Grades out on Blackboard

Primary cause for a low grade is missing assignments

Get your assignments in! Some points are better than no points.

Presentations 101

Nervousness

• How do you handle/cope with it?

10 tips for Public Speaking1. Know your material2. Practice. Practice. Practice!3. Know the audience4. Know the room5. Relax6. Visualize yourself giving your speech7. Realize people want you to succeed8. Don’t apologize for nervousness 9. Concentrate on the message, not the medium10. Gain experience

sourced from: http://www.toastmasters.org/tips.asp

Additional tips• Don’t simply read to the audience• Make eye contact• Test your presentation out in room you’ll be

presenting in to ensure it appears the way you expect it to

• Make sure the room you’ll be using has necessary equipment (audio, projector, etc.)

• Remember to breathe • Have a backup plan(s) (ex. presentation out on

the cloud & on a thumb drive, handouts )

Slide Show (PowerPoint, Impress, etc.) specific advice

• Don’t go overboard with animations/sounds & make sure animations/sounds you do have work as expected

• Keep it simple yet intriguing • Avoid slides with lots of text• Test embedded links/files to make sure they still

work on computer you’re presenting from• Preload video/sound clips so that they don’t take

up time loading during your actual presentation• Other advice/tips?

Additional Tips

• other suggestions?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMcfrLYDm2U&feature=player_embedded

http://www.public.iastate.edu/~mcleod/didyouknow/DidYouKnowBrenmanAnimated.mp4

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljbI-363A2Q

Continuous Learning

“EVEN FOR THE MOST GIFTED INDIVIDUALS, the process of

becoming a leader is an arduous, albeit rewarding, journey of

continuous learning and self-development.”

sourced from “Becoming the Boss” by Linda A. Hill, Harvard Business Review January 2007

Continuous Learning

“Any company that aspires to succeed in the tougher business

environment of the 1990s must first resolve a basic dilemma: success in

the marketplace increasingly depends on learning, yet most

people don't know how to learn.”

sourced from “Teaching Smart People How to Learn” by Chris Argyris, Harvard Business Review May-June 1991

Continuous Learning

“Changes in the U.S. and worldeconomies have raised the

importance of lifelong learningfor those in the workforce.”

sourced from “The Evolution of Continuing Education” by Mary-Lane Kamberg, Women in Business March-April 2007

What are the benefits to continuous learning?

How will you learn continuously?What will you utilize to learn continuously?

Professional Organizations

• AITP• Fox Valley .NET User Group• IMA (Institute of Management Accountants)• IIBA (International Institute of Business

Analysis)• etc., etc., etc.

Certifications

http://it.fvtc.edu/windorski/Certifications.aspx

Often times a requirement to maintain a certification is continuing education

Pursue another degree, complete a 4 year degree, a masters, etc.

Credit Transfer with 4-year Colleges

http://www.fvtc.edu/public/content.aspx?ID=1627&PID=1

Books, online user groups, rss feeds, magazines, etc.

• Pick up a book on a language or technology you want to learn and teach yourself

• Utilize online user groups & forums for tips and advice (ex. SQL Server Central & SSWUG)– often times will have free webinars and “how to”

articles with code examples– many of my colleagues utilize online user

groups/forums as a source of continuous learning• Subscribe to RSS feeds to help stay up to speed

on current trends• Subscribe to magazines (ex. InformationWeek)

See what your company/organization has to offer

• May offer tuition reimbursement, rewards for certification completion, or other incentives for continued education

• May have continuing education offerings internally

• There is a lot to be learned simply from those around you

http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/en/richard_st_john_s_8_secrets_of_success.html

Assignment 8

• Not officially assigned yet, but if you want to get a head start you can begin polishing up your cover letter by incorporating feedback provided by instructor, peers, and additional items you’ve learned during the semester

• Cover letter should be on a letterhead• Do not turn in yet. Complete Assignment 8

instructions will be provided on 4/30/2012 of which the finalized cover letter will be a part of

Work on your group projects

• Remember the due dates for the deliverables