h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There's nothing wrong with powerpoint if it's used correctly. I used to go to something called 'Learning Lunches' years ago - not quite a lecture, but still teaching something. The worst ones were the presentations that had loads of bullet points on and the speaker just read them out, with maybe a bit of extra chit chat. Coming second were those slides that had so much stuff on them that everyone stopped listening to read the slides.

The best ones were those that were used to illustrate the points the speaker was making, graphs or diagrams, maybe a funny, or were being used to confirm names and possibly contact details of anyone being mentioned. Or hard to spell words.

As Z said, those people who had so many notes on powerpoint that they could be printed off later had much smaller attendances.

wing, the synthesizer analogy isn't a good one. Initially a synthesizer will sound OK, but if you don't learn how to programme it you'll sound just like everyone else (just listen to the orchestral 'stabs' on 80s SAW pop tunes!), and learning to get the best out of a synth's programming capabilities ain't always easy. Also, they sound better if you know how to play the things rather than expect them to do the work for you (an obvious example being Rick Wakeman).

have to agree with the violin anaology though

my parents almost banned me from playing it. i got better though and it now sounds like music!

>Also, they sound better if you know how to play the things rather than expect them to do the work for you (an obvious example being Rick Wakeman).

Well, I agree, which is why I said they "can be just as marvellous". I'm saying synth-players are as great as any violinist.

For the record (no pun intended), I'm a big fan of electronic music, with a large collection of Berlin School Em, and yes, a lot of Yes.

My point was that it's easy to, say, just switch on the arpeggiator and get pleasant-sounding noise. Real music takes a certain effort.

True. But it can be nice to switch on the arpeggiator when you've a couple of non-musical mates round! Ooh, they don't half get impressed.

Is that the thing that Mariah Carey needs to find the off switch for?

Similar, but arpeggiators don't usually make you want to rip your ears off and fill the holes with putty.

You know the Duran Duran song 'Rio'? All that wibbly keyboard stuff at the beginning is an arperggiator, but they've come on a bit since then!

Re: using Powerpoint correctly:

Do you know that you can actually type notes directly onto ppt? That way you avoid all that "printing out" and "writing on the back" and "filing".

Tch, you kids. Don't know you're born, and you still insist on using the software the hard way!

RF

>>Re: using Powerpoint correctly:

Do you know that you can actually type notes directly onto ppt? That way you avoid all that "printing out" and "writing on the back" and "filing".

Tch, you kids. Don't know you're born, and you still insist on using the software the hard way!
<<

i know that, but how do you suppose we go about writing the notes in lectures? we arent allowed laptops in lectures.

If you are dyslexic Nicky you are allowed a lap top in lectures and a voice recorder to tape the lectures. Under DDA any student with a disability is entitled to get reasonable assistance with their studies at Higher Education level and some get their equipment paid for. I bought three digital voice recorders on my college budget that I loan to students until they get their own equipment.
A lot of people with dyslexia or visual problems find power point hard to follow as some people use bright colours and fancy effects.
It is also distracting to lip readers.I think some lecturers use it as a lazy way to give lectures, rather than talk ,they just read the slides out.

im not diagnosed as dyslexic so i dont get any help.

even the ones who are dyslexic here arent allowed laptops in lectures. they are allowed the voice recorders and if they are badly dyslexic then they get a note taker

"im not diagnosed as dyslexic"

Then I suggest you *get* diagnosed as dyslexic as soon as possible.

And if you can't, I suggest you get off your ass and learn to spell.

SoRB

I looked after a placement student a couple of years ago whose writing was nearly as bad as yours. I mentioned this to him after about 4 months and he said he was mildly dyslexic but he had not told his university. I do not know whether he was pulling a fast one but I told him to tell his Uni. I do not think he did and if he did not and IS dyslexic then he is an idiot as it is something Uni's will take into account. If he was just pulling a fast one he is even more of an idiot as companies will not employ a chemical engineer with his level of spelling and grammar competency. At least, I would think long and hard as a mistake in calculations etc can be disastrous.

As SoRB said, get checked out if you have not already. If you have been checked then get another check. The person testing you may have been wrong. Then we can start discussing and learning about how dyslexic people do get help with their condition rather than berating poor spellers.

the reason wy ive not been checked out is i dont need it. ive got this far in life with excellent grades. i dont need a free laptop and the ok to use a voice recorder. i have a new laptop anyway. i got one in october. ill never use the voie recorder even if i could. if i spell something, science terms, im not sure about i come home and look it up. my english varies on its ability everyday.

my housemate is diagnosed dyslexic and he doesnt get anything i would find of use.

SoRB, I'm yikesing post 112 as it is downright rude.

Beatrice - Nicky has 'eyes' if she feels insulted she could yikes it herself. It's clearly aimed at her. It's difficult to see if someone feels insulted.


Nicky - if you want to make a better impression with your writting then perhaps putting capital letters at the start of sentances and using 'I'm' instead of 'im' would go a long way.

I know my writting isn't perfect - I'm just using it as an example.

I'm not sure I agree with all this extra help for dyslexic students (and remember I was one myself, though I never got the help) you can get extra help at University, but once you get a job the help isn't there. So I wonder if it's making people use it as an excuse rather than learning spelling and maths.

Like it or not poor spelling and poor English makes you appear an idiot in written communcation. However intellegent what you are saying is it looks like it's written by an idiot. You can ask people to try and make an effort to understand you - or you can take simple steps yourself.

Now I know I sometimes come across like an idiot online - bu I wish I didn't.

For example I come across like an idiot by putting 'bu' when I meant 'but'! And by any of the English mistakes I haven't noticed.

One of the things that makes h2g2 unique is the usually high level of understanding and assistance given to others.

This attack on Nicky has been going on for days now, and it is descending into childish name calling. I don't think that is acceptable, and I don't think it should be allowed to continue.

Yes Nicky could yikes it herself - but would risk that being seen as unable to take criticism.

True - but harrassement is a matter of perception isn't it?

If Nicky or anyone *feels* that someone else is harrassing them then they have a right to do something about it even if that person percieves that it's 'a joke'.

But conversly Nicky may see it as a joke and be ok with it. If that's the case it would be embarrasing for her for someone to tell her she ourght to be offended when she's not.

Z, you never come across as an idiot online!
.
I don't think Nicky is being attacked as such constantly, as I said I pointed out my spelling is poor and left school at 15 with no qualifications and did GCSEs later.
However as I said before, not putting capitals at start of a sentance doesn't help and is good practice in general.
However being rude is unnecessary and actually counterproductive.