Module 6 - learning activity 1

Researching blogs

The word "blog" means: The word "blog" means: A shortened version of "Web Log" (Macquarie Dictionary,4th ed.,2006). 'The term "weblog" was coined by Jorn Barger[4] on 17 December 1997. The short form, "blog," was coined by Peter Merholz, who jokingly broke the word weblog into the phrase we blog in the sidebar of his blog Peterme.com in April or May 1999.[5][6][7] Shortly thereafter, Evan Williams at Pyra Labs used "blog" as both a noun and verb ("to blog," meaning "to edit one's weblog or to post to one's weblog") and devised the term "blogger" in connection with Pyra Labs' Blogger product, leading to the popularization of the terms' (http://en.wikapedia.org/wiki/Blog) What a "blog" is and what it does: 'A blog is a type of website or part of a website. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in reverse-chronological order. Blog can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog. Most blogs are interactive, allowing visitors to leave comments and even message each other via widgets on the blogs and it is this interactivity that distinguishes them from other static websites. Many blogs provide commentary or news on a particular subject; others function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, Web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability of readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs.' (http://en.wikapedia.org/wiki/Blog) Types of "blogs" available: 'Most blogs are primarily textual, although some focus on art (Art blog), photographs (photoblog), videos (video blogging), music (MP3 blog), audio (podcasting.' (http://en.wikapedia.org/wiki/Blog/) Example ! - Art blog: http://www.artnewsblog.com/ Example 2 - Photo blog: http://www.whitetulipblog.com/ Example 3 - MP3 blog: http://www.sixeyes.blogspot.com/2009/06/nick-cave-live-melbourne-australia-2009.html Blogging system strengths and weaknesses: This is a great table answering all questions and more, except for hacking? There doesn't seems to be a system that can really avoid it - best hints I can find are to change your passwords regularly and don't choose anything that might be found on your blog??? This table comparison from: http://www.blog-services-review.toptenreviews.com/ )

Module 5 assesment activity 2 - OH&S

Occupational Health and Safety Presentation
Well I didn't stick exactly to the brief for this one because I could not fit in all sections of the 4 elements we had to address and include all 12 points of the assesment criteria in under 500 words and 20 slides??
Also it was not stated in the brief if this slide show would be presented by a speaker who would be elorating on slide text or if the slides had to tell it all alone?
So while Chris was holidaying I had to make an executive decision on my own.
I assumed - no speaker - the whole story had to be told by the slide show.

Module5 assesment activity5_oh&s_presentation

PROBLEM: when I upload this powerpoint presentation into slideshare I lost all my animations - totally? Still trying to work out why and how to fix it??
However, during my research I discovered an OH&S presentation on slideshare which was very nearly perfect for this activity because: great colour scheme - excellent timing of slide movement - great text placement for readability and graphic elements - and most importantly, concise easily understood content - check it out:http://www.slideshare.com.net/collectivesuggestion/occupational-health-safety-presentation

Module 5 OH&S Learning activity 2 - workstation

My fanatastic studio
Just playing - creating a dream - wish it would come true!
the floor plan is published to the flicker stream at right......

Chris said: the brief was more about designing a custom workstation ie: the space in proximity to the computer rather than the studio itself?
My reply: Opps! Sorry Chris I got a bit carried away with my dream.....
Chris said: 9 fire extinguishers sounds excessive?
My reply: 9 fire extinguishers is not excessive if you have ever been trapped by fire before.......
Chris said: you are missing a security system?
My reply: On the paper plan I don't appear to, but! in my head plan there are 6 very large scary dogs laying around in the sun just waiting to eat intruders ........

Module 5 OH&S Learning activity 1

Possible Perils working on the computer Module 5 OH&S Learning activity 1 Problem with lower back pain and injury if: wrong type of chair no mechanism for lowering and raising chair to the right height feet not flat on floor back not in straight upright position, sitting on the edge of the chair, sitting cross legged no removable and adjustable armrests no contoured seat with rounded edges to distribute your weight no breathable fabric on chair do not do regular stretching exercises for body Problem with neck pain and injury if: use of wrong type of prescription glasses (like bifocals), no document holder to restrict neck movement. Screen’s height not adjusted parallel to eyesight Problem with pain and injury to wrists & fingers if: Striking the keys too hard. grip the mouse to tightly mouse is not close enough to the body. mouse not placed right in front of the shoulder, no wrist support for using mouse elbow and wrist not parallel to keyboard keyboard at wrong angle keyboard too far away do not do regular wrist exercise Problem with strain or damaged eyes if: too much glare from monitor from prolonged use unnecessary glare from not adjusting brightness and contrast of monitor sun glare on the monitor from windows, wrongly placed internal lighting reflections and glare no tinting coat on prescription glasses. computer screen is not between 18 and 24 inches away from face not blinking eyes enough to keep moist do not have regular eye testing More problems if: room temperature is too hot or too cold drink too much tea or coffee do not drink enough water stationery, cd's, files and other equipment not in easy reach distance do not take regular hourly breaks to exercise do not eat enough food for energy do not restrict hours of work per day continue working when stressed (physically or mentally) do not do alternate work tasks regularly away from computer station do not have sufficient leg room under desk do not have rounded corners and edges of desk do not keep the air around you clean do not adjust the refresh rate of your monitor to stop it flickering do not keep your monitor the screen clean do not keeping the screen and document holder at the same distance from your eyes do not service, repair or replace monitors that flicker or have inadequate clarity Added safety measured to be taken: keep spillable drinks away from equipment to avoid electrical short circuits and fires secure lockable and unlockable doors and windows of room and building fire extinguishers for paper flames and also electrical fires easily reached exit in case of fire alternate exit in other direction don't over load power points with lots of power boards keep all equipment connections in an orderly secure manner that is easily identified use adapters to save equipment from power surges install automatic circuit breaker on main power board to prevent equipment damage, electrocution and fires regularly service and update all electrical equipment to prevent exposure to unsafe emissions Must also maintain: strict time management well structured work routine other curricula activities not related to computer

Module 5 assesment activity 1

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Module 5 learning activity 1 - research

Answers to research questions on web  Question 1:Award wage for 17 year old Junior Web Developer is $27,015 (70% of adult), when turning 18 the wage will increase to $38,594 per annum. reference: from link pdf, p.31 Question 2: 10 desirable qualities for a successful junior developer in multimedia development studio 1. Project Skills Junior web developers should be able to assist in designing, coding, and testing of technical solutions. They should understand standard systems development and life cycle processes. They should be able to perform and execute the plans and coding standards as defined by management and work under deadlines. 2.Career Path Skills Junior web developers should have good communication skills. They should be able to listen and accept input from other team members as well as articulate their ideas and thoughts verbally and in written form. Basic database knowledge is necessary including the ability to write basic SQL statements, knowledge of relational database concepts and methods of database access. Use of programming languages will vary depending on the standard used at companies. However, they should demonstrate proficiency in HTML, basic XML and at least one scripting language. 3. Understanding web and software architecture It is important and they should have a basic understanding of object-oriented language including: classes, components, objects and interfaces. They should also understand the differences in various web browsers. 4.Professional Qualities Junior web developers work in a team environment. Therefore, they should be able to work well with others and be able to collaborate on ideas and projects. Because of the high stress environment, developers should have a positive outlook on their positions and strive to work in harmony. They should be able to work well with clients and implement their requirements to the best of their ability. 5.Organizational Responsibilities Some of the expectations for junior web developers are an ability to comply with all policies and procedures. They should be good with time management and also with organizational skills. They should be able to accurately complete and submit status reports in a timely manner. Reference: "Junior Web Developer Job Description" By Rose Broyles, eHow Contributor updated: May 21, 2010, 6. Assist Senior Designers First and foremost, junior designers assist senior designers. This can mean anything from replicating the senior designer's work to assisting on photo shoots to taking notes at meetings. Following the footsteps of a good senior designer is a fast way for junior designers to learn the design industry and develop her skills. 7. Small Projects While senior designers handle large projects such as homepages and magazine covers, junior designers are often assigned to related small projects such as website banners, affiliate advertisements and logo variations. These smaller projects are usually modeled off large-scale projects previously completed by senior designers. 8.Asset Optimization Coming up with innovative design is only the first part of a designer's job. Once a beautiful finished product is designed and approved, there is still plenty of work to be done. A web page, for example, has to be sliced into pieces and optimized for file size and space. Junior designers handle much of the grunt work when it comes to asset optimization. Though the work seems less than compelling, asset optimization thoroughly familiarizes junior designers with the production process. 9. Work with Copywriters Even on small projects, junior designers will work with copywriters to develop creative solutions. Copywriters come up with project ideas and work with designers on the actual copy in the ad. Cultivating good working relationships with copywriters is an important skill for a junior designer to develop; the further a junior designer advances, the more face time will be spent with copywriters and creative directors. 10. Corrections and Updates Once the main concept for a creative project has been designed and established by a senior designer, the project is often handed off to a junior designer for corrections and follow-up. Similarly, old advertisements or existing websites often need small updates, which are usually assigned to junior designers. Reference: "Junior Designer Job Description" By Carrie Thorson, eHow Contributor updated: June 1, 2010, Question 3: Staff required to run a large multimedia studio: Administration: 2 Receptionists Accounts Manager + data input person + junior The Manager + secretary + junior Production Market Researcher + junior Graphic Artist + team Journalist + team Web Manager + team Print manager + team Sales Sales Manager + team Advertising Advertising Manager + junior Maintenance IT person + junior Tea-boy/cleanerQuestion 4:Responsibilities of personnel in multimedia office: Administration - The Receptionists responsibilities are to meet and greet the people at the front desk, on the phone, and the internet and direct them to the right department or personnel and take messages and never stop smiling. The Accounts Manager's responsibilities are to maintain all sales and debtor ledgers and payroll in accordance with all current taxation laws to send to accountant. Provide a clear precise list of data to be entered by data input person. Instruct and teach the junior about all aspects of the manager's position. The Data input person's responsibilities are to key in all the information the accounts manager provides, and double check carefully. The Junior's responsibility is to do what the accounts manager says and gradually assumes parts of his work load as required. The Manager of the company's responsibilities are to oversee and co-ordinates all departments in his office maintaining company prospectus. Attend to all the major PR appearances where required for clients, potential clients, company advertising, potential expansion and assessing the opposition. The Manager is the visible face of Company and is also liable for all the employees actions and work production. The Manager's foremost responsibly is to assure that the company makes a profit! The Secretary's responsibilities are to screen all calls and visitors to the managers domain. Arrange the Managers timetable for everything, attends to all correspondence and prioritises before presenting to manager. The secretary is the Managers slave. The Junior is the secretary's slave. Production The Market Researcher's responsibility is to look for information as directed by the sales manager looking for new opportunities and the oppositions status. The researcher also gathers information for the production team for their individual clients to begin shaping their campaign so that they produce the appropriate product that is also new and innovative and the best on the market. The market researcher is also checking for copyright tags and possible infringements - keeping the team proper and legal. The junior's responsibility is to assist the market researcher in whatever task he is assigned - probably mostly scowling the net - while at the same time learning his masters job. The Graphic Artist responsibility is to organise the team with brainstorming sessions for each client project to arrive at the best possible designs. Each member of the team is allocated the job to which they are best suited creatively and must produce to a timetable that the leader has provided. The team leader is also responsible for keeping updated with new software, new techniques, market trends, and everything else to do with graphic design and passing it on to his team so they are able to stay at the top of the pack! The team, while doing everything directed by the leader, have a responsibility to present new and innovative ideas and creations to further their own careers' as well. The Journalist + team, the Web Manager + team and the Print manager + team's responsibilities are the same as the Graphic Artist and team's responsibilities. It is also the responsibility of all team leaders and managers to continually liaise and interact with each clients project to produce a time schedule for efficient production to obtain profitable monetary results for the company. All team leaders are also responsible for training and further education of their respective teams to ensure continual growth in creative productivity to maintain the viability of the company. Sales Sales Manager responsibility is to find new clients and sell them on becoming the companies new client. The manager is responsible for his team in the same manner as the production managers are, as are the team's responsibilities. Advertising The Advertising Manager's responsibilities is to make the company highly visible to the public to allow the Sales department to do their job. Therefore, the sales manager and the advertising manager must also continually liaise with each other to obtain maximum results. The advertising junior's responsibility is to learn how to do the manager's job. Maintenance The IT person is responsible for keeping all the technical equipment in all departments running smoothly by routine maintenance and fixing all problems as they occur. Maintain the in-house networking system. Also adhering to company policy in replacement and renewal of all equipment as scheduled. To do this job successfully it is also the IT persons responsibility to stay informed on all new developments in the information technology world. The IT juniors responsibility is to learn everything his senior knows and work as directed. The Tea-boy/cleaner's responsibilities are to keep everyone well fed and hydrated while disposing of their waste to maintain a clean and tidy environment for all employees to work happily in. It is the responsibility of all managers and team leaders to ensure all health and safety regulations and rules are adhered to by all employees, including themselves, to maintain healthy and happy people who will be more creative and productive while costing the company less money losses from 'sicky' days or workers compensation claims. (If I had read this question before the last one I would have made it a smaller studio!) Question 5 Advantages and disadvantages of sole operator to large studio: The Sole operator is the boss with no one telling them what to do - but the sole operator has to do everything themself. - it is hard to switch from the creative side of the brain to the other side for administration duties constantly and maintain continuity in your creative design. - then you have to learn the administration part first (another polytechnic course) - and you will have to continually stay updated with admin laws and taxes so more time wasted. The sole operator can work whenever they choose, day or night - but you have to have very strong discipline as there are lots of temptations to take you away from work - so you need more than just discipline you need a passion for your work to achieve results - but then passion can consume you and if you are a sole operator you have no boss to tell you when to stop and if you don't then we move into health and safety issues In a large studio there are lots of rules and regulations and all for good reasons - your health and safety first. ( well not really it is second to making money) As a sole operator you may make more money on a particular account than if you were working in a large studio because you have less overheads - but in a large studio you wage is set and regular every week on the dot with sick leave and superannuation included As a sole operator you have to take out your own insurance for sick days (expensive) and maintain your own superannuation (got to think of old age and no work) and you can't work creatively all the time because you have to spend a certain amount of time on advertising yourself to find those lucrative big accounts. -but as a sole operator you probably wont get the really big accounts because corporate companies want security for their dollar spent which they can only get with a big studio. The major problem with being a sole operator is that you can stagnate in your own little world - in a large studio you constantly amongst the creative talents of others which is very good for everyone as it promotes growth and adventure and you progress As a sole operator you have no one constantly ready on hand to offer critique or proofread your work...... Proofreading is the number one major MUST for every single part of the multimedia industry! The spell checker is not enough!!! Computer checks can miss things out of context, not pick up improper tenses and always forget to put 's' on the end of words that need them. And if the message is incorrect in anyway - you don't get paid! (And you can't get an insurance policy for that) I could go on forever here but the bottom line from my experience is: get a job in a big studio - its stable income, health safe, and creatively progressive. at the same time set yourself up at home as a sole operator to take on work that you have a particular passion for and keep it small. Over time the experience of both work situations will enable you to move higher in the larger studio situation to a manager spot - if that is where you want to go. - because as a manager you have more administration duties than creative So problems all round for both situations - I don't want to do either! Question 6 Organisations regarding digital media industry in Australia: 1. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is a statutory authority within the federal government portfolio of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. The ACMA is responsible for the regulation of: • broadcasting • the internet • radiocommunications • telecommunications. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is responsible for monitoring online content, including internet and mobile phone content, and enforcing Australia’s anti-spam law. Its role includes: • investigating complaints about online content and gambling services • encouraging the development of codes of practice for internet service providers and online content service providers and monitoring compliance with these codes • informing the community about internet safety issues, particularly those relating to children reference: _______________________________ 2. The Australian Broadcasting Authority The administration of the Broadcasting Services Act is the responsibility of the Australian Broadcasting Authority (ABA). The Corporate Plan and Annual Reports of the ABA are available from this page. The latter contain detailed descriptions of the activities of the Authority, which cover the following broad areas:  ownership and control;  planning and licensing;  program content and complaint handling;  research into broadcasting issues;  online services; and  digital broadcasting and datacasting.  3.The Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts administers Commonwealth media and communications policy. 4.The Communications Law Centre is an independent, non-profit, public interest organisation specialising in media and communications law and policy. 5.The La Trobe University Online Media Program investigates the social and economic implications of Internet-based communications. 6.Network Insight is an RMIT University research group that deals with the future of media, telecommunications and on-line services with a focus on convergence in East Asia, especially Australia. reference: _____________________________________________________________ 7. AIMIA is the peak industry body for interactive content and digital media in Australia. AIMIA's membership represents the full spectrum of the digital media industry in Australia. Our members range from Australia's top digital media powerhouses, including the ABC, Sensis, Yahoo!, Google, BigPond, Foxtel, Disney, ninemsn and Fairfax Digital, to the country's best known interactive advertising, mobile content, web development, games design, and special effects companies. Members include developers, creators, producers, investors, service providers, educational institutions and students. AIMIA EXISTS TO: • Deliver services and initiatives that help AIMIA members grow their businesses in the Digital Media industry • Develop and grow the markets for AIMIA member's services and products • Identify and develop export opportunities in Digital Media for AIMIA members • Represent AIMIA members and the Digital Media industry nationally and internationally with government, education, media and the broader business community AIMIA MEMBER SERVICES INCLUDE: • Digital Media Industry development initiatives and activities • Business and consumer market development • Education and training • Industry standards, guidelines and codes of practice • Consumer education • Industry and consumer research • Export assistance (TradeStart) • International trade missions • Forums, seminars, and conferences • Networking events • Annual AIMIA Awards program • Government lobbying and policy development • Insurance and legal services reference: Question 7 specialist roles in multimedia industry: Mobile developer/designer iPad/ iPhone developer/ designer Web designer Web developer/programmer Database developer Social network consultant SEO consultant Web marketer Flash developer PHP developer Server administrator Copywriter/ Editor Illustrator Animator 2D Animator 3D eLearning developer eBusiness consultant reference: 2010 Cert3Media - Forum - Workplace Skills: OH&S/ Industry Knowledge (thanks Chris) Question 8 How to maintain industry skills: Number one is keep updated with the latest software you are using - which of course means you will be continually be updating your hardware to be able to use the software. check online tutorials for new software usage - (some listed in the next question) Sign up on line and link to sites that are continually showcasing all the new work, ideas, software, plug-ins, trends, legal bits.... all that is new - then experiment - continually experiment with your creativity to find the new and innovative if you find something you want to do and can't then maybe sign up for another learning course and always keep a check on the opposition! Question 9 Learning resources for Web Design (and all free): http://www.adobe.com/training/recources/ (because this is the software I am using) http://www.odannyboy.com/video5/ (excellent list of sites links for everything) http://www.smartwebby.com/free_tutorials/ (tuts for everything too) http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2008/12/15/10-useful-techniques-to-improve-your-user-interface-design/ http://www.psd.tutsplus.com/articles/web/50-totally-free-lessons-in-graphic-design-theory/ If I wanted an accredited certificate in Web Design I would sign up for Cert IV - ? Learning resources for Web Authoring: (all free) http://w3schools.com/ http://www.webdesign.about.com/ http://www.htmlcodetutorial.com/ http://www.e-learningcenter.com/free_html_course.htm If I wanted an accredited certificate in web authoring I would complete the Polytechnic Cert IV Info Technology with Henry that I am already signed up for? Question 10 How I would keep updated with industry trends: Well I have bookmarked some special ones you gave us, smashing magazine and sitepoint for everything, panetone for colour trends, hongiat and cssshowcase for more of the latest. I googled 'latest trends' and found some more interesting ones, which you I am sure you have already seen, http://www.webtrecker.com http://www.webdesignledger.com/tips/web-design-trends-for-2010 http://www.readwriteweb.com/trends/ ......... and there are heaps in the list so I would just be checking out a few any time I got bored with myself? Question 11 Employability Skills 1.Communication that contributes to productive and harmonious relations between employees and customers Listening and understanding Speaking clearly and directly Writing to the needs of the audience Negotiating responsively Reading independently Empathising Using numeracy effectively Understanding the needs of internal and external customers Persuading effectively Establishing and using networks Being assertive Sharing information Speaking and writing in languages other than English 2.Teamwork that contributes to productive working relationships and outcomes Working with people of different ages, gender, race, religion or political persuasion Working as an individual and as a member of a team Knowing how to define a role as part of a team Applying teamwork skills to a range of situations, e.g. futures planning, crisis problem solving Identifying the strengths of team members Coaching, mentoring and giving feedback 3.Problem solving that contributes to productive outcomes Developing creative, innovative solutions Developing practical solutions Showing independence and initiative in identifying problems and solving them Solving problems in teams Applying a range of strategies to problem solving Using mathematics including budgeting and financial management to solve problems Applying problem-solving strategies across a range of areas Testing assumptions taking the context of data and circumstances into account Resolving customer concerns in relation to complex project issues Loyalty Commitment Honesty and integrity Reliability Personal presentation Commonsense Positive self-esteem Sense of humour Balanced attitude to work and home life Enthusiasm 4. Initiative and enterprise that contribute to innovative outcomes Adapting to new situations Developing a strategic, creative, long-term vision Being creative Identifying opportunities not obvious to others Translating ideas into action Generating a range of options Initiating innovative solutions 5. Planning and organising that contribute to long-term and short-term strategic planning Managing time and priorities – setting timelines, coordinating tasks for self and with others Being resourceful Taking initiative and making decisions Adapting resource allocations to cope with contingencies Establishing clear project goals and deliverables Allocating people and other resources to tasks Planning the use of resources including time management Participating in continuous improvement and planning processes Developing a vision and a proactive plan to accompany it Predicting – weighing up risk, evaluating alternatives and applying evaluation criteria Collecting, analysing and organising information Understanding basic business systems and their relationships 6. Self-management that contributes to employee satisfaction and growth Having a personal vision and goals Evaluating and monitoring own performance Having knowledge and confidence in own ideas and vision Articulating own ideas and vision Taking responsibility 7. Learning that contributes to ongoing improvement and expansion in employee and company operations and outcomes Managing own learning Contributing to the learning community at the workplace Using a range of mediums to learn – mentoring, peer support, networking, information technology (IT), courses Applying learning to ‘technical’ issues (e.g. learning about products) and ‘people’ issues (e.g. interpersonal and cultural aspects of work) Having enthusiasm for ongoing learning Being willing to learn in any setting – on and off the job Being open to new ideas and techniques Being prepared to invest time and effort in learning new skills Acknowledging the need to learn in order to accommodate change 8. Technology that contributes to effective execution of tasks Having a range of basic IT skills Applying IT as a management tool Using IT to organise data Being willing to learn new IT skills Having the occupational health and safety knowledge to apply technology Having the appropriate physical capacity reference: Employability skills for the future, Commonwealth Government, 2002, pp. 46-7.;

Module 4 Writing for Multimedia

Nothing to show in for this module of creative thinking writing because I applied for credit.
Reason being is that I keep continual journals of all my creative endeavours - writing, painting, photography, doodle bits - everything.
I took to Chris a couple of these journals, 2 essays and a project I did at uni with the lecturers remarks, a duties description of an editing job I once held plus a bit of brainstorming crap for the content I want to put on my web page.
Got the 'move on' sign - so I did.