Sunday, January 27, 2013

Career Development




Here is everything we are doing in my class career development


Career Development


Course Description: In this course, students develop techniques and strategies for marketing themselves in their chosen field. Emphasis will be placed on students assessing their most marketable skills, developing a network of contacts, writing cover letters, résumés and thank you letters for employment interviews and developing a professional appearance.

Our grade is based on 3 things:


Grading Breakdown:                                                                                

Professionalism:  10%
Midterm: 40%
Content and Presentation of Final Career Development Binder: 50%






CD400—Career Development
Professional Binder Requirements





þ

Points
[100]
Page
#
Exercises/Elements
o
1
1.4
Elevator presentation—typed in binder, practice and execution/delivery
o
1
1.5
Know Your Field—typed
o
1
1.6
What I really Want to Do—typed
o
1
1.7
Twelve Things I Love to Do—typed
o
1
1.8
Twelve Things I’m Good At—typed
o
2
1.9
My 5 Greatest Achievements—
o
1
1.10-12
A Self-Assessment
o
o
20

Resume
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
10
3.3
5 Letters on Your Official Professional Letterhead [points deducted for not being on ltrhead.]
1.        Cover Letter [Enc. because you are including your resume]
2.        Thank you or Letter of appreciation
3.        Acceptance Letter
4.        Rejection Letter
5.        Letter of my resignation

o
o
4
4.7-9
Fill Out Application for Employment Information

o
o
o
o
o
6
4.15-16
1. List of 6 References on Letterhead [3 personal/3professional]
o
4
5.14-15

5.45-61
Compile a TYPED list of useful websites associated with your professional industry, career, and specialty resources. [Identify at least 10: Regional, City/Community, Statewide, National, International]. TYPED.
o
5
6.12
1) Sample of professional voice message to be left with potential employer
2) Sample of professional outgoing message on voice mail to be heard by employer.
o
o
4
7.4-5
Typed Question & Response to Interview for “Tell me about yourself” and “What are your major strengths and weaknesses.”Both of these questions should take up at least 1-2 pages.
o
3
7.6-9
3 Typed Question & Answer/Response for Interviews from this section.
Note: These questions are a separate list from the mock interviews. Try to pick new Qs
o
4
7.11-7.13
10 Typed challenging Questions & Answer/Response for Interviews from this section. Note: These questions are a separate list from the mock interviews. Try to pick new Qs
o
1
7.15
5 Typed Questions that you might ask the Interviewer from this section.
o
o
5
8.5
[5.11]
Compile a Target Company Profile(s) AND First Tier Research on 2 Industries/Companies of interest to you
o
6

Completed and Typed Question & Answer/Response
o
o
o
o
o
20

Participation AND Preparation for in Mock Interview. Either in class Mock interview or with a faculty representative. This includes:
1)       Mock Interview Questions Typed and Prepped the day of Mock Interview
2)       Presentation of a resume
3)       Presentation of a Cover Letter
4)       Follow up with a Thank you Letter to Interviewer within 24 hours of interview with a Cc: rdruhot@aii.edu
5)       Overall Professionalism throughout the process.

Total Score:

***Professional Binder Requirements are 50% of Final Grade

In A Nutshell

This is what we did in Project Management.

I decide for my project management class I would use the same idea I had for my writing for interactive design class. Many college students who have never cooked before are frustrated with trying to figure out how to prepare a meal from a recipe. A website will be designed to teach college students and anyone just learning how to cook how to prepare and cook their favorite restaurant dishes in their own kitchen.

Great templates for this class

The following templates, forms, and examples are organized by steps in the usability process. They can be customized for your organization's usability needs. All of these are in the public domain and can be freely downloaded.
 A library of template files to help you with your web and digital marketing projects.
 New Project Management & Web Design Templates
 Templates and instructions described in the Project Management Guideline


1. Competitive Analysis
Competitive analysis includes:
    purpose statement
    comparison table
    analysis
There are two parts to this assignment. First, devise a concept for an original multimedia product. This project will be the focus of the rest of your work in the course. Once you have selected an idea for your project, conduct a competitive analysis.

Resource





2.Strategy Brief
Strategy brief includes:

    Situation/Background Introduction
    SMART Objective
    Target Audience
    Strategy
    Tactics

Resource
Resource SMART Objective
Resource SMART Objective
Resource  Target Audience

3. Risk Matrix
Identify at least 10 risks, and plot them on the chart.
Your Risk Impact/Probability Matrix includes:

    Identification of 10 risks
    Chart with risks plotted
    Risk ratings
    Risk analysis and discussion

Resource
Resource

4. Work Breakdown Structure
A process for a multimedia project should include planning, design, development, and delivery phases, but you can have more phases (like testing or post deployment) depending on your project’s unique needs.
Work Breakdown Structure includes:

    A logical process for your project
    General and specific tasks for your project
    At least 2 to 4 subtasks under each task.
    At least 3 milestones or client approval points
    A time estimation for each task

Resource
Resource
Resource 






















5. Team
Document your team members. Do all the team members cover the tasks needed to complete the project?
Are all the roles assigned to people qualified for the job?
Team Document includes:

    Names
    Titles
    Primary and secondary roles
    Qualifications and years of experience
    General descriptions of their activities on project
    Anticipated cost of the team member to the project
    Justification for their inclusion on the team.

Resource
Resource

6. Gantt and Task Allocation
Create a Gantt chart and Task Allocation Chart for your project by using a tracking tool such as Microsoft Project or Excel software.
Part 1: Gantt chart submitted includes:

    General tasks and subtasks
    Durations
    Milestones
    Start and End dates
    Graphical Timeline

Part 2: Task Allocation chart submitted includes:

    Resources assigned to tasks
    Costs per task

Resource Gantt chart
Resource Gantt chart
Resource Gantt chart
Resource Gantt chart
Resource Task Allocation
Resource Task Allocation

7. Budget
Your budget should include:

    A breakdown of the team costs by role, rate, and days.
    A breakdown of any outside contractor or freelance costs.
    Production costs if needed for original audio or video production.
    Licensing or fees for use of any assets such as photography, graphics, or media.
    Materials, overhead, and other miscellaneous items directly related to the project. (You are not required to calculate business overhead due to the variability and complexity.) You should ensure that you are showing enough profit to allow for the cost of operating a business.


Resource
Resource
Resource
8. Proposal
Write a project proposal and presentation based on the project documents you have created. Your presentation will be evaluated on content, persuasiveness, presentation, clarity, and accuracy. You may follow any format you choose, but be sure to include a title slide and the following headings:

    Title Page
    Project Description
    Measurable Objectives
    Target Market
    Market Needs: What does the target market need?
    Client Needs: What are the needs of your client?
    Team Description: Brief overview of your team
    Work Breakdown Structure: Submit in total
    Process Design Timeline: This is a graphical timeline of target dates for each process in your WBS:  Planning, Design, Production, Testing, etc.
    Assumptions - what will the client provide?
    Cost: Give a brief overview of your budget by category

Resource
Resource
Resource 
Resource
Resource
Resource


9. Creative Brief
Creative Brief includes:

    Project Background/Overview
    SMART Objective
    Target Audience
    Message/Tone
    User "experience"
    A discussion of colors, typography, and graphical or any other design elements
    Design constraints, limitations, guidelines.

My post about Creative Brief

Resource
Resource
Resource 
Resource
Resource




10. Technical Requirements
  1. Target Technology
    • Platform: Manufacturer, machine type, operating system and version, speed of processor, amount of memory, and hard disk space needed.
    • Additional Peripherals: CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, printer, scanner, video card, audio card, network connections.
    • Internet Connectivity: Speed of access, browser, plug-ins, and other Internet-related needs.
    • Display: Screen resolution, number of colors, monitor size.
    • Video: Card types, playback software (Windows Media, QuickTime), RAM.
    • Audio: 8- or 16-bit sound, mono or stereo, compression.
    • Software: Microsoft Excel, QuickTime, Adobe Reader 
  2. Back-End Needs
    • Database: Will a database be needed? What platform or version is preferable?
    • Internet Connection: Will it be connecting to the Internet? If yes, explain how it should function.
    • Search Engine: Will a search engine be needed? If yes, explain what is needed.
    • Security: What level of security is needed? Some level of security is suggested for any multimedia product, even if it is a basic terms-of-use statement. Security is most important if you have original, creative work as part of the product.
    • Personalization: Will the user be able to personalize the experience? If yes, please explain what is needed.
    • Transactions: Will any transactions need to be conducted (such as purchases, requesting information, submitting a registration form, uploading profiles)?
    • User Information: Will the system collect information from the user? If yes, please explain what is needed, how it is to be saved, and how it is to be transmitted to the publisher.


Example of Target Technology

Platform: Mac requirements: OS 7 or better, using Safari, Firefox or Chrome; PC requirements: Windows XP or better; at least 2 GB memory, at least 200 MB hard drive space available

Graphics Card: At least DDR2 or above

Audio: Internal or external speakers

Display: at least 1280 x 760, widescreen or full screen; no required monitor or display size, will work on mobile and tablets

Software: QuickTime, JavaScript, Shockwave

Back End Needs

Internet Connection: DSL or better

Security: Users will use PayPal to check out through their secure server

Personalization: No personalization will be present

User Information: Users will not create accounts, only information will be stored through PayPal.

Write a "technical requirements" document for your project . Technical Requirements document includes:

    Target Technology
    Back-End Needs

Resource
Resource


11. Project Mockup
Create a digital (mockup) of the screen design for your multimedia product. In this mockup, show us how the content will be organized and the basic navigational scheme. Include the color and typographic scheme with the mockup. Also, include a justification of your design choices (including navigation) based on the content and target audience.
Mockup includes:

    Logo
    General Layout
    Inner Page Layout
    Color Palette
    Typography Choices
    Information Architecture Map

Resource
Resource
Resource 
Resource
Resource
Resource


12. Test Plan
Write a test plan for your course project. In the plan, include tests for usability, software, acceptance, and system testing. Also, write a single test case for one feature of your multimedia product.

Test Plan includes:

    Scope  (usability, software, system, and acceptance)
    Schedule
    Platform
    Standards
    One test case

Writing a Test Plan
A test plan should include:
  • Scope—The names of the tests that will be carried out
  • Schedule—The days and times of each test, and information about how the test will be carried out, including the person conducting the testing
  • Platform—For each test type, indicate the hardware and software used in the testing process. Will different browsers be used? Different machine types, like a Mac and PC? Different mobile technologies? A touch screen?
  • Standards—Describes the standards to be employed including categorization of bugs. This might be a system where the bug is classified as a high to low threat. Also indicate the type of problem: system, functional, creative, or usability error?  
My usability posts
Example
Resource
Resource
Resource
 
13.Rough Draft
Documents to include:

    Title Page
    Table of Content
    Competitive Analysis
    Strategy Brief
    Risk Matrix
    Process Design Time LIne 
    Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
    Team Description
    Gantt Chart
    Task Allocation
    Budget
    Creative Brief
    Technical Requirements
    Mockup
    Test Plan


14.  Final Project Plan
Based on the feedback you have received throughout the course, revise and submit the final project plan
The following documents should be combined in a single file with a cover page and table of contents:

    Title Page
    Table of Contents
    Competitive Analysis
    Strategy Brief
    Risk Matrix
    Process Design Time Line
    Work Breakdown Structure (WBS)
    Team Description
    Gantt Chart
    Task Allocation
    Budget
    Creative Brief
    Technical Requirements
    Mockup
    Test Plan

Ideas
Ideas
Ideas

Friday, January 25, 2013

Things That Would Have Helped

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Free online video lecture courses

Mind Mapping

We give you a blank wall. You put anything you want on it, anywhere. Simple, yet powerful.

DreamTemplate  offers a comprehensive, exclusive website templates collection consisting of Photoshop designs with HTML exported versions. Our website templates are easy-to-download and easy-to-edit. All the featured website templates have been designed to cater to your business needs both in terms of quality as well as cost. Our website templates are available in various categories which makes our gallery one of the most comprehensive and professionally designed collections available on the web today. 

This would have been great to have known about when I have had to make presentations. 

With Prezi, you move seamlessly from brainstorming your ideas to presenting them. Create a more cinematic and engaging experience and lead your audience down a path of discovery.

“Prezi is helping reinvent the art of presentation. Farewell, one-dimensional thinking. Welcome instead the power of inter-connection, flexibility, and the unexpected 'Aha!'”
— Chris Anderson, TED Curator


This would have been great to have known about when I was taking e learning.


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Thursday, January 10, 2013

Competitive Analysis



 I decide for my project management class I would use the same idea I had for my writing for interactive design class. 

Competitive Analysis

Purpose: Many college students who have never cooked before are frustrated with trying to figure out how to prepare a meal from a recipe. A website will be designed to teach college students and anyone just learning how to cook how to prepare and cook their favorite restaurant dishes in their own kitchen. By using videos and simple instructions the website will explain in simple terms how to prepare recipes. The purpose of this competitive analysis is to identify the strengths and weaknesses of online cooking schools that offer lessons for people just learning how to cook. 

Comparison Table:
Competitive Analysis for online cooking schools
Smart kitchen
Dinner Tonight at Texas A&M
Navigation
Primary navigation is horizontal and placed between the header and the slider (Lessons, Recipes, Resources, About Us, and Contact Us).

Primary navigation is a tab menu across the top (Home, Dinner Tonight, Healthy Cooking School Menus, Fruit and Vegetable Series, Recipes). Secondary navigation is horizontal and placed under header includes recipe categories(All, Vegetarian, Tex Mex, Chicken, Salad, Beef, Sandwich/Wrap, Soup/Chili, Seafood, Pork, Turkey, Casserole, Slow Cooker).
Colors
Red and yellow which are colors that are suppose to make us hungry.
Beige, Cream, Blue
Basic Layout
Header with logo and search bar, primary navigation, slider, content, and footer.
A header with a search bar, tab navigation, One column or 3 column pages with links to resources, footer which contains contact information and links to other pages with the schools website.
Content
The site has three categories in which you can search for information lessons, recipes, and resources. The lessons page is broken down into 3 categories beginner, intermediate, and advanced.  The recipe page  includes a recipe checklist that includes ingredients needed as well as the tools and equipment needed.
Main pages are list of links to recipes or videos. Subpages contain videos, links, pdfs.
Multi-media
Slider, videos, links to social media
Short videos that include step-by-step instructions using basic cooking techniques. PDFs with recipes.
Overall impression
Similar to a culinary program but that can be done at home.
Very simple, Easy to use, Basically the site has videos on how to prepare the recipe and a pdf of the recipe everything else on the site leads back to these two things.

Analysis:  An analysis of online cooking schools shows a need for a website for college students that explains in simple terms how to prepare a recipe. Although the online cooking schools I analyzed provide recipes and instructional videos they lack information on teaching cooking skills and techniques. This website will be different from other websites because it does not assume that the user has basic cooking skills and will include this information. Also this site will appeal to college students because the emphasis is on preparing the same meals they eat in restaurants.  The website will include features that are similar to Dinner Tonight’s videos and downloadable pdfs as well as a resource center similar to Smart Kitchens. Unlike Dinner Tonight the recipes will include more information than just a video and pdf.  Unlike on the Smart Kitchen website in which a user has to leave the recipe page to look up something the user might not know this website will include  that information on the recipe page.

Wednesday, January 2, 2013

On Break

I did a kinetic type piece and re did Sharon's website.

CHEF -NEW SITE