Monday 26 January 2009

The final Semester

With only a few months left to complete the course I feel satisfied with my progress. Something I didn’t expect was creating digital artwork I could put in my portfolio.

As it gets closer to the end of the course I feel that I have I got out of the course more than I set out to achieve. I have been on a roller-coaster of emotions during the course and this is set to continue:

Currently I feel -

Apprehensive - about completing the Self Managed Learning Plan (SMLP) this will be difficult for me because the subject PHP doesn’t interest me and I would rather learn flash and Actionscript. Learning Hypertext Preprocessor (PHP) will stand me in good stead to further my career and broaden my horizons. Now a week behind after going on a Skiing holiday I need to dedicate any spare time I have to studying. Compiling a list of resources in my last blog should encourage me to conduct research and complete tutorials to learn PHP.

Excited - at the prospect of creating an online portfolio to showcase my design work, and

Nervous - about my final presentation but confidant that it will come together.

SMLP Resources

Hopefully by understanding PHP it will allow me to understand other programming languages such as perl, java and ruby.

1. www.killerphp.com
By watching a series of beginners PHP video tutorials I hope to understand a little more about PHP programming language.

2. www.webmonkey.com
Although the information provided he is limited it will get me started learning the very basics.

3. www.w3schools.com/PHP
Following the simple tutorials I hope to grasp a basic understand how to apply PHP to HTML and start to get to grips with it.

4. www.tizag.com
I will probably use this site to install php on to my mac and see how it differs to Dreamweaver. I would rather use Dreamweaver because I have become familiar with it.

5. PHP5 in easy steps by Mike McGrath
This book should allow me to learn PHP a step at a time.

6. How to Do Everything with PHP and MySQL by Vikram Vaswani
This is another book to practice techniques and encourage me to do some reading away from the computer.

While I am compiling this list I am beginning to understand why PHP is so important. So far I understand that if a website is developed just in HTML it appears static and no very interactive. PHP lets you create dynamic features that organise content to create an interactive user experience.

7. www.joe2torials.com
Although there are only 23 tutorials in this website they are easy to understand and are available in a print friendly version.

8. www.sitepoint.com
A site packed full of tutorials when I get more advanced, news and a forum to ask other people for help if I should get stuck. http://www.sitepoint.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=34

9. www.tutorialized.com
This seems a great resource for PHP Tutorials and every design other application.

10. www.hotscripts.com
With a range of tutorials from basic to advanced I can work my way through them.


Other tutorials if I get the time http://www.astahost.com/Great-Php-Tutorial-Sites-t19404.ht