Learning Outcome One
Investigate the use of PHP 5.3.0 and MySQL 5 in the Interactive Media Industry.
In my research I looked at background of PHP and the number of websites using it. I then looked at the number of current jobs requiring PHP and MySQL and found high statistics on them, showing how much the need for both skills has increased recently. Also I found out that many jobs asking for PHP skills would prefer the knowledge of MySQL to accomplice it. I then presented my findings in a journal post at http://gregcarricksmlp.blogspot.com. When researching the languages I looked more into how popular they are in the industry and not into their uses in the industry. This has still covered the requirements of learning objective one as it has shown how popular the use of PHP and MySQL are in the industry.
Learning Outcome Two
Create skills in PHP 5.3.0 and MySQL 5 ready to be used in a simple website.
I kept an illustrated learning diary and showed my progression in the knowledge of both PHP and MySQL, from basic code to the more advanced code needed for the end product. After I learned the basic PHP and MySQL skills, I mainly concentrated on the code required for the website and didn’t expand into other areas of the codes. This would have been more useful to me in the future but could have made too much work for me to do. I didn’t record all the evidence of my development in the skills, as fully as I should have. This has still covered the requirements of learning outcome two as I have kept a illustrated learning diary and used both paper based and online resources to develop skills in both languages, ready to use on a simple website.
Learning Outcome Three
Plan and create a simple website using PHP 5.3.0 and MySQL 5.
I created a simple website at http://www.gregcarrick.co.uk/a8 and kept it to the plan I created in the creative brief and my sketchbook. There was one change to the original plan, which made the website use two pages instead of one, but the website still kept the simple design required. The website is web standards compliant using XHTML 1.0 Strict and CSS 2.1. I didn’t plan the website as fully as I could have and an accurate plan could have prevented the slight change I had to make. These still have covered the requirements of learning objective three as I developed a simple website using PHP and MySQL, taking into account web standards.
Learning Outcome Four
Evaluate the simple website and the use of the self managed learning plan.
I kept a journal at http://gregcarricksmlp.blogspot.com and wrote a weekly post evaluating how I was progressing on the self managed learning plan and any problems I was having. At the end of the assignment I then wrote a summative evaluation of the whole task and uploaded it onto my journal. My weekly journal posts mainly exceeded the 300 word limit I set myself but I kept to the limit on the final week and my evaluation. These still have covered the requirements of learning objective four as I kept and weekly evaluative journal entry and concluded with a summative evaluation of both the SMLP and the simple website.
M1: Relevant theories and techniques have been applied
I investigated into the use of PHP and MySQL in the industry.
M2: The appropriate structure and approach has been used
I used both a sketchbook and an online journal to monitor the progress of the assignment.
M3: Complex problems with more than one variable have been explored
I did not meet the requirements of this criteria.
Final Grade – Pass
For the assignment I have given myself a Pass as I feel I have met all the required criteria to achieve this level. I have not met all the criteria for a Merit level and I am quite disappointed with myself that I didn’t put enough work into the assignment to get a Merit.