In my Junior year of Web Design, I have learned valuable lessons in many areas. These lessons can be categorized into the 5 guarantees of eCommunications.
Technology
In the area of technology, I have learned how to use PHP to improve my projects. We were introduced to PHP in a series of mini projects. Although I faced many challenges like small errors in code, and difficult concepts to understand I learned a lot. This knowledge is important because it can be used to record users info in a database, take polls, and it helped me to understand the basics of other programming languages like Java (which I learned in another class).
Collaboration
This year has brought to my attention a new side of web design. I learned the value of collaboration and peer feedback on my projects. Throughout the year, I have learned to value the input of my classmates. When I come to a problem, or need help thinking through a design choice, I can rely on my classmates to give important feedback or just an extra set of eyes. The only semi-challenge I faced was bridging the gap between the Juniors and Seniors at the beginning of the year, but I'm glad that I did because I gained many valuable friendships.
Communication
This year I learned the most about communication through my client project for the Green Tech booster club. I designed their website for their "Summer Seminar" trip to Colorado. I did this through communication with a representative from the booster club. We began the project with an in person meeting and continued it through email. This experience gave me insight into the business world and taught me the importance of through communication. The challenge I faced was the periods of time when my client would not respond to my emails, which made it difficult to understand what needed to be done.
Project Management
Through our year of web projects, I have had plenty of time to strengthen my project management skills. I have been able to practice using my time effectively in order to complete the projects on time. I have also learned valuable lessons about working on multiple projects at the same time while working on my class work and my client project. I will be able to use these skills in any job and in many areas of life as I work on projects. Some challenges I faced include spending too much time on one small problem and being distracted by other things.
Leadership
Although leadership is not the most obvious trait to be strengthened by our individual projects in web design, it has played a big role this year. When the class has been having trouble on a project, I would go around and bring others in to collaborate to solve our problem. If no one would have stepped up to bring our minds together, it would have been much more difficult to finish the project adequately.
Conclusion
My greatest strength is being able to quickly understand and identify the principles and format of a program or language, as well as being able to work with others to solve a problem. I have strengthened these areas by learning new concepts in web, like mobile first and PHP, and by working more closely with my classmates. My greatest weakness would likely be finding and fixing my errors in a code. If I can't find the problem quickly, I can get stressed out, but I have improved these problem solving skills while working on some of our more complex projects.
Although I may not be going into web development as my career, I will still be able to utilize many of the skills I have learned in this class for the rest of my life. I will always be able to use my problem solving skills, my communication skills, and my leadership skills.
Looking back at this year, I have little to regret. The only thing I may change is to not take my time in this class with Mr. Olson and the seniors for granted. I am now realizing that it truly is coming to an end and it fills me with deep sadness.
I am very grateful for my year in web design. Although I am disappointed that it is ending, I am looking forward to the new and exciting experiences that the next year will bring.
