Learning Proposal - Final

Name:Claire O'Rourke
Student Number: 10955742

Personal Learning Needs

I have a background working as a print journalist, and have had an interest in web technologies for the past 10 years. I now work as a campaigner, and will be moving into a campaigns/communications role during this semester.

In this new role, I will need to understand website construction in order to manage content for sites and solve (fairly simple) problems. I will also need to commission developers and other contractors, so my expectations of their work (quantity, quality, price) must be realistic. I may be required to adjust code on the organisation's website(s), or create new campaign websites from scratch, including creating templates that adhere to the organisation's style. I also need to have a good understanding of the interactive functions that are possible in order to either commission others to create them or create them myself.

In terms of long-term career prospects, many positions I have been interested in pursuing require skills in HTML/XHTML, JavaScript, CSS and PHP. I hope to gain a working knowledge of these languages throughout the course.

SWOT Analysis

Strengths

I have some knowledge of HTML. About 10 years ago I coded a simple website with multiple pages by cutting and pasting source code from websites I favoured and used trial and errror to make it work. (The style of each page was determined by the code within each page.)

I have a good background in content - I am a former journalist and editor (print media). I am an avid web user and have completed some studies in marketing. I have a sense of how a website can assist in the promotion of a product or service. I also use the web extensively for campaigning/communications work and have a sense of what elements are required to make a site fulfil the needs of the user.

My background in print media has provided an understanding of how text can be "marked up" in order to translate to the way a finished product appears.

I am a quick learner and a logical thinker. I understand most of the course content so far.

Weaknesses

While I am an avid user of an array of digital technologies and online media, such as websites, Google documents and social media applications such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, I have only a basic knowledge of how these technologies are created and maintained. (For example, I had not begun a blog until this course began.)

While I have occasionally uploaded content to websites using the Joomla content management system, my web development skills are at a low level.

I have low-level knowledge of which technologies may be chosen to perform particular functions in a website.

Opportunities

I have a keen interest in developing my skills in this area, which I see as an opportunity. I have a host of ideas for websites, and I need to learn the skills to bring those ideas to life.

The structure of the course also stands to assist my learning, as I can pose questions of my classmates on my blog and work with them to find solutions to problems I am experiencing. I enjoy learning in collaborative manner.

I also am soon to be working in a role where I can apply this knowledge on a regular basis, and continue to practice what I am learning.

I consider my low-level knowledge of particular technologies (see above, in Weaknesses) to create an opportunity to improve my knowledge throughout the course.

Threats

The single biggest threat I can see is time. I have a packed schedule and am concerned that a blockage in my understanding will translate to a significant delay in producing my project.

Another threat I see is over-reaching, that is, creating a project plan that is impossible to achieve given the time available in the course and my current skill level.

Learning Needs in DMT

Learning Plan

Objectives

I want to learn how to:

• use valid HTML to create a website with multiple pages and a uniform look;
• create style for a site using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS);
• create dynamic menu items which change on mouse rollover;
• embed images, video and, if time allows, a Google Map on the site;
• include other resources on the site such as PDF files and make them look attractive;
• create a form the user can fill in to request more information, this will have drop-down sections in the form, and the form will send an email to the client;
• if time allows create and embed a calender with booked dates highlighted; and
• if time allows embed a blog so a novice can have an easy way to update a site.

Strategies

I will do this by creating:

• a site that uses valid XHTML, is easy to navigate and downloads relatively quickly and includes relevant metadata for search engine optimisation;
• a minimum of six pages using valid XHTML and CSS for style;
• dynamic menus for accessing site content;
• a form to request a booking or more information by email;
• multimedia content (video, photos) that is embedded on pages as necessary;
• if time, a search site function;
• if time, a form to share the content by email to a friend;
• if time, features such as a calender and a blog so the client can regularly update the site.
• if time, ensure the site can be viewed easily on a mobile device.

Resources

I will use:

• XHTML for the site (document) structure;
• CSS for the style (one for site, and if time, another for print);
• JavaScript elements to validate email addresses in the form, create pop-up boxes if parts of the form are not completed (if time) and to change content of menu items on mouse rollover;
• PHP to make a date-stamp for the site;
• Longtail Flash player for the video;
• JPEG images and logos;
• if time, Issuu for PDFs;
• if time, Google Maps for the map; and Google Calendar for the calendar (if time and if most practical solution); and
• free icons for sharing site content (if time, and if the icons are XHTML valid).

Proposed Project Description

1. I will build a website for a friend's civil celebrant business.

   The site will:

   * showcase her current work and experience;

   * provide information on how ceremonies are put together;

   * give a taste of some of the resources my friend can provide to help create a 'dream ceremony';

   * have a page of useful links that may be of interest to people planning a ceremony;

   * have a video introduction and photos included;

   * have a form people can fill in to ask for a free quote;

   * if time show when my friend is available (calendar) and what area she covers (map); and

   * use search engine optimisation techniques so there is a better chance that people will be able to find her site.

2. The market is people who are local to southern Sydney and regional NSW - Illawarra and Shoalhaven region who are planning to have a civil ceremony including weddings, commitment ceremonies, renewal of vows and naming ceremonies for children.
3. It will use XHTML to create the site, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to determine the site's style, JavaScript for interactive features such as forms, and PHP to create a date stamp for the site. It will embed multimedia such as photos and video and if time a map and calendar.
4. This project will satisfy my learning objectives as I will create the majority of the items on the list of objectives (above).

Preliminary sketch of front page:

Schedule

References

Joomla

Facebook

Twitter

YouTube

Google Maps

Vimeo

Issuu

Longtail Video

W3Schools Online Web Tutorials

Tizag tutorials

Wikipedia