Projects I worked on at Florida State University

Lutheran Social Services Network Installation

Information Technology Project, Fall 2008, John Marks

In Project, students were given a list of potential projects and were asked to select a project. I selected the Lutheran Social Services (LSS) Network Installation Project because I was already familiar with LSS. We labeled the cables coming in to a Cisco Catalyst 2960 Switch, created a proposed network diagram, created a building diagram including equipment, and set up the network in order for the next phase to begin.

  • Cisco Network Assistant Interface
  • Switch Management
  • Creation of Network Diagrams
  • Planning Network Installations
  • Leadership of the LSS Network Team
  • Final Report Documents (.zip file)


Remote Desktop Video Tutorial

Perspectives In Information Technology, Fall 2008, Jane Barrager

In Perspectives, students were asked to select a technology and create a tutorial for that technology. I selected the remote desktop feature of Windows and created a tutorial on how to remote in to another computer on your home network. Below is my You Tube tutorial video. You can also click here for a pdf copy of the user manual I created to go with the video tutorial.



Lutheran Social Services Server Setup and Management

IT Practicum, Summer 2008, Melissa Raulston

In Practicum, IT students work with the instructor to choose a sponsor to work with. I worked with Jim Freeman, Director of Lutheran Social Services of North Florida in a systems administrator position. My job was to bring two servers online, one with Windows Server 2003 and one with CentOS Linux distribution, and secure them. After securing, my job was to get LAMP services working on the Linux server so that a php timeclock program could be used. I have learned so much with LSS that I am staying with LSS until I graduate in April 2009. Since I would like to be a systems administrator, this project has given me so much experience in the field that I in which I would like to work. Skills I learned are listed below:

  • Administration of a Linux Server and Windows Server
  • Website management on a Linux system
  • Maintenance of a timeclock software, which is a website using PHP
  • Installation of software on the servers
  • Maintenance of the file network
  • Server Security

Website Redesign and Hosting a Website on a Web Server

Website Development and Administration, Fall 2007, Melissa Raulston

This assignment required students (assigned to groups) to choose a website to design, create a work breakdown schedule for the work that needed to be done, and host the website on a virtual server assigned to your group. Skills I learned are listed below:


Evaluation of the Current College of Information Website

Information Science, Fall 2006, Christopher Landbeck

Students formed groups and were asked to analyze the College of Information's current website for usability and functionality. Groups then created a proposed website using feedback from the analysis. Skills I learned are listed below:


Management of Networks and Telecommunications

Spring 2008, Kevin Harrington

This class taught me how to design a network installation. In this class, students were given building dimensions and had to design a network for that building, students had to master the skill of making network cables, and students learned sub-networking. Skills I learned are listed below:

  • Design network installations, including cable runs from MDF and IDF
  • Make Cat5 cables
  • Sub-networking, including IP address math

Restore SQL Database from Back-up

Information Systems and Services, Spring 2007, Kevin Harrington

Students had to install MySQL on their computer and use a back-up to restore a SQL database. Data had to be entered to restore the data to its state before failure. Skills I learned are listed below:


Database Design

Information Organization and Communication, Spring 2007, Dr. Sabah Currim

For a final project, this class divided into groups and wrote a database design for a movie review website for FSU students. Skills I learned are listed below:


SQL Database Project

Database Concepts, Spring 2008, David Miner

Students were given a hypothetical situation regarding a seminar. Students had to create a database that keeps track of classes and jobs of the seminar. Skills I learned are listed below:


Systems Approach to the Information Environment

Fall 2007, David Miner

The primary topic of this class was systems analysis, Business Process Automation, Business Process Improvement, and Business Process Reengineering. Skills I learned are listed below:

  • Time management
  • Systems Analysis

Proposal to Enhance Teaching at Florida State University

Communication for Information Professionals, Summer 2006, Sherry Piezon

Students formed groups and were asked to research and present a proposal to enhance teaching at Florida State University. Skills I learned are listed below:

  • How to document group meetings
  • Time Management
  • Working in collaboration with others
  • Research
  • Professional Writing
  • Presentation (.ppt file)

Self Taught Skills

  • I have taught myself basic Website Development including HTML, CSS, and ASP because several classes within the College of Information require basic web development skills. I learned that web development is fun and is now a hobby for me. I designed this website using a css template. I pulled the template apart and created header, footer, and menu files using includes. I have modified the template for my needs.
  • I learned Linux because a good number of servers run Linux. If I want to be a versatile systems administrator, I need to know Linux.
  • Security is necessary if you are learning any operating system. I learned Windows Server 2003 security in the classroom, but I taught myself Linux Security.
  • LAMP Services (Linux, Apache, MySQL, PHP) were necessary to run PHP Timeclock on a Linux server. I read a lot of documentation and taught myself how to install these services in Linux.
  • Hardware installation - I have been installing hardware since my senior year in high school. It has been necessary in a technological day and age to know how to install and upgrade hardware in desktop and laptop computers.
  • Computer troubleshooting - It is also necessary to know how to fix both hardware and software problems. If you don't know how, you can be charged hefty rates to get your computer fixed.
  • Wireless and Wired home networking has been necessary to learn because I own several computers. I wanted to share my printers and I have done so. I also share a limited number of files among my secure home network.