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.