Database Project: Microsoft Access

I would say this project has been one of the most difficult projects throughout the semester. I think I had complications working with access because this program is not very used like, Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, but it is definitely very helpful. As soon as I started working on the project, I had problems importing the table; every time I imported the table a message error came out. After several tries, I finally figured out what the problem was. I needed to change the type of the document to Excel 97-2003. See below to know what I am referring to.

Created by Ivette Franco 

Once I was done with that part, I started working on the tables, queries, forms, and reports. These steps were a little bit more challengeable, but I was able to finish it.

Created by Ivette Franco 

I learned how to add records to my table. Above, you see a table with 1002 records (users), after I added two records, one of those an “Individual” and the other one a “Family”

The query was harder than the table, especially step “2D” which took me a couple of days to figure it out. Definitely,  I think is very necessary to have a prior experience on Access in order to be able to working without any kind of complications, but since it was not my case, it took a little longer to get it done.

Step 2D solved.

Created by Ivette Franco

Basically, I had to add another Last Name field, and sorted it in ascending order. In this case, I did not check marked it, as the first one.  Then, under Left Date field I added a criteria written like this: >#9/27/2010#. This criteria would help to complete step 2D, and collect users that left the gym within the last 6 months only.  

Once I was done with the first two sections, Table and Forms, everything is a little easier. After doing this project, I can tell I have an idea of to create a Table, Query, Form, and Record.

Microsoft Office Access is definitely a good program to collect and sort data. Access not only allows you to organize your data, but to import information saved in other applications.(see figure above)

Tips:

One way to enhance the functionality of this database in “forms” is, to get rid of properties that are unnecessary, and stay with the ones that are absolutely necessary to be set. We should review form’s startup code to ensure that we are not setting any control properties that don’t need to be set. We need to keep in mind that properties assignments are very expensive in terms of performance and effectiveness. We should also minimize the number of controls on our form, loading controls is the biggest performance hit. 

Extra Credit: Avatar

To create an Avatar, I went to Doppelme.com.  This is the first time I was creating myself. Doppelme.com does not require you download anything, and it is free. Besides, it provides you many options; you select your gender, and your skin’s and eyes’ color. I was fascinated with these options.

In the next screen, you see the following options (see below) that you can use to create yourself.

                                                      Created by Ivette Franco

This part was even more fun. While I was selecting my expression, hats, etc., I noticed that there were some options that were not free, but you still have many for free. I could create my avatar very alike to myself with the free options without any problem.  I know my avatar and I still have some differences, but this was the best I could do. In order for me to create the screen capture of my avatar, I used a tool provided my computer, which is called "snipping tool", and it perfectly worked. Definitely, this was a pretty fun experience.
If you have never had a twin, go to Doppelme.com, and you will be able to create one

Tutorial 3: Social Networking, Blogs, and Wikis (Types of Websites)

I invite you to watch this video, before start explaining about the different types of websites

       Video 1      

 Creative Commons 

                                                                   

Purpose: Websites are created with many different purposes such as, commercial, educational, entertainment, informational, and so forth.

Below you will see important information about social networking, blogs, and wikis.

Social Networking:

Image 1

 

Today, “online social network” has become very common in the entire world. This type website can be also considered as web 2.0 site. Basically, social networking websites serve to connect classmates, family members, and friends. Social networking sites are being utilized to date and find partners, friends, etc.

Here is a story of a mother that found their children, after 15 years, through Facebook.

Video 2

                                                       Creative Commons

                                                                                      

These websites facilitate the communication among people. Now, instead of sending a letter to your dear friend, or to your to your uncle through the post office, it is easier and faster to just send an mail through Facebook or Twitter.

 

Created by Ivette Franco

Websites like, Facebook, Twitter, etc. enable you to let your friends know where you at, whom you are with, your status, your employer, city where you are living, share pictures and videos, and much more. Just try one these websites, and you will explore a small world in which long distances can’t impede you to express your feelings or your mood. Create your own account!

If you don't know much about Facebook, follow these steps to get started

1. Go to Facebook
2. Enter the information requested by Facebook

Created by Ivette Franco

 
3. Once you have finish step 2, click on Sign Up.    
4.Enter the weird the text you see in the "Security Check" into the text box .

Created by Ivette Franco

                                
5. Once you are done with step 4, read the Terms of Use and  Privacy Policy.
6. Click Sign Up, you are done. 

Why spending much time looking for the right man or woman?

Match.com makes it for you.  In this website, you can find different types of women and men; you just need to select the characteristics of your perfect man or women, and match.com will find you a person that matches with your preferences.  In order to be a member, you need to pay a fee. If you are single or feel alone try match.com

 Video 3

                                                      Creative Commons 

Please be advised that not all of social networking websites are free, some of them may charge you a fee for the membership.

Examples:

Image 2

Image 3

 Enjoy this video, and see how the way we communicate today has changed throughout the years

Video 4

Creative Commons

Blogs:

A blog is type of a website or part of a website. Blogs are usually upheld by a user. The user basically is in charge of making comments, or writes information about events or about any topic. These entries most of times are organized in chronological order.

Blog allows you to share commentaries or news; these may come from students, professionals, or, simply, are used as diaries by common people. Blogs can be done textually, and you can add pictures, images, music, and videos.

History: According to Evan Williams, the word “blog” means to edit one’s weblog or to post to one’s weblog.

Types: Personal, corporate and organizational, media type, devise, and many more. We can find an endless list of types of blogs.

Things in common among blogs:

• Listed in chronological order, newest on top, usually.
•  Articles are organized by category, mostly.
•  An archive of older articles
• A list of other links related to the topic
•  One or more feed backs

If you are interested in creating a blog, you are more than welcome to do so; you might have something interesting to share with us.

Please watch this video How to create a blog

 Wikis:

What is wiki?

Wiki is a webpage that can be edited and viewed by people that have access to the internet. A wiki can be a good resource of any type of information. Wiki supports hyperlinks and has simple text syntax for creating new pages and crosslinks between internal pages on the fly. Users can incorporate movies, sounds, videos, and images.  The first wiki appeared in the 90’s.

Why is wiki significant?

Wikis provide a powerful and collaborative communication tool to students and faculty.  Students can access to wikis through the internet and participate from anywhere. Wikis, also, allow faculty to get involved and participate.

Downsides:

Wikis can be modified or edited by any user, and because of this wikis are checked and revised by a group of people that are authorized to do so, and delete any inappropriate language or modify incorrect information.

This checking process demands a lot of time and requires the assistance of many people.

If you want to have more information of how a wiki works, please watch this video.

Video 5

                                                     Creative Commons

Resources:

Introduction:

Video 1:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtPb8g8Jl6I  (taken from creativecommons.org- cc)

Social networking:

http://www.webdevelopersnotes.com/basics/types_of_websites.php

Image 1:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20493464@N00/2564571564/

Image 2:

 http://search.creativecommons.org/?q=facebook%20logo

Image 3:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/83487287@N00/3452514622/

Video 2:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKxaedI6lMc   (taken from creativecommons.org-cc)

Video 3:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-z4aguu4Ex0 (taken from creativecommons.org-cc)

Video 4:

http://blip.tv/file/2088629/  (taken from creativecommons.org- cc)

Blogs:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blog

http://codex.wordpress.org/Introduction_to_Blogging

Link:

http://blip.tv/file/1856508/ (taken from creativecommons.org- cc)

Wikis:

http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf

Video 5:

http://www1.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=222024  (taken from creativecommons.org-cc)
Note: There are some images created by Ivette Franco

Project WEB 2.0: "St.Jude Children's Hospital"

This project, Web 2.0, has been one of the most frustrating ones in my entire life, starting from the storyboard to putting together the information, and uploading the video. I chose scenario 3, which was for non- profit organizations; St. Jude Children’s Hospital was my topic. I decided to use Windows Movie Maker instead of Power Point Presentation. I feel very comfortable working with both of them, but I felt that Windows Movie Maker would be more useful for this situation. WMM allows you customize almost everything according to your convenience. I have always liked working with pictures and stuff, but I need to confess that the hardest part was to collect all the information with logical flow into one video, but I think patient, besides my skills, was my main tool. I learned a lot by watching videos at youtube.com, specially the storyboard. To create my storyboard I used paint, and it was mission; but paint allowed me to organize and transmit my plan. I, then, had to change the order of slides, and add a couple of slides.

I believe people don’t like to see long presentations so I made it mine short, may be a little short, but, I think, it was good enough to persuade people to donate. Since my presentation was short I could not anticipate many questions; just two which have given sense to the whole presentation. I made these questions at the beginning of the presentation in order to grab audience’s attention, and, therefore, spark curiosity. I was trying to make a longer explanation with a little history of the St. Jude Children’s hospital, but, then, I realized that that wasn’t going to cause any effect in people’s mind and attitude towards donations. I also presented some statistics about people with cancer, and I think these numbers have done some kind of impact on people’s feelings because basically that is my goal (to make audience helping this organization, St. Jude). As I previously mentioned, my presentation was short which helped me to avoid clutter. Besides, I tried to be as organized as possible, clear, and concise. In order to make my presentation readable I just placed one picture per slide, and wrote some important words, most of the information was verbally expressed. Before submitting my presentation, I revised the spelling of every word in order to avoid any typo errors (I thought I did not have any typo, but someone noticed a typo, so I then revised it , and uploaded the video again)

As Professor Means says, sometimes the best way to learn is by teaching others; and seeing people’s mistakes helps you to see your own errors. Watching someone else’s presentations facilitate me to make some revisions on my project and give me new ideas. Sometimes, it is easier to perceive others mistakes than yours. Definitely, critiquing others’ work makes you learn more.

Working on this project, WEB 2.0, has helped to become a little more knowledgeable about computers. I believe I still need to learn a lot more, but, at least, I have an idea of how to start a presentation. Definitely, you need to be creative and have the correct tools such as, microphone, computer, etc. Nowadays, presentations are playing a very important role at school and at work as well. At work, you need to be more accurate and concise. A business person needs to be able to transmit their message in a clear way through a presentation; not all positions will require you to make a presentation, but some will.

I invite you to watch my presentation: CLICK HERE