Blog Post 2
Unit 1: Communication and Employability Skills for IT
This month I have been learning about the SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities & threats) analysis and the importance of personal strengths and weaknesses. As a class we worked through worksheet 2 which details the importance of knowing your personal attributes - it also contained a skills audit that is a good way of looking at the strengths and weaknesses that apply to most people. Looking at this allowed me to point out my good and bad points, which can result in me taking these into account for future reference - it is always good to know what you are good and bad at so you can work round your faults. I think this lesson has been going well over the past month as I found it very interesting to see where my weaknesses are and how I can counter them. I could improve greatly in this lesson as long as I attend regularly and are disciplined when it comes to completing my work.
Unit 2: Computer Systems
This month we have been learning about the different processors and forms of inputting data into computer systems. We were shown a rough timeline of the history of certain processor advancements over the past ten years. Wahid also told us about the methods used several years ago for creating computer programs. I found this lesson has become increasingly harder over the past few weeks because it is held at the end of the day on Fridays, which is difficult because it is a long day to concentrate. To improve on this subject I will need to look through the course student guide are revise on the subject further.
Unit 5: Advanced Database Skills
Since my last blog entry we have been learning about the relationships involved when creating databases as well as importing data and manipulating the data within a database. I have learned about the use and placement of primary and foreign keys within a database. One thing I have learned the most about is the use of the “importing data” function in Microsoft Access. Our teacher took us through the stages of finding the correct file to import and the various options available when selecting the data to import. I think the only ways I can improve on this subject is to have full attendance and do some extra studying at home in my spare time.
Unit 15: Organisational Security Systems
Over the past few lessons I have learned a lot about the security threats that are posed to computer systems. We have been taught about the methods used to secure the systems both physically and in theory - for example simply locking the door and installing cameras in an office is the best way to deter any thieves. I think this lesson has gone relatively well because I have a keen interest in computer security because it is such an important aspect of computing. As said above, the only way I can improve this subject is to attend more regularly.
Unit 18: Software Design & Development
I am still finding this unit to be rather complicated because the task of programming using Visual Basic can be difficult and time consuming. Over the past few weeks I have been programming using variables, loops and several other methods which are equally as difficult. I find my memory to be the biggest problem when attending this lesson as I have a tendency to forget most of the basic principles of programming - making the lesson much harder than it should be. I think the only way I can improve this unit is to do as much revision on programming as possible to aid me in future projects.
Unit 21: Website Management & Production
During the past several weeks we have been learning about basic website programming to enforce our knowledge previously learned using HTML to code websites. The main subjects learned, however, were the use of frames within certain website and the benefits and problems faced using them. This lesson has been hard for me because I only have one lesson per week and I do not think it is enough it take in all the information. However, my teacher for this subject is very good at explaining different aspects of programming. The only way I can improve on future lessons is to do extra revision work at home.
Unit 27: Principles of Computer Networks
This lesson for me has been the hardest so far - my knowledge of the principles of networking is very limited as it is a very complex subject. In the past few weeks we have been learning about the task of sub netting internet addresses.