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November
Catch-up month. I didn’t even want to think about the work I missed, but I have and it was scary. Get ready for the list.
This month we (in a lot of my free time):
-- Trips Shortlist: this
involved making a table in excel and writing information about the destinations
within it. I chose a cool colour scheme (black, purple and white) and then began
to write. I used multi-map to find how long it took to get there, and the
websites to find out how much group rates were etc. I thought some of the
websites could have been more user friendly, but no worries. There had to be at
least 6 destinations for each of the destination types -- heritage etc. I spent
loads of time out of class doing this as you had to describe each trip, then
choose three trips per type and explain why we did or didn’t choose them.
-- Spreadsheet skills: I didn’t do too much of this since I had work to
catch up on and it wasn’t part of the project, but what I did do helped me with
the next thing and what I didn’t I had to learn of my friends, which was
annoying. One of these functions was the IF function, for example.
--
Trips Spreadsheet: this was where the spreadsheet skills came in handy. We
were introduced to the section -- yep, new section! -- and then we got started.
Looked at examples, deciding which were the best layouts etc. And then we began
using one of those structures ourselves. I chose to do everything on separate
pages because I found it clearer. I used the new functions to work out costs and
things like that, and they saved my life. Once all the information was added, I
highlighted the rows with formulas in them so I could identify them quickly (or
the examiner could). Then we did the summary sheet, which involved adding costs
together to see which combinations of trips went over budget. None of mine did.
Just a few more things on the spreadsheet to do next month. Thanks to all the hard work outside of lessons, I’m finally back on track! Hallelujah!
October
This month was more about the trip lists, though not about the searching, which was done. It was the cause of much PDF bad feelings . . .
This month we:
-- Trip Lists: we began by changing one of our searches
into a PDF file, and that took ages to do because I had loads of formatting
problems -- it didn’t want to fit on one page! Much of my week’s
unchtimes
was spent on that.
That was all I did this month, as I wasn’t here. Sun, sea and shopping awaits in Brazil!
September
The back-to-school-month was all about the destination database, again! We’re spending ages on it. It’s slightly annoying that the examiner won’t actually be marking our database, but a document with print screens. I almost feel like the work was for nothing, but oh well.
This month we:
-- Database Evidence Report: we had a whole sheet to fill
out and to comment about, which was kind of daunting. We explained everything
that we had done within this document and this meant that we had to print screen
everything tiny, little thing we did -- that’s a lot of print screening! We
looked at the why’s and how’s etc. and annotated the print screens, with the
help of a, well, help sheet. I used a criteria sheet as well. Then it was handed
into sir.
-- Trip Lists: this was about searching through the
database and finding the best trips for the final trip categories -- it was the
first step into narrowing it down. We also did a print screen report for the
trip searching as well. I stuck to same kind of layout as the first report, so
that it was more professional.
So, still on the database, eh? It does take it’s time. Next month, guess what: more database work! I want to get onto the more creative work.
July
This month was all about the destination database, or at least the majority of it. I’d never used Microsoft Access so everything was new to me, and it’s good to be learning something new. Maybe it’ll be useful in the future, you know?
This month we:
-- Destination Database: after making the table in
Access, we added validation rules to stop any false data, and I chose to add
drop-down boxes to make the database easier to use. It would also be another
line of defence against false data. I added over 400 sets of data and then went
about finding my own 5 destinations. I had to make sure they were local and
there was one for each of the five types of destinations. I found it hard using
some of the websites as they weren’t very user friendly.
I added the websites to my sources table so I knew where they were. Then, I updated my working (final) project plan, and sent everything to sir via work post box.
And now come holidays, which I am definitely looking forward to. Unfortunately, it also means I can’t tell what I’m doing
next week because I won’t be here!
June
This month we were introduced to the project and we looked at the project brief. I found it useful to examine the project before we actually did it, and feel it would help me later. My thoughts on the project so far are that it looks very different to our year nine project, and I’m really looking forward to doing all of the creative work, like the welcome posters.
This month we:
-- Initial Project Plan: this was all right to do because it involved mostly using (and
familiarising) ourselves with the project website. I found some of the timings
hard to do, though, because I didn’t exactly know what the tasks
were.
-- Final Project
Plan: basically, we saved a second copy of the initial one that we would
work on as time went on.
-- Student Profile: I already had my thoughts on this sorted,
so this was really easy to do. I was excited about doing Paris because I study
French at school, so this would be cool finding out more about the project.
-- Emblem: we started
this by looking for images and learning about the copyright laws, and I added
some websites to my sources table. I didn’t do much on this and will do it in my
own spare time as I have Photoshop at home.
-- Sources Table: this was just a ready-made table
for us to enter what sources we used.
-- Destination Database: we began by learning a
few things about Microsoft Access, and then made our table in Microsoft Word.
There were columns and we decided on information such as which records to
include, how many characters to use etc.
So far, I’m intrigued by the project and next month we will be continuing with the database destination. No problems this week, which was nice.
