LET'S COMMUNICATE
Agriculture Communication Newsletter
November 2005, No. 119

Contents

Maximizing Your Investment in Videoconferencing
Font Choice for PowerPoint
Write the Write Word
Coming Up with Column Ideas

Maximizing Your Investment in Videoconferencing

The North Dakota Interactive Video Network (IVN) will host an interactive session on Maximizing Your Investment in Videoconferencing 1:00-2:30 CST, Thursday, Dec. 8, at 11 University System campuses.

The program will explore how to engage students in real-world programming, involve students through problem-based learning experiences, promote sharing of specialized resources and much more. These ideas will be applicable to both traditional classroom work and informal education.

The videoconference will be at:
Bismarck - BSC, VoTech Room 228
Bottineau - MiSU Bottineau, Arntzen Room 2
Devils Lake - LRSC, Admin Room 172
Dickinson - DSU, N Campus Room 104
Fargo - NDSU, EML Room 183
Grand Forks - UND, Gamble Hall, Room 130
Mayville - MaSU, Library Room 114
Minot - MiSU, Student Union, Prairie Room
Valley City - VCSU, Rhoades Room 107
Wahpeton - NDSCS, Library Room 101
Williston - WSC, Crighton Room 109

IVN has a limit of 12 sites, so Extension or REC sites can only be added if Higher Ed sites cancel and if there will be at least three
participants at that site.

To register at any site, contact Cheryl Thompson with IVN at cheryl.thompson@ivn.nodak.edu  by Monday, Dec. 5.

Font Choice for PowerPoint

Setting up a new PowerPoint presentation or revising an old one? Font choice is a big factor in readability for projected visuals. The fonts that are most readable are san serif fonts such as Arial, Tahoma or Verdana. Any font with a consistent stroke weight works.

If the template you're using defaults to a font such as Times or Times Roman, change it! Go to the View menu, select Master and then Slide Master. Change the font here and it will change on all your slides and be the default when you add new slides.

Questions? Contact Deb Tanner at 231-7891, dtanner@ndsuext.nodak.edu, or John Grindahl at 231-7898, jgrindah@ndsuext.nodak.edu.

Write the Right Word

This is a follow-up to last months discussion on brand names.

The bottom line is, don't use them if at all possible. Use a generic term instead, such as in-line skates rather than Rollberblades or facial tissue rather than Kleenex. The students used facial tissues to wipe off their makeup after the play.

However, sometimes using brand names is unavoidable, such as in publications noting specific chemicals approved for insect control or recipes calling for a particular brand of ingredient.

Rick Johnson, NDSU's legal counsel, says that when we do use the name of a particular product or service, we do not need to use the � (registered trademark), ? (trademark) or SM (service mark) symbol. He also says we should capitalize brand names; for example Crisco or Furadan. The ingredients for this recipe include 2 cups of flour and � cup of Crisco.

We want to avoid using the name of a specific product or service when possible because we don't want to appear to be endorsing or favoring that product or service. Johnson recommends that when using a brand or service name in written educational materials, include the following statement:

North Dakota State University does not endorse commercial products or companies even though reference may be made to trade names, trademarks or service names.

Ellen Crawford, 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Coming Up with Column Ideas

Whether youve just started writing a column or you're a veteran column writer, this article is for you. At some point, you'll be faced with a looming deadline and not a clue about what to write.

Believe it or not, the possibilities for a teachable moment are endless. Here are a few ideas that could help you in a pinch:

* Timely topics planting, harvest, calving, current events, the new food guide pyramid

* Upcoming events field day, workshop, first/last day of school, holidays

* Personal experiences You aren't the only one who has to operate a tractor, prune shrubs or take care of the kids. Readers can identify with what happened to you and how you solved a problem (perhaps with information from NDSU).

* Family experiences Kids and spouses are great sources of topics. So are neighbors and friends.

* Callers/visitors concerns If one person has a question, odds are others will have the same question or concern.

* Weather how it affects people and agriculture

* Health/illnesses a salmonella outbreak, the benefits and dangers of snow shoveling

* Money-saving tips Everybody can use them.

* Community needs/concerns population loss, lack of affordable housing, the need for after-school programs

* What everybodys talking about Listen in at the local caf�, library, senior citizens center, grocery store, school/community event.

Ellen Crawford, 231-5391, ecrawfor@ndsuext.nodak.edu

Let's Communicate