29/9/2017

Work on A1T1 and A1T2.
Further understanding of Blender.
Utilise peer feedback for guidance on A1T1/A1T2

Learning Outcomes:
Use Blender to create examples/evidence to use for A1T2
Develop modelling skills in Blender
Research necessary information for use in A1T1 and A1T2
Shortlist appropriate literature for use in A1T1 and A1T2
Give constructive feedback on A1T1/A1T2 for a peer.

Learning Objectives:
Work toward completion of A1T1 and A1T2
Submit A1T1/A1T2 for marking
Design and create a biological 3D model
Develop understanding of what is required for A1T1/A1T2

Today I learnt that gender stereotyping is associating a specific color or product to one gender. An example of this is a Robot toy to a boy or the color pink towards a girl. It also applies to job roles. Today we also used blender to create a 3D model. I followed a tutorial on YouTube and made a polygonal tree.

The next piece of work that I have due is U13 work on the 3rd of October. 

26/9/2017

Lesson Aim:
Identify and use a suitable approach to troubleshooting and repair process


Learning Outcomes (what the learner will be able to do)

Identify the basic steps required for troubleshooting and repair
Identify the key information to record for the troubleshooting and repair process
Identify a range of information to record for the troubleshooting and repair process
Create a troubleshooting document
Create a detailed troubleshooting document


Learning Objectives (skills, knowledge & attitudes)

Take notes
Take detailed notes
Research and select relevant information
Develop logical thinking skills and apply these to problem solving tasks

Today I created a documentation on the record of fixing a single PC. I feel that I missed a lot of possible things out when creating this as I started working on the PC. I was put into a group and we successfully took apart a PC. We assumed that it needed a motherboard replacement because it was still getting power through it but was not turning on. If we would have had more time, we could have been more precise on what the actual problem was with the PC.

The next assignment that I have due is U13 work which is due the 3rd of October. I then have to complete U20 A2T1 and U41 T1 and T2 which are due on the 6th of October.

25/9/2017

Aims: Understand the fundamentals of scripting languages
Structure some JavaScript

Objectives:
Clearly explain JavaScript constructs, with examples
Discuss, using examples, how a scripting language can improve functionality
Correctly structure JavaScript when creating code containing loops, decision making and functions

Today I learnt about the syntax of JavaScript and how loops and decision making blocks of code is executed. I am now confident in talking about each part of statements and stating what each part is and what it does. On the other hand, I still have a lot of work to complete for the second assignment for unit 20. We also used Code Academy to learn how to write JavaScript. I struggled a bit with this.

The next assignment that I have due is U13 work which is due the 3rd of October. I then have to complete U20 A2T1 and U41 T1 and T2 which are due on the 6th of October.

22/9/2017

Lesson Aim:
Work on A1T1 and A1T2.
Further understanding of Blender.
Develop research skills.
Understand the importance of constraints when considering 3D modelling

Learning Outcomes:
Use Blender to create examples/evidence to use for A1T2
Develop modelling skills in Blender
Research necessary information for use in A1T1 and A1T2
Shortlist appropriate literature for use in A1T1 and A1T2
Explain how constraints may be considered with regards to 3D modelling.

Learning Objectives:
Work toward completion of A1T1 and A1T2
Submit A1T1/A1T2 for marking
Understand the use of constraints in 3D modelling
Create an object you use every day in Blender

Today I learnt what constraints are and why they are important. The examples that I looked into are polygon count, file size and rendering time. I found that doing our own research and then going through a presentation on the board really helped me understand about them. I need to write everything up in the assignment before I forget about it over the weekend. I also created an everyday object in Blender. It was supposed to be a keyring but turned out to be a Soap.

The next assignment that I have due is U13 work which is due the 3rd of October. I then have to complete U20 A2T1 and U41 T1 and T2 which are due on the 6th of October.

19/9/2017

Lesson Aim: 
Explain the impact of organisational policies on the troubleshooting and repair process


Learning Outcomes (what the learner will be able to do)

Identify the skills required for troubleshooting and repair
Identify the stages in the customer handover/Acceptance process?
Identify the impact that troubleshooting and repair can have on a business
Identify knock on effects the impact that troubleshooting and repair process can have on a business
Identify the different forms of communication the occur in the troubleshooting / repair process
Provide strategies to reduce impact of troubleshooting and repair process


Learning Objectives (skills, knowledge & attitudes)

Take notes 
Take detailed notes
Identify documents / information that may be needed in the troubleshooting and repair process
Identify basic processes
Research and select relevant information
Develop logical thinking skills and apply these to problem solving tasks

This afternoon we had our Tutor hour which was about the choices that we have after completing college. My original plan was to get an apprenticeship but I am now considering a junior role job but in the same sector of IT that I want to work in. In the rest of the afternoon, I wrote down notes from the textbook about the organisational policies which will be very useful to me when writing up my assignment.

The next assignment that I have due is U13 work which is due the 3rd of October. I then have to complete U20 A2T1 and U41 T1 and T2 which are due on the 6th of October.

18/9/2017

Aim: To understand the characteristics and features of scripting languages
Objectives:
State why scripting languages are used on a website and give some specific examples
Explain some characteristics of scripting languages
Complete some JavaScript practical exercises

Today I we started A2T1 for Unit 20 and I managed to complete the first part of it. We had a starter and we were split up into groups to complete a presentation on a characteristic of scripting language. This very much helped me complete the first part of the assignment because it saved me time from doing further research and helped me understand the task more. A weakness of today is that I struggled a little bit from working through JavaScript tutorials on Code Academy this afternoon as it is not very similar to HTML that I found out.

The next assignment that I have due is U13 work which is due the 3rd of October. I then have to complete U20 A2T1 and U41 T1 and T2

15/9/2017

Lesson Aim:
Introduce geometric theory and mesh construction
Learn more Blender functionality: texture painting, mesh construction
Develop research skills and note taking

Learning Outcomes:
Explain geometric theory
Confidently explain geometric theory with evidencing
Create a painted texture for the utah teapot model
Use modifiers/effects to create a more interesting teapot model
Explain mesh construction
Confidently explain mesh construction with evidencing
Create a simple model using box, extrusion or primitive modelling
Create a number of models using box, extrusion or primitive modelling
Create bespoke model/models using a combination of modelling techniques

Learning Objectives:
Identify the different aspects of geometry theory
Learn how to paint a texture
Confidently explain how a texture is painted, and applied to a model
Identify differences between modelling methods
Create models using different modelling methods

Today we started writing the Unit 41 assignment and I am confident in writing it up before it is due so it wont be late. We also had an informational lesson in today's tutor hour about Terrorism. I learnt the actual definition of it which is the use of violence against civilians. I original thought that it was killing but it doesn't have to be. In the rest of the day, we played around in blender and created some 3D models such as altering a Teapot and using box models to create basic models.

The next deadlines we have are both task one and two for unit 41 and they are due on the 6th of October.

12/9/2017

Explain the impact of organisational policies on the troubleshooting and repair process

Identify the skills required for troubleshooting and repair
Begin to complete A1T1
Identify the impact that troubleshooting and repair can have on a business
Identify knock on effects the impact that troubleshooting and repair process can have on a business
Ask relevant questions
Provide strategies to reduce impact of troubleshooting and repair process

Take notes
Take detailed notes
Identify documents / information that may be needed in the troubleshooting and repair process
Listen to speaker
Research and select relevant information
Develop logical thinking skills and apply these to problem solving tasks

Today we had Daniel Clarke from Netmatters in to talk about the their IT support company. This was a great opportunity to ask questions and learn about the problems that an IT support company faces and how they overcome them. We started to write A1 for Unit 13 and I confident in writing this one up. A weakness of today was that I was a few minutes late so did not get a chance to think of a very good question to ask about the troubleshooting process.

My workload looks good because the next assignment I have due is on the 3rd of October. I only have one assignment after this and this was the report for Unit 41.

11/9/2017

Aim: To explain the fundamentals of CSS

Objectives:

To be able to state the different implementation styles of CSS
Effectively explain the different types of selectors
Confidently explain what the box model is and the components that make it up

Today I learnt all of the advantages and disadvantages of CSS syntax and selectors. I also looked into the features and structure of the box model. This was key to completing my assignment. I found the presentation starter quite helpful this morning because it gave me a basic understanding of each of the box model features. A weakness of today is that I need to improve my HTML and CSS skills because my website for the homework looked a bit different from the actual website that we had to copy it from. On the other hand, a strength of today was that I answered some of the questions in class which relates to my SMART target.

The only piece of work that is on my list now is the Unit 41 work which isn't due until October.

8/9/2017

Learning Outcomes:

Understand the basic theory behind 3D modelling
Use Blender to make extremely basic models.
Use Blender to make intermediate models.
Utilise Blender to create, texture, and render a bespoke 3D model.

Learning Objectives

Identify the applications of 3D modelling
Understand how 3D models are displayed
Explain how 3D models are displayed
Explain the rendering pipeline
Name a number of distinct formats used in 3D modelling.

Today was our introduction into unit 41 which is 3D modelling. I think that I really struggled at starting to use Blender because it was all new to me but I managed to pick up on it quite quickly after watching some tutorials on YouTube. My personal reflection of this week has been good because I have gotten an early start on the first assignments and am also working at home to complete them. I tired making Bart Simpson but didn't really go to plan completely.

The next upcoming deadline that I have is A1 for unit 13 and should be able to complete it on Monday.

5/9/2017

Lesson Aim: 
Identify the key areas of the unit (format / structure / dates)
Consider the troubleshooting and repair process and how it can impact on people

Learning Objectives (skills, knowledge & attitudes)

Take notes!
Take detailed notes
Identify documents / information that may be needed in the troubleshooting and repair process
Research and select relevant information
Use logical thinking
Develop logical thinking skills and apply these to problem solving tasks

Today we started unit 13. I learnt about skills that an IT technician or IT support role would need. Some of them are subject knowledge, communication and logical thinking. I also did some research on SLA and found out that it means service level agreement which is a contract between two companies.

My only upcoming deadline is A1 from unit 20 and I am already a third way through it. I also have homework from unit 20 that I need to complete over my days off of college this week.

4/9/2017

Aims:
To be able to explain the fundamentals of CSS

Objectives:
Explain what CSS is
State some uses of CSS
Explain the advantages of external CSS
State the three implementation styles
Work out the priority of implementation styles

Today was our first day back at college and we started our new course (Extended Level 3 Diploma in IT). I am really looking forward to working more on this. The induction that we had today was very long in my opinion. We went over things that we already did last year but it really helpful to be reminded about the subject as I did forget most of it over the summer. We also got our first assignment which I feel that I am confident in completing the first part of it soon.