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
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Sunday, December 10, 2006
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
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
Tuesday, December 05, 2006
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
'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
Tuesday, November 28, 2006
How I love My Peaks!
From this week we are going to be commenting on the ongoing projects, which I think is a good idea. It may open people up to talking about their thoughts and feelings about how things are going.
The 1 challenge maybe not to drone on and keep it interesting, after all there are other things, some of us, would like to say!
The CiSSy Project
The CiSSy project is not going as well as I would have liked at the moment. I need to generate some more layout ideas, and quickly. I part of the reason I have become side tracked is because of the responsibility of being a project manager, though as a manager, I will have to learn to 'juggle' tasks.
There is a little re-writing of the web plan to do also, I feel the base is okay but there needs to be some substance to it. The 'delivery requirements' is a particular concern. I think currently the plan lacks defined information, regarding the technologies involved in the production of the CiSSy site.
I intend to put this right by Sunday 3rd December though.
The iMe Project
The web plan is again my main concern with this project, and also the delivery requirements again. Similar reasons to the 'CiSSy' project really.
But enough web plan misery, I am actually quite happy at where I am at with regards to layout and site design. I feel I have come up with some decent ideas but I need to get some feedback on them, this of course is 'EVIDENCE', I emphasise this because it helped me to get a 'merit' in the 'culture vulture' project.
I want to get into the production of the 'iMe' site as soon as possible really, I think with the other projects we have on going it would be a good idea to get a site up and running before the 19th Dec deadline. It may ease the pain later!
The 'On the Job' Project
Well as I stated in the previous blog, I am actually quite enjoying the responsibility, in a weird way, of being Project Manager. It has its challenges such as making sure the team produces what they should, when they should, but I think they are doing me proud at the moment. Keep it up 'me Daves'!
It has been interesting to meet a client and have to take down all the information, then relay it to the team. There have been a few meetings already and I do not mind them, but it does mean I have to sacrifice some of the other more creative tasks.
I hope by next week our team will have in place a full web plan, rough designs and digital designs. My Gantt chart says we start production on Monday the 4th Dec, so if the Gantt chart says so, it shall be!!
Peak of the Week!
Yes it's back!!
Well I would say my peak has been getting the 'merit' (though technically that should have been last weeks peak) but I also got a nice letter from the college this week, it informs me that I have been received an award for 'best interactive media' student.
I will have to attend a ceremony to receive my prize, which makes me nervous, but it made me very proud to be nominated. It made my day! So two peaks then, just how I like it! Hopefully lots more to come.
Aims
1. To have our team where I want us to be, i.e web plan, rough designs, digital designs done, ready for production on Monday.
2. To have CiSSy web plan finished for Sunday this week.
3. To have iMe web plan finished for Sunday this week.
Just the 2 aims, but big ones. If I can get these aims done, I will be a happy student next week.
Thanks for reading, and as usual, FEEDBACK PLEASE, talk to me people!!
Mark
The 1 challenge maybe not to drone on and keep it interesting, after all there are other things, some of us, would like to say!
The CiSSy Project
The CiSSy project is not going as well as I would have liked at the moment. I need to generate some more layout ideas, and quickly. I part of the reason I have become side tracked is because of the responsibility of being a project manager, though as a manager, I will have to learn to 'juggle' tasks.
There is a little re-writing of the web plan to do also, I feel the base is okay but there needs to be some substance to it. The 'delivery requirements' is a particular concern. I think currently the plan lacks defined information, regarding the technologies involved in the production of the CiSSy site.
I intend to put this right by Sunday 3rd December though.
The iMe Project
The web plan is again my main concern with this project, and also the delivery requirements again. Similar reasons to the 'CiSSy' project really.
But enough web plan misery, I am actually quite happy at where I am at with regards to layout and site design. I feel I have come up with some decent ideas but I need to get some feedback on them, this of course is 'EVIDENCE', I emphasise this because it helped me to get a 'merit' in the 'culture vulture' project.
I want to get into the production of the 'iMe' site as soon as possible really, I think with the other projects we have on going it would be a good idea to get a site up and running before the 19th Dec deadline. It may ease the pain later!
The 'On the Job' Project
Well as I stated in the previous blog, I am actually quite enjoying the responsibility, in a weird way, of being Project Manager. It has its challenges such as making sure the team produces what they should, when they should, but I think they are doing me proud at the moment. Keep it up 'me Daves'!
It has been interesting to meet a client and have to take down all the information, then relay it to the team. There have been a few meetings already and I do not mind them, but it does mean I have to sacrifice some of the other more creative tasks.
I hope by next week our team will have in place a full web plan, rough designs and digital designs. My Gantt chart says we start production on Monday the 4th Dec, so if the Gantt chart says so, it shall be!!
Peak of the Week!
Yes it's back!!
Well I would say my peak has been getting the 'merit' (though technically that should have been last weeks peak) but I also got a nice letter from the college this week, it informs me that I have been received an award for 'best interactive media' student.
I will have to attend a ceremony to receive my prize, which makes me nervous, but it made me very proud to be nominated. It made my day! So two peaks then, just how I like it! Hopefully lots more to come.
Aims
1. To have our team where I want us to be, i.e web plan, rough designs, digital designs done, ready for production on Monday.
2. To have CiSSy web plan finished for Sunday this week.
3. To have iMe web plan finished for Sunday this week.
Just the 2 aims, but big ones. If I can get these aims done, I will be a happy student next week.
Thanks for reading, and as usual, FEEDBACK PLEASE, talk to me people!!
Mark
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Team Leader, Good or Bad?
My 1st week as Team Leader / Project Manager, and what a week!
It feels as though we have a lot to do work wise at the moment, not just with the 'On the Job' project but with the 'CiSSy' and 'iME' projects too, the problem being the juggling of work.
I do not want to get my team doing too much so that they fall behind with other projects, but I also want us to do a good job. I think we can achieve better than a 'pass'.
I feel it is going okay, this team leader business, though a little stressful, I think there may be a need for a bit 'quiet time' to collect my thoughts and organise myself. I am trying to be fair with tasks delegated but I feel as though I am bogging myself down a little. Maybe more delegation is required!
I do not seem to mind the responsibility of managing a team, even if I did have initial reservations about it. These may sound odd but I kind of like the pain!! It does stress you out a little, but I also think it is good for character. Taking charge of something, involving team members in decisions and creating something together is quite a good feeling.
If anyone has any advice on team management, please chip in with it, my ears are open to anything that may help. I think this is a good attitude to have actually, being open minded to advice from team members, peers, tutors or any outside bodies can only help in the long run. If 2 heads are better than 1 then surely the more heads the better!
Well thanks for reading, and remember to leave feedback on any posts.
Mark
It feels as though we have a lot to do work wise at the moment, not just with the 'On the Job' project but with the 'CiSSy' and 'iME' projects too, the problem being the juggling of work.
I do not want to get my team doing too much so that they fall behind with other projects, but I also want us to do a good job. I think we can achieve better than a 'pass'.
I feel it is going okay, this team leader business, though a little stressful, I think there may be a need for a bit 'quiet time' to collect my thoughts and organise myself. I am trying to be fair with tasks delegated but I feel as though I am bogging myself down a little. Maybe more delegation is required!
I do not seem to mind the responsibility of managing a team, even if I did have initial reservations about it. These may sound odd but I kind of like the pain!! It does stress you out a little, but I also think it is good for character. Taking charge of something, involving team members in decisions and creating something together is quite a good feeling.
If anyone has any advice on team management, please chip in with it, my ears are open to anything that may help. I think this is a good attitude to have actually, being open minded to advice from team members, peers, tutors or any outside bodies can only help in the long run. If 2 heads are better than 1 then surely the more heads the better!
Well thanks for reading, and remember to leave feedback on any posts.
Mark
Sunday, November 19, 2006
Yet More Joy....I'm on a Roll
Hello all,
It has been another decent week regarding the CSS stuff we are doing with John, I feel like I am making some progress with the understanding of it all. This will be helped by reading my CSS books when I can squeeze it in. It is a nice feeling though to have the penny drop, from being fearful of it I am now a bit more excited about it.
That can be said of the new project also, 'On the Job' will start Monday, and I have been nominated as team leader. At first I did not really want it, but I think it will be okay, I think I may actually enjoy it, but 'Daves' let me know if I get power crazy!!
We do not know yet what the project entails but I think it is going to throw up some 'interesting' problems, for me definitely. I am not sure yet how I am going to be a 'leader' (again team, let me know if I do anything you don't agree with), I do not want to come across as 'bossy' but also I want to do the best I can, and hope my team feels the same way.
I think the next blog regarding the 'On the Job' project will be a good read!
I am dropping my 'peak of the week' because I feel pretty much, on an even keel, and it would probably be a repetition of the last one regarding CSS.
Aims
To get off to a good start with the new project. I want to ask the right questions, be presentable and involve my team as much as possible. I do not want 'distance' between team members. If we communicate I think we can do a good job. RARRRR well that's my rallying cry!
Thanks for reading
Mark
It has been another decent week regarding the CSS stuff we are doing with John, I feel like I am making some progress with the understanding of it all. This will be helped by reading my CSS books when I can squeeze it in. It is a nice feeling though to have the penny drop, from being fearful of it I am now a bit more excited about it.
That can be said of the new project also, 'On the Job' will start Monday, and I have been nominated as team leader. At first I did not really want it, but I think it will be okay, I think I may actually enjoy it, but 'Daves' let me know if I get power crazy!!
We do not know yet what the project entails but I think it is going to throw up some 'interesting' problems, for me definitely. I am not sure yet how I am going to be a 'leader' (again team, let me know if I do anything you don't agree with), I do not want to come across as 'bossy' but also I want to do the best I can, and hope my team feels the same way.
I think the next blog regarding the 'On the Job' project will be a good read!
I am dropping my 'peak of the week' because I feel pretty much, on an even keel, and it would probably be a repetition of the last one regarding CSS.
Aims
To get off to a good start with the new project. I want to ask the right questions, be presentable and involve my team as much as possible. I do not want 'distance' between team members. If we communicate I think we can do a good job. RARRRR well that's my rallying cry!
Thanks for reading
Mark
Tuesday, November 14, 2006
CSS Joy...........At Last!
Its been a good week if, for nothing else, that some CSS pennies have started to drop. It seems my fear of CSS is lifting a little. After Tuesdays tutorial with John, when the miracle occurred, I felt a lot better about using CSS, the 'box model' makes sense to me and I can see how using CSS can be beneficial for designers and the user. Not bad for 1 lesson!
I am yet to do CSS tutorials online but that is going to be my intention as part of my self learning and my 6 month action plan regarding that. At least now I do not have the scary feeling of not knowing what I am doing completely, I feel I have a little knowledge!
The other thing I have been giving thought to is my future as in the last post. I am getting the impression from talking to people in 'the know' that if an employment opportunity should arise it should be grasped.
I am actually coming around to this way of thinking as the sooner I get on the web design 'ladder' the sooner I can start to move up it. I have also started to play down working for myself in my own head. I think it would be wise for me to gain employment and get some experience, use the employer as a way of finding my feet, then gradually start to do my own work and if it takes off then consider my best option.
The downside to this theory is that I may not gain employment immediately and so I may have to do my own work straight after leaving college, with no business experience. But that bridge will be crossed when I come to it.
Peak of the Week
CSS! it has to be, it has been bothering me for so long and now I feel good about it, hopefully it will continue!
Thanks for reading and don't be shy with feedback and comments.
Mark
I am yet to do CSS tutorials online but that is going to be my intention as part of my self learning and my 6 month action plan regarding that. At least now I do not have the scary feeling of not knowing what I am doing completely, I feel I have a little knowledge!
The other thing I have been giving thought to is my future as in the last post. I am getting the impression from talking to people in 'the know' that if an employment opportunity should arise it should be grasped.
I am actually coming around to this way of thinking as the sooner I get on the web design 'ladder' the sooner I can start to move up it. I have also started to play down working for myself in my own head. I think it would be wise for me to gain employment and get some experience, use the employer as a way of finding my feet, then gradually start to do my own work and if it takes off then consider my best option.
The downside to this theory is that I may not gain employment immediately and so I may have to do my own work straight after leaving college, with no business experience. But that bridge will be crossed when I come to it.
Peak of the Week
CSS! it has to be, it has been bothering me for so long and now I feel good about it, hopefully it will continue!
Thanks for reading and don't be shy with feedback and comments.
Mark
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