LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
January 2003, No. 85

CONTENTS

TEST YOUR E-MAIL
FREE PROGRAMS MAY CAUSE BIG PROBLEMS
STARTING AND STOPPING A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION
ADA REQUIREMENTS FOR BROCHURES
SMART OBJECTIVES/DESIRED OUTCOMES

 

TEST YOUR E-MAIL

Nearly all of us have more than one e-mail address, but many of us use one as our primary address and have e-mail to the other addresses forwarded to that primary address. This is certainly the situation for those of us who regularly use an @ndsuext address but who also receive e-mail at our @ndsu address. Even though we have set it up to have our secondary e-mail address forwarded to our primary e-mail address (such as forwarding my @ndsu e-mail to my @ndsuext address), the skeptic in some of us causes us to wonder whether this is really working.

Here is an easy test. Send yourself an e-mail message to your secondary address and see if it arrives at your primary address. If it does, you can be confident the system is working. If it does not arrive, you need to address the problem. In that case, please call the Ag Comm Help Desk at 231- 9666 or e-mail accs@ndsuext.nodak.edu 

David Saxowsky

FREE PROGRAMS MAY CAUSE BIG PROBLEMS

Computer troubles? The problem may be smaller than you think.

Some of the biggest problems are caused by some of the smallest programs. Free programs, such as Webshots, Comet Cursor and Weatherbug, may cause a number of problems, including slow computer response, slow Internet connections and constant crashes.

This is because these programs divert computing power away from your daily work to download the images, advertisements and other data they need from the Internet. These free programs come with NO GUARANTEE they will work correctly. The authors many times create these programs in their spare time and do not put forth a lot of effort to be sure they are bug free. This means you accept the risk that the program could damage your computer files or cause the computer to crash.

By not installing this type of software, you are helping yourself avoid unnecessary headaches and possible loss of data.

To read more about this, visit:

http://info-center.ccit.arizona.edu/~ccitinfo/newsletters/march2002/problems_with_webshots.html  

Jerry Ranum

STARTING AND STOPPING A POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

PowerPoint presentations normally start by loading the PowerPoint software, then loading the presentation, then clicking on the screen show icon. The PowerPoint program, with the last slide in the edit mode, is the last thing you see as the presentor wraps up his/her presentation.

Lorna Olson, NDSU Information Technology Services, offers a more professional beginning and ending. Creating a shortcut on your desktop can launch the presentation with your first slide on the screen, in the screen show mode. You can also set PowerPoint to return to your desktop after the last slide instead of dropping you off in the edit mode. This saves clicks and looks more professional when you make your presentations.

Her article is reproduced, with her permission, on our Computer Support pages at: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/agcomm/comphelp.htm  under the "Starting and Stopping a PowerPoint Presentation" link.

Dave Rice

ADA REQUIREMENTS FOR BROCHURES

Are you putting together a brochure to publicize an upcoming event? Remember to include information required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), whose regulations apply to all.

The following information is required and must be included:

�Requests for accommodations related to disability should be made to (name) at (phone) by (date).� The date should be at least one week prior to the event.

If your brochure includes a pre-registration form, additional information needs to be included. Contact Agnes Vernon at 231-7409 or Deb Tanner at 231-7891 for this information.

Deb Tanner

SMART OBJECTIVES/DESIRED OUTCOMES

As you're developing a class, activity or program, make sure the objectives or desired outcomes are SMART:

Simple -- A few short, meaningful words 
Measurable -- The result can be quantified. 
Attainable -- Can it be reached? 
Real -- Can it really happen? If not, it's just a dream. 
Time-bound -- When will the change take place?

Nels Peterson, Nelson County Extension