Technology Workshops - April and May 2008

Library and Information Services

ALL WORKSHOPS REQUIRE ADVANCE REGISTRATION!

To sign up for workshops of interest please send an email request to: helpdesk@middlebury.edu.

Desktop Publication / Graphics

Essentials – Core Software

Library Basics

Multimedia

Web Skills

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

Please note: Basic mouse and computing navigation skills are assumed unless otherwise noted in the workshop description.

Advanced CMS

Learn how to use tables to assist in formatting, create connected pages to reduce editing time, incorporate anchors and use different templates to leverage more out of CMS. Prerequisites: You should be able to create and edit pages in CMS as well as add links, photos, files and tables.

Advanced Google Earth

Already comfortable using Google Earth? Come to this workshop and learn how you can really expand your use of KML. In this 1.5 hour session we will walk through making static screen overlays, customizing tours, creating 3D graphs, and (time permitting) placing 3D SketchUp Models in the Google Earth environment.

Becoming Comfortable with Computers

This is a beginner level class for those who have never used a computer. This class moves along at a slow but steady pace, an hour per week. At the end of 5 weeks you should feel comfortable with the computer, be able to use the mouse and keyboard, know how to find and access programs, write a letter and make corrections, save documents, read and send messages using Webmail, use BannerWeb, and perform basic searches on the Web using Google. This class will meet every Tuesday from April 8 through May6.

Blogs and MMOGs and Wikis, Oh My!

We’ll take a look at a variety of Web 2.0 and 3.0 technologies and help you answer the question “Which do I use and why?” as well as discuss how they can be used in an educational environment.

Content Management System (CMS) Basics

In this workshop you'll learn how to navigate within CMS, create new pages, edit existing pages, as well as add photos, tables and links. Many folks who edit CMS pages infrequently have found this to be a good refresher.

CMS Work Session

Have you been procrastinating from making those updates to your CMS pages? Can't update your CMS pages because the phone is ringing off the hook? Don't you wish there was someplace quiet and peaceful you could go to work on your CMS pages, uninterrupted? Well, there is! Come to a CMS work session and have someone right there to answer all of your questions and help you with any problems that come up. This will not be a formal workshop; we will answer questions and problems as they come up.

Creating Effective Documentation

Learn the basics of writing to inform. Whether you write short announcements or long instructional documents, the principles of creating effective documentation that meet the needs of your audience are the same. This class focuses on content, organization, style, and format. Note: Solid working knowledge of Microsoft Word document creation, formatting and storage will be assumed in this workshop.

Dreamweaver: Beyond the Basics

Building on the basics taught in the Basics workshop, you’ll learn to use templates, layers, image maps, and rollovers. Also how to put Dreamweaver (HTML) code into Segue. Dreamweaver works on PC and Mac platforms. The workshop will be taught on Macs.

Excel Crash Course

Learn the basics of creating, updating and printing a spreadsheet using Microsoft Excel. We’ll cover navigation, entering data and simple calculations, revising entries, sorting, basic formatting, and printing. Both Mac and PC users are welcome to attend.

Excel-to-Go: Creating Basic Charts

Using sample data and Excel’s Chart Wizard, discover how easily you can create and modify basic bar, pie and scatter charts. NOTE: Familiarity with basic Excel navigation will be assumed in this workshop.

Excel-to-Go: Decision Making

Do you need to incorporate logic in your Excel calculations? In one hour, master an “if” statement and find out how to use a lookup table. We’ll also cover how to install and use a hidden gem – the conditional sum wizard – a lifesaver when you only need to add up select values. NOTE: Familiarity with basic Excel navigation will be assumed in this workshop.

Excel-to-Go: Pivot Tables

Pivot tables are powerful labor savers that help you sort, summarize and analyze your data. Come see how easily you can view your data in new ways. NOTE: Familiarity with basic Excel navigation will be assumed in this workshop.

Excel-to-Go: Sorting, Subtotals & Filters

Learn how to reorder information, add subtotals and use simple filters to display just the information you want, when you want it. NOTE: Familiarity with basic Excel navigation will be assumed in this workshop.

Illustrator: Beyond the Basics

Kick it up a notch! This workshop will show you some advanced drawing tools, advanced path editing, gradients and blends, transforming, and more. Prior experience in Illustrator is suggested but not required. Illustrator works on PC and Mac platforms. The workshop will be taught on Macs.

iMovie: Basic Video Editing on Macs

This workshop will provide the skills you need to edit your home movies in Apple’s iMovie. You'll learn to import video, still images and sound, edit the video footage, add effects, transitions and titles. Finally, you will learn to export your movie to a format that you can share with colleagues, students, friends and family. iMovie works only on the Mac platform. The workshop will be taught on Macs.

InDesign: Beyond the Basics

Building on the skills leaned in the Basics workshop, you will learn utilizing color, transparency, tables, advanced text control, Bézier paths, and importing and exporting files. InDesign works on PC and Mac platforms. The workshop will be taught on Macs.

InDesign: For Reprographics

In this workshop you will expand your knowledge of InDesign and learn the details of how to prepare the perfect file for delivery to Reprographics. The methods you learn in this workshop will benefit both you and the staff in Reprographics: reducing time, costs, and frustration. Great stuff if you send InDesign files to Reprographics for printing.

iPhoto: Image Editing Basics on Macs

In 90 minutes you'll learn how to crop, resize, and adjust basic image properties, along with how to save your work in an appropriate format and size using this simple but powerful tool that comes on all Macs. This workshop will be particularly helpful for people who need to do simple editing work with photos without the complexities of Photoshop.

Library Research Basics: Discover Resources for You and Your Family

Do you have the feeling that the Middlebury College Library has a lot more to offer than you are aware of? Just how do you find out what online databases are available and right for you? Want to catch up on news from papers from around the world? Need some product reviews before you go shopping? Have a health concern you want to research? Need to help someone in your family find articles for a homework assignment? Want to do all this from home but don't know how? Two librarians will give you an overview of how to find library resources on the LIS page, introduce you to a few resources, give you some search tips, and answer questions you may have and give advice on good places to start your "research". The focus will be on using online tools. 30 minutes have been added to the class to give people more time to "play" with the resources, for those who are interested.

MackonMacs

Join Mack for a bring-your-lunch-and-feed-your-brain time of questions, answers and demonstrations featuring everything Mac. Located in the Wilson Multimedia Development Lab, this is a time for faculty, staff, and students to learn and share tips, trips, and shortcuts that make productivity, learning, and fun more..., well, fun. This is a drop-in workshop. No registration required. If you have any questions or suggestions for topics, please email them to mroark@middlebury.edu.

MovieMaker: Basic Video Editing on PCs

This introductory workshop will provide the basic skills you need to make simple movies using the free editor that comes with PCs. You'll learn to import video, still images and sound, edit the video footage, add effects, transitions and titles. Finally, you will learn to export your movie to a format that you can share with colleagues, students, friends and family. MovieMaker works only on the PC platform. The workshop will be taught on PCs.

Outlook-to-Go: Archiving Update

Do you have lots of email you need to keep? Are you getting quota warning messages from the system administrator? Improved storage technology has changed our options. This workshop will share our latest recommendations about archiving and explain how to do it. You can have easy access to your old messages and free up space on the email server! Sign up and learn how. NOTE: Familiarity with basic Outlook navigation on a PC will be assumed in this workshop.

PhotoEditor: Basic Image Editing on PCs

In 90 minutes you'll learn how to crop, resize, and adjust basic image properties, along with how to save your work in an appropriate format and size using this simple tool for PCs. This workshop will be particularly helpful for people who need to do simple editing work with photos without the complexities of Photoshop. PhotoEditor works only on the PC platform. The workshop will be taught on PCs.

RefWorks for Beginners: Write-N-Cite

Getting your footnotes and bibliographies right doesn’t have to be complicated. In just one hour you'll learn how to save citations, as you find them, and create bibliographies with this easy-to-use database for storing and managing references.

Second Life

Second Life is being used in many innovative ways from education to therapy. In this introduction you will create a personal avatar then go on a guided tour of some of the interesting sights and SIMs that Second Life has to offer. Along the way, you will learn some of the jargon and culture that makes Second Life an exciting alternate universe and learning tool. Second Life runs on PC and Mac platforms. The workshop will be taught on Macs.

Segue

Segue is the course management software used by Middlebury, but it is so much more. In this workshop, you will learn to build and maintain a Segue site, add media content, and explore other uses and possibilities of this powerful and easy to use tool. Segue is Web-based and works on PC and Mac platforms. The workshop will be taught on Macs.

WordPress

WordPress is the tool used for blogging at Middlebury College. This workshop will show you how to create, add content and maintain your blog. WordPress works on PC and Mac platforms. This workshop will be taught on Macs.

For your convenience, our workshops and course descriptions are included in the Events at Middlebury campus events calendar. To display our offerings, simply type go/lis?events in your web browser’s address field.