Happy Holidays! See You in 2012!

Since it is the holiday season, I’ll be taking a little break from posting blogs to spend quality time with my family. MPTC is taking a break, too. The campus will be closed beginning this Saturday, Dec. 24, and will reopen on Wednesday, Jan. 4, which is the start of Winterim. I won’t be taking any classes during the winter before the spring 2012 semester, but I’ll still be writing to you during my winter break in January.

I would like to give a big congratulation to all those students who have earned their associate degrees, technical diplomas, and certificates! We’ll miss seeing you around campus, but we wish you the best of luck on the next step in your career.

In January, I’ll be back with more blogs. I’ll let you know about my Christmas and New Years, and how I’m getting ready for the spring semester. There will be books to buy and new student orientations to attend to represent the Web Developer Club. Also, in the future, you’ll be able to see and hear me as I post my first video blog.

Happy Holidays! See you in 2012!

Week in Review: A Reflection of December 12 – December 17

This past week was my last week of classes at Moraine Park Technical College for the fall 2011 semester. Everything seems to be wrapping up on campus. There aren’t any more meetings or classes to go to. All my class work is done except for the last two assignments for Beginning Photoshop.

The books I decided not to keep have been sold back to the MPTC bookstore. I’m putting the money I received from those books off to the side to help purchase my spring 2012 textbooks. The bookstore’s website lists required books and supplies for classes, but they haven’t posted next semester’s list last time I checked. I’ll check back later when it’s closer to the start of the semester.

This is the time of the semester when I wait for my final grades to come in. It can take what seems a while for instructors to grade, but I’ve already received some of my final grades. I usually check the online class portals in eCollege, but grades can also be accessed from myMPTC. Sometime soon I’ll be receiving my Web Site Coordinator Certificate. I’m pretty psyched to finally be able to put it on my resume.

Web Developer Club Holiday Party

For our last Web Developer Club meeting of the fall 2011 semester at Moraine Park, we had an informal holiday party to celebrate the end of the semester and the beginning of the holiday season. There were lots of cookies and good food to eat.

A few new people who are interested in joining the group showed up while a few of our regular members were unable to attend. We may need to reserve a larger room next semester, which I think is a really good problem to have!

Our club president had a few cool things to show us, as always. Much of the discussion was about social media and viral marketing. He showed us how to create a Facebook fan page, and explained to us what are vanity URLs. He showed us how easy it was to customize and embed YouTube videos to your webpage.

Our hope for next semester is to have a field trip to an Internet firm in the Green Bay area so we can learn how an operation like that works. I’m looking forward to next semester. I wish I didn’t have to wait two more months until our next Web Developer Club meeting.

Graphics for the Web Final Project Presentation

Technology has made the world an increasingly smaller place. Our communications are not geographically limited anymore. However, we still retain our separate cultures across the world. Just because we are able to communicate with people on the other side of the world doesn’t mean we are all experts at communicating with people who have their own history, language, and traditions from our own. No business is this more obvious than marketing. Sometimes messages get lost or misinterpreted in translation, not just text but even colors and pictorial symbols.

This is what we needed to keep in mind when creating our final project for Graphics for the Web at Moraine Park Technical College. Each student chose a country to research. We needed to learn what colors and symbols meant in their culture to avoid using ones that were inappropriate or illogical for our logo design. The logo was supposed to be for a product or service that would be marketed in that country.

After compiling research and using techniques we learned throughout the semester to create the logo, we each put together a PowerPoint presentation to share with the class. I presented first, and I was able to sit back, relax, and learn about other countries. Some of the countries my class chose to research were India, United Kingdom, and Brazil. I enjoyed this project, because I love learning about color and other cultures. I’ve realized it’s easy to be unaware that messages can be misinterpreted, and it should never be assumed that any colors or symbols are universal.

Completing Self-Paced Microsoft Access Course

Despite the fact that I thought December 8 was a Friday when it was actually a Thursday, I still completed all my self-paced Microsoft Access work at Moraine Park Technical College a few days early.

For self-paced classes, MPTC uses an online training system called MyITLab. I first used this at the beginning of the semester when I took the self-paced Microsoft Excel course. It took some time to learn how to navigate through the training system. When I started the Access class, I was much more comfortable with the system, and it went very smoothly.

I can see how Microsoft Access comes in handy when you have to manage several things for a company that requires more than a simple spreadsheet. I liked the label-making feature that allows me to make address labels. The book showed a lot of different ways to customize forms and reports to make them look nice and unique.

Even though this was a self-paced class, there were open lab hours staffed by the instructors of the courses a few times a week every week. I went in there a few times to work and to ask some questions I had. It was nice to work in that lab because the computer monitors had a horizontal orientation. I could have the PDF instructions on one side of the screen and the program open up on the other side of the screen.

The last task to complete for the course required some critical thinking. It was the Core Ability Self-Assessment. Besides learning technical skills, MPTC stresses these core abilities that employers are looking for in their employees. These things are transferable to every job position and include things like thinking critically and creatively, acting responsibly, and communicating clearly, just to name a few. I had to explain, while working through this course, how I demonstrated these abilities.

Since I turned in all my work early, my instructor was able to grade my work early. I am very pleased with my final grade. I feel confident that I learned the program well, and I’m excited to add it to my resume during winter break. I’m glad it’s over though, because I spent hours in the computer lab each week, and I’m looking forward to spending more time moving around and less time sitting.

Week in Review: A Reflection of December 4 – December 11

What a busy, busy week it has been! There was the holiday celebration event, which included two BINGO events and a casino, a Lunch ‘n’ Learn, and final projects to work on for my classes at Moraine Park Technical College.

The cafeteria and computer labs were popular places for group projects and study groups this past week. It is definitely nearing the end of the semester. Which reminds me; book buyback starts this Thursday. I’ve got a few books l would like to sell back to the bookstore, but I highly recommend keeping books you know you’ll use in the future. I will not be selling my Photoshop or JavaScript book back. They were good books I know I might need to use for reference in the future.

Sometimes when I go down the hallway past the library at the West Bend campus, there will be something set up at the tables. This past week there was a fundraiser for Relay for Life http://www.relayforlife.org/. Students and staff could purchase tickets to enter drawings to win gift baskets filled with things like movies, iTunes gift cards, candy, and cookbooks. I was one of the first to put my raffle tickets into the bucket.

After completing my self-paced Microsoft Access class, I was able to focus on my final project for Graphics for the Web class that was due on Monday. It required a lot of research and a lot of time spent using Photoshop to create a logo.

Now, the last thing I need to focus on is the last assignments for Beginning Photoshop. That will be due on Monday, and then I’m all done for the fall semester of 2011!

Lunch ‘n’ Learn: “Should-less” Holidays

Before I went to this month’s Lunch ‘n’ Learn at MPTC’s West Bend campus, I wasn’t really sure what “should-less” holidays was suppose to mean. Special events, especially the holidays, come with a lot of seemingly obligatory activities. This Lunch ‘n’ Learn was an open discussion about things we feel obligated, or “should-do,” during this time of the year.

Something us college students are faced with each year is the busy end of the fall semester running concurrently with the busy beginning of the holiday season. It can be challenging to get shopping, decorating, and baking done between final assignments. There can be a lot of pressure to find the right gifts for the right people. It’s great to see family members you haven’t seen in a while, but it can be difficult to find common ground if your lives have gone in different directions.

Besides all the “shoulds” there are also things to look forward to. Traditions like baking certain foods this time of the year can be fun. Our family tradition for the last few generations is making butterhorns. Everybody looks forward to eating them, and it wouldn’t quite feel like Christmas without this tradition.

I like that we always seem to end the Lunch ‘n’ Learns on a positive note after getting a few things off our chest that cause us anxiety and frustration. We all shared something we liked about this time of the year, and it’s good to focus on those things.

Holiday Celebration: BINGO and Casino

I was at Moraine Park’s West Bend campus for most of the day on Tuesday, but I didn’t spend it in class or even working on homework; I was enjoying the holiday festivities sponsored by the West Bend Student Senate and Activities Committee.

The day started off with BINGO in one of the rooms near the cafeteria. We had sandwiches, cookies, and other munchies to enjoy. In order to play everyone was to donate a non-perishable item or give a monetary donation to the Salvation Army. We ended up with a nice full box of food to donate.

In the afternoon, the people from Casino Events, Inc. set up some tables in the cafeteria for the casino games, just like they did last spring. I started out at the black jack table but eventually ended up at the roulette table like last time. It was a popular table, too. We had a large group of students crowded around the table. I didn’t do so well, but I managed to get three raffle tickets into the drawing, and I won a perfume gift set.

After the casino was another BINGO event. We played all sorts of different BINGO games like “smiley face,” “layer cake,” “Christmas tree,” and a “kite” shape. It was nice to take a break from working on homework for one day and just have fun playing games, winning prizes, eating food, and hanging out with Student Senate members and other students.

Week in Review: A Reflection of November 27 – December 3

So this whole time I’ve been talking about December 8 being the deadline to turn in my homework for my self-paced Microsoft Access class at MPTC. I looked at the calendar recently and realized December 8 is actually a Thursday, not a Friday. It really isn’t less time to get the work done since the date didn’t change, but it feels like I lost a day. That’s okay, though, because I did a pretty good job staying on track and the last lesson plan isn’t as long as some of the other lesson plans.

November is over and December is here, and somehow it didn’t bring with it a pile of snow yet. The end of the semester has really snuck up on me. When my Graphics for the Web instructor started talking about our final project being due next week I was like, “Are you sure?” There is no work to still be assigned or completed. This is our last assignment!

After I finish these final assignments for my classes, it’ll be time to think about what I will be doing with my free time during winter break. I try to have a mix of fun and productive activities during breaks. I think I’ll get out my paint supplies and canvases since I haven’t been able to do that in a while. I’ll also be looking for a part time job that will hopefully pay some bills and allow me to gain experience and apply my new skills I’ve developed this past year.

Application of Knowledge Outside of Class

My instructor, who is one of the instructors of the IT-Web Designer/Developer program at Moraine Park Technical College, told us we need to do more than the homework assigned to us. We need to practice and learn things on our own if we really want to be the best at what we do. This semester I’ve realized I have been using what I’ve learned in class outside of the classroom and class assignments.

I volunteer in an office setting where I use a computer on a regular basis. While volunteering at an organization I was interested in, I was able to offer my time and skills. In return I’ve learned about office culture, and I’m able to apply what I’m learning in my classes. Frequently I use programs like Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. Without realizing it, I’ve developed a good understanding of file structures. I was able to comprehend how this office file structure works. My files on my personal computer are also very organized. I never have to wonder where I’ve saved something. If you’ve ever spent time looking for a file because you don’t remember where you put it or what you named it, you know how much time that can eat up.

This blog has been an excellent resource for applying what I’ve learned in my classes. This semester I learned how to save files for the web so the file size is smaller (for faster download time) while maintaining quality. I’ve been able to create my own images and graphics and edit them. I’ve used my textbook to look something up that I had forgot how to do.

On my own time I’ve been able to create things in Photoshop for fun and share them with my friends. The more I practice, the easier it becomes, and the more fun it becomes. During winter break I’m sure I’ll be working on some kind of fun project. If I put some thought into it, it could become my next portfolio piece.

Week in Review: A Reflection of November 20 – 26

It was a short school week and a long weekend due to Thanksgiving last Thursday. I had a traditional Thanksgiving at my grandma’s house. Our new tradition is going through the sales ads in the newspaper to see what special Black Friday items are being offered. A few of my extended family members are the kind of people who will go to the store at 4 a.m. However, I do not. That’s too cold and too early for me.

Our West Bend Student Activities Committee meeting was canceled this past week, so I had a little extra time to work on my self-paced Microsoft Access work. It was a good thing, too, because this lesson plan took longer than expected. That’s three lesson plans down and two more to go!

I get cold when I sit in the computer lab working on my lesson plans sometimes, so I was glad we received our Student Senate fleeces at the last meeting. A Senate member who’s a Graphic Communication student here at MPTC suggested the fleece style and color. It is the coolest school-related item I’ve ever owned. I love it.

The week after Thanksgiving shouldn’t be too busy of a week, but the week after will be. December 6 is our Holiday party at the West Bend campus. This will be pretty much a whole day event. I’ll be helping out that day along with other Student Activities Committee members. All the assignments for my self-paced Microsoft Access class are due by December 8. If you’ve read a few of my other blogs this semester you’ll realize I mention this class a lot. That due date is very important, so I’ve been using my blog as a reminder to stay on track and also to not forget the date. It seems to be working.

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving Day is usually a day when we are asked to reflect on what we are thankful for. There are many things to be thankful for, even in an imperfect world. Many of us are blessed with family and friends, a place to sleep at night, and food to eat everyday. These things should never be taken for granted. The basics of life are the most important.

Sometimes, especially past the mid point of the semester, it is difficult to feel thankful to be a college student. Sometimes there’s a lot of homework or you want to have more free time or you don’t want to shovel your driveway just to get to class. However, when I’m feeling this way I remind myself that the opportunity to go to college is something to be thankful for.

I’m very thankful I was able to go back to college when I found out I needed more education to get the type of job I wanted. Moraine Park Technical College is close to home, so I don’t have to worry about commuting long distances or relocating. I don’t have to spend four years to get the education I need. This is especially important to me, because I’ve already invested money in my education. I want to manage my debt responsibly. Attending Moraine Park has allowed me to do all these things.

This week I’m also thankful to my instructors who decided not to have any assignments due the week after Thanksgiving. I was able to take a break and spend quality time with my family. Oh, and I’m thankful for good food, too! Thanks, Grandma!

My First Web Developer Club Presentation

At our last Web Developer Club meeting I was the student presenter at MPTC’s West Bend campus. Since I have a background in art I was able to teach my fellow Web club members about art aesthetics and how they can be applied to Web design. I was very excited to have the opportunity to talk about things like color theory and unity. I was able to explain the reason why you can’t put green text on a red background and how to create elements on a page that work together.

I know quite a bit about art, but I also did some research specifically relating to Web design, and I was able to pass on my resources to others so they could learn more. I feel like we all benefited from the presentation, including me. I have a clearer sense of what an attractive website looks like.

Since the presentation didn’t take up too much time, there was time left for our club president to show us a site that allows a design team to organize a project they are working on together on a digital board. Had I know about it when I was in Web Site Design, Implementation and Maintenance class, we could have saved a lot of space in our email accounts.

This club is great for Web design students who want to go beyond what they learn in the classroom. I think of it as an additional college course on Web-related topics. You come to the meetings to learn new things yet there’s no books to buy or tuition fees to pay. Many students come from different backgrounds and have an expertise in certain subjects. Some students are great at knowing what the next big thing is in technology and communication. It’s not a big commitment, because we only meet once a month. Nobody is required more than to just show up to the meetings, but everybody is encouraged to share their knowledge.

Week in Review: A Reflection of November 13 – 19

It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, and in honor of the occasion my friend and I decided to get crafty and make hand turkeys. You know, the kind of turkeys you made in elementary school when you’d trace your hand on a piece of paper. My nephew made his first hand turkey this year. It will be a while before my niece gets to make one of her own since she was just born this past Thursday.

It was an exciting week indeed. Not only did I get to meet my first niece, I got to go to my first Green Bay Packers game at the legendary Lambeau field. It was so cold outside, but so worth it. The weather isn’t a problem because Wisconsinites know how to layer! T-shirt, long sleeve shirt, sweater, zip-up sweater, jacket, and jersey. If I can’t move, just roll me to the stands.

The busyness of the week left me with three lesson plans to complete in three weeks. Therefore, I’ll be spending an entire day on campus in the computer lab this week. The campus is closed for Thanksgiving, so I’ll be working on it earlier in the week rather than later. There’s about one month until the end of the fall semester and the beginning of winter break!

Now, let’s see if I can remember how to make those paper snowflakes.

Moraine Park Technical College Employment Services

It goes without saying that the job search processes is laborious, even in good economic times. Luckily, Moraine Park’s Employment Services realizes this, and they are more than willing to help out current and former students, even if they graduated many years ago. It’s good to know there will always be a place I can turn to if I should need assistance 10 to 15 years down the road. During the presentation this week I learned what MPTC’s Employment Services has to offer.

A really useful tool available to students and alumni of Wisconsin Technical Colleges is TechConnect. It’s a website that lists full and part-time jobs as well as internships related to the fields students are learning. Students can use this tool while on campus through the myMPTC portal under Employment Services, and graduates and soon-to-be-graduates are eligible to gain off campus access by registering with Employment Services. I’ve already used the site to search the miscellaneous job postings.

During the presentation we were given the Graduate Follow-Up Report. Michele said they show this report to middle and high school students. It’s also useful for soon-to-graduate MPTC students, because they can see where jobs are located for their field and what kind of wages they may expect for their first job after graduating.

Employment Services has found ways to bring employers to potential employees. Michele told us that we could find events listed on TechConnect. On campus recruitment and job fairs are available throughout the year with the possibility to be interviewed on site. The website has a new feature where students and graduates can upload their resume to be searched by employers. This is something new and still in the process of being refined.

I took away more information than I expected going to this Lunch ‘n’ Learn presentation. If you’re a student and you’re able to go to them, you should. The “Lunch” part and the “Learn” part are both free. That’s why they call them Lunch ‘n’ Learns.

Week in Review: A Reflection of November 6 – November 12, 2011

Time went by so quickly it’s difficult to remember what even happened this past week. I suppose this could be a good thing because it means things went pretty smoothly for the week. There’s just a little more than a month left of the fall semester. It’s going to be time for winter break before we know it.

I was just short from finishing the second lesson plan for my self-paced Microsoft Access class. There are five lesson plans total, and I’m trying to finish one lesson plan per week. So, I’m a little behind schedule in that class, but I’m ahead of schedule with my Graphics for the Web class. I thought an assignment was due on Monday, but it turns out it’s due two weeks from Monday. It’s a lucky mistake, but it’s a good reminder to check and write down due dates or next time I might not be so lucky.

What I learned this past week is to focus on the positive, especially the little things from day to day. I’m pretty lucky to be able to attend college. I feel blessed to have met such nice, intelligent, and creative people in my classes and extracurricular activities. And as Friday was Veterans Day, I’m reminded how fortunate I am to live in a country full of brave men and women who ensure I get to live this life filled with opportunities and freedom. This week I’ll try to remember that.

My First Student Activities Committee Meeting

When I joined Moraine Park’s Student Senate in West Bend, I also decided to take part on the Activities Committee. It’s like a branch off of Student Senate, but we are specifically in charge of planning and running activities on our campus.

On Monday we had a meeting to discuss our holiday party. We really want to make it an entire day event on December 6 from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. Nothing is set in stone, but we would like to have another casino event. We had one last spring, and it was fun and well attended. If you’d like to read about it, check out my blog entry, Last Blast: Casino in the Cafeteria at http://moraineparktech.blogspot.com/2011/04/last-blast-casino-in-cafeteria.html.

Like I said before, nothing is set in stone, because we are still in the planning stages. We need to contact the casino company to see if they are available. There will probably be bingo as well, in the early afternoon and the evening. We usually give out gift cards to winners, but we may also have some gift baskets, too. We’re working on providing free beverages and food for the students such as coffee, hot chocolate, cookies, chili, and sandwiches.

Once everything is set, I’ll give you an update on the details.

Kindness

November 13 is World Kindness Day. With all the problems going on in our contemporary society, it’s not easy to switch our mindset from “what’s wrong” to “how can we make things better in our own individual way?” It’s these little random acts of kindness that reminds us there are people who care. When we perform random acts of kindness, we are reminded that we aren’t powerless to make a difference.

Whether you do it for a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger, it really is little things you do for people that can make their day better. One day I was at work and it was lunchtime. I couldn’t open my bottle of water no matter how hard I tried with both my hands. They were red and sore and I was irritated. One of my co-workers saw I was struggling and left the room. He came back with pliers and opened the bottle for me. Finally, something that day went right. I was in a better mood now all because somebody took one minute out of their break time to help me out. I really think it’s things like this that help people get through the day.

During this month’s Lunch ‘n’ Learn we discussed random acts of kindness at MPTC’s West Bend campus. It was nice to talk about something positive. We talked about how people have shown kindness to us and how we show kindness to others.

We also shared ideas of how we could show kindness on campus. The simplest things to do are to say hi to people in the hallway, open doors for people carrying things, and picking up things off the floor. You can help your classmates when they are struggling with an assignment or task. You can ask people to go to lunch or dinner in the cafeteria after class. All these things don’t require any money or lots of time, but if you can make somebody’s day a little easier or a little nicer, it makes a bigger impact in the world than we realize, especially if we are all doing these things every day.

If somebody shows you kindness today, make sure you pass it on!

Week in Review: A Reflection of October 30 – November 5, 2011

Spring 2012 class registration for returning students at Moraine Park was this past week. I’ll be focusing on my second program, the Office Assistant program. I signed up for four classes, all of which are during the daytime. The IT-Web Designer/Developer program, my first program, consists of all night or online classes. This will definitely be a change for me. One of the classes I signed up for is at 8:30 in the morning. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a class that early. But then again, I can’t complain because I won’t have to watch any of my favorite primetime shows online anymore.

I had to spend several hours in the computer lab, but I’m caught up with my self-paced Microsoft Access work. While I was on campus working on my homework, I noticed a book sale by the library. I bought a book by an author I like for only a dollar. The money is going to the United Way. What a great way to raise money, recycle, and buy some inexpensive books.

Student Senate Update for November

As always, this Moraine Park Technical College’s West Bend Student Senate meeting was packed full of information. There are a lot of things going on in the month of November. Some of these events include several Lunch ‘n’ Learns, a BINGO event, Business Professionals of America (BPA) Fall Leadership Conference, and the BloodCenter of Wisconsin Blood Drive. My monthly planner is booked!

Speaking of the Blood Drive, it will be held at the West Bend campus on Tuesday, November 29 at 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. If you’d like to donate blood, you can register online at http://www.bcw.edu/MPTCWB. You could save a life!

During the meeting I learned about two Student Senate members receiving recognition for their design skills. At the APCA conference, one student won second place for a graphics competition. Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities is a conference that some Student Senate members went to recently. I wasn’t able to go, but there is a different conference in spring that hopefully I will be able to attend. Another student won a competition to create the Wisconsin Student Government logo last semester and it’s now on their website. Check out the logo she made at the WSG website http://wsgtech.org/Home/.

Next Tuesday I’ll be meeting with the rest of the Student Activities Committee to make some plans for a future event this December. Stay tuned!

Open Lab is Now Open

The open lab hosted by the Web Developer Club is now open at Moraine Park Technical College at the West Bend campus. On Monday nights, room S-112 is open for students taking web design classes to get help with their assignments from other web design students. I have class in that room, so after my class is over at 4:30 p.m., I’m already there for the open lab time. Students can work in the lab until the next class starts at 6:00 p.m.

This past Monday we had a great turn out. Just about every student was paired up with other students. It’s what we hoped the lab would be, a place for students to learn from other students. It’s a good learning experience for both parties.

Another student and I were able to help one of our classmates understand how to do an assignment. He was pretty thankful. Last year, when we had the open lab, one of my classmates who wasn’t in the Web Developer Club but wanted to use the open lab time to work on her homework was able to help me a few times. She was such a big help. She really eased my frustration.

I hope that people continue to come to these open labs. We should be able to do this again in the spring semester and maybe every semester after that.

Week in Review: A Reflection of October 23 – 29, 2011

Mission accomplished. I finished my homework by Thursday night so I had the entire weekend off to celebrate Halloween. It really wasn’t the “fall break” like I thought it was going to be since there was a lot going on. The weather could have been better, but at least there was no snow or ice.

My online Photoshop class is moving along quickly. I looked ahead in the syllabus, and it appears we will be going through the entire book. That’s a lot of material to cover in half a semester. By taking this class and the Graphics for the Web class concurrently, I’m getting to know Photoshop CS5 really well. I’m trying to memorize more keyboard shortcuts as I go through my assignments. These are combinations of keys you press on the keyboard to get the program to perform a certain action rather than clicking through menus. It saves time.

I didn’t have a whole lot of time to work on my self-pace Microsoft Access assignments this past week, so I’ll have to make up for it this coming week. The December 8 date is looming closer. I definitely won’t be able to get all that work done in a week before the due date. Guess I’ll be spending lots of time in the computer lab this week!

Second Web Developer Club Meeting of the Semester

We had another great turn out for our second Web Developer Club meeting of the fall semester at Moraine Park Technical College. It was part meeting and part presentation by one of our members. He showed us how to make gradient backgrounds. He also showed us a site that allows you to crop images without downloading a program like Photoshop.

Besides learning a few new things during the meeting, the club has decided to reinstate the open lab. We’ll be having the open lab on Monday nights in S-112 of the West Bend campus. The open lab is for students to get help from other students on their web design homework. Sometimes it’s nice just to work on homework in the lab even if you don’t need help. We’re still fleshing out the details about the time, so if you’re interested in getting some help or helping, talk to your instructor.

During the meeting we formed a small committee to review our bylaws this week. If necessary, we’ll make some revisions and bring them back to the club to vote on those changes. I really like that this club is what we want it to be. We’ve decided to focus on learning new things about web design through presentations and discussions, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

Week in Review: A Reflection of October 16 – 22, 2011

This past week, as I mentioned in a previous blog, was the start of my Beginning Photoshop class. I also started a new self-paced class, Microsoft Access. It was my first week not going to class on Thursday nights for Career Development since that ended last week. It has felt like the beginning of a new semester. In an odd way it’s giving me more energy. Around midterm time it’s easy to get lethargic. Wouldn’t it be nice to have a “fall break” in the same way we get a spring break during the spring semester?

I’ve been thinking about Halloween lately since it’s coming up soon. The outside of my house is all decorated, and I’m starting to work on the inside. My costume is ready to go, and I’m excited for Halloween weekend. I’ll have to be diligent about getting my homework done this week so I don’t have to worry about it over the weekend. If I do, maybe this coming weekend can be my “fall break”.

My First Online Class

Monday was the official start of my first completely online class, Beginning Photoshop. Although I’m familiar with Photoshop CS2 version, which I learned more than five years ago, I will be taking this class as a requirement for my program. The latest version is Photoshop CS5, which is what I’ll be learning in this class. There have been a lot of updates and changes since I originally learned the program, one of them being the Content Aware Fill. We had talked about this feature in my Graphics for the Web class. It’s simply amazing. To see what I’m talking about, watch this video: http://tv.adobe.com/watch/photoshop-cs5-feature-tour/content-aware-fill-part-1/

Taking an online class is different than taking a class in-person. Luckily, I know how to use eCollege, because I’ve had blended classes that use this tool. Blended classes are ones that meet face-to-face but also have an online portion. The online portion uses eCollege, an online portal for classes.

The posting in the announcements section from my instructor explained how this class was going to work. Even though we don’t have a meeting time or place, homework still has specific due dates. I will be following along in the textbook to complete assignments. The instructor has additional comments and instructions to go along with the chapters. There are scoring guides so we can make sure we are meeting the criteria of the assignment and a schedule to follow. Other students have already posted their introduction to the discussion board. It’s pretty clear what I need to do for this class and when I need to do it.

Now, it’s time to get to work!

Week in Review: A Reflection of October 9 – 15, 2011

It feels like the end of the semester for me at Moraine Park Technical College. I have three classes ending, and I’ll be starting two new classes. One of the new classes is completely online, which is a first for me, and the other is a self-paced class.

Speaking of new classes, it’s time to start choosing classes for the spring semester of 2012. I’ll be focusing on my second program, which is the Office Assistant program, next semester. That will definitely be a change for me. I’ve got a feeling it’ll be like starting all over again at MPTC. It’ll be a new set of instructors, new classmates, and new things to learn outside of web design.

Something I’m looking forward to for the second half of the fall semester is a more flexible schedule. Only one of my classes has a specific meeting day and time each week. While I’ll still be on campus for the self-paced class, I get to choose when I work on the homework. I use the designated self-paced lab and the computer lab near the library quite often for that purpose.

Wish me luck and endurance as I begin my new classes!

Last Day of Class for Career Development

It’s mid semester, and that means my one-credit Career Development class is over. During our last class we shared information about our career field such as world trends, workplace challenges, and the need for continuing education. Listening to my classmates speak made me stop and think outside the world of computer programs and become aware of other fields like the medical and industrial fields. I noticed some trends with our contrasting fields, changing technology being the most prominent commonality.

Every week we worked on a different aspect of the job search process. We created resumes, cover letters, and references; last week we went through mock interviews. What I found the most helpful was looking at a list of typically asked interview questions and preparing answers for them. It gave me time to think through my answers and get feedback on my responses to those questions. I feel much better prepared for an interview now.

There were two things our instructor had us repeat everyday and we are not allowed to forget it: Customize and Sell Yourself.

Week in Review: A Reflection of October 2 – 8, 2011

This week went by so fast! There is only one week of classes left for my one-credit courses. Schedules for Winterim/Spring 2012 semester are already online. My advisor sent an email out to all the students in my program to let them know they should look up their registration dates and times. He’s offering help in choosing classes as well. I met with him at the beginning of the fall semester to make sure I was on track to get my Web Site Coordinator Certificate in December.

I spent some time recently organizing a binder for the Web Developer Club. It will have the by-laws, meeting minutes, agendas, calendar of events, project opportunities, and whatever else we need to keep record of for the club. And when I graduate, or am no longer the secretary, it can be passed on to the next person.

I really tried to take advantage of the warm weather this past week. As I mentioned a few days ago, we had the Student Senate meeting outside. It was beautiful outdoors. I didn’t even mind having to rake leaves at my home. Not only did I not have to wear a scarf and gloves, I didn’t even have to wear a jacket to stay warm. It has been such a lovely week! I’ll be dreaming about it come January.

Plenty of Activities at Moraine Park Technical College

Our West Bend Student Senate meeting was held outside this week because the weather was so nice. We sat just outside the cafeteria at the tables. MPTC President Dr. Shelia Ruhland joined us as well.

We discussed a lot of topics at this meeting. Representatives from clubs shared what they are planning. The Graphics Club will be doing a poster sale, which I believe they did last year, outside the library. Business Professionals of America are having a brat fry, and the Chiropractic Club is going to be fundraising by selling candy bars. I like hearing what other clubs are doing this semester. It may give me ideas for my own club’s events.

The week of November 7 is Club Week at the West Bend campus. Students can check out clubs they may be interested in. I hope to represent the Web Developer Club that week. Keep your eye on the events calendar for more information.

October 10 – 22 is the First Annual United Way – Moraine Park Technical College Disc Golf Tournament at the new disc golf course also at the West Bend campus. Money from the event is going to United Way and there will be door prizes. I’ve never played disc golf before. I’m not even sure what it is, but it sounds like fun. Now is the time to use the golf course before it’s covered in snow.

Student Senate is the place you want to be if you want to know what’s happening on campus. It also a place where you can share ideas, get in contact with administration, and have a voice as a representative of the student body. I haven’t been a part of planning any events yet, but I hope to sometime soon. If you have any event suggestions, please share. What would you like to see at MPTC?

Lunch ‘n’ Learn: Self-Maintenance

Since October is Emotional Wellness Month, this week’s Lunch ‘n’ Learn at Moraine Park Technical College West Bend campus was about self-maintenance. This is something college students struggle with at times. We are busy, hardworking people juggling lots of different things. We’ve got classes, homework, clubs, work, family, friends, and other commitments. Where does time for us fit in? What can we do to make sure we take care of ourselves while we take care of everything else?

During our conversation we talked about all the things we do or don’t do to take care of ourselves. Things like sleeping, eating, fitness, time management, and stress management are all factors that influence our wellness. Stress and time management always seem to be big issues.

One thing I have learned, and need to remind myself periodically, is that I need to not take everything too seriously. Sometimes things just aren’t as important as I make them out to be, and some things are beyond my control. These are the things I can let go, because all they’re doing is taking up my time and energy. I could be focusing on something more productive instead.

We were able to share our methods of winding down at night and turning off our minds at the end of a long day. It was a good reminder that we need to take care of ourselves, too, and that’s a good thing not a selfish thing.

Week in Review: A Reflection of September 26 – 30, 2011

This week I realized there are only a few more classes left until two of my one-credit classes are done. After that I start a two-credit class, Beginning Photoshop. I’m also more than halfway through my self-paced Excel course.

My self-paced Excel course was very challenging at first. I’m used to a more traditional style of learning that takes place in the classroom. With the self-paced course I’m using a book and online project simulations. It was a new way of learning for me. I could move through material as quickly or as slowly as I wanted to. I liked that. However, there’s a lot of information to take in for each lesson plan. But this week things are finally clicking for me, and I enjoyed completing this last lesson plan, and I even got it done ahead of schedule. So, what I learned this week is to just hang in there when something is difficult. Lots of things are difficult but very few things in life are impossible.

Besides learning the software program thoroughly, I’m gaining some useful transferable skills. I’m developing problem-solving skills, self-motivation, and organizational skills. These are the kind of skills any employer would like to have in their employees. We talked about transferable skills in my last Career Development class session, so I’ve been thinking about them lately and how I can convey them to future employers.

When I’m done learning Excel in mid October I will begin the self-paced Access course. This will also be a challenge. In a way I think it’ll be easier, because I am more comfortable with this learning format. It’s good to learn new things and new ways of learning new things.

BINGO Night in the West Bend MPTC Cafeteria

On Wednesday, I played BINGO at Moraine Park Technical College’s West Bend Campus for the first time. I recognized one of my classmates who I also sat next to at the last student orientation event where we both represented our student clubs. It was her first time playing BINGO here, too.

For $5 I got two game cards and a voucher for lunch. We played a bunch of different BINGO games such as inside picture frame, postage stamp, and four corners. My cards weren’t so lucky until we played the last round – blackout. We had to get all the numbers on our card to win. I actually won! I got a $25 gift card for Kohl’s! There were a bunch of great gift card prizes. I wouldn’t have minded winning a gift card for Starbucks, Barnes & Noble, or a gas card either. They all sound pretty useful to me, though the Starbucks one would be more for a treat than used for a necessity like gasoline.

The next BINGO event at the West Bend, hosted by the West Bend Student Senate & Activities Committee, is Monday, October 17 at 4 p.m. BINGO is also held at the Fond du Lac and Beaver Dam campuses. Check out my “Events” page on my blog for upcoming events or check your myMPTC portal under the Student Life tab.

MPTC Spring Break Trip to London, England

On Monday I went to an informational meeting about the trip to London during spring break at Moraine Park Technical College’s West Bend campus. There are also informational meetings about this trip at the Fond du Lac and Beaver Dam campuses this week.

I know that they’ve done this trip in the past during spring break, but Ron Campopiano, who’s organizing the trip through Moraine Park’s International Education Program, said it’s going to be a little different this year. The company hosting the tour is Education First College Study Tours. They’ve come up with an itinerary that includes some major points of interest such as Big Bend and Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and Windsor Castle just to name a few.

It’s a really exciting opportunity I didn’t know a technical college such as MPTC had to offer. Even students from Germany have a chance to visit our campuses. They just arrived at the Fond du Lac campus a few days ago. You can find out more about their experience by visiting Moraine Park’s International blog, “International Education…Travel with us via the web” at http://moraineparkinternationaled.blogspot.com/. Moraine Park Technical College Culinary Arts students also have the opportunity to visit Germany as part of the exchange program.

My friends who’ve been to London tell me the time to go on trips like these is when you’re in school, because it’ll never be as inexpensive on your own. I don’t know if I’ll be able to go this year, but I still have some time to decide. If you’re interested in going and want to know more, take a look at the Web site and itinerary: http://www.efcollegestudytours.com/preview-tour.aspx?gt=1100150

Week in Review: A Reflection of September 19 – 23, 2011

Each week I reflect on what I have learned, new skills I have developed, challenges I’ve overcome, and new concepts I now understand. This week I learned how to make my own Web page backgrounds in Graphics for the Web class at Moraine Park Technical College.

In class we learned how to make a small image and repeat it using CSS to cover an entire background. Background images on Web sites are important when you consider that colors and shapes have different, specific meanings. The background needs to reflect what the Web site is about.

If you’re a student studying Web design, you know how time consuming it is to look for specific images online that express the exact message you are trying to portray. It gets more difficult when you’re working on paid projects and need to be mindful of copyright laws. I think it’s actually much less time consuming to create a background than to look for one using a search engine. It’s a pretty useful technique I’m certain I will use in the future. I may take a look at my previous work and apply this technique to those Web pages as well.

Second West Bend Student Senate Meeting of the Year

Our officers for the Moraine Park Technical College West Bend Student Senate were elected this week during the second meeting of the semester. I’ve been appointed as one of the members at large, which means I’m a general member of Student Senate. I’ve also decided to be part of the Student Senate Activities Committee this semester. This is a group of students who plan, organize, and run special events on campus.

During the meeting we discussed some of the upcoming events. Next week Wednesday, September 28, is BINGO in the MPTC West Bend cafeteria at 4 p.m. I remember there were BINGO events a few times last year, but I had class at that time. This semester I don’t have class on Wednesday nights, so I’m going to try to go. It’s only $5 to play, and there are prizes to win.

On October 21, Chad Calek will be giving a free presentation called “Trail of the Dead” at 6 p.m. with dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. He’s a ghost hunter who has captured footage of paranormal activity, and he’s been on several TV shows. Adam Ninmann, who’s in charge of Student Life at the West Bend Campus, told us that people must pre-register with him if they are interesting in attending.

At the Senate meeting we also discussed APCA (Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities) conference this October. Two of our members are going. It sounds really interesting. I’m unable to go to the conference, but hopefully I will be able to go to a conference in spring.

During our next meeting, October 6, Moraine Park President Dr. Sheila Ruhland will be there to speak with us. Student Senate really is a great way to get involved, find out what’s going on, and have an impact on the college’s future.

Go Purple for Alzheimer’s

I was looking at the events section on myMPTC portal this week and saw that Wednesday is “Go Purple for Alzheimer’s”. September is World Alzheimer’s Month and Wednesday, September 21 is Alzheimer’s Action Day. MPTC Students and staff were asked to wear purple this day to raise awareness of this disease.

I don’t know much about the disease, so I went to the Alzheimer’s Association website http://www.alz.org/wam/wam.asp to learn more. They asked for people to wear purple and to change their Facebook profile picture to purple. On the U.S. National Library of Medicine site http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001767/ they said that it is a disease that affects peoples’ thinking, memory, and even behavior. They recommend having a low-fat diet, eating foods high in antioxidants, and to stay mentally active to prevent the disease.

It makes me thankful that I am healthy. My classes may challenge me mentally, but I know it’s good for my brain. I plan on being a learner for the rest of my life.

If you’re looking to get involved in the cause, there is The Walk to End Alzheimer’s event on Saturday, October 1, 2011 at Moraine Park Technical College’s Fond du Lac campus. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the three-mile walk begins at 10 a.m. For more information visit: http://2011walktoendalzheimers.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=451251&lis=1&kntae451251=9A4BE9BD87DE47CCA81C832842339272

First Web Developer Club of the Semester

I was reelected as the secretary of the Web Developer Club at Moraine Park Technical College during our first meeting of the fall semester! We held elections for the president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, and student senate representative. I became the secretary of the Web Developer Club last spring, and I’ve been a member since last fall.

I was very happy to see some members from last year as well as several new people. I think it’s going to be a good semester for the WDC. It seems like a good group of people who really want to get involved.

We discussed a few ideas we may pursue this semester. We’re hoping to have at least one field trip. There’s a possibility that we will get club shirts as well. Next month we’ll be voting on logos.

The Web Developer Club is trying to bring back the open lab for the Web developer students. As I mentioned last semester, we have held an open lab once a week in one of the computer classrooms where students can work on their homework, get help, provide help, or share sites and information related to Web design.

Our next meeting is Thursday, October 20. If you’re in the IT field and want to learn new things, network, and have fun, think about joining the Web Developer Club.

Week in Review: A Reflection of September 12 – 16, 2011

This week I bought a student planner from the Moraine Park bookstore. My personal planner was too small to write down everything I needed to write. They were on sale because we’re already a few weeks into the semester. In a few days, we’ll be one month into the semester! I still feel like it’s the second week!

Some of my classes are picking up in pace, and I have multiple assignments due for each class. A few of the classes are half a semester long, so there’s a lot of work to do in a short amount of time. After those two classes are over, I start Beginning Photoshop. This class will be my first completely online class.

I decided at the beginning of the semester that I would keep up with my assignments by working on them as soon as possible. It’s been working well for me. My free time is more relaxing and guilt-free knowing I’ve finished what I need to finish for the week by Sunday night.

What I’ve learned this week is that setting a schedule for assignments makes the workload easier to handle. I set priority to the tasks that are due the soonest and the ones that will take the longest to complete. Pacing things on your to-do list is a transferable skill that can be applied to any job, especially in the Web developer field.

Alternative Plans

Moraine Park Technical College’s West Bend Student Senate meeting was canceled this week. I was disappointed, but I knew it was a blessing in disguise. It gave me extra time to work on my self-paced class.

There’s an open lab for self-paced classes where you can go to work on your homework and exams. The instructors that organize the classes staff it. Since I’m new to myITlab, I found it very helpful to work on my homework there. I had a few questions as I was going through lesson plan 1, and the instructor was able to answer all my questions.

I was nervous taking the exam. It’s a sort of simulation exercise. Another student told me you have to follow the steps exactly, or it won’t be correct. She was right. I wasn’t very happy with my first score, but luckily there is the option to retake the test to earn a higher grade. I felt much better after taking the exam again and getting a better score.

Last week I looked at the lesson plans to figure out how to pace myself and get all the work in by December 8. I figured if I did one lesson plan a week, I would get all the work done by mid October. After that, I start the self-paced Access class.

Week in Review: A Reflection of September 5 – 9, 2011

This week I received my letter of acceptance into the Office Assistant program at Moraine Park Technical College. As I’ve mentioned in previous blogs, I’ve been in the IT-Web Developer/Designer program since fall of last year, and I will still be continuing with this program. After speaking with the career counselor, taking an aptitude test, and meeting with my academic advisor, I’m now honing in on the best career path for me. I’ve decided to pursue both programs.

When I first started college years ago, I wish I would have known what I know now. It’s important to know what skills employers of your profession want. The easiest way to find out what they are looking for is by searching job ads. By reading job descriptions and requirements early on, and I mean very early on, you can make sure you will be acquiring all the necessary skills before looking for a job.

What software do they want you to be proficient at? Make sure you’re learning it. Pick up an extra class if there’s one that isn’t in your program. Do employers in your field want you to have marketing or PR experience? Find an internship, part-time job, or volunteer.

My focus right now is to increase my employability. I’m developing new skills that employers want, and employers want more diverse skills than ever before! It’s a lot of work, but I know that I will be able to walk into a job interview with the confidence and background my future employer is looking for. Every semester I get to add something new to my growing resume.

Lunch ‘n’ Learn: Get Psyched

In honor of International Enthusiasm Week, this Lunch ‘n’ Learn for September was about enthusiasm -- what does it mean and how do you get enthusiastic about your education and life?

We were to choose one quote about enthusiasm from the pile on the table in front of us to read aloud. One quote that really stuck with me was by Maya Angelou:

“Seek patience and passion in equal amounts. Patience alone will not build the temple. Passion alone will destroy its walls.”

What a fitting quote for us MPTC students. College requires both passion and patience. Earning a certificate, diploma, or degree does not happen overnight. It requires patience. It requires going to class each week, working on homework everyday, and this is all done through the course of several months or several years.

Being patient, however, will not earn your degree alone. It takes passion and motivation to get to class each week, to work on homework each day, and maintain that enthusiasm for several months or several years. Too much passion can lead to impatience, I think. So many of us want that degree and we cannot wait until it is in our hands and written on our resumes. It may lead us to become too impatient and loose our enthusiasm.

So how do we maintain our enthusiasm and patience in equal amounts? This makes me think of another quote I’ve heard before, but I’m not sure who originally said it:

“Invest in the process, not the outcome.”

The actual paper known as your certificate or diploma does not give you the knowledge or power you need to make your career happen. The knowledge and power to succeed in your chosen field comes from the classes you go to each week and the homework you do each day. Everything you do at school or for school is another step towards your goal. Each day is a brick you lay down. Keep working and you will build that temple.

My First Self-Paced Class

I’ve never taken a self-paced class before so I had no idea what to expect when I walked into orientation this week. We don’t use eCollege for it, and I was wondering how the class worked without it.

It turns out there is something called “myitlab” I will be using to learn Microsoft Excel and Access. I haven’t really used it yet, I’ve only seen it demonstrated, but I think it uses the same concepts as eCollege with learning plans and drop boxes.

There were two points stressed in the orientation presentation: Be self-motivated and get help when you need it. All coursework needs to be finished in December, so it’s up to the student to set a reasonable pace. There are open labs that are staffed and tutors available.

At this point I’m more concerned about learning how to navigate and use “myitlab” than learning the programs. But, I figure if I learned how to use eCollege last fall and I’m very comfortable using it now, I should be able to learn this tool as well.

Week in Review: A Reflection of August 29 – September 2, 2011

My assignments are very hands-on at MPTC. For many of them I take screen captures of software I’m using and paste them into a document to prove that I know how to do something that we’ve learned. We are asked to go beyond that and be analytical about our learning. For some assignments, also known as assessments, we are asked for a reflection statement when we’ve finished the tasks. We reflect on our skills before and after the assessment. What have we learned? What difficulties did we have in completing the assessment? What did we do to overcome those difficulties?

The reflection statement is something I can apply to my academic journey. What have I learned this week that I didn’t know before? What difficulties did I have and what did I do to overcome them? What skills am I learning that will better prepare me for the future and my career?

Since I am a part-time student, I only take a few credits each semester. This means that I need to take the few remaining classes this semester that full-time students in my program have already taken. After class, some of my classmates were talking about the classes they were in that I had last semester. Like me last year, they were feeling a little overwhelmed with all the new classes. I was able to view my project from last year and explain a few things to them. Slowly I was starting to remember things. I was surprised and pleased how far I had come in one year. What I thought was very complicated last year seems much simpler this year.

This week I learned that one of the best ways to retain information is to teach others. When you help others you help yourself, too.

First Student Senate Meeting of the Year

The world of Student Senate is new to me. I’ve been in student clubs before, but never in my long academic career have I been involved in student government organizations. I went to the first meeting of the year in West Bend to learn more about it and how it works. Adam Ninmann explained what Student Senate is and what it does. The Student Senate consists of representatives from each student club, officers, and what they call “members at large”. These are people, like me, who want to be a part of Student Senate but don’t hold an office and are not a representative of a student club. They just want to be part of the discussion and planning.

Each MPTC campus has a Student Senate. There are several committees to join such as the Senate Activities Committee as well as the College Planning and Leadership Team. There’s also this other group called the District Student Government comprised of all three campuses that meet every month. Beyond that, there is the Wisconsin Student Government that includes all 16 Wisconsin Technical Colleges. There are so many opportunities to get involved and to be a representative of the campus on a large scale. I had no idea.

We didn’t discuss any events that will be happening this semester quite yet. It was mostly an informational meeting. Some people were nominated as officers. Voting will probably take place at the next meeting on Thursday, September 8 at 11 a.m. in room N108.