My Group Project for Web Site Design, Implementation and Maintenance

One of my classes this semester is “Web Site Design, Implementation and Maintenance.” That sounds like a mouthful. What does it mean? Basically, this class is a mock project with pretend clients. Simply put, you need to plan a site, put the design into action and maintain it. It’s very hands-on and very much like a real project.

The first thing we did in class was to divide into groups of four or five. Each group is a design company. We created a name, logo and website for our web design company. Every team member has a role. There is a project manager, creative lead, production lead and quality assurance lead. I’m the quality assurance lead for my group.

Next, we chose a client. We decided our client was going to be a local restaurant that needed a website. The client fills out a survey (we had to do this ourselves since it is a fictitious restaurant) so our company knows some basic information about them.

There are several phases a design company must go through to create a finished website project. By doing this mock project, I now understand why websites are so expensive to create. There’s a lot of work that goes into it! We have already done several reports including an audience analysis and competitive analysis report. Recently, we’ve created the project planning document. This includes things like the budget, schedule and contract.

This week we are moving on to sketching out the client’s site. We’ll be working on creating site maps and gathering information. In the future, we’ll be making a style guide where we choose color schemes, fonts and other visual aspects. In the distant future we’ll be creating a quality assurance plan and fixing bugs. Even after the site is built, there’s more work to be done!

There are many other things we’ll be doing between now and May. This is just a brief overview of a few of the steps in these phases. Every week we learn something new and get to use what we learn in our project. It can be intense, but it makes me feel more prepared for the real world when I start working with real clients.

If this class sounds interesting to you, check out the Web Designer/Developer program at Moraine Park Technical College.

Spring Break 2011

Dear Mother Nature: It’s called “spring break” not “snow break.”

Sincerely,

Wisconsinites

This past week was spring break, but it’s been feeling more like “snow break.” The ground is covered in white snow yet again. That doesn’t seem very spring-like. It also felt like “no break” for some of us. I had to work all week at my job and work on a group project. I didn’t get to go anywhere on vacation for spring break. Still, I didn’t have class, so I did have more free time than usual.

All of my classes are at night, so I usually miss my favorite primetime shows. Since I didn’t have class this past week, I got to watch some of those during their regular air times. If there are primetime shows you normally watch during the week but have class, you can watch them online. Most networks offer full episodes on their website. Look for them one day after they air. Some are even in HD! That’s how I catch up on my shows during the day or on the weekend.

On Monday, I had to stop in at the West Bend campus to do some errands. I expected the place to be deserted, but it wasn’t. There were meetings going on in some of the meeting rooms, and the library was still open.

On Friday, I tried to take my dog for a walk, but it was too cold outside still and it started snowing on us. He’s a Chihuahua/Cocker Spaniel mix and is not very fond of the cold.

This week I have a new class starting. It’s called computer literacy and it’s a class that students need to take or test out of. You learn things like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. These are pretty standard programs that most people have to use in a multitude of jobs. I’ve used Excel before, but I’ve never learned how to use all its features. Also, I’ll be learning the newer versions of these programs than what I use on my home computer.

Good luck to everyone on the second half of the semester!

The Welcome Blog

Hello to those of you who have come across this blog! Chances are I may not know you, but I’m hoping this blog will give you insight into what Moraine Park Technical College is like through my eyes. I don’t know for sure, but I can guess that you are a potential student, a current student or a parent of one. Although, this being the Web, you may have clicked on many links and ended up here somehow. No matter who you are, I have a few words for each of you.

A Message to the Potential Traditional Student

If you’re graduating from high school soon and are looking to enroll in college, I recommend looking into a two-year college like MPTC. College academics and college life are different from high school. By going to a local two-year college you can get used to the academic expectations of higher education before going on to live in a dorm or an apartment at a four-year college. It’s a little intense to juggle both higher academic expectations and being independent right away. The classes might be more rigorous than in high school, but don’t be discouraged or afraid. Something you may not realize is that you may actually excel here. My grades improved in college. I found the way classes are set up to be more suited for me. You get to choose specific classes in subjects you really enjoy and you don’t have to spend 7 hours Monday through Friday going from one class to the next every forty minutes.

Potential Non-Traditional Students

There are many reasons why people go back to school whether it’s their first time in college or not. Some of you have lost jobs or you’ve decided you want to go for a new, more fulfilling career that requires a diploma. It’s an exciting and often a little scary time in life. You may be nervous to go back to school. You may feel that so much has changed in the academic world, would you be able to keep up with the technology? You may feel like you won’t fit in somehow. However, you may find when you get here it won’t be as difficult as you think it will be. No matter who you are, you are very likely to find a fellow classmate in a similar situation as you. There are students from all kinds of backgrounds and at different stages of their life. There is somebody at Moraine Park who you can relate to. You may be surprised to find that your younger classmates are more than willing to help you when it comes to working with computers. This generation has grown up with computers. They are very comfortable with them and have an enthusiasm for technology. Plus, the faculty and staff are an amazing resource for help.

Current Students

“When did we get a blog for Moraine Park?” “Hey, there are links for Twitter and YouTube.” Yes, we do have all these things. I was surprised, too. If you are a current student you may be aware of all the activities and events at Moraine Park, or maybe you’re not. Either way, you should be aware of all these opportunities. You’re here to get an education, then a diploma and then, ultimately, a job. It’s what you do between enrolling for your first class and graduation day that will determine your success in finding a job. Check out all the academic student organizations that relate to what you want to do with your life. Don’t see one that fits what you are looking for? Start one. Chances are there are other people who want to be in an organization that you already have in mind, and they’re waiting for you to take the lead.

People Who Click on Links

So, you found this blog by chance. Isn’t the Web amazing? Everything is connected, like a spider web. Here is an interesting fact: In 1985, the first domain name, symbolics.com, was registered. It is still in use today making it the oldest website on the Web.

Why does Moraine Park Technical College Have a Blog?

Blogs in general give a personal account of everyday life. This is my life, my future and my MPTC. Choosing a college and making the most of the experience is one of the most important things you’ll ever do. It can change your life and give you direction as you head out into the unknown. If you’re already a student, I want you to be aware of all the opportunities MPTC has to offer, (especially) including the fun stuff. Part of the college experience is socializing and having fun. Make time for that as well as academics. Come back to this blog often and find out what’s going on at MPTC! Feel free to leave comments and/or questions to my posts.