WAHOO!!!!!!

Well. I feel like I hit a milestone. I know I shared this with my classmates already, but after struggling for a week to figure out how to incorporate powerpoint into my web publisher site, I figured it out on my own. I read people's blogs looking for someone who was having the same issue that I was. I found the answer from one of them, not the help area on publisher. Unfortunately, I had been hitting so many different keys, I wasn't quite sure how it happened. I do think I could do it again however. So after I figured out how to connect the 2, I needed to figure out how to open it in different drives. It needed to be a "dynamic link". (Now I'm really sounding impressive, huh!) Anyway, I had no clue about that until I met with one of the IT people at the help desk in the library. She was hugely helpful, and determined to help me find the answer. She did. I have to give her all the credit. I watched as she figured it out. She explained it all, and a small part I understood. What I liked about her was that she told me she self taught herself computers. She read things and practiced using them. I was impressed. Anyway, I feel I have come a long way during this course. At the beginning, I couldn't even make my own folder and now.... Hopefully the presentation will work on Dec 10th. If not, I think I will survive and continue trying.

Slowly getting there

Well, I finally feel like I am actually making some progress.  I am doing much better with simple word processing, I'm getting the Christmas card list online (That is a longer process than I thought.), I was able to design a short survey, and I am working on my website.  A lot of technology for me!  I also, for the first time, downloaded my own music to my ipod.  It is a slow learning curve for me, but I am realizing what is all out there and continually am amazed.  I also realized that for the majority of the technology I am learning, it just takes practice.  Nobody can show me it overnight.  I have to use it to learn it.  

Pat on the back

Ok, so this probably is a very little thing for most people, but it made me feel good.  A colleague came into my office and was talking about how she couldn't get the tympanogram machine to work and how she was "terrible with technology".  I shared with her that I, too, was a digital native (she loved this term)  and was in the process of learning different types of technology in my class.  She then said all she wanted to know was how to make a folder for one particular topic on her computer.  I smiled and said, "I can show you how to do that!"  I then showed her how to put her attachments into a folder and label it.  It's a small thing for many people, but I was happy that I knew the answer!  

Designer

After completing class on Thursday night, I feel so much better about using Publisher and being able to create my own website.  The hands on learning was wonderful.  I really got the feel for actually designing my own site.  I spent some time this weekend working on my efolio and website and have to say I somewhat enjoyed it.  Once I told myself it was homework ( thus giving myself permission 'to play' on the computer) I had a good time.  I didn't remember everything that was said in class, but I tried different things and was able to figure a lot of it out by trial and error.  

I have to say, these past few weeks have made me wonder... where have I been?  I feel almost negligent in not paying closer attention to the technology out there.  I should have known some of this.  Granted, I've gotten by, but why didn't I try some of this before?

Augie Dog

Ok, so technology can be somewhat boring to talk about so I thought I'd add a photo to make my blog a little more interesting and personal.  Besides my children and husband, here is my most loyal companion.

Attitude Change

Last night was the software lab and I have to say I've had a change in attitude.  Technology has always seemed somewhat overwhelming for me.  My life is so busy that I never seemed to have extra time to sit at the computer and play around with the programs.  The lab made me realize that a lot of the things I thought would be hard to do, actually weren't hard at all.  I also was amazed at the technology that is literally at my fingertips.  I could also use so much of the information we learned in my job and my schoolwork.  I know now that I don't have to learn this overnight.  One program at a time.  This weekend I am going to spend 1 hour playing around with the different programs.  The Christmas card list is going online!

Playing with Pictures

I now feel confident logging onto my blog so today, I started playing around with adding pictures and other gadgets.  I actually found it to be relatively simple to do.  I had fun looking on google finding my first camera, computer, cassette player, etc.  I have to admit, I wouldn't want to go back to using them now.  I like our digital camera, Mac, and iPod.  OK, I'll say it, technology isn't all bad.