Progress!!!

Last night Dr. Collatos and I had a very productive meeting. Prior to the meeting we had discussed selecting a template that had the look and feel that he is looking for. I was able to explore a couple of the templates before our meeting and demonstreate during the meeting how simple it is to change the templates. I also was able to demonstrate uploading content during our meeting and demonstrating how changing templates does not alter the content. It was a very productive meeting. Dr. Collatos will be in China this week. But he will be sending content as I will continue working with the templates and adding content to the site. Once we pick a permanent template we can change it and all of the content will be there. Things have been moving slowing up to this point but we have definitely turned the corner. I plan to do much work on this site this week, shaping the template as we need it to be as well as getting the content online from the previous site and new content that Dr. Collatos will be providing.

Kai

A New Theme

I have not been able to do much work on the site this week as I spent the first 3 days of the week traveling and I have not been feeling well. I was able to find a site after chatting with Bardia that provides templates (http://www.joomlashack.com/shop/home.php?cat=1). This is exactly what I need in order to craft a look and feel that Dr. Collatos is looking for so that the presence for UPTEC does not have a sterile business feel. On Sunday, I intend to review my notes from the google doc and review the templates and decide on one and install it. I will present this to Dr. Collatos on Monday. If he likes it we can go forward with adding content to the site. Otherwise I will setup time for us to review the templates and he can pick what he feels is most appropriate. I will spend a few hours on Sunday reviewing the templates.

Kai

Sessions with Dr. Collatos

Today I had another session with Dr. Collatos regarding the progress of the UPTEC web presence. Things are moving along nicely now after a rough start. I was able to present what I have done so far utilizing the upsouthlearning.com domain that I purchased for my consulting practice awhile back. Dr. Collatos was able to review the site with me during our skype session and offer valuable feedback. I have a litany of things to incorporate into my work for this week before we meet again on May 21. We have decided to start meeting weekly on Monday's in order to chart our progess. Tonight I setup a google document to track our thoughts and ideas as the UPTEC web presence continues to evolve. I should make headway this week tweaking the layout and begin to add a little content while Dr. Collatos ponders a more permanent url for the presence.

Kai

It's Alive!

I was able to finally get Joomla installed and have a domain name pointed to the installation. For the time being the site will be accessible from my domain name at this url:

http://www.upsouthlearning.com/

This is only the beginning but at least we have something up and we can begin to craft the layout and add content. This is exciting!!! My plan is to have something that UPTEC can use up and running by the end of the month.

Check back for updates!

Kai

Getting Started

Today I was able to setup the web hosting service for the UPTEC site. Unfortunately someone already owns the uptec.com domain name so we will have to come up with something different. Bardia hipped me to a hosting company http://www.jatol.com and I was able to secure a year of services for $30.00. The next step which I intend to tackle very soon will be to install the joomla framework and then we are off to start working on the initial page layout.

Kai Dupé

Time for a Plan

I was able to review the packet that I got from Tony while in LA. I also took another look at the website that was produced by the graduate student. I have been thinking about alternatives for the site but I need more information from Tony regarding what kinds of functionality he would like for the site. I am thinking of doing something with JOOMLA, setting up a blog, or crafting something using native HTML and javascript or doing something with ASP.net. I need to talk with Tony and discuss what he wants on the site and then I can make a decision and start desigining the property. We need to have something ready for AERA in April.

We tried to speak this week to no avail. It will be priority one this week along with my preparation for SITE and producing my white paper for BDPA.

Kai

Phase One

I have decided work with Dr. Anthony Collatos of Pepperdine University. This is an opportunity that came by way of Dr. Polin. His work is very interesting to me and it is related to the work of Peter Murrell who I was unable to get in touch with. I have talked to Dr. Collatos several times on the phone. He is doing research in the inner city studying or working with a parent advocate Mary Johnson to get the parents more involved in the education of their children. He has offered to mentor me through dissertation as well as mentor me and help me to understand his work. I will also be providing technology expertise or consultation as to what I think they should do. My first task is to have a web presence ready by the time he presents at AERA (http://www.aera.net).

I have reviewed what he has so far and I am thinking about using straight HTML or a blog versus Joomla for his initial site. I have also met him personally while I was at f2f in Los Angeles in January. I have received an information packet and he has guided me in looking at how to become involved in a school as an educational consultant and the possibilities of writing a grant. Right now I am working on my Memorandum of Understanding. I hope to complete it and get it to him this week. Right after that I will start to do something with his web presence.

Kai