Produce something that you would show to a future employer in a portfolio (or a current employer if you're trying to get a different position or ask for more money). Even better, and again ideally, your project should be useful, either to you or to a small business or a non-profit. There are only a couple of firm guidelines:

1. 1. You have to read and write data.
2. 2. You have to have engaging (and functional) 404 and 500 pages.

 

Process Journal-

You will also be keeping a process journal as you go along, from day 1, which you will turn in along with the project code files at the end. Process journals (sometimes called Process Books) are used in design professions, but are becoming more common in the programming/development world. Your process journal will document your thought process, from the beginning when you're trying to think of what sort of project to do, through the planning stages, and random thoughts that you have along the way. There is no one specific format for the process journal.

One resource out there lists these characteristics of a process journal - what it is:

• used throughout the project to document its development
• an evolving record of intents, processes, accomplishments
• a place to record initial thoughts and developments, brainstorming, possible lines of inquiry and further questions raised
• a place for recording interactions with sources, for example teachers, supervisors, external contributors
• a place to record selected, annotated and/or edited research and to maintain a bibliography
• a place for storing useful information, for example quotations, pictures, ideas, photographs
• a means of exploring ideas and solutions
• a place for evaluating work completed
• a place for reflecting on learning
• devised by the student in a format that suits his or her needs
• a record of reflections and formative feedback received

And, what it is NOT:

• used on a daily basis (unless this is useful for the student)
• written up after the process has been completed
• additional work on top of the project; it is part of and supports the project
• a diary with detailed writing about what was done
• a static document with only one format; the process journal can be made up of a variety of formats, such as written entries, diagrams, photographs or videos, mind maps, charts, etc.