Skip to main content


Just when I thought the 'February blah's' had started to take their toll, a glorious gift was bestowed upon me - 12 spankin' new Dell computers for my classroom!

Yessiree bob - the old tower computers have been retired, along with their 'retro' Windows 8 and MS Office 2016 software. (good by old friends, you have served us well).

In their place are tiny little Dell OptiPlex computers, sporting Windows 10 (not ready to test Windows 11 yet) and the newest MS Office apps. Obviously, we are wired up to fast ethernet connection to cruise the light fantastic on the internet.

Now you may say "ok Scott, that is groovy and all. But why should I be doing a jig about this?"

Well, my amigo's, although I would never dis my own virtual presentations, sometimes you need hand-on instruction to learn certain technical skills. Try learning to play a guitar by watching videos and not HAVING a guitar. Get it?

If you need some basic computer or internet skills, want to learn the Microsoft Office applications, Google online apps, crafting a résumé and other technical  skills, you need both the teacher and the tools. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

WHAT THE . . Dogs Eating Frogs?!?!

Sooner or later you have to EAT THAT FROG! Bon Appité What madness is THIS? What crazy dog is ready to scarf down on that innocent frog (nicely laid out on a bed of cream and crumpets perhaps?)  How did I get this whacky canine to pose for this? Welcome to the world of AI (Artificial Intelligence). This is but one illustration I used for a workshop entitled "Essential Communication Techniques". To create this, I used the picture generation AI built into the Microsoft EDGE web browser (called 'CoPilot'). By typing into the chat box a request to "create a photo image of a border collie with red and white fur preparing to eat a frog sitting on a plait on a breakfast table". And Voila!  I have a border collie doing all types of things throughout this presentation. This is just one example of how AI can do amazing things to assist with workflow (at least for me).  Would you like to see what else this intrepid canine does?  Then register for my workshop and have a...

Any requests from the peanut gallery?

 As many of you know, the schedule of workshop topics has been consistent over the years. Every so often a new one may be added, an old one taken away. But buy-and-large it has been consistent.  This is so everyone can attend them all.  Miss 'Internet Basics, Pt. 1: Tech and Terms' this month? Don't sweat it, it'll be back next month. Ohhh, but woe unto thee that has attended them all! Besides the plethora of knowledge, you would have gained, there is nothing new to learn! You don't even get an' I attended every CareerLink® virtual workshop and lived to tell the tale' Commemorative T-shirt! Well, my dear friends, I am open to requests. Is there a topic you would like me to present that I have not covered yet? A 'special guest' (within reason - I cannot swing getting Taylor Swift to co-host, try as I might) you would like to talk to and plumb the depth of their knowledge? Keep in mind it should relate to some aspect of improving your career/job prospe...
 AI (Artificial Intelligence) - Is it the end of society? There has been a lot written lately in the news concerning the sudden accessibility of AI software on the web through various sites and apps you can download.  Some claim it is the next miraculous step in improving how computers can be a valuable tool in our lives. Others are afraid that its somewhat 'overnight' advancement might mean computers will be able to think and reason on their own, creating images of the movie 'The Terminator'  that plunge humankind into a dystopian world where we battle these supreme machines for our survival.  Make no mistake, this sudden advancement is astounding in its implications, and difficult to understand. However, AI has been used on the web for a long time, though not to this new degree. One example would be the use of a 'chatbot'. A chatbot mimics the written responses of an actual person. It might just answer generic questions with pre-written answers. At its best, i...