Project Overview
The project I will be working on this quarter is a free PHP & MYSQL tutorial site. It will offer users the opportunity to learn PHP & MYSQL at their own pace, stopping and resuming tutorials as they see fit. The site will not be bogged down with advanced jargon and cumbersome tutorials that expect the user to have advanced skill sets they don't already have.
Target Audience
There are 2 types of users that will come to my tutorial site. They will either be an aspiring Developer or they will be a designer with well honed skills looking to add an edge to their resume.
Aspiring Developer
- Existing Knowledge of HTML, CSS, Javascript
- Willing to invest time to learn a new language
- Lots of free time
- Young
- In school or recent graduate
- Passionate about the Web
- Goal-Oriented
- Looking to improve performance
- On A Tight Schedule
- Needs small and concise bits of information
- Needs to access specific parts of a tutorial quickly
Objective
To use higher learning techniques to engage my audience. The tutorials they go over not only will be showing them how to do example work, but will encourage them to try it as they go along, believing that one "One learns to solve problems by solving problems". We will present our users with real world examples of projects that will not only teach them the necessary material but will also give them a better idea of what goes into the programs around them on the internet. We will also incorporate things they should already know, such as making use of their html and javascript skills because "Adults need to be able to integrate new ideas with what they already know if they are going to keep - and use - the new information". In doing so we can cut out certain tasks, like how do links work, how to make a form or declare a doctype, assuming the user has these skills. If they don't we will point them to other reasources online.
Current Need
When looking around at different websites that offer tutorials on both PHP and MYSQL there is a certain deficiency in well laid out tutorial sites that are free. Most tutorial sites are either strong at introducing you to PHP & MYSQL, or they're strong with the more advanced level work. But there is a deficiency in going from beginner to expert. definition of your target audience, your project objectives, current need for the project as it relates to interactive media design, and its value to society
Works Cited
Fink, Dee L. "FINK'S FIVE PRINCIPLES OF GOOD COURSE DESIGN" University of Oklahoma Instructional Development Program
July 19, 1999. < http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/finks5.htm >
Ron and Susan Zemke. "30 THINGS WE KNOW FOR SURE ABOUT ADULT LEARNING" Innovation Abstracts.
Vol VI, No 8 National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development, March 9, 1984
Talanca, John Jr. "Let's Get Small" E-Learning Guru
2005 < http://www.e-learningguru.com/articles/art_misc_1.htm >