Final Blog

1. What did you think was most difficult about the course?
The most difficult part of this course was figuring out exactly how the tasks should be done in order to move on.
2. What do you think was easiest?
The easiest was by far the book assignments. They were step by step. Even a caveman could do it.
3. What did you learn about working in teams with peers?
That communication is everything. Without it, you’re likely to fail at your task.
4. What was most challenging about working with peers at a distance?
Getting them to do what they’re supposed to. If work was delegated, sometimes it would be done, but most times it wouldn’t be.
5. What was helpful about working with a team?
Multiple ideas and different view points. Plus delegation of tasks.
6. What was most challenging about working for a client?

The clients are picky people.
7. What did you learn about communication using technology tools?
That there is more than just Facebook and text messaging available for communicating
8. What were your favorite technolgy tools to use? Least favorite? Why?
AIM. Its extremely easy to communicate with. Programs I don’t understand. Because I don’t understand them.
9. What do you feel you learned in this course about solving problems?
Mostly that communication within your group is vital, and that you need to work together.
10. What would you do differenly if you could take the course again?
Get everything done quickly because I’d work better with my group. Get more organized and not fall so behind.

Internet and AIM

The Internet and AIM are my two most used programs. A tie for second would probably be iTunes. The internet can definitely be used for school, and is actually how i register for classes, and even work in this class. AIM however is my way of communicating freely with people who are not near me. Its a great alternative to text messaging, considering I’m usually at the computer anyway. iTunes certainly entertains me on an almost 24-hour basis. Music is the greatest worldly influence I have, and its hard for me to imagine a day without my music.

PowerPoint – Counter Points

OpenOffice.org has a great program alternative to Microsoft’s PowerPoint called Impress. This program, along with almost all of the other software programs that come in the free OpenOffice.org download are near exact replicas of Microsoft Office. Microsoft Word is OpenOffice.org Writer. Microsoft Excel is OpenOffice.org Calc. Microsoft PowerPoint is OpenOffice.org Impress. The program really doesn’t have any better features than the Microsoft version, but it is free. It is a free download and a very reasonable option instead of buying Microsoft Office. What is worse about it is its difference in compatibility. The OpenOffice.org programs save documents as OpenOffice.org documents, which Microsoft cannot open. However you are given the ability to save the files as Microsoft office files, so there is this very usable alternative.

Tasks up to 4/29

Working on the tasks seems to get easier and easier with each passing day. Its easier to discern who should do what, and what exactly to do for each part. Pieces are easier to put together. Second Life is a pretty easy software to master. My team is overall really good to work with. they’re really getting on top of the ball and picking up their end of the group assignments.

The most important tools we’ve used so far is anything and everything we’ve used to communicate with each other. Whether that be through Second Life, Email, or text messages. We can get our stuff done well if we just communicate with each other and we’ve realized that.

Powerpoints: The Good and the Ugly

http://www.shkaminski.com/Classes/Samples/Sunbelt%20Presentation.pdf

Here we find an example of a good presentation. The examples, fonts and pictures are all well-sized, and easy to read. The step-by-step instructions are very thorough, and insightful. For an oral presentation, this is a very good presentation

http://www.shkaminski.com/Classes/Samples/haitema.pdf

Here we find an example of an ugly presentation. Besides the first and last pages of this, which are just for the instructional purposes, the presentation is dull. It has no flair. Sure, there are pictures and graphics, but other than that it is probably one of the most boring slide shows I have ever encountered. Some fonts are way over-sized, and the information in the graphics make it seem like the person wasn’t completely prepared to present the information to the target audience.

Blog 9: Semester Up to 3/25/08

This semester has sort of been overall confusing. At first I was almost completely confused with every point and aspect of the class, but as the semester has continued, I’ve gotten the general feel for the class, and how it works. I’ve found that working on the tasks semi-by-yourself is not a very good idea. I’ve found the book assignments to be EXTREMELY easy. Getting behind is a bit of a problem. Even working on my own computer, having the resources all at my finger-tips pretty much 24/7, I find myself getting behind, so I need to be more conscious of that. We’re finally getting to a point where the rest of the class will be a breeze because we know how it is supposed to work. The rest of the semester will be good.

Blog 8: Ray’s Dilemma Process

The actions of my group during Ray’s dilemma are glaringly different, yet more efficient than they were in the previous 2 tasks. We are finally learning how to work together, and we are more able to know who can do what for the group’s assignment the best. This task is much more of a team effort. The delegations are clear, and coming from each of us. When one of us is a tad behind, or confused, we stop to help them get caught up. Even though this may sound like it takes time away, its more efficient and pays off more when the person who was caught up figures something out down the road that you couldn’t. This task will overall be a better production from my group, and a better representation of the potential of our work.

Blog 7: Hester’s Task 2

What worked: It seemed to really work when we all were researching and looking for clues. We asked each other questions about the clues we might’ve found, and progressed.What didn’t: We sometimes would get off track and find ourselves not progressing at all. Sometimes having to go back and redo things we just did to remember where we were.

Future: The leader of the group should definitely step up and keep the rest of us on task.

Difficulties: There isn’t really a person that is a leader. Its hard to find a leader in a group of people that just met, but with time, a leader will emerge.

Blog 6: Leto’s Predicament

Leto and Hunter were both very stubborn on their points. Trying to get the building moved, or the garden moved did not go over well with either party. I felt like I had enough knowledge to come up with a feasible solution. My team really cooperated with each other to come up with a solution. My role was as the scribe. It was my job to type up the letter to judge. Seeing as how Leto and Hunter were both satisfied with my solution, I’m happy with our solution. Our first attempt didn’t really take much consideration for Leto’s point. We’ll try to see both sides more than we did this time.

Communication is of extreme importance when it comes to creating a product. There is no progress made without communication.

Blog 5: Role of Computers

My life as a student is far more productive with computers than it would be without. For example, having to handwrite revisions to all of the papers that are required as a student is much more tedious and time-consuming. Its proven that every person has the ability to type faster than they can write. All of the word processors, power point slide presentations, excel spreadsheets, and internet capabilities make my life as a student easier. I guess in a way my life is worse because I end up relying on my PC as the only way of completing assignments.

I would like to see more program come to fruition dealing with speed reading, and basic things elementary kids can deal with. Getting kids started learning with computers and how to use computers will be a major plus in the future of our country.

Personally, the internet is probably the greatest tool for learning that can come with a computer.  There are endless possibilities to learn with the internet at your fingertips.