Amy Sebring: Welcome to the Virtual Classroom. Today we are going to try something a little different which we are calling "Can You Pass the Road Test to Drive on the Information Highway?" Amy Sebring: The tremendous growth of interest in the World Wide Web, combined with the falling prices for personal computers have served to bring many new users on line. This in my opinion is a good thing ... Amy Sebring: And I believe that in the near and long term future, that mastery of some fundamental computer skills will be essential in almost every professional occupation, as well as opening up possibilities for personal and professional growth. Amy Sebring: So I am very supportive of anyone who is willing to take the plunge, and learn something new. BUT, sometimes I feel that before someone is let loose in cyberspace, there are some fundamental skills that should be learned. Amy Sebring: So today's session will deal with some basics. The background page is located at http://www.emforum.org/vclass/010117.htm . There you will find a few links to some beginner resources on the Web. Amy Sebring: One of the reasons we decided to do this session is that we have hoped for quite awhile to make some distance learning available through the EIIP. We do not know if we will have the funding necessary to do this ... Amy Sebring: But if we did, we wondered what might make a good first professional development course to offer. Basic computer skills might be a good candidate, and one of our purposes today is to get your input. Amy Sebring: What do you think are some of the basic areas that would be useful to cover? We thought of this potential course as issuing a "learner's permit" for the Information Highway, hence the idea of a road test. Amy Sebring: I will be presenting a series of questions. We will dispense with the question marks today. Please play along and pop in your responses to the questions, and if you have comments on the particular topic ... Amy Sebring: Please put them in also. At the end, we will leave some time for you to put in your own ideas about any other topics we may not have covered. Amy Sebring: We will be focused on the Windows operating system because of its widespread use, and we are talking about basics. I disclaim expert knowledge about all topics, and have my own biases, which is why we come to you with this. Amy Sebring: Ok, let's get started with our first question. Amy Sebring: 1. The best way to go about learning what you need to know about using computers is to: Amy Sebring: A. Pretend you already know everything and hope that nobody finds out you are a novice. Amy Sebring: B. Pick up a software manual and read it cover to cover. Amy Sebring: C. Read all the topics in the Help section. Amy Sebring: D. Find somebody that knows what they are doing and ask questions. Rick Tobin: D Amy Sebring: responses? LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: D Elaine M. Sudanowicz: D Roger Kershaw: D with some use of C ray pena: none of the above bob rosenbush: practice along with appropriate reading LoriWieber: D with a healthy dose of C thrown in. Amy Sebring: The point of this question is that it is OK to admit you are a novice if you are. Nobody expects you to be an expert. Someone that is experienced and is trying to help you can do that best if they have a good idea ... Amy Sebring: of what you do or do not already know. So answer A is definitely wrong! The problem with B is that most of us do not have the time to read manuals cover to cover. We want to get to the essentials quickly. ray pena: bob's closest Charlotte Duggan: D. I think definitely hands-on is the way to learn! Avagene Moore: D Amy Sebring: Answer B is Ok, if you have unlimited time. It is also Ok if you want to thoroughly know a particular software application because you want to use all of its features. Amy Sebring: The same is also true of answer C, however, on-line help indexes are very useful for finding specifics about a particular topic. The trouble can be with knowing what term to use to look something up. Amy Sebring: So my suggestion on this question is to go with answer D. Find someone who is willing to help you. Try to give that person a good idea of what specifically you want to know about. LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: Also read a beginner's book about how computers work, not the software manual in B. Amy Sebring: If you do not understand an explanation, try to identify which part of the explanation you don't understand and ask for clarification. Charlotte Duggan: Also, many on-line help functions aren't very helpful. Amy Sebring: So you are all correct. Amy Sebring: You are passing so far. Amy Sebring: Next question. 2. After learning where the ON button is, the next most important thing to know about your personal computer is: Amy Sebring: A. How to find Napster and download and play music. Amy Sebring: B. How to get the latest football scores. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: Virus Protection Amy Sebring: C. How to get the latest stock quotes. Amy Sebring: D. What "files" are and how to manage them. Roger Kershaw: Elaine is cheating...lol LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: D ray pena: learning where the OFF button is Darla Chafin: D LoriWieber: D Roger Kershaw: D Charlotte Duggan: D Avagene Moore: D LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: Learning that the OFF button is also the ON button. Amy Sebring: You are all whizzes! Christopher Effgen: how to download games Amy Sebring: Well you may have your own priorities about answers A - C, however, answer D is the one that I think will be fundamental to most of the tasks you will do with your computer. Charlotte Duggan: I also agree with Elaine. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: E. Virus Protection bob rosenbush: going to the Program button to see what software is loaded on the machine Amy Sebring: You need to know how to organize your files so that you will be able to find them again. You need to know how to copy, move, or delete files. You need to figure out what works for you in terms of assigning file names. Amy Sebring: You might be surprised at how some do not know how to do these things ... Amy Sebring: as software programs try to make it simple for you. Amy Sebring: Speaking of files, next question. 3. A file extension means: Amy Sebring: A. If it ends in .gif, it is a kind of peanut butter. Amy Sebring: B. If it ends in .doc, it has something to do with your health. Amy Sebring: C. If it ends in .xls, the content is most excellent. Amy Sebring: D. Assign file extensions the meaning of which is known only to you. Amy Sebring: E. It is a good idea to leave the file extension that is assigned by a software application alone unless you have a good reason to change it. Lloyd Colston: I use the Internet much like we do here, with my volunteers. I have an email list. One of my goals is a virtual EOC. Users will be tied wireless to a PDA. Roger Kershaw: E LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: e Avagene Moore: E. Isabel McCurdy: E nita archer: e Christopher Effgen: e LoriWieber: e Gil Gibbs: E Amy Sebring: Sounds interesting Lloyd. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: E Charlotte Duggan: E ray pena: mmm peanut butter... Amy Sebring: You are all correct. The answer is E. Whether it is a good idea or not, Windows programs for the most part use the file extensions to indicate to other programs what the file format is. Changing the extension may confuse things. Amy Sebring: I find this especially true when somebody attaches a file to an email. Amy Sebring: Next question. 4. True or False. In the context of computers, the Clipboard is what you use to attach an exercise evaluation form to. Lloyd Colston: I use http://www.egroups.com for my list. Chat, calendar, and file storage is built in there. Charlotte Duggan: DITTO!!! LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: F Roger Kershaw: F Christopher Effgen: f Charlotte Duggan: False Isabel McCurdy: F Avagene Moore: false Elaine M. Sudanowicz: False nita archer: f Darla Chafin: f Gil Gibbs: F LoriWieber: F Amy Sebring: Right again. The answer is False in this context. The Clipboard is a place in memory that will temporarily hold stuff that you copy from one application so that you can paste it into other applications. Amy Sebring: You can actually see what is in the Clipboard at any given time by opening it up from Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Clipboard Viewer in Windows 98. Amy Sebring: Once you get past word processing, you may want to do something with graphics. This is becoming increasingly popular with the use of digital cameras and scanners as those prices come down. Lloyd Colston: Amy, using clipstack, you can have multiple clipboards, however. Amy Sebring: Thanks Lloyd, will check it out. Amy Sebring: Next question. 5. I have a graphic file that is in Windows bit map format (.bmp) I don't have any graphics software. How can I convert to a format that can be used on the Web? (multiple choice again) Amy Sebring: A. Give up. It can't be done. Go out and get a sophisticated graphics program. Amy Sebring: B. Find somebody else that can do it for you. Amy Sebring: C. Print it out, scan it and hope that you will end up with the right format. Amy Sebring: D. Use your Windows accessory, Paint, use File, Save As and select either .gif or .jpg format. Roger Kershaw: D Avagene Moore: D LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: D Charlotte Duggan: D Isabel McCurdy: D Gil Gibbs: D nita archer: d Lloyd Colston: Copy to Word and save as an HTML file. ray pena: b. It's called delegating Elaine M. Sudanowicz: D Sounds most convincing. Darla Chafin: I'm impressed... and on a learning curve... bob rosenbush: I've been troubled by this dilemma. Amy Sebring: Answer B might be a good solution, however, you would have to take the time to find somebody, and you will not know how to do it in the future unless he shows you. The built in Paint accessory can usually do what you want. Amy Sebring: A couple of more hints on graphics. If you want to capture something on your screen and make a picture, you can use the PrtSc key to capture your entire screen, Amy Sebring: or Alt+PrtSc to capture just the window you want. You can then open Paint and use Edit, Paste to paste what you have captured into Paint where you can save it in a graphic format. Amy Sebring: Another common task you may want to do is to crop your picture. You can do that by inserting your picture into Word, double clicking on the image, displaying your Picture Tools options, and there is a cropping tool available, which may be easier than trying to resize with Paint. LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: Amy, at the end, will you tell us who the person who knows everything is? Lloyd Colston: Amy, if you paste it into your word processor, it saves a step. Amy Sebring: Yes, same idea Lloyd. Amy Sebring: Don't know who that person would be Linda because most people use some applications ... Amy Sebring: more intensely than others. Lloyd Colston: Locally, I try to attract volunteers that are conversant on a number of different products. Amy Sebring: Ok, now you are connected to the Internet and are ready to start communicating with the world. Next question. 6. The best way to immediately let everyone know you are a newbie is to: Amy Sebring: A. Send everyone in your address book every virus warning you get. Amy Sebring: B. Send everyone in your address book every joke that you get. Amy Sebring: C. Immediately pass on every chain letter you receive. Amy Sebring: D. Leave at least 6 exchanges of quoted material in your correspondence and add your latest comments at the bottom. Amy Sebring: E. Mark all your correspondence Highest Priority, Return Recipt Requested. Amy Sebring: F. Attach your latest 4 megabyte PowerPoint presentation. Amy Sebring: G. All of the above. LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: G Christopher Effgen: g ray pena: all of the above Isabel McCurdy: G Gil Gibbs: G LoriWieber: G all of the above Lloyd Colston: G Charlotte Duggan: ALL BUT C Avagene Moore: All but C nita archer: f none Roger Kershaw: none of above... nita archer: ty roger Roger Kershaw: lol nita Amy Sebring: Any other ways you can think of? Charlotte Duggan: Never mind. I thought pass on meant PASS on every letter Avagene Moore: Me too, Charlotte. Avagene Moore: Something we should do. Amy Sebring: It all boils down to thoughtfulness. Lloyd Colston: H. Find all the Urban Legends and email them. Roger Kershaw: I would just send a short personal note telling others of my new email addy. nita archer: ditto roger Charlotte Duggan: People need to know about the web sites to check out hoaxes. LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: I. Call someone to tell them you emailed them. nita archer: emails and website are different charlotte Amy Sebring: Good one Linda. Lloyd Colston: http://www.snopes.com is one for hoax evaluation. Amy Sebring: However, one mistake that is commonly made is that ... Roger Kershaw: isn't calling someone to tell them they got mail, redundant? LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: Of course Amy Sebring: one assumes that email is infallible and always goes through. Amy Sebring: If you do not get a response from somebody ... Lloyd Colston: Amy? Amy Sebring: it would not hurt to give them the benefit of the doubt ... Elaine M. Sudanowicz: Not for people who never read their e-mail you send them. Amy Sebring: and confirm that they have, in fact received it. Amy Sebring: Go ahead please Lloyd. nita archer: set your browser for email received, then you know if they got it Roger Kershaw: what does return receipt mean? and how does it work, I never use it ray pena: Hard to believe but true - some people don't read their email! nita archer: in your browser preferences roger Lloyd Colston: Amy, regarding the infallibility of email, I have one account that forwards to three. I then know I get the email because I can scan all three to see if there are any important ones I missed. It is at http://www.bigfoot.com Amy Sebring: Now that IS redundancy Lloyd. Roger Kershaw: I change IP's so often....that I don't use the pop mail tho, another problem Amy Sebring: In Netscape, you can also request a return receipt. The recipient gets a message notifying him that a return receipt was requested ... Lloyd Colston: Never can have too much backup. :) nita archer: browser preferences ..Netscape or IE. Amy Sebring: and if he says OK, the software will send back a confirmation to the sender. Amy Sebring: This is probably best used when the content is time significant. Roger Kershaw: aha, so recipient has to get the mail, and authorize return of receipt, Amy? Amy Sebring: That's the way it works in Netscape Roger. Not sure how Outlook handles. Amy Sebring: Is it similar if others know? Avagene Moore: However some people use that on everything they send out which is pretty ridiculous, in my opinion. Amy Sebring: One more question regarding email .... Lloyd Colston: I use Pegasus which allows me to get acknowledgement of delivery, not reading. Sometimes I use it because it is not dependent on the user authorizing the return receipt. Amy Sebring: Question 7. This is a fill in the blank. You have written to someone for some information and they have sent it to you. You _______________. Christopher Effgen: thank them Charlotte Duggan: My e-mail has the same thing Lloyd. Then I know that someone at least opened it. nita archer: thank them ray pena: say thanks! Avagene Moore: Thank them and acknowledge your appreciation. Roger Kershaw: reply with thanks Darla Chafin: ditto. Charlotte Duggan: Send a reply thanking them. Gil Gibbs: Reply with thanks! Amy Sebring: Absolutely. The answer is to "write back and say thank you." You might be surprised at how often this gets overlooked. ray pena: Not by any of us! Isabel McCurdy: Reply saying THANK you! Amy Sebring: Finally, Question 8. You are now quite experienced and a newbie comes along and asks you a question. You __________. nita archer: answer Charlotte Duggan: That's just common courtesy - Internet or not. ray pena: ask how much it's worth to them... Charlotte Duggan: Answer as helpfully as possible in a way not to make them feel stupid. Isabel McCurdy: Reply with an answer. Lloyd Colston: Tell them its on my website. Roger Kershaw: pretend to be an expert and make up answers to his questions....lol Gil Gibbs: Listen with interest, then give your best guess! nita archer: lol Lloyd Amy Sebring: The answer is "you remember you were a newbie once and all the folks that helped you, so you try to provide patient assistance." Roger Kershaw: oops ray pena: that was my next guess Amy Sebring: Well, congratulations to everybody here ... Elaine M. Sudanowicz: Help them the best way you can, then give them the phone number to tech support because you may be at an emergency and cannot help them when not available. Roger Kershaw: yeah mine too ray Amy Sebring: you all passed the road test ... Amy Sebring: as we expected. And you now have your license to drive. nita archer: are we road dogs now Amy? Lloyd Colston: I was going to say that! :) Amy Sebring: But be careful out there ... Amy Sebring: there are still road hazards! Elaine M. Sudanowicz: I vote for Lloyd to be my designated driver. Gil Gibbs: You have to have a lot of "flats" to figure out how to avoid the worst ones! nita archer: thanks for the test ..I just love tests.... Amy Sebring: These are some of the relatively simple basics from my own experience. I promised to leave some time for your suggestions and comments. Let's go back to using the question marks now please. Amy Sebring: If you have a comment on something you think should be included in fundamental knowledge, or if you have a SIMPLE related question, please enter a question mark, compose your comment or question, then wait until you are called on to send it in. Lloyd Colston: Elaine is drunk on the Info Super Highway? Amy Sebring: If it is a question I can't answer, perhaps somebody else that is here today may know. Amy Sebring: We would also be interested in hearing what other kinds of professional development courses you think would be useful, beyond what is available from FEMA for example. Roger Kershaw: Amy, in this weekly session...I think it would be helpful to tell others about ctrl +c ctrl+v for making questions ready ahead of time. I didn't know how to do that. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: It seems that way when your system gets shut down due to one of these computer viruses. Amy Sebring: Yes, Roger. We do teach our presenters how to use copy and paste. Roger Kershaw: I mean the questioners, Amy Amy Sebring: But we have never really given our attendees the instructions. Amy Sebring: The main way it would be useful is if you have a really long question ... Roger Kershaw: many put a ?, then are typing long sentences when it's their turn Avagene Moore: ? Amy Sebring: and I think perhaps we haven't wanted to encourage long questions! Amy Sebring: Avagene please. Avagene Moore: Amy, I think knowing the copy paste technique would be useful if someone .... Avagene Moore: read the background information and had a number of questions they wanted to have ready in advance. Amy Sebring: That is true Ava, although I guess we don't expect folks to be so well prepared! Avagene Moore: At a minimum, they could have them handwritten on a notepad or piece of paper. That is true, Amy. Amy Sebring: I do feel that those who achieve a certain proficiency, do have some advantages in their jobs over those who do not. Amy Sebring: Agree? Disagree? Roger Kershaw: absolutely Avagene Moore: Agree. ray pena: Agree absolutely Amy Sebring: Do you think it will become increasingly important in the future? LindaUnderwoodCERTLA: Yes Gil Gibbs: Agree totally! ray pena: Yes Roger Kershaw: absolutely bob rosenbush: Suggest that computer basic training include: file management, word processing, spread sheets, data bases, and geographic information systems. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: I prefer and enjoy the spontaneous dialogue. Amy Sebring: Thanks Bob. Amy Sebring: I agree also on those key items. Amy Sebring: Did not have time to cover all of them here. Lloyd Colston: Amy, I would agree with that because, with technology, I am more efficient than those who do not know how to use it. However, take my technology away and I am pretty much in the same boat as everyone. Amy Sebring: Lloyd do you use your skills to find information that may not be readily available otherwise? Avagene Moore: And the Internet is such a wonderful tool for information and communication. Roger Kershaw: I think many of us might make certain things more complicated and time consuming using technology at times too. Lloyd Colston: Yes, I have a number of people on my team who rely on me to find information for them. In fact, one of my assistant directors asks me to find articles for her. ray pena: Roger is right Amy Sebring: I agree with you Roger. It is still easier for me to keep a check book manually than use a spreadsheet for example. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: I could not do my job as well if I did not keep up-to-date on the events within CONUS and world-wide. Lloyd Colston: I gave a fire chief information about the FEMA grants today. He does not have email. Amy Sebring: Did you have some other specific examples Roger? bob rosenbush: Amy, Nice job. Gotta go. Amy Sebring: Thanks Bob. Avagene Moore: Thanks, Bob. Isabel McCurdy: CONUS, Elaine?? Amy Sebring: Lloyd, we will be doing a chat session in Feb. on the Fire Grants. Tim Murphy: Continental United States Lloyd Colston: I will let the word out then! Isabel McCurdy: Thanks Tim. Roger Kershaw: Just in terms of, we should use the technology to do the jobs that are required to be done using computers, rather than make everything in daily lives revolve around the computer. Amy Sebring: That is one of the professional courses we had thought about ... Avagene Moore: February 7 is the tentative date for that session, Lloyd. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: It helps me track trends in emergency management. Amy Sebring: how to write grant applications. Amy Sebring: What other kinds of courses might be useful for Emergency Management? Amy Sebring: Effective communications? ray pena: Effective Public Outreach Avagene Moore: How to write press releases, etc. Lloyd Colston: I think the PIO class at Emmittsburg is well worth its time. Amy Sebring: Yes, that would be good Ray. Roger Kershaw: how to do a competent internet resource search? Elaine M. Sudanowicz: Awareness Level of Countering Terrorism. Darla Chafin: Can we ever get too much on effective communications? Any ideas on the personal recovery front? And the use of volunteer agencies in that work? Lloyd Colston: I am interested in courses in recovery. That, IMO, is one area which we have little training on. ray pena: The Public Assistance Primer Roger Kershaw: I find it amazing that fire personnel are unaware of US Fire Administration's contract classes. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: There is a great Recovery from Disaster Course being offered by EMI. Avagene Moore: Interpersonal Skills. Amy Sebring: Yes, we were interested in something on managing conflict. Amy Sebring: I also am not aware of much available on the mental health aspects for victims and workers. Lloyd Colston: Thankfully, one of my volunteers has his masters' degree in counseling and pastoral care. Amy Sebring: If you were going to sign up for an on line course ... Avagene Moore: I believe diversity training could be done via distance learning as well. Amy Sebring: how much time would you be willing to devote to it? Roger Kershaw: I have seen useful sites for CIS Amy....although not bookmarked Amy Sebring: How many weeks? How many hours per week? Isabel McCurdy: I'd like to see the courses more inclusive to the international community. Amy Sebring: How much homework should there be? ray pena: You're right Isabel. Roger Kershaw: I would be willing to spend a few hours a week on a course. 3-4 weeks though Tim Murphy: ditto Amy Sebring: Roger, you would favor a shorter length, but more intensive course? Lloyd Colston: With my schedule, I would like to see coursework and tests online. This would let me finish the class at my own pace. Amy Sebring: I can see where that would have its advantages in keeping the focus and motivation going. Gil Gibbs: The course would have to include a variety of disaster situations, however, with the problems of each in mind. Roger Kershaw: yes, not drawn out, very hard to make long term commitments on the internet at times Avagene Moore: No boundaries on the Net. - One hour per week online with 1-2 hours study and homework. Run the course 4 to 6 weeks. Amy Sebring: Some flexibility would probably be important also. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: Again, in this business your free time depends upon the emergency schedule. There are lulls and at times you can never be there. Roger Kershaw: would prefer a class that allowed user his own timetable. Avagene Moore: Flexibility is in getting assignments, study and deliverables. Elaine M. Sudanowicz: I agree with Roger. Amy Sebring: One thing more regarding the benefits of basic skills ... Gil Gibbs: Roger has a point, especially for the volunteer(s)! Amy Sebring: I think it is a mistake to assume that the younger generation will automatically pick up what is needed ... Amy Sebring: they may be highly skilled at games for example, but have very limited awareness of other uses ... Amy Sebring: so I think it is important that they are deliberately taught. Avagene Moore: Good point, Amy. ray pena: I thought you guys were the younger generation! Amy Sebring: No, we are the oldies but goodies Ray! Amy Sebring: Ok, I think it is about time to wrap up ... Amy Sebring: we very much appreciate your input ... Amy Sebring: we would love to make these kinds of courses available here ... Roger Kershaw: ditto ray...lol Amy Sebring: however, development can be expensive. We will have to see what can be done. Lloyd Colston: One aspect of training which is being overlooked is the disciplinary action related to training. If the volunteer fails to perform in a manner in which he has been trained, you have documentation of the training, you can discharge the volunteer. If not, you make be stuck. Amy Sebring: These ideas and suggestions are very helpful. ray pena: So long as it doesn't cost anything or take up any time, count me in! Isabel McCurdy: Ah most excellent point, Ray ! Darla Chafin: Thanks, all. Sorry I had to bounce in & out with stuff here this time. Amy Sebring: Avagene, can you tell us what is coming up next week. Avagene Moore: Thank you, Amy, for today's session. Thanks to all our participants as well. I enjoyed the 'road test' and hope it was beneficial to all. Avagene Moore: Coming up next week, Wednesday January 24, 12:00 Noon EST, the EIIP Virtual Forum is pleased to present Dr. Walter Hays, Senior Program Manager, Sustainable Built Environment, American Society of Civil Engineers. Dr. Hays will be discussing the plans and goals of the "World Congress on Disaster Reduction." Avagene Moore: Over 200 of the World's Leading experts on all aspects of disaster reduction have committed to the development of Global Blueprints for Change and are working on this unique endeavor to help save lives and protect property and community infrastructure throughout world. Avagene Moore: The Global Blueprints for Change are key elements of the Pre-World Congress Summit Meeting in 2001 and World Congress 2002. Avagene Moore: You will want to be here to learn about this exciting world gathering. Join us next week. Avagene Moore: BTW, please see Amy's bio on the background page. It is a good one. You will like it. That's it for now, Amy. Amy Sebring: Thanks Ava. We will adjourn for today, and again, our thanks for your participation.