Muddy: Databases

Learning a new program : Access


It's prretty difficult the first go-around for a new program. Especially if you have never worked with databases or anything even like that.
The concepts were pretty easy to understand, but I think this video puts it in plain English.
In the lecture, the program was not put in the simplest language possible.

In business, it's important to fully understand a program. Or at least what you need to do on that program. Software like Photoshop is so vast that most users only use about 1% of it. I am guessing Access is similar. It seems complex, but once you start making reports, forms and relating tables together, I'm sure it get's easier.

About.com has a plethora of tutorials to choose from and walks you step-by-step.
Tutorialized.com has many tutorials that actually refer you back to YouTube videos but does not navigate you away from the page.
Finally, on Functionx.com there is an extensive list on the left side that brings you to a great text and graphic breakdown of table, forms and everything in between.

Web 2.0 Project

This is my project

Self critique:
I set up my project so it would flow logically from one topic (photos, video, etc.) to the other smoothly. I took a couple slides at the beginning to prepare y audience for what was ahead.
I didn't do a voice over, which was a big flaw in the presentation. I should have done one because some of the bullet points (which are pretty clear) could sometimes use an explanation or I could enhance my overall presentation with some more info.
I didn't ask the audience questions because it was more of a straight-forward thing. These are my skills..one, two and three.
I tried to grab my audiences attention with some slides, music and compelling photos. I hope it worked!
I also tried to avoid clutter with big photos, big text and simple layouts.

Another critique:
The presentation I critiqued didn't really help me. It showed very little of what I could have improved on unfortunately. It's great to see someone show you a new way to do something or a cool idea for a presentation, but I didn't see this.

What I learned:
I learned a little more Powerpoint. One of the most useful things I learned was organization. I organized before I started the project and it really paid off. It's so easy when you create a storyboard. It's just like fitting the pieces of the puzzle together once you have grouped them together. I think sharing presentations online is completely easy because it is easilya ccessible for future employers. It is also easier to share with colleagues and use really neat tools to share information, which is what we do in today's world. I will definitely share my presentations online from now on, because e-mailing it is too big and takes too long. In the clouds, it's more efficient.

Avatar Creation

So, this is me in fake reality!
I thought it was kind of fun making this Avatar. I mean you can get it pretty accurate. There were limitations though with the accessories you could use and the clothes you could wear, but overall it was an interesting experience. I had never done something like this before except play a couple of SIM games back in the day.
Also, if you wanted to "share" it without a screen grab, you had to sign up with the service, which is no fun. And I didn't sign up. But I did enjoy the exercise.

Clear: The Internet

Img source


The Internet is pretty much straight forward for the average college-age person. We have been using programs since we were in elementary and middle school. Namely instant messenger and games like the Oregon Trail. So, when Google brought the world wide web to our feet, and social networking connected every youth, the Internet was just another tool that could easily be figured out. Therefore, we have used the Internet for various research papers, social networking, projects, entertainment, etc for years, so most people know what it is.

However, it is refreshing to find out background facts about the Internet like the structure of the Internet (the inner core, outer periphery and mantle) while understanding fully our precious Wifi (commonly mistaken as wireless fidelity) we need to work as we sip our mediocre lattes at Starbucks and call each other hi-tech.

Understanding the Internet is extremely important for business. Almost every business should have an efficient and effective web site because this can increase sales and productivity. It is also important to understand the difference between DSL, dial-up, wifi, etc. to suit your business needs at the office and at home.
OPENING UP SUPER WIFI
Especially when the FCC regulates the waves that we use for wifi, which they are opening up more of and it should change the pace and technology of the Internet to benefit most businesses and people.
And because people normally don't read sites or blogs, they scan. Most of you will never reach this sentence. Except the grader of this blog, thanks for reading.

Week 7 Clear: Presentations

Above is a web site on effective presentations.
Presentations

It's all about simple, effective presentation!

The concepts that were clear to me for this week:

1. Keep it simple with words and graphics
2. Keep it relevant to the audience -they are the priority
3. Use big text and good graphics (not clip art, and not teeny pics)
4. Have your signal (the message) louder than the noise (the graphics or add-ins)
   
5. Do not drone on, keep your audience engaged.
   
6. Keep design principles in mind (e.g. white space)

For business effective presentations help:

1. To sell a product
2. Gain a partner
3. Pitch an idea, sales plan or campaign to the big bosses
4. Expand the company effectively and efficiently
5. It may engage the company in growth for a fiscal presentation

Presentations are used in business constantly. It is a form of communication of ideas and information. The key is to be effective and engaging. A person needs to be effective ( sell the product) and efficient( a great presentation). One is the means and one is the end. Both are needed! Presentations are a tool to seal the deal or to communicate with the company. Do not be a drone!

Excel Project

My first Excel spreadsheet!

So this is what it's like to work with Excel. I never knew how simple and organized life could really get. Excel is a software that has many functions to keep your life and business running smoothly especially since it is mathematically organized when most of us are not. In these past couple of weeks I have made my first Excel workbook/spreadsheets on a fake set of data that dealt with a 15-minute workout, 5-minute cooldown of 500 subjects while measuring their heartrate throughout at consistent intervals. Below I'll mention some of the interesting things I accomplished (And so can you!) in Excel and the general gist of what I did.

1. Above I described the raw data that was given to me. Your raw data could be anything. Like different crime statistics listed by every university in the country. As a journalist you want to analyze that data for a story. For my analysis, I did a couple summary functions to determine the target heart rate for the subjects involved, then moved from there figuring out the target percent that each subject should achieve and if they achieved it or not. All of this deal with formulas. Formulas are the staple of Excel. They make life easier if you know how to use them. I learned how to precisely get my data by selecting the rows and columns I wanted analyzed, typing in the formula and applying it to the rest of the row through the relative function excel has. I think the hardest part was coming up with the formulas. You really have to think logically before you start to type =(blah,blah, blah) as a formula. Once you have the formula you are set to go. What also helped me was the actual Help box that Excel has plugged in. It gives you steps on how to do things when you get stuck. It is better than some of the advice on the web.
   
2. The next part was the data analysis. Actual comparison of the data. This is where pivot tables shine. I made two tables. One where it showed the target heart rate achieved for men, women and all subjects together. The other determined by age and gender demographics if the workout was effective through the increase in heart rate. I think creating the pivot table was the most difficult process throughout this project. You not only have to plug in the numbers, but you also have to switch them around within the table to determine your data. You have to find out the answers instead of plugging in a formula (function) and having excel spit it out for you. A screen capture of the second pivot table is listed below.

Making things look good is extremely important. Especially in today's world people respond to visual stimulus. Therefore, making a "pretty" spreadsheet is important. I highlighted important aspects of the sheet, bolded headlines and outlined things. It is just a matter of making your book look professional if someone else is going to be looking at the data with a fresh pair of eyes and want the basics fast. Why? Because time is money and productivity can stem from clean, clear cut data. So, make it pretty and professional!