CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 3/28/2006

Tonight we covered the LAST (well, second to last if you count Ch 24 that I skipped) chapter in the book – maintaining WinNT!  On Monday, we’ll have a test over Chapters 11-16, and then cover the “missing chapter” 24.  

Homework:

• Chapter 16 – Questions 1-10

MS Office - 3/28/2006

I turned over the reigns to you guys today as we watched everyone give their PowerPoint presentations.  Everyone did an excellent job, and watching them was a lot of fun.  Hopefully you guys had as much fun as I did!

Homework:

• No homework, be ready to start the Access chapter next week!

Network + Training - 3/28/2006

Today we took Test #3, the last test of the class (excluding the final).  Afterwards, we started in on Transcenders.  Next week, be prepared to do more Transcenders, with the exception that you will need to answer the questions on your own, without any help.  In the meantime, make sure you live and breathe these Transcenders!  

Homework:

• Practice, practice practice!  


• Remember, if you take and pass your Net+ Certification before the end of the class, you get an automatic A!

CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 3/27/2006

We discussed Chapter 15 – Windows 9x tonight.  A lot of information was new, but a lot of it wasn’t so hopefully everyone got something out of last night’s class.  Tomorrow night is Chapter 16!  See ya then.

Homework:

• Questions 1-10

MS Word - 3/27/2006

Today we did Chapter Seven, which covers creating Tables of Contents, Figures and Authorities as well as creating Indexes.  This chapter is one of my favorites because it covers some very powerful, time-saving topics.  Hopefully you guys liked it too!

Remember, we have a test next week over Expert Chapters 1-4, and 7.  See ya next time!

Homework:

• Matching 1-11


• Skill Assessment #1

MS Access - 3/22/2006

Today was a “study” day for the test next week, which will be over Chapters 5-7 (NOT chapter 8 as we had previously discussed).  This study day consisted of going through the Skills Assessments that are after Specialist Chapter 8.  I also passed out a study guide, which I’ll include below.

Homework:

• Study, study, study!

Microsoft Access Test Two (Study Guide)

• A PivotTable or PivotChart is a highly specialized, highly customizable way of presenting data that’s contained in a table or query.


• Access database files have the extension .mdb.


• An input mask automatically formats input for you.  You would use an input mask when you want phone numbers or social security numbers to all look the same.  (270) 843-6750.


• If you want to have Access create a form for you by asking you a series of questions (like an interview), you would start the Form Wizard.


• In designing a form, you can “tie” a field to a text box by indicating the field in the text box’s Control Source property.


• Know the proper structure to calculate values in queries using existing fields.  For example, to divide the TotalUnits field by the TotalPrice field you would type [TotalUnits]/[TotalPrice].


• Know the various ways to create tables, forms, and reports.


• Make sure you can do all of the skill assessments in the purple section of your book, just after Specialist Chapter 8.


• Making a forms makes your data entry process easier and more attractive.


• Navigation buttons are the buttons that allow you to navigate from one record to another inside tables, forms and reports.


• Queries allow you to pull up only certain information such as your male customers in Kentucky under the age of 35


• Reports allow you to arrange your data in an easy-to-read format on paper.


• Tables are the basic storage units in a database


• The difference between a page header and a report header is that the page header appears on the top of each page, the report header appears at the beginning of each report.  


• The Object Dependencies task pane allows you to view each object and everything that is tied to it with a relationship.  You can turn this feature on by clicking View, Object Dependencies.


• Turning on the form header can be accomplished by simply clicking View, Form Header/Footer.


• When you export data to a Word file, that Word file has the file extension .doc.


• When you export data to an Excel file, that Excel file has the file extension .xls.


• When you want your Access table to be automatically updated whenever you update a certain Excel file and vice versa, you would link the table to the Excel file.  To do that, you would click on File, Get External Data, Link Tables.


• Your Clipboard task pane allows you to hold up to 24 objects that you can later paste into various Office files.

CompTIA OS/Hardware - 3/21/2006

I’m sitting here while Keith and Amy are dismantling this huge tower of a computer.  We’re done with tonight’s class which discussed the installation and upgrading of various Windows operating systems.  We practiced what I preached by installing Windows XP, which went flawlessly for everyone.  

Homework:

• Chapter 14 – Questions 1-10

MS Office - 3/21/2006

More work today on your presentations.  Remember, they are due next week!

CompTIA Network+ Training - 3/21/2006

We today finished the last two chapters in the book – Chapters 19 & 20.  Be ready for a test next week over Chapters 15-20, and afterwards, we’ll jump right into Transcenders.  

Homework:

• Chapter Nineteen – 1-10


• Chapter Twenty – 1-10

CompTIA OS/Hardware - 3/20/2006

Tonight we covered Chapter 13, which dealt with the command prompt.  Make sure you know how to do the various commands we covered tonight, such as DIR, CD, MD, RD, XCOPY/XMOVE, etc.

Homework:

• Chapter 13 – Questions 1-10

MS Word - 3/20/2006

Today’s class covered chapter four, which dealt with macros, styles and other types of timesavers built into the MS Word program.  

Homework:

• Completion (skip 5)


• Skill Assessments 1, 6, 8

    

Small Business Management - 3/16/2006

Today’s class was given to you for work on your projects.  Keep on chugging!

CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 3/14/2006

Tonight’s class covered Chapter 12, which was an introduction of sorts to Windows.  Make sure you guys know the files that I put on the board and what each of them do.

Homework:

• Questions 1-10

MS Office - 3/14/2006

Today I allowed you guys to work on your Powerpoint presentations, which are due on March 28.  I’m definitely looking forward to seeing them!

Homework:

• Continue to work on your presentations

MS Access - 3/15/2006

Chapter 7 was the topic of choice today, and Chapter 7 covers importing/exporting to/from Access from/to Word & Excel.  (How’s that for slashes?)  

Homework:

• Completion 1-9


• Skill Assessment 3

CompTIA Network + Training - 3/14/2006

Today’s abbreviated class dealt with Chapter 18, which was over interconnecting Network Operating Systems.  Then, we worked on Transcenders.  Next week, we’ll finish up the book!!

Homework:

• Questions 1-10


• Lab 19.01, Lab Analysis

CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 3/13/2006

We started the OS portion of our class tonight by covering  Chapter 11: Implementing Hard Drives.  Partitions, formatting, and various tools were the subjects of discussion.  Some of us stuck around after class and worked on Keith’s computer that he graciously brought in for us to monkey around on and see if we can’t get it fixed.  We’ll be working on it Tuesday as well.

Homework:

• Chapter 11 – Questions 1-10

MS Word - 3/13/2006

Today in class we learned some specialized features that Word has to manipulate images.  Some of these included the AutoShapes tool and other various features such as color tools, shape alignment, etc.

Homework:

• Chapter 3 Completion 1-8


• Chapter 3 Skill Assessments 1, 3, 5

CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 3/7/2006

Tonight’s class consisted of nothing but Hardware Transcenders.  Guys, I can not emphasize how important these Transcenders are to your preparation for the A+ Certification (not to mention your grade!)  Make sure that you entrench yourselves with these!!!

Homework:

• No homework, but do your Transcenders!!!  Also, work on / reread Chapter 23 on Networking if you’re having problems.  As always, let me know (bbedo@draughons.edu) if you have any questions!

MS Office - 3/7/2006

Today’s class consisted of first, the Excel test (nice job on those, by the way) and then we looked at the Powerpoint presentations, due on March 28.  Here are the requirements for that:

Powerpoint Presentation

For the Powerpoint portion of this class, we will be making a Powerpoint presentation and presenting it.  This presentation will count as your Powerpoint test.  There are several things I will be looking for as you give your slideshow:

• At least 12 slides


• Text should be easy to read from the back of the room.  Use the “Rule of 6” to determine this (stand 6 feet from your monitor and if you can easily read your text, you’re good).


• Use a Design template (either from the Web or from inside PowerPoint)


• Have at least three types of slide layouts.


• Use both animations and slide transitions on all slides


• Use some form of clipart on at least one slide


• Place a chart, table or graph on at least one slide


• Please do not use sounds (this is a personal rule of mine, it’s kind of a pet peeve…).


• Print a page of handouts to give to me on the day of your presentation.  There should be six slides per page.

Well, Ben, that’s all well and good, but what in the world am I going to do this presentation on???  I’m glad you asked!

Do it on ANYTHING you want!  I want to be educated!  Do it on a hobby, a passion, something completely random, something you’ve already done research for in another class, something.  There are no right or wrong topics here (ok, nothing pornographic, but you get my point).  

Some examples:

• How to change your oil


• Why we should invade Canada


• Why Michael Jackson is guilty/innocent


• A history of your favorite rock band


• How to tame horses


• How to take blood


• How George Dubya is ruining/saving our nation


• Why you shouldn’t buy milk from Wal-Mart.


• Your stance on gun control, etc.


• Planning a vacation


• Unique investment strategies

You’ll have the next few weeks to work on this presentation.  We’ll give them March 28.

Remember, you still need to come to class, even though there won’t be any formal lecturing!!!

Homework:

• Work on your presentations!!!

CompTIA Network + Training - 3/7/2006

Today we covered Chapters 16 & 17, dealing with Remote Connectivity and Protecting your Network.  We also were privy to the same sick, sick humor you guys are so good at coming up with.  I will now shower.  

Homework:

• Chapter 16 – Questions 1-10


• Chapter 17 – Questions 1-10

CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 3/6/2006

Tonight we did the LOOOOONGGGGGG  chapter of Networking (Chapter 23).  Various topics we talked about included network topologies, network hardware, protocols and other fun stuff.  Make sure that you know your topologies and make sure you can convert an IP address to binary and vice versa.

Homework:

• Chapter 23 – Questions 1-10

MS Word - 3/6/2006

Today we did Chapter Two, which was all about advanced formatting tools available to us in Word.  We covered a wide variety of things including the non-breaking space, using tables to do math, and customizing our toolbars and menus to fit our own specific needs.

Homework:

• Completion 1-15


• Skill Assessments 1, 2, 5

MS Access - 3/1/2006

Today we began chapter six, which is all about ways to creatively display your data.  We talked about reports this week, and next week, we’ll finish up and cover mailing labels, pivot charts/tables and lotsa fun stuff like that.

Homework:

• No homework this week.  See ya next time!

CompTIA A+ OS/Hardware - 2/28/2006

Congrats on the test tonight, guys!  The class average was an 81, which I am VERY pleased with!

All we did tonight was the exam, so those of you who were not here only missed that.  Be ready to take a modified version of that test as soon as you come back.

Tony, I hope you’re reading this.  Transcenders came in late yesterday afternoon and were distributed today to everyone.  I still have a few to pass out, so make sure that you see me if you did not get yours.  The packets include installation instructions, but since the wording is sketchy at best, a majority of students have problems getting them installed.  Call the 1-800 number if you have difficulties.

Also, any MSE student who is reading this, we will begin the registration process beginning next week, so make sure that you find me.  (You will need to be OK’d from someone in financial aid before I can register you).

Homework:

• No Homework!