Any Advice?

My advice for next year's computer students is pretty simple. Even if you think you know how to do everything, you should still go to class. You are bound to find out things you didn't already know. Also, the assignments are a lot easier if you did practice ones in class with the teacher's help. By going to class, your homework is less stressful and less time consuming.

Our Websites

My three favorite websites were Ashley's, Brittany's, and Andrew's. Brittany's was really creative and her home page looked amazing. The way Andrew presented himself through his Trinity experiences was really unique. Ashley's website also looked good and it had a personal touch to it. Please visit my website at http://www.cs.trinity.edu/~adill1.

The Importance of Understanding HTML Codes

Like many other things in life, web designing has shortcuts such as software programs. Although it is great to have access to software like Microsoft Expression, it can only get you so far. If something goes wrong on a website or within Microsoft Expression, a designer who knows and can use HTML code could have the problem fixed very quickly, but a person who only understands the software would have a much harder time. The difference between knowing and using HTML code and using software is comparable to the difference between memorizing and understanding; understanding gives you the ability to apply your knowledge to more unique situations.

Impressive PowerPoint Presentations

I was really impressed with everyone's presentations last week! My two favorite presentations were Leigh-Ann's and Andrew's. Leigh-Ann did a really good job showing effective uses of ethos, pathos, and logos within marketing. Even after she did a great job presenting, she went the extra mile and showed a really effective Dove video clip. The clip was a perfect example of what she had just discussed, which was a great way to wrap up her presentation. Andrew gave an extremely enthusiastic presentation about finance which helped draw in the audience. He also made the topic relevant to the listeners by concentrating on one comparative scenario. Both presentations were aesthetically pleasing, well organized, interesting, and informative. Although I've only mentioned these two presentations, all of them were very good and I enjoyed listening to them.

PowerPoint Presentations

There are many articles with good advice about using PowerPoint. The three articles we used in class brought up a variety of good tips that covered everything from the most important pointers to the most offensive errors. Although much of the advice is more technical, one important thing to keep in mind is that the PowerPoint should only be used as an aid to clarify your point; it should not contain your entire presentation.

Sometimes when creating a PowerPoint it can be hard to stick to so many rules. I think a few basic guidelines would be really helpful to use as a checklist when looking over the finished presentation.

1. Each slide is like a note card for both you and the audience. It reminds you of the order of your presentation so you don't forget any major points and it helps your audience stay focused by giving them a clear visual.

2. Have an aesthetically pleasing background. This means nothing busy or flashy.

3. It is really important to keep your audience in mind. Don't always assume a certain level of background knowledge. Over complicating the topic is just as bad as skimming the surface; the audience doesn't appreciate either.

4. The slide order should allow you to smoothly transition from one point to another. Bad organization makes it hard for the audience to follow you.

5. Use appropriate pictures to support your bullets. The pictures you use greatly influence the tone of your presentation and too many will also leave it cluttered.

Chris Nolan's Presentation

Chris Nolan's presentation about searching the Internet was very interesting. During the presentation I realized that although I was already using some search techniques, there were many more tools available. Quotations, plus and minus symbols, and restrictions will all greatly improve the chances that one will find what they are looking for without having to scroll through page after page of results. I usually don't use quotations in my searches, but after doing a few examples in class I noticed what a big difference they made. I also had no idea that you could limit the type of website in the results either. For me, that particular piece of information will save a lot of time and frustration because it allows you to weed out irrelevant results. Lastly, I almost always use Google when searching the net, not for any particular reason, just out of habit. I was very surprised when the class looked at a chart showing the top 100 sites for both Yahoo! and Google. The chart showed how many sites both search engines pulled up and compared how each engine ranked the relevancy of each site. I was a bit surprised by the difference between the search engines' criteria. Seeing them compared on the chart will probably make me more likely to use both engines in the future.

Copyright Presentation

I thought the presentation about plagiarism and copyright laws was really interesting. Before the presentation I wasn't really clear on some of the copyright laws. I learned a lot about what the RIAA is, how they address illegal file-sharing, and the consequences for doing so. One of the most interesting points was that many professors sell their articles to peer-review journals without understanding what that entails. The publishers that buy these articles charge Universities for using the articles depending on how many people will be viewing them. Even the professor who wrote the article can no longer print and hand out copies free of charge. I found this situation to be pretty upsetting. Many professors sign their contracts without fully realizing the consequences. From the professors point of view, the articles should be made available for education since it was written for that purpose. The publishers feel that since they are a business and a contract was signed, they have every right to charge a fee to universities per each person using the article. I understand that the publishers are in business to make money, but with education as a priority and tuition on the rise, something needs to be done. I think it is important that faculty realize what they are signing and the affect it has on access to current educational material. It would be best to reach a compromise in which the publishers make a small profit and educational institutions pay significantly less than they are currently.

Whats the Big Deal About Excel?

I've learned a lot since we have started working with excel. I knew how to use basic formulas, but I had never used conditions, sorting, and other stuff like that. Now I'm pretty good at using all the different options. Luckily labs will be a lot easier now that I can use excel well.

I'll admit I had absolutely no idea how to link PowerPoint and excel. This will definitely come in handy when doing any kind of report or study for school. It will also be a help when getting ready to present findings for a lot of different kinds of jobs. Having the two linked could save a lot of extra work.

Pictures That Lie

I chose to discuss the manipulated picture of Bush's note in which he writes, "I think I may need a bathroom break. Is this possible?" I chose this particular photo because I believe it is a good example of an altered picture that was not used to deceive or harm anyone. A company called Reuters owned up to overexposing the note so that it would be easier to read. I do not believe this manipulation was harmful; they did did not change the content or context of the note nor did they try to hurt anyone. The company simply made what was already there more apparent.

Trinity's Wireless Network

Trinity's wireless network is definitely a plus. It gives students easier access for research, class notes, e-mail and other such things. The ability to utilize small spaces of time throughout the day is definitely a help too. For example, my schedule on Tuesday's makes for a very long day, but if I plan ahead and bring my laptop I can study newly posted lecture slides or e-mail a question to my professor about an upcoming paper in between classes. I also love doing homework outside, which is a really nice benefit of a wireless network. It lets me make the most of this really nice weather. Of course, there are a few downfalls to a wireless network like facebook and surfing the net. But whether wireless or not, temptation and distrations will always be there. Here's a link to an article about wireless worries for campuses. In my opinion, oh well, I'd rather be fighting the urge to facebook outside than in.

My Experience with Word

My experience with Word is pretty much limited to basic everyday skills. I usually wait to learn new skills until I need them to complete the task at hand. I'm actually not very good at using tabs and tab stops so it would be great if we could review that.

Working Last Minute

If I was to wait until the last minute to do an assignment and my computer was down I would first try to borrow my roommate's computer. If she was busy or out, I would then go to a campus computer lab and work from there, but hopefully I won't ever get into a crunch like that.

About Me

Hi, my name is Alisa Dill. I'm from Houston, Texas, although I have also lived in a small town outside of St. Louis, Illinois. Here's an aerial view of Houston: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.749085,-95.357054&z=14&t=h&hl=en I have an older brother who is also in college. I have a cat named Slyvester and a big furry poodle we call Buddy. I am a first year student at Trinity University and have yet to decide on a major. I have a few different areas of interest and am trying to narrow them down. In high school I ran cross country and track, as well as playing in the band. I began running cross country for Trinity this past fall, but decided to take some time off. I still love to run on my own though. I also like to play sports and generally be outside. One of my favorite things to do is camp. My email address is adill1@trinity.edu if you would like to contact me.

As for my computer skills, I can use common programs such as Word and Powerpoint and I also have a little experience in digital graphics. Both my dad and brother are really good with computers so I usually just ask them for help.