Category: Study

Crazy to be looking around while I’m not even halfway through the PR course but I wouldn’t mind doing this PC Repair Specialist course next. It would be handy qualification for casual work. I’m thinking maybe I could combine it with a private coaching service, showing people how to use their PC and the Internet.

Marks back for my first assignment for the Public Relations and Events Management course – an “A”. Very easy assignment, the next one looks a bit more challenging.

I have to give careful thought also on how to proceed with the degree course I started through OUA. Enrolments for SP3 close in about 3 weeks.

Study materials arrived today for my new course from CENGAGE Education. It is delivered in four modules each with just one assignment. We are given up to 18 months to complete the course but it could very easily be completed within 12 months, so that’s the goal I’ve set myself.

The course materials seem very well designed and the CENGAGE website looks like it will be a useful resource, although I’ve already noticed a couple of the links don’t work in the “Quick Menu”. However there is a student forum and the tutors seem to have a very proactive approach so it should be good.

The course is completely self-paced – no due dates for the assignments, you complete them when you feel you are ready. Within the available timeframe of course.

The first part of module one deals with study techniques, which I already covered extensively through OUA so I’ll be able to skim through this part.

Looking forward to getting this course under my belt and onto my CV.

I’ve enrolled for my next subject at uni commencing 3rd March, after a three month break from study. I shall be doing just one unit again – NED23 Internet Design: Usability. Aspects of this was covered in previous design units, but this goes into more depth. Should get a lot out of it.

Today was probably my last day on the phones for Melissa, I am so pleased about that even though it means a little less money coming in – maybe for a little while anyway. Melissa has hired a young local lad to work for her full-time.

My friend Lee has invited me to go along with her to the Andy Warhol exhibition in Brisbane, she won a couple of free tickets. A lot of people don’t get his work, he is famous for the cans of Campbell’s soup.. but I like the current TV promotion which says something along the lines of “he saw art in everything”, it’s a nice sentiment!

My final assignment signed, sealed, delivered. It is way past my bed time but I’m so happy at the prospect of a study break that I wanted to write about it before I toddle off (plus I’ve been drinking coffee all evening, so it will take me a little while to wind down).

I’m happy with the final Web site – as well as the web site we also had to design a Flash-based banner ad which was interesting.. at one stage it didn’t look like I was going to get it finished, I just couldn’t seem to get the knack with the software (brain overload), but somehow I managed to fluke it. The ad came out surprisingly OK, although I’m trying to ignore the faults.

Yay, a break from Uni!

Got the surprise of my life from my latest assignment results. We had to do a web site planner document and although I was happy with parts of it, I had rushed through other parts and overall thought it was quite a mediocre “it’ll do” submission. Was not expecting 28/30!

Melissa. Outstanding. This was an excellent assignment. You had me at “The Ipswich Hospice…” 😉 Great use of the wayback machine. I didn’t know it existed. I found everything very easy to follow. Like a Steve Krug proposal. Nice nav structure, lovely, simple graphics and clean approach. Good inspirational site you picked. Good luck with this. I got lost reading your proposal – which is a great thing. The SEO attention was great. About the right length too – with good, solid research (in all the right places) and a no-nonsense approach to tone. Excellent. Very pleased with this! And really looking forward to your finished version.

He then goes on to recommend I take a look at the clean design and use of “Georgia” font on Jeffrey Zeldman’s www.happycog.com. Very nice.

I chose Ipswich Hospice as the subject for my web site, when finished I shall approach them to see if they want to use it.

A very interesting article by Olga Sanchez-Howard on designing for non-profit groups on the Boxes and Arrows site.

While I have been getting distracted lately by work and a uni assignment, Jo has powered ahead nearly ten lessons in front of me and is up to actual drawing exercises! Oneday when I eventually catch up, we will have to scan some of our drawings to put up on our blogs.

This set of lessons is all about the process of looking at a subject and seeing the shapes and lines it can be broken up into.

We start with positive space and negative space. Positive space is the area in a drawing that is occupied by the subject; negative space is the background or area surrounding the subject. The shape of each space is outlined by contour lines. Identifying the shapes and size of positive and negative spaces helps with accurate proportion.

Contour lines also outline shapes within these spaces, and the shape sizes and layout are compared to accurately and proportionally render the drawing.

Next lesson is B02 – Seeing Shapes and Proportions
http://www.drawspace.com/lessons/lesson.php?id=b02

Jo and I are doing this online drawing course together. It is located at Drawspace.com and produced from lessons created by Brenda Hoddinott.