Using Inspiration in other classes

I recently had to create a concept map for two chapters for an online class. The directions told us to use PowerPoint to do it. I found this to be difficult and time consuming. I had to save pictures of my slides to insert them into the next slide, so the transitions would work properly. For example, I would have my main idea and two points saved as a photo. Then I would insert it into the slide, and continue with the third point using the concept map creator.
It was very difficult to get the space I needed to fill out my map. I didn't like how all of the text was changed if I changed it on one other part of the map. All of the size would change if I did it on one part. I also did not like how I could not really get the order of my points to move. I couldn't really space it out or create it as a web.
While going over Inspiration, I found it to be very simple. I think this program would have been better to use. You just choose whether you want to create an outline or diagram. Then you just plug in your information. You can create a web by clicking on the creating tab, and then clicking on where you want the part to branch out at. Then you can also add pictures as effects. I really liked this program, and wish I could have used it for that project.

Individual Website Reflection

I have revised my individual website several times now, since we got this assignment. I first started off by making a homepage. Then I created a page for each work that I did for the class. For example, I had a separate page for my Excel work, a separate page for my Mail Merge, a separate page for my poster, etc. I created interactive buttons on my homepage that would take you to the pages containing my works. Then I continued to work on the pages that included the items I made for class. I added a picture of my works, a paragraph about them, and a title that explanied what it was.
When I went back to review my website, I decided that I had way too many interactive buttons on my homepage. It made it clustered, and didn't look as good as I thought it did. So, I created 5 new pages, and replaced the clustered interactive buttons with those. These 5 new buttons included Module 1, Module 2, Module 3, Module 4, and my Revised Works. I then moved my clustered interactive buttons to each Module Page that it belonged to. This made it alot more organized and orderly.
When I created my pages, I made them all different colors. I decided it would be better to coordinate the Module page color with each work that went with it. For example, if I made Module 1 orange, all of the work pages that were under Module 1 would be orange as well. I felt like this made my pages more organized and looked better overall.
I decided to include a Module button at the bottom of each page, as well as our home button. I think it would be easier to have a module button to take you back, instead of hitting the back button. It also makes it easier then just hitting the home button, and reclicking on the module button.
I really like my current version of my website. I feel that it represents me well and shows the hard work that I have put into the class. I have really enjoyed making the website, and put a lot of effort into it.

Reflections

This week on the course website, it says to work with your group members to fix some of our older work. I started to revise my booklet that I made in Microsoft Word.
Looking back at this project, I noticed the text was aligned funny, the pictures were out of order, and it lacked color. I think when I saved the original, it got messed up somehow.
The first thing I did to fix this project, was I added a background color. I made my booklet a travel booklet for my home county, Elk County. I added a nice, simple green background. It helps the booklet stand out, and the color is appropriate. The color doesn't hurt the eyes, or take away from the content.
The second thing I did was change the colors of the fonts. Some of the colors I used were now hard to see since I changed the background color. I like the font colors better now that they have a background to go with.
Next, I fixed the pictures. I deleted some spaces and moved my pictures around. This helped add more meaning to the text that I had. For instance, I had a picture of one of the places to stay. I originally wanted the picture by the hotel name and address. It didn't save like this, so I fixed it. Now viewers will get more meaning out of it.
Then I realigned some of the text I had. I feel like now it flows better and is easier to read.
The final thing I did was I fixed my Table of Contents. I fixed the headers of the towns, and the listings below it. It is now so much easier to follow and makes more sense.
I like the idea of going back and seeing how you are able to improve your work. Sometimes it just takes someone elses perspective to help you out.

Using EDTF learnings in other classes

I once again used what I learned in EDTF 300 in another class. I used what we learned about making a title photo for a video. I also used some of our Microsoft Word formatting skills in another class. I had to make a small video for another class, and used Power Point to make a title page. Then I also had to write a short summary with it. I used some of the text wrap and header things we learned, like inserting the new header. I've also used Publisher for other classes. I find it a lot easier now to have other resources to make things look better for other classes. I find the information I've learned in this class very helpful and useful. I used Excel to make a schedule for myself, since I register soon. This class has been very beneficial in many ways.

Podcast Reflection

I found that the download and installation of the program Audacity to be quite easy. You just have to click on the download that is right for your computer, and the rest takes care of itself. I did not download the Lame plugin at this point.
I first made a test audio to try out the program. When I clicked to play it back, I could not hear anything. I then closed out of the program and reopened it. When the welcome screen came on, I clicked for the help page on wikipedia. I followed the instructions of setting the speaker output to 1 Mono and that my input was Microsoft Mixer. When I tried to record again, it worked.
The next thing I did was come up with a script. I chose to do a travel podcast. I went to Las Vegas Nevada over the summer, and we were told by many locals that Vegas is now considered a family friendly destination. So, I decided to use that information for my podcast.
I then looked up family friendly activities and read information about them. I wrote out what I was going to say word for word, and started to record it.
Next, I went looking for music to put into the podcast. I found something I liked and looked on youtube to see how to add it to my podcast.
This is the video that I used.

 

She gives you step by step directions, and films herself doing it so you know exactly what to do. She also helps you figure out how to edit the music. I'm glad that I went and looked up this helpful video. Then I installed the Lame plugin and followed the steps provided to turning it into an mp3. This project may seem difficult once you get started, but as long as you put in the effort, it is easy to figure out.

PowerPoint Presentation

I just recently completed the PowerPoint Presentation for EDTF 300. Instead of using the Sports Center, I made up my own Day Care because it fits my majors better. I made the PowerPoint Presentation for Ruby Anderson, who is the founder and director of KinderCare Day Care.
In the presentation, I included an outline of the upcoming slides. On this page I have a link to a different slide to view it. Next I included a mini-biography for the director. Then I used several slides to describe the mission, facilities, rates, and hours of the Day Care Center. I also included a bar graph to show how the rates haven't really increased since the center opened in 2009. I also included opportunities at the center such as Internships, Student Teaching, and Observation hours. On this slide, and the one with rates and hours, I included the contact person for each department. Finally I included a credits slide.
Making the credits slide was very simple. I followed the directions given on Dr. Hossain's website, and they were clear and simple to do. Here I included, the Director, myself for the PowerPoint, the Opportunities Manager, and the Rates and Hours Manager. I linked an email to the Opportunities Manager.
I created and modified a template for the background of the PowerPoint. I also modified the fonts used. I used clipart provided and the animations. I found this to be a creative and reminding assignment. We get to make up a presentation according to our majors, and it helps remind us how to use PowerPoint and the different features.

Photostory Reflection

After getting the email from Dr. Hossain, it too me a little while to figure out what I wanted to do for this project. After some thinking, I decided to talk about the job that I had over the summer. I was a Summer Camp Counselor at my YMCA. I worked all summer with children from ages 6-12, and I feel like it really benefitted my major.
There were so many fun things that I loved about that job. There were so many things that I learned and got to experience because of it. Finally, I had decided to do a "day at the YMCA," for my Photostory assignment. I started out by writing my narrative. I basically wrote the chronological order of the things we did everyday. I also added in a few things that were favorites of the children. Next, I went online to gather the photos I wanted to use. I felt pretty prepared, and I read the steps from Dr. Hossain's site.
I found Photostory 3 to be very simple to use. I've used Windows Movie maker before, and it's quite similar. First I imported all of the pictures I wanted to use. Mine were in a random order, so I then arranged them to go a long with my narrative. Next, I went through all of the pictures and added captions to appear on the screen, and the narrative beside it in the notes section. Then, I formatted the different transitions for each picture. I added music, and saved my product. I had to go to the library to get a microphone so I could record myself.
I looked online to see where I had to go to pick up the microphone. I went to the Media Services Desk to rent one out. I decided to try out the lab on the bottom floor of the Library to see if I could get it to record. I logged onto a computer, and couldn't find the program. Then I logged off, and logged back into the computer under the Raub Lab. I found the program and connected the microphone through the USB drive. The computer wouldn't recognize the device. So next, I went to the Raub lab itself. I logged on to two different computers, and the same thing happened as in the Library. Finally, I logged into the "professor" computer in the lab (the one with the Smart Screen attached to it.) This is what worked for me. All I had left to do was click the record button on each picture.
I got a little frustrated trying to get the microphone to work, but other than that I had no problems. I feel like this would be a good resource to use and post on your company website. I like how easy it was, and it had a lot of different transitions and options for any user. I also liked how you could create your own music to fit your story. This was also very easy to do. I will definitely try to incorporate this program into my career.

Using what I've learned in EDTF in other classes.

I am currently enrolled in an online Special Education class. One of our assignments was to create an instructional game that needed step by step directions, pictures of pieces you would use, objectives, and graphics. I typed up my directions, and was wondering how I was going to get my pictures to fit nicely, and make it look good to submit. I wanted to use colored text and make the directions stand out. I wanted the document to stand out and be fun, like the game I designed was. I decided to use Publisher to make the items I needed for my instructional game.
I started with a blank document and then set up a template I wanted. After choosing colors, fonts, and font sizes, I inserted a textbox for my instructions and objectives. I then inserted my pictures and adjusted them to the way I liked them. I also used some word art to make the name of my game stand out and look different. I was able to rotate my text boxes, and order them in a logical and attractive way. The last thing I did, was add a border to the document to give it a finishing touch.
I am really glad that I learned to use Publisher. It certainly came in handy for this class, and made my project look awesome. I definitely don't know how I would have made it if I didn't know about Publisher.

Mail Merge Reflection

I think that using Excel and Word to make a mail merge is really easy, convenient and will save people in any career a lot of time. At the start of class, I was a little worried that I would get lost, and not be able to follow along. Thankfully, I was wrong. I found it quite simple to do, and once I knew how to insert what the letter told me to, it was also fast. I think that any career field could use Mail Merge as a benefit. I am a Pre-K - 4th grade and Special Education major, and I think that I could use this to send home classroom letters, permission slips, fundraiser letters, and classroom newsletters. It would be so simple to set up a classroom roster in Excel with students' names, addresses, their parents' names, and so on. Then, all I would have to do is type up a letter, and insert the correct information where I wanted it. I like that this makes it quick, and easy to send out letters to parents. Other career fields could use this for sending letters to clients, employees, fundraising, community newsletters, and so on. I found the video below on Youtube to help review for our test this week. The video is brief, and explains what we need to do. 

Reflecting on Publisher

Before taking this class, I never really used Microsoft Publisher for anything. I took a computer class in high school, and this was not one of the programs we worked with. I am honestly glad that I have been able to use it. It is suitable for any career, and I think everyone should have the opportunity to have experience with it. It has so many different uses, and is easier to use than one may expect. I love that you are able to easily select what you want to make, choose a template, or even make your own out of a blank one. When I first started using Publisher, I had no idea what to think. I decided to start by making a calendar, and it didn't turn out how I wanted. As I continue to work with it on our six assignments for class, I find it easier to do, and a lot of fun. I find that I am becoming more creative and my end products have improved as well. I am now more comfortable with using a blank template, then just editing an already existing one. I can do a lot of things on it now, like changing the template, template colors, inserting business information, and backgrounds. I am in no way a Publisher expert, but I do find myself improving.
I was looking around on the website provided on Dr. Hossain's website, and I think it has a lot of great ideas to make on Publisher, as well as supplies.
http://www.plaintalkprint.com/full-colour-printed-products/business-cards.htm

Microsoft Word Booklet - Tips & Topics

At first when we got this assignment, I wasn't sure what topic I wanted my booklet to be about. One thing that I found helpful when trying to choose a topic is, pick something familiar to you. That may sound obvious, but you may find it easier to create a booklet out of something you already know. You could choose a hobby, turn other assignments from a class into a booklet, review an actual book, make a travel guide, or make it about a person. Creating a booklet on a sport, a talent, or a place would be easy too. I finally chose to make mine about the county I am from. I had to do research on it before, so I had a lot of information on it already. I turned it into a travel guide. I included places to stay, eat, and things to do.
While working on the booklet, another helpful tip I discovered was trial and error. I would save my work and play around with the different settings, fonts, table of contents formats, and so on. Just be sure to save your work when you decide on what you want. There is an undo button, but it only goes back so far. Another tip is to not go overboard with pictures. I didn't want my booklet to be plain and boring so I looked for pictures. I found some great pictures of the places that I wanted to include in my booklet. I found that limiting the number of pictures to one or two per page still looked nice, but wasn't overbearing. I also used the picture formatting tool provided in word to give them different shadowing and things like that. On Google, I found that you can download more templates from office.com I think these are helpful incase you can't find the right design you want already on Microsoft word. These are free, which is also nice. I liked creating the booklet, and I think it can be really useful in a lot of different career fields.


The website I found the templates on
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/templates/tri-fold-business-medical-brochure-red-white-design-TC103895499.aspx

Eating dinner with anyone in history.

For this week's blog post, I wanted something random and different to post about. I feel that since Module 1 is due tonight, I would use this entry as a "get to know me" post, rather than a technology post. I saw this question online and found it interesting. "If you could eat dinner with any person in history, who would it be, why, and what would you eat?"
I would choose Elvis Presley, because I love his voice and music, and I would eat Quesadillas. I know this part isn't in the question, but I'd make him eat at Graceland because I've always wanted to go there. You hear of the different rooms, his pink Cadillac, and his golden toilet. To me, it sounds like a fun place to visit, and if you're eating with Elvis, it might as well be in Graceland. I've always loved Elvis and have found his life interesting. I love the sound of his voice and his music is catchy. Even today, there isn't a single musician that sounds anything like he did. Elvis paved the way for a lot of our music today and I would want to get his opinion on that. I think Elvis would be entertaining, funny, and a welcoming person to eat with. I think my obsession with Elvis started with a vacation to Myrtle Beach. My mom and I were having lunch at a restaurant that had huge fake sharks hanging from the ceiling. As we were looking around at all of the ocean decorations, we saw an Elvis impersonator. This guy looked exactly like the real Elvis, I know that everyone says that about every impersonator, but this one was spot on. I was probably 12 years old and I got my picture taken with him. I'm pretty sure that's all I talked about at that lunch. Ever since then I've loved him.

  
As my actual historical figure I would pick Abraham Lincoln, and I would eat pizza. Besides Washington, Abraham Lincoln is the president I remember learning about a lot in school. He, I guess you could say, is my favorite president. I find certain historical events to be interesting, and the Civil War is one of them. Lincoln had such a huge long term impact on the United States and I think he would be interesting to have a conversation with. The man went through so much in his life and I would find it fascinating to ask him all about it.

 

 

 

if you are having trouble thinking of a blog post topic, here is a website I thought could be useful

http://freelanceswitch.com/freelance-writing/freelance-blog-post-topics/

Microsoft Word, Excel, & Publisher Exploration

While working on the KWLH charts for Microsoft Word, Excel, and Publisher I decided to make this weeks blog post about how I explored using these programs. I am quite familiar with Microsoft Word, but am not with the other two. I took a computer class in high school and used Excel a couple of times. I have never used Publisher before.
Normally when I get a new device, whether it be a cell phone, computer, Kindle, etc. I always jump right in and start playing around with it. I like to figure out how to use it and the functions on the device on my own. I do not normally read the instructions that come with it. That is exactly what I did with Microsoft Word and Excel while completing the KWLH charts.
On the other hand, for Publisher, I opened the program up, and used Google to look for tutorials. I didn't even have a clue as to what Microsoft Publisher was used for. Since I know so little about the program, I thought it would be best to start with the basics of Publisher. I used the tutorials to learn how to open, create, save, and work on new projects. I also learned how to add text and images to the document. I thought using the tutorials made it a lot easier, than if I just would have tried to figure it out for myself. The site I used gave you pictures to see, as well as written instructions on how to do whatever it was the tutorial was showing you how to do. As I was almost finished exploring Publisher with using the tutorials, I thought I would use it for Excel as well. I again, started off with the basics and learned some things that I didn't already know how  to do in Excel.
I'm glad I took the time to look up tutorials for these programs, instead of trying to use them on my own. The tutorials make it easier to see how to do something while actually using the program yourself. Tutorials are also great because you can refresh your memory on how to use them, as well as learn new things. I recommend using them for any software program in the class. One site I found that was very helpful is http://www.baycongroup.com/tutorials.htm You simply click on the Microsoft software you want to learn about, and then click on one of the subtopics listed under that program. This site does not have Publisher. I used the site http://www.gcflearnfree.org/publisher2010 for that software. You simply click on the numbered topic you want to learn how to do and it will show you step by step how to do it. I would definitely recommend using tutorials to help yourself out.

Introduction =)

from my recent vacation to Las Vegas

 

My name is Caitlin Anderson, and welcome to my blog! One interesting fact about myself is that when I was little I was afraid of frosting. My mom tells me that I was the only 1 year old to cry about her birthday cake.  I am a junior and am a dual major in Early Childhood Education, Pre K-4th grade and Special Education. I love both of my majors because they are so rewarding. You get an amazing feeling after you have helped a child learn a new concept. It is also rewarding to see how your students change and grow.  

Some of my interests are reading, taking pictures, traveling, spending time with my family, shopping, and being with my friends. I also have three dogs, who I would also say are part of my interests. They are all spoiled and I love them to death. One of my electronic devices is a Kindle Fire. I mostly read on it, but I do have a few apps as well. I can access the internet, Facebook, and the Amazon store on it as well. Other devices that I have include an HP laptop and a Smart Phone. I probably don't know how to do half of the things on my Smart Phone. Again, I can access the internet, Facebook, my email, the weather, and things like that. I use WordPad on my laptop. My mom just got a laptop with Windows 8, which I've been playing around with. I feel comfortable with basic technology, but with a little practice I feel like I could do more.

I have taken two online Special Education courses and I feel pretty comfortable with them. I like how you can work on your at your own pace and it's on the computer.I probably still would have taken the course if it were offered online. You can find a lot of information on the internet using Google, Youtube, and various other sources. If you needed help and didn't understand something, you could always visit the professor during office hours.