Wordle

Thanks to Penny Iannella for sharing this fun site. Wordle is an online tool for making "word clouds" from text that you input. Simply click on the Create your own link to start...

You can create a word cloud by inputting your own text, importing from a URL, or entering a delicious.com username

From Screen Captures

Use the menus at the top of the screen to customize your word cloud, or click on the randomize button for some real fun!

A wordle of Cedar Hill Tech Tips:

From Screen Captures

Here's a word cloud of my delicious tags:

From Screen Captures

http://www.wordle.net

Enjoy! :)

Journal of Course Experiences- Project 1

So I've just completed the assignments for Project 1 in MS Access- Exploring Databases. Access is a database management system, which allows you to "create a database; add, change, and delete data in the database; sort the data in the database; retrieve data in the database; and create forms and reports using the data in the database." (Shelly Cashman).

I've created several simple databases from the design view and entered data for each. The assignments covered creating forms, running queries and designing reports. I think I have a pretty solid handle on the basics and am ready to take on more.

Journal of Course Experiences

I've enrolled in my third Fresno Pacific course last week to earn my +30 credits towards advancing on the salary guide. The jury is still out on how thrilled I am with the format of the courses at this point. It seems like the philosophy of "online learning" at Fresno is more like independent study. Don't get me wrong, Fresno Pacific Professional Development courses are an excellent alternative to enrolling in a degree program. I am about to begin MS Access- Exploring Databases with a new set of instructors. One of the requirements, which I think I'm grateful for is keeping a Journal of Course Experiences while completing the assignments. I love (rolling eyes of sarcasm) keeping journals, but I guess it is better than having to submit a response online (which my husband is a huge fan of). Anyway, here it is, day 1 of course experiences. I am surprised that my assignments are not required to be turned in as they are completed, but all at once on a CD for evaluation. I have until June 15 to complete the course, and I hope that I can stay motivated enough to do so. My last two courses have taken me almost a year each. Wish me luck!

p.s.- I'm also not sure that I'll keep this Journal on my Tech Tips blog, but the thought of maintaining another one is daunting!

Help Request Help

Have you tried to initiate a Help Request from your netbook only to find that the Next button is not in the spot you expected? No matter how much you scroll, it is just unreachable. Our awesome Tech Dudes have come up with a fix!

Here is what you are contending with now:

From CHTechTips

No scrolling in the world is going to get you to that Next button.

All you have to do is press F11 to enter full screen mode when you are in the Help Request program. F11 is one of those keys at the top of your keyboard that you're always wondering, "What are these here for?".

From CHTechTips

Full screen mode will make all of the buttons in the dialog box available. See the Next button?

From CHTechTips

When you are done with your Help Request, press F11 to exit full screen.

Good luck!

I need my icons!

Looking for the Teacher Workstation or Help Request Icons?

After you login, look for a little white box with a red stripe on top by the clock on the desktop (bottom right of your screen).

RIGHT CLICK that and choose "WORK ONLINE" . When you do, the Teacher Workstation and Help Request icons should push to the desktop.

Good luck!

I must change the sensitivity of my netbook's mousepad!

I love my netbook!!! The one thing that is driving me bananas is I'll be typing and just accidentally brush the mousepad. Next thing I know the cursor has been placed somewhere else on the screen, and I'm typing there! Arggh!!! Up until now, there hasn't been a way to change the setting of the mousepad, but Dell has a driver update that will allow you to change the touchpad sensitivity- Hooray!! As always, pictures will follow when I feel like it- Enjoy!

Start by clicking the following link:

http://www.bernardsboe.com/general/Dell_Touchpad----Pointing-St_A00_R213399.exe

You will be asked if you want to save the file

From CHTechTips

Save the file to your Desktop

From CHTechTips

Run the file when the download is complete

From CHTechTips

From CHTechTips

Click Continue

From CHTechTips

Click OK to unzip the files- do not change the location

From CHTechTips

Let the unzip do it's thing until it is done

From CHTechTips

From CHTechTips

Next the driver will install itself

From CHTechTips

Accept the agreement

From CHTechTips

Click Finish when done

From CHTechTips

Restart the computer when prompted

From CHTechTips

Once restarted, Click Start,

From CHTechTips

Control Panel

From CHTechTips

Click the category Printers and Other Hardware

From CHTechTips

Then click Mouse

From CHTechTips

The Touchpad Control Panel will open

From CHTechTips

Click Touchpad Settings

From CHTechTips

Drag the glider under Touch Sensitivity to change the sensitivity of the touchpad

From CHTechTips

DO NOT use the setting "Disable Touchpad if USB mouse is detected". Your SmartBoard will not work.

Not Again!

Alright, so I am totally LOVING the netbook, but I am tired of always having to log back in when I've walked away from my netbook, for seems like just a minute!

By default, (for security reasons and power conservation), The netbook goes to screen saver after 10 minutes and requires a password to get back in. After 20 minutes, it will power down. To change the settings, just follow these instructions (again, pictures will follow for all you visual learners when I feel like it!)

Right click desktop, and choose Properties

Click on the Screen Saver tab

UNCHECK On Resume password protect to avoid re-logging in. You can also extend the length of time before the netbook goes to screen saver.

To change the length of time before the netbook powers itself off, press the Power button in the bottom right.

That's it! Good luck!