Ready, Set, Click!
Here is a post for the true beginner – I will continue to update this page with more tutorials:
Microsoft’s Demo on How to Use a Mouse
Microsoft’s Demo on Using the Keyboard
Windows Basics – Many topics, including the two links above and MORE
How to Copy & Paste – Practice on this site
Top 50 Most Popular Email Tips, Tricks & Secrets
Google Videos Results: “Mac for Beginners” – many excellent videos
Setting up your wireless network…
Setting up and securing your home wireless network is frustrating if you haven’t a clue what steps to take. I have compiled a list of my favorite links to help you handle this daunting task with ease. Do your homework first! I spent quite a bit of time finding the best sites and reading through the steps several times before trying to tackle my wireless network.
Share your tips, tricks or links in the comments below.
Healthy, Happy Computers
Your computer is starting to drag, and it’s only six months old. Sound familiar? It happens to us all – but there are simple FREE solutions! Here is useful list of important tasks that will keep your computer running smoothly:
- Delete unused programs, folders, and files. They take up useful memory. If you’re a pack rat and just can’t seem to part with these files, save them to disk for future reference if needed. An external hard drive is perfect if you have lots of music, pictures, video and other large files.
- Create backup disks. Backup any files that you use on a regular basis or files that are updated frequently. In the unfortunate event of a hard drive crash, you won’t panic about lost work. Drag your entire My Documents folder to your external hard drive once a week, and store the drive in a safe place!
- Create system restore points regularly. Do this at least once a week. If weaker viruses are accidentally downloaded, the restore point will ensure that your data is recoverable. Most computers will ask you to create a system restore point before a new download, but creating your own occasionally is a great idea.
- Use anti-spyware software. These programs can rid your computer of unwanted spyware, greyware, and malware. I recommend CCleaner and Advanced System Care Free!
- Utilize anti-virus protection. If you can’t afford an anti-virus program (or don’t want one because of the negative effects it can have on your computer), simply conduct a free online virus scan. Two of the most trusted scans are TrendMicro and Panda. I recommend AVG Free antivirus which can be downloaded at www.free.avg.com .
- Delete cookies and clear your cache after you sign off. These files are completely unnecessary, take up memory, and can allow spyware to invade your computer. This step is unnecessary if you are running CCleaner or Advanced System Care Free.
- Perform a scan disk operation. Periodically perform a scan disk to make sure that your files are all in working order. This scan should be performed about once a week.
- Defragment. Defragmenting your computer will guarantee that your files are organized and your computer is running at optimal speeds. This should be done at least once a month. I highly suggest using SmartDefrag or Defraggler in place of Windows Defrag.
- Consider formatting your hard drive. This should probably only be done if all of the above have been tried without success. This is almost always the FIRST thing that you’ll be told to do when you call the help desk of the folks who manufactured your computer. Keep this as a last resort.
- Find a reputable computer shop! Just as you need a trustworthy auto mechanic, a trustworthy computer repairperson can save you hundreds of dollars in unnecessary repairs or upgrades.
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Have at least two browsers on your computer! I recommend Google Chrome as your default browser.
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It’s a great idea to have more than one admin account on your computer. This way, should one become corrupt, you won’t lose access to your computer.
Best of luck! Let us know your favorite free utilities, and let me know if I can be of assistance.
Loving WordPress!
I began using WordPress last June, when this site was created. Since then, I have built or rebuilt six or so other sites.
Still learning, I have found that the online support by WordPress and others is amazing. Many forums and blogs point back to The WordPress Codex.
Share any WordPress links or tutorials that you have found helpful, and I’ll keep adding links as I go.
The Worst Blind Date Stories EVER…
After my divorce and prior to meeting my husband, Tom, I had thirteen – yes, thirteen – horrific blind dates. One of them was ok, but most were just awful.
Last week, I shared my (now) favorite yarn with my husband and kids, who thoroughly enjoyed it. To protect the parties involved, I will just say that it involved a nerd with a pitbull and a Lean Cuisine frozen dinner. (I was promised an evening out at a lovely restaurant, by the way.) The date ended with the pitbull licking my entire face and the nerd going without.
Would love to hear your best-of-the-worst stories…
TeacherWeb
Here are some cool links for the folks attending my three TeacherWeb sessions tomorrow…
Tutorial Videos: http://teacherweb.com/AK/Appleton/TutorialVideos/apt12.stm
Sample TeacherWeb sites: http://www.teacherweb.com/tweb/SampleTeacherWebsites.aspx
TeacherWeb Features: http://teacherweb.com/tweb/Intro.aspx
TeacherWeb Webquest Page: http://teacherweb.com/tweb/WebQuests.aspx
Ice Choppin’ and Wood Haulin’…
Slapped soundly on the virtual wrist by my good buddy Carolyn for having elderly blog posts, I am here to share with you my very glamorous day in Maine. It actually started last night with a chimney fire – contained, thank heavens, but damage was done to the liner. In “going green”, we apparently didn’t realize that those wonderful biobricks burn HOT, and boy-o-boy…
Anyhoo – I hauled three or four buckets of nasty stinky creosote out to the snow, dressed in Tom’s sexy boots and hunting jacket. I decided to follow the whole thing up with a thorough cleaning of the soot trap (or whatever they call it) and a good ol’ fashioned driveway chopping with the four kids. It’s actually gorgeous out here today, but we are heading into four days of tundra-like weather. That’ll be fun without with the woodstove!
You people in the warmer climates don’t know what you are missing… 
Excel Essentials
Here are some great links for free Excel tutorials and training:
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/CR061831141033.aspx
http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/CR100479681033.aspx
http://phoenix.phys.clemson.edu/tutorials/excel/actions.html#7.5
SMARTBoard Training & Tutorials
As SMARTBoards gain popularity, it’s important that we share information with one another. Here are some of the best training sites/videos that I’ve discovered:
SMART Training Center – tons of free tutorials!
Curry College – Free SMARTBoard Tutorials
Several links courtesy of Jim Burke:
Western Maine Learning SMARTBoard Training
Learning in Maine SMARTBoard WikiSpaces
Please share your SMARTBoard links!
Nings, Wikis, & Blogs…
As I’m facilitating a workshop today for the Sanford School Department entitled, “Nings, Wikis and Blogs, OH MY!”, I thought I’d post that information here as well.
Nings are tiny social networking sites, much like “Facebook”, that one creates and maintains. They are perfect for both work and school, but I could also imagine that families might like to have a Ning for a family reunion, wedding, etc. Go to http://www.ning.com/ to start or join a network.
Wikis are incredibly easy to use, and are most often used for collaboration. Many of us that started with wikis and blogs have moved over to nings, because they are all-inclusive. However, don’t discount the ease of use of wikis. Go play at http://www.wikispaces.com/ and see what you think.
Finally, a few words on blogs. You are reading one right now. A blog, or weblog, is basically a place where someone can share information, and possibly allow others to comment. I’m using WordPress with Intense Debate comments. Most users like to start out with https://www.blogger.com/start, which is part of the Google world. Very easy to create and maintain.
The Sanford School Department provides us with free use of http://teacherweb.com/, which is very inexpensive to anyone in education wanting a website. Teacherweb has an integrated blog software that amazed me with it’s ease of use. I’ll be recommending this blog to the teachers today. Teacherweb offers a free 30-day trial, so give it a shot this summer. The cost is only $39/year if you decide to keep it.
Send us links to your nings, wikis and blogs!