30/09/2016

Aim: 
Understand the principles of effective communication

Objectives:
Identify the difference between general and interpersonal.
Identify principles of effective communication
Explain ways which spoken communication can be effective

Aim: To complete, proofread and submit U30A2.

Objectives:

Write two SMART targets

Write your supporting evidence for U30A2T1 and T2

Submit U30A2

Investigate the strengths and weaknesses of different feedback methods

Research copyright law

Reflect on how well you achieved your targets

My strength of today was improving my communication skills with eye contact during our presentation. On the other hand, I still not very confident when talking in front of the class. I learnt how your voice can be very effective when using it to talk to other people. My main focus of today was to complete my assignments in which the deadlines were both today. Unfortunately, my Gaming Poster image was corrupt so Adam has increased my deadline to the 7th of October and has given me more time to complete it.

Voice communication

29/09/2016

Aim: To create your assets and supporting evidence

Objectives:

• Set yourself a target for the first lesson
• Using creative research develop your ideas
• Make your enemy and power ups

Today I put a ton of more work into creating my graphical images for my game. I gathered my ideas from my mind map and designed them. I am really happy with my choices because of how original it will be (read previous post). I learnt that using pixels in an image isn't always plain and boring. Even if the colour depth is 8 bit, you are still able to add shading to the colours in the picture to give it loads of detail. My weakness is that I think I am still behind on the assignment but my SMART target is to complete both whole assignments and submit them before the deadline. My strength of today links back to how much work I have put into my assignments. I have basically worked on it all day today and am proud of it.

28/09/2016

Aim: To create your assets and supporting evidence

Objectives:

• Complete the quick draw starter
• Write your brief
• Begin creative research
• Improve Photoshop skills by making my 8-bit main character
• Reflect on what you have achieved

Today I learnt how to create an 8 Bit character in Photoshop and have started to write my brief and why I chose specific things about my character. A strength is that I love my idea about the main character because of how original it is. He is a Pizza that runs left and right to collect Cheese and Tomato while avoiding knives. My weakness is that I have yet to complete my Brief and Character but like all other blogs, I will manage to get it in on time. This afternoon we learnt more about computer parts (especially processors). We also compared PC specifications and recommended a PC to examples of people.

23/09/2016

Aim: To create a poster with supporting evidence of what you created and how.

Objectives:

• Create your poster for P3 with creative skill and clear evidence
• Write supporting evidence about what you have done and why you made that choice
• Proofread your work
• Write your brief for P4
• Begin the creative process for P4
• Reflect on how well you achieved the above

My strength of today was that I completed and submitted my assignment about what attributes and attitudes are valued by employers. This means I was able to cross off a SMART target from my development plan. For most of the day, we worked on assignments. We also worked in small groups to create sentences with only using 3 images. This helped me by reminding me to vary my sentences types and vocabulary. My personal reflection for this week is that it has been slightly stressful with the assignments and getting them in on time. To change this, I can work on assignments at home to spread out the amount of time that I have to complete and submit them. My weakness of today is that I didn't start my P4 assignment but I will make sure it is submitted before the deadline.

22/09/2016

Aim: Create an A3 print poster to promote gaming, demonstrating editing skills and with supporting evidence.

Objectives:

• Recall and order the 9 important areas of good design
• Work well together and discuss why certain aspects could be considered more important than others
• Re-cap A2 P3
• Create an A3 poster to promote gaming and supporting evidence

Aim: To investigate the qualities of different computer games and write a brief.

Objectives:

• Introduce A2 P4
• Deconstruct different aspects of four games
• Explain your opinion about different features
• Consider different game narratives
• Begin writing a brief
• Consider possible concepts for your creative work

Today I continued with my A3 poster to promote gaming but have yet to finish my brief for it. I have nearly completed the poster too but I feel that I have not used many tools (four or five). In the afternoon, we created a presentation with a small group about sketching ideas. I learnt that it is actually a very good way to note ideas because you are able to get them down very quickly before they disappear out of your mind. My personal reflection for today has shown me that I really need to improve my communication skills. During the presentation, I saw myself being very shy and avoiding eye contact with the audience.

21/09/2016

Lesson Objectives: (skills, knowledge & attitudes)

ALL
Identify the key hardware components
Say what components could be upgraded to improve a system
Know some key terms relating to hardware

MOST
Identify most hardware components
Identify how upgrades would improve a system
Know most key terms relating to hardware

Aim: Investigate colour theory.

Objectives:

Discuss the term colour theory

Identify the primary and secondary colours

Work together to explore the meanings of different colours

Aim: Explore different aspects 

of good poster design.

Objectives:

Consider 8 different aspects of good poster design and their applications for designers

Work well as part of a team

Create a poster about a specific area to demonstrate your knowledge

Listen as others feedback

Recall all 9 areas of good poster design and decided the most important aspect and why. 

Aim: To manipulate and improve images for a given brief.

Objectives:

Introduce A2 P3

Discuss the brief for A2 P3

Explore features and tools of Photoshop

Create an A3 poster to promote gaming

Today with Adam I learnt what colours could be associated with. An example of this is Blue could mean sad and Green could be associated with Nature. With John, we learnt more about computer components. A weakness is that I sometimes cant remember where each component will go in the PC and what its job is but this can easily be fixed with research outside of collage.

We started an assignment on making an A3 poster to promote Gaming and which should be completed before the deadline.

16/09/2016

Aim: 
Understand the personal attributes valued by employers

Objectives:
1. Identify attitudes and general attributes.
2. Research specific attributes valued by employers
3. Recall how to write an effective assignment

Aim:

To complete, proofread and submit U30A1T1 and T2.

Objectives:

• Write a report for different file formats and their uses
• Submit U30A1T1 and T2
• Use 5 different tools in Photoshop
• Use 5 tools in Illustrator
• Research the answers to the ten questions to help you begin your game idea (U30A2)

Today I learnt what skills a Software Designer employer would look for in somebody. I also learnt the three categories that skills are divided into (Specific attributes, General attributes and attitudes). My weakness of today is that I was unable to complete U01A1T1 but will be able to complete it before the deadline. A strength of today is that I have completed a SMART target of increasing my pace of working in class.

15/09/2016

Aim: Complete assignment 1
with supporting evidence

Objectives:

• ‘Ask the Class’ quiz
• Review your work and help a peer
• Consider criteria for D2
• Complete the D2 Kahoot quiz
• Reflect on what you have achieved.

Today I have been completing more work on my assignment that is due tomorrow (16th) but have yet to complete it. I learnt that there are two types of digital graphics which are vectors and raster and can now explain the difference between them both. Raster uses pixels while vectors are hard edged. Raster graphics can also be printed at 300 DPI. A strength of mine is now knowing more specifications about file types. However, one continuous weaknesses of mine is that I am slow at working sometimes. My aim is to get my assignment in on time by tomorrow. 

Vector and Raster Graphics comparison

09/09/2016

The learning outcomes for this unit are:

1. Understand the personal attributes valued by employers

2. Understand the principles of effective communication

3. Be able to use IT to communicate effectively

4. Be able to address personal development needs.

Today at Develop, I learnt what a SMART target was. SMART is an acronym for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time bound. A target should include all 5 of these. One weakness was finding my areas to improve on. A strength was creating a SMART target for 4 random people with different weaknesses. My personal reflection is that today will help me change into someone with skills rather than weaknesses and that an employer is looking for.

CMYK is a colour model and it stands for 'Cyan, Magenta, Yellow and Key (Black)'. It is used in printing.

I would use a .SVG file format for a billboard because it is printable and has "rich graphics". Shapes such as circles can be made through code to make up images.

             SMART Goals

Aim: To complete, proofread and submit U30A1.

Objectives:

• Write a report for different file formats and their uses
• Submit U30A1
• Reflect on what creative skills you want to improve
• Write two SMART targets
• Improve your creative skills in Photoshop 
• Research the importance of colour theory
• Reflect on how well you achieved your targets

This afternoon I have gained more progress on my assignment. I also have played around with Adobe Photoshop and improved my creative skills through starting to make an image related to Norwich City football Club (as seen left). I used multiple tools and am starting to feel confident on using them in Photoshop. My weakness has not changed. I still am finding it hard to remember all of the different specifications for each format of image.

08/09/2016

Aim: Investigate growth and fixed mind sets

Objectives:

• Vote with feet about different statements
• Consider how your brain works
• Complete the matching cards activity
• reflect on your mind set and what you want to challenge yourself with this new year

Aim: Identify different file types and consider how designers would use them

Objectives:

• Complete the file matching worksheet
• Introduce the unit
• Write the deadline in your calendar
• Introduce A1
• Identify different file formats
• Use Adobe Illustrator

Aim: Justify the software tools, image resolution and colour depth for creating graphic images

Objectives:

• Define the term justify
• Consider key destinations and criteria
• Complete the Kahoot quiz

Today at Develop we studied formats for 4 different situations - (Web, artwork, Billboards and designers). We looked at the specifications and what each one would need. For example, a Billboard would need have a very high resolution of 300 DPI because it needs to be big for people to see at the side of the road. A strength of today was working with others to share ideas. One weakness was remembering each resolution and format for every situation as it became confusing.

Something that I discovered was that we use our whole brain and not just 10%.

7/09/2016

Today i learnt about using Google Apps such as Google classroom and Google docs. This has slowly become one of my strengths as i am confident in using them. We learnt about submitting work through Classroom too. My weakness from today was getting used to using google docs as it was pretty much brand new to me.

My personal reflection for today is that it has been beneficial towards me educational-wise. To be honest, i thought going through procedures was pretty boring but that didn't mind me as its my first day on the training course.

Objectives

• Agree to follow Develop's procedures whilst training​
• Complete the student Digital signature form
• Remember the names of 3 other individuals
• Log into GMail account
• Created blogger account and emailed to the correct tutor account
• Effectively and professionally completely all relevant paperwork first time
• Become comfortable using GMail and Google Classroom
• Demonstrate good English skills and write a detailed blog