PDA Initiative and ALS 103 Extra Credit

1. PDA Initiative andALS 103 Extra Credit College of Agriculture & Life Sciences

2. PDA Initiative: Quick Overview • Animal Science, Pocket Dairy databases • Crop Science, barcode readers and spreadsheets in USTL, greenhouses • Zoology, wireless polling, Web article access and markup • Horticulture, barcode readers, plant ID • Ambassador program, outreach presentations and event documentation

3. ALS Orientation Courses(103, 295g) • Handheld loan program, optional • Participants receive a Palm Zire 71 (built-in camera) or a Palm Tungsten C (WiFi access to Web and email), by choice • Participants sign a contract to borrow this state property, and agree to return it in working order at the end of the semester • Participants asked to complete a survey at the end of the semester, rating their experience

4. Zire 71 Tungsten C

5. Benefits of Participation • Access to a digital camera or wireless email and Web for a semester (using “hot spots”) • Extended, hands-on experience with a loaned PDA can help you decide whether or not to purchase your own device, and which model • Extra credit activities aligned with course assignments can add to your overall points total, or you can elect to skip certain regular assignments as marked in the syllabus*

6. Minimal Requirements • To use a PDA, students will need access to a personal computer (PC or Mac) with USB port • You will need to loadPalm Desktop andother software toolson this computer • All PDA softwarewill be providedto you

7. Minimal Requirements • Some extra credit assignments require students to access Microsoft Word on this same personal computer • If you do not have Microsoft Word on your computer, you can still participate in about 60% of the extra credit assignments

8. Extra Credit (Detail):Time Management Assignment • Students can download a time management matrix in Excel or Word format from the class Web page • After completing their matrix, students can install and use Documents to Go to transfer their file to the handheld, then beam this file to the TA or instructor (10 points) • Docs to Go will be provided to students with Word on their personal computer

9. Extra Credit (Detail):Oracle Calendar Assignment • Next week we will overview the new electronic calendar tool available to every student at NC State: Oracle Calendar • Most students will access their electronic calendar via the Web (like Webmail) • Students with PDAs can set up a sync between their PDA and Oracle Desktop on their personal computer, to transfer all dates into their Palm DateBook application (10 points)

10. Extra Credit (Detail):Finding Internships Assignment • Students with PDAs can set up a free software tool called Plucker to extract Web pages and place them on their PDA • For extra credit, students will use Plucker to download the “About” Web pages for two companies (10 points)

11. Extra Credit (Detail):Resume Assignment • Students will install and use the software tool Documents to Go to transfer Word files to their handheld • For extra credit, students will transfer their resume to their handheld, then “beam” that file to the instructor or TA (10 points)

12. Extra Credit (Detail):Interview Assignment • In interview situations, it is helpful to have a copy of your business card and/or resume for the interviewer • For extra credit, students with PDAs can create an electronic business card and beam that file to the instructor or TA (10 points)

13. Extra Credit (Detail):Clubs & Orgs. Assignment • Students with PDAs can transfer a worksheet to their handheld with Docs to Go, and answer the listed questions about clubs or organizations they visit • For extra credit, students beam their completed worksheet to the instructor or TA (10 points)

14. Extra Credit (Detail):Using D.H. Hill Library Assignment • The Zire 71 includes a built-in digital camera • For extra credit, students with a Zire 71 can take two digital pictures at the library with their camera (one each of reference and circulation desk), download these files to their personal computer, edit the files by adding a title over the photo (i.e., their name), and then beaming the photos with their name to the TA or instructor (10 points)

15. Extra Credit (Detail):Ethical Issues Assignment • Students with PDAs can install the free Idea Pad program to create a basic concept map about the ethical issue they have researched; beam to instructor or TA for 10 points • One student per team can install the free Margi software to convert their PowerPoint presentation to a handheld file; the presentation can then be delivered from the handheld (10 points)

16. Extra Credit (Detail):Planetarium Software • Students can install and use the free Planetarium software tool to research astronomical data • For extra credit, students answer scavenger-hunt type questions provided on the software documentation, using the handheld MemoPad application, then beam those answers to the TA or instructor (10 points)

17. Some Procedures • To receive extra credit, you must bring your PDA and show your work on the device to the instructor or TA. In many cases, you can “beam” your extra credit assignment to the instructor or TA electronically. • If any regular assignment asks you to turn in a printed page (e.g., resume), and the PDA extra credit assignment asks you to beam an electronic copy of this same file to the TA or instructor, you must do BOTH

18. You Are Not Alone • PDA Initiative Web Site:http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/index.cfm?showpage=258 • Documentation Page, Quick Guides, Manuals, Step-by-Step Instructions • Training and Help Page, Form to Request One-on-One Help, Sessions Held in 118 Patterson Hall

19. Please View Assignment Sheets from the Class Web Page • Due to last minute additions of extra credit assignments, some changes do not appear in your printed coursepack • Please use the class Web page to view the most current version of all assignment sheets • Class Web link on syllabus:http://www.cals.ncsu.edu/index.cfm?showpage=301