Software Engineering Projects
Planning & Redesign Vision
Our team began by analyzing the limitations of Wake Forest's existing course organization platform. We outlined clear goals: improving UI clarity, modernizing the database structure, and streamlining course filtering. Using Agile methodology, we broke the project into sprints and used Jira to assign user stories and track milestones. This planning phase helped us create a strong foundation for the rest of the development process.
Identifying the User
We quickly realized that understanding the user was just as important as building the platform itself. We spent time clearly identifying our target users — Wake Forest students and academic advisors — and mapping out their goals and frustrations. This step shifted our mindset from simply building features to crafting an intuitive tool that truly solved user needs and delivered a seamless course planning experience.
Redesigning the Database
The limitations of the old backend system became apparent early on, so we decided to rebuild the database from the ground up. Our goal was to allow students to quickly and easily find the classes they needed, with real-time filtering and sorting. This new structure not only made the site feel faster and more intuitive, but also provided students with a clear roadmap of which courses they had completed and what remained, something the original platform struggled to deliver.
Website Creation
With both the backend logic and frontend layout in place, we built the full website and connected all the pieces together — from the user interface and data models to the filtering logic and user experience design. The final product allowed students to explore available courses, build their schedules, and interact with the tool in a meaningful way. Seeing it all come together as a functional, user-centered system was incredibly rewarding and deepened our understanding of full-cycle development as a collaborative team.
WFU Course Organization Website
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www.jakemromer.com
Planning the Website
I knew from the start how important planning was. I sketched out a clear layout and made sure the site would fully showcase everything on my resume — including my skills, experiences, and personal projects. I wanted to make an interactive website which kept users interested in learning more about me.
Learning the Tools
I didn’t know everything going in, so I took time to learn the tools I needed. I dove into Squarespace and picked up HTML and CSS so I could customize my site beyond the basic templates. I knew learning these skills would help me reach the goals I set from the start.
Adding Interactive Features
One of the most fun parts was integrating real functionality. I figured out how to connect my GitHub projects directly to the site, and even added an AI chatbot which I called JakeBot. Learning how to use all of these tools together was very important to me.
Final Thoughts
I’m really proud of how the website turned out. It represents my work, my style, and most importantly I think it does a good job at representing me and my interests.
