Reports

Jaime Montanares

Internship Report 2

Date: 18.10.2024

Introduction

This report summarizes my experiences and tasks during the internship period at the Kristiansand Branch church building and at UiA Campus, as well as my work on the www.drammenstav.no project. The purpose of the internship has been to develop skills in web development, particularly through work with WordPress and implementing functionalities such as calendar synchronization, page templates, and logo design. Additionally, the internship provided an opportunity to reflect on productivity, collaboration processes, and challenges in a development context.

How the Collaboration Has Worked

Collaboration in the project has varied throughout the period. It has been a combination of independent work and cooperation with other involved parties, especially regarding decisions about technical solutions such as calendar synchronization. Through weekly meetings and stand-ups, we discussed different plugin solutions, and we managed to agree on those that best fit the project’s goals and limitations. In periods with slower progress, I felt the need to delegate certain tasks, particularly those involving legal aspects like the privacy policy, to individuals with more responsibility within the organization.

Tasks

My main tasks included:

• Organizing and improving page templates - I worked on better structuring the pages, ensuring consistency, and fixing technical errors such as broken links.

• Implementing calendar synchronization - I tested various plugin solutions to display an external calendar on Drammenstav.no without unnecessarily duplicating existing functionalities. This involved using WordPress’s Shortcode functionality to ensure easy synchronization and minimal code implementation.

• Developing new pages - I created and designed new pages, such as “Youth,” and updated or deleted other pages based on the project’s needs and progress.

• Logo design - I designed logo proposals, including using artificial intelligence (AI) to explore creative solutions. 

Challenges

Throughout the period, there have been several challenges. A significant part of the work required technical insight and the ability to balance developing new solutions with adapting existing tools. Calendar synchronization implementation proved challenging due to the need to stay within the project’s scope and limitations set by existing systems. Personal productivity and distractions have also impacted this period, especially when working alone. As a student, I have also faced time pressure from other subjects, which has affected productivity in the internship project.

Conclusion

Through this internship project, I gained valuable experience in web development and technical problem-solving, as well as insight into balancing independent work with collaboration. Although the project had its challenges, it provided opportunities for learning and reflection on my own work methods. The experiences from the internship will be beneficial in future projects, and I see the potential for further development of the pages, especially with regard to better integration and functionality for users. The work has also confirmed the importance of good communication and clear roles in team projects, which I hope to explore further in the future.

I also look forward to feedback at the upcoming product presentation for the Stake Presidency on Tuesday evening, November 5.

Jaime Montanares
Internship Report 1
Date: 14.09.2024

Introduction

During my internship, I have worked closely with my contact person at Drammen Stav, Benjamin Weggersen, on the development and management of the website for Drammenstav.no. The primary goal is to establish a functional and user-friendly website that will serve as a centralized information hub for the organization. Throughout the internship, I have been responsible for creating a proposal that describes the technical, aesthetic, and design aspects of the project. Additionally, I am responsible for both technical and content tasks, ensuring that the website maintains security, privacy, and organizational standards. The collaboration took place digitally, with weekly video calls and email exchanges. I alternated between my workplaces at two locations, including UiA Kristiansand Campus and a local church building, where I have access to office space.

The Organization and How the Collaboration Works

Drammen Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints operates with a strong focus on security and cross-level collaboration. This is particularly evident in website development. My primary contact is Benjamin Weggersen, who is the Second Counselor in the Stake Presidency. We have communicated regularly through video meetings and emails. In our weekly meetings, we update each other and collaborate through discussions and showcasing proposed solutions. These meetings serve as stand-ups where we update on project progress, scope adjustments, choice of solutions/tools, and task distribution. A key point was to determine early on the technical level we would work towards, and using WordPress and its built-in tools has allowed us to be potentially very efficient in website development, thus rolling out features faster. I have used the platform ClickUp to keep track of project progress, manage individual tasks, and address technical challenges/questions as they arise. Decisions regarding quality and publication are made collaboratively, and we work together to ensure that the website complies with privacy laws and regulations, while aligning with the organization’s goals.

Tasks

During the internship, I have been involved in various tasks related to both technical and organizational aspects of the project. Key responsibilities include:

• Developing static pages focused on temple information and the stake calendar.

• Ensuring that the website complies with privacy rules and protects sensitive information, including secure login methods.

• Implementing calendar functionality to synchronize with the church’s event system, using tools like "The Events Calendar" and CSV synchronization.

• Regularly updating content, such as adding new articles, images, and maintaining a cohesive design using WordPress themes like "Twenty Twenty-Four."

• Drafting proposals for brainstorming sessions on visual identity and ensuring the use of original media content across the Stake.

• Creating an agenda for the weekly video conference.

• Keeping detailed project logs called "Project Diary" and meeting notes to document progress and challenges.

• Developing, maintaining, and publishing content on www.jaimemontanares.no
  
  

Challenges

One of the biggest challenges during this internship was managing my own high ambition level while adapting to WordPress and associated web hosting services. Initially, I faced several technical obstacles related to local development and website hosting for both sites, which led to delays in the main project’s progress. Balancing multiple tasks simultaneously was also challenging, as I often tried to solve too many issues at once. Security was another significant challenge, especially when it came to sharing passwords securely and ensuring that the website complied with all necessary privacy regulations. Additionally, setbacks arose due to misunderstandings around ambition level and productivity requirements, which required more coordination with Benjamin to resolve, allowing me to be more pragmatic.

Conclusion

This internship provided significant learning experiences in web development, project management, and working independently with an external organization. I am developing practical skills in WordPress, learning project management tools like ClickUp, and gaining a deeper understanding of project management. I have also strengthened my knowledge of web security and privacy practices. Despite the challenges, the collaboration in this internship has allowed steady progress on Drammenstav.no. I feel more confident in my ability to handle more or less complex web projects, and I will continue to apply the lessons I have learned from this period to future tasks.