Development Diary

Final Blog Post

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 11:35:42 +0200

This will by my final blog post for this year. The past few months have been a flurry of confusion, resulting in a state of failure, or so it feels. The units in which I am lacking are many, but the ones that still show me hope give me solace nonetheless.
Reasons as to why this is plentiful, but perhaps not completely welcome on the free web. Suffice to say it was a salad of fear, depression (and as an added bonus, illness), an inability to rest easy in public (or in otherwords, social retardation) and to wrap the rest up together in a bitter-sweet salad dressing; "personal problems".

Security Systems:
On the whole, I feel like I have gone far in this unit. I was so close to accomplishing a merit, in fact, so close to a distinction, yet me and my fear of failure managed to see to it otherwise. Pass is all I can hope for.
The things I have learnt, however, have aided me already. I have bolstered my defences regarding home computers, which is something I would not have gained any another way.

Key Skills:
I have done no further work in this unit, although I know full well that I could have easily completed this by now. Knowing that fact only serves as an amplifier to my selfdisappoitment.
What I take away from this is punishment more than anything.

Website Production and Management:
Starting the year, this was near the top of my favourite list. I have gained a wealth of knowledge that I will no doubt put to use. However, I am far from passing this unit, and it is one more sting in my guilt.
It is more than a shame that I failed such an enjoyable unit, and doubly so considering my reason for being here.

Networking:
A distant memory in my college year, ending so soon into it, I barely remember any of it.
But now, faced to think about it, it reminds me nothing other than a time that I was up to par with my work.

Software Design and Development:
The very tip of my favoured units here. A pass is, again, the limits of my reach. To my eternal shame, I ran from the possibility that I was not as eager to complete this unit as I first thought. Catching up, on the other hand, seems to be easy in comparison to other units. I have 2 more pass criterias to meet, and I shall try to do so gladly.

Advanced Databases:
The simplest is often the hardest. The arrogance involved in doing a simple task can turn the easiest into impossible. I have done very little in terms of databases, although, like many other of my units, I am well within the capability of passing with ease. I doubt very much that I have time to complete this, but know so very coldly that it would have been time and very little effort to breeze past this unit.
This is proof that knowledge in a field can stand in the way of progress therein

Communications and employability skills for IT:
Of course, amongst this final blog, there are two tasks set before me. To finally alter my presentation to refinement, and to set to records the attributes valued by employers. I am confident that this is accomplishable, but how much effect it has on my future rests in the balance

Computer systems:
Still one of the units lost on my feeble mind, all that remains for me to do here is everything. It is futile to think that I could have done this over the past few months, but I accept the blame for being in such a situation in its entirety.

Web Server Scripting:
I have progressed in this unit ever so slowly. I have completely only two of the pass tasks, and I now face a mountain of practical work if I ever hope to go anywhere in this unit.

Systems Analysis and Design:
The elder brother of Computer Systems. Far beyond my realm of skill and understanding, this entire unit is a mark for everything I do not, and for a long time yet, will not comprehend. The very basis of Systems Analysis is something I could not explain. Perhaps this is concious fault, for not being willing to make sure I could but it certainly feels like it was out of my control

I think I have covered all of the units. The word "think" speaks volumes about what I have avoided or missed. The options ahead of me now are not as simple as choosing one or the other. Only by the amount I can physically create will my future be determined.
I hate writing in such a sombre tone (although I self-loathingly admit to being rather adept at doing so), so to sweeten the rather dark pallette that is this blog post, there are bright sides to this story.
I have gained a valuable insight to the computer world, learnt a great many things that internet tutorials and friends of friends can't tell me. The fact that I am still here is a miracle that I am thankful for, and I have met a few people that have, if nothing else, instilled a certain amount of faith back into me regarding the human race. Regardless of the outcome to this year, I will not succumb to the meltdown, and will follow the path I earn no matter how perilous it appears to be.

Thank you to all of the people that have supported me. I did not deserve such kindness, and my failure to accept the aid is proof of that.

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Blog Entry 2

Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:24:06 +0100

Since the last post, there have been multiple complications. Being predominately personal reasons, I won’t delve too much into that; suffice to say I’ve been falling behind with work. I’m not proud of it, of course, and I can only hope that I have enough time to get up to date. My calendar was more or less a complete and utter failure, partly because I’ve never had a calendar before, but mostly because I have such a warped sense of time that the timetable was little more than insane.

Security Systems:
Although I only have this once a week, for little over an hour, I have managed to pick up rather a lot. For example, in the last lesson, we learnt how to alter processes on a system through the network from a separate computer, opening notepad, for example.

Key Skills:
There is still not much to say in this subject, so faced with the risk of repeating myself, I won’t.

Website Production and Management:
With review week approaching, lessons become focused on lessons passed. If nothing else, this has had a strange, unexpected effect on me. Revision seems a lot less of a chore, and more of a necessity, like sleeping and eating. I know that I should have been revising over the work I’ve done, at the end of the day, but I’ve never managed to get into the habit of doing it. Of course, not being in to learn at least half of the stuff I should do plays a part in that.

Networking:
Wednesday being the one day I rarely miss (By some seemingly otherworldly reason. Or coincidence. Either way) I’ve managed to see 3 lessons of networking a week, nearly every week. This lesson has had almost unexplainable benefits, but when faced with a network issue, I instantly have a general idea of where the problem could be occurring. Which, I’m sure you agree, is better than kicking my wireless adapter across the room.

Software Design and Development:
The prospect of moving from visual basic to C# has instilled me with an odd sense of motivation; perhaps not enough to make a difference, but enough to be seen. Like nibbling the end of a chocolate bar, not enough to taste it, but it’s definitely there.

Advanced Databases:
Being the most laid back and easy-to-grasp lesson of the learning week, it’s hard to say I’ve learnt much from these lessons. See last week’s blog to get a better idea of what I mean.

Communications and employability skills for IT:
Well, of course, this blog wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for Comms and Employability. I’ve missed a lot of work, here too… On the up side, I’m soon to learn the value of pressure.

Computer systems:
Attendance is regrettably one of my weak points, and the main unit to suffer is this one. If I said I have learnt much in this unit, I would be lying, but if I said I’ve learnt a lot in relation to how long I’ve been there, would you trust me? Of course, when I’m there, I gain invaluable knowledge about the computers inner workings. If I could just find a way to improve my attendance I’m sure I’d have a lot more to say here.

I will persist with my personal time table, but like everything in life I can only wait and see (Not that waiting and seeing is all I’ll be doing). I’ve written up a checklist for all of the tasks in all of my units that need to be completed before review week is over. Hopefully by the end this A4 page will be empty, and my confidence can be restored. It’s a little more than daunting to see two full columns of work you should have done a long, long time ago.
So on the whole, life in education is looking grim, but if luck can sprout for me, my will might have a fighting chance.

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Blog Entry 1

Fri, 21 Nov 2008 12:42:42 +0100

On the whole, I’ve made a lot of progress so far. At first I found it hard to keep up with all of the work, and keep track of how much I’ve learnt. Thankfully, I’ve managed to pull it together, but I’m sure there’s more I can do to improve my progression. I’ll talk about the step’s I’ve taken so far at the end, but first, here’s a breakdown of my new skills so far

Security Systems:
I have learnt all kinds of types of attacks on companies and workstations themselves. Varying from the “Ping of Death”, to Spoofing to Social Engineering. As well as the threats, I have learnt the preventions, from something as simple as having secure locks on doors or installing CCTV to Virus checkers and Firewalls.

Key Skills:
We have addressed MS Word and Excel, and have begun our first assignment, researching 20 holidays and compiling them into a database (As well as other parts of the assignment involving the database) Having a certificate in ECDL, however, Key Skills sadly gives me very little to learn. I know that it will be harder as time progresses, and I am prepared to learn new skills, soon. Hopefully on my next blog post I will have more to say about this.

Website Production and Management:
Much like programming, I was eager to start this part of the course. We started with HTML. Opening a simple notepad document, and being a naturally quick learner, I easily grasped basic tag functionality. Moving on to Dreamweaver, we began to tackle bigger pages, and links between them. And lately, we have started to learn JavaScript. I am confident in the basic principles of HTML and JavaScript, as well as able to comprehend Dreamweaver effectively.

Networking:
At first a bit wary, I approached this subject quietly. Since starting the course, I have learnt more in this lesson than any other. From topologies, to the OSI model to subnet masking, I have a deeper grasp on networks than ever before. There is still a lot to learn and remember, however, and I’m far from able to say I understand everything in my notes 100%.

Software Design and Development:
I have always loved logical thinking, and combined with creative thought, the result irresistible. Before starting, I understood the basics of programming in it’s concept and in lower level functionality. But since the start of the course, I have learnt how to apply alot to Visual Basic. Such as run-time editing, design-time editing (involving text and images), altering variables and constants, adjusting the layout of a windows form and more complex items such as file dialogs.

Advanced Databases:
Similar to key skills, in the sense that I know much of the things we are being taught, already. However, we have just started to actually use some database software, and creating relationships within databases is something I have improved upon

Communications and employability skills for IT:
I have learnt, from this subject, how to analyse myself, my skills, and my qualities. I have gained a small amount of confidence, thanks to putting my analytic mind into some kind of order.

Computer systems:
I have learnt a great deal about computers physical parts, and the buses that interconnect them all. I have also learnt about the history of processors, and their gradual improvement.

I have always been disorganised, but hopefully for not much longer! I have devised an in-depth timetable for every day of the week. The timetable includes revision time, homework time, the all-important relax time and of course the hours of the college week. I have had it for 3 days now, and it’s improved my life a considerable amount, I know what I’m doing and when I’m doing it, and for once in my life, time isn’t getting away from me easily! I have started to write up all of my assignments on a calendar, so in my next blog entry, I’ll be sure to say it’s coming along.
It’s my birthday on the 5th December (17 at last) which means getting a job will be a whole lot easier. If I can get a job that forces me to be sociable, I might be able to overcome my fear of people, and my general inability to converse.

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Blogs From A Birds Eye View

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:19:04 +0200

Blog Entry 1:

First, A little history:
Blogs. A simple concept, but it has taken so long for it to reach us. The first known ‘Weblog’ (aka ‘blog’) was recorded in 1997, belonging to man by the name of Jorn Barger. He was the creator of ‘Robot Wisdom’ The first recognised blog out there. It wasn’t until 1999, however, that Peter Merholz coined the phrase ‘Blog’. (Not nearly as important as Jorn, in my opinion, as I’m sure at least one other person thought of ‘Blog’ before him.)
Mr Barger had brought something outstanding into the modern world. Up until then, the media was for professionals, to give a one way say on the matter. The introduction of blogs handed a pen to everyone and said “Go ahead and tell them”. It gave everyone with an internet connection and a mild to intense interest in matters (any matters, for that matter) the chance to share their views and feeling on themselves or the world.

Wait, what is a blog?
You may question why this is down here and not up at the top, and there’s a good reason for that (*)...

A blog is your dock to the world, your high and proud political soapbox, or just your simple personal journal. Blogs are composed of blog posts, individual entries to the composition of your works. As one new blog post is entered, the previous one is pushed down, to bring your new voice to attention at the top.

(*) Much like the history of blogs pushed down this!

I mentioned opening the one-way media, and this is where it gets interesting. The author of a particular blog may be lucky enough to stumble across an enthusiastic reader. This reader may have something to say about the authors blog post(s) and decide to leave a comment. Comments let readers give feedback (Both positive and negative, of course). And that neatly ties me into the moral alignment of the Bloggers world.

Like everything in life, advantages harbour nasty disadvantages. Being unfiltered, uncensored and unmonitored, a blog community can forge a Bloggers Heaven or a Bloggers Nemesis. On one hand, a Blog is easy to establish and easy to maintain. With the aid of step by step instructions, even a gerbil can become a world wide renowned blogger (With a bit of luck and perseverance, naturally). Not only is it easy, it is dynamic. Always changing, upgrading, and growing, blogs give freedom to its users and let them voice out to the world. Not exactly something you can do with a pen and paper, is it? However, more important than shaping the world and its news, is personal progression (In my education opinion, at the least). Blogs can give social confidence, a mind that lets its thoughts through. Who knows, blogs could give birth to writers powerful enough to bring reading back into popularity.

Sadly, I have to carry on to a darker note. Blogs aren’t all cookies and flowers, Imagine a country with no laws. No bindings to what can be said, and what can’t. Now put a big neon ‘BLOG’ above it, and you’re more or less there. Propaganda, Finicial corruption, deformation of character, even danger from the government, if you’re unlucky enough, spreads through the blogs of the world. Opinion is easily mistaken for fact, and opinions aren’t always beneficial. One good example would be the stock control incidents. One blog post shouts out to the world ‘Sell your shares in (Insert whatever company you want to dream up) It’s about to go downhill’ then the sneaky blogger swoops in to buy at an ultra low cost. On a relatively smaller scale, blogs can uncover yourself to the torment of the world. There are a lot of malicious and vindictive people in the world that can, and will go out of their way to put someone down.

To end on a neutral level, blogs are easily accessible through search engines such as ‘Technorati’ or ‘Blogsearch’. So even if you’re on a fairly lonely blog provider, people can always find you if they want to.

And that, as they say, is that!

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