The trials, tribulations, successes & epic fails of a North Devon Schools Web Designer.

Posts in category Future Dev

French Vocab Tests

Jun07
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

Working with Claire form our MFL Dept’ this week on creating a whole series of Frog Powered French Vocab Tests. The idea is to create a Terms worth of weekly homework tasks for Years 7, 8 & 9. I haven’t done the math yet but I’m pretty sure that’s a lot of tests & Frog Pages! Being frog powered all the results write directly to a Database & Staff will be able to track individual students & lesson group progression.

More on this when it’s ready to roll.
However they’ll be used for quite a while so it will be worth the effort.

Posted in Collaboration, Design, Developments, Frog Powered, Student Engagement, Website

New Year Info Website Plan

Jun07
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

Had a really good meeting this week where we looked at the overhall of our student handbook pages information. For quite a while I’ve wanted them to focus more sharply on first time visitors to the site, prospective students & their families etc. With this in mind the focus will change to a more accessible ‘Welcome to our world’ approach introducing the HOY’s & Key staff all the latest news about achievements, visits, success etc and crucially student testimonies as to what life in that particular year group is like.

I’m hoping the HOY’s will also make use of social media to deliver the news updates via a series of new blogs that can auto post to our FB & Twitter pages. The overall effect should be that of a genuine introduction to life in that year group coupled with a better delivery system to further shout from the rooftops about  all the brilliant stuff that goes on here on a weekly basis.

Here’s a mockup of how the pages may look.

Posted in Bideford College Online, Blogs & Blogging, Design, Developments, Frog Powered, Graphics, Insights, Student Engagement, Website

Frog OS – First Peek

May16
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

Frog OS

Have been using the Frog OS Sandbox this week checking out the new version that will be coming our way later in the year. The obvious big benefits are it’s ability to work & create content on virtually all devices & I’m looking forward to being able to build a Homework Hunter interface as soon as we get our hands on it.
Students will love the themeing facility, allowing them to skin it with a whole range of designs & I suspect an even higher higher proportion of Staff will like the increased ease of use in the resource design & build tools.
An exciting development whichever way you look at it.
No access to the admin interface as yet but again I’m hoping that will be as nice to use as the Sandbox.
Well played Frog, ahead of the pack again.

Frog OS Skins

Posted in Amazing, Beta Testing, Developments, Frog Learning Platform, Frog Powered, Homework, Mobile Devices, Web Design

Q. When Is A Summer School NOT A Summer School?

Apr23
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

A. When it’s 31 degrees?

Design Draft No 1

Or……..

A. When it’s time to get set for summer

Finished Version

This week I’ve had to come up with a concept & logo for a Summer School that the College will be running during the 6 week break. I wanted to focus on the season (YES I know it should have featured lots rain clouds but I live in eternal hope) and the idea of using the time to explore rather than going ‘back’ to school. So from initial concept through to finished brochure cover here it is. More soon.

Posted in Community Engagement, Design, Fun, Graphics, Kinda Cool

Vacancies Morph Into Recruitments

Apr23
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

Just finishing off a complete re-design & re-hosting of our recruitment pages. It’s been on the back burner for a while but in recent conversations with the human resources team we’ve decided to break the back of it very soon. All we ned now is to find the time to ‘do’ the inset & away we go.

Happy Blogging

Posted in Developments, Frog Powered

BETA Test Version LIVE @ Last!!!

Mar22
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

Phew! That was a task & a half BUT I’m really, REALLY pleased with the finished product.

Next up the aforementioned beta testing with some Year 10′s & 11′s, the best critics by far!
I’ll let you know how we get on.

Posted in Bideford College Online, Design, Developments, Frog Widgets, Graphics, Homework, Javascript, Kinda Cool, Online Tools, RSS, Student Engagement

Nearly There…

Mar19
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

It’s been put on the back burner recently due to other commitments but the new network student homepage is almost there. A few more tweaks, a series of new windows to build & some Year 10 Beta testing (The best, harshest critics by far) and it should be ready for roll-out when students come back after Easter. The profile link to homework tasks is a key function and the testing for this looks really good. I can’t wait to get it up & get our Students feedback.
More soon.

Posted in Bideford College Online, Design, Developments, Homework, Kinda Cool, Student Engagement

’575 Guy’ Gets A New Face & Home

Feb06
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

Currently about 1/2 way through developing a new home for ’575 Guy’ and his team of Super Techies.
It’s a frog based interface that improves on the current setup in a number of ways and will allow our elite team of Techies to access core information more easily.
They seem very happy with the Beta Testing that’s currently going on.

Posted in Design, Developments, Frog Powered, Graphics, Kinda Cool, Online Tools, Resources, Staff Support

Part 1 of the Techie Support Rebuild Project

Jan24
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

It’s a fairly innocuous start but the new Music, Media & AV Support page is the 1st part of a near total rebuild of our online Technicians Support Request system or “575″ as it’s known. The core database stays the same but the user interfaces are next to be redesigned to take into account changing needs. Staff won’t see much difference to the presentation of the system but the ‘back-office’  GUI will be completely different. Part 2 of this development coming soon.

Posted in Design, Developments, Graphics, Web Design

Sneaky Peek

Jan21
2013 Leave a Comment Written by Stuart

One of the exciting things I’m working on at the moment is a total revamp of our students network homepage.
It’s going to be packed with lots of great personalised interactive features that give our student community what they want & need.
It’s taking a while to build along with everything else that’s going on BUT I’m enjoying the challenge.

Posted in css, Design, Developments, Frog Widgets, Graphics, Javascript, Kinda Cool, Student Engagement
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About BCO WebDev

BCO WebDev
I've worked at the College for 15 years now, initially as a music dept' techie & then as a resource technician.
A significant amount of time since then was spent as an I.T Techie then 5 years or so ago I was promoted to the dizzy heights of "Web Developer & Curriculum Resources Technician".
Currently I design, develop & manage virtually all of the College's web presence, am closely involved in the continued development of our Frog powered learning platform as well as creating mountains of stuff in Photoshop/Dreamweaver for all sorts of departmental resources.
I'm a commited blogger, surf & skate fanatic & groove loving bass player.
When not doing all that I still find time to run 10K once in a while, take photos, make Skateboards in an after school club & then collapse in a heap @ the end of the day.
I harboured ambitions to be a helicopter pilot when I was young.
Check the About Page for more stuff & nonsense.

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BCO WebDev The views expressed on this blog are strictly those of the author and no other. Devon County Council & Bideford College cannot be held responsible for any comments, statements or views expressed by author. Every effort is made to ensure that the information provided on these pages is accurate and up to date, but no legal responsibility is accepted for any errors, omissions or misleading statements. Please have a nice, peaceful & non confrontational day.
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