Dreamweaver Doldrums

Hello again,

We are at that part of the week again, it has been as busy one again. A few late nights have been had but it feels as though I am treading water at the moment.

As project manager for the 'On the Job' project I have had a lot of written work to do, which is not the most interesting thing in the world, but it has to be done.


iMe Project

Some nicer work, I was hoping, would be the iMe project, I have started to build my site and the Dreamweaver problems have already started.

It is an infuriating piece of software at times, I am starting to see the value of doing layouts in CSS even more,though my confidence with CSS is not up to task at the moment, maybe I just need to 'jump in' but then again, is now the right time, with just a week to have our portfolio online? It may be an idea for me to create my 'table and cells' version, and see if I have time to do a CSS version later.

I have not received any feedback yet on my blog sketches, so I have made my own decision on which layout to go with. Though time is sparse, I am tempted to do 2 or 3 layouts, then I can pick brains for which to go with, though it probably would not be a final decision anyway, as the site can be altered at a later date.

I was hoping to come up with a really good design for the iMe project, and I still do not seem to be getting there, it is not that I am not creative enough, but something seems to hold me back. Maybe the 'fear' of technology?

I wanted to prove that I can come up with something half decent as there are doubts over my technical ability from tutors and I wanted to prove that I can do it. So we will see!

Any advice from the more fluent CSS / Dreamweaver users out there will be more than welcome.

Peak of the Week

It should have been the awards ceremony, but I was a little disappointed to be honest, don't get me wrong, I was glad to have won. I got all psyched up for going up on stage to find my introduction was something I had written myself! That was the disappointing part for me.

So my peak would have to be the progress the 'team' made on the 'On the Job' project, especially as 1 member was absent on Monday, I think we managed to re-shuffle quite well and a good attitude was demonstrated. That being 'just get on and deal with the situation'.

I do not know if the motivation was because of good team management or a self driven need to do well or a bit of both, but whatever the reason, I was proud of the way the 'team' worked this week.

Aims

1. To get my portfolio online.

2. To get evidence ready for the team so that hand in is a pain free experience.

3. To make sure I evidence all my own individual work for the 'On the Job' project.

These are all my aims really for this week. Keep it simple stupid!

Thanks for reading

Mark

Feedback Forum

Hi Folks,

I would like some feedback on my ideas for my online portfolio designs, they are at the rough sketchbook stage at the moment, and no colour scheme has been decided upon.

If students or tutors (or anyone else for that matter) could take 2 minutes to give feedback or comments / suggestions then it would be gratefully received.

Don't hold back say what you think and any questions just ask.

Thanks Mark

Da Management

Hello again,

'On the Job'

It has been another reasonably productive week in regards to the 'on the job' project.
I am happy (ish) with the progress that has been made, that being us deciding on a design and actually starting to build it.

Both my 'Daves' have worked well this week and it has been good to be involved in what they were doing. Dave S has had some glorious moments with scripts, coming up with a lovely image enlarging device which we will implement as soon as we have some images.

Dave W has done a good job too, producing the digital designs when asked and they look pretty good too, I just hope the final site looks as good as the design.

There has been one slight problem this week and that has been the images. It would seem as though there has been a misunderstanding on who was responsible for getting them. Anyway The kind Mr Yoxall has provided us with them now.

Having looked at the images they do not seem to be exactly what we need, though a few may be usable for the 'home' page. It has taught me a lesson though, that being where possible, get your own images.

So come Monday we will be taking some shots ourselves of student work, hopefully that will provide us with a less 'clinical' feel to the site.

Luckily this problem has been picked up early enough to rectify without affecting the deadline, but it may have done had we waited longer. So another lesson is to get content sorted as soon as you can.

The management side of things has got better this week, I have felt a little less stressed this week. Though saying that the stress has reared its very ugly head elsewhere.

6 Month Learning Contract

Speak of the devil, the source of my stress. It seems just as I thought I knew what I was doing, I don't!

I had previously looked at job descriptions as my source of skills to learn. This gave me a good insight into what I wanted to learn and I proceeded to make a list of tutorials that fit the bill. But then, and this is the stressful it, we have to show how what we learn is measurable.

My original idea was to do a tutorial and then sat a task relating to it, a mini project if you like. Now I find myself looking at tutorial providers and trying come up with what I am meant to for the lesson. I did like my way of doing it but I don't think it is the right way. Arghhhh!

Peak of the Week

I would have to say that this week my peak has being the progress made by 'the team' they have done me proud, I hope it continues.

Aims

1. To get on top of the organisation for 'On the Job'

2. To prepare well for next weeks 'On the Job'

3. To catch up with as much as possible that I feel behind with. (there is a fair amount!)


Thanks for reading

Mark