PC Maintenance and Security

The three tutorials I chose to complete:
1. Wireless Network Security
2. Clean Up & Speed Up Your PC
3. Helpful Website Resources

Wireless Network Security
Will definitely share this info with others:
- Some routers have built in firewalls and some routers do not use firewalls
- Admin and password are usually the default username and password
- It is a good idea to change the name of the SSID to something that does not identify you
What surprised me:
- One can disable the SSID Broadcast so others who are looking for wireless networks will not be able to find it

Clean Up & Speed Your PC
Will definitely share this info with others:
- Windows Cleanup! is a simple way to quickly clean up useless files and create more space

- MS Config is the system configuration utility and is extremely helpful for speeding up the performance of a computer system

- MS Config shows which unimportant programs slow down the start-up of the computer and allows you to disable them

What surprised me: 

- Compressed old files take up a lot of space on a computer and can be easily removed to free up space

Helpful Website Resources

Will definitely share this info with others: 

- PCpitstop offers customized tune-up tips

  - It also offers anti-virus scans and other online services that are free

- Gizmo Richard's Tech Support Alert is a great resource with tons of topics and is easy to understand

  - It offers evaluations of free software that is just as good or better than expensive software

What surprised me: 

- Gizmo's 46 Best Freeware Utilities are all personally tested and evaluated by the website's editors!

Getting Things Done

I tried out the Getting Things Done (GTD) technique to organize my time and increase my efficiency of everyday things. I decided to write down all of the tasks I needed to get done. I used my planner to write down all the things I needed to get done for the week and upcoming weeks. I think writing out the tasks and checking them off when I do them helps me stay on task and making the check mark in my planner is kind of a reinforcement tool and keeps me motivated as little as it may be.

Going through the GTD for the first time was somewhat of an anxiety increasing experience. I have a lot of things to get done and honestly don’t think I am the best at following through on all of them. I tend to put things off as a way to cope with being overwhelmed especially for things I really don’t look forward to doing. I think this process was helpful for me to manage which tasks are really important to finish first instead of easier and more enjoyable tasks that aren't as important

I think this process was helpful to me. I think it will help me put into perspective what tasks I can put off that aren’t extremely important at the moment and what tasks need to be at the top of my to-do list. I think the idea that if you can do something in two-minutes, do it that moment. I often tend to put simple things off and then it becomes an issue that never should have been created if I did it right away. 

I think I will continue this process but adapt to my own liking. I hope I can stick with it and use it to benefit my organization and efficiency. I just know myself and that I can tend to get lazy and not follow through sometimes because I overwhelm myself with so many tasks. I need to figure out a way to reward myself like making the check marks in my planner when I do accomplish a task.

 

I chose to use iGoogle as my RSS Reader. I like how I can visually see everything in a stimulating way with pictures and can add extra gadgets like the weather if I want to gather more daily information as well.

I responded to an article about how to effectively implement "time out". I really enjoyed the blog post and could relate to how I use time out or a similar technique with the kids in my classroom.

Social Networks

Social networks are becoming more popular today and they can be used to further an individual's personal and professional life. I remember when I heard about Myspace and Facebook a few years ago. I initially did not join either of these social networks. I eventually joined Facebook while in my undergraduate education and since then have benefited from using online social networks particularly Facebook. I know many people spend (or waste) a lot of time online on Facebook "stalking" individuals' profiles as some would say. Personally, I really like how I can connect with other individuals whether its a person I would like to know more about and become a "friend" with online or it's communicating with a professional, professor, grad student and or employer and making those professional connections that will help me land a job down the road. In addition I like how I can easily share information and receive information through these professional contacts I have made. I just recently added a PhD grad student who studying Marriage Family Therapy at MSU by adding him on Facebook and sending him a small introductory message. Now we are in communication and he is helping me come in and shadow Marriage Family Therapists at the Family Clinic on campus.

My students are 3,4 and 5-year-olds, so I'm assuming they don't have a Facebook page yet. And is it okay for teachers to become "friends" with their students on Facebook? Depending on the situation I think there are times when it is plausible for a teacher and student to make that social connection on Facebook. The good thing is that more social networking websites are being developed and created specifically for the educational purposes rather than the social purposes. Edmodo sounds like a great website that allows teachers and students interact in a social network online in an appropriate teacher-student relationship.

Web Pages vs. Blogs

Blogs can be a useful tool in education and are different than the traditional web pages in several aspects. In blogs, guests can read the updated blogs and post comments and communicate with the author of the blog. It allows for sharing of information in an flexible, interactive way. Other guests may comment and discuss with the author of the blog as well as other individuals who make comments. On a traditional web page the information sharing is more of a one-way street. Information is presented by the website author for guests to view, but the guests cannot share their ideas and give their input.