PDP Update

Following my personal develop plan and what I want to achieve by the end of this unit. This week commencing 14/1/13 I am well on my way to achieving this as we have already listed and learnt about all of the components in and for a computer for example I learn that what a CPU is and what the motherboard does and the motherboard is the main circuit board of your computer and is also known as the main board or logic board. Each motherboard has a collection of chips and controllers known as the chipset. When new motherboards are developed, they often use new chipsets. The good news is that these boards are typically more efficient and faster than their predecessors. The bad news is that older components often do not work with new chipsets. Of course, if you are planning on upgrading multiple components, it may be more cost-effective to just buy a new computer. This shows how much I have learnt just in this first week. Hopefully next week we will start to take a computer apart ourselves and have a really good look at all the components.

PDP

Personal Development Plan Overview

Task 1 >

You are looking for a job in the IT industry and have joined ITK with a view to them helping you to succeed in finding the perfect occupation. ITK have indicated that there has been an employment boom in the web design and computer systems industries recently and feel that one of these occupations could be the way forward to meeting your long term aspirations.

Create a personal development plan based on the ‘Key Requirements’ document that ITK has given you. Your development plan must include:

·         A breakdown of your current strengths and weaknesses in both disciplines

·         A statement of your aspirations, education and training

·         An action plan with clear goals that will help you reach your target

Grading Criteria: P7 – Produce a personal development plan

Useful Information:
The following table outlines the skills that are necessary to succeeded in the web design and computer systems industries and will be covered during the remainder of year 12.

Computer Systems (Unit 2)	Website Production (Unit 28)
Knowledge of Computer Hardware Components	Knowledge of web architecture and components which enable internet and web functionality
Knowledge of Operating Systems	Knowledge of user side and server side factors that can influence website usability
Knowledge of Software Utilities	Knowledge of security risks and protection mechanisms that can effect website performance
Knowledge of Installing Hardware/Software Components	Ability to create a consistent website that meets a client’s needs, including: 1.      Text/Images 2.      Templates 3.      Interactive Objects 4.      Importing of different media
	Ability to design a website that meets client’s needs.

Time Plan:

Unit 2	Term 2 (7/01/2013 – 28/03/2013)
Unit 28	Term 3 (25/02/2013 – 24/05/2013)

Move onto next page for P7, P8 and D2 criteria

P7 – Creating a Personal Development Plan

Activity:

Based on the Task 1 scenario (Previous page) you must now create your own PDP that will be later uploaded to a blog and followed for the remainder of the year.

A - PDP

1.    Establish Purpose/Direction

Based on the ‘useful information’ section on the previous page describe what your main strengths are and what areas you think need to be developed for each discipline. Remember that you must justify each of your strengths against your past experiences and training.

Computer Systems (Unit 2)
Strengths	Possible Areas to Develop
Using windows 7 software e.g. Microsoft word etc… Using apple software Experience with adobe software e.g. flash, Photoshop and fireworks	Need experience in building computers Need to find out what utilities software’s have Need to find out how operating systems work

Website Production (Unit 28)
Strengths	Possible Areas to Develop
Using adobe software like Dreamweaver Previous experience of creating a website.

2.    Identify Your Development Needs

Outline which of the highlighted development areas will be your priority (e.g. which are you main weaknesses) and justify why you have chosen them (e.g. knowledge of building a computer – never had the opportunity to build a standalone computer).

Priority 1	I need experience in building computers because I have never done it before.
Priority 2	I need to find out what utilities software’s have because I haven’t learnt this before.
Priority 3	I need to find out how operating systems work because I don’t know how they function.
Priority 4
Priority 5
Priority 6

3.      Development Opportunities

Explain how you hope to improve the skills that you have highlighted. What resources/opportunities will be at your disposal (e.g. lesson time, online tutorials?)

I hope that throughout the course of this unit on computers I will learn all of the different components of computers and what they do for a computer. I will also like to take a computer apart and put it back together again using online tutorials and lesson time to do this.

4.      Formulate Action Plan – Set Targets

Create a set of SMART targets based on your identified needs from the previous section.

Target 1	Research all the components of a computer
Target 2	Look into a computer and learn how they operate
Target 3	Take a computer apart and re build it again
Target 4
Target 5
Target 6

B - Blogger

Create a blogger account called “<<Your Name>> Btec Level 3 Unit 1 PDP” and enter the details below so that you don’t forget your credentials.

User Name	Hollyfraser96
Password	*************
Blogger Address	http://hollyfraserbteclevel3unit1pdp.blogspot.com/