Development Diary

I have chosen to do the hardware strand, and over the next week I will attend the catch-up sessions to make sure I am up to date with all my assignments and work.

Advanced Database
I have completed task 1, and progressing through task 2 and we have started Task 2. We have also been doing small tasks in this lesson to allow us to use access to its full potential

Communications & Employability Skills
I have started and progressing well with the presentation in this lesson. I have also got started on the user manual for Visual basic, and am close to completing task 4 in this topic.

Computer Systems
I have now handed in Task 2 and am waiting for feedback in order to hand in the final copy of the task. In my last post I mention I was behind in this topic however I am now up to date.

Key Skills
I have completed building the database and am inputting data into the. All I have to do then is producing queries to sort by Destination, Price and rating reports for these queries fot the database.

Networking Fundamentals
We have not started working on the actual kit, however we are working on two assignments which involves working in Packet tracer. I have to have these handed by the beginning of February.

Operational Security
We have been learning about security threats to server version of Windows and have been learning to protect against these threats.

Programming
We have been doing assignment topic however due to a problem with the anti virus software of some problem on the computers my work has been erased, I am now working to rebuild the assignment.
Website Production & Management
We are now looking at security on websites and have started task 2. the task will be completed for next week.

Over the past 3 weeks I have learnt more in the lessons. I am also getting more assignments in lessons. I have fell behind because I have got distracted, in order to get the distinction I have to work quickly to catch up.

Advanced Database
This lesson has been progressing slowly, in the past three weeks we have finished Task 1 and are moving on to Task 2. We are now working in Access to do our work. The reason this lesson is progressing slow is because there is a few people who keep messing about with sticky keys, and internet soundboards.

Communications & Employability Skills
We are moving on fast in this lesson, we are doing presentations and moving on to other tasks in this lesson. I have decided to do the presentation on Games consoles and how they have evolved/Developed.

Computer Systems
In Computer Systems we have completed Task 1 and have moved on to Task 2 which is comparing operating systems. This is one of the assignments I have gotten behind in however I will have the task done by next week.

Key Skills
In this lesson I have started building the database and within the next week I will have completed adding the holidays into this database. Once this has been done I will be producing queries and reports for the database.

Networking Fundamentals
In networking fundamentals we have started doing packet tracer exercises whish is a simulation program for creating networks be have finished learning about the Network Layer and the Data Link Layer which are Layer 3 and Layer 2 respectively. And should be able to start working with the actual kit.

Operational Security
Been doing Presentations on different security topics, I have completed my presentation but yet to show it. I will most likely end up showing it this Monday.

Programming
We are doing assignment work and more programming tasks we have been covering Arrays. I have been concentrating on completing the assignments in this topic.

Website Production & Management
We have started learning about CSS and have been creating basic pages using CSS, it acts as the formatting of the page, making the page fancy, it also decreases website sizes.

Over the past 8 weeks I have coved various topics in lessons and I feel I am achieving a lot. I am also getting assignments in lessons. Since I am aiming for distinctions for the diploma, I have to make sure all of them are handed in on time I often find this difficult as I get distracted easily, but here is what I have achived in the following subjects;

Advanced Database
Although this lesson has been slow, we have picked up pace and have learnt about data dictionaries and relationship diagrams. We have started our assignments in this lesson and have already handed in the first task. The first task consisted of drawing an entity relationship diagram and produce a data dictionary table, the task was very easy.

Communications & Employability Skills
In this lesson, I have learnt about SWOT analysis, SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. We have also started our assignment for this topic, one of the tasks it to do a blog (Guess what it the blog I’m doing now).

Computer Systems
Computer systems is about how computers run on a hardware level and even on a software level. We have learnt about the process of the communication, how hard disks are written to and the relative speeds components of the computer runs at. We have already handed in task 1 for this topic but at this stage it is only a draft.

Key Skills
Key skills is about learning how Word, Excel and Access Works, in word i have learnt how to do headers and footers, page formatting, paragraph and font formatting. Excel we have learnt how to format page, cells and tables. Delete and insert cells and rows, how it put a comment in a cell. We have also started our assignment for this lesson in which we have to build a database of holidays for a youth club.

Networking Fundamentals
In networking fundamentals we have started learning about the OSI model layers, Application layer, Presentation Layer, Session Layer and Transport Layer. We Have also started coursework in this topic and it is about the OSI models and its importence.

Operational Security
In this topic we cover security not just on the software side but also on the hardware side. Although it is not restricted to to computers, it includes security like door locks and retinal scanners. Already done 2 tasks for the assignment and will be moving on to task 3 in the next weak.

Programming
We have been building simple programs in this lesson, learning about buttons, labels, timers, variables and code to do certain processes when clicked on.we have just started timers and will be starting to do our first task for this topic in the next week.

Website Production & Management
We started out hand coding websites in this lesson, and have moved on to coding and designing in Dreamweaver CS3. We have learnt how to make titles, headers and paragraphs. We have also learnt how to code frames. We have also learnt the advantages and disadvantages of using frames. In the next couple of weaks we will be learning about website security.

What is a blog : - A blog is an online diary, or a place to announce something a blogger has achieved to the world, I can also be used as a political soapbox. A blog is similar to a forum, however a blog entries are posted in reverse chronological order, each blog entry can be replied to by other people posting their opinions on the currant subject or topic. Web blogging was created by Jorn Barger in 1997, however the term blog was used by Peter Merholtz in 1999. Blogs originally weren’t very popular, however the usage of blogs spread during and after 1999 and became more popular. As of today there are several million blogs, posted on the internet.

Bloggers Code of Conduct? : - in 2007 Tim O’Reilly proposed a Bloggers code of conduct to ensure bloggers are civil towards other bloggers and people, and to moderate their comments.

This is the proposed Code of Conduct:

Take responsibility not just for your own words, but for the comments you allow on your blog.

Label your tolerance level for abusive comments.

Consider eliminating anonymous comments.
Ignore the trolls.

Take the conversation offline, and talk directly, or find an intermediary who can do so.

If you know someone who is behaving badly, tell them so.

Don't say anything online that you wouldn't say in person.

This code of conduct is from Wikipedia url: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blogger%27s_Code_of_Conduct

Advantages of Blogs : - There are many advantages of blogs the main one is everyone can use it, you can use it to talk about anything you want, you can use from expressing opinions or to discussing something you’ve achieved. Because anyone can use blogs it also means anyone can see your blogs, bloggers can also look for other bloggers blogs on the same topic as them using search engines like www.technorati.com

Disadvantages of Blogs : - the main disadvantage of blogs is people misuse them, by using them to insult or accuse them of something they may or may not of done, this is referred to deformation of character, the deformations may not have come from the person who created a blog but from a person replying in a blog. It the blogger who created the blog does not remove or moderate this then the blogger is also misusing blogs by not taking responsibility for the blogs posts. If a person does not moderate their blogs then it can lead to fines or action against the blogger.

My opinions on blogs : - My opinion of blogs is that they can be vey useful, for people who want to get breaking news across or discussing a topic of political nature as long as don’t start accusing governments or people for something that has happened. It is also good for average or new users to discuss something they have found out or have something in common, this can lead to friendships between bloggers.

However blogs can be used for ill means, especially when they are used to attack a fellow blogger/colleague/institution or government, since this is deformation of character criminal action can be taken, it also puts a burden on the blog creator to review all the posts making sure no one is abusing the blog.

So it is my opinion that blogs should be used to communicate with other bloggers and discuss topics or points of interest al long as they are not misused.