Progress Report

Progress Report

1.    What concrete progress have you made on your capstone project since you submitted your proposal and timeline? Include specific examples; if possible post some examples to your blog.

The concrete progress that I have made so far on my project is the advancement of my PHP, SQL, and XML skills. I have done this by sitting in on a class where the focus was on these exact areas. Also I helped work on a research project where we built a Facebook application that uses these same programing languages. By doing this I have set myself up to possibly start designing during the holiday break between semesters.

2.    How many times have you been in contact with your mentor? Please list what you discussed.

My mentors and I have been in contact every week if not every week. Usually the topics of our discussions are my progress on the research project and how the class that I am auditing is going.

3.    How has your timeline changed thus far? Discuss what has changed and why you changed it.

So far I have not strayed far from my timeline deadlines. The entire time slot prior to the start of the spring semester was dedicated to master the skills of SQL and PHP.

4.    What do you still need to complete in preparation for the beginning of your N499 course? Identify key aspects of the project that need to be taken care of before your official capstone starts.

There are a few things that still need to be completed before the start of N499. First, I still need to enroll in the class with the registrar’s office. Also, Finalization of the users goals need to be identified. Finally, I need to gain a complete and firm understanding of how to integrate the different computer languages that are needed for the project.

5.    If there have been significant changes to your project since your proposal, please discuss them.

There are no significant changes to the proposal at this time. I did consider changing the theme of my website to an auction site for land to hunt deer instead of building a hospital to patient network. The deer hunting site is still a possibility because it would be a paid opportunity. Either way it will be a site that integrates PHP, SQL, and XML.  

Capstone Timeline

For my timeline I decided to work backwards from the date of the Capstone presentation and filling in key dates with project cornerstones. Then going back through and filling in the empty weeks with what would need to get done to reach the cornerstones of the project on their due dates. I know what my project cornerstones should be because I working on a similar to my capstone now but just on a smaller scale. Also, just in case I am wrong about when my project cornerstones should be done, I have three "FLEX" weeks that I have allowed for padding. This is how I went about creating my timeline.

Project Development Issues

Meeting with my group really helped me understand some of the project development issues that I am going to have during my Capstone. I have evaluated the skills that I am going to need to learn and develop for this project. I am going to need to learn PHP and SQL from scratch. Also I am going to to need help building a data base. Because I am currently learning these skills I am having some problems with time management. I am not sure how long it is going to take to deal with the logistics of building this site. But my mentor is going to begin working with me towards the end of this semester on resolving this issue, that way I can be up and running come next semester. Currently the only thing in my project that I am anticipating needing a budget for will be server space, and I am pretty sure that the school will be able to provide what I need. Theses are some of the project development issues that I am foreseeing 

Secondary Mentor

Secondary Mentors

I think that having a second mentor is a good thing. I think that the role of a second mentor is very similar to the first mentor. They both have different qualities and expertise to bring to the project. If one mentor is not as skilled in a particular area, the other mentor may be skilled. So it helps to more than one mentor to ask for reference. Secondary mentors can easily be found by simply asking your first mentor for suggestions. The kind of secondary who would not be particularly the best would be mentors that might not have enough time and mentors who might just duplicate the same skills as some one you already have working on the project.


Possible Secondary mentors

Hadi Kharrazi and Susan Tennant

Mentor Blog

Capstone Idea:
For my capstone I am proposing to build a website that connects hospital patients directly to various parts of their Personal Health Records. The following features are what I would like to have on the site; Calendar for scheduling that sends text messages and emails to alert and remind, the ability to connect patients to basic contact information for their departments, the ability to keep constant up to date contact info and check in information for quick/ easy check in, and contact to billing information. Building this site comes with many other challenges other than building an interface and database to support the site, but those two skills will be the emphasis of this project.

Key components that I am looking for in a mentor of this project are:
Knowledgeable in Web Design

Knowledgeable in Building databases, PHP, SQL
Must have sufficient time and flexibility

Identify Three Potential Mentors
Todd Shelton
Hadi Kharrazi
Polly Baker

Why am I interested in working with these members of the faculty?
Theses member interest me because I know they are skilled in web design, PHP, SQL, and FLEX

Mentor Profiles
Todd Shelton: His area of expertise is working with flash. He is also is knowledgeable in some PHP and 

SQL. Todd has already suggested a second mentor in Hadi Kharrazi. Todd has already done a good job about letting me know about the scope of my project. We have not planned a schedule for next semester, but plan to start towards the end of this semester after I finish a current project for my independent study.

Hadi Kharrazi: His area of expertise is working with databases, PHP, and My SQL. Hadi was referred to me by Todd. After I mentioned that I wanted to build a website that uses a database of patient info.

Polly Baker: Her area of expertise is working in Flash Builder. I have been unable to talk to Polly after class yet but she was also mentioned by Todd as someone who would be useful on a project like mine.

Assignment 2: Class Discussion

I found last weeks class discussion on all of the Capstone ideas to be very interesting as well as useful. It is very interesting to view the wide spectrum of ideas that people are choosing for their capstone ideas. I feel that it is a direct reflection on how diverse our program is, and what it has to offer. As far as being useful, I found it helpful to see what other people are doing for a couple reasons. First, it allows ideas not to be repeated and to ensure that the project that I choose will be unique. As well as serving as a brain storming session. I could observe others ideas similar to mine and, compare. Comparing allows me gauge the scale of my Capstone to others, and listen to things that might be useful in my project.

Assignment 1: Capstone Ideas/ What is a Capstone?

Capstone Ideas

1.) Design and Create a website where the users can set up an account online, to give/receive/edit information in order to pre-register for future appointments. The user then gains the ability access basic basic registration info via the web. Thus, allowing for the ability to save time upon the date of the appointment. Ideally for a hospital or doctors office.

2.) Design and Create a website aimed at keeping hospital patients in touch with their doctors, billing departments, scheduling departments, and hospital services.

3.)Design and create a website that has to ability to access and use a database infrastructure.

Example Ideas
http://www.zocdoc.com/
https://www.emisaccess.co.uk/
http://www.waitingroomsolutions.com/wrs/appmods-scheduling.html

What is a Capstone?

To me a Capstone project is supposed to be an opportunity to showcase the skills learned while in the School of Informatics, as well as showing the ability to assimilate into the use and production of new and emerging technologies. What I hope to get from my capstone experience is the ability to work in "real world" situations and been seen as a professional by my peers. Also I will be looking to gain a few new skill sets, while building upon skills already gained.