Customizing Your Settings
When you first created your account at the classroom you filled in some information that was used to create your account. You can view and edit that information (and more!) through your profile.
After you log into the classroom, you will see your name in the very top right corner. Click on that and it takes you to the information that your classmates can see about you. Across the top of the profile are a series of tabs. Click on the tab which says "Edit Profile".
On the next screen you will see the form for editing the profile. The fields in red are required but any of the fields you can chose to enter or not.
Here are some of the fields you may be most interested in:
- Email display - choose who you want to be able to see your email address. This can help to maintain your privacy.
- Email activated - disable your email address and you will not receive any email from our system.
- Email format - choose whether to receive email in HTML or plain text format.
- Email digest - choose whether to receive emails as messages are posted in the classroom or just a summary once a day.
- Forum auto-subscribe - turn this on to automatically subscribe to a forum whenever you post a message.
- Forum tracking - turn this on to have any unread posts in your classroom highlighted for you.
- Font Size - Choose the font size you want to use as the base font for the site.
One of the options allows you to upload an image that will display when you post messages or assignments in the classroom. You can upload a photo or an image that you want to represent you. Click on the browse button and select the image you want to upload. Once it is uploaded the system will size it to fit the image area.
If you want your instructor or classmates to be able to contact you beyond the classroom, fill your web page or contact information in the Optional section.
When you have changed all the options you want, click on the Update profile button. Your changes will be saved and will take affect immediately.
We do respect your privacy and will not share any of your personal information with anyone. But do be aware that when you click on your name and view your profile that information is viewable by anyone who has an account on our classroom.
The Power of Seven
When I first started doing training, the company I worked for put us through a train-the-trainer session. One of the things from that session that has stuck with me for the last 20 years was the fact that it takes the average person seeing, hearing and doing something seven times for them to learn it.
Now, understanding averages as I do, I realized that for those, like me, who catch on after one or two times, there were those who took 12 or 13 times before they caught on. I always kid, when I have a student who apologizes for taking so long to catch onto something, that they are my
balancer and together we average to 7. Without them, I'd skew the average.
This is one of the reasons that our instructional strategy works so well. By working through the various activities of the course you are increasing the number of times you are exposed to the content. You have a chance to improve how well you learn the materials with each exposure.
- The first opportunity to learn is the demo. This shows you what can be done. It also gives you an idea of where the lesson is headed.
- Next you read through the content in the book. If there are examples in the book work through those as well
- Read through the online content and examples.
- Spend some time going through the online resources.
- Try it out on your own with the Practice.
- Spend some time discussing the topic with your classmates and you have.
- Apply what you have learned to your own project with the Assignment.
Still don't feel like you got it? Try these suggestions:
- Take a look at your classmates' projects in the Assignments
- Review more of the online resources
- Search for new resources.
- Ask your teacher for additional examples
If you still need more, go back through it all again!
Are you like me and catch on pretty quickly? Then use the learning opportunities to dig a little deeper into the subject.
- Investigate some of the areas of the topic that may not have been covered in the course content.
- Help your classmates that are your average balancers by posting examples you have created or found in your own research.
- Help your instructor answer questions from other students. They may encounter problems you had not.
Each exposure to the course content you have gives you a chance to learn something new! Take advantage of all these learning opportunities and you are sure to come away learning something new!
Spring into New Classes!
Like the plants and flowers in Spring, our course list is growing! We have new classes in web design, personal development and business skills.
The following courses are now available for enrollment!
Adobe InDesign - Need to create professional-looking documents and Word just won't do it? Adobe InDesign allows you to design and produce stunning documents on your desktop printer or using a professional printer. Or convert your documents to PDF format or publish them on a website. This class will walk you through setting up the InDesign workspace, adding text and graphics to your document, creating layouts with frames and applying formatting with styles.
Right on the Money- Personal and Practical Personal Finance - Today's ever changing financial situations require that solid and practical personal financial planning should be available to each person with income and responsibilities. This class is designed to provide that basic personal financial planning. The class provides a curriculum with the plans and procedures that will help anyone identify, understand and accomplish their financial goals. We cover basic personal financial planning, asset and credit management, savings/investment and retirement planning.
Don't see a course you want on our
list of courses? Let me know! We are always looking for new course ideas.
Have a skill you'd like to share? We are always looking for new course developers and teachers!
