Patrick J Bradshaw

SLCC

Fall MMXVII

Programming Strides

The EPortfolio of a fledgling Computer Science Student

by Patrick J. Bradshaw
black and white profile picture

About Myself

Aspiring Software Engineer

AMONG a few things, I am a student at Salt Lake Community College where I study programming and it's effects. I have a passion for design and software, and I believe that technology should be useful and make the world a better place. I am most experienced with Java, HTML, and CSS, but I love learning and look forward to mastering Wordpress and other CMS's and JavaScript. I intend to complete my Bachelor's at the University of Utah.

OUTSIDE of the classroom, I love making art, writing music, and spending time outdoors with my wife. I think the most therapeutic thing in the world is maintaining a car, even a junky one. I also love Star Wars, animals, and Legos. I believe that family is the most important thing. One day, I would love to learn how to paint.

The notion that one's goal in life is to be happy, that your own happiness is the goal... I just don't buy it.

-Hayao Miyazaki

Goals

To me, happiness is other people. Without family, without my wife, without neighbors, without the community at large, life is without any spark of light. I have tried to make some goals consistent with that knowledge, goals that go beyond myself. I have garnered a great deal of satisfaction from pursuing artistic interests as well, and I have found that things like illustrating, music, and photography, are an effective way for me to bring happiness to others too.

Short-term

  • Graduate with good grades
  • Develop the habit of daily exercise
  • Read a book every month
  • Develop a Wordpress for my author-wife

Long-term

  • See my family in the Philippines
  • Graduate with no debt
  • Publish a book of short stories
  • Learn how to paint portraits

Outcomes

Students communicate effectively

This includes developing critical literacies-reading, writing, speaking, listening, visual understanding-that they can apply in various contexts; Organizing and presenting ideas and information visually, orally, and in writing according to standard usage; Understanding and using the elements of effective communication in interpersonal, small group, and mass settings.

Students develop quantitative literacies necessary for their chosen field of study

This includes approaching practical problems by choosing and applying appropriate mathematical techniques; Using information represented as data, graphs, tables, and schematics in a variety of disciplines; Applying mathematical theory, concepts, and methods of inquiry appropriate to program-specific problems.

Students think critically and creatively

This includes reasoning effectively from available evidence; Demonstrating effective problem solving; Engaging in creative thinking, expression, and application; Engaging in reflective thinking and expression; Demonstrating higher-order skills such as analysis, synthesis, and evaluation; Making connections across disciplines; Applying scientific methods to the inquiry process.

Students develop civic literacy

and the capacity to be community-engaged learners who act in mutually beneficial ways with community partners.

This includes producing learning artifacts indicating understanding of the political, historical, economic or sociological aspects of social change and continuity; thinking critically about-and weighing the evidence surrounding-issues important to local, national, or global communities; participating in a broad range of community-engagement and/or service-learning courses for community building and an enhanced academic experience.

Students develop the knowledge and skills to work with others in a professional and constructive manner.

This includes engaging with a diverse set of others to produce professional work; Interacting competently across cultures; Understanding and appreciating human differences; Understanding and acting on standards of professionalism and civility, including the SLCC Student Code of Conduct.

Students develop computer and information literacy.

This includes using contemporary computer hardware and software to effectively complete college-level assignments; Gathering and analyzing information using technology, library resources, and other modalities; Understanding and acting upon ethical and security principles with respect to computer technology and to information acquisition and distribution; Distinguishing between credible and non-credible sources of information, and using the former in their work in an appropriately documented fashion.

Students develop the attitudes and skills for lifelong wellness.

This includes understanding the importance of physical activity and its connection to lifelong wellness; Learning how participation in a fitness, sport or leisure activity results in daily benefits including stress reduction, endorphin release, and a sense of well-being.

Students become increasingly more powerful

This includes the ability to vanquish seemingly immortal enemies in order to save worlds within worlds, simply by using the power of academics. EXPECTO PATRONUM!

Coursework

Computer Science
& Information Systems

Fall 2017

Math 1210
/ Calculus I
/ Pipeline Project

CSIS 1030
/ Foundations of Computer Science
/ Signature Project
/ Coming soon

CSIS 1430
/ Intro. to the Fundamentals of Web Programming
/ Assignments below

CSIS 1410
/ Object-Oriented Programming
/ Asteroid Dodger Game

Spring 2017

Math 1010
/ Intermediate Algebra
/ Signature Project

Econ 1740
/ Economics of American History
/ Manzanar NHS

CSIS 1400
/ Fundamentals of Programming
/ Humble Fisherman Game

EE 1010
/ Introduction to Laboratory Instruments

iceland

Fourteen Thirty

Introduction to Web Fundamentals

IN 1430, we learned how to create web-sites using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Bootstrap, a CSS framework. I created my own websites when I was a lot younger using Adobe Dreamweaver, which was a visual way of doing it, meaning I didn't know of the coding or scripting involved. I am a perfectionist by nature, and it took a while for me to warm up to the language of web programming. It was until I really started looking at blogs and tutorials outside of class that I became obsessed with the design culture surrounding it. Now, I see web more as a visual medium and as a canvas in which one can electronically display his or her talents. In November, I became obsessed with building a portfolio for the author, Railee Bradshaw, that I found myself so consumed by the project that I would skip meals and even sleep, and often times pushed aside all other work in order to find out how to fix a background image onto the screen or how to use JavaScript to animate a nav bar. I love the potential there is here as a platform for storytelling and to help other creators discover their unique voices.

  • my first home page Look how far I've COME!!!!
  • the resume An exercise in HTML tables, found a font that I could use that had a sword through the letters.
  • a map of constellations Image map with constellations.
  • some little boxer puppies An excercise in making boxes and positioning them. Boxes = Boxers.
  • tasty pizza co.'s online order form Form with CSS and HTML and a happy little pizza slice.
  • a halloween-themed guessing game Cute javascript-based guessing game with ghosts and zombies and bats.
  • dragonslay-tac-toe Tictactoe with dragons and knights like a nerd.
  • simply me My first bootstrap page. After some research I have learned how to use other CSS frameworks. For my final project I used one called Tachyons.css.
  • pbrad dot me This is a fake company page for a company that designs and develops websites. I used CSS animations and color gradients to make page 'pop'.
  • rogue nasa Rogue Nasa is the name of a band that my friends and I wanted to start, but we were so busy that we could never get it together. This was the last Bootstrap assignment and I felt like my tastes for color and imagery finally started to come together.

Top Signs You've Been On The Internet For Too Long

  1. Turn your neck to the right, and then to the left, look up, look down. If that made a lot of popping sounds, then... yeah.