Showing posts with label katherine o'kelly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label katherine o'kelly. Show all posts

Monday, April 14, 2014

Katherine's Formative Project / Blog Post

Things have been going really well so far! Learning HTML has been a  long project, but I think I’m almost at the point where I can make something that looks semi-legitimate. I say almost, because at this point I have a good grasp on a fair amount of the basic html-- but there’s still a large difference between theoretically knowing and actually doing. Sure, I can execute examples of the skills in isolated environments (check out that pointlessly elaborate nested table I created!), but I have still had very little practice in putting it all together, mainly because I don’t have a driving concept for my work. I guess I never really considered making a website, because originally I had my heart set on this whole “interactive infographic” idea, but such is the nature of an exploratory project, I guess! Unfortunately, now that I see how far off from my initial idea I am, I’ve reached a bit of a conceptual standstill. Code writer’s block, if you will. I definitely need to regroup, refocus, and re-plan, though the lack of inspiration is certainly not helping.

Until I reach a point of resolution on the creative front, I’ll continue working on learning new concepts and such from w3 schools. There’s always more to learn, and I should probably start working on external css and/or javascript soon, too. Plus, now that I’ve gotten oriented with html, I can now open up the page sources for any websites I find interesting, and use them as a learning opportunity. With every different website examined, I become aware of many more aspects of html-- yet another exciting but daunting prospect.
Though there are many variable aspects to my project right now, one thing is for certain; I definitely still have a long way to go.

Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Katherine-Blog Post for the Month of March-Andover Innovation Lab/Help Desk

3.6.14.website skeleton.png
Since my last post, things have been picking up speed. I’ve moved on from my research project and have started to learn HTML online through w3 schools. It’s been good, though I wish I had more time to work each day-- I find that when I use w3 schools within a mere constricting 82 minutes, it’s tricky to strike the right balance between reading new material tutorials and actually practicing the skills I’ve learned. To counter that, I’ve decided to try out the idea of the “HTML Journal”. Theoretically, with the HTML Journal I can both take notes on what I learned that day AND attempt to execute the correct use of those skills, all at the same time! That way, I have a continuous log of concepts learned, with working code (and the accompanying physical results!) to serve as a reference for my work at a later date. Plus, by putting my work each day on a Google Doc, I’m able to access and continue my work at home (on the rare occasion that I’m not drowning in homework.) Although, I will admit that documenting the process of learning HTML from scratch is embarrassingly simplistic  at first. As you can see from the included picture of the fruition of my HTML efforts thus far, I am still far from making an aesthetically pleasing product.

Going forward, I’m looking forward to learning the CSS to bulk up my HTML. I’d say I’m downright anxious to get to CSS, actually, because what I have right now just looks silly. Hopefully, by the time I write my next blog entry, I’ll have learned to integrate CSS well enough to make the skeleton I have now into something that actually looks plausibly legitimate website. I guess that if I start making my website look more professional, I should probably step up the quality of my content as well-- but I’m not ready to give up Bill and Ted or my plethora of goofy links, so I’ll worry about that later. I still have plenty of things to learn before I’ll be nearly close enough to that level of proficiency
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Thursday, February 6, 2014

Student Profiles For The Help Desk-Spring Semester 2014

Name: Taha Vasowalla
"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” ~ Socrates
Year in School: Sophomore
Interests/Hobbies:
Programming, Origami, Music, Science, Video Games
Why I joined the Andover Help Desk:
To be able to work more on Aquanotes and expand my programming skills
How I use technology in my free time:
I code, play video games, and make my math classes easier with programs on my calculator.
Programming Languages: Javascript, HTML, CSS, jQuery, Visual Basic, TI Basic
My work: 
http://taha.vasowalla.com/, http://www.aquanotesapp.com/
My other profiles:  
https://plus.google.com/u/0/104625167531547238137/posts 
https://www.facebook.com/taha.vasowalla
______________________________________________________________________________
Name: Maxwell Dowe
Year In School: 12
Hobbies:
Electronic music production, DJing, film review, hiking, skiing, reading,
Why I Joined The Help Desk:
I joined the help desk to create a music sharing/analysis blog to act mainly as a portfolio. I plan to use my blog to have something to show other music sharing/analysis blogs my writing ability.
How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
I use technology in my free time for a multitude of purposes. I use it to research and read about a multitude of topics ranging from (for example) sound engineering theory to Buddhist philosophy. I use it to produce original music and to operate my djing equipment.
My Work:
None
My Other Media Profiles:
N/A
          ______________________________________________________________________________
Name: Nick Wackowski
Year In School: Junior
Hobbies:
I love playing video games, mostly on my computer. I mostly play Indie and retro games, though I’ve been playing a lot of Just Cause 2, lately.
I started learning to play the piano a year ago. I’m not very good, but I enjoy it.
Why I Joined The Help Desk:
I had an extra Study block, and I thought it would be interesting to use it to work on my own projects. I enjoy programming and computers, so I figured that this would be a good chance to work more with them.
How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
http://img.pandawhale.com/post-24117-games-and-stuff-gif-FQHW.gif
I mostly use my computer to play video games and, as the older folks might say, ‘various shenanigans’. I recently made an account for Stumbleupon.com, which has been taking up a lot of my time.
My Work:
I went to an IDtech camp over the summer, where I made my first real game (a text-based pick-your-path adventure game). I also learned to use Hammer level editor. More recently, I've been experimenting with RPG Maker 2003, in hopes of making my own Chrono Trigger-style JRPG.
My Other Media Profiles:
My Steam name is ‘Scythe’ (though I’m considering changing it). I also use Gmail and YouTube frequently. I have a Facebook, but as of now, I hardly ever use it.
          ______________________________________________________________________________

          ______________________________________________________________________________
Name: Ben Hunt
Year in School: Junior
Hobbies:
I’d say I’m a big sports guy. I play hockey and soccer. I’m a fan of the Patriots, Celtics and especially the Bruins.
Why I Joined The Help Desk:
Technology is all around us. Before this class, I've taken computer science, graphic design, and I’m currently taking engineering. With every technology class I take, I see more and more of how present it is, and how significant it will be in the future. Having technology is great, but as I take more and more classes, I've gained interest for how everything works, and creating technology myself.
How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
I love playing NHL 14 on the PS3. I have my favorite songs, and apps on my iPod touch. I can also talk to my friends, or play other games on Facebook or other websites.
My Work:
I haven’t done much work with technology myself, but I really liked my graphic design and computer science classes. With graphic design, I've created logos, fake businesses and products, and using Photoshop and other programs. With my computer science classes, I've created GUI programs, debt programs, and further understood how technology gives and receives instructions.
Graphic Design Project:

______________________________________________________________________________
Name: Parth Valecha

Year In School: Sophomore

Hobbies:
Some hobbies of mine are rowing, listening to music, joining entrepreneurship clubs, and watching the stock market.

Why I Joined The Help Desk:
I want to experience the freedom, and all other components of being an entrepreneur. I also have an idea I want to work on and make a business plan on.

How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
I play video games on my Xbox a lot. I also play on my phone during math class. I’m not so interested in computers and programming as I am in making headphones, cars, or just another non-software product. I am always listening to music so I like to work with headphones.

My Work:
I don’t really have a job but I take honors classes. I also take enriched math. I prefer to do my own thing than work for someone else so instead of having a working job I sort of just research companies and add to the business I hope to make.

My Other Media Profiles: 
I have a facebook that I sometimes use. I rarely use my twitter or Instagram.
          ______________________________________________________________________________

Name: Katherine O’Kelly

Year In School: Senior

Hobbies:
  If there’s one word to describe my hobbies it’s eclectic; my resume of activities looks like a smorgasbord of unlikely juxtapositions, which reflects my affection for exploration. I guess you could say that my most consistent hobby is finding new hobbies. I have always enjoyed experimenting in different mediums or methods used to create and display ideological perspectives, which has led me to try pretty much everything from glassblowing to data analysis. Other than that, my  favorite hobbies include sleeping (ah, the fruitless pursuit of 8 hours a night) and traveling at every opportunity possible.

Why I Joined The Help Desk:
   I joined the help desk because I lack the expertise needed to really capitalize on the opportunities presented by the technology available today; in short, I’m depressingly technologically illiterate, and this pre-college time frame is an ideal chance to fix that. In taking this class, I’m hoping to learn a technological skill set (past your standard Google search) that will help further my endeavors going forward from high school.

How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
  What free time? Though I try to keep myself busy as often as I can, I've made an effort to integrate the effective use of technology into my everyday life, through tools such as Evernote, Office 365 and an increasing reliance upon my Windows Phone (which isn't as hipster as it sounds, I swear). On the rare occasion I DO have free time, I use technology as a digital museum of sorts, sifting through the internet to marvel at new artistic pieces, info graphics, music, and news—any sources of inspiration that could influence my next project.

My Other Media Profiles:
  None, yet; I don’t really make enough work in one particular subject area to maintain and upkeep a quality, content producing profile of any kind. Who knows, though—maybe if I ever settle upon a particular field I’ll start a blog or something.
          ______________________________________________________________________________
Name: Lee Lebensbaum

Year In School: Sophomore

Quote: "My past is like my logic, straight and true. Nothing’s changed. All I did was point the finger of justice in the proper direction." - Phoenix Wright (Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney)

Hobbies: Sleeping, video games, watching anime, reading manga, Pokémon, solving my computer problems with Taha, and cats, especially mine. My cat is the cutest cat, ever.

Why I Joined The Help Desk: Because I wanted to learn more about technology and its applications outside of gaming.

How I Use Technology In My Free Time: Video games and using my laptop for internet and playing... definitely legal video games that I downloaded for free.

My Work: Managing a page on Google+ (Daily Hetalia, you should follow it and give us +1s, not shameless advertising)

My Other Media Profiles:
https://plus.google.com/108483308297187970193
https://plus.google.com/b/107054030502361819664/107054030502361819664

______________________________________________________________________________


Name: Peter Banta

Year In School: Junior (11th)

Hobbies:
I enjoy doing track, basketball, and soccer. I also play a game called League of Legends with my friends pretty much every weekend because we all like it.

Why I Joined The Help Desk:
I wanted to practice using Maya 3D software because that is what I want to major in when I go to college.

How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
I usually only use my computer for playing video games and doing homework, and I don’t really use my phone that much.

My Work:
 I don’t have a job currently, but in the summer I might be working for Northrop Grumman with a family friend.

My Other Media Profiles:
 I have a Facebook which I use every day, but that is it.

______________________________________________________________________________

Name: Ian Macgregor

Year in School: 11th

Hobbies:
 I run track, read, play the piano, and do some drawing every now and then.

Why I Joined the Help Desk: 
I had a study I didn’t really need and wanted to get back into Maya, so being able to work on it during school seemed perfect.

How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
I use my computer for video games, music, communicating with friends, and looking up random things I’m curious about. I also have my phone, which I use when I’m bored or when I need to find out about something.

My Work: 
I don’t have a job right now, but during the summer I work as an aide at Kaleidoscope.

My Other Media Profiles: 
Facebook and Gmail are the only ones I really use.

______________________________________________________________________________

Name: Sara Adam
Year In School: Senior
Hobbies: 
I love baking. In July of 2010, my older sister and I started our own cupcake business called Beachside Bakers. Together we bake for private events, as well as teach cupcake decorating classes for young bakers in Andover. In the summer, we sell our cupcakes at a farmers market in Gloucester, MA. Also, I am a very crafty person and love making all different types of things from glitter covered mason jars, to shorts made from vintage jeans. I also row for Greater Lawrence Rowing, and love volunteering around the Andover community as a member of my church youth group.
Why I Joined The Help Desk:
 I joined the Help Desk because I wanted to learn how to create a website for Beachside Bakers. I already have ideas for how I want the layout to be, the color scheme, etc., but I was not sure how to begin. In college, I hope to major in Information Science and hopefully this Help Desk experience will help me be more successful in my career.
How I Use Technology In My Free Time: 
In my free time, I am actively involved on social media websites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and my favorite of all, Pinterest. I also have accounts on these sites for Beachside Bakers, and am constantly baking and updating these sites for our followers. 
My Work: 
I designed the posters for the ACE Festival of Scarecrows this past fall, and I am now working on creating a new logo for the cupcake business.
_______________________________________________________________________

Name:  Crispin Wendell
Year In School:  9th Grade

Hobbies:
Skiing, fencing, computer programming, games

Why I Joined The Help Desk:
I wanted to learn Java

How I Use Technology In My Free Time:
Games, social networking, computer programming,

My Work:
N/A

My Other Media Profiles:

Facebook, Twitter Snap chat, Instagram, Vine