Development Diary

Blog Post 5: 3rd April 2009

Since I posted blog post 1 on my national certificate for IT practitioner’s course at Bedford College I have started a few of my assignments for this years subjects.

• Computer Systems
• Advanced Database Skills
• Principles of Software Design and Development
• Website production and Management
• Principles of Computer Networks
• Communication and Employability Skills

Computer systems: We are nearing the end of the assignment now & I feel that I have learnt a lot but also have covered a lot of stuff that I all ready new. None the less I enjoyed this lesson & the way that the lesson where done. I am on my to a distinction in this lesson as well which is always good & would say this is one of the good lessons we have.

Advanced Database: This assignment I feel that I should have got a distinction but due to the lack of time left I don’t think I am going to be able to get the work load done. I will be going for the merit which I have basically done other then 1 task which I am well on my way with. I liked this lesson as I have a good understanding of it.

Principles of Software Design & Development: I have finished all the work for this assignment & just awaiting feed back I am trying for a distinction in this class also as I feel that I will only need to upgrade a few bits here & there to gain it.

Website Production & Management: This lesson I enjoy & feel that I learned the most in as I had not done a lot of website design before this course. We have finished creating the websites now & are ready to upload them to the web server. This lesson also I feel I should have got a distinction in but might just get the merit.

Principles of Computer Networks: Not too much of a fan when it comes to networks but I have pushed myself to go for a merit. This lesson also I have learned a lot in as I never done anything on networks before. I am working on the last M piece of work now so should be done with this lesson any time now.

Communication & Employability Skills: At first I didn’t like this lesson as I thought it was a waste of time but other the year I have found that it can be useful. The lesson is less about IT but more about other skills to get you thought life.

I think towards the end of the year I could have pushed my self a little more to get a distinction in more lessons then I am going to get. Overall I am happy with my progress this year.

Blog Post 3: 6th March 2009

Since I posted blog post 2 on my national certificate for IT practitioner’s course at Bedford College I have made progress with my assignments for this years subjects.

• Computer Systems
• Advanced Database Skills
• Principles of Software Design and Development
• Website production and Management
• Principles of Computer Networks
• Communication and Employability Skills

Computer systems: In this lesson we have started the 2nd assignment for this years work. For the 1st assignment I feel like I done rather well with the work & I should get a distinction in this class. We have covered a range of topics from practical to theory work for the last task we have to look up 3 different computer quotes based on the details we have been given which I feel is a good task for the distinction criteria.

Advanced Database: We are still on the 1st assignment for this topic but I feel that is down to some of the class hating the lesson as it’s a lot of theory and not so much practical. I find this lesson rather easy probably as I’ve done databases before on a lower level but it still helps. We have about 7 tasks for this & I don’t think we are that far from the end.

Principles of Software Design & Development: We have two assignments for this lesson we are most of the way thought it & are just waiting to get the lesson on Tom assembler before we can finish it. I would like to be moving on with the work a little faster but we have to wait up for the rest of the class but we get the chance to learn more then we would cover why we wait so it isn’t so bad.

Website Production & Management: I did not really like this lesson at the start of the year but as we have got most of the theory work out of the way I am enjoying the practical side. We have only a few more tasks to complete for this lesson so I am hoping to get them out the way & aim for a distinction.

Principles of Computer Networks: This is one of the lessons I like the least as we have to wait around for an hour before hand! But the work is okay I just don’t like networks. I still would like to aim for distinctions in this class just got to sit down & get the work done.

Communication & Employability Skills: We have one more assignment to finish in this lesson then I am done & will get this lesson of. We got the results for the test back this week which I for I had failed but turns out I had passed it which was nice to hear. I don’t like the work that we have to do in the lesson its self but it is a short unit & should be out of the way soon.

Since I posted blog post 1 on my national certificate for IT practitioner’s course at Bedford College I have started a few of my assignments for this years subjects.

• Computer Systems
• Advanced Database Skills
• Principles of Software Design and Development
• Website production and Management
• Principles of Computer Networks
• Communication and Employability Skills

Computer systems: In this lesson we have now started doing some practical work which I like today we installed a webcam & used it to communicate with other people in the class. We are making progress with the assignment rather fast but have to work at a pace everyone can keep up with. I have had both my task one & two signed off.

Advanced Database: I am finding databases easy & I am ahead with the work which means I won’t be in for consolidation week. We are at task 3 – 4 for the assignment this lesson is also started practical work using access database management system. I feel that I have learnt a lot about quires from the work we have done recently.

Principles of Software Design & Development: In visual basic we are only on task two but it requires a lot of work so that we can explain what all the different features do in VB. We have to have task 1 done & most of task 2 done to get consolidation week off. I have learnt what many features do & when to use them in VB programming.

Website Production & Management: We are now moving on fast with the assignment we have started task two & looking to move on fast with task 3. For consolidation week we have to have task 2 done which is all about website security & what they have to abide so they don’t break the law. I have learnt a lot about web security & that they have to abide by loads of laws.

Principles of Computer Networks: We are now attacking the assignment for networks & are doing practical for this lesson like most of the lesson. I am happy that we got most of the theory over & done with. I have learnt loads in this lesson as I have not done anything on networks before lesson wise I have learnt that companies have to make there products to the IEEE rules so that we can have a term Open Systems.

Communication & Employability Skills: This lesson we are well into the assignment we are at about task 5 but we have jumped ahead & gone back to some tasks due to problems with the blog site. I don’t feel I have learnt anything as such but found some of the information useful & will probably find it more help/meaningful later in life.

So I think for the first half of the year that I have learnt a lot gained some useful information. I can settle down with the work & get the work done. I am pleased with my effort put in.

Blog Post 2: 5th December 2008

Since I posted blog post 1 on my national certificate for IT practitioner’s course at Bedford College I have started a few of my assignments for this years subjects.

• Computer Systems
• Advanced Database Skills
• Principles of Software Design and Development
• Website production and Management
• Principles of Computer Networks
• Communication and Employability Skills

The excel test that I done at the start of the year I have now finished and past.

Computer systems: This lesson is still mainly theory but I like the subject & we have started are assignment for this lesson now & we have done two of the tasks. I am up to date with the work I feel like this is because I like the lesson there for I am motivated to do the work. Wahid is good with the feed back which helps understand where we went wrong.

Advanced Database: With databases John still seems too talk too much about the work but in a way I feel that it is needed some times. We have started the assignment for this subject task’s one & two which is still theory. The database work is rather easy now that we have had them explained a lot more & is more interesting as we are doing practical.

Principles of Software Design & Development: For this lesson we have also started the assignment & are up to task two. Since the last post I have learnt a lot more factions that can be used & what they are used for. We are doing a lot of hands which I feel I learn best with the little bit of talking helps to.

Website Production & Management: This lesson is fun as I have never done any website design before. I have learnt a lot between now & my last post we have started some java script also css. The assignment we started is not as good as the lessons them self’s because the 1st task is theory & it’s hard to no where to start.

Principles of Computer Networks: In this lesson we have done some practical recently which was fun. We built a cat5 cable it makes a change from the theory work we have done task one for this assignment & are planning on starting task two next week I feel that I have learnt a lot more since my last post on how network protocols work and some topologies.

Communication & Employability Skills: This lesson still seems rather pointless but we are getting on with the work well & are making lots of progress with the assignment. I am still learning but id rather not have to do the work but the best way is to just get on with it.

Overall I have learnt more since the last post as we have stopped going over work they I have already done the previous year.

Blog Post 1: 7th November 2008

Since I started the national certificate for IT practitioners on the 8th of September I have started a few of my subjects for this year being.

• Computer Systems
• Advanced Database Skills
• Principles of Software Design and Development
• Website production and Management
• Principles of Computer Networks
• Communication and Employability Skills

At the start of the year we started off with a Clait test for Excel which I feel reinforced some of the knowledge that I had all ready about spread sheets. I learnt how to use more of the functions that I haven’t used before mainly the difference between Factions & Formulas.

Computer systems: This lesson has been mainly theory which would usually make time drag but as I like this lesson I feel I that the time goes fast and because of my motivation I seem to learn a lot form it. I think that the way Whaid teaches works rather well people seem to just get on with the work.

Advanced Database: With databases John talks too much about the sheet I feel that I would learn more from tasks / practical work. I have learnt a lot as it stands form the lessons but they could be more fun. The relational database diagrams are rather easy now that we have had them explained.

Principles of Software Design & Development: For this lesson I feel there is the right amount of balance between talking and hand outs the practical helps me remember what has been said. I had done some VB before so it was useful to do some of it again to remind me of the layout of the program.

Website Production & Management: I had never done any HTML before this course so I learnt a lot about website design. Doing the sheets has made it easy to learn and fun at the same time I feel as I can create a basic website by myself from what we have learned so far.

Principles of Computer Networks: I new very little about networks till I started this course and I feel I know a lot more now but not as much as I could I lose concentration in this lesson easy as its not one of my liked subjects.

Communication & Employability Skills: I don’t like the sort of work we are doing in this lesson but I feel the skills will help me later in life and I am just trying to put my head down and get it out of the way.

Overall I have learnt a lot so far but feel I could have learnt more in some lesson then I have due to lack of attention paid in the lesson but in general I am getting on well with the course and feel that I could get a distinction overall if I keep up with my standards of work and attendance.

Blog what is this exactly..?

Well this post is going to explain what a blog is and what makes a blog. A blog is an online diary where you can write about news, your life and just about anything. Blogs consist of certain components these being post, blog titles, post titles, date, text. Posts in blogs are 1 days entry into your blog. The name blog came in May 1999 form the old word for them weblog. Posts are listed in reverse chronological order which means the latest post will be at the top.

These have changed the nature of news in a big way from the way it was in the 20th century when it was done by professional reporters, editors, internet news, TV and radios. This was all one way. 21st century news anyone can report the news now not just professionals. personal it is two way and interactive and everything is news.

There are two blog search engines these being technarti and blogsearch.

Advantages of blogs
The advantages if using blogs are that they are cheap easy to use and run dynamic. In some cases you could become famous but it is very unlikely.

Disadvantages of blogs

The disadvantages of using blogs are that they can be used for propaganda to change people?s views.
There is political danger and defecation of character in some county so that you have to be careful what you write this could lead to legal action.

Here is a link to a time line for the history of blogs that i found why searching about blogs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_blogging_timeline