — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:47:16 +0000

Kenneth A. McNett
Statement of Purpose
Department of Communication at UCSD, PhD Program
Entering Fall 2010
As technology trends toward real-time communication across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of face-to-face conversation. Yet, in my professional work, I have noticed varied resistance to the newest services that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I am interested in performing doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Department of Communication at UCSD is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
Dr. Michael Cole has been incorporating collaborative workspaces as part of his research for many years. His insight into the tangible application of technologies, such as his use of twikis in “The Wizard of Internet City” in 2004-2005, will influence my processes for implementing today’s latest innovations in my studies. Also, his associated projects such as Fifth Dimensions and the LCHC could be fertile soil for case studies in assessing the effects of adopting real-time collaborative solutions. For example, how would academic contributors respond if the XMCA mailing list were run synchronously as a Google Wave?
Although Dr. Barry Brown’s work is primarily focused on leisure instead of workspaces, the principles he employs for melding computer science and social science hold strong interest for me. Specifically, I want to emulate the hands-on approach he took to analyzing mobile collaborative tourism. In doing so, analogous to his focus on tourists instead of tourism, my primary attention will not be directed at the tools of collaboration, but at the users of those tools. Also, since I gained an intimate knowledge of computers as a youth and paid my way through college as a computer support technician, a shared technical perspective will facilitate our work together.
Considering her continued experience with new media, Dr. Kelly Gates is another faculty member whose knowledge is complementary to my intended focus. Moreover, since one of my career aims is to teach courses at the university level which are similar to those taught by Dr. Gates, I desire to learn from her pedagogical approaches. When exploring media history to present day, how do we choose which modern technologies are important enough to be included in the curriculum? How does using modern collaborative technologies to accomplish the coursework color students’ perception of the past communication methods they are studying? I eagerly anticipate opportunities to grow both as a researcher and a teacher at UCSD.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
In my professional and volunteer work, I have led hundreds of people spread across California and beyond. I have developed shared communication infrastructures for them and given guidance about new technologies, enabling distant teams to work together in the face of demanding deadlines. Through my artwork and public performances, I have culled valuable lessons from diverse forms of group collaboration and communication. Indeed, my life experiences have led me to identify my passion. However, I have learned for myself as a first generation college graduate that the key to pursuing my passion is more than identification; the key is education.
At UCSD, I look forward to continuing my education, perpetuating my passion for communication, and contributing to the field of collaborative technologies.

Resume v2_Final

Kenny McNett — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 08:44:49 +0000

(To view it with formatting, click here)

EDUCATION

B.A. Advertising and Marketing Communications, Brigham Young University, 2006
Minor: Advertising Design

AWARDS AND HONORS

Heritage Academic Scholarship (full tuition), 2002-2006
Stephen W. Gibson Entrepreneurial Scholarship, 2005
Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America

LANGUAGES

Fluent in English and Portuguese. Elementary Spanish.

RELEVANT WORK EXPERIENCE

Freelance Graphic Designer, Self-employed
2006 – Present
• Design and production for print, web and outdoor advertising in Los Angeles
• Major brands: Anchor Blue, Bandai, Body Glove, DirecTV, Electronic Arts, Ghirardelli, Kaiser Permanente, Smashbox Cosmetics, Wells Fargo
• Portfolio at www.kennymcnett.com

Director of Marketing, TestMasters
June 2008 – January 2009
• Oversaw all marketing efforts of this national, fifteen-million dollar company
• Designed adwords campaigns, banner ads, and marketing collateral
• Managed product seminars in all regions of the country

Assistant Computer Support Representative, BYU English Department
February 2003 – May 2006
• Worked 20 hours per week, troubleshooting wide spectrum of computer problems, both hardware and software
• Administered 70 in-office workstations (PC and Mac) and department servers

Founding Director, Decaf Comedy Jam
August 2004 – Dec 2007
• Performed and directed live comedy with cast of seven comedians for corporate get-togethers, schools, and comedy clubs
• Major clients: Allstate, Bon Losee, Ken Garff Honda, Sorenson Genomics

RELEVANT VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

Online Media Coordinator, Shropshire Music Foundation
2008 – Present
• www.teachingchildrenpeace.org – Helping underprivileged children in Kosovo, Uganda, and Northern Ireland learn peace through music
• Design, develop and maintain this nonprofit’s web presence, social media experience, and email newsletter

Director of Media and Registration, California YSA Conference
April 2009 – August 2009
• Administered all aspects of media and event registration for a 2-day simultaneous conference with more than 10,000 attendees in 10 locations around California
• Trained more than 300 volunteers in seven cities, including Oakland, Sacramento, Los Angeles, and San Diego, on how to successfully run the conference locally
• Directed the website, real-time collaboration, social networks, blogs, documentaries, email campaigns, marketing collateral, and online registration

Volunteer Missionary, LDS Church
Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
July 2000 – July 2002
• Learned to speak, read, and write Portuguese fluently
• Pursued opportunities to aid Brazilians within their communities while working in remote cities with little supervision
• In my second year, trained and organized other volunteers

FAMILIARITY WITH COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGIES
(E = expert, C = competent)

E - Web design (HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, Handcode)
E - Graphic design (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, Acrobat, Fireworks)
E - Computer hardware and software technical support
E - Blogging platforms, social networking, and other online collaborative workspaces
E - Content management systems (Joomla, WordPress)
C - Computer languages: PHP, Flash ActionScript 2.0
C - Audio/Visual production
C - Database manipulation (Excel, MySQL)

UCSD v1

Kenny McNett — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:58:08 +0000

Kenneth A. McNett
Statement of Purpose
PhD in Communication at UCSD
Entering Fall 2010
As technology trends toward real-time communication across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of face-to-face conversation. Yet, in my professional work, I have noticed varied resistance to the newest services that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I am interested in carrying out doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Department of Communication at UCSD is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
Allow me to highlight three faculty members at UCSD whose work is complementary to my intended focus:
Dr. Michael Cole has been incorporating collaborative workspaces as part of his research for many years. His insight into the tangible application of technologies, such as his use of twikis in “The Wizard of Internet City” in 2004-2005, will influence my processes for implementing today’s latest innovations in my studies. Also, his associated projects such as Fifth Dimensions and the LCHC could be fertile soil for case studies in assessing the effects of adopting real-time collaborative solutions. For example, how would academic contributors respond if the XMCA mailing list were run synchronously as a Google Wave?
Although Dr. Barry Brown’s work is primarily focused on leisure instead of workspaces, the principles he employs for melding computer science and social science hold strong interest for me. Specifically, I want to emulate the hands-on approach he took to analyzing mobile collaborative tourism. In doing so, analogous to his focus on tourists instead of tourism, my primary attention will not be directed at the tools of collaboration, but at the users of those tools. Also, since I gained an intimate knowledge of computers as a youth and paid my way through college as a computer support technician, a shared technical perspective will facilitate our work together.
Considering her continued experience with new media, Dr. Kelly Gates is another faculty member whose knowledge is complementary to my intended focus. Moreover, since one of my career aims is to teach courses at the university level which are similar to those taught by Dr. Gates, I desire to learn from her pedagogical approaches. When exploring media history to present day, how do we choose which modern technologies are important enough to be included in the curriculum? How does using modern collaborative technologies to accomplish the coursework color students’ perception of the past communication methods they are studying? I eagerly anticipate opportunities to grow both as a researcher and a teacher at UCSD.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
In my professional and volunteer work, I have led hundreds of people spread across California and beyond. I have developed shared communication infrastructures for them and given guidance about new technologies, enabling distant teams to work together in the face of demanding deadlines. Through my artwork and public performances, I have culled valuable lessons from diverse forms of group collaboration and communication. Indeed, my life experiences have led me to identify my passion. However, I have learned for myself as a first generation college graduate that the key to pursuing my passion is more than identification; the key is education.
At UCSD, I look forward to continuing my education, perpetuating my passion for communication, and contributing substantively to the field of collaborative technologies—my trident of aspirations as a Triton hopeful.

UPenn v3

Kenny McNett — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:08:14 +0000

Kenneth A. McNett
Statement of Purpose
December 2009
As technology trends toward real-time communication across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of face-to-face conversation. Yet, in my professional work, I have noticed varied resistance to the newest services that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I hope to pursue doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
Aside from Dr. Hampton, who is an unmistakable choice as a mentor for my research into new media, allow me to highlight two additional professors whose work is also complementary to my intended focus. Since increased real-time information sharing will likely change the way in which people associate content online, studying with Dr. Turow would help me explore the effects of link creation and cross-references in rapidly shifting content. How should we reconcile links that have their targets frequently edited or relocated within a shared document? Must link placement in group work be unanimous? Additionally, noting the collaborative approach he used in gathering ideas and essays for his Hyperlinks project, I would like him to influence the methodology that I will employ in my investigations.
With the rapid growth of internet communication technologies, I think we will see live collaboration in media more technically advanced than spreadsheets and text documents. Given his connection to the Visual Communication Laboratory, Dr. Messaris would be an ideal support to me in my research. What would result from online strangers mixing a song together, making a short film, or jointly cutting video footage for breaking news they just discussed via Twitter? I would hope for help in exploring the qualitative consequences of real-time multimedia editing.
Ultimately, my career goal is to teach at the university level, so I would also like to be influenced by Dr. Messaris and other professors who harmonize with his viewpoints about learning by doing. In all of my teaching opportunities—from sharing life skills with strangers in Brazil, to instructing high-level professionals about computer technology, to coaching street performers in comedy workshops—the sparks of knowledge have burned brightest when my students were able to put principles into practice. I hope to sharpen that approach while I am a teaching fellow at UPenn.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
In my professional and volunteer work, I have led hundreds of people spread across California and beyond. I have developed shared communication infrastructures for them and given guidance about new technologies, enabling distant teams to work together in the face of demanding deadlines. Through my artwork and public performances, I have culled valuable lessons from diverse forms of group collaboration and communication. Indeed, my life experiences have led me to identify my passion. However, I have learned for myself as a first generation college graduate that the key to pursuing my passion is more than identification; the key is education.
I look forward to continuing my education, perpetuating my passion for communication, and contributing to the field of collaborative technologies under the banner of the Red and Blue.

UPenn v2

Kenny McNett — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:30:04 +0000

Kenneth A. McNett
Statement of Purpose
December 2009
As technology trends toward zero-lag, real-time discussion across all devices, many people hope for their online dialogues to mimic the alacrity of in-person conversation. Yet, in my professional work I have noticed varied resistance to the newest technologies that would accomplish that wish, resulting in both positive and negative consequences for companies and non-profit organizations.
I hope to pursue doctoral research about the effects of the adoption or non-adoption of online collaborative technologies. Specifically, I intend to focus on real-time document sharing services such as those offered by Google Docs, Google Wave, Windows Office Live, and independent open-source projects. The Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania is the ideal environment to cultivate my ideas and allow me to leverage the necessary resources to answer my questions:
Which entities most benefit from real-time collaboration? What advantages are maintained by an organization that refuses to go to a synchronous cloud? Will large social networking platforms introduce simultaneous editing as a standard? What would happen if every document on the internet had the option to be shared collaboratively? How does a team best compensate for the inability of one of its members to work in a real-time environment?
Among the faculty at UPenn Annenberg with whom I would like to work, allow me to highlight two professors whose work is complementary to my intended focus. Since increased real-time information sharing will likely change the way in which people associate content online, studying with Dr. Turow will help me explore the effects of link creation and cross-references in rapidly shifting content. How should we reconcile links that have their targets frequently edited or relocated within a shared document? Must link placement in group work be unanimous? Additionally, noting the collaborative approach he used in gathering ideas and essays for his Hyperlinks project, I would like him to influence the methodology I will employ in my own investigations.
As technologies advance, I think we will see live collaboration in media more technically advanced than spreadsheets and text documents. Given his connection to the Visual Communication Laboratory, Dr. Messaris would be an ideal support to me in my research. What would result from online strangers mixing a song together, making a short film, or jointly cutting video footage for breaking news they just discussed via Twitter? I would hope for help in exploring the qualitative consequences of real-time multimedia editing.
Ultimately, my career goal is to become a professor of mass communications and teach at the university level, so I would also like to be influenced by Dr. Messaris and other professors who harmonize with his viewpoints about learning by doing. In all of my teaching opportunities—from sharing life skills with strangers in Brazil, to instructing high-level professionals about computer technology, to coaching street performers in comedy workshops—the sparks of knowledge have burned brightest when my students were able to put principles into practice. I look forward to sharpening that approach in the classroom as a teaching fellow.
As a demonstration of my zeal for applying technology-based collaboration, this essay itself is the result of collaborative editing. I invited the online community to make edits and comments in an open forum I created at kennymcnett.com/mystatementofpurpose. Since this is ultimately a personal essay, I took care to remain the sole author of each draft and I was in complete control of what advice I incorporated. The community commentary was enlightening and I invite you to visit the website to survey the process.
My professional and volunteer life has afforded me many opportunities to whet my interest in collaborative technologies. Twice, I have led hundreds of people spread across California, developing shared communication infrastructures, educating them about new technologies and enabling them to act as a team in the face of tight deadlines. In my efforts, the increased efficiency of the teams willing to work in real-time collaboration was wholly apparent when compared to those that would not adopt the technology. That disparity continues to fascinate me and I look forward to diving into its mysteries in Philadelphia.