sillypanda

[sillypandastuff]

She has a fragile body, a tough mind and is still hanging strong and moving forward.

#KeepingStrong

#MaintainingSanity

[sillypandastuff]

Week 14: Moving Forward – Sharing Our Progress and Learning from Feedback

This week marked an important step in our research journey. We presented both our Pet Connect system interface and the current draft of our manuscript during our partial defense. It was a great opportunity to show the progress we’ve made so far and gather valuable insights from our instructors.

During the session, we demonstrated how the Graphical User Interface (GUI) works, highlighting key features, how users can move through the system, and how each part supports our goal of helping pet owners and veterinarians connect more easily. We were glad to receive positive feedback on the flow and structure of the design, as well as suggestions on how to make the interface even clearer and more consistent.

On the academic side, we also walked through our manuscript, explaining the research behind our system, how we planned and built it, and the steps we took to get where we are now. This part helped us better understand the importance of being clear and detailed in both our writing and explanations.

The feedback we received from sir Earl and gave us a clearer direction moving forward. We’re now working as a team to apply their suggestions, refining both the system and the manuscript to make sure everything is aligned and well-prepared for the final submission of our paper.

We’re proud of how far we’ve come and even more motivated to keep improving. One step at a time, we’re getting closer to completing Pet Connect!

[sillypandastuff]

Week 13: Working Together in Person – GUI Updates and Helpful Feedback

This week, our team finally got the chance to meet in person to work on the graphical user interface (GUI) for our research project. Being together helped a lot, we were able to share our ideas more clearly, give quick feedback, and make real-time changes using Figma. It was much easier to solve problems and improve our design when we were all in the same room.

During the week, we also had another oral recitation with Sir Earl where we shared what we’ve done so far. He asked questions that made us think more deeply about our work and gave us advice on how to improve it. His feedback helped us see things from a new perspective and motivated us to keep pushing forward with better ideas.

This week reminded us how powerful good communication and teamwork can be. With stronger designs, better understanding, and fresh motivation, we’re ready to keep moving forward!

[sillypandastuff]

Week 12: Teamwork in Action – Starting Our GUI Design

This week, our team started working on something exciting, the Graphical User Interface (GUI) for our research project. After taking a short break and finishing our oral recitation with Sir Earl, we were ready to bring our ideas to life and begin building what users will actually see and use.

We started by asking ourselves: What should our system look like? What features are most important for users? From there, we made a plan. Each of us had a role, some worked on the design (like buttons, menus, and layout), while others focused on the coding side to make things function properly. We met often to share ideas, fix issues, and help each other out.

By the end of the week, we had a working version of our interface, a big step forward! It was really satisfying to see our hard work turn into something real on the screen. We’re still improving it, but this was a great start.

[sillypandastuff]

Week 11: Learning Through Oral Recitation

After taking a break for Holy Week, we came back to our research project feeling refreshed and ready to continue. This week, we had an important face-to-face oral recitation with Sir Earl, where we discussed what we learned from Modules 7, 8, and 9.

We started with Entity Relationship Diagrams (ERDs). These are like maps that show how data is connected in a database, what kinds of information we’re storing, and how they relate to each other. Understanding ERDs helps us design better systems.

Then, we talked about Database Normalization. This is a method used to organize data in a way that avoids duplication and makes everything more efficient. By following certain steps (called normal forms), we make sure each piece of information is stored only once and in the right place. This helps keep the database clean, easy to update, and less likely to have errors.

Lastly, we looked at the Data Dictionary, which is like a guidebook for the database. It explains what each piece of data means, its type, and how it fits into the system. This is helpful for both developers and users.

The recitation with Sir Earl was challenging, but it helped us understand these topics better. It also showed us where we need to keep improving. We’re now more prepared and excited to apply what we’ve learned to improve our project.

[sillypandastuff]

Week 10: A Pause for the Soul – Drawing Closer to God

This week, we stepped away from our research, not out of delay, but with purpose. As Holy Week arrived, we felt a deep need to rest, reflect, and realign ourselves spiritually. It was a time to quiet our minds, open our hearts, and draw closer to God.

In those quiet moments of prayer and reflection, we found peace that academic work alone can’t provide. Taking time to nurture our faith helped renew our strength, not just mentally, but spiritually. As we return to our research, we do so with hearts refreshed, spirits uplifted, and a renewed sense of purpose, trusting that this pause brought us exactly the clarity we needed.

[sillypandastuff]

Week 9: A Time to Reflect – Midway Through the Journey

We’ve officially reached the halfway mark of our research project, a point that calls for both celebration and reflection. It’s rewarding to see how much we’ve accomplished so far, from gathering data to shaping our findings. This midpoint gives us the chance to pause, assess our progress, and refocus on what still lies ahead.

As a significant week of reflection and spiritual observance approaches, many of us are taking time to slow down and reconnect with what matters beyond our academic work. We’ve decided to adjust our pace, allowing space for personal reflection and rest while still staying engaged with the project. It’s a reminder that balance is essential, not just to maintain our well-being, but to bring fresh energy and clarity to everything we do. We’re looking forward to continuing our research with renewed focus in the coming days.

[sillypandastuff]

Week 8: Revision and Feedback

This week, we dove into revising our Pet Connect research after receiving detailed feedback from our instructor and it truly shifted our perspective. Rather than seeing the comments as a checklist of things to fix, we viewed them as a guide for deeper thinking. We revisited our analysis, questioned our methodology, and asked ourselves: Are we really telling the full story our data holds? These discussions led us to refine our arguments and improve both the clarity and impact of our presentation.

Through this process, we realized that feedback isn’t just about correction, it’s about growth. It pushed us to think more critically, communicate more clearly, and take ownership of our work in a new way. What once felt like a challenge became a turning point in strengthening both our project and our confidence as researchers.

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 7: The Power of Faculty Evaluation

This week, our instructor didn’t meet with us, but he told us to watch an event, he also provided the link and send it to our group chat , and we needed proof that we actually watched it, so we sent screenshots to our group chat as attendance. We all tuned in to the livestream session about Faculty Evaluation hosted by USTP through the USTeP Portal. It was a meaningful reminder of how important it is for students like us to give fair and honest feedback about our teachers. The session also focused on how evaluations help improve the way lessons are delivered, making sure the quality of education continues to grow.

During the livestream, the hosts explained how our voices as students truly matter. They encouraged us to evaluate not just for the sake of completing a form, but to really think about how our professors teach, and how they make learning easier or harder for us. The chat box was filled with students dropping their names and courses, showing that many of us were actively participating and showing support.

Overall, it was a short but meaningful session. It reminded us that our opinions can help shape better classrooms and better learning experiences. The atmosphere felt light and supportive, It made us feel more involved and responsible in our journey as students.

#FacultyEvaluation

#StudentFeedback

#BetterEducation

#StudentVoicesMatter

#EvaluateWithFairness

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 6: Week 3 Recap, Preparing for Interview Day

Looking back, this blog was actually meant to be for Week 3, but I accidentally posted about the actual interviews and fieldwork instead. So I’m sharing it now as a quick recap of what we did before heading out for interviews. This was an important part of the process where our team focused on getting everything ready, and making sure we were prepared to meet and listen to real stories from pet owners and vets.

That week, we planned every little detail. We had team meetings where we talked about how to start the interviews with light and friendly questions, just to make sure everyone felt relaxed. We didn’t want the conversation to feel stiff or too serious. We also practiced our opening lines to make sure they sounded warm and welcoming, because we wanted people to know we were there to learn from them, not to judge or pressure them.

We made a list of topics to guide us during the interviews, but we knew the most meaningful moments would come naturally. Before the big day, we checked all our tools, recorders, phones, internet connection and set up the space to make it comfortable. We felt a mix of nerves and excitement, knowing that what we were about to hear would play a big part in shaping our project. It was a big step forward, and looking back, we’re glad we took the time to prepare properly.

#Week3Recap

#InterviewPrep

#TeamWorkInAction

#BehindTheScenes

#FieldworkPrep

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 9: Waiting, Wondering, and Working

As usual, I prepared early to attend our Project Management class. Before leaving the house, I saw a message from one of my classmates asking if we had a face-to-face session with our instructor today and if we could continue working on our manuscript together. I waited for our instructor’s reply, but there was no response yet not even a “seen.” So, I decided to head out anyway.

Not long after I left, our instructor finally responded. He informed us that there would be no face-to-face meeting today, but we should continue working on our manuscript. He also reminded us that attendance would be noted at his faculty office only. Since there was no class session, I shifted my focus to our manuscript. I checked it to see what I could contribute and what parts still needed to be added or improved. Piece by piece, we’re making progress.

Even without a class today, the work continues and so does the learning.

#Week9Vibes

#ProjectManagement

#ManuscriptUpdate

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 8: A Quiet Classroom and a New Task

This week, I went to school following our class schedule, but sadly, only a few of my classmates showed up even my groupmates weren't able to attend the class. I asked in our group chat where everyone was, especially since our instructor had already arrived. Most of them just left the message on “seen,” while others said they were still on their way.

When our instructor began the session, he told us that he had posted a new activity in our Google Classroom. Upon checking, it was all about creating a Use Case Diagram. In the PDF he uploaded, there was also a link to a website we could use to create our own diagrams.

Sir instructed us to create a Use Case Diagram based on our research topic and to include it in our manuscript. I was able to start mine during class, but I wasn’t able to finish it because we ran out of time. So, I saved my work with the intention of completing it at home and also to ask my groupmates for suggestions on what else we could add and how we could improve the diagram.

This week may have started with an almost empty classroom, but it gave us a valuable opportunity to deepen our understanding of system design through hands on work. Here’s to better teamwork and more productivity in the coming weeks!

#UseCaseChallenge

#EmptyClassroomFeels

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 5: The Night Before and The Day of the Exam

The night before the exam, I made sure to review all the topics that Sir had given us in class. I went through every PDF, making sure I covered all the important points. I also took a moment to pray, hoping that when it was time to take the exam, I wouldn't forget anything I had studied that night. I knew how important it was to get a good night’s sleep, but honestly, I stayed up a little later than planned because of the nerves. I kept thinking about the exam, and sleep didn’t come easily.

When morning came, I woke up early and did a quick review to refresh my memory before getting ready. I also had to help my younger sibling get ready for school, since we both had things to do. After some time, I finally got myself together and left early to make sure I wasn’t late for the exam. I knew I needed to be calm, and arriving early would give me a little more time to settle in. When our proctor handed out the exam, I said another quick prayer, hoping that I could answer all the questions on the test paper.

As I started the exam, I felt a wave of nervousness. Some of the questions I had seen in my review, but when I looked at them again, I couldn’t quite remember the details. It was frustrating, and I had a few unanswered questions at the end, especially in the last part of the exam. But I kept telling myself to stay calm and focused, hoping I could make it through.

#PreExamPrep

#LastMinuteReview

#NervesBeforeTheTest

#ExamDayReady

#StudyAndPray

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 4: Understanding the Stories Behind Pet Care

This week, we focused on making sense of the interviews we had with pet owners and veterinary professionals. We started by transcribing the recordings turning their spoken words into written text. It took time, but this step was important so we could carefully read and understand each person's experience. It helped us connect with their stories on a deeper level.

After everything was transcribed, we began the process of coding. This means we highlighted important parts of the interviews and looked for common ideas. As we went through the data, three big themes stood out: communication, empathy, and accessibility. Many people mentioned how clear and kind communication made a big difference. Others shared how much empathy from vets helped them feel supported. At the same time, several people talked about how hard it can be to find affordable and accessible veterinary care.

From this analysis, we realized that great pet care isn’t just about medical treatment it’s also about how people are treated. Good communication and empathy build trust and comfort, while accessibility is still a big issue that needs attention. Week 4 taught us that by truly listening, we can understand what really matters to people and use that to help improve the system.

#PetCareInsights

#ListeningToVoices

#UnderstandingPetOwners

#EmpathyAndCare

#CommunicationMatters

[sillypandastuff]

Blog 3: Fieldwork Under the Sun: Our Visit to Casas-Jamis Vet

During our fieldwork, we were only able to conduct an interview at one veterinary clinic, Casas-Jamis Vet, as they were the only ones available at the time. The journey to the clinic was quite an experience, we initially thought it was close to our school, so we decided to walk. However, the heat of the sun made the trip more exhausting than expected. Upon arriving, we immediately noticed how clean and well-maintained the clinic was, with no unpleasant odors, a sign of proper hygiene and care. While we were inside, we observed a pet owner, a fur mom and dad, who had brought their dog in for a check-up. The veterinarian was incredibly approachable, showing kindness and understanding while attending to both the pet and its owners.

We had initially planned to interview another clinic, but unfortunately, the doctor was not present, and the only staff member available was the caretaker and he declined to to be interviewed. Additionally, we visited a pet shop and clinic located on the ground floor of Limketkai, where the veterinarian was too busy to accommodate an interview. Instead, we left our permission letter along with our contact information, hoping they would reach out once the doctor was available. Despite the challenges and the scorching heat, we remained happy and optimistic throughout the process, knowing that we were making progress in our research.

#HotDayWalks

#PetHealth

#CasasJamisVisit

[sillypandastuff]

Blog2: Preparing for Fieldwork: The Key Steps in Our Research Journey

Prior to commencing our fieldwork, our instructor assigned us necessary activities to get us ready for the study. Writing an interview question, researching relevant research, and writing a letter of authorization were all required, and the good thing is the permission letter was already prepared by our instructor. Since it gave us permission to interview vet technicians, veterinarians, and clinic employees, the permission letter was the most crucial document. We wouldn't have been able to obtain important information on how pet clinics function without permission.

Following completion of the letter, we concentrated on creating interview questions and reviewing research on technology in veterinary clinics. We created questions to learn how clinics manage appointments, records, and communication, and we analyzed research to discover how digital systems increase efficiency and customer satisfaction. These actions helped us establish a solid project foundation and gave us confidence in our methodology, and we are now eager to visit clinics, conduct interviews, and gather data to support our research.

#petconnect

#PetCareTech

#InterviewPreparation

[sillypandastuff]

Adventure to connecting Pets and Vets

PetConnect started because we struggled to keep track of our pets' healthcare. We often had trouble making appointments, finding paperwork, and staying organized. We knew there had to be an easier way to connect pet owners with vets, so we decided to create a simple and efficient solution.

At first, we explored different ideas, like online booking and digital health records. We realized that a mobile app with everything in one place would be the best option. Our goal was to make it easy for pet owners to manage their pets’ healthcare.

We focused on the most important features: finding clinics, scheduling appointments, and secure messaging with vets. We also made sure pet health records were easy to access. Every feature was carefully chosen to make the app simple and useful.

PetConnect’s main purpose is to connect pet owners and vets, making pet care easier and more efficient. With this proposal, owners can manage their pets’ health better, ensuring they get the care they need. Our goal is to help pets stay healthy and strengthen the bond between pets and their owners.

#happypetshappyfurrparents