iProcrastinate

The name of the application may have negative connotations but this Apple app is really a powerful tool to get you organized. I noticed that I like writing down the things that I need to do on a piece of paper. After completing a task, I usually cross it out. Well, this app can do more! The app allows me to do the following.

• List down the things that I need to do.
• Count how many days I have left before a deadline. This is a very good feature especially if I need to multitask. Knowing how many days I have left to work on something helps me set my priorities.
• Categorize my tasks. The app, allows me to categorize my tasks and name those categories with whatever name I want to call it.
• Add steps to my listed tasks. If the name of the task is not enough to make me remember what I need to do, I can list down some steps in order to complete the task.
• Attach files. This is an organizer helps save time by preparing all the files that I need by linking the file with the tasks. When you view a previously saved task with a linked file, you can just click the link to open the file.

This app is definitely a good tool for someone who is into freelancing. If you have an Apple computer, iPod, or iPhone, you should download this app to help you get organized!

Word count: 252

Take that extra step

Everyone has a different style of learning. Some learn visually, while others learn best when they listen. There are also those who learn by doing.

Learners should take time to discover their learning style. There are activities available through various media that enable learners to determine their learning style. By determining the styles that suit them, learners can spend more time using those styles. In return, they can learn faster and gain better understanding about the topics that they are working on.

Instructors and course designers should also take time to analyze their target learners. Through conducting learner analysis, designers and instructors will be able to develop courses that would provide learners the best learning experience. By tailoring the course to meet the learners’ profile, there would be a greater possibility of having higher grades, faster learning pace, and positive feedback.

Analyzing learning styles can be an added step to the learning process; however, always keep in mind that it is better to add that extra step than have a course that doesn’t work.

Word count: 174

Murder by numbers

Last Sunday, my boyfriend was trying to setup a universal remote control that he wanted to use with their television. The remote control came with a manual, but it wasn’t really useful. The manual failed to use numbers correctly. The manual did not use any numbers to imply order in the steps. At the same time, the manual also had so many numbers listed as codes that the users should try to setup their remote control. Each brand listed has more than five codes. The users needed to try and see which one would work.

Numbers, like words, are also tools in communicating. When numbers are used correctly, they can enhance our documents. Numbers allow us to create and observe order. Numbers help us create a more obvious flow in our documents. We can see this when we use page numbers, numbered lists, and graphs.

Numbers are helpful in analysis. Numbers are called the language of business. Business people make their decisions based on what the numbers tell them. 

As technical communicators, we need more than using words. It would also be to our advantage if we learn how to effectively use numbers.

Word count: 194

The Full Meal Called Life

My favorite quote when I am stressed is "stressed is desserts spelled backwards".

We are almost near the end of our program and everything seems to be overwhelming. There are a lot of projects to be done. The thought of needing to get a job after also scares me at times. It is easy to get stressed and cry, but I shouldn't. 

What I learned about being in school for more than 10 years is that we should never let stress eat us up. The stress that we get in school can’t kill us. That is only true if we don’t think about it so much that it affects our mental health. I would say I am the type of person who thinks that stressors are hurdles that I can overcome; I just need to continue to run, and soon I will see the finish line.

We can also think of stress as desserts. Life is the full meal and stress is just something that makes life complete and interesting. When everything seems to tire you out, try reading the poem “Don’t quit". Here is a link to the poem
http://www.thedontquitpoem.com/thePoem.htm.

Take time to breathe, and read some inspirational poems to help you keep on going.

Word count: 206 words

More than words

Words are very powerful tools for communication. It is important for us to widen our vocabulary; however, we need to remember that we need more than just words to communicate.

When I was still in grade school I always thought that our teacher grades our English essays depending on the words that we use. I felt that my classmate who used non-colloquial words get higher grades than us who tend to use words that are commonly used by people in our grade level.

As I grow older, I realized that we needed to look at words differently. We need to look at words base on how it can be used to effectively communicate.

Here are the top two things that I am continuously learning as I communicate with more people.

1. Keep it simple.

As communicators, we should use words as means to get our ideas across. It should never be a way to separate the educated from those who’ve never been to schools.

2. Everything is connected.

What I learned is that we should always check how the words we use relate to each other. It should always make sense to our target audience. Similar to film, the juxtaposition of shots creates a lot of impact on how a viewer interprets the film.

It is easy to learn new words. We can check the dictionary or read books. However, learning how to use these words to communicate will always be a lifelong learning experience for all of us.

Goodbye old library

Do you like going to the library? Don't worry this won't be a blog post about shutdowns of library. Going to the library is still one of the best options if you are trying to research on something. However, the widespread use of the Internet and other digital devices certainly had an effect on the number of people who use the library. Now, you can buy books online and even just read the digital copy.

Libraries are not behind as far as technology goes. Libraries are transforming at the same time digital books take over the market for print copies. I browsed through the Winnipeg library website looking for resources that I can use for my report. Luckily, I found that the library also has numerous collections of digital books that we can loan without even going to a library. They have e-books and audio books.  

The transformation of our libraries will benefit a lot of us because it will give us access to resource materials even outside the libraries. The addition of audio books will also benefit those who are visually impaired. Libraries will remain to be a part of everyone's learning. It is nice to know that our public libraries are up-to-date with these new learning media.

Word count: 209

Best practices in labeling

We just had our Reading Week. The first year that I was in school, I didn’t know that Reading Week refers to spring break. I was confused because I thought students were expected to do some readings the whole week. It felt like the person who thought of that name used the wrong label.

There are a lot of other things that use confusing or incorrect labels. Maybe some us think that we can label anything we want as long as we remember afterwards what we called it. Yes, you can do that but there are best practices that we can follow, which will help our audience and us. Here are some reasons of the best practices in labelling. 

• Labels should provide information. At a glance, we should be able to identify what is in it for us in files, bottle or anything that was labeled.
• Labels should be concise. A few words will be enough to describe your item or file.
• Labels should not be misleading. It’s nice to play jokes sometimes but labels are the worst to use as jokes. I remembered that there was an instance in the Philippines where a student died because he accidentally drank a chemical from a mineral water bottle.

Labels are important. We should always try to use the best label for anything. Just compare those things to children. Parents will never think naming their child with an ugly or confusing name.

Word count: 239 words