Final Grades: Fall Semester 2011

Just a quick posting here of my final grades for this semester:

     CIST 1601 Security – 100+
     EMPL1000 (Employability) Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development – 99
     CIST 1401 Networking – 97.6
     CIST 2351 Php – 92.something (.6  .8 - I can not remember!)

So, I continue to hold a 4.0 in every class. Hard work, but worth it!!

Thank you all for your loving support and prayers as well as your patience and understanding of my time use.

Have a WONDERFUL Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!!

 

Fall Semester

Fall semester will be over in less than two weeks. Wow! What a great semester this has been.

The most challenging class I took this semester was, hands down, CIST 2351 PHP, taught by Mrs. Marcia Black. I found getting my head around php very difficult. Now, near the very end, it is really starting to make some sense! I really enjoyed the class, though frustrating at times, and wish I could take it again and REALLY get it!! I am SO thankful I have the course book - and I plan on going through it again. (Hopefully during break before Spring semester.)

The easiest (and most fun) class I took was EMPL 1000 Interpersonal Relations and Personal Development, taught by Mrs. Sylvia B. Palmer. What a great class! EVERYBODY shold take that class. It is such a good class. I learned SO much in it and can see the value of every bit of it!

Taking CIST 1401 Networking and CIST Security the same semester, both taught by Mr. Paul Long, was perfect. Those two classes go hand-in-hand because security is such an important part of networking. I probably learned the most in these two classes - and learned that I am VERY interested in Networking.

So, as this semester comes to close I can honestly say that school gets better and better and that I am really looking forward to the next semester: Spring Semester 2012.

A big THANK YOU to everyone who had a part in making this a great school year! Family, friends, NGTC faculty and staff, business acquaintances, Rotaract club Advisors and members, and, well, the list is endless!! THANK YOU!!

FINALS!!!

Yep, I can hardly believe it but Finals are here. We have only TWO weeks of school left!!
I am so busy my head is spinning! (Not really! But I AM busy.)

The "good" news is that I have already taken my two big Finals. The "sad" news is that I have two BIG projects to complete, both for the same class: my portfolio (a Web page, of course!) and the Final Project. (I am sure I will complete them on or before the deadline.) The "other" news is that I have to read one more book and do a book report on it. The book is not very long and yet very interesting: From Ordinary to Extraordinary: Success Begins Within, by Mike Howard. I heard him speak at Fall Leadership Conference; which, by the way, was VERY good.

I LOVE school, learning, growing, and changing. I embrace all of it with a hungry heart and mind. And I enjoy all my classmates. They are great! We have become a team!! (Almost a family!)

So Fall Semester will be over before I know it and I will be busy during winter break doing all the things I don't have time for now due to my studies! (Is there no rest for the weary? LOL)

For all my teachers and friends at school: I hope you REALLY enjoy your break and come back refreshed and ready to tackle another semester with energy and a positive attitude!!


P.S. I made a 99 on each of those two Finals!! Thanks to God - and hard work!

Midterm and Beyond

Midterm has come and gone - next thing you know I'll be taking my Finals!! Time sure does fly!

Php is making a LOT more sense now - everything seems to be coming together in my brain. I just finished the chapter work for Chapter 6, so I am more than halfway. (There are 10 chapters.) We are now learning about multidimensional arrays - and array of arrays!! Fun!

I submitted my Midterm Exam this evening for my Security Class. There were 80 questions. It took me about three hours to do the test - but I made a 96, so it was well-worth the time invested.

I have my Midterm Exam for Networking yet to do (also 80 questions), but it will have to wait until tomorrow as I was exhausted after the previous test.

Both Midterm Exams are not due until October 26, so I am ahead of schedule with them.

For my EMPL 1000 class, I opted to do another book report instead of the Midterm. That is my third book report for her class - all 100's. I LOVE Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development. I have gained so much, as I think every student in the class would say.

I thank GOD for helping me and enabling me to work so hard - and for giving me such a love for learning!

Monday, the Rotaract Club has an awesome field day planned for its members: a trip to the Georgia Power Company Hydro-Electric plant at Tallulah Gorge. I can hardly wait! Even the Rotaract Advisors are going: Ms. Tiffany, Ms. Ruth, and Mr. Long! It will be SO interesting and very educational. We will get to go INSIDE the dam. WOW!

And speaking of field trips: our Networking class had a tour of one of the server rooms at school. Mr. Long explained what everything was and how it was set up. It was very interesting. There are a LOT of wires but they are all very neat and organized. I was very impressed.

That about winds me down... so, until next time: work hard, give a lot, and enjoy life!

Nearly midterm - my, time flies!!!

Class up dates: one-by-one...

Monday and Wednesday afternoons you will find me in the Security class with Mr. Long. This is a great class: interesting, educational, and fun. (Of course we ALL like Mr. Long!)
We are WAY past the McCumber Cube (affectionately called the Cucumber Cube). The latest, hottest Security topic is "Planning for Security" which covers things like security policies, standards, and practices; information blueprint; security education, training, and awareness; continuity strategies; incident recovery; disaster recovery planning; and, law enforcement involvement.
The bottom line is the boy scout motto: be prepared.
The NEXT chapter will be about security technology like firewalls and VPNs. I can't wait.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are very full days with three classes each day!

Networking is my first morning class. (Mr. Long again) Today we made a 568B cable by putting RJ45 connectors on both ends of a 4-foot strand of Cat5 cable. It took me a number of tries per end before mine passed inspection and actually worked! But I did it. And, it was fun!

Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development (EMPL 1000) is RIGHT after Networking class. (Mrs. Palmer is a WONDERFUL teacher.) Today we practiced introductions and conversations, and worked on remembering the name of the person by saying it at least three times during the conversation. We had to use a word with our name: a pet name, an adjective, whatever. I introduced myself as Sweet, Silly Sue. I figured it fit - especially the silly part. (Silly as in having fun, not silly as in dumb. LOL)
Oh yes, and I DID teach class for about 20 minutes (about a week ago). The topic was, "How to be a good host/hostess, and how to be a good guest." It seemed to be well-received. Mrs. Palmer has asked me to come to her other two EMPL 1000 classes in November and teach it again. So I must have done okay.

Then there is the mad rush to eat lunch. I have just 40 minutes to get from one side of the campus to the other, eat, and get to my next class.

PHP. Now THAT is a class! (Mrs. Black may be a new teacher but she is VERY good.)

PHP is my challenge class. If I make an A in this class and maintain my 4.0 it will be a miracle. This is SO difficult for me and sometimes I get so mixed up. But it is better now that we are heading into chapter 5: it is beginning to actually make some sense. Finally!

I am REALLY learning a LOT in this PHP class - and I can sure see the advantage of it. Plus, it is a server-side scripting language so it creates dynamic Web pages - things like forms, etc.

As to school clubs...

I am still involved in Rotaract, in fact: I just became the Secretary. Fun! (All that really means is that I take minutes, type them up, and submit them! But I am good at taking notes.)
Rotaract asked for volunteers to help at A Taste of Clarkesville, which turned out to be very fun. I eally enjoyed volunteering for that event.

I decided against joing any new clubs due to my full plate. So Phi Beta Lambda will have to wait another semester... though I did attend one meeting and know I would enjoy being involved.

As to HEROES club, well, it is on the back burner this semester due to my schedule and their meetings: during my short 40 minute lunch break!! There is NO way I could get there!! LOL Oh well. They will be there next semester.

Social life at school...

AS to making new friends and enjoying the students at NGTC: I LOVE it and I have a number of new friends. I like everyone in each of my classes and we are all friendly and helpful to one another. It is great.
I even played pool a couple of times last term, and hit a movie with a friend this week. It is wonderful making new friends and getting to know new people. But then, I'm a people person!!

Time marches on...

Next thing you know midterms will be over and the semester will be winding down. I am already anticipating my next term!

Yep, I am absolutely sold on this school stuff! But I could not do it without HOPE, PELL, and WIA - for which I am very gratefull.

Excited about all 4 of my classes!!

The Security class is very interesting. I have learned that security has to be balanced with availability: if your PC is so secure that you can't even access your files then it's too much!! LOL
We are learning all about CIA triangles (this has nothing to do with Central Intelligence and everything to do with computer information security!) and the McCumber Cube. Fascinating stuff!!

Networking class is incredible! (Yeah, so I could have gone into this instead of Web Design - I would have been just as excited!!) I think I could REALLY get in to this stuff!!! LOL

As to my PHP class: we haven't gotten far enough in it yet for me to have any idea how that is going to be. But I have learned that PHP is in the top 10 programming languages, along with JaveScript and XHTML - which I have already had. And, I have downloaded WAMP and CAMstudio on my PCs and even played around with CAMstudio. I made an informal, unpracticed, desktop demo about folders and how to open them. WOW! This is an incredible program - and it's free!!! Just go to http://sourceforge.net/projects/camstudio/ to download onto your PC.

My 4th class, which is NOT a computer class, is a very much needed class for today's younger college students: Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development.  Mrs. Silvia B. Palmer is our instructor. She is a longtime friend of my mothers who I had met once many years ago. She is very knowledgable in her topic and has many years experience teaching and lecturing. I am blessed to have her for this class. I am sure I will learn much - including how to teach a college level class, as she has asked me to teach a particular topic. (She is eager to get suggestions from her students but I had NO idea she would ask me to teach!!)
One of the challenging things we have to do in her class is to memorize each students first and last names and be able to point them out!!! I am fairly good with names and faces - but 27 students??? Lord, please HELP me!!
I have long thought saying someone's name when you speak to them, especially in greeting and parting, is very important. Now I get to put that into practice in the classroom. (Let me state here that in all my classes I make a point to learn as many student names as I possibly can - but usually only their first names, and; I always address teachers (and most of the staff) correctly - by Mr. or Mrs. (or Ms) and their last name: Mr. Long, Mrs. Black, and Mrs. Palmer. Some of the staff are addressed by placing their first name after the Mr. or Mrs.: Ms Tiffany, for example. (She is one of the Rotaract organizers.)

Speaking of Rotaract...
I am involved with Rotaract, sponsored by Sunrise Rotary Club, again this semester. I love the social atmosphere and the community service we do as a group. Today we met in the school dining annex at lunch and handed out flyers about our up-and-coming meeting on August 29. We are trying to increase our club membership. Hopefully we'll pull in some new members.
HEROES, a support group at school for older students and/or students who are in challenging situations, is another group I am involved in. While it is an information and help source it is also social. I enjoy that. Out meetings are very informal.
Having just requested info about another club at school, Phi Beta Lambda, I may become involved in that as well. It is a leadership club that offers free leadership conferences which would be invaluable as a business owner/manager.

Anyway, as you can tell, this promises to be a full and fullfilling semester - I plan to work hard and enjoy it to the fullest!!!

I am still gung-ho Web Desgin but can see that Networking would be a nice, and very beneficial, compliment. I may well go for that diploma next, and had said as much to Mrs. Black during the summer term - well before I had any networking classes. And it is even more true now! But time and finances will tell.
After I get my Web Design diploma, or perhaps when I am close, I plan on switching to a degree. It will mean about 2 more semesters but will be well worth it. I might even be able to pull in a Networking class or two to fill in space in one or two of those semesters - that is why I have a Networking class this semester.

On another note: I have published two Web sites that I designed. Note the name of my business at the bottom of each page: Su-Jobi Web Design. Here are the links to each one:
          http://www.smithservicespartsandrestoration.com
          http://www.swingswing-along.com

Thank you for your interest and for taking time to read my blog. I hope to update it fairly regularly - at least every other week - hopefully more! So stay tuned! LOL

Fall 2011 at NGTC

This semester I have two Web Design classes: Principles of Information Security  - taught by Mr. Long, and PHP Programming with MySQL - taught by Mrs. Black. I have not had Mrs. Black as one of my instructors but I already like her and am sure I will learn a LOT in her class.

I also have one Networking class: Networking: Network+ Guide to Networks  - also taught by Mr. Long.

Those three classes sound complicated but I am ready to dive in!

And then I have one non-computer class: Interpersonal Relations and Professional Development - taught by Mrs. Palmer. I do not know exactly what this will cover but I am sure it will be good as Mrs. Palmer has many years experience teaching.

Okay, so off to learning I go!!

Greatness is never handed to One on a platter: it must be cultivated through hard work, energy, effort, dedication, and perserverence.

Ah, now I am beginning to see the fruit of my labors! I refer to the books less, go to the w3schools web site more, and over-all feel more confident. My sites are looking MUCH better now - yet there is SO much more to learn! I can't wait!
I have learned: how to make a SpryBar and set the affects the way I want them; how to create a roll-over image; to make tables and forms; work with editable and non-editable templates, create my own template, and so on and so forth. It has been a great journey, so far...

And a journey it is: from the first time I built a web site, to the day I discovered that NGTC offered Web Design classes, to  XHTML, to JavaScript, to CSS, to Flash, to DreamWeaver, to Photoshop... so I travel on, toward the goal of graduating with a 4.0 - so far, so good! And excited about what may be around the corner that my instructors know all about but that will be entirely new territory for me. How wonderful to be a full-time Web Design student!!
Hoping to hear from my Web Designing buddies - both family and friends!!!

Summer Quarter @ NGTC coming to a close

     I finished out the Spring Quarter in Web Design with a 4.0, and here it is nearly the end of this fast-paced, 5 week Summer Quarter. Beginning in the fall, NGTC will be on Semesters which will be MUCH better. But let me tell you a little about my Summer Qtr...
     Summer quarter has been VERY challenging: school has been from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday thru Thursday. Most days I arrived at 8:30 a.m and don't leave until Mr. Long runs me out at 4 or 4:30 p.m. (We do have from 11:30 to 12:35 for lunch - if our morning JavaScript class doesn't go over. Just barely enough time to drive home and eat a bite before having to be back at school for Adobe DreamWeaver class.) 5 weeks to do 10 weeks of work! Whew, glad this fast quarter is nearly over!
     We have worked hard, we have had some fun, and we have grown to be a team. It has been great. And we all love Mr. Long! He is very knowledgeable on the subject, understands that we need to "get it" not just hear about it, and challenges us to strive to understand and then apply what we have learned. He also encourages helping one another - thus we all get to "teach" some part of what we have learned which reinforces it for all of us.
    It has been a great quarter. The question is: can I get all the rest of my classwork and assignments done in the less-than-two-weeks we have left?! We shall see!! Smile.
     As to Web Design: the more I learn the more I know I am in the right course of study. I really enjoy doing all this. Basic programming is interesting and challenging and I can certainly see the benefit for Web Design. JavaScript class really helped me with DreamWeaver just as XHTML helped with Flash and now DreamWeaver. Next semester is when the first 2 quarters will start to really pay off. I can hardly wait!
     Enough: I will close and hope that all my family, friends, teachers, etc will read and make comments - and I apologize for waiting SO long to post!!

 

Ms. Teasley: NGTC Librarian

    We had a visitor in our CIS-105 Simple Programming Design class today. Ms. Teasley from the NGTC Library gave a very informative and interesting presentation on the library resources that are available to us, how to access those resources, when stuff is due, and how much they LOVE to help us when/if we need help. It was brief but very educational. Thank you, Ms. Teasley, for coming to our class and talking to us and for being sensitive to the study subject of our class and specifically mentioning resources that might be beneficial to us.
    We are learning more about PTO charts and will soon have class work and homework to reinforce our knowledge and understanding. I think I used this "process" when I was back in grade school when solving word problems - thanks to my mathematical father Frank Blair!! [What was the desired result? What info did I already have? (What part of the info was unnecessary and should not be included in the input process?) And, what process did I need to use to get the desired result?] I never really had any problem with word problems. Now I am thankful that I already grasp this PTO chart. I had NO idea that I would ever need this - but then, don't we approach problems in life this same way: what is the desired result - of said problem, what are the facts, what is actually not revelent to the problem that I think might be, and, what do I need to do to get the desired result? Sure helps me work through my problems - that and prayer!
   And I shared Brownies in class today - which were well recieved!
    It was a good class!
 

XHTML & Flash: progress!!!

    This morning in XHTML class (CIS 2202) I finished up Chapter 2. I have already learned SO much but I know there is a LOT more to learn. All of my work for this chapter has passed the Validator - sometimes after several corrections were made! One of my assignments was to read code for a web page that was in the book and try to locate the error that would not allow the page to run. I looked very carefully through the entire file and then saw where one line had an opening tag but no closing tag. That was the problem.
    In Flash class (CIS 1123) I started on the second Tutorial (chapters are called "Tutorials" in this book) and completed Tutorial 2 Section 1. I had a few hard moments with my project and had to ask for help - once even my teacher was stumped for a little bit though we both thought the problem was a grouping problem, and we were right. One of the other students got us past the problem!! It was great. So, I learned something from the situation.
    One of the great things about all THREE of my classes with Mr. Long is that he encourages us to ask questions, help one another, and help "teach" if we know something real well. So far I am in the learning stage only! But Mr. Long did tell me today that I am either right on or ahead of the curve as far as completion of work - so that's good.
    I find everything I am learning captivating, and I have a hard time leaving class when it is over: I could just keep working until bedtime, I believe!!
    This is AWESOME!! Thank You, Lord, for this WONDERFUL opportunity to learn to do something in an area I REALLY enjoy: computers!!

Program Design class (CIS 105)

    Our first assignment was to write out the directions on how to get from inside our classroom to inside the school library. Mr. Long, our instructor, wanted DETAILS  (but not the number of steps we took as everyone's steps are different.) It was rather fun doing this: I took my pen and my clip board (with paper in it) and wrote as I walked. I tried to write down everything I did.
    It didn't seem much like an assignment for a Program Design class - but, later, when Mr. Long started asking us questions about our assignment we could see how it applied! First, how many thought about putting down the instructions for opening doors - so we could exit/enter a room? Second, how many said turn Right or turn Left once they were out the door. Third, how many said to stop and look for cars - or did you just get run over? And, how many opened the Library door - or did you walk through the glass??? (Ouch!)
   The point was that EVERY little detail has to be there for you to accomplish your goal; in this case to get from the classroom to inside the Library, but in computer programming it is much more complex and demanding. If you leave out ONE step - be it tiny - your program will not run smoothly. It will either not run at all, or it will crash, or it will not do what it is supposed to do. And we all know how frustrating that is!
   It was a great assignment and I think we all learned a lot from it. I did. (We actually wrote an algorithm!!)
   Today we talked about the 7-step process of program development, which applies to programming AND to Web design! The seven steps are: Define the Problem; Outline the Solution; Delevelop the Outline into an Algorithm; Test the Algorithm for Correctness; Code the Algorithm into a Specific Programming Language; Run the Program on the Computer; and Document and Maintain the Program. This was my basic approach when I designed my Web page for my pasture boarding business - and I didn't even know how right-on I was!!
   Another fun thing about this class was talking about IPO charts and flow charts. I can't wait 'til we start utilizing some of this stuff, but then, I am a detail person.
   So, let it be said here that I am REALLY enjoying all three of my computer classes and learning a LOT!! I can't wait for each class to start and I usually work on stuff the minute I get home!!! I'm lovin' it!!! (To coin a phrase!!)
  

XHTML & FLASH classes today

    Yes, I had a few "issues" in my classes today that I needed assistance with, but over all it is going well.
    This morning in XHTML I ran a Validator to check all the work I had done to that point. I had a few minor corrections to make and now all have "passed". I am happy.
    After lunch, in the FLASH class, I was again intrigued by all the interesting things Adobe Flash can do. Learning it is not so hard since I have worked with several SIMPLE graphics program and am so familiar with using a computer. But every once in a while I get stuck and need assistance! Also, I forgot my flash drive this afternoon so my stuff did not get saved properly and I will have to re-do some of it - but that will simply reinforce it. (I'll bet that is the last time I forget it!!!)
    I do find it hard to switch back and forth between XHTML and FLASH - and tomorrow is Simple Programming -?!!! I suppose (and hope!) that as I progress in each of the courses that the difficulty in switching will fade away.
    I REALLY like all my classes. The work is facsinating, interesting, intriguing, attention-holding, and so forth: I LOVE it!!!
    I encourage you to reach for the stars in whatever area you are interested in - no matter what your age or physical limitations!!! You can DO it!!!
   

XHTML code: a beginning

    I have worked through over half of the chapter 2 "Hands-On" assignments in my "XHTML" book. Wow! I have already learned so much. And there is SO much more to learn. I just can't wait! This class is a self-paced class.  
    Then I opened my other Web Design book, Adobe FLASH CS4 Professional, Luise A. Lopez and Roben M. Romer, published by Cengage Learning, Australia, and did a little of chapter 1. This stuff is SO fascinating I find it hard to quit!! (Flash is also a self-paced class.)
    Okay, I admit it: I also opened up my Simple Program Design - A Step-by-Step Approach, Lesley Anne Robertson, published by Cengage Learning, Australia. I found it just as interesting as the other two books but I haven't done any work yet: just reading.
    I really think I have found my niche.
    I want to encourage anyone who "doesn't know what they want to be when they grow up" to check out the things you are interested in and pursue them! You will be richly rewarded! If I can do it at age 53 YOU can do it!!!
    So, here I go: a computering!! LOL

Computers, prayer, and horses

My day was full: it began with prayer, first just me and God, then I joined my friend Dale. She was having some PC difficulties so after our prayer time I helped her. Then I went over to her pasture and worked with her horse and donkey. The horse is very "user friendly" but the donkey would rather not be touched, thank you. So, the goal being to earn the donkey's trust to be able to tame it, I spent two and a quarter hours messing with them. I gained much ground with that little donkey but still was not able to touch her. A couple more times and I will. If they had a round pen it would have happened today - but their pasture is very big and very hilly. I REALLY enjoyed my time with them both - but boy did I get the exercise!!!
Then lunch and home.
I hadn't been home very long when Dale called me back and said she had lost some files on her Mac. So I drove back over to her house and spent the rest of the day and evening doing stuff for her on her Mac and on her Windows PCs. I learned a lot about Apple computers with Mac operating system... all very interesting. I even transferred a bunch of files from one computer to the other, and copied some files to DVD for her.
I don't care for Mac computers but probably that is because I have been using Windows since Windows 95 - was there an earlier version? That's as far back as I can remember!! (Just wait until YOU are old and decrepit like me! LOL Your memory won't be any better than mine!! Though I DO remember Windows 95!!) The FIRST computer I can remember using was an Apple II - and THAT was a LONG time ago!! But I guess anybody that can run around in a pasture up and down hill for two and a quarter hours with a horse and a wild donkey can't be in too bad a shape!!
Today was very full and very educational: it was a great day. I did three things that I REALLY enjoy: prayer with a friend, helping someone with computer issues, and working with horses (donkeys count, too!) AND, I feel like I passed the test - whatever the test was - by being able to help Dale with her computer issues - especially on that Mac.
And so, I retire tired but happy, or should I say "exhausted but VERY happy!!"?!!

Web info I find interesting

   Today I read about how the Internet and the World Wide Web (www) got started. I also learned the difference between Internet, Intranet, and Extranet.
   I also learned about World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) and how they take a proactive role in developing recommendations and protoype technologies related to the Web. Their web address is: http://www.w3c.org/ if you are interested.
   While already familiar with IP Addresses and Domain Names, I now have a greater understanding of how they work: in short, the Domain name is like a text-based IP Address.
   Markup Languages was a fascinating subject. I read about SGML, HTML, XML, XHTML - and even a little about HTML 5. This course is mostly about XHTML - EXtensible Hypertext Markup Language.
   One of the most interesting things I learned was what happens when you request to go to a web page: how the message is broken down, sent in pieces, reassembled on the other end, the page is retrieved, broken into pieces, and sent back - only to be put back together before you can view it. All that in nearly split seconds! So next time your browser is a little slow, remember everything that has to take place in order for you to view the site/page you want.
    Anyway, reading through chapter one of my text book, Web Development and Design Foundations With XHTML (Terry Felke-Morris, Pearson Education publishing as Addison-Wesley), has been intriging and educational. It also makes me realize I am finally in the right course of study!!
   Web Page Design, here I come!!! (Oh, sure, I already designed several VERY NICE web pages - but they were made with MS Publisher - I'm not sure that really counts!! LOL)
April 7, 2011

My first day...

Greetings;

   Today I created this blog page on blogger.com.  I am going to learn and grow with it.
   I invite other Web Design students and bloggers to my page. Please keep it CLEAN.
   This is part of my school assignment so you will probably find a lot of changes as time progresses.
   So, whether you are new to blogging or a long-time user: welcome to my page!

Sue
Handmaiden of the Lord Jesus Christ