Last Blast: Casino in the Cafeteria

On Wednesday, the West Bend Student Senate and Activities Committee sponsored a casino event to celebrate the near end of the spring semester. It was held in the Moraine Park Technical College cafeteria. There was free food, live music, casino games, a large raffle and a door prize. It was definitely a big event. The cafeteria was packed with students!

For lunch I had a pulled-pork sandwich, corn and a soda. There were cheesy hash browns too, but I don’t really like those so I didn’t have any. While I was eating, a band named BOS performed http://www.sonicbids.com/bos2. They sang current hits like a song by Bruno Mars, some classics like Michael Jackson and some of their own music.

There were a bunch of dealer tables in the cafeteria and professional dealers from Casino Events, Inc., were at the

tables. I played roulette. Steve, the dealer, taught me how to play. We played with real chips that we purchased with

fake money they called “funny money.” I wasn’t a big winner, but I really enjoyed watching that ball spin around and land on numbers.

A Student Senate member gave me a raffle ticket just for playing. The “funny money” that people won could be turned in for more raffle tickets. There were some big winners who got to put a lot of tickets into the raffle.

Fortunately for people like me who only had three tickets in the raffle drawing, a person could only win one prize. At the end of the event, they did the raffle drawing. There was a whole table of prizes! There were things like a printer, microwave, digital camera, gas grills, MP3 player, coolers and lawn chairs just to name a few. They also had gift cards for gas, the grocery store, restaurants and department stores. I was lucky enough to win a $25 gift card to Pick ‘n Save!

The door prize was a 32” LED TV. The person who won was in class during the drawing. I’m sure she was happy to know she won the big prize after her class let out.

This event was so much fun. I learned how to play roulette, and I won a raffle prize. I hope they do this again next year. If you were at the event, please share your story in the comment area of this blog.

Web Developer Club Meeting

One of the groups I’m involved with on campus is the Web Developer Club. Once a month we meet to network and learn things outside the classroom. This past week we had a former graduate of the IT-Web Designer/Developer program make a presentation, and she answered our questions about entrepreneurship.

Kristen owns her own web design business. She gave us a lot of helpful tips about running a business. Some of the things she talked about were how to find clients, things to include in client agreements and estimating timelines. She also suggested we find a specialty, like WordPress, SEO or graphic design, so prospective clients know you are very knowledgeable in one specialty and are the go-to person for their specific needs.

In the past, current club members have given presentations in subjects they know through personal experience. One member knows a lot about SEO (Search Engine Optimization). He was able to give useful information about a prominent subject in the web world.

Sadly, there is only one meeting left this semester. Next year we plan on doing some fund-raising, and we’ll be going to some places where we can learn even more about the web design field. This year we’ve had the opportunity to go to the Graph Expo in Chicago and visit MIAD (Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design).

It’s a great idea to join an academic club. You get to network with your future colleagues and learn new things that set you apart from others.

West Bend Student Senate Meeting

Unfortunately, the Earth Day campus clean-up was cancelled due to snow on Thursday. It seems silly to think that we’d have standing snow at the end April. I was looking forward to spending some time outside, especially after this long winter. Instead, they held a short meeting in room T-208, which is upstairs. There aren’t many rooms upstairs at MPTC’s West Bend campus. In fact, this was my first time upstairs. Had I not looked at a map, I would not have known the room was upstairs.

This Student Senate is a group of exuberant people. The president even brings his own gavel to meetings! They were very welcoming and happy for me to join them for the first time. There are definitely perks to being involved in this group. Just for participating in a Student Senate meeting, you get a voucher for a free lunch in the cafeteria for the day. During their next meeting it sounds like they are going to Tomaso’s for pizza. I’ve heard they go to leadership conferences, too.

While I was there, they needed to discuss a few business items on their agenda. Other clubs can ask the Student Senate for money for trips. A club from the accounting program is going on a trip to Nationals in May.

The senate was making last minute arrangements for next Wednesday’s event, Last Blast. It’s a casino-themed event. There’s going to be casino games, free lunch and door prizes. One of the door prizes I heard them talking about is a TV. The event will be in the West Bend cafeteria from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. It’s free for students. I’m really looking forward to it.

The Earth Day clean up is rescheduled for the last Thursday of the semester. There will be more details posted later on flyers and on the events calendar on the Moraine Park website.

It didn’t fit into my schedule this semester, but I’m thinking about joining Student Senate in the fall. I think it would be fun to come up with and plan events for my fellow students.

Open Lab Hosted by the Web Club

One of the groups I am in at the West Bend Moraine Park Technical College campus is the Web Club. Most of the people in the club are people I have class with on a regular basis, and we end up spending a lot of time together.

It was the club’s idea to have an open lab where students in the Web Developer program could go to work on homework and get help if they needed it. I’m there almost every Monday to work on homework since the open lab is right before my evening class.

One day I was having trouble with one of my assignments. I just couldn’t get the JavaScript to work even though everything looked like it was coded (typed) correctly. Somebody from my class was also working in the lab. She took a look at my code and told me a few things to try to make it work. The problem ended up being an external link placement issue. I was very thankful for the help!

Open lab also gives us the opportunity to show each other projects we are working on and get feedback from others. Sometimes people find a really cool or funny website and share it with each other. One of the sites we were looking at one day was actor Jim Carrey’s site: http://www.jimcarrey.com/. It is pretty amazing.

The open lab is on Mondays from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. in room S112 at the West Bend MPTC campus. Come join us for homework or for fun!

My First Visit to the Career Center

Last Wednesday I went to the career center and met Mary Pat, the career counselor for Moraine Park’s West Bend campus. She showed me where I can find information about companies in Wisconsin that hire people in the field I’m studying. These companies might not necessarily be hiring at the moment, but it’s a good thing to have a list of potential future employers to contact. There was also information about job outlook and salary.

I took several of the tests available on a computer in the career center. One of them was the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. Learning what type of person you are helps you understand how you work with people and let’s you know what some of your strengths and weaknesses are. According to the results, I’m insightful, creative and visionary. In a group setting I provide insight for the future and follow through on my commitments.

The other tests I took were an aptitude test and the Strong Interest Inventory. I was able to look at an individualized report of each test. It was really interesting to see the detailed results. It gave me an idea of what fields may interest me the most. One test result showed that I shared many interests with people who are librarians. Maybe one day I’ll use my computer knowledge to set up and maintain an online catalog for a library?

I will definitely go back to the career center, especially before graduating. I think it’s going to be an invaluable resource when it comes time to look for a job.

If you’d like to visit the career center, visit their webpage for more information:

http://www.morainepark.edu/services/student-resources/career-center/ - student-resources-career

Making Cookies

If I said we were talking about cookies in class on Monday you’d probably think I was taking a cooking class in the culinary arts program here at Moraine Park Technical College. But actually the class I have on Monday nights is JavaScript.

JavaScript is a programming language that Web developers use to create more interactivity for the users (people who visit a Website). My instructor likes to explain JavaScript in terms of cooking. Using JavaScript is like adding spices to a Website for flavor. You can cook up a plain HTML page, but it can be bland without things like JavaScript.

In class, we learned how to create an Internet cookie. This kind of non-bakery cookie is something uploaded to a users computer when they visit a site to make it more personalized next time they visit that site. These could be things like preferences or what they had in their shopping cart. The HTML page we coded prompted the user to enter their favorite kind of cookie. By using JavaScript, we were able to take that information and use it in an alert box.

To see if it was saved onto the computer, we checked the browser to see if that information was saved in the cookie folder. It was! Last semester I learned what a cookie was and this semester I’m actually creating them!

After class we were all hungry for cookies - the bakery kind, of course.

Homework Day

Television, family members and pets can be distracting when you’re tying to work on homework. That’s one of the reasons why I usually spend one day a week doing homework on campus. Typically, I’ll spend five or six hours during the morning/afternoon there.

Most of my homework gets done on the computer. I prefer the computers in the library, although there is an open computer lab near the library, too. I think I prefer the library because it’s pretty spacious and it has large, scenic windows. There’s a lot of open land and sky. It’s beautiful and relaxing.

Sometime around 11 a.m. I’m usually done with an assignment and it’s off to the cafeteria for lunch. They have specials each day and regular menu items. I really like the chicken Caesar wrap with French fries, so I get that almost every time.

There are usually flyers lying on the table to read, including some from the counselor. They’re about things like how to handle stress and tips about avoiding procrastination. Occasionally I’ll see a classmate and we’ll sit and have lunch together.

After lunch, it’s back to the library. If there are more assignments to be completed on the computer, I’ll do that. Or, if I need a longer break from the computer, I’ll sit in front of the very large windows and read an assigned chapter in my textbook. Sometimes I’ll walk over to the section of books that have just come in this semester to see what’s new. There are academic books, books about job hunting preparation and books about education.

As you can tell, my favorite place on campus is the library. There are a lot of people there in the afternoon. I almost always see somebody I know there and have a little chat with them.

Right outside the library is a display case that changes every so often. Right now there is information about the tornado that hit West Bend on April 4, 1981. When I was looking at it last week, everybody walking down the hall stopped to look at it. It was before my time, but from what I read and what the pictures show, it looked terrible. The display case has several pictures of the damage including pictures of the school. It’s a good reminder to take note of where tornado shelters are in the building and to take tornado warnings seriously.

When I leave campus after my “Homework Day,” I always feel good that I got something done. It seems easier to get things done there since it’s the kind of environment where you’re used to learning and working on the subjects your studying. I highly recommend it (along with the chicken Caesar wrap)!

I Got a Manicure at School!

Last week I was walking to class and saw a neon pink flyer hanging on one of the bulletin boards in the hallway. The Cosmetology/Barber Apprenticeship Club was offering manicures and waxes as a way to fundraise for their club. I signed up to get the manicure and went last Monday to get my nails done for the very first time.

When I entered the room, I checked-in and was told to sit in the waiting area. They had two chairs off to the side and a place to hang coats. There was a radio playing and several stations set up. It was a nice atmosphere. It didn’t feel like a classroom anymore.

When it was my turn, I had a seat at one of the stations. Having never done this before, I was surprised at all the things included in a manicure. It’s not just filing nails and painting them. She rounded my nails and smoothed the edges. Then, she softened my cuticles with some solution, soaked my hands in some water and used a tool to manipulate the cuticles. The technician also used lotion and massaged my hands before putting on the nail polish.

After two coats of polish, a topcoat goes on. She used a spray can that she said helps the nails dry faster. Behind me, they had two stations set up where people were getting their eyebrows waxed. Ouch, I thought, but nobody seemed like they were in pain. Everyone was pretty happy and chatty.

Afterwords, I was pleased that my nails were smooth and painted a pretty pink color. Even after a few days, they are holding up well. I’m really glad that I stop to look at bulletin boards when I walk to my classrooms. On those boards I find things like special events, information on clubs, items for sale by students and people looking for roommates. I’m always curious to see what opportunities will pop up next!

Summer/Fall Registration is Upon Us

While it’s easy to be focusing on this semester’s classes, it’s already that time of the year to start thinking about next semester’s classes. Summer/Fall registration is upon us!

Summer class registration has already started. Summer is a good time to take some general education classes, which usually means a lighter load during the academic year. Since I already have a degree, there aren’t many general education classes for me to take. I thought about taking a class or two, but I decided not to this summer. Instead, I’ll be working on building my personal website where I will be posting an online portfolio with things like my resume and links to my past work. A short vacation or two would be nice to squeeze in before fall as well!

Fall class registration for me is in April, too. Next week I will be registering for classes. I like to write down the CRN number and double-check the time and campus location ahead of time so I’m set to register at 7:30 am. I will be taking Graphics for the Web, Beginning Photoshop and Career Development.

At the beginning of last semester, I met with my advisor to make sure I was taking the right classes. It gets a little complicated knowing what classes you do or don’t have to take when you transfer from another school, especially if you already have a degree. If you’re a current student and haven’t checked in with your advisor, I recommend you do so. He or she can give you advice about what order to take your classes in and let you know if you’ve overlooked something. I didn’t realize I had to take Computer Literacy until I talked to my advisor. Also, don’t wait until your last semester to set up a short meeting with them! You can find out who your advisor is by signing in to myMPTC, click on the “Student” tab, and scroll down to the bottom-right corner. Your advisor’s name should appear. Ta-da!

A few last tips about registration that I have learned through the years:

Look up your registration date and time, write it on the calendar and don’t forget to register. Make sure you get into those classes you need to take, especially those prerequisites needed for future classes. Don’t over-schedule yourself. If you work, have a family and are taking 17 credits in one semester, it may be too much for anyone to take on. It was tempting to take a full-time load, but I think it would have been too overwhelming for me to work 26 hours a week, go to class and do the homework. I believe class work should always reflect quality over quantity. It’s more fulfilling to see two “A+” at the end of the semester than five “B-”.

To find class offerings for Summer/Fall visit:

http://www.morainepark.edu/programs

To see Fall registration dates for returning program students by program, visit:

http://libs.morainepark.edu/docs/academic-affairs/registration/program-registration-dates.pdf

To look up class requirements for your program, or a program you’re interested in, visit:

http://www.morainepark.edu/programs-and-courses/programs-of-study/

Computer Literacy Class

This past Wednesday I began my one-credit Computer Literacy class. It is half a semester long. In this class we learn how to use Microsoft Word, PowerPoint and Excel. If you recall from my previous blogs, I am in the Web Designer/Developer program. You may wonder why Moraine Park Technical College wants me to take such a basic class if I’m already familiar with computers? Well, it turns out that not everyone knows all those programs well, even if they use them occasionally. These programs are used in so many business settings, it’s important you know how to use them. What if your boss wants you to create a spreadsheet or a graph?

I’ve used these programs before, some less frequently. However, I learned a few new things and some quick tips about Microsoft Word the very first night. We learned a little bit about networks as well. Computers on the three Moraine Park campuses are all connected to a network so they can communicate and share files. I learned that we have an “O” drive on the school’s computers. Here, students can save their work and the instructor can go into the folder and view it. This drive can also be accessed remotely (off-campus) through My MPTC portal by clicking on the file icon (blue folder). This is different from the “I” drive I’ve been using.

The “I” drive is another places where students can save their work and access it remotely. However, only that student can access their account, not the instructors. It’s a great backup place in case something happens to your flash drive!

My advice to those who are taking general education classes is, don’t be annoyed with those few required classes that everyone has to take. It’s far less than most four-year universities. You are asked to take them for a reason. They are required to prepare you for your future job. Pay attention in class and you might learn something new like a new shortcut that will make your job faster or easier. If you are more advanced in something than your fellow classmates, help them out. Share what you know in class. You could even sign up to be a tutor and get paid for it.

To learn more about Moraine Park’s tutoring service or to become a tutor, visit http://www.morainepark.edu/services/student-resources/tutoring/#student-resources