I have enjoyed this holiday season. It is the most wonderful time of the year, eventhough we spend it in temperatures that I will never prefer. I always like to reflect on the real meaning of Christmas -- Christ and assess how God is manefesting in my life. It is the time when all computer clubhouses must complete an assessment report, so I must evaluate myself and reflect on the successes and failures experienced. I have always felt that the computer clubhouse is my mission from God. Although I know that I could be doing a million other things, it is one thing in my life that I feel I must do. I think about it every day and I pray on what can be done to make it better. I always think that I can do better. Consequently, the computer clubhouse is ever-changing. I am proud of some of the things we have achieved, but I am disappointed over many things, as well. This new year is bringing new changes to how we achieve the goal to Create With Purpose.
The year 2010 brought great achievements to the NWAC Computer Clubhouse. In addition to having our license in the Intel Computer Clubhouse Network renewed (a goal we strive for each year), we were also selected to participate in Adobe Youth Voices. As a newbie in the AYV project it has taken us a while to get up and running. We were able to successfully load the software on all of our computers. Unfortunately, it has been a great disappointment that we have not been able to purchase needed hardware to produce the type of awesome projects that Adobe CS5 is capable of creating. I have always said that hardware without software is just a paperweight, but software without hardware is just painful.
My attitude for 2011 is to think positive (and beg alot). I'm sure that we will eventually get the needed hardware. However, we are going to move forward on learning as much as we can about the CS5 Production Suite. It would be sinful to have these programs on all of the clubhouse computers and we not all work to learn them. We might have to use websites to see what could be done if we had a green screen, or a boom microphone, or HD digital video cameras, or, well there are lots of hardware devices that we could use. Not to worry, though, we will still learn a lot.
In addition to our AYV focus, I am mindful of the outstanding knowledge provided by Mr. Carl Ray. He has heightened my interest in working to improve ACT and SAT scores. I hope you were privileged to be in the clubhouse for Mr. Ray's visit in November, if not, you missed a great opportunity. He provided information about college-preparation, financial aide, HBCUs, and general knowledge. It was a great visit. He is always finding and sharing good information. I really thank him for telling us about ineedapencil.com. If you have not checked this site out, you should. It will become as important to this clubhouse as the Village.
Tying together ACT/SAT prep and projects for AYV gave me a new idea for a clubhouse project. I know that it is essential to know the meaning of many words to successfully take these tests. I found a great website by Dr. Steve Baba to help us increase our vocabulary. Dr. Baba points out that "vocabulary words are on the SAT, GRE and other standardized tests for a reason - people with better vocabularies perform better in college and later in life. If your vocabulary is weak, you will understand less. Your ability to express yourself is limited by your vocabulary - if your vocabulary is weak, you will be understood less. If you overuse simplistic words, such as "cool" or "great", people will be unimpressed. Even if you are a computer science genius, other computer science geniuses with better verbal skills will be hired and promoted ahead of you." I think that this will be a fun and rewarding project that will give us the opportunity to do mulitmedia. Get the instruction sheet from me when you are done reading this posting.
Welcome Back! Let's do clubhouse-related activities!
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