My PDP number two.

Personal Development Plan Overview

Task 1 >

You are looking for a job in the IT industry and have joined ITK with a view to them helping you to succeed in finding the perfect occupation. ITK have indicated that there has been an employment boom in the web design and computer systems industries recently and feel that one of these occupations could be the way forward to meeting your long term aspirations.

Create a personal development plan based on the ‘Key Requirements’ document that ITK has given you. Your development plan must include:

·         A breakdown of your current strengths and weaknesses in both disciplines

·         A statement of your aspirations, education and training

·         An action plan with clear goals that will help you reach your target

Grading Criteria: P7 – Produce a personal development plan

Useful Information:
The following table outlines the skills that are necessary to succeeded in the web design and computer systems industries and will be covered during the remainder of year 12.

Computer Systems (Unit 2)	Computer Networks (Unit 9)
Knowledge of Computer Hardware Components	Knowledge of different types of Networks available and they relate to particular network standards and protocols
Knowledge of Operating Systems	Knowledge of key components for client workstations to connect to a network and access network resources
Knowledge of Software Utilities	Knowledge of typical services provided by networks and how typical services are available from a network operating system directory service
Knowledge of Installing Hardware/Software Components	Ability to design a networked solution to meet a particular situation with specific requirements
	Ability to make a networked system secure

Time Plan:

Unit 2	Term 2 (7/01/2013 – 28/03/2013)
Unit 9	Term 3 (25/02/2013 – 24/05/2013)

Move onto next page for P7, P8 and D2 criteria

P7 – Creating a Personal Development Plan

Activity:

Based on the Task 1 scenario (Previous page) you must now create your own PDP that will be later uploaded to a blog and followed for the remainder of the year.

A - PDP

1.       Establish Purpose/Direction

Based on the ‘useful information’ section on the previous page describe what your main strengths are and what areas you think need to be developed for each discipline. Remember that you must justify each of your strengths against your past experiences and training.

Computer Systems (Unit 2)
Strengths	Possible Areas to Develop
I understand everything about computer systems as I used to format computers in the past and I know how to build computers. I am quite confident with hardware components, inputs and outputs. I am quite good with operating systems as I used to look deep into them when I was building my personal computer at home in the past.	I do not know so much about software utilities as I didn’t look so deep into software in the past. I need to learn about installing software components as I never really did that before, I used to work with hardware more than software that’s why.

Computer Networks (Unit 9)
Strengths	Possible Areas to Develop
I am aware of the different types of network and their attributes as I used to use them in the past. I am quite confident with a network security, so software like firewalls, antiviruses.	I’m not sure about my knowledge with designing a networked solution to meet a particular situation with specific requirements; this is because I never used to do that before. Also I’m not so sure about knowledge of typical services provided by networks and how typical services are available from a network operating system directory service

As this is my first version of PDP in unit 2 and unit 9, I have talked about my strengths and weaknesses which are the areas to develop. After all this time this has improved as now I am fully aware of the things I struggled with. I know a bit about software utilities and installing software components as I had to do it in order to pass Unit 2 and I did it without a problem, I searched for it online and I found what I have to do and what I have to explain and what it is etc.

The same thing was in Unit 9, I said that I need to improve on designing a networked solution and I did it by drawing out a diagram that shows how I have connected 3 buildings, I stuck with the correct scenario and I did it, I have connected 3 buildings so that all of them have an access to the internet, I said also that I struggle with the knowledge of typical services provided by networks, I am doing better with that now as well as I had to research about it and learn about it in order to pass this unit.

2.       Identify Your Development Needs

Outline which of the highlighted development areas will be your priority (e.g. which are you main weaknesses) and justify why you have chosen them (e.g. knowledge of building a computer – never had the opportunity to build a standalone computer).

Priority 1	Installing software components.
Priority 2	Software utilities.
Priority 3	Network solution.
Priority 4	Knowledge of typical services provided by networks.
Priority 5	Network Security
Priority 6	Different Types of Network.

I have stuck to these priorities and learnt about all of them, some of them like network security or different types of network were easy to research and I researched about them online which has helped me and gave me the knowledge of what it is. Some of them like Installing software components or network solution were harder to understand as I couldn’t find the solution online so I had to ask my teacher to explain it to me in full detail so that I will understand what I need to do and what it is and how to solve the problem with those three buildings.

3.       Development Opportunities

Explain how you hope to improve the skills that you have highlighted. What resources/opportunities will be at your disposal (e.g. lesson time, online tutorials)

I am going to improve my skills that I have highlighted by looking for help online or asking my teacher during the lesson time, this should be enough for me to gain more knowledge about these six areas to develop.

4.       Formulate Action Plan – Set Targets

Create a set of SMART targets based on your identified needs from the previous section.

Target 1	To learn about network security.
Target 2	To learn about different types of network.
Target 3	To learn about software utilities.
Target 4	To learn about Knowledge of typical services provided by networks.
Target 5	To learn about installing software components.
Target 6	To learn about network solution.

B - Blogger

Create a blogger account called “<<Your Name>> Btec Level 3 Unit 1 PDP” and enter the details below so that you don’t forget your credentials.

User Name	Dawidryp1578@gmail.com
Password
Blogger Address	http://btecictdawidrypinski.blogspot.co.uk/