Now that I know basically what I can achieve with PHP, I can assess my current ability in coding PHP. This will act as an important marker to measure my progress over the course of the learning programme.
I have come into contact with PHP previously, while creating a form for my previous websites. However this contact is only really based around implementing a script rather than actually writing the code.
I therefore would be able to identify PHP script against other pages of code, however I wouldn’t know where to start, writing any. My initial research has given me a basic understanding of the most common uses of PHP in the industry and I have been introduced to some PHP terms, however again my understanding is no more than superficial.
A quick and easy was to test my knowledge is the take the W3C Schools PHP Quiz [1]. I managed to score 30% in a time of 4:33min. This is a good starting point to measure my learning progress from. I believe my correct answers were due to a few factors. Firstly, my initial research gave me the ability to be able to pick valid functions out from a list. This shows knowledge of the terms of PHP but this is not as important as the coding knowledge. Next, I was able to apply my HTML and CSS coding knowledge to the quiz to validate lines of script and pick out the correct one. This again will stand me in good stead but does not really say much for my knowledge of PHP. Finally some of the answers were just simply educated guesses. I was able to use common sense to eliminate options until I was left with an answer.
I have now set the measuring post. I have a very limited knowledge of PHP and therefore I am going to be learning a lot in the first few weeks especially. This will be a lot to take in, but I will hopefully be able to make lots of progress very quickly. This is likely to slow down after I have learnt all of the basics.
In my fortnightly blogs I will be able to list the knowledge or new skills that I have learnt, such as the functions I have come across etc. At the end of the learning programme I will evaluate my progress, by listing my strengths and weaknesses. I will also be able to compare my knowledge of PHP to the popular functions highlighted by my research, to see If I am able to meet the requirements of the current industry.
1. http://www.w3schools.com/php/php_quiz.asp
