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.