Effectively Using Search Engines and Online Word Processing Apps

This week our class is taking a closer look at the various search engines and web based word processing applications available today. Once again, I started this week thinking this would be familiar territory, only to find out through the exercises and assignments that I had a lot to learn!

I began my week looking into the various search engines out there and what makes each stand out in the crowd. I use Google as my staple when it comes to conducting web searches. I have never been one to do much to refine my searches because I have been pretty lucky in finding what I need rather easily. Sure, I would have a bajillion responses to my query, but I didn't necessarily see that as a problem. The time I put into this aspect of my work this week has been quite enlightening. I now understand that there are so many search engines out there because each takes a unique approach to databases searched and how the searches are conducted. It is important to evaluate the purpose of your search before you begin in order to choose a search engine that will be the most efficient tool to get the job done. I also developed a much more in-depth understanding of Boolean searches and the purpose behind proper phrasing, right down to knowing when it is appropriate to use capital letters. When there is thought put into selecting the appropriate search engine and phrasing, the results are more refined and it makes the whole process more effective.

Another focus of our work this week was related to the use of online word processing applications. Since beginning this cohort in September, I have had some experience in the arena of online word processing through the use of Google Docs. While I have found that I can use it when I'm forced to do so, I continue to be more comfortable with Microsoft Word. I looked into a couple of other online word processing applications, ThinkFree and Zoho Writer. These, like Google Docs, have familiar interfaces which would make it an easy transition from Word. I like the sharing and collaborating features that are supported through online word processing applications. I also believe it is the direction schools and businesses will eventually take when it comes to working on collaborative/cooperative projects that include word processing. I think as these online applications continue to evolve and improve more people will take the leap from their desktop applications to the cloud based apps.

I will continue to introduce these ideas and applications into the work I do. Since I'm not in a classroom, I won't necessarily use what I've learned in the context of working directly with students, but I will apply the strategies and tools to improve my own productivity. It will be through my own experiences, and how I apply what I learn, that I will be able to hopefully demonstrate more effective processes that my team at work will want to adopt!

Getting Started With Productivity Tools

This week marks the beginning of a new class: Using Productivity Tools Effectively. I am excited about this class in the sense that I feel like I'm heading into better-known territory, but I know from this first week that I still have a lot to learn. We have started working with online graphics programs, slide presentation programs, and getting into our text: Supporting Learning with Technology.

I found the graphics programs to be a lot of fun and the fact that they are all available online makes them even better. I especially enjoy the graphics programs that deal with photos. I often put together documents and presentations that use photos, so that just comes naturally to me. I tried out every program that was on the recommended list and ended up creating and posting projects created in Magmypic.com. This program allowed me to upload pictures of my loved ones and make them magazine and comic book cover models! It was something I could see being used by students and teachers in a classroom setting, as well as something I might use just for fun on my own.

The presentation programs were equally as interesting to me as the graphics. I am a big powerpoint user (sorry, Louis!), and actually taught PowerPoint in a former life, so as you can imagine I got a real kick out of the "Death by PowerPoint" presentation shared in our last class. I think presentation tools are excellent in the right environment. There are so many options out there that are more interactive for teaching purposes, but when the intention is to "present" there are options out there above and beyond PowerPoint. I chose to create a slideroll presentation and found it to be quite user-friendly and the result was a "video" quality presentation, without having to plot out transitions like the traditional presentation software.

I am looking forward to getting further into the class text. Where I work we have an organization-wide effort to intentionally integrate 21st century skills into every lesson plan. We strongly believe that students need to know more than the basics as they move into high school and beyond, especially the population of students in our program. I look forward to developing new ideas that I can share with my co-workers so we can continue to learn and grow in our efforts to help students develop these critical skills.

Once again, this course will be challenging like the others have been up to this point; but I know what I am learning is going to help me in my quest for professional as well as personal growth. It is extremely relevant to the work I do and rewarding to be able to apply it as I go!

Computer Systems: How They Work and How this Applies to my World (part 3)

With each week, I continue to learn more about computer systems and how they work. I find that the projects I work on, the research I am conducting and the class discussions are all quite helpful and relevant to my world as an educator, a mother and a consumer.

I know that what I have learned up to this point in my coursework is going to make me better prepared if, and when, I am ever charged with the task of selecting hardware that is appropriate for the work I do with my students. I will know that if I am using interactive whiteboard technology, I will need a PC that can retrieve files quickly, as well as respond quickly with each command in order to function as a transparent instructional tool. In order to meet those needs, I will know that I should search for a PC with a lot of RAM and hard drive(s) with a high RPM to get the quick file retrieval and response time that I am looking for.

This course has also highly impacted my own personal growth in terms of my knowledge and what I can do as a parent to protect my children from inadvertently going to "unsafe" or inappropriate websites by installing a security product that allows parameters to be set for different users. I also have a better understanding of how to protect my personal information, and have developed and followed a plan for backup of my important files in the event that my computer is compromised; whether the source of the issue comes from the Internet in the form of a virus or from a hardware malfunction.

Finally, I have said this before, but I will say it again: I feel like I am a much better informed consumer having gone through this course. I have always felt like I had a good, solid understanding of PCs and what all of the specs referred to. I was missing the ability to "decode" the information provided. For instance, I didn't know that if I chose a computer because of the processor speed but it didn't have a lot of RAM that it could impact how fast or slow the PC ran. I didn't know that the platter rotational speed of the hard drive would impact the speed at which a file could be retrieved. I've now gained the understanding that a computing device is only as fast and efficient as its slowest component.

I realize I have only scratched the surface when it comes to knowing and understanding the inner workings of computer systems. I plan to continue to ask questions of those I know who are computer "nerds" in order to develop a better working knowledge of how the components work together. Computing devices are everywhere from our cars right down to our kids' toys, so learning about computer systems and how they work will continue to be relevant and applicable to the world I live in.

Computer Systems: How They Work...and how this class applies to my world Part 2

As I continue my journey through this coursework, I also continue to see how the course content is relevant to my world. This week one of our main tasks was to develop an individual disaster recover plan. Now, while that may sound rather ominous (and it probably would be devastating if it were to actually happen), the disaster I am referring to would occur in the form of a computer crash or a compromised system. I consider myself to be a responsible user of technology, and for the most part I have had little trouble with viruses or system meltdowns (knock on wood). With that being said, even though I haven't been face to face with disaster yet, it would be wise to have a plan in place should I ever run into trouble.

My backup plan consists of Internet/antivirus security and external storage. As I've listened and read about the potential dangers to my computer, my information and even my identity, I realize that my nonchalant attitude toward these security measures made me a prime target for threats. I now feel like I've considered these needs and have come up with a solution that fits my lifestyle and computing habits; which is important in order for me to stay on top of the plan that I've put together. I know that what I've set up for myself is not to the extreme, but it is a step in the right direction and is one I know I can maintain.

I anticipate that I will continue to hear about security options and needs/ideas both from my classmates and as new products are developed. I am willing to keep an open mind and I expect that I will adapt my plan as new information comes my way. As a responsible user it is my job to be aware of potential threats as well as the most current resources available to keep my computer and my information safe.

Computer Systems: How They Work...and how this class applies to my world

Seeing that I use a computer or computer technology of some form throughout my waking hours, I believe this course is extremly relevant to my world. As I have mentioned in previous posts, technology is such a major part of my world, both professionally and personally that I am not sure what I would do without it! I am quite comfortable working on a computer...So, how have I gone this long without having a better understanding of how a computer works?

This class has taken me places I hadn't really thought of going before: I've watched a movie about "nerds" who were not looking for "revenge" (tee hee); I've timed how long it takes for a computer to boot so that I can say, "It was ready for use in 45 seconds..." rather than saying that "it seems like it's just taking forever;" and I've actually gone "under the hood" in order to observe the inner workings of a desktop computer! All in all it has been quite interesting and extremely enlightening.

I look forward to learning more about how computer systems work. I expect to be pushed outside of my comfort zone on a regular basis, and while I find that to be stressful in the moment, I know it will be rewarding as I work my way through.  I truly believe that knowledge equals power; therefore, knowing more about the way computers and their components function will help me become an informed consumer, as well as a better resource when it comes to making computer/technology related decisions at work.

Time to start channeling my "inner nerd!"

Computer History for Sue Biehn

I believe I was in middle school when my family got a computer, and that was my first experience of using a PC on a regular basis. We were one of the first families in the neighborhood to have an actual computer in the house--it was an Apple IIc and had the greenish black screen along with the 5" floppies that needed to be switched out in order to boot and then run programs. It was nice because I was able to use the computer to type papers, rather than using the old typewriter and having to perfect the use of liquid paper and setting the typeface in the exact spot to correct any errors! What a relief! I think what I remember most about my Apple IIc is spending time playing Oregon Trail with my friends and siblings--it's amazing what we found entertaining at that time!

Since my initial computing experience I have had my share of windows based personal computers that I've used for various purposes. Originally, my computers were used as tools to create: papers, presentations, spreadsheets. I enjoyed the ability to go back in order to edit and continually add to my work at a whim. With the increased accessibility and speed of the Internet, I began to use computers as a tool for communication as well as research. Where, in the past, I might have used the phone book to look up phone numbers, or refer to a paper map for directions, I could suddenly use the Internet to locate that information all in one place. It seemed pretty amazing to me, but I had no concept of how powerful computer technology would become or that it would play such a main role in my life.

Today I not only have a PC at home with a high speed Internet connection, but I also have a wireless laptop and an iPhone that I use not just on a daily, but hourly basis. Computer technology has become an integral part of my work and personal life. I now use my computer for all of the reasons I've used computers throughout my history: creating and editing documents, conducting research, communicating via email, and playing games. Today I also use technology for video conferencing, social networking, staying on top of the news, shopping, and even going to school.

Technology and computing devices made available to us continue to change at an incredible rate. I find myself having that recurring thought: technology is really amazing and I can't imagine what the experts will think of next! Unlike when I pondered technology ten years ago, I know that computers will inevitably evolve, so it is up to me to keep up with the changes and enjoy the journey!

Week Two: Webcams and Social Bookmarking

This week our focus in class has to do with webcams and social bookmarking.

I've had a webcam built into my laptop for the past year or more, but have never found a way to make use of it in my work. It's not that I haven't wanted to try it out, but my lack of experience with the webcam has held me back from giving it a go. I had my first meeting via webcam this week with my professor and found it relatively easy to use. I learned that while Skype is quite commonly used for virtual meetings and chats, there are several other options out there such as tokbox and eyejot that can be used to communicate with people at a distance. I was excited to learn that there is a "share desktop" option on Skype, which could be quite useful in my role of trainer; especially when I have questions regarding computer applications, I could have people connect with me via Skype so I can see what they are doing and then model a process for them without having to set up an appointment to meet in person. I am still learning about other webcam and video conferencing options and plan to look at each carefully to really get to know the capabilities of each before rolling out a virtual training process with my staff.

As far as social bookmarking is concerned, this is new territory for me but I think it could be extremely useful within my work world. As educators my coworkers and I try to stay on top of trends in education as well as the political world and how it impacts education. We are continually finding articles online and emailing links to one another. I currently have my Outlook set up to filter articles to a particular folder, but only I have access to those files. It would make a lot of sense to make use of a social bookmarking site that people within our company could access and it would stay organized, as well as take up less space on our exchange/email server. I plan to propse setting up a profile for Learning Exchange at our next Leadership Meeting.

I continue to learn new things each day as I make my way through the coursework of the MEIT program. I will be sure to post how the virtual training and social bookmarking are working out once I am able to give them a try. Wish me luck!

Getting Started: What I Hope to Learn and How it Can be Applied to What I Do

Hello Everyone!
My name is Sue and I wear many hats in both my job and my life. A common theme that I see running throughout all aspects of what I do, whether it is for work or play: technology.

As an educator in the role of Director of Supervision and Training for Learning Exchange, technology has been and continues to be a critical tool for me to use on a daily basis. In terms of supervision, I rely on Outlook to facilitate communication with my staff via email and shared calendars. When it comes to delivering training for new staff and staff development throughout the year I have used presentation tools, such as Power Point and an interactive whiteboard technology called mimio, to create visual as well as hands on support. While I believe these tools have been useful and effective in the past, I find that I want to expand my repertoire and freshen things up for my staff and for my own professional development. It is time for me to take it to the next level! I look forward to gaining experience and fluency in the use of blogs, vrooms and continued integration of whiteboard technologies to keep my staff supported, engaged and excited about the work they do with our Title I students.

Learning Exchnage, the company I work for, advocates 21st century learning for both the teachers we employ and the students who participate in our programs. Technological literacy is one of many 21st century skills we integrate into our lessons, but we are still in the learning process of figuring out the most effective application in our supplemental program.   I hope that through my coursework in the MEIT program I will be able to help guide and support our company's mission of devloping 21st century learners, as well as help our teachers toward continued professional growth in this area.

Although we are just getting started in this journey, I can already see the benefits of what I have learned--in the matter of a week I have created my first vroom, used Google Docs for the first time in a collaborative manner and I am now making my initial post on a the first blog I've ever created! Talk about exploring new territory. I look forward to all of the "firsts" to come over the course of the next two years or so, and I anticipate that I will be pushed out of my comfort zone regularly; but I welcome the challenge! Stay tuned...