Our Word tutorial book is coming along quite well. We already have our Layout team finalizing the construction of the book so that the editors can start their jobs. We looked at our options for publishing, and decided that we'd use Lulu, a self-publishing website that will publish our book on demand. We also decided on the size and cover of our book. Since we don't want to waste time re-sizing and fixing the layout we decided to go with 8.5 by 11 for the page size and a paper-back cover, in black and white. This combination seemed to fit our budgets well.
All that was left to decide was the cover and the title for our Wordbook. Anyone was allowed to make a cover and bring it to class on Friday, when the best cover would be voted for. I decided to make a cover too and here's what I came up with:
Let the Best Cover Win~
That's all for now,
--Amna
Thursday, January 29, 2009
Phase 2: "Word Tootorials for Newbirds"
Posted by Negative-zero at 9:54 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
We are going...where no BTT class has been before!
It's a big break for our whole class! As you know if you've read my previous posts; lately we've been working with Microsoft Word. Also, we found 10 things we didn't know about Microsoft Word, well we turned one of those into a tutorial. For those of you who don't know what a tutorial is, it's basically an instructional guide to perform something. Mr. Case told us about how he wanted to take our tutorials and perhaps turn them into a sort of instructional manual for Microsoft Word. He's tried this year after year and yet it always fails due to some fault in the procedure. So we're going at it again this year and I really hope we can achieve what nobody else has! I've always wanted more of my work to be published and being able to do it with everybody else will be even more fun! I've also been voted to be editor along with one other people (Yes, I'm so excited about it that I just had to tell everybody!) If we work together I'm sure we can produce a great end result, so let's do our best!
Posted by Negative-zero at 5:32 PM 0 comments
Monday, January 12, 2009
Microsoft is good, you can have my Word!
Microsoft Word is known to be the most widely used word processor in the world. Just about anybody who has used a computer knows what Microsoft Word is. The question is whether you really know as much as you think you know about Microsoft word and that's what we've been told to investigate today. So I've got a lot of poking around to do in Microsoft Word, let's see what I can find out!
Findings:
1) Frames: Frames act like dividers in the document and help you separate different parts of your document. A function that I found a frame would be useful for is if you'd like your table of contents to be displayed on the side as a frame. To insert a frame into your document you simply click format>frames and from there you can choose what you would like to do with your frame.
2) Macros: A macro is a feature that allows you to record a series of actions made on Microsoft Word that you can save and have repeated just by running your macro! This makes things a lot easier, especially if this is a specific format you use for your work all the time, a macro would save you the time of having to set it up. To create a new macro you go to tools>macro>record new macro. After you have done that you assign your macro either to the keyboard or to the toolbar, depending on which you will be using to perform your actions. A small toolbar should pop up in the corner that has controls for stopping and pausing your macro. Once you're done press stop and save your macro!
3) Auto Summarize: The Auto-Summarize tool allows Word to find sentences or phrases in a Word Document most relevant to the main concept of the document. To access this tool you go to tools> auto summarize. You can choose different ways of using the Auto Summarize tool: Highlight important information, 2)Summarize the document in the same document or in a new document, 3) Or insert the summary of the document as an introduction to the document. It also allows you to select what percent of your complete document you want Word to summarize your document to. You can do this by choosing the number of words, sentences or the actual percentage. It's a great tool if you need to understand a long passage or if you want to see if your document concentrates on the points you want to get across most. Also, it can help create a great introduction/conluding paragraph to an Essay.
4) Page Numbers: You can save the time of having to number all your pages using this feature, because Microsoft Word will do it for you! It's actually quite simple you go to insert>page numbers. Even though this does seem like a very obvious function that we should all be aware of, I just didn't bother trying to use it before. It can be useful if you're preparing something that requires page numbers and Microsoft Word will place the number where you want it on the pages.
5) Date and Time: This feature is accessible from insert> date and time. Though it is a quite simple feature, and you could easily type out the date yourself, I suppose this could come in handy if you were in a rush.
6) Bookmarks: Sometimes when we're revising or editting our work on Word and only complete half way it would be useful to know your place the next time you opened you document. Well, we don't have to wish anymore because the Bookmark tool does exactly that. It allows you to pick a certain area in the document that you want word to mark for you. To use this tool go to insert>Bookmark...
7) Theme: I wasn't quite sure if it was possible to have a theme for Microsoft Word but it is! You can have a theme for your document just like a Powerpoint slide. I'm not sure if this feature would be useful to the average person but it is something I didn't know. To apply a theme you go to format>theme and then choose the one you wish to use!
8) Objects: I always noticed the insert object option on my toolbar whenever I was using Microsoft Word but I never realized what exactly it could do. I previously thought it was probably just the same as putting in a picture into the word document, however, it can do a lot more! This feature allows you to insert a file from another program such as WordPad right into your Microsoft Word document. Or you can create a new file using that program right that instant, working in your Microsoft Word window. You can insert powerpoint slides and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files, the possibilities are pretty wide. Basically this option expands what exactly you can have present in your word document. To use this feature you go to insert>object.
9) Captions: As you all know we often need to put captions below diagrams or pictures when using Microsoft Word. The caption feature is very helpful with this as it saves you the trouble of having to move the text around manually. I've passed by this function before but never tried using it, I think you may have more control if you performed this task manually, however. To add a caption, you first select what you would like to add the caption to then go to insert>caption and set it up from there.
10) Subscript and Superscript: Subscript and Superscript are the smaller characters that are placed above (superscript) or below (subscript) the normal levelled text. An example of superscript is the 'nd' in 2nd or the 'rd' in 3rd. Something similar would be used in the case of subscript but it may be numbers, such as the subscripts we used in chemical formulas in Chemistry. I myself have always wondered how to do this manually and today I found out. To put something in subscript or superscript you can add the button to your formatting toolbar. If you don't already have the formatting toolbar displayed with your other toolbars go to tools>customize>toolbars and check the box for the formatting toolbar. After you have done that click the little arrow on the toolbar, which should open up a pull down menu. You click add or remove buttons on this and simply add the subscript and superscript buttons. Now whenever you want anything to be in subscript or superscript you click the button first and then type.
Findings:
1) Frames: Frames act like dividers in the document and help you separate different parts of your document. A function that I found a frame would be useful for is if you'd like your table of contents to be displayed on the side as a frame. To insert a frame into your document you simply click format>frames and from there you can choose what you would like to do with your frame.
2) Macros: A macro is a feature that allows you to record a series of actions made on Microsoft Word that you can save and have repeated just by running your macro! This makes things a lot easier, especially if this is a specific format you use for your work all the time, a macro would save you the time of having to set it up. To create a new macro you go to tools>macro>record new macro. After you have done that you assign your macro either to the keyboard or to the toolbar, depending on which you will be using to perform your actions. A small toolbar should pop up in the corner that has controls for stopping and pausing your macro. Once you're done press stop and save your macro!
3) Auto Summarize: The Auto-Summarize tool allows Word to find sentences or phrases in a Word Document most relevant to the main concept of the document. To access this tool you go to tools> auto summarize. You can choose different ways of using the Auto Summarize tool: Highlight important information, 2)Summarize the document in the same document or in a new document, 3) Or insert the summary of the document as an introduction to the document. It also allows you to select what percent of your complete document you want Word to summarize your document to. You can do this by choosing the number of words, sentences or the actual percentage. It's a great tool if you need to understand a long passage or if you want to see if your document concentrates on the points you want to get across most. Also, it can help create a great introduction/conluding paragraph to an Essay.
4) Page Numbers: You can save the time of having to number all your pages using this feature, because Microsoft Word will do it for you! It's actually quite simple you go to insert>page numbers. Even though this does seem like a very obvious function that we should all be aware of, I just didn't bother trying to use it before. It can be useful if you're preparing something that requires page numbers and Microsoft Word will place the number where you want it on the pages.
5) Date and Time: This feature is accessible from insert> date and time. Though it is a quite simple feature, and you could easily type out the date yourself, I suppose this could come in handy if you were in a rush.
6) Bookmarks: Sometimes when we're revising or editting our work on Word and only complete half way it would be useful to know your place the next time you opened you document. Well, we don't have to wish anymore because the Bookmark tool does exactly that. It allows you to pick a certain area in the document that you want word to mark for you. To use this tool go to insert>Bookmark...
7) Theme: I wasn't quite sure if it was possible to have a theme for Microsoft Word but it is! You can have a theme for your document just like a Powerpoint slide. I'm not sure if this feature would be useful to the average person but it is something I didn't know. To apply a theme you go to format>theme and then choose the one you wish to use!
8) Objects: I always noticed the insert object option on my toolbar whenever I was using Microsoft Word but I never realized what exactly it could do. I previously thought it was probably just the same as putting in a picture into the word document, however, it can do a lot more! This feature allows you to insert a file from another program such as WordPad right into your Microsoft Word document. Or you can create a new file using that program right that instant, working in your Microsoft Word window. You can insert powerpoint slides and MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) files, the possibilities are pretty wide. Basically this option expands what exactly you can have present in your word document. To use this feature you go to insert>object.
9) Captions: As you all know we often need to put captions below diagrams or pictures when using Microsoft Word. The caption feature is very helpful with this as it saves you the trouble of having to move the text around manually. I've passed by this function before but never tried using it, I think you may have more control if you performed this task manually, however. To add a caption, you first select what you would like to add the caption to then go to insert>caption and set it up from there.
10) Subscript and Superscript: Subscript and Superscript are the smaller characters that are placed above (superscript) or below (subscript) the normal levelled text. An example of superscript is the 'nd' in 2nd or the 'rd' in 3rd. Something similar would be used in the case of subscript but it may be numbers, such as the subscripts we used in chemical formulas in Chemistry. I myself have always wondered how to do this manually and today I found out. To put something in subscript or superscript you can add the button to your formatting toolbar. If you don't already have the formatting toolbar displayed with your other toolbars go to tools>customize>toolbars and check the box for the formatting toolbar. After you have done that click the little arrow on the toolbar, which should open up a pull down menu. You click add or remove buttons on this and simply add the subscript and superscript buttons. Now whenever you want anything to be in subscript or superscript you click the button first and then type.
Posted by Negative-zero at 5:45 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Retreat to Academia
After a very relaxing Winter Break we're back to school and that means more work! We're going to be looking at Microsoft Word over the next period of time. We'll be exploring things that we've never looked at before in this program we consider to be so familiar with.
In other events...Happy New Year to everyone! I don't really have any resolutions this year, but I really enjoyed the vacation. Now it's time to return to working hard and doing our best!
Posted by Negative-zero at 5:38 PM 0 comments
Monday, January 5, 2009
''Because...You Have Not Been Payin' Attention''
So you were assigned a 300-word essay to write out over a couple of days. Now, you had to make the decision of just how you would go about working on it. Well, your parents had told you to work hard and get it done beforehand, however 'things' have come up and you haven't been able to follow through. This paper is due tomorrow! Alright, so you sit down at your computer open a word document and start writing. By the time you get to word 50, the MSN messenger icon on your desktop seems very appealing. You think discussing your opinions with some of your friends might be helpful. You now also decide to to check your mail and while your at it why not quickly sign on to Facebook? Before you know it time is running out, and what you considered hard work has really just become a multi-tasking mess.
All our lives we've been told to work hard, to put all our efforts in all that we do. However, times have changed, and with time, people have changed as well. Working hard isn't the key to success anymore. Instead to achieve true success we should pay attention to paying attention! This idea is expressed in the article, Work Ethic 2.0: Attention Control by Mike Elgan, and is the article I will be reflecting upon in this blog entry.
We've all heard of multi-tasking and as well those who can multi-task. Ever since I learned the term, I considered being able to multi-task as a real advantage. It makes sense, being able to do more than one thing in the same amount of time that it takes to complete one task. But does this really give you an advantage over people who don't? Well, yes if you can manage to do all your tasks efficiently, but this is very hard to do. As the article states, "A person who works with total focus has an enormous advantage over a workaholic who's "multi-tasking" all day."
With today's technology, we are able to do almost everything using our computers and the Internet. As much as a convenience this may be for us, it's also a great distraction. From socializing to shopping, the internet allows us to access the world at our fingertips! However, we're almost taking all this great technology given to us for granted. We get carried away from task to task because of the millions of possibilities the internet gives us. This means that there is no limit to distractions when it comes to 'working hard' at something.
The worst part is, things are just going down from here. Another point that Mike Elgan makes is that today's generation has been placed infront of some kind of a screen from the very start. From the TV to the Computer and back to a video game. They're distraction addicts even before they're old enough to understand the damages being made. They have a constant need for amusement and can't sit still for very long. As mike Elgan puts it, "Their attention spans have been whittled down to seconds, and their expectations for constant amusement are highly developed." So how do we learn to focus on anything if we've become so used to being distracted?
The decision to make is almost like distinguishing between Eating and Eating Desert. Eating being something you need to do to survive, your focus, and eating desert being something you can live without, your distractions. To survive we need to eat well, but if we don't have desert after every meal it won't kill us right? On the other hand, if we forget to eat well and replace all our meals with sweet sugary delights, we won't make it very far. In other words we can't get distracted for even a second, or it just might throw everything we've worked for right into the garbage can.
Unfortunately no one else can do this for you. It's up to you to use your abilities to their extreme. Push yourself to focus. As Columnist David Brooks says, "Control of attention is the ultimate individual power. People who can do that are not prisoners of the stimuli around them." It's our task now to free ourselves from the attractions of the distractions!
No matter how much we sugar-coat it, the truth remains the truth. Working hard alone isn't working for us so we have to combine that with learning to focus, while fighting the urge to amuse ourselves. If we can master this, we might just have that 300-word essay done on time!
That's all for now,
--Amna
**The Title for this post comes from the song "2 + 2 = 5" By Radiohead.
All our lives we've been told to work hard, to put all our efforts in all that we do. However, times have changed, and with time, people have changed as well. Working hard isn't the key to success anymore. Instead to achieve true success we should pay attention to paying attention! This idea is expressed in the article, Work Ethic 2.0: Attention Control by Mike Elgan, and is the article I will be reflecting upon in this blog entry.
We've all heard of multi-tasking and as well those who can multi-task. Ever since I learned the term, I considered being able to multi-task as a real advantage. It makes sense, being able to do more than one thing in the same amount of time that it takes to complete one task. But does this really give you an advantage over people who don't? Well, yes if you can manage to do all your tasks efficiently, but this is very hard to do. As the article states, "A person who works with total focus has an enormous advantage over a workaholic who's "multi-tasking" all day."
With today's technology, we are able to do almost everything using our computers and the Internet. As much as a convenience this may be for us, it's also a great distraction. From socializing to shopping, the internet allows us to access the world at our fingertips! However, we're almost taking all this great technology given to us for granted. We get carried away from task to task because of the millions of possibilities the internet gives us. This means that there is no limit to distractions when it comes to 'working hard' at something.
The worst part is, things are just going down from here. Another point that Mike Elgan makes is that today's generation has been placed infront of some kind of a screen from the very start. From the TV to the Computer and back to a video game. They're distraction addicts even before they're old enough to understand the damages being made. They have a constant need for amusement and can't sit still for very long. As mike Elgan puts it, "Their attention spans have been whittled down to seconds, and their expectations for constant amusement are highly developed." So how do we learn to focus on anything if we've become so used to being distracted?
The decision to make is almost like distinguishing between Eating and Eating Desert. Eating being something you need to do to survive, your focus, and eating desert being something you can live without, your distractions. To survive we need to eat well, but if we don't have desert after every meal it won't kill us right? On the other hand, if we forget to eat well and replace all our meals with sweet sugary delights, we won't make it very far. In other words we can't get distracted for even a second, or it just might throw everything we've worked for right into the garbage can.
Unfortunately no one else can do this for you. It's up to you to use your abilities to their extreme. Push yourself to focus. As Columnist David Brooks says, "Control of attention is the ultimate individual power. People who can do that are not prisoners of the stimuli around them." It's our task now to free ourselves from the attractions of the distractions!
No matter how much we sugar-coat it, the truth remains the truth. Working hard alone isn't working for us so we have to combine that with learning to focus, while fighting the urge to amuse ourselves. If we can master this, we might just have that 300-word essay done on time!
That's all for now,
--Amna
**The Title for this post comes from the song "2 + 2 = 5" By Radiohead.
Posted by Negative-zero at 5:43 PM 1 comments
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