1. Include a Picture of the Item:  The old saying “a picture is worth a thousand words” could not be truer in a craigslist ad posting.  Pictures of the item help shoppers to visualize what you are selling and help them to better understand your product description.  Many craigslist shoppers will not even look at an ad if it does not include a picture.  Therefore, you up your chances of selling your item significantly if you can put a picture in the posting.  You can post multiple pictures of the item so make sure that the picture shows the object clearly.  Provide pictures from multiple angles of the object if necessary.
2. Give a Detailed Description of Your Item:  Make sure to tell people about all of the wonderful features of the item you are selling.  Go to Amazon.com and see how they have described the item you are selling.  Amazon.com will also have the current cost of your item new and sometimes they will have a used price.  This help you decide how you want to describe your item and possibly how much you want to charge.
3. Set a Reasonable Price:  Before selling on craigslist, do your homework.  See if anyone else is selling a similar product on craigslist and find out how much they are selling for.  Look at sites like Amazon.com and ebay.com to see what price people are using for similar items.  Once you know how much everyone else is selling a similar item for, then you can make an educated decision about your selling price.  For a quick sale, go lower than everyone else.  If you are not concerned about selling quickly, then you may want to price your item at the higher end and see what sort of response you get.
4. Be Detailed about Your Location:   People want to know how far away an item is so that they can determine whether or not to pursue a purchase.  The craigslist posting will ask you to give a location from where you are selling.  Be detailed.  Make sure to give the city name.  If you are located in a large city, then you may want to also include direction, a landmark or a subdivision (Ex. North Raleigh) .  By being detailed about your location, you can save yourself a lot of trouble by weeding out the people who are a good distance from your location and do not want to make the trip.
5. Be Wary of Scams:  When you sell an item, make sure that the people who would like to purchase your item are not trying to scam you.  Here are a couple of things to look out for.  If the buyer request your personal checking account number or bank number so that they can “wire” you money, do not give out this information.  Some people may want you to mail the item and then they will send you the money.  Do not do this because you have no guarantee that they will ever send you any money.  Keep transactions in person, when possible.   Only accept cash or certified check.  If you are not comfortable having a stranger in your home, try not to have them come when you are alone.  You can also meet somewhere public and out in the open, which keeps a buyer from knowing where you live.  Read the craigslist page about scams.
6. Use the Anonymous Email Feature:  Craigslist offers you the option for keeping your email address private.  When setting up your ad, simply choose the “anonymize” option for email replies.  Then, when people view your posting and want to respond, they simply respond to the craigslist email address that has been created for your posting.  This craigslist email sends posting responses directly to your email address of choice.  Buyers never see your email address, unless you choose to respond to them with your personal email.

The above tips won’t guarantee you a sale, but may just help improve your odds.  See the craigslist fact sheet for more craigslist tips and tricks.

Libraries are collections of your stored files that can be easily accessed through the Desktop Search.  Libraries do not replace the tiered folder system you are accustomed to, but they do house content selected by you in a single collection.  When files are placed in a Library, their properties are indexed by the Search function.  This indexing makes accessing your files in the Desktop Search quick and easy.  There are four default Libraries for Documents, Music, Pictures and Videos, but you can also customize and create your own Libraries.

Microsoft is attempting to make Search and Libraries the new “entry point” for accessing your files.  For example, when you save items, Windows 7 will direct you to Libraries.  Your files will be automatically saved in the default folder of the Library it matches unless you specify another location.  By setting up the Save function in this way, Microsoft is encouraging users to store their content in Libraries.

The new Search and Libraries has the potential to make finding your items quite convenient.  Imagine opening files in a single click by typing in a keyword and having the matching files automatically appear.  It would eliminate navigating through long lists of tiered folders and would be especially helpful to those who can’t remember where they filed an item.  However, only time will tell how effective the indexing and Search function will actually be at finding your items.  It may also take buy in from the user, as they will have to take the time to move and organize their files into Libraries in order for the Search to work.

To learn more, go to our Windows 7 Topic Page.

Please take a minute to answer our poll.  As soon as you’re done, you can view the results.

If the poll doesn’t  address your interests, leave us a comment.  We will continue to update our Windows 7 topic page based on interest and need.

Have you ever assigned a project that required your students to use PowerPoint?  I would guess that you have.  Sometimes you get back these awesome presentations with sound, movie clips, hyperlinks, slide transitions, animation, and more.  Sometimes you don’t.  Now, you can help all of your students gain the skills necessary to create interesting and professional looking PowerPoint presentations.  Take your students to the computer lab to look at some of the self-paced tutorials that we have here at GCFLearnFree.org.   The students can create a user account to view all of our lessons.  Once they have done this, have the students follow the links below for help with their PowerPoint presentations.

For PowerPoint 2003:

• If you click on this link, PP03, then you can look at a whole list of self-paced lessons on how to use PowerPoint 2003.  There are even videos that take you through the process, step by step.
• If your students need help with adding Clip Art, send them here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=928
• If they need help adding charts, diagrams or tables then you could view this link: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=929
• If your students need help adding an AutoShape, WordArt, or Hyperlinks send them here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=930
• For help animating slides check out this lesson: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=931
• If you want to add slide transitions, then look at this link for help: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=934

For PowerPoint 2007:

• If you click on this link, PP07, then you will find a list of self-paced lessons that explain how to use PowerPoint 2007.  There are is also a quiz you can take under the “Test your knowledge” section.
• If your students need help with adding Clip Art or Pictures, send them here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1456
• If they want to learn how to use WordArt and Shapes, then click here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1461
• For help with adding movies, click here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1464
• You can even add sounds.  Learn how to do this here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1465
• Text and objects can be animated easily.  Learn how here: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1466
• Make professional business presentations with SmartArt illustrations: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1469
• Action Buttons and Hyperlinks can connect your PowerPoint to the web: http://www.gcflearnfree.org/computer/lesson.aspx?id=1470&p=1
• For help figuring out what font size to use, check out this blog and video: http://blog.gcflearnfree.org/2008/10/03/powerpoint-how-to-choose-a-font-size/

While the above links are great classroom tools, I realize that getting a group of students into the computer lab is not always feasible.  Here is a tip for getting around it:

• You, the teacher, creates an account
• Go to the lesson links above.
• Click on the “Print” button, in the top right hand corner of the page.
• This will make the entire lesson viewable all at once.  You will not have to click through a series of pages.
• Print out the lessons and use them as handouts in class.  Our information is copyrighted, but we allow our lessons to be reproduced and used for educational purposes as long as the lessons are not altered or transformed in any way.  For more information on our Terms of Use, see http://www.gcflearnfree.org/home/termsofuse.aspx

We also offer online classes for PowerPoint 03 and PowerPoint 07 that offer CEUs upon completion.   There are limited seats available for our free classes so getting an entire class signed up at once is unlikely.  You could have your students sign up to take a class on their own time and show you their certificate of completion for extra credit.

These classes can benefit you, the teacher, even more!  Our classes offer CEUs which can be applied to teacher license renewal in certain states.   Just check with your Department of Public Instruction to see if you can use our CEUs in your state.  If you find out that you can use them, leave a post on the blog and let us know!  Make sure to check back frequently because I will be writing more articles about how you can use our site in the classroom!

Will you be upgrading from XP or Vista? Windows 7 was designed to be upgraded from Vista and Microsoft is subtly suggesting that XP users should consider getting a new PC for Windows 7.  If you are an XP user, the process of upgrading will be more complicated and may require the help of a computer service professional.  At the minimum, it will require backing up your current files, programs and settings and doing a custom (clean) installation.

Are the digital media features important to you? Streaming TV on Windows Media Player, experiencing high quality gaming graphics and interacting with a Touch Screen are all cool Windows 7 features that have been marketed by Microsoft.  However, these digital media features may require additional hardware and a computer with higher performance standards.  If you are interested in these features, then it would be wise to research their additional requirements before buying.

How well will Windows 7 perform on your computer? If your Windows Experience Index rating is less than 3, then the graphics and Aero features of Windows 7 will not work.  In addition, you may have less performance if you have a 32-bit processor rather than a 64-bit processor.  To see how well Windows 7 will perform on your computer, you can download and run the Windows Upgrade Advisor.  It will assess your system and offer any possible trouble-shooting advice.

To find out more, visit our Windows 7 Topic Page.

With these questions in mind, we have spent a great deal of time using and exploring the Windows 7 Beta release in order to provide you with the advice and information you need to determine if Windows 7 is right for you.   We have begun a Windows 7 topic and over the coming weeks we will continue to add videos and lessons for those who are curious and/or interested in upgrading.  Basically, we want to share with you our experiences so that you have a better idea of what Windows 7 is all about and how it might suit your needs.

We have reviewed the features, performance improvements and made comparisons to the XP and Vista operating systems.  Next up, we will check out the system requirements, versions and upgrade experience.  Of course, we have been working with the early release beta version and are expecting a few things to change as we go along.

Visit our Windows 7 Topic Page for updates regarding our experience.

All of our online classes are accredited by the International Association for Continuing Education and Training (IACET).  You can take classes on Microsoft programs like Access, Excel 03 and 07, PowerPoint 03 and 07, and Word 03 and 07. According to NCDPI, all of these classes can be applied to a teaching license. If you decided to take all of the above classes, you could earn up to 7.7 hours of CEUs for free and at your own pace. Each class has pre and post-tests, quizzes, lessons and assignments. The assignments are submitted to an online instructor, who grades and returns your assignment in 24 hours. You can take the class in about three days or you can work at a more leisurely pace, finishing in about four weeks. I know from experience that teachers lack time and money. Our classes can be done as your schedule allows and you NEVER have to pay for them. So, what are you waiting for, your license to expire?

Now, to all the teachers across the country, I need your help! I know that North Carolina will accept our CEUs towards licensure renewal, but what I don’t know is, whether or not other states will accept our CEUs. If you are a teacher in a state other than North Carolina and have used our courses for renewing your license, please leave a post below so that I can gather feedback on how other states are using our classes. Even better, if you are in another country and have used our classes for teaching license renewal, let me know. I want to hear from you! Thanks and good luck!

Visit our Online Class page to learn more or watch our Online Class Orientation Video.

17,100,000. That is how many results I received when I used an Internet search engine to search for a talking clock. The vague search terms I used resulted in too many off-target web pages. Obviously, I don’t have the time to look through 17 million web pages to locate the exact item I need, and I’m guessing you don’t have that kind of extra time either. That is why it is important for you to know how to use search engines effectively to increase the chance the search engine will display results that closely meet your criteria.

The following 5 tips will help you search the Internet more effectively:

1. Enter as many keywords as possible. Most users submit 1 to 2 words per search, which is not enough for an effective query. If you do this, you are likely to yield millions of results, just as I did while searching for the talking clock. Choose 5 to 7 keywords that narrow your search field.
2. Use nouns as keywords. Words such as “a” and “the”, pronouns such as “she” and “he”, and prepositions such as “over” and “to” slow down the search engine and often produce irrelevant results. Some search engines actually ignore these words. If it is important for the search, the search engine probably has an advanced feature that will allow you to include it. For example, in Google, if you need to include the word “the” in a search you can place a “+” in front of the word so that the search engine will include it.
3. Use exact phrases when searching. Phrases are a combination of two or more words that must appear in the documents you trying to locate. Quotation marks should surround each phrase. The ability to search for exact phrases can be extremely useful in locating material online.
4. Understand the Boolean Basics. “Boolean searching” is technique that can narrow your search results and increase the likelihood that relevant results will be displayed. This searching technique involves using Boolean commands, or operators. These commands are AND, OR, and NOT.
   • The AND command will only return documents that contain all the keywords listed. For example, if you search for “Paris” AND “Eiffel Tower” AND “Hours” the results displayed will include all of these terms. AND is the most commonly used Boolean command and most search engines use it without the user needing to type it into the search box.
   • The OR command will return documents that contain any of the keywords. If you search for “Nike” OR “tennis shoes” OR “Air Zoom Plus” the search engine will display documents that contain even one of these three keywords/phrases.
   • The NOT command will return documents that do not contain the keyword listed. If you complete the same search for Nike shoes, but this time included NOT “Air Complete Collection” the results displayed would not include any reference to the Air Complete Collection.

The key is to learn how each search engine will process Boolean commands. In addition to recognizing these three commands, some search engines automatically include the AND command in searches and process the plus (+) and minus (-) signs as another way to express AND or NOT.

5. Use the advanced search features. Most people use search engines by typing words into the query box, selecting the Enter button, and then scanning the results pages. This often results with millions of pages being displayed – most of which will not meet your criteria; however, most search engines do have an advanced search feature which can help you narrow the results.

Google, Bing, and Mahalo –these are a few popular search engines. I tend to use Google the most often because I like the advanced search tool and can usually find what I am looking for within the results it displays. Take the time to try several search engines and the advanced search tools for each. See which one you like the most and become familiar with how to use it.

There are billions of web pages and no formal system for organizing these pages. While search engines provide a vital service in helping you locate the web pages you need, they can only be as effective as the searches you submit. Successful Internet searches can take several attempts; however, if you use the 5 tips and take the time to learn how the search engine you choose works, you will be able to locate the information you need.

Effective Internet searches will not require you to comb through millions of web pages - the search engine should do all that hard work for you! So give several search engines a try and see which ones you prefer. Be sure to visit our internet basics topic for many more tips and tricks. Happy searching!

Things to know: Cases of abuse on the Internet, such as kidnappings or molestation that you may have seen in the media, although they are events that occur fairly infrequently, are real and are matters to take seriously. The important thing to keep in mind is that if you take the appropriate safety precautions and pay attention to what your children are doing on the Internet, you can prevent these incidents from happening and allow your child to have a positive Internet-going experience.

What to watch out for and prevention strategies:

1. Exposure to Inappropriate Material

• There are no restrictions for what is allowed to be posted on the Internet, and unfortunately children can find ways to access inappropriate material. For example, there are Web sites that allow gambling. In many cases, these sites operate legally in their jurisdiction, but if minors participate, it’s no longer legal no matter where they are.

• Prevention: Talk to your children about the things that are and are not appropriate to view on the Internet. In doing this, you can look into downloading software to prevent your children from viewing certain types of material. * Note: This software tends to filter out good content as well, so it’s important to read about the software and understand how it works.

2. Harassment

• Children may encounter email, chat content or bulletin board messages that are harassing or demeaning. This risk may not be life threatening, but it could affect a child’s self esteem and his or her overall opinions about life.

• Prevention: Talk to your children and establish boundaries for them on the Internet. Where are the places that you would like for them to visit on the Internet? Are there things that you would not like them to do? Remember, it’s always better that information comes from you first, and then when they encounter it on the Internet, they will know how to react to it.

3. Legal and Financial Dangers

• There are so many ways to exchange legal or financial information that unfortunately can lead to credit card and/or identity theft, and if adults can get into this kind of trouble, children can too.

• Prevention: Talk to your children about the negative implications that are connected with exchanging financial information on the Internet, and decide how much information about your credit cards or other financial matters that you will give your children.

4. Drugs, Alcohol, Tobacco and other Dangers

• Some Web sites and newsgroups contain information that promotes the use of drugs, tobacco or alcohol. And sometimes, it is possible to find places on the Internet that provide information on how to make bombs or obtain weapons.

• Prevention: Remember, your children can access just about anything on the Internet, and it’s important for them to know what you expect of them while doing this. What are your ideas about drugs, tobacco or alcohol? What are your feelings about bombs and weapons? Talk to them. You can’t prevent your children from seeing everything on the Internet, but you can help them form an opinion about these things before they encounter them on the Internet, and instill a sense of right and wrong in them so that they can be responsible while they ’surf.’

5. Physical Molestation

• Although not very likely, there is a slight risk that while online, a child might provide information or arrange an encounter that could risk his or her safety or the safety of other family members. In a few cases, pedophiles have used email, bulletin boards and chat areas to gain a child’s confidence and then arrange a face-to-face meeting.

• Prevention: Talk to your children and make sure they are aware of the dangers associated with Internet usage. Tell them not to give out personal information such as their name, address, digital photos or information about their after-school or weekend activities. Explain to them that not all people tell the truth about their identity on the Internet and that the people they ‘chat’ with may not be who they say they are. If you allow them to participate in chat room conversations, warn them to never agree to meet anyone
face-to-face without parental consent and involvement.

Visit our Internet Safety topic for more tips and tricks to keep your kids and yourself safe online.