1. Research and investigate into PHP & MySQL.
I met this LO by doing some basic and also some more thorough research. I completed this by using a few books and some online resources.
2. Research & Develop skills in confidently using PHP & MySQL.
I have met this LO by writing a short essay with my research notes from what I have learnt, and a short tutorial on how to inplement PHP into a website.
3. Create a simple website with features.
I met this LO by creating a fully functioning website with example features such as a 'Feedback Form' and a 'Guestbook'. You can view the website here.
4. Evaluate and reflect on the SMLP and what I have learnt.
I have met this LO by writing a short essay (670 words), both evaluating and reflecting on what I have learnt and the website I have created.
I have looked through the other criteria and decided my grade will be a Pass.
Friday, 23 October 2009
Thursday, 22 October 2009
A8, SMLP Learning PHP & MySQL
Learning PHP turned out to be a little more difficult than I first thought, although very useful. One of the first things I learnt was a PHP 'Include', basically what this means is you pull information from another document. For example:
If you have a navigation list, you could use an include to pull it on every page of your site. So, you could have 1 nav.php file which would look something like this example below.
Then you would have your normal page (e.g. index.php). You would then on this page put an include which looks like this:
By doing this simple step you can simply edit the nav.php file once and it would change on every page instantly. This can be very useful for lots of things, e.g. it would work great for a footer or a header.
Another useful thing I have learnt is a simple feedback form with required fields using only PHP. This was very complicated to look at first, it went straight over my heard and I even now sometimes get lost while looking through it.
The required forms are quite clever, for example in the email input field it the user has to type an @ and a . (period) before it will let them submit the form. You can also have an drop down menu to use as a subject which can be quite useful in picking out certain emails if you were to have many. You can also write customised messages depending on what the outcome is with the form:
(Click to enlarge)
I have also managed to set up a guestbook on my A8 Website. It has 3 files which are, guestbook.php (the main page), add.php (the php and input form) and data.php (this file is blank, add.php puts data into it when the guestbook is signed and submitted). guestbook.php has an 'Include' on it to pull in data.php so the signed posts will display on the page. As complicated as it may sound, it is infact very simple - I was quite surprised.
Simple diagram of how it works below:
If you have a navigation list, you could use an include to pull it on every page of your site. So, you could have 1 nav.php file which would look something like this example below.
<ul>
<li>Link #1</li>
<li>Link #2</li>
<li>Link #3</li>
</ul>
Then you would have your normal page (e.g. index.php). You would then on this page put an include which looks like this:
<?php include "nav.php"; ?>
By doing this simple step you can simply edit the nav.php file once and it would change on every page instantly. This can be very useful for lots of things, e.g. it would work great for a footer or a header.
Another useful thing I have learnt is a simple feedback form with required fields using only PHP. This was very complicated to look at first, it went straight over my heard and I even now sometimes get lost while looking through it.
The required forms are quite clever, for example in the email input field it the user has to type an @ and a . (period) before it will let them submit the form. You can also have an drop down menu to use as a subject which can be quite useful in picking out certain emails if you were to have many. You can also write customised messages depending on what the outcome is with the form:
(Click to enlarge)
I have also managed to set up a guestbook on my A8 Website. It has 3 files which are, guestbook.php (the main page), add.php (the php and input form) and data.php (this file is blank, add.php puts data into it when the guestbook is signed and submitted). guestbook.php has an 'Include' on it to pull in data.php so the signed posts will display on the page. As complicated as it may sound, it is infact very simple - I was quite surprised.
Simple diagram of how it works below:
Tuesday, 13 October 2009
Web Designer Job Role
Web Designer
About the Job
We have an opportunity for a Web Designer to work within a fast paced in-house marketing team. Responsibilities include the maintenance and updating of current group websites. Identify and resolve issues relating to group online marketing. Plan, design and develop new online projects for group and to interpret and develop design briefs received from Marketing department.
Essential skills include CSS & (X)HTML (preferably hand-coded), JavaScript, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and excellent communication and organisational skills. Knowledge of Quark would be an advantage as there may be a requirement to get involved in the print design process.
For more information on this vacancy email Jonny Duke at info@thebook.uk.com
To receive up to the minute job tweets, just follow us on twitter at creativejobs09
The Book is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
The Book, Pure Creative Recruitment, is an Equal Opportunities and Age Positive Employer.
Link to the chosen job here.
Essential skills include CSS & (X)HTML (preferably hand-coded), JavaScript, Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash and excellent communication and organisational skills. Knowledge of Quark would be an advantage as there may be a requirement to get involved in the print design process.
For more information on this vacancy email Jonny Duke at info@thebook.uk.com
To receive up to the minute job tweets, just follow us on twitter at creativejobs09
The Book is acting as an Employment Agency in relation to this vacancy.
The Book, Pure Creative Recruitment, is an Equal Opportunities and Age Positive Employer.
Link to the chosen job here.
My Breakdown
After researching and browsing for jobs on a few different websites I came across this one above, which would really appeal to me if I were to apply for a web designer job at the moment. I am very comfortable with both XHTML and CSS and can hand-code them from scratch, although I'm not as comfortable with Javascript, I feel I have good enough knowledge in it to understand the ins and outs and believe I'd still be confident enough to apply for this role as I stand now.
I'm also comfortable with using Dreamweaver, Photoshop, Illustrator and Flash (frontend). Infact I quite enjoy using all four programs and do so in my own time away from college.
All though I seem to be quite confident in all of the above there are some things I need to work on, I need to get myself upto date with Actionscript (AS) in order to use Flash to it's full potential, there are alot of things to be done in AS that can't be done from the frontend.
Another thing I would have to look at is getting some experience using Quark. Although this is a program that has never really interested me and quite frankly haven't had a need to learn it, but for this role it's an advantage to have.
A couple of other things I need to work on is my communication and organisational skills. My communication skills need work but I'm confident they will improve quite fast with the course and upcoming assignments. Whereas my organisational skills are, well.. Non-existent! I definitely need to work on this as for all jobs it will be required, definitely not something I'm used to doing but I'm sure I'll improve on it in the near future.
To sum up where I think I am and what I need to do:
- Good knowledge of XHTML.
- Good Knowledge of CSS.
- Basic knowledge of Javascript (could be improved alot).
- Good knowledge of Dreamweaver.
- Good Knowledge of Photoshop.
- Good knowledge of Illustrator.
- Good knowledge of Flash (frontend) / Average for Actionscript.
- No knowledge of Quark (Need to learn this from scratch).
- Basic communication skills. (Alot of improvement needed).
- Bad organisational skills. (Alot of improvement needed).
I hope that I will be able to look back on this and have achieved what I hope to on this course. Time will tell, watch this space!
Tuesday, 22 September 2009
50% done?
It's strange to think that the first year is over and the second year is starting. Where does time go? The months we had off seemed like a long time off and I was worried that I'd forget half of what I'd learnt in the first year, but the summer went so fast I hardly had time to gather my thoughts before being thrown back into the second year! Wow.
Over the summer there are quite a few websites I have created and maintained for small businesses and individuals. It's kept everything quite fresh in my mind which I hope is going to make the assignments to come a lot easier than if I had done nothing. I also had a little dabble in PHP and although I do understand how some of it works with MySQL I still wouldn't be confident enough to call myself at intermediate level.
Looking forward at the second year I'd say I'm excited for what's to come but at the same time a little anxious, which I think could be looked at as a possitive thing. There seem to be a lot of assignments with a lot of variaty so it should get interesting!
The one thing that I'm dreading, which most people who know me before even reading on know what I'm going to say.. The dreaded presentation at the end of the course! Although I've not been looking forward to it even since the start of the course, I feel a lot more at ease thinking about it now than I once did - Which for me is strange.
So, here the rollercoaster starts again.
Over the summer there are quite a few websites I have created and maintained for small businesses and individuals. It's kept everything quite fresh in my mind which I hope is going to make the assignments to come a lot easier than if I had done nothing. I also had a little dabble in PHP and although I do understand how some of it works with MySQL I still wouldn't be confident enough to call myself at intermediate level.
Looking forward at the second year I'd say I'm excited for what's to come but at the same time a little anxious, which I think could be looked at as a possitive thing. There seem to be a lot of assignments with a lot of variaty so it should get interesting!
The one thing that I'm dreading, which most people who know me before even reading on know what I'm going to say.. The dreaded presentation at the end of the course! Although I've not been looking forward to it even since the start of the course, I feel a lot more at ease thinking about it now than I once did - Which for me is strange.
So, here the rollercoaster starts again.
Wednesday, 16 September 2009
SMLP Resource List
Below is a written resource list of the sites and books I will be using to help me through my SMLP.
Web-based resources:-
www.php.net - This site is probably the most obvious as it is the definitive source for PHP. I'm certain I will use this site on a regular basis!
www.w3schools.com - This is a good quallity, well known website of which carries a good load of tutoirals and walk throughs of PHP, MySQL and other languages.
www.killerphp.com - This site I actually found by accident once.. It holds a good number of tutorials and video tutorials inwhich I will use to help me along the way.
www.tutorialized.com - This is also a good site for tutorials and walk-throughs. It has a good number of languages including PHP & MySQL, it also has a rating system so you can see what's good and what isn't.
www.phpfreaks.com - This is one of my favourite sources of information on PHP. It's a tidy site that has tutorials, walk-throughs and a user rating system. Well laid out and easy to use.
Paper based sources:-
PHP 5, Mike McGrath - This book is very useful with step by step tutorials and full colour screenshots to help. This is a book I'll keep with me at all times!
PHP and MySQL, Timothy Boronczyk - I have only very briefly had a skim through this book but for what I have seen this looks like it will be a good resource to keep me going.
PHP & MySQL for Dummies, Janet Valade - Now, Although the "For Dummies" books are a well-known series and possibly even underated I think this is a good resource to have and use. I'm sure it will help a lot and keep me plodding on!
Web-based resources:-
www.php.net - This site is probably the most obvious as it is the definitive source for PHP. I'm certain I will use this site on a regular basis!
www.w3schools.com - This is a good quallity, well known website of which carries a good load of tutoirals and walk throughs of PHP, MySQL and other languages.
www.killerphp.com - This site I actually found by accident once.. It holds a good number of tutorials and video tutorials inwhich I will use to help me along the way.
www.tutorialized.com - This is also a good site for tutorials and walk-throughs. It has a good number of languages including PHP & MySQL, it also has a rating system so you can see what's good and what isn't.
www.phpfreaks.com - This is one of my favourite sources of information on PHP. It's a tidy site that has tutorials, walk-throughs and a user rating system. Well laid out and easy to use.
Paper based sources:-
PHP 5, Mike McGrath - This book is very useful with step by step tutorials and full colour screenshots to help. This is a book I'll keep with me at all times!
PHP and MySQL, Timothy Boronczyk - I have only very briefly had a skim through this book but for what I have seen this looks like it will be a good resource to keep me going.
PHP & MySQL for Dummies, Janet Valade - Now, Although the "For Dummies" books are a well-known series and possibly even underated I think this is a good resource to have and use. I'm sure it will help a lot and keep me plodding on!
Tuesday, 8 September 2009
SMLP: PHP & MySQL
I have done some research into 2 different languages that I was interested in study for my SMLP. The first one I looked at was Actionscript 3.0 which appealed to me very much, but after studying further realised that PHP & MySQL would benefit me more in the long run and preferbly point me in the right direction for employment.
PHP is a great language to learn because it is open source, flexible, extenable (as it integrates with MySQL) and is continuously improved by great skilled developers. Another great reason for me personally to learn PHP is because I have used it (very basically) in the past, I'm confident that I would feel comfortable studying it properly.
In addition, PHP/MySQL developers are in high demand in the industry and I think the SMLP would be a great item to add to my portfolio.
As I will researching and studying this language I intend to use a wide range of sources such as; websites, books, written tutorials, video tutorials etc.
Using PHP, MySQL, CSS and XHTML you can create and endless applications of any size using a server-side database e.g. User contact forms.
I will look forward to doing my SMLP and hopefully learn enough to take it further in the future.
PHP is a great language to learn because it is open source, flexible, extenable (as it integrates with MySQL) and is continuously improved by great skilled developers. Another great reason for me personally to learn PHP is because I have used it (very basically) in the past, I'm confident that I would feel comfortable studying it properly.
In addition, PHP/MySQL developers are in high demand in the industry and I think the SMLP would be a great item to add to my portfolio.
As I will researching and studying this language I intend to use a wide range of sources such as; websites, books, written tutorials, video tutorials etc.
Using PHP, MySQL, CSS and XHTML you can create and endless applications of any size using a server-side database e.g. User contact forms.
I will look forward to doing my SMLP and hopefully learn enough to take it further in the future.
Tuesday, 12 May 2009
Finished, only to start all over again!
Well, the last assignment has been handed in, I can’t believe how fast it has gone - It’s quite scary actually!
When I looked back at the first post I made after starting the course, it was quite strange to see how I introduced myself. Before the course I felt pretty anxious and found myself asking questions similar to ‘what would the people be like’? ‘Will I be able to hack the work?’ - the questions and thoughts were endless. I didn’t see myself as an academic student and was very worried about essays and referencing, now that I’ve come all this way through the course I feel a lot more confident in myself academically, in designing and socially.
Before starting the HND I-media course I had few qualifications, but now after spending the time here working hard, learning and teaching myself I feel I am on the way to feeling satisfied of receiving a good strong qualification.
Once the course had started I hadn’t made a decision and had no idea whether I’d carry on in education for the 3rd year or just go to work, the scary thing is that I still feel exactly the same way. It’s a year on and I still find myself unable to make a decision on what I see myself doing after the second year is up. I’d like to think I’d go on for the 3rd year to finish the degree but I guess I won’t really know how I’m feeling at that point until the second year is up.
In the beginning of the course I read a lot of the second year journals and a lot of them helped me feel better about the course and my situation; where as some of them made me feel the opposite. Especially the ones that talked about the presentations that were to come, for those people that know me or have been following my journals know that I really struggle with presentations – even the though of one gives me the shivers!
In my opinion I think the hardest time I (personally) have had on the course is the induction, purely because I struggle with large crowds. Walking into a room full of 20 people sat in a circle waiting for the good ol’ ‘ice breakers’ to start was quite daunting and made me feel quite uncomfortable (I’m guessing most of the others would have felt the same).
After the ice breakers were over and we were to get the starting out information – plenty of note taking, there were a few little games over the induction period which I did thoroughly enjoy I must admit. Although everyone including myself despises ice breakers and team bonding games/tasks it really wasn’t all that bad when I look back at it now. It even helped us all become closer together and to make easy friendships – the entire class all got on together from the beginning right to this day.
The assignments that we have had over the period of the course have had their ups and downs. I’ve really enjoyed the web design side of the course, coding the websites, designing the websites and building my skills. Design for print is a whole other ball game for me; I’ve just not been as keen on those assignments and if I’m honest found them a lot harder than I thought I would.
I really enjoyed the inspirational pieces when they were set as tasks as it was interesting to see what took my fancy and also to see what other people would come up with. It was quite intriguing, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
Looking forward, the second year (I’m hoping) should be a lot more web orientated, as far as I could tell from sneak peaks on the second year journals to rumours that have been floating around. If this is the case I think the second year will be suited to me much more and I’m curious as to what the assignments will be.
As happy as I am that I have passed every assignment up to this point I would like and will be aiming for slightly higher grades than I have currently been receiving. I expect the assignments will be more challenging in the second year and I’m glad that the first year has prepared me for it!
There are also group assignments in the second year which I am quite looking forward to, it will be challenging because my colleagues grades will be in my hands instead of only worrying about myself. I think it will be fun working in the groups and will bring a new experience to my skills building.
I am really looking forward to the self learning assignment, I’m expecting to really enjoy it as you can pick your own language/subject to learn and then in the end grade yourself accordingly. This again will be a new experience for me that I think I will enjoy and will further my skills as self motivation will kick in.
The one task which I am going to find incredibly challenging is the end of year presentation which will be 30 minutes of just ME speaking. I get nervous just thinking about it and it’s a year away yet! I’m hoping by the end of next year my confidence will have built up enough to breeze through it with no problems. It’s still a mystery as to how I will be feeling on the day but I suppose I will never know until I jump on the second year roller coaster and ride it to the end.
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