Ryan Hodson PDP

Wednesday 30th March

2011-03-30T06:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday 24th March
In programming we were given a huge lecture for most of the lesson about what we need to do and anything, anyone was unsure about. Not many people in the class did much work and in fairness I didn't do much but resumed planning for the 3rd assignment.

Information systems started like every lesson talking about the assignment and near deadlines. But soon after we got into pairs and had to discuss questions that we given and everyone got the same question. We did fairly well and got the first one right but the next two were hard and one of them was a trick question, where not many people got right either.

Monday 28th March

Software development started the week and it was quite a relaxed start as there were no immediate assignments coming up, so I started the second assignment which seemed like a huge assignment on the brief, and even doing it I thought this will take some time. As it took me the whole lesson to do 1 and a half out of 5 things which need to be completed.

Tuesday 29th March

In website/graphics today I tried to host my website in the opening part of the lesson, but to find out I couldn't do it on all the sites I tried, as I have used an iframe in my website. It didn't help as most of the sites weren't free and needed $10 to put it on their server. In the second half of the lesson I decided to focus on graphics and my attention was on the third assignment, firstly I needed to do the client requirements and next week would start creating and editing 4 images.

Wednesday 30th March

In hardware, I had referral on the first assignment and it urgently needed to be completed along with the second assignment. So I added some minor things to each of them and left the rest to do at home. In the second half, I had some of the practical criteria to complete such as setting up a HUB which connected four computers, which I completed.

Wednesday 23rd March

2011-03-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Thursday 17th March

In programming, we had cover for this lesson as our main teacher wasn't in, but had our tutor who was our main teacher anyway so we continued to do our assignment for this lesson which was my main focus. I resumed planning for the project which is about a pizza restaurant. Creating a program to make ordering easier so with a choice of topping and other things to do with it.

Information systems, we were given further assignment work to complete and given an explanation about everything we need to write about. I did some work towards but not enough to even nearly completing it as I don't enjoy this lesson.

Monday 21st March
After presenting our research to the class procedural programming, I went through it a couple of times as we needed to get 5 questions about it, to be entered into for a quiz to the other group. I found it quite frustrating as it was hard to find comparisons between other programming languages. But in the end completed the task and could then concentrate on our second assignment.

Tuesday 22nd March
Today was like a usual Tuesday where we do workshop time on websites and graphics. I did some practical on my website as some areas needed improving but other than that I focused more on the theory side, as it was outstanding and desperately needed to be completed, although it is one of the longest assignments of the year, which is challenging.

Wednesday 23rd March

In hardware, we analysed where we were on our assignments and the practical list. I was in a position of my 1st and 2nd assignments were referral and started the 3rd this lesson, I was slightly behind but my target is to be up to date by Easter vacation. On the practical side I had almost completed all of it, apart from one little thing was I needed to prove I done it, so spent the first 20 minutes taking photos for evidence then could continue with my assignments.

Wednesday 9th March

2011-03-09T06:27:00.000-08:00

Thursday 3rd March
Today in programming we began discussing about planning for our next assignment, for an order of what we need to start and complete our assignment efficiently. First we were talking about doing some designs for our project which would help us to do the pseudo code/flow chart. As we were beginners to this sort of program and the designing type of mind, the design would be easier but for next year it will be the other way round as we'll be more advanced from this experience. I started some layouts of the home page and other aspects but still need some minor changes to it.

Information systems were left to finish the week for us who always seems like a longer lesson for that reason. We were all trying to get a grasp of the flow in a business and how it goes around from different sections, as practically none us quite understood it so a textbook was passed around. But for me it didn't help just made everything seem more complicated.

Monday 7th March
For the last couple of weeks we were designing for a program but this week it was something completely new and much unexpected, where we were put into pairs to create a presentation on different types of programming languages. The aim of this was to ask questions about each others work to make answers so we understood everything, but it's not really the way I learn and didn't find it that helpful. Also we did the work that was set and were the only ones to show our presentation.

Tuesday 8th March
In today's lesson it was a case of completing some outstanding work, which got a little confused by as there was so much to complete compared to what we have done. So we went back to it for the first half of the lesson and we completed and great deal of what we needed to do. In the second half we were doing our actual website which is much more enjoyable. I was adding some content into it as I had mostly focused on the design.

Wednesday 9th March
In hardware we were filling out some pages for our pass criteria, just writing some of the specification down. After we were going down the list of what we needed to do. In this lesson I think I had learnt and done rather a lot in terms of understanding as I found it quite interesting. Although after an hour or two it can get quite tedious which I found but still kept getting as it had to be done.

Wednesday 2nd March

2011-03-02T05:49:00.000-08:00

Monday 28th February
Software development was using our knowledge from previous lessons to put into our planning (GUI), about Pseudo code and flow charts to create one for a project which was the start. To start the Pseudo code I had to plan my design on paper first as I couldn’t get a clear idea of how it would work which I found difficult and slow starting but finished it by the end of the lesson. Next lesson I will begin to start in VB on coding and putting my designs to real.

Tuesday 1st March
To start the day we had to see how much assignment criteria we have covered and I was little worried in some parts as I haven’t completed some bits from a while ago but my aim was to catch up. I focused more on the theory side of website and almost completed that section for the first half of the lesson. The second half was a return to my database work which I had got back from when I handed it in last month. I had some minor things to do so I could achieve merit and if I had enough time left, to go for the distinctions. I focused on what I needed to do and made some grammar changes but will finish the majority at home.

Wednesday 2nd March
Hardware was all listening and understanding for the first half of the lesson which I found so tedious and boring. The second half didn't improve much but it was better as I could focus on the next assignment and take a look back on 2 of my previous ones which I need to hand in again in two weeks time. By looking at the dates and what I needed to do it seemed like a tough challenge to complete that much work.

Wednesday 16th February

2011-02-16T06:30:00.000-08:00

Thursday 10th February
In programming we had ideas for our new assignment our 3rd one which was is more practical but it will take a lot of time to do, plan and choosing a scenario with a 6 options. Even though that was set I was still behind on my last assignment which was the second one. It was all theory and the distinction would need at least 6 pages which were a lot taking into account combining it with other lessons.

In information systems the lecturer went through our work and I didn't understand a particular area of it which she guided through with me. Also checked some of my other work on the computer as I’ve done it, just haven’t handed anything. I was so close to completing some of the pass criteria to be handed in just needed to be brushed up at home.

Monday 14th February
Software development was a start of reviewing the other weeks and taking everything into account of what we've done, for the third assignment. Which takes loads of planning and we covered all the stages we need to complete in order to start. Then wrote up the user requirements for my program so I know what I have to cover and complete.
Tuesday 15th February
In graphics website I tried to put a banners going across some of my pages but I found it very complicated and frustrating flicking from Dream weaver to Photo shop. But reflecting on the lesson I have some other ideas for it. In this lesson I also put some text on my website and making some further links to pages which were coming off other pages in more detail.

Wednesday 9th February

2011-02-09T05:50:00.000-08:00

Thursday 3rd February
To start today we had programming and as most of us had completed the second assignment and it was due in that Friday. We had the option to do any outstanding pieces of work so I chose to do some practical work on my website as I enjoy it and needed to brush up on the layout even though it wasn't outstanding. But I completed all I needed to do which gave me some satisfaction.

Information systems was pretty much the same as last week, as we have been taught all the research to complete it which should of made it easier to understand but it was still hard coming to terms with some of the definitions. In the end I had achieved most of the criteria we were specified to do but still needed to make some minor adjustments too before I hand it in.

Monday 7th February
To start the week we had software development which was just more advanced than the previous week as we were new to it although not completely new as we had covered some in programming. So we created flow charts and some pseudo code to conclude with which I found quite easy as it was fairly simple to gather from. I found pseudo code easier than flow charts as it was brief and didn't have to write so much information for.

Tuesday 8th February
In graphics/website we were given workshop time which is the best lesson as we do our own thing and achieve so much more than lectures as I understand it from looking at on a screen rather than being told word after word. So in this lesson I had some goals and that was to produce a logo and a more fancy title. I had done the logo and the title but didn't have enough time to put it actually on my web page which I plan to do in tutorial.

Wednesday 9th February
In hardware we were given several sheets of paper which we had to complete by the end of the lesson. So to start we were given computers which we had to troubleshoot to find out what was wrong and then give a description but not fix it. Then complete two sheets on other people problems and other people might face at work.

Wednesday 2nd February

2011-02-02T06:44:00.000-08:00

Thursday 27th January
In programming I went back and completed 2 assignment tasks which I had done slightly wrong it took we the rest of the lesson to finish of that referral work. It took that long because the code kept being complicated and arranging all the images and buttons took me a while. Then had to delete my code and copy and paste my updated work and some new screenshots to include also.

The next lesson was information systems; firstly we discussed what we had to do for that lesson from the assignment specification. I'll admit that I was a little behind on the assignment as I found some of it quite difficult to understand and research. But after understanding the terms I began to make good progress and I have to end it in next Thursday or else.

Monday 31st January
On Monday we had the second lesson of software development which was the theory side of our programming as the programming we have on Thursday is more practical based and nobody did all of the work which made matters worse but were given a second chance to hand it in the following week which could determine our traffic light reviews.

Tuesday 1st February
Tuesday was a choice between Graphics and Website I decided to do website as I had not done much on the actual website only on the theory side and Graphics deadline is not until 2 months which essentially gives me lots of time to complete it before then. I made good progress.

Wednesday 26th January 2011

2011-01-26T06:44:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 19th January 2011

In tutorial we all had a one on one discussion about our assignment deadlines in case we hadn't met some deadlines but my work is fairly up to date so it wasn't a long discussion and my attendance is good overall as I’m in practically everyday. Then the rest of the time we could do any work we were outstanding on but I focused more on Databases as the deadline was in 2 days from then and I managed to hand in on time but it still needs a few minor adjustments to achieve a merit and maybe a distinction.

Thursday 20th January 2011

In programming I was given back my first assignment and was given feedback on to improve the result of it was I needed to of included a glossary of terms defining key terms in my own words and also I did two of the tasks wrong as they were class tasks so I need to adapt them and that in for a future date. I started to resolve the issues but didn't get round to completing it so might try and focus on it next lesson.

In information systems we started P3 of the assignment criteria which continues from a presentation we did the previous lesson about sources of information. I had r research most of it on the internet as I don't understand or enjoy the lesson that much.

Monday 24th January 2011

To start this week we started a new unit which was called "Software development" as the database assignment deadline was last Thursday but only some of the class including me managed to hand it on time. So on the introduction to software development we went through the specification and then started to discuss the programming side of it so our first task was to do step by step instructions on to making your favourite food.

Wednesday 5th January 2010

2011-01-05T05:45:00.000-08:00

Tuesday 4th January
In graphics, I had completed assignment 2, over the Christmas vacation then when we had got back we were given the brief of assignment 3, then made a start for the last 2 hours of the lesson, I made progress by recording stages of my logo in Adobe Illustrator in a word document, then had to make pick one out of 6 of my designs. Late into the lesson I had chosen one which I saw potential in so then drafted it into Adobe Photoshop after I resolved some of the problems I had with the setting as it appeared to be very jagged as its a bitmap application, as I understand it more and I feel it will look a lot better by applying layers in, I made a quick start to show what I did to the class by applying it in shadow and decreasing the opacity of the logo to make the name of the magazine stand out.

Wednesday 5th January
In hardware, we were learning about the windows firewall of the purposes of it which I didn't realise that it made such a difference as its so simple to turn on and off, I knew a fair bit about it anyway from my other knowledge but never looked at it in real detail this was for the first half of the lesson. The second half was far more practical as we took the wires which we got from last lesson and our task was to cut it down and put the wires in a certain order for wiring a cable this was extremely frustrating by trying to cut the plastic cover off and I had failed so many times but as the end of lesson got nearer I had much more luck as also I had been given some good advice from my peers.

Wednesday 15th December 2010

2010-12-15T06:00:00.000-08:00

Monday 13th December
In database we had workshop time for the first half of the lesson as we only had a few remaining lessons due to bank holidays and the Christmas vacation which I resumed on doing queries and adjusting some changes to tables and forms. For the second half of the lesson we played a board game called Articulate which we split into 2 teams for, the game was describing a word which could be a person, a country, etc ... I ended up on the loosing team by being narrowly beaten and we did have a slight disadvantage with one less person as one person was left to guess the word instead of two which the other group had.

Tuesday 14th December

On this day we had the choice once again either of doing website design or digital graphics, I chose to do digital graphics as most people weren’t making considerable progress on there websites and this would mean it left me less work to do over Christmas so I could concentrate on other subjects and I felt I could get more done and this I achieved only for the first half of the lesson again as it was the last week before Christmas so we decided to play games. The game chosen was by our lecturer and her choice was Dingbats, the whole class felt that the questions were very difficult and the grand total of questions answered correctly was one and by a bit of luck we and my partner won and were ding bat champions!

Wednesday 8th December 2010

2010-12-08T05:55:00.000-08:00

Monday 6th December
In Database we carried on in Microsoft Access, filling in any tasks in we had missed in the assignment specification, so I decided too start queries which I didn't get too far into it with not much time remaining in the lesson, but rearranged my tables and also had some problems with the relationships on referential integrity. I also changed the layout of my forms, too include the company name and the colour scheme.

Tuesday 7th December

On Tuesday we had the option to either carry with website design in dreamweaver or Photoshop I was using for the main layout to create a better background in a program I was more used too. The other option was too carry on with digital graphics, comparing hardware which was the option I chose as the assignment was due in on this Friday and got quite far with it completing all the information for 3 tasks and more, which left we the other half to do at home.

Wednesday 8th December

Hardware, we were to start the second assignment in the classroom whilst switching back into the other room with our wires and adding in the hard drive on our computers, which we then formatted with some help from class friends, to make sure I did correctly and learnt from what they did as it was new to me.

Wednesday 24th November 2010

2010-11-24T06:46:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 17th November
In tutorial we discussed the problems with having social networking sites on the internet at college as it's too distracting and cyber bullying. Which are blocked by Barracuda, we had arguements for them to be unblocked by saying that it's easier to solve cyber bullying in college than doing nothing about it at home. Then some people including me discussed other bullying situations to realise the horrors of it on how it effects on people.

Thursday 18th November
Programming, we discussed the assignment and the deadlines also going through all the tasks/programs we've done since we started at the beginining of the year, as we all have to produce them in our first assignment, demonstrating the code we used as some people couldn't get their programs to run.

Monday 22nd November
Database, we exported tables in Excel to try and edit or add some more records then seeing whether it was able to recognise and adapt to the changes we had made by then importing it back into Access. For me this was successful on both accounts, then we carried on creating forms I would of done more if I was given more time to do the work in class.

Wednesday 17th November 2010

2010-11-17T05:58:00.000-08:00

Wednesday 10th November
In tutorial, I updated my ILP (Individual Learning Plan) to update my deadlines on all assignments and also to make a note of work which I need to complete, to raise my grades above a pass. This took me little time to update but I think I should do it more often, considering that was only the second time I’ve opened it in 2 months, to prevent falling behind in some of my lessons.

Thursday 11th November
Programming, was made a little more difficult this week but I still managed to complete the task before the end of the lesson with not much help from my peers or teacher, but then I only just know the basics of visual basic the main program we use as I haven't used it before, but slowly progressing forward with the knowledge I need to know.

Information systems, was a summary of we had be tought since we started the year by a quiz of 14 questions which also took up all of the lesson to answer and mark it was too make sure we all understood most things and to recap for the people who had missed some lessons, including me.

Wednesday 3rd November 2010

2010-11-10T06:11:00.000-08:00

In our group we attended the "safe drive, stay alive" lecture, which was very dramatic and emotional, to see all the horrific reconstructions which happened to ordinary people, as it could easily happen to anyone considering the statistics are quite high as they stated that one in five people could be in an accident between the ages of 17 and 25. Also learned about what it would do to your family if someone passed away which was devastating to see a woman who talked to us about how she lost two of her sons in different accidents, as we also learned how one lapse of concentration could lead to something so critical, when it could be either tiredness and drink or drug driving. This affected me on being more aware of when I get in a care of who the driver is and how much experience he or she has had also to always wear a seatbelt, no matter on how far I’m travelling.

Wednesday 13th October 2010

2010-10-13T06:29:00.000-07:00

Thursday 7th October
In programming we were asked to change the background colour so it changed every time we clicked button which I successfully achieved and then were asked to create a textbox which came up with each of the grades and the equivalent it to it E.g. merit = B which I managed to create is well but after I understood the code of the names of everything which complicated me at first. Information systems we continued mainly on from the week before on researching internal as well as external sources which we studied and understood in our own definitions then compared them in groups to share ideas and add any other necessary information in.

Wednesday 6th October 2010

2010-10-06T06:09:00.000-07:00

Thursday 30th September
In programming we used software which I was new to (visual basic). We were given a couple of sheets to use as a tutorial guide to start of by creating buttons also changing the background, quite basic to get used to the tools and then expanding it into a number game which I found difficult with all the code.

Information systems, we were asked to find the meaning of key words to make sure we understood everything, we were on our own and finding it on the internet using any websites we wanted, the words were specifically linked in a business environment.

Monday 4th October
In database design, we were found out how efficient databases are by playing a game which involved us being a business in a group of 4 it was a sandwich company and they used a paper database instead of computer, it was a mess on paper making too many corrections and also other factors such as trying to read the handwriting was difficult even although on a computer database they can make mistakes but they are far more organised and efficient.

Tuesday 5th October
Graphics, we used adobe Photoshop and illustrator, I found Photoshop easier as I’ve used it before and know where everything is. We had to bring in a photo which we took ourselves then made a couple of edits, then saving our finished picture in different formats adding to our presentation with our other work we did in paint which was similar.

Wednesday 6th October
In hardware (computer systems), we were given our assignment on showing our knowledge in computer systems, processors etc ..., on key words and areas giving descriptions and diagrams to show our full understanding. We started it today and I should finish it easily before the deadline day which is just over two weeks away.

Wednesday 29th September 2010

2010-09-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 22nd September
In tutorial we created an individual learning plan filling in all our deadlines for assignments and other tasks to make sure they are completed on time.
Monday 27th SeptemberIn database design we were set to research databases and gather information also showing examples, to put into a presentation in our groups which we divided the work equally and each researched individually on different areas.
Tuesday 28th September
In website design we were randomly put into pairs with people we hardly knew where we exchanged clients of any fictional or real companies and made fairly detailed notes about each of our requirements to re-design it to suit you.

Wednesday 22nd September 2010

2010-09-22T06:23:00.000-07:00

Thursday 16th September
In programming we researched computer languages and then were told to create a presentation in groups, focusing on a particular one which we all agreed on with a week to complete. Then later on in information systems we were instructed to research several processes to understand them, also having to represent it in a presentation but except individually.

Monday 20th September
In database design the main task was to look at a chosen website (sports stadiums) so we are researching and gathering information in our groups to see how a database is used.

Tuesday 21st September
In graphics we were told to create a pattern or image in paint and just getting used to the software, also saving our work in different formats to show how the quality and the colour changed from the original.

Wednesday 22nd September
Today in computer systems we analysed how information would be processed in different parts and routes. Then we drew a diagram of inside the computer to know what everything was and how it works.

Wednesday 15th September 2010

2010-09-15T06:44:00.000-07:00

First week of college has been getting to know the course and also interacting with other people doing the course. Only task i've been set to do is a presentation displaying who i am and using an example of a client.