Courtroom Preparation and Technology

Email as your professional communication vehicle.

Be able to use e-mail to present yourself professionally and to handle business document exchanges.

How does an e-mail attachment work for the sender? ...for the recipient?

Why are Adobe Acrobat documents recommended for working with e-mail attachments? Adobe Acrobat files, also known as PDF documents,...

1. ...allow users to read a file even if they don't have the program or program version that created it.
2. ...protect the file (to a certain extent) from being edited.
3. ...encapsulate fonts so that formatting and page layout is preserved, regardless of whether the recipient has the same fonts installed in their system.

What is an e-mail signature file and why should you have one?

The old saying was, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is." The new version could be, "if it sounds like an urban legend, it probably is (and you can check snopes.com to find out for sure)." We'll play "what's wrong with this picture?" to hone our spam detection skills.

Extra exercise:
Look for these other techniques in your e-mail program and web browser:
· Copy and paste web content —with or without its original formatting.
· Send web pages as e-mail—either as web links or as complete web pages.

Optional information:
For assignments that involve e-mail, the e-mail program you are already using should be fine. The University of Delaware also offers Webmail Direct, a browser-based e-mail program that allows you to access your University of Delaware e-mail from anywhere at any time.

Getting beyond the basic Google search box

Be able to find valuable and valid Internet resources in a time-efficient manner.

Understand the significance of "the hidden web."

These basic Google search techniques are worth committing to memory, while there are many additional Internet search techniques to consider for specific needs.

Quick reference guide: Google Cheat Sheet

Apply validation criteria to your search results by deconstructing URL segments, checking author credentials and affiliations, looking for revision dates, and examining other sites that cross-reference the information.

Discuss implications of "the hidden web" with examples such as YourStreet.com, ZabaSearch, and Intellius.

The University of Delaware Library offers a large collection of database resources. We will use LexisNexis Academic for a database search exercise. [Access to UD's LexisNexis subscription from off-campus requires a one-time Web Proxy Server setup.]

Initiate a Google Alert.

For more information:
More information about this topic can be found in the article, "Research Beyond Google: 119 Authoritative, Invisible, and Comprehensive Resources."

...and Talk like a Googler: parts of a URL

Prepare your accounts and computer for this module

Activate your UDelNet ID and change your password to something of your own choosing.

Presentations with PowerPoint

Understand the tips from How to Do Everything in PowerPoint (PDF format)

Understand PowerPoint’s role in your software lineup by tapping the value of "input once, deliver in multiple formats."

Begin to use all of PowerPoint's abilities, starting as an organizational tool. Start and navigate a PowerPoint file.

Don't let PowerPoint's formatting features district from your message. Modify and format a presentation.

1. PowerPoint sample printout using slide view
2. PowerPoint sample printout using handout view
3. PowerPoint sample printout using notes view

Extra exercise:
Good file management habits can save time and data. Here are a few file management suggestions to consider while you form your own approaches.

Presentation model : Steve Jobs

Example: 2007 Macworld keynote address

Article: How to Wow ‘Em Like Steve Jobs

1. Sell the Benefit.
   Steve Jobs does not sell bits of metal; he sells an experience. Instead of focusing on mind-numbing statistics, as most technologists tend to do, Jobs sells the benefit. For example, when introducing a 30 GB iPod, he clearly explains what it means to the consumer -- users can carry 7,500 songs, 25,000 photos, or up to 75 hours of video. In January when Jobs introduced the first Intel (INTC)-based Mac notebook he began by saying, "What does this mean?"
2. Practice, Practice, and Practice Some More
3. Keep It Visual
4. Exude Passion, Energy, and Enthusiasm
5. "And One More Thing..."
   At the end of each presentation Jobs adds to the drama by saying, "and one more thing." He then adds a new product, new feature, or sometimes introduces a band. He approaches each presentation as an event, a production with a strong opening, product demonstrations in the middle, a strong conclusion, and an encore -- that "one more thing!"

Getting started with Microsoft Word

1. Set program preferences.
2. Work with Microsoft Office templates
3. Perform basic formatting tasks (examples: fax cover sheet and business card one and two and letterhead)
4. Use spelling and grammar checking.

For more information:
We will be using Microsoft Office 2007 for in-class exercises. If you work with the earlier version of Microsoft Office 2003, you'll encounter some significant user interface differences. This quick overview guide will help you make the transition between the two versions.

Start developing ideas for the remaining projects in this module