Advice for Mastering Essential Computer Skills

My advice to the students in next semester's Essential Computer Skills class would be to attend every class and complete the homework. Although this is a relatively simple strategy, participating in class minimizes the chance that you will lose points for small assignments and ensures that you will be prepared for the midterm and final exams. Since the mid-term and final are a large component of your final grade, success will hinge on your ability to recall information from class. Additionally, completing the homework will allow you to practice your new skills. This reinforcement will help you retain the knowledge gained during class time so that you will not forget these new skills once the course is finished. Finally, it is important to demonstrate a positive attitude torward the class. While the material may seem dry, the insight as well as the new and exciting techinques you learn will be a valuable asset later in life (i.e., when you apply for an internship or your first job). Moreover, a positive attitiude will make your time in the class more enjoyable! Good luck!

Essential Computer Skills

I was impressed by the outstanding design and presentation of Emily's website. She effectively used a table to organize the content of her website and display pictures. Additionally, her image map was personalized as it included pictures of her own items and belongings. Finally, she enhanced the presentation of the website by including hyperlinks to outside sites, using humor, included an animated gif, and focusing on Trinity Univeristy.

The organization and content of Andrew Gill's website also impressive. Andrew highlighted his experiences as a Trinity student by including original pictures of his favorite locations on campus. Andrew even took the extra efforts to take original pictures of these areas. The color scheme of Andrew's website--specifically its' use of maroon and gray--was also consistent with the main theme of the site. Finally, Andrew's navigation bar demonstrates the principle of good design as it allows website users to easily maneuver between website pages.

Finally, I enjoyed the mutlimedia content and innovative design features available through Britany Leigh's website. Brittany's music page, for instance, includes music videos of her favorite bands and artists. Further, her home page includes an unqiue animation that highlights the ability of interet users to email Brittany through her website. This non-traditional layout and design will minimize the likeihood that a website user will become bored with her site.

To view my website, please click here.

One should have a firm grasp of html code for two central reasons. First, web design programs such as WebExpression can fail or be disabled due to computer error or malfunction. Without knowledge of html code and its' intricacies, a programmer would not be able to create new sites or edit the content to those pages currently under his/her management. Such dependence on technology would diminish the value a programmer could provide to a potential customer or consumer. As knowledge of html code became increasingly finite, the price of providing services specifically related to the application of html code would increase. Encouraging computer programmers to understand html code seems to be a good tool in combating problem.

Second, knowledge of html code makes it easier for a programmer to establish a web presence that is individualized, unique, and flexible. There are bound to be certain features of website design that are not available through Web Expression. In these cases, a basic understanding of html code will enhance his/her ability to create web pages in a way that is appealing and that distinguishes the website from those created by web programs who lack knoweldge of html code.

Powerpoint Presentations

I was most impressed by Andrew Gill's presentation as he skillfully used his PowerPoint presentation to hold the attention of the class and highlight certain aspects of his topic that he thought were especially relevant to the discipline of finance. Moreover, Andrew applied the fundamentals of finance to illustrate the long-term payoff of a college education versus the return from investing an equal amount of resources in other areas (i.e., the bonds, the stock market). Finally, Andrew selected a unique font which distinguished his PowerPoint slides from the others in the class which used the default font.

Ellie Lippard's presentation was also impressive. Ellie personalized her presentation by invoking her Uncle who was a famous broadcast journalist in San Antonio. She further connected here Uncle's experiences to her own ambitions to become a journalist. The design of her slides was also outstanding. Ellie did not try to cram too much material on any one slide; moreover, she used a consistent color scheme which made her powerpoint appear professional.

Power Point

After reading the assigned articles, I developed a deeper appreciation for Powerpoint’s usefulness as a tool for communicating information. Whereas in the past one needed to go through the cumbersome process of making a poster board to supplement a presentation, creating a power point slideshow can take minutes. Powerpoint also makes it easy to engage an audience. Emotionally intense images can be interested into the presentation to provoke a response. The downside of Powerpoint is that it is overused. One must be careful in their selection of templates and clipart not to bore audience members with images and templates they have already seen—personally I find it very annoying when I see overused clipart. My central recommendation to other students in the class is to keep their Powerpoint’s simple. The easier your presentation is to follow, the more likely it is that your talk will be stimulating and enjoyable. Below are guidelines which I think are key to making a great Powerpoint:

1) Strategically insert sounds and animations. Figure out the areas of your talk are likely to bore the audience and place an animation or image in these spots to enliven the presentation and engage the audience.
2) Pay attention to detail. Be sure to use spell check and read over your presentation for grammatical errors. Additionally, pick a color scheme and template that appropriately convey the mood you want to set. For example, if you are giving a business or academic talk, it might be wise to choose a template that appears professional and does not distract audience members from the content of your presentation.
3) Be pithy in your use of words. Your slides should not spell out every word which you plan to say in the presentation; rather, use the slides as a guideline or starting point for your talk. For example, a slide could briefly list a group sub-topics which you plan to elaborate on in your talk.
4) Ordering your slides logically. Organizing your presentation in a way that is logical and easy to follow will strengthen the cogency of your presentation and make it easy to hold the audience’s attention.
5) Do not embellish your slides with too many graphics. Using too many graphics diminishes the quality of your presentation and creates the impression that the presenter does not take the subject or presentation seriously. Professional photographs may be a good substitute here.

Google and Yahoo

In today’s class, I was surprised to learn that major search engines scan only 20% of the content available on the web. Previously, my impression was that these engines were effective to the extent that search algorithms comprehensively scanned all of sites and computers linked to internet with the aim of presenting a reliable list of websites that could be used for research on a particular topic. Moreover, it would seem that these search sites would compete for the title of the website that is able to search the most web content. Web users would flock to the engine with the greatest search capacity. As the reputation of the top engine spread, other search sites would be forced to adapt and improve.

I also learned that the Google and Yahoo search engines return very different results. For example, a site ranked first by Google may be ranked 30th by Yahoo; moreover, a site that is returned by one search engine may not even be returned by the other. This suprised me because the laws of economics dictate that a market with a high level of competition and low barriers to entry produce homogenous products. Given the ease with which someone could create a web search engine, Google and Yahoo should offer similar (if not identical) products.

Copyright Infringement

In today's class, I learned that the federal government seeks to vigorously protect and enforce copyright laws. An individual who has engaged in copyright infringement involving more than ten copies and material valued at over $2500 has committed a felony. While I knew their was a punishment for violating copyright laws, I did not have a grasp of the seriousness by which the federal government addressed these matters. The severity of this punishment scheme is made worse by the RIAA's vigorous prosecution of potential violators.

The central advantage of this punishment scheme is that potential violators will be deterred from infringing on copyright laws in the future. Repeat offenders will find that the costs of failing to abide by copyright laws exceed the benefits of passing another's work off as their own. As word of the severe punishments spread, the number of copyright infringements will decrease.

The disadvantage of making copyright infringement a felony is that talented and intelligent people could be disqualified from certain opportunities for committing a single violation. Third parties (i.e, employers, graduate schools) will be curious as to why an individual's record contains a felony and could potentially pass-over a well-qualified candidate for violating a single copyright law. Another disadvantaged of this punishment scheme is that the court system could force violators to pay excessive damage awards in court. Juries sympathetic to the plight of record companies that have lost millions of dollars due to the illegal distribution of music files may impose exorbitant fines on violators. Individuals lacking the capacity to make good on such claims may go bankrupt or experience undue financial strain.

My personal position on this issue is that scrict punishments are necessary to ensure that copyright laws are respected and upheld. Although there are some disadvantages to this position (as noted above), I believe that the benefits outweigh the costs. I found an interesting article in the New York Times about copyrighting photographs here.

How I Learned to "Excel" at Excel

My experiences in Essential Computer Skills have fine tuned my understanding of Microsoft Excel. I can skillfuly utilize tools such as the “if" function and conditional formatting so as to enhance the presentation of data. Moreover, I can easily maneuver between tabs and quickly locate a particular feature; as a result, the time I spend using excel to create charts and graphs has decreased.

These skills will be useful in my economics courses. My economics professors often require me to break down large amounts of data and apply my findings to the principles learned in class. Specifically, I have been called upon to determine the levels of inflation and unemployment in a certain country through the analysis of wage levels and employment data. As I learn to apply this knowledge, I anticipate that my economics professors professors will be impressed with the accuracy and presentation of my findings and that I will distinguish myself from other students whose knowledge of excel spreadsheets is limited to their experiences in high school.

My knowledge of excel will also enhance my attractiveness to prospective employers as I will develop a reputation as a worker who quickly grasped the complexities of spreadsheet use.
Since this skill is in limited supply in the job market, firms place a high value on workers who can create professional charts and graphs. Therefore, I will probably be paid a higher wage than a worker who has a limited familarity with excel.

Tricky Pictures

I choose the picture of dark smoke billowing from several buildings (#2) because it illustrates the ease with which an image can be manipulated so as to elicit an emotional or psychological response. Anyone with a basic familiarity of the features available through Photoshop could have doctored this image. I also choose this picture because it focuses on current events (the ongoing struggle between the Israelis and Lebanese). This knowledge will filter my understanding of the news I hear on CNN, CSPAN, and other news media.

This picture originated from a Lebanese reporter and highlights Israeli’s air raid on Lebanon during the summer of 2006.The artist manipulated this picture by adding more and darker smoke so as to create the impression that the Israeli bombing campaign was more severe than in reality. Additionally, the photographer probably wanted to gain recognition for his work. By making the picture appear more dramatic, the photographer maximizes the chances that his/her picture will be shown in the news media.

This manipulation was harmful to the extent that it damaged the Reuters' reputation as an impartial and respected news agency dedicated to providing the highest quality news coverage. Moreover, it was damaging to those individuals who saw this picture and were misinformed about the severity of the conflict. Finally, this manipulation was harmful to Israel. Those who saw this picture were more likely to harbor resentment towards Israel as the dark smoke created the impression that Israel was inflicting excess pain and hardship on the Lebanese.

The Trinity wireless internet network allows me to access blackboard, class notes, and readings from almost any point on campus. While this luxury is not a necessary component of my education, it provides me the freedom to work from almost anywhere. Since I carry a Blackberry mobile device that allows me to check my email and visit social networking sites
I do not feel the urge to constantly surf the web on the Trinity wirless network. As a result, I can not claim that the wireless network distracts me from studying. Below you will find an article from the New York Times which details the reasons Mt. Saint Mary College installed a wireless network on its campus:

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C01E4DE1031F933A15757C0A9669C8B63&scp=2&sq=Wireless+Networks+on+Colleges&st=nyt

Microsoft Office 2007

I developed my current understanding of Microsoft Office while studying at Trinity. In my statistics course, I learned how to use the functions programs available in Excel. In my economics courses, I made numerous slideshow presentations. After reading the guide to Microsoft Office 2007, I learned that I have a long way to go before I am familiar with all of the new features and programs. While I am proficient, at setting tab spots, inserting and manipulating graphics, and adding footers, I need to learn the finer points of creating templates and creating HTML Files. Moreover, I hope to learn how to make return address labels. I believe that regular attendance and active participation in class will allow me to master these new features.

If my computer crashed the night before an assignment was due, I would go to a computer lab or the library. Thus, the problem would be solved as I would be able to log on to a Trinity computer. However, I would not be able to access old data, files, and work that was saved on my old computer.

About Me

My name is Maxwell Fisher, but my friends call me Max. I grew up in Houston, Texas. Below you can find a link to a satellite image of Houston captured by Google Earth.

http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=29.77042,-95.35549&z=13&t=h&hl=en

At Trinity, I am an active participant with the College Democrats. Through my involvement with the Trinity College Democrats, I hope to encourage other students to participate in the political process. I also devote time to helping plan and organize the annual school concert. My goal is run for A.S.R. President in the Spring. My majors are in political science and economics, while my minor is in classical studies. I hope to attend law school following graduation from Trinity.

My background in computers is limited to using Windows 2000 as well as the component programs in Microsoft Office (i.e., Microsoft Word, Excel). I do not have any unique computer training; however, I hope to acquire those skills in this course.