The Advice List (9/17/09 edit)

General:

1. DO NOT SAVE your projects to your computer (unless it's YOUR computer!). Save to a flash/thumb drive.
   
   
2. If you don't have a flash/thumb drive - go get one NOW. You'll need it. Go to Target or a dollar store or Walmart and get a real cheap (i.e. small) one. They are availalbe all over creation online.
   
   
3. BACKUP EVERYTHING. Emailing the files to yourself (especially webmail - yahoo, gmail, hotmail) is a cheap way to backup stuff. Stash it in a folder in your email client.
   
   
4. Grades - the online gradebooks in myITlab are only used for getting your scores. Download the Excel workbook provided and type in your numbers to see where you stand.
   
   
5. I often put comments in myITlab about your grade. Click on the grade in the gradebook to see them.
   
   
6. USE THE FACEBOOK group to complain - ask questions - etc. If you aren't a member, go join. You MUST be in the "Mercer" network in order to see it. Click on your name at the top to see what networks you're in.
   
   
7. These projects take LONGER THAN YOU THINK. Don't wait until 2 days before to start. Best process:
   Chapter 1: myITlab training.
   myITlab test.
   Capstone project.
   Then Chapter 2, etc.
   
   
8. On the "Outside miniprojects" make sure you read and follow the directions, especially in terms of what you are to submit. You WILL lose points if you don't follow the instructions!
   

Blackboard: (used some semesters, but not all)
When submitting a project, if you don't see the little "computer" icon that lets you upload a file, then there is a problem with java. Some suggestions:

1. Quit everything else other than your web browser.
2. Reboot.
   
3. Update your system.
4. Completely shutdown your machine and try again.
   

If your machine is being particularly difficult, email the file(s) to my Mercer account - but included a note explaining what you're sending and why). If you can get it to submit later, great! If not, I'll know you submitted it in time, and will just grade the emailed version.


myITlab:

1. When taking a test, if you have an incorrect answer - RESET. It keeps the software sane.
2. READ the instructions carefully. An extra space in an answer means it's incorrect - it's a stupid computer, after all!
   

Powerpoint:

1. When the myITlab exam asks you to move a graphic to a particular spot (2 inches from the left, for example), USE NUMBERS. Don't try to drag it into place - the thing is much too persnickety for that to work well.
   
   
2. On the test question that wants you to resize a graphic - Call up the dialog that lets you resize/position a graphic. You'll be changing the width and height, but there's a catch:
   Change the width, click the height box.
   You should see the graphic change.
   Change the height, THEN CLICK IN THE WIDTH BOX.
   The graphic should again change - only then click the OK(?) button.


3. Capstone 3 Powerpoint: It calls for "Smart Art --> Target 3". It isn't called that in Powerpoint. Find it in Relationship --> Target list.
   
   
4. When the instructions call for colors ("Pastel purple", for example) - just pick a pastel purple color from the preset list. The point is to show me you know HOW to change the gradient color, so I'm not going to get heartburn if you don't get exactly the RIGHT pastel purple! The same concept applies to the 3D shape (hint: call up the dialog box, don't select from the Ribbon menu).
   
   
5. When working with the 3D shapes, DON'T put a bevel on it. You can't put both a dotted line AND a bevel on a shape at the same time.
   
   
6. There are different TYPES of fills, including gradients, linear gradients, radial gradients, etc. Be careful what you use!
   

Access:

1. Capstones - DO NOT click the file to download (you'll likely get a "file does not exist" error, or it will create other problems). RIGHT-CLICK and save the file to your flash drive.
2. Capstone 4:
   A) Do not set the report up to automatically adjust fields to fit everything on one page.
   B) Once you go to wide column format and look at the report on two pages, you will see the check amount on the far right.
   C) You have to resize things in DESIGN VIEW to get everything back onto one page.
   D) As far as the moving of the CheckDate, click on the CheckDate field in layout view, right click the mouse, and at the bottom of the dropdown menu there is an option to "reorder" things and move them up or down.
   E) You want to move everything around so it all fits on one page - you'll have to do that manually.