Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Instruction Tutorial (Main Steps)

How To Build A Computer:

1. Decide what kind of computer you want.
2. Choose a motherboard
A.Intel or AMD
3. Buy computer parts
B. (RAM, power supply, optical drive, operating system)
4. Install RAM and microprocessor
C.*warning*---static electricity
5. Assemble Tower/Case
6. Install the Hard Drive
7. Powering up/Troubleshooting---if necessary

Sunday, February 22, 2009

audience analysis mando

What's your name?
Armando Barrera

Describe your intended audience---who are these readers?
My intended audience are students or anyone who wants to learn how to hyperlink or to better search the world wide web.

Describe your intended audience in terms of the organization they work for and their position or title.

Students and professors/teachers. Also those people who work for companies in need of better knowledge.

Describe your intended audience in terms of their occupation, profession, or field.
Some may be graduates; Others may be people in search of career opportunities and active students.

Describe your intended audience in terms of their needs for or interest in the information you plan to include in this writing project.

Students would most likely benefit from these instructions on web movement and URL hyperlinks.

Describe how your intended audience will use the information you include in this writing project.
Students will use the web search to find what they need quicker and more efficient than ever before. They will also use hyperlinks and the information from the instructions as well.

Describe the technical background of your intended audience--what do they know and not know about your topic? what are their technical limitations in relation to this writing project?
Most people know how to hyperlink but others don't know to search the web the way they should. Their technical limitations aren't extreme. Technology is improving and more available to people than in the past.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Images for White Paper




I wanted to use the timeline (above) because you can visually see where your time is going. Bubbletimer allows you you to enter your activities in small increments as well as set daily/weekly goals. You can also add or delete activities and even print your schedule from month to month. It will serve as a stepping stone for better time management and further prove that it is extremely helpful and efficient. Which brings me to my next point. In the pie chart above the timeline, you will notice that each activity is broken down in percentages over a set period of time. This visual aid will show where the majority of time is being spent. Hopefully this will help those students who set goals, but, are still slightly falling behind. It will also encourage other students who use the program by influencing better time management habits. Showing these kind of graphs will help students pinpoint areas where they need to make adjustments to better themselves. I can use these images to show, how over time Bubbletimer will come to the rescue of students who have trouble balancing time.

Tuesday, February 10, 2009

White Paper Format

I have chosen the (More on writing white papers from OWL) example as a guide to writing my white paper. It is traditional in its own form, but, it's also easy to follow. As far as visuals go;I can throw graphics, tables, and charts anywhere I see fit. The layout isn't anything special, but sometimes simple works best. I plan on writing an Introduction that sticks to the point. I also plan on writing a very compelling background/problem that is followed by a graph. This graph will show a percentage of students who are affected by the case in point. After I put together a solution I will use tables and graph's to show the progress of students as a whole and as individuals. I will post all notes and experiences I have encountered using the tech tool including a student survey of the programs navigation.

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Purpose, Audience, Genre: 3 Question's

1. What style is appropriate to address Professor Santoy as opposed to a style for students?
I would be nice to be informal; but when I think about it, it is much more professional to approach addressing a professor with respect. You will learn much more from being proper.


2. What are the style or form differences of a blog versus a micro-blog like Twitter?
The blog is more about information that is thrown out there for all to read. Formal or informal the blog is much more educational than the micro blog Twitter. On the other hand, Twitter is like bait. The reason I say that is because you can post something and almost always get someone to bite on your line. It seems that you can reach people faster and converse with each other in a more relaxed environment.


3. What do you think of genre's, such as memo's. Are they easy or hard to write?
I think that genre's such as memo's are in between simple and hard. Once you remember the steps on how to write them properly your fingers do the rest. But like I said, remembering all the steps takes time.

Survey Question's

1. Have you ever felt that you don't have enough time to complete your assignments for school?
2. Do you think that other students have the same problem budgeting time?
3. Have you ever made a personal time schedule to study and complete homework?
4. If so, did you stick with it? If not, why haven't you?
5. How many hours a day do you think you put aside for school work?
6. Do you think that the time you give yourself is enough?
7. If T.S.T.C. taught and gave you access to a program/tool to manage your time better, would you use it?
8. Do you think the reason that students struggle and don't complete assignments has anything yo do with not planning ahead to study?
9. How many other students do you think would agree?
10. According to the average letter grades you receive, are you an A,B,C,D, or F student?

Sunday, February 1, 2009

Proposal/Research/White Paper

M E M O R A N D U M
To: Janie Santoy
From: Armando Barrera
Date: February 1, 2009
Subject: Proposal to use BubbleTimer for students


This document is a written proposal, to use and establish a technical tool named BubbleTimer. Students at T.S.T.C. and people everywhere have been subject to poor time management. It has effected the way that they study, work, and find time for themselves in a negative way. I am requesting permission to spend a total of 5 working days researching and writing a white paper on this topic. This proposal will include an in depth report on how well this tool functions and benefits those who use it. I will also provide a project plan, with a list of my qualifications and deadlines I that I will meet. The importance of this proposal is to assist students who need help dividing their time and to also urge the school to realize that this is a problem that needs to be remedied.

Problem Statement

Students at T.S.T.C. are being plagued by decision making instances and the ability to try and manage their time. I plan on investigating how this has become an issue for the majority of the students on campus. It is crucial that we try to aid them with ways to educate themselves and overcome obstacles that they face. Too many students fall into the category of not planning ahead and dividing their time among responsibilities. Students are now stressing out more than ever because they are not performing well in class. I have noticed that this problem has been stirring for some time; affecting many more students as it goes unnoticed.

Project Definition

My solution to this problem is to get students to try the technical tool called BubbleTimer. It is a clever way to allow students as individuals to create a time schedule that is easy to stick to. They can benefit extremely from using this program because it is so simple to use and because you can visually see where your time is being spent. I plan on producing a time table chart that shows how many hours each individual spends on homework each day. I will also include a small survey that will be broken down into different activities done by students in different increments of time. The good thing about BubbleTimer is that you can share time schedules and activities with anyone you choose. It is set up as a system that can bring students or anyone together will the common need to budget time. Another interest that appeals to college students is that BubbleTimer provides a free 15 day trial so you can get acquainted with using it. I intend to use graph's that are simulated to show the percentages of college life. The link to the login page for BubbleTimer is http://bubbletimer.com/login so you can see for yourself. Membership for a year is only twenty dollars; but when you think about how much it will assist you, twenty dollars isn't much. The only required information for students to sign up for BubbleTimer is an email address and a password that they will submit.

Qualifications

I have been enrolled at T.S.T.C. for some time now. I am going to graduate in the fall of 2009. I have had a 3.25 GPA for several semesters now and I am a very hard worker. I have taken Digital Imaging 1 & 2, Digital Video & Sound, Web Page Design, Interactive Multi Media, and Photography to name a few. I am familiar with all types of computers like HP,Mac's Dells, and different softwares. At the moment I have been in the stages of freelancing and building my portfolio.

I have seen so many students dropping classes or flunking out because they didn't take the time to make sure they could complete assignments. I have used several programs from Blackboard and Web CT to what we use now with Twitter. I have also been working part time while going to school full time. I have experienced stress that was magnified because of poor time management. It is very difficult to have a moment to breath when you work and go to school. So I know how other students feel when they get overwhelmed with too many jobs to do. That's why this tool should be implemented and encouraged by the staff for students to use. I have taken the 15 day trial with BubbleTimer to see how effective it can be. So far I have realized that I make to many last minute decisions on how to plan my week. This usually leads to a conflict over work, school, and free time. This will benefit me as well.

Project Plan

These next couple of days I will enter my own schedule in BubbleTimer and see how well I follow it. I will also assemble a few volunteers to use the free trial and document their statistics. I also want to get statements/personal quotes that I can use to determine whether or not The students like using the technical tool.

Major Tasks and Deadlines

My Own BubbleTimer Schedule ------ Due February 1,2009 ------ estimated 1 to 2 hours
Volunteer BubbleTimer Schedule ------ Due February 2, 2009 ----- estimated 1 day
Time Table Chart ------ Due February 3, 2009 ------ estimated 2 hours
Small Survey ------ Due February 3, 2009 ------ estimated 2 hours
White Paper Final ------ Due February 4, 2009 ------ estimated 2 days

February 1st Deadline: I must have my own schedule completed/documented based on how well I followed my time table.
February 2nd Deadline: I must have each students information separated and documented so I can analyze and point out similarities in their work week as well as differences.
February 3rd Deadlines: My timetable chart and my survey must be complete. I must produce a computer generated graph for both so you can visually see how effective BubbleTimer is. I will a sample pie graph that BubbleTimer already uses in their system so you can see further into where time is spent. I will start the White Paper assignment and work up the skeleton.
February 4th Deadline: I will complete and review my findings on my white paper. I will analyze how well everything is put together and double check to see that I am not missing vital information.

Authorization/Conclusion

Don't you think that every student deserves to have a chance to make the right decision and put their best foot forward? With this new technical tool they will have that opportunity everyday and it will lead them in the way of success. College students have enough things to worry about, like: How am I going to pay my tuition? What classes should I take next semester? Should I change my major? Time management should not be at the top of the list. Especially when we can neutralize the situation by giving them a weapon they can use to help themselves. Education is the key and this tool will do just that.