COMM 361-001: Online Journalism

Course: WORD 261-003 in George W. Johnson Center, Room 311B.

Described as follows: “Covers the intermediate level of Word 2007.”

Microsoft Word 2007 has, for a while, been something I’ve felt pretty competent with. However, I definitely learned a thing or two from this workshop!

In the first lesson, aptly named “Inserting Dates and Symbols,” we learned how to put dates and symbols into our paper.

Then, we went over Quick Parts and how that tool can make things quicker for writers that consistently use titles/pictures in their pieces. Additionally, the Building Blogs Organizer, which helps users sort building blocks by name, gallery, category or type, was pretty interesting.

The third lesson dealt with using AutoFormat in Word 2007. AutoFormat can format a document as the user types — it analyzes the user’s text as they type and then applies the appropriate formatting.

Lesson 4, “Working with Tables,” helped me apply the use of tables into my work, which is a useful way to throw a bunch of information into a clean, organized area of space.

Related to the use of tables, Lesson 5 was probably the most beneficial of all of the lessons. I learned about aligning table text, merging cells within a table and converting a table into text.

Course: RSCH 110-005, in Fenwick Library, Room A214.

Described as follows: “Zotero is a Firefox browser based utility that makes capturing bibliographic content from around the Web a snap! Learn how to install and manipulate your own Zotero library.”

Right now, Zotero only works through Firefox. It helps you “collect, organize, cite and share your research sources,” according to their official Web site. It recognizes sources immediately off of database Web sites — users can instantly select the sources and add them in their Zotero folder, straight from the database.

Exporting your library of sources is quite simple, too. Users even have the option to include their notes for each source along with their files. APA and MLA citations (among others) are accounted for when exporting, too, and they can even be assigned separately to different sources.

Personally, one of my favorite features right off the bat was the ability to create a timeline of your sources. It made it so simple to spot exactly when the source was written. Additionally, if you’re working off of multiple computers while researching, you can make an account on the Zotero Sync Server to bring back up all of your previously saved research. It truly saves a lot of time — just make sure you sign out!

Also, in Zotero, adding something manually has been given a new twist. From Instant Messages to films, from bills to maps, just about anything can be cited. When users have no idea how to cite something but really want to add it in their piece somehow, Zotero will figure it out.