UNHCE Information Technology & Distance Education Blog: July 2005 Archives

A good site with free information on viruses, prevention, protection & other safe computing tips is available at: http://antivirus.about.com/cs/test/index.htm?once=true&

Driven to distraction by technology (Ina Fried, CNet News.com, 7/21/2005)

The typical office worker is interrupted every three minutes by a phone call, e-mail, instant message or other distraction. The problem is that it takes about eight uninterrupted minutes for our brains to get into a really creative state.

T.H.E. Journal Online lists 20 technology skills that every educator should have, and incudes some resources for each.

1) Word Processing Skills
2) Spreadsheets Skills
3) Database Skills
4) Electronic Presentation Skills
5) Web Navigation Skills
6) Web Site Design Skills
7) E-Mail Management Skills
8) Digital Cameras
9) Computer Network Knowledge Applicable to your School System
10) File Management & Windows Explorer Skills
11) Downloading Software From the Web (Knowledge including eBooks)
12) Installing Computer Software onto a Computer System
13) WebCT or Blackboard Teaching Skills
14) Videoconferencing skills
15) Computer-Related Storage Devices (Knowledge: disks, CDs, USB drives, zip disks, DVDs, etc.)
16) Scanner Knowledge
17) Knowledge of PDAs
18) Deep Web Knowledge
19) Educational Copyright Knowledge
20) Computer Security Knowledge

Via Deb Coates blog

In a recent tip, we showed you how to split your Word document
window by selecting Window | Split from the menu bar or by
double-clicking on the rectangle above Word's vertical scrollbar.
An astute Word Tips subscriber, Wendy Geddes, pointed out that
there is a way to split the document window without leaving the
comfort of your keyboard! Here's the new method. Press
[Alt][Ctrl]S ([command][option]S in v. X) to create a movable
horizontal line. Use the up and down arrow keys to move the line,
and press [Enter] when you've got it in the right place (not
available in v. X). The screen splits, and you can continue
editing your document. To remove the split, press [Alt][Shift]C
([command][option]S in v. X). Thanks, Wendy!
Courtesy of: Element K tips

To rearrange Internet Explorer's toolbars, click on the end of
any of the toolbars and hold down the mouse button while dragging
it to a new location. You can also shrink or enlarge the height
or width of a toolbar by hovering your mouse pointer over the
edge of a toolbar until it changes to a double-sided arrow. Then,
click and drag the edge closer to or farther from the opposite
side to change the toolbar's size. Finally, you can disable,
enable, or change what's available on any of these toolbars by
right-clicking on one and making the appropriate changes in the
resulting shortcut menu. You can also access this capability by
choosing View | Toolbars from the Internet Explorer menu bar.
Courtesy of: Element K tips

Instead of reaching for your mouse to click in your address bar
and type a new URL, press [Alt]D instead. This highlights the
current address in IE so that you can instantly type a new
address or paste a URL you've copied by pressing [Ctrl]V. In
addition, you can quickly move your cursor to different sections
of a URL by pressing [Ctrl][Left Arrow] to go back, or
[Ctrl][Right Arrow] to go forward.
Courtesy of: Element K tips

You can use outline numbering in a table, the same as you would
outside of a table. The only difference is the keystrokes you use to
change different outline levels. This tip discusses these differences.

Read the full tip: http://wordtips.VitalNews.com/T1678
Courtesy of: Allen Wyatt's WordTips

From FDR to Podcasts - effective use of audio in online teaching and learning

Granite State College (formerly College for Lifelong Learning) has announced the following computer classes for Fall 2005:

Word I & II - Littleton Campus

Excel I & II - Portsmouth & Littleton

Intro to PowerPoint - Portsmouth & Littleton

Access I & II - Portsmouth & Littleton

Access Level III - Portsmouth

The cost of these classes is $120. Discounts are available for UNH staff. See: http://ceinfo.unh.edu/Intranet/ITDE/trg/unh_disc.htm for discount information.

For further information on these classes, or to see other listings offered through Granite State College, go to: http://www.cll.edu/