CAS at a Glance

2011-03-01T14:10:00.007-06:00

On February 17th, Computer Applications met with producers from across north Mississippi at the North Mississippi Research and Extension Center in Verona to discuss the integration of mobile technologies such as smart phone apps and 3G data networks into agricultural production. New agricultural applications for mobile devices such as Plant Doctor on the iPhone or Cattle Breeding Calculator on Android phones could benefit producers in the region. If you have an idea for an app then contact us.

Click here to view the entire article in the "Mississippi Agricultural News".

Robots at State Fair!

2010-10-18T16:53:00.004-05:00

Saturday's 4-H day at the State Fair was a zoo of technological activity as 4-Hers brought in the robot animals they had built and programmed. The event saw puppies, dragons, and everything in between with personal touches added by each 4-Her. Congratulations to all the participants who took home a blue ribbon for their hard work.

Weekly Computer Tip

2010-08-23T13:03:00.004-05:00

Sophos

Symantec Antivirus and EndPoint Protection is being replaced with Sophos. As of June 2010 the contract with Symantec Antivirus has expired. Any Extension employee who is still using Symantec should install the new Sophos Antivirus program. Instructions for installing Sophos are available at the CAS Resource Center website here. For more information you can also contact the CAS Resource Center at (662) 325-0758.

Welcome Terrence!

2010-08-18T08:39:00.004-05:00

Say hello to Terrence Norwood, the newest member of the CAS Resource Center team. He is a graduate assistant majoring in Public Policy and Administration. Terrence will be working with robotics, developing training handouts, and resolving computer problems. So next time you call the CAS Resource Center give a warm welcome to Terrence.

Weekly Computer Tip

2010-08-16T08:36:00.003-05:00

SHIFT + DELETE

Computer getting bogged down in old files? Have a lot of stuff to delete? Sending all those old files to the recycle bin only to have to delete them again is time consuming. Why not make the process shorter?

Step 1: Select the file or files to be deleted

Step 2: Press SHIFT + DELETE simultaneously to delete the file permanently without placing it in the Recycle Bin.

NOTE: Once a file is deleted in this manner it cannot be recovered through the recycle bin.

Tuesday's Computer Tip

2010-08-03T15:32:00.002-05:00

Word 2007 Bookmarks

Tired of scrolling through long Word documents trying to find a section of text? Give Bookmarks a try. Bookmarks can be placed in any part of a Word document and allow you to return to that section at any time. The bookmarks are also saved with the document so you can use them next time you open it.

To Place a Bookmark:

Step 1: Place the insertion point where you want the bookmark to be placed.

Step 2: Left-click the Insert tab on the ribbon.

Step 3: In the Links Group, left-click Bookmark.

Step 4: Name the bookmark and left-click Add.

To Return to a Bookmark:

Step 1: Left-click the Insert tab on the ribbon.

Step 2: In the Links Group, left-click Bookmark.

Step 3: Left-click the bookmark you wish to return to.

Step 4: Left-click Go To.

Step 5: Left-click Close.

NOTE: To access the Bookmarks menu faster press ctrl + shift + F5 together!

In the Lab

2010-07-30T10:51:00.003-05:00

(Pictured Left to Right: Adam, Andy, & Aaron)

These three students keep the lab humming!

Do You Know?

2010-07-22T10:57:00.001-05:00

What a group! Can you name the people in this photo? This group include old and current CAS and CETT employees. Let's see how many you can name....

Pics from Dr. Brook's Retirement Party

2010-07-22T10:50:00.006-05:00

Happy Retirement Dr. Brook

2010-07-22T10:44:00.002-05:00

Dr. Brook and Robert at 12:01 AM on June 30 at the Huddle House in Starkville. Yes, it took them that long to clean out their offices! After 40 years at Mississippi State University Dr. Brook decided to retire from Computer Services. We'll miss him very much but we wish him well in his retirement.

Bye-Bye Robert!

2010-06-22T08:06:00.004-05:00

A special thanks to everyone that joined us Robert Gholston's retirement reception on Friday. We had a wonderful time celebrating his career and how much he has meant to the department over the years. His wonderful wife Nanette joined us and we all agree that the sander (the retirement gift from the department) was just the right color. Robert, thanks for all you have done to keep the Extension network up going all these years -we'll miss you!

Connecting Monitor to Computer

2010-05-03T14:30:00.002-05:00

Some of you may have received a new monitor but may have experienced problems with connecting the monitor to your computer. Before connecting the new monitor to your computer, take a picture of the back of the computer with the monitor cords connected. You may also the view the handout on Connecting the Monitor to the Computer at the CAS Resource Center Web site (http://cas-resource-center.com/joomla). The handout can be found under the Computer topic by clicking on FixIT and selecting How Do I Videos and Handout.

Preventing Computer Viruses Tips

2010-04-19T07:44:00.001-05:00

We are seeing more and more computers becoming infected with viruses. A computer infected with a virus can affect office productivity, data saved on your computer, as well as the network speed. Below are a variety of things you can do to protect your computer.

Do not...

Click on pop-ups

Roll your mouse across the pop-up

Click action buttons such as close, cancel, don’t install, etc.

Respond to pop-up windows that ask you to download software

Open emails or email attachments from unknown people

Respond to an email that request your password or personal information

Do...

Press ALT + F4 simultaneously to close the pop-up

Run a full scan using your antivirus software if you encounter a pop-up

Exercise caution when visiting various Web sites

Verify your antivirus software virus definitions are up to date

Check antivirus quarantine files

Delete temporary Internet files and cookies weekly

Run Spybot

2010 MECA Conference

2010-03-02T08:09:00.002-06:00

Can I say we had a MEC-A good time at the Mississippi Educational Computing Association Conference? The CAS Resource Center team presented workshops on various topics, shared great ideas with the teachers, and encouraged them to use the many resources offered by their local Extension offices. The teachers thoroughly enjoyed the workshops and even discussed ways of incorporating the new ideas into their classroom.

On Our Way to MECA

2010-01-26T08:55:00.002-06:00

The CAS Resource Center staff will be attending MECA (Mississippi Educational Computing Association) in Jackson, MS. We will be presenting workshops on a variety of topics to technology teachers across the State of Mississippi. Also, we will use this opportunity to promote the resources available to teachers through thier local Extension office. Don't worry though - if you need computer help we will have people in the office that can help or you can email and we'll respond as quickly as we can.

Robotics Clubs Off to a Great Start!

2010-01-26T08:51:00.002-06:00

This past thursday we held our first robotics club meeting. Over 100 4-H'ers joined us as we learned how to build an electric circuit. Circuits and what powers them are important. They make the robot run properly. We also talked about energy sources and what happens when the robot's energy source runs low. Please visit the robotics blog at: ms4hrobotics.blogspot.com. You'll need an invitation to join so email Mariah at: mariahs@ext.msstate.edu to be put on the list. We are looking forward to our next meeting February 18th at 4:30. It's not to late to join the fun.

Genealogy Fair

2009-11-10T13:33:00.006-06:00

This past Friday we held our first annual Genealogy Fair via Interactive Video. This fair was a great avenue for reaching new clientele and sharing with them the educational opportunities Extension provides. During the fair, we discussed how to start your genealogy research, use courthouse records and Civil War pension records in genealogy research, and how to preserve those memories using technology. One of the comments from the fair was “I now have a basic understanding in genealogy. I got what I came for. I am appreciative for the vital networking I made.” Another participant stated, “Do some more workshops like this in the future.” As you can tell, the fair was very informative and a huge success for all involved!

4-H Day at State Fair

2009-10-20T14:42:00.017-05:00

Wow! What an amazing time we had at the 2009 4-H Day at State Fair. 4-H’ers and other youth participated in a variety of fun activities including a visit to the Robotics Petting Zoo, walking some of the animals, and making oobleck. Most of the youngsters liked the snake and were fascinated by how oobleck goes from a liquid to a solid. Take a look at the pictures and see for yourself. If you are interested in learning more about Robotics, contact your county office.

See You on Saturday!

2009-10-14T09:49:00.002-05:00

If you are going to be at the State Fair for 4-H Day on Saturday, October 17 make plans to stop by the CAS Robotics Booth at the 4-H Village. We will have the robotic animals on display and we'll also have a fun activity for your 4-H'ers to do. We look forward to seeing you there.

Post Your Blog Here

2009-09-22T11:37:00.001-05:00

If you participated in the blogging class today please post the url link to your blog as a comment here.

Welcome Wes!

2009-09-11T16:25:00.007-05:00

The CAS Resource Center would like to welcome Wes Pumphrey to our team. Wes is majoring in Computer Engineering and will be working with Robotics and various programming applications with the Resource Center. With Wes' knowledge, we look to continue to build our Robotics program for the youth of Mississippi. So look out 4-H'ers here Wes comes!

Welcome Jeremy!

2009-08-19T15:56:00.004-05:00

Jeremy Griffith is the newest member of the CAS Resource Center and is anxiously waiting to help you. He is a Graduate Assistant majoring in Management Information Systems. Besides assisting with robotics and other fun-filled activities, Jeremy will develop training handouts, and work to resolve your technology-related problems. So the next time you call the Resource Center, you may hear Jeremy’s friendly voice.

Refuge Rescue 2009

2009-07-22T10:52:00.003-05:00

Junior 4-H'ers from across the State got the chance to flex their robotic muscle as they participated in the first Junior 4-H Robotics camp. The camp was held in conjunction with the Senior 4-H Technology and Expressive Arts Camp. Junior 4-H'ers began their day by building robotic animals that mimicked animals in their natural environments. They also had the opportunity to create art from recycled computer parts, build solar power cars, and watch milk become ice cream! The ice cream was a tasty experiment on a hot summer day. They ended their day with an "explosive" activity that sent us all running. All in all, it was a great way to explore science, engineering, and technology. We'll see you next year!

Where are the Office Associates?

2009-06-22T11:12:00.011-05:00

The State Office Associates Meeting was held at MSU last Thursday and Friday. We were so delighted to see and speak with them. Office Associates play a vital role in maintaining the office. They assist clientele, troubleshoot technology issues, and work with 4-H'ers on a daily basis. During the meeting, we provided the Office Associates with resources on how to resolve some common technology issues they have within the office while promoting the tools available at the CAS Resource Center’s website.

The Moment We've All Been Waiting For!

2009-06-01T08:05:00.011-05:00

Yes, the first ever Robotics Contest was held last Thursday at Club Congress! The theme for this year's contest was centered around the State Fair. 4-H’ers had the opportunity to compete in four challenges which included popping the balloons, turning on the Ferris Wheel, placing the animals in their respective stables, and removing the blue ducks from the pond. The 4-H'ers had to build and program their robot using the Lego Mindsotrms kits and software. As you can tell from the pictures, the 4-H’ers were very creative and excited about their robots. Some teams even had team shirts and skits. Future Robotics activities will be posted here. So check back here often or contact your County Agent.

Gardening Out Your Fingertips!

2009-05-14T17:52:00.019-05:00

CAS was invited to take part in this year's Master Gardener Univeristy. Gardeners from across the State came to MSU to take part in the three day workshop. So, you might be wondering just where exactly computers and gardening come together. During one hour workshops participants were able to plan thier gardens online, look at gardening blogs, review the "Gardening Through the Seasons" podcast, and join a social network that is all about gardening. A few of our favorite websites:

1. The Kitchen Garden Planner: http://tinyurl.com/d6sxf8
2. The Illustrated Garden: http://valwebb.wordpress.com/
3. How to Save Seeds: http://www.seedsave.org/
4. Gardening Through the Seasons: http://msucares.com/gardenvideos
5. Gardeners Social Network: http://www.myfolia.com/

Do you have any favorite websites you would like to share?

Let's Talk About the Robotics Competition!

2009-05-08T14:18:00.003-05:00

Got a question about the robotics competition at Club Congress? Want some advice from other 4-H'ers? Post your questions and comments here. We're looking forward to seeing you at Club Congress! Remember Bost 307 at 1:30 PM on May 28th. Don't be late!

PS. I wonder what the gamesmanship points will be? Hmm...

I Spy Something Green!

2009-04-16T20:49:00.003-05:00

Do you see it in the picture? That's right it's a 4-H clover! We met one group from South Carolina and two presenters from Minnesota that incorporate robotics into thier 4-H programming. Some use 4-H more for the organizational/non-profit status (it makes it easier for donors to give tax deductible donations) while others are using the FIRST competition as the equivalent of the State Fair. National 4-H SET has a booth and we are hoping to get a chance to talk to them tomorrow. Also, we will try and post some video of the various competition rounds.

Strange Men Keep Following Us

2009-04-16T20:27:00.011-05:00

Getting Started in the Pit

2009-04-16T20:18:00.004-05:00

Today I had the privilege of attending the FIRST Championship. This was an amazing experience! While there were many fun and exciting moments, I must say the best part was visiting the pit. So what can be found in the pit? The pit contains each team’s work station, their tools, trade items such as buttons and keychains to pass out to other teams and visitors, and the practice field. The practice field is very important in that it allows the teams to test their robots and make the necessary changes to their programming. Collaborative learning is exemplified throughout the entire competition. Each team is expected to show “Gracious Professionalism” to other teams by sharing their tools, ideas, and knowledge. I am very excited about the opportunities available for Mississippi youths. Come and experience the same excitement at our Robotics Camp!

A Taste of Home

2009-04-16T20:08:00.003-05:00

We scoured the entire World Congress center looking for the lone team from Mississippi. We finally found team #1927 otherwise known as St. Patrick Catholic H.S. They started thier team the same year Hurricane Katrina hit. They were a little disappointed that MSU wasn't represented at the competiton but we did promise to get them in contact with the right folks should they want to tour campus or talk more about the engineering programs at State. They've done alot to reach out and teach others about robotics, including creating a coloring book for use by elementary students. The coloring book introduces children to computers, robotics, and FIRST. Way to go St. Pat's!

What is FIRST?

2009-04-16T19:39:00.007-05:00

FIRST is the largest robotics competition in the world, teams compete all over the world in local and regional competitions. Those teams that win their regional competition come to Atlanta to compete in the International FIRST Robotics Competition. There are literally thousands of kids running pell-mell through the Georgia Dome and World Congress Center with their robots. FIRST is divided up into three areas:

1.) First Lego League or FLL
http://www.usfirst.org/what/fll/default.aspx?id=390

2.) First Tech League or FTC
http://www.usfirst.org/community/FTC/default.aspx?id=968

3.) First Robotics League or FRC
http://www.usfirst.org/community/default.aspx

We are currently using the NXT Lego Set so if we were to start competing in FIRST we would be considered FLL. The next step up is the FTC which uses tech-tronics like pieces to build the robot but it used the NXT brick for the brain. The BIG robots are the robots that compete in FRC. Basically you take metal, wood, bolts, and tape and make your own robot - they are very impressive and expensive. We'll try and get a photo of the FTC robots tomorrow but for now here is a picture of the FLL Robot and the FRC robot.

So, what do you think about competing in FIRST?

Whew! Made it to Atlanta

2009-04-16T19:13:00.004-05:00

Wow, we finally made it to Atlanta! We had an "adventurous" trip over from Starkville. We got to drive through downtown Atlanta as police were barricading streets, it made getting to the hotel a hoot. Apparently about 15,000 of Georgia's finest decided to have a "tea party" in protest of the government bailout. After we got checked in we went over to the Lego Outlet in Lawrenceville, GA. It's about a twenty-five minute drive unless you driving in rush hour traffic. While there we happened to pick up a couple of things you might see at 4-H State Congress or the robotics camp this summer. Have you heard we've decided on a theme for the robotics camp? Make plans to attend and keep an eye out for more info coming soon. To say the least it's been a tiring day but I'm looking forward to seeing all of the robots tomorrow. Atlanta has really rolled out the red carpet for the FIRST Lego League. More to come...

PS. Cedric and Matt - We bought more Legos!

4-H Volunteers Using Technology

2009-03-19T10:17:00.008-05:00

Some Mississippi 4-H Volunteers recently learned how to use various technology components during the 2009 MVLA Conference in Starkville, MS. During the hands-on sessions, volunteers built and programmed robots, created buttons and magnets, and used Global Positional System (GPS) receivers to calculate area, measure distance, and store tracks. There was also an information session for volunteers on the Computer, PowerPoint, and Robotics Contests to be held during the 2009 State 4-H Congress. These sessions were delivered by Dr. John Giesemann, Mariah Smith, Tasha Brown, Cedric Smith, and Matt Brooks.

What's that got to do with Tomatoes?

2009-03-12T13:12:00.003-05:00

You say tomat-oh, I say tom-ah-to...well, I'm learning a lot more about the tomato industry than I ever thought I would this week! I was asked by Dr. Brook to come down and provide some technical support for Dr. Rick Snyder at the 2009 Mississippi Tomato Short Course conference held at Eagle Ridge Conference Center Tuesday through today. Like most things in Extension, there's a lot more to tomatoes than what meets the eye. I've heard sessions on how to plant, how to care for tomatoes, how to help control climate and humidity, and many other topics. It underscores how much information and support Extension has to offer, and the opportunities the CAS Resource Center has to extend that support.

March 31st - The Big Reveal!

2009-03-05T15:24:00.005-06:00

The big reveal is almost here - 26 days and counting! I hope you are as excited as I am about the first-ever robotics competition at 4-H Club Congress. I think it will be more fun than a ride on the ferris wheel! And yes, that is the only hint I'm giving this week on the three robot challenges.

Don't forget to let your 4-H agent know that you are interested in competing in the robotics competition. We only have room for 16 teams of 4 each, space is limited! Your 4-H agent will have to pick up the robotic kit and floor map on March 25th. We'll hold the big reveal party March 31 at 4:30 PM via videoconference. This is where we will reveal the three challenges and go over the game...er...contest rules! I look forward to seeing you there.

How May I Assist You Today?

2009-02-20T17:08:00.005-06:00

We held our first set of How Do I TechShops on Friday, February 20th! The TechShops centered around communication. We engaged in meaningful learning by participating in real time conversations with fellow MSU-ES employees and CAS-RC staff using GroupWise Messenger. After IM-ing with each other, we learned how to communicate one on one with the CAS-RC staff by requesting help online (no calling necessary!) via the CAS Resource Center website. Our two thirty minutes technology workouts helped everyone become more efficient using the technology in their office.

Join us for next month’s TechShops (March 20):
1.) Downloading pictures from your camera to your computer.
2.) Connecting a laptop to the TV.

If you have a TechShop topic, email Tasha at tashab@ext.msstate.edu or post it here.
Check out last Friday's techshop:

It's a MEC-A Good Time!

2009-02-20T16:36:00.019-06:00

This past week several of the CAS staff had the opportunity to attend MECA. That's right, the Mississippi Educational Computing Association brought teachers, technology coordinators, and IT professionals from across the State to downtown Jackson to discuss what's happening with technology in education. MECA has a unique tie-in with Computer Applications and Service. Over 25 years ago Dr. Dan Brook co-founded MECA, since it's original founding MECA has grown into a 1,000 plus member organization, and it is one of the largest educational computing conference in the southeast. Some of the topics we covered at the conference were:

1. Fun with 3D Gamesand Animation Using Alice - Teaching Your Students
(Presented by: Dr. Tom Hutchinson, Dale Jordan)
2. Content with Robots: Teaching Your Curriculum Enhanced with Technology
(Presented by: Eric Heiselt, Mariah Smith)
3. 4-H and U: The Power of Utilizing SET Programming to Engage Your Students Technology
Potential
(Presented by: Mariah Smith, Dr. Linda Mitchell)
4. Distance Education Toolbox: What's in It and How Do I Use It?
(Presented by: Dr. Susan Seal)
5. Protecting Our Children from Cyber-Bullying
(Presented by: Mariah Smith, Connie Templeton)
6. The Supreme Court is in Session: Ask the Experts
(Presented by: Dr. Larry Anderson, Julene Reed, Will Richardson, Dr. Dan Brook)
7. Becoming a Cyber Digizen
(Presented by: Connie Templeton, Mariah Smith)
8. Creating Basic Learning Objects with Flash
(Presented by: Dale Jordan, Dr. Thomas Hutchinson)

Coffee Clicks

2009-02-20T15:20:00.003-06:00

Coffee Clicks!

Thanks to everyone who participated in the first ever coffee clicks! I had a great time getting to know Marveen, Charles, Clyde and Cheryl in Choctaw County; Maxine and Gary in Webster County; Evelyn, Donna, and Gordan in Lee County; Peggy, Douglas, and Katie in Lawrence County; Shirley, Adele, Julia and Eunice in Kemper, Judith, Hugh and Johnie in Scott; and Ann in Montgomery. I'm sure I missed a few folks and I know a few slipped in late. We had about 25 total participants for our first meeting. During the meeting we discussed basic ideas like hooking up a computer and taking care of it. Ms. Shirley in Kemper County even tried to stump me with a hard word question! If you would like to review the concepts we went over during the class check out the video on the CAS Resource Center website under Special Projects/Community Outreach. Or, you can also request the video on CD or DVD. Our next Coffee Clicks will be March 19th at 10 AM. We'll be discussing how to use a mouse (that pesky right-click vs. left-click), we will also talk about the keyboard and what the function buttons do. If we have time we'll start talking about free software options for your computer. I hope to see you there!

4-H Club Congress Contest

2009-02-04T16:01:00.007-06:00

Wow! I can't believe it's time to start talking about Club Congress already. We still have four months before it gets here but you know how the old saying goes...time flies when you are having fun! And fun is definitely where it's at with the contest opportunities available at Club Congress. This year we will offer both the PowerPoint and Computer Contest as in years' past. However, we will also be piloting the Robotics Competition as a new competition this year. Listed below is an outline of the competitions to get you started. Please note that this information is preliminary and is only meant to give you an idea of what is available to your 4-H'ers. We will be sending out more detailed information in the weeks to come.
____________________________________________________________
Event: PowerPoint Contest (Individual)
Date: May 27, 2009
Time: 9:00 – 5:00 by appointment

Format of the PowerPoint Contest:
1.) 3-5 min PowerPoint Presentation on any topic
2.) See Contest Rule book
____________________________________________________________
Event: Computer Contest (Individual)
Date: May 28, 2009
Time: 9:00 – 12:00 AM

Format:

9:00 – 9:15 Welcome
9:15 – 9:45 Vocabulary Quiz (Individual)
9:45 - 10:15 Excel Challenge (Team)
10:15 – 10:45 Hardware Challenge (Team)
10:45 – 11:00 Break
11:00 – 12:00 PowerPoint Presentations (Individual)
(PowerPoint Presentations are 3-5 min)
Topics to Choose From for Your Presentation:
Illegal Music Downloading
Social Networking
Cell Phone Etiquette

12:00 – 1:00 Lunch/Etiquette workshop - maybe
__________________________________________________________
Event: Robotics Contest (3-4 person team)
Date: May 28, 2009
Time: 1:30 – 5:30 PM

Format:

1:30 – 1:45 Welcome 1:45 – 2:45 Skits/Presentations/Commercial
Team members will create a 3-5 minute skit, presentation, or commercial on a selected topic.
Skit/Presentation Topics: Why I like 4-H or Fun with 4-H Robotics

2:45 – 3:00 Break
3:00 – 3:30 Practice Rounds
3:30 – 3:45 Robot Tune-ups
3:45 – 5:30 Robotic Floor Competition
*Judging of Brick by Brick Team Reports from 2:45 -3:45

Floor competition will consist of three different challenges that the robot must complete within a specified time limit. See the rule book for complete details.
__________________________________________________________

Classes Available to Help Get Your 4-H'er Ready for Contest:
*These classes are specifically for the 4-H'er who is competing.

February 16: Virtual Club (Overview of the contest)
February 28: Preparing for Contests (Getting Your Volunteers Ready for PowerPoint,
Computer, and Robotics Competitions)
March 31: Creating Great Speeches @ 5 PM
April 7: Presenting with PowerPoint @ 5 PM
April 14: Computer Contest Prep @ 5 PM
April 21: Robot Challenge #1@ 5 PM
April 28: Robot Challenge #2@ 5 PM
May 5: Robot Challenge #3@ 5 PM
__________________________________________________________

Please make sure to verify details through the rule book or through handouts and materials we will be emailing out in the coming weeks. I look forward to seeing your 4-H'er at the contest!

Click to It!

2009-01-29T16:44:00.003-06:00

CAS has recently acquired 150 CPS e-Instruction Clickers to use in trainings and workshops throughout Extension. "Clickers" are a great way to take attendance, conduct pre-test, get spontaneous audience response, test for understanding, conduct quizzes, post-test and more. We are not currently able to offer clicker training over interactive video but be watching for training opportunities here on campus. If you are interested in using them for your next workshop or training let us know and we will work with you to set up a training. Extension personnel can check out the clickers from Kathy Nash in the AV Reference Library.

Your Response to Our Survey

2009-01-29T14:51:00.004-06:00

First let me say thanks to each and every one of you who responded to our survey. Your input is the driving force in our decision making. So, let's take a look at what you said:
__________________________________________________________
Who took the survey?
28% were Office Associates
22% were County Directors
19% were 4-H Agents
1% were 4-H Program Assistants
11% were Area Agents
18% were Program Assistant/Associates

You prefer you computer class/workshop to be:
66% of you said 1.5 hours
30% of you said 3 hours
3% of you said 6 hours
Other Comments: mini-workshops, 50 minute workshops, 2 hour workshops (2)

You prefer that your classes be taught:
24% of you said face-to-face
51% of you said over interactive video
24% of you said online classes

Are there any classes you would like to see us offer in the spring?
In rank order: Excel, Excel, Excel. Followed by: PowerPoint, Word, Pulisher, Working with Digital Photos, Creating a Website, Using GPS/Arc GIS, Digital Cameras, County Mailroom, Computer Basics, Internet Explorer/Internet Searches, Using Email, Downloading Music, Webinars/Distance Ed, 4-H Databases, Mail Merge, Internet Safety, Surveys, Blogs, Projectors, Quarterly Reports, File and Folder Management, Burning CD's, Planning Time Management, FNP/EFNEP Reporting, Facebook/MySpace, Making Movies (this isn't a detailed list it just gives you an idea)
________________________________________________________

I'm not going to post questions 6-10 (because of length) but they did provide us with some good insight. If you really want to see the results let me know and I'll post them. We always welcome feedback as it helps us help you better. Again, thanks to everyone who participated.

How Do I?

2009-01-07T17:00:00.003-06:00

Have you ever wondered what GroupWise Messenger is and why it appears on your desktop every morning? Have you ever needed to access the Intranet or Extension email while away from your office? If so, the How Do I Fix-IT page of the CAS website may come to your rescue. It is here you will find some frequently asked questions we receive at CAS. Within minutes, you can download videos, podcasts, and step-by-step instructions on various topics. Do you have a ‘How Do I’ topic? If so, post it here and visit the CAS Resource Center How Do I Fix-IT page for your answer.

Gearing Up With CAS

2008-11-04T14:30:00.001-06:00

CAS has developed a new way to make information easily accessible to you – the CAS Resource Center. At Annual Conference, we will discover how to use the Resource Center to solve technical problems, view classes, and communicate with others. This hands-on class is filled with a wide array of information that will not only enhance your daily operations but better acquaint you with the work of CAS.
See you at Annual Conference!

Google Calendar

2008-09-04T11:25:00.003-05:00

How nice would it be to keep track of office personnel’s itinerary using a central calendar online? Google Calendar is a free, online, shareable calendar which allows you to add and organize events easy. With Google Calendar, you can add office events, add and update personnel schedules, share events with others, and send reminders.

Because Google Calendar allows users to share calendars, you can view the CAS Resource Center calendar. To do so, login to your Google account. If you do not have a Google account, one can be created by visiting www.google.com/calendar. After you have created your account, type CAS Resource Center in the search box and left-click Search Public Calendars. Next, left-click on the CAS Resource Center link. A listing of events will be shown. To add an event to your calendar, left-click on the event and left-click copy to my calendar. If you have any tips or questions on using Google Calendar, please post them here.

Who’s New at the Resource Center?

2008-08-21T09:27:00.004-05:00

Please help me welcome Matt Brooks to the CAS Resource Center team! Matt, a Graduate Assistant, is ready to help you in solving any technology issues you may experience. In addition, Matt will be developing instructional training materials and providing technical support. He is eager to assist you in accomplishing all of your tasks and goals in a proficient manner. Give him a call at 662-325-0758 or instant message him at wmb46.

If You Build It They Will Come

2008-08-19T15:51:00.002-05:00

This year's 4-H Science, Engineering and Technology conference got off to a great start with CAS hosting three of the workshops, GIS/GPS, Flash, and Robotics. The robotics track offered 4-H youth a chance to combine basic engineering and computer programming concepts. Participants created four different robots that were designed and programmed to complete progressively more difficult challenges. The 4-H'ers worked diligently designing, programming, and testing their robots. We're very proud of what they accomplished.

Where in the World...

2008-08-19T10:08:00.000-05:00

are Tasha, John, and Mariah? At the 2008 Extension Office Associates Meeting in Natchez of course! It was certainly our privilege to be invited to the conference and we had a great time becoming better acquainted with office associates from all over the State. We set up a booth at the conference to showcase our new website which will make it's official debut at this year's Annual Conference in November.

What's New at CAS

2008-06-12T09:39:00.001-05:00

You’ve probably noticed by now but things are looking a little different on the CAS home front. Over the past month we have launched several ambitious projects such as the CAS Resource Center website which also includes the Fix-IT Center and the CAS on Demand classroom portal. The goal of the CAS Resource Center is to put all of the knowledge and expertise of the CAS staff at your fingertips, accessible to you – 24/7. The Fix-IT Center has 60+ (and we’re adding more daily) FAQ’s. At the Fix-IT Center you can watch a demonstration of how to fix your problem as well as print off step by step instructions. The CAS on Demand classroom portal will be the last component to make an appearance – probably early fall. At CAS on Demand you’ll be able to choose from any of our 160+ classes we offer and start and finish them on your own time frame. We hope you like the changes we’re making as we strive to serve you better. Please give us your feedback either here on the blog or email us at fixit@ext.msstate.edu.

Tired of SPAM Mail?

2008-06-12T09:35:00.000-05:00

So are we! Let’s do something about. You can go to your MSU StopSPAM filter at stopspam.msstate.edu and set the protection level at 6. SPAM email works like this: Let’s say the spammer (person sending the emails) is selling vitamins for $19.95. The spammer can send out hundreds of thousands of emails for mere pennies, if the spammer gets 20 people to buy the vitamins they have made a 400.00 profit for very little effort. Spam email, in addition to being annoying, can also be dangerous. Spammers can send out phishing emails which are emails designed to steal your passwords, account information, and even your identity! Follow these steps to avoid being phished:

1.) Never respond to an email from someone you don’t know
2.) Never click on a link to a website in an email
3.) Never provide any personal information via email (this includes passwords, account numbers, mother’s maiden name, etc.)

Want to know more? Check out the Gone Phishing publication available in the CAS Library. If you see a “phishy” email come across your Inbox post it here on the blog so others will know what to be watching for.