SOFTWARE
SUGGESTIONS:
MICROSOFT
PROGRAMS: For me, knowing Microsoft Word has really helped me
in my writing. It has useful tabs on it, and also you can choose
different fonts, too. It lines up essays very nicely and looks
professional.
It
has also helped me design some websites. You can take a website
done in Microsoft Word and import it into Dreamweaver, too.
Dreamweaver has a lot more bells and whistles, and takes the
extra code out of the Microsoft Word page, too. The University
I attended as a non-traditional student had Microsoft Word installed
in all their computers.
Microsoft
PowerPoint is a great program for teaching students, because
it's possible to really jazz up your presentations with it.
I have used PowerPoint a lot, and it makes a so-so lesson much
more interesting - especially for visual learners.
At
first, I could not afford to get full versions of these programs.
I went to the Microsoft website and downloaded try-out versions.
They didn't cost me anything. Just go to downloads on the Microsoft
website to get your free trial versions, if you don't already
have this program on your computer.
Microsoft
also has great support, artwork
and clipart, and templates
that you can use for free.
COREL:
I find Corel design programs very handy in making artwork. You
can find Corel programs very reasonably, especially if you are
willing to try an older version. Here is the Corel website.
I use a Mac, and the
Corel programs can be glitchier than on a PC, but you can't
beat the Corel artwork they include with their Draw programs
ADOBE
SOFTWARE:
Adobe makes programs that work with each other, such as Pagemaker
(now In-Design), Photoshop, and Illustrator. I use Photoshop
every day. I used to use Pagemaker a lot at my graphic design
job. Check here for downloads on these great programs.
WEBSITE
DESIGN:
I
taught myself web design, but I look forward to taking some
professional classes as well. Some sites I have found very helpful
in learning html and web design are:
HTML
Goodies -
I used to use the website here for free advice. I do have the
book, which I highly recommend. The author has sold this site
to somebody else, so I don't know if it's still as good. The
book certainly is great, though.
LOADING
AND UPLOADING FILES:
I used to use Transmit.
Now I am using Fetch.
WHITE
AND BLACKBOARDS:
I used a whiteboard program for online classes at college. I
had to call the company because my Mac computer did not work
with the software. They and I finally figured out a workaround
that let me go in the class with the other students. I had to
work in Internet Explorer, though.
COMPUTERS
and HARDWARE
What
kind of computer should you get? What printers/scanners/etc.
are the best? I would check Consumer Reports to find out --
if you are getting a new computer. I personally use a Mac, but
some programs only run on a PC, so I guess I'd advise getting
both if possible. I would say that a PC is fine for school -
but make sure to get good anti-virus programs and a firewall
to keep out spam and intruders. I use a Brother printer, an
iBook computer, a Microtek scanner, a Motorola cell phone with
camera, and a Kodak EasyShare digital camera.
A
THUMB DRIVE
- sometimes called a portable or stick drive, these small portable
hard drives are great for school. You can even put them on your
keychain, because they are really small. Be sure to remember
to take them back home after class. I almost left mine once.
I have a 1 Gig Geek Squad U3 Smart stick. It has always worked
really well on every computer I've used it on.
BACKING
UP YOUR WORK:
A word to the wise: Always keep a backup copy of your work,
and that goes for any kind of homework or report. I knew of
at least three other students who lost their work and had to
do WEEKS or MONTHS of work at the last minute for a class. I
used to make a weekly backup onto a thumb drive.
It is so worth
the time and money to do a backup - or maybe two of them - - to save you hours and
maybe days of extra work in case your computer messes up or
you lose your first copy. There are also online services that you can use.
