Momotaro — Background Synopsis

After living in Japan for 5 years I learned a lot about learning a second language. In one of my classes we would often listen to the news and read along with the tape. I found this particularly challenging, espeically if I lost my place it became a challenge to catch up and often I would miss the previous section.

This concept spurred me on to create a self-directed studies project where an English Learner to learn a story and follow along. The best part being that the script is read aloud and higlights as it is read.

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Development

As this was an independent project I was in charge of all aspects of the project. This included the following:

• Sitemap, Wireframes
• Site & Character Mockups
• Content Development
• Illustrations for Scenes & Site
• Flash animation, audio recording & editing
• Usability Testing & redesign
• HTML & Website Intergration

Challenges

The challenges to create this project were numerous and required a steep learning curve in my flash knowledge. Some of the challenges to create this site include the following:

• Time management
• Intergrating numerous animation squences into flash
• Designing a navigation that included multiple sounds
• Designing all scenes, characters and animations
• Learning Flash and searching tutorials to concepts I wanted to use on this project.

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Everywoman's Health Centre — Background Synopsis

Our second year project managment course invloved completing a redesing of a currently online website.

Each group was split into teams of four and given a woman's non-profit organization to contact and redevelop their website.

Each NPO was contacted by the instructor in advance but it was our responsibility to connect with the "Client&quit; and start the initial development process.

Development

As this was a group project each of us was incharge of different aspects of the project. This included the following:

• Information Architect:
  Sitemap, Wireframes
• Developer:
  Blog, PHP BB Forum, Wordpress Installation, HTML & CSS coding
• Designer:
  Mockups & Logo Design
• Project Manager:
  Time line, contact with client, report writing

Challenges

My role was that of the Project Manager. We had learned a number of skills from the previous year's e-learning class where we desiged and managed our own projects. The NPO redesign included a number of challenges.

• Dealign with classmates as a Project Manager.
• Keeping track of the timeline for the project.
• Dealing with an client that was extremely busy and often un-contactable.
• Multi-tasking the other projects in the program at the same time as this one.