Project Methodology
The project will use a Web 2.0 methodology where both existing content and new content can be used in a way that is not institutionally bound or controlled in a modular course driven way. The project will focus on both social and learning aspects of the student experience and will pilot with the Student Union Gender Society, students on the BA Social Work programme, and students studying Product Design. Some new programming development work will be undertaken but this will be limited in favour of using existing external sources. The project will be documented and all files made available with the intention of establishing the project as a blueprint, which will be flexible enough for other institutions to adapt and develop further.
The project will be managed using the PRINCE2 project management methodology.
Project Timeline
The SPLASH Project timeline is illustrated here showing key developments and the stages involved in the implementation, technical development and delivery of the platform.
The project timeline is available as a download here, (109kb).
Zend Framework
The Zend Framework offers many component choices, including:
- Authentication and authorization
- Web Services
- Internationalization and localization (i18n/l10n)
- Filtering and validation
- PDF creation
- Mail and mime
- Searching
- MVC framework
Why use the Zend Framework?
- Designed for, and takes advantage of PHP5
- Fully-tested code base
- Loose coupling aiding a use-at-will component structure
- Very flexible architecture
- Extensive manual and API documentation
- Big companies using and supporting it (BBC, Google, IBM, Sourceforge, etc.)
Useful Zend Resources
- Framework site - framework.zend.com
- Framework manual - framework.zend.com/manual/en/
- Framework wiki - framework.zend.com/wiki
- Easy to follow tutorial - akrabat.com/zend-framework-tutorial/
- IRC, #zftalk (on freenode.net) - www.zftalk.com/how-to/
