Program Outcomes
Create Graphics for the Web.
This was fairly simple to learn, as I was already working with Photoshop, and was exposed to web graphics a number of years earlier when I first was exploring Web Design, plus I had some Photoshop experience from when I was in the printing industry. I think the hardest concept for most people who first begin to work in this area is the concept that there are 72 pixels per inch, which also equates, in printing terms to 72 points per inch – and I found that very useful when converting print photos to web photos.
Demonstrate fundamental network environment concepts.
Pretty much I already knew that information sent over the web was converted into small individual packets that then were sent over the web and assembled on the receiving computer once all the packets arrived and could be assembled in the correct order, as some would get diverted along different routes before reaching their final destination.
Develop Web sites.
This was done in each and every one of the classes I took, usually as a final project. I tried to go above and beyond the expectations for each one I did, as I wanted to produce what I call a final "website", that had the look and feel of a real website, as I tried to display the new skills I had learned – not showing that I was meeting the criteria for the assignment. I looked at the sites as potential sites for my portfolio.
Employ Web design principles.
I tried to employ usability, figure out how the user thinks, make things easy for the user (do not make them have to think), do not waste the user time, make it easy for the user to focus on what they are looking for, plus using effective writing to get the information they are looking for across as quickly as possible. I addition, I try to use the KISS principle to keep things simple for the user, and above all else, and this is a personal preference, I like to employ a lot of white space – I do not believe in cramming everything I can on to a page and hope the user will have time to sort it all out. I also strive to achieve the proper semantic code so the site would render correctly.
Employ Web development skills.
The skills that I have learned and am constantly trying to improve upon are HTML5. CSS 2, and 3, along with SEO. The ones that I am familiar with are Flash, JavaScript, jQuery, PHP, although I think Flash is very rapidly fading from the scene a viable web design tool, as there are many jQuery and other plugins that are simpler to use and take up much less band width. I think that when I first explored web design, if they would have taught CSS1 along with the HTML I would have been much further along, as I found it a bear to be hand coding everything, plus it was extremely confusing to figure out nesting tables when creating a website. If I would have had that knowledge then, it would have been great, but CSS1 was only in its infancy back in the day.
Explore new Web technologies.
This something that I am doing on a daily/weekly basis, whether or not it has to do with CSS, HTML5, SEO, or my favorite, WordPress. I have purchased a couple of web developer licenses for WordPress, and am constantly seeking new ways to incorporate them along with new plugins for WordPress. The biggest thing is responsive design, as the CEO for SparkNet emphasized; one must now design for mobile first using responsive design, then for the desktop second. I thought that that was very profound.
Incorporate e-commerce solutions.
This was talked about and researched in one of my classes, but we really did not do much with it except to set up a dummy site using free websites that allowed one to create a store. I have a WordPress site set up that will allow me to incorporate the Woo Commerce plugin to create an ecommerce site – presently I have not have time to get back to it, as I am in the process of watching tutorials on Lynda.com about it. I also want to play with the FoxyCart plugin for WordPress to see which one I like better, but this will be some time down the road.
Maintain a Web site
In addition to maintaining my personal website, I have been maintaining the website for Family Promise of Washington County since August of 2013. At one time I was a driver for FP, driving families to a church each week, and bringing them back to the day house in the morning. The director was not happy with the person who was maintain the current site at the time, so I offered to do a prototype for her. After showing it to her, there was no action, as she was determined to work with the other individual – then in August of 2013, she pulled the trigger on my design, and I have been maintaining it ever since.
Program Web languages.
This is rather easy, I program mostly in HTML5 and CSS 2 and 3. I am familiar enough (dangerous) with PHP to go in and make minor changes – I can do the same with JavaScript and jQuery too if it is not too complex. Currently I am studying CSS and JavaScript a lot closer as I want to more fully be able to incorporate them into a static website – once I am more comfortable with JavaScript, I plan to delve deeper into jQuery.
Promote Web site online.
This mostly consists of SEO, incorporating strategic key words. I use a SEO plug in for WordPress to accomplish this for those sites. The other thing that I incorporate is the use of a site map which search engine robots really love.
Use markup languages.
The mainly consist of HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, jQuery, and PHP.
Develop database-driven Web sites.
This was coverd in a class for data based driven websites. Although my current employment site is static based, I am in the process of converting it into a WordPress site using one of my developer licenses to create it. The other site, which I maintain for Family Promise of Washington County, was created using WordPress using Catalyst theme with the Dynamic child theme. Personally, I think the site looks awesome, and the director of FP thinks so too!
Employ project management tools.
I still have the information that we researched in WDIM class, and have created pretty much my own version – and customize each one for my various clients depending upon the need. I have added to the list new questions that I discovered online at a training seminar that I found discussing this issue.
