2010-03-10T06:53:52Z Kobus van Wyk Copyright 2010, Kobus van Wyk SPHPBLOG bottom-up strategy.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090828-174059 2009-08-28T00:00:00Z 2009-08-28T00:00:00Z e4africa.

I trust that the articles will be of value to you. As always, your comments and advice will be greatly appreciated.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090822-190225 2009-08-22T00:00:00Z 2009-08-22T00:00:00Z
I have been running this blog and the new one (named e4africa) in parallel for about six months and over this period some of my regular readers have already started following the posts on e4africa and posting their comments there.

Click here to follow the posts on the new site, or use the URL: http://www.e4africa.co.za

If you have linked to this blog from your blog or website, please change the link to point to the new one.

Thank you for your support over the past years - I trust that you will continue to read e4africa and post your valuable comments.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090328-225216 2009-03-28T00:00:00Z 2009-03-28T00:00:00Z
Always use a dry, soft cloth to remove dust, fingerprints and smudges from the screen. If this does not completely remove the dirt, try a cloth slightly dampened with hot water. For persistent dirt spray cleaning fluid on the cloth (or use cleaning wipes) and gently wipe in one direction – left to right or top to bottom.

Special cleaning materials for computer screens are obtainable commercially. Often these materials are in the shape of anti-static, pre-moistened wipes. If these are not available, you can make your own cleaning solution by mixing one part water with one part isopropyl alcohol (also called rubbing alcohol). If you do not have isopropyl alcohol, you may use a small quantity of vinegar instead.

When you clean the screen, there are a number of things you must avoid.

• Don't use paper towels or tissues – even though they appear soft they could scratch the screen.
• Don't use an abrasive cloth that has the potential to cause scratches – for best results use a piece of cloth cut from an old T-shirt.
• Don't use household cleaning fluids with an ammonium base (look on the label of the cleaning fluid) – ammonium will dissolve part of the protective top layer of the screen, leaving a dull, smudged effect.
• Don't spray liquid directly onto the screen, as some of the spray may penetrate the machine.
• Don't apply too much pressure when cleaning the screen – it could be damaged in the process.

Follow two simple rules as preventative measures.

• Don't touch the screen with your fingers when using the laptop – this will save cleaning time.
• Don't leave the lid of the laptop open when it is not in use – this will prevent dust from gathering on the screen.

Sometimes you do not realize how dirty your laptop's screen is until you look at it from an angle. Make a habit of cleaning it regularly, thereby extending its life.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090328-153740 2009-03-28T00:00:00Z 2009-03-28T00:00:00Z
The screen is a very sensitive part of a laptop. It is called an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen, indicating that it is filled with liquid.

If you gently press with a finger on the screen you will notice that it gives way slightly – you can feel liquid moving beneath the outer layer – and you will also see that the screen changes colour. Some people have the habit of pressing on the screen just to see the changing patterns. Don't do this! Your screen can be damaged if too much pressure is applied to it or if you poke it with a pen or sharp object. It is a good policy never to touch the screen with your finger or any object.

Be careful that you do not bump the screen or knock anything against it. Although the outer layer of the screen is made of touch material, its resistance has limits.

The screen can also be damaged if you slam it shut. Open and close it with care.

When you shut the laptop, make sure that there are no small items, such as pencils, pens, or small earphones, on the keyboard. These can damage or scratch the screen. Even the sharp edges of paper can cut the film of the screen if left on the keyboard when you close the machine.

The liquid of the screen may freeze when the laptop is exposed to very low temperatures and could cause permanent damage; it is likewise sensitive to high temperatures and when it expands it may render the screen dysfunctional. Avoid exposing the laptop to extreme temperatures. If your laptop was left outside (perhaps in your car) when it was very cold or very hot, first leave the machine for about half an hour to get to room temperature before you switch it on.

Don't be scared to use your laptop screen – but keep in mind that it must be handled with care.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090328-084527 2009-03-28T00:00:00Z 2009-03-28T00:00:00Z
• The laptop screen is rather delicate and may break down.
• The keyboard keys are used all the time and may get loose, or they may not react when being pressed.
• The battery may pack up. Over time the battery life will get shorter until you reach a stage where you can only work while plugged into an electricity outlet.
• The battery charger may stop functioning.
• The different cables may break; sometimes the inside of the cable gets broken, which can not be detected by visual inspection.
• The motherboard may fail.
• The hard disk may crash.
• The CD-ROM or DVD drive may malfunction.

Do you get the feeling that a laptop is a disaster waiting to happen? Don't despair.

• The problems listed here do not happen every day.
• It is possible that you may never encounter any of these problems.
• Many of these problems could be avoided with reasonable care.
• All of these problems can be fixed.

Don't focus on the things that could go wrong with your laptop – rather focus on the good things you can do with it.

If there are any other things that could go wrong with a laptop that you know of, please leave a comment.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090326-074146 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z 2009-03-26T00:00:00Z
• keeps the environment dust free
• provides a cool working environment.

When you think about the harmful effects of dust and heat on a laptop, you may conclude that an air-conditioned room is the only place where you should use your machine with safety.

In practice, this is hardly ever possible. Few people have air-conditioned homes and you won’t have this luxury in your classroom. Furthermore, one of the advantages of a laptop over a desktop PC is its portability. This implies that it can be carried with you and used anywhere. Most of the time you will work on it in an environment where there is no air-conditioning.

The good news is that laptops and desktop PCs have been made in such a way that you do not need special surroundings – they operate quite well in a normal environment at home, a classroom or most other places where you may take it. Of course, you must remember that your laptop is a delicate piece of equipment which must not be exposed to extremes in the environment.

Wherever you work you can compensate for a lack of air-conditioning. Keep two important rules in mind:

• avoid dust
• do not expose your laptop to very high or very low temperatures.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090324-073720 2009-03-24T00:00:00Z 2009-03-24T00:00:00Z
The system is very simple: get a colleague or friend to consent to act as a mentor. Ask to look over the buddy's shoulder and agree on a way in which a transfer of knowledge will take place. This seems like a good way for you to learn to use your laptop.

The advantages of the buddy system are:

• it is free
• interaction can take place at any time when it suits the buddies
• you won't feel shy, embarrassed or self conscious
• the system has the benefits of one-to-one (or face-to-face) training
• it is good to know there is someone you can call on when you need help, someone who will not laugh at you or belittle you
• the level of formality can be determined by yourself.

There are some pitfalls to avoid in the buddy system.

Wherever possible, choose your buddy yourself – and choose carefully. If there is a personality clash between two buddies, the process is doomed to failure.

Don’t choose someone who is too technically minded – this type of person tends to dwell on technical stuff that may not be what you need at this stage.

A lot depends on the availability and willingness of the buddy. If the system is enforced, it often does not work well. The cascade system, where some teachers are assigned to train others once their training is complete, is seldom successful. If the buddies know one another, and they trust each other, and are willing to sacrifice time for each other, the system has a far getter chance of success.

Even if you use another method to learn to use your laptop, you may still find it beneficial to latch onto a buddy.

A variation of the buddy system is the formation of peer groups. Perhaps there are other teachers in your school – at the same level as you – with whom you may team up. Together you can build confidence and skills.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090322-160030 2009-03-22T00:00:00Z 2009-03-22T00:00:00Z "If I bring a laptop into my home, would it not expose my children to a lot of filth?" you may ask.

Pornography is available everywhere. It comes in the form of books, magazines, TV, DVDs and it is also available on the internet. A laptop is only one of the many ways through which you can access pornography.

Pornography is not a technology problem – it is a moral problem. The best way to protect your children is to teach them about its dangers.

Some parents have a house rule which states that children may only use the laptop in the presence of their parents or in a supervised situation. This would be a deterrent against viewing undesirable material.

Internet filters are available and are useful if you want to protect younger children against inadvertently coming across pornographic sites. These filters are easy to install but they can be easily circumvented. They are therefore not effective for teens who may be seeking out these sites wilfully.

Parental supervision and involvement are essential if you want to create a positive and safe environment where your children could use an extremely important learning tool.

"Don't throw out the baby with the bath water" might have become a clichι, but the truth of it can not be denied in this instance. Refusing to acquire a laptop out of fear of exposing your children to pornography could be a case of throwing out the baby but retaining the dirty water.]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090322-102421 2009-03-22T00:00:00Z 2009-03-22T00:00:00Z
Just looking at the screen is not harmful to your eyes. Eye strain is caused by looking at the screen without a rest for long periods of time. The good news is that the LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen of a laptop is easier on the eyes than the CRT (Cathode Ray Tube) screens of older desktop computers.

Teachers would not customarily look at a laptop screen for many hours on end and it is therefore unlikely that they would develop eye strain. If your eyes are more sensitive than that of the average person, you may have to take precautions to protect them. In some severe cases special spectacles could be prescribed by your optician.

Consider a few common sense measures that could alleviate the little bit of eye strain that you may have to endure.

• Since eye strain is caused by long, uninterrupted periods of staring at the screen, take frequent breaks. Get up and walk around – not only will it rest your eyes, but it will also be good for the rest of your body.

• Blink more frequently – it rewets the eyes and prevents dryness and irritation. If blinking is not sufficient, try eye drops to relieve itchy or scratchy eyes.

• Adjust the lighting in the room until you feel comfortable. This may require that you draw the curtains if there is a glare, or install an additional light if the environment is too dark. Experiment with different light sources and settings until you are satisfied.

• The brightness and contrast of your computer screen can be adjusted and it is suggested that you play around with these settings until you find a combination that is just right for you.

• Change the position of the laptop so that the screen is a comfortable distance from your eyes. You will be surprised at the difference that it could make if you move the laptop a few centimetres further or closer to you.

• Anti-glare screen filters are useful when you have to work in an area where you can not change the environment.

These suggestions are easy to follow and do not cost you anything.

Look after your eyes – you and your laptop will need them for many years. ]]> http://www.khanya.co.za/blogs/index.php?entry=entry090321-203243 2009-03-21T00:00:00Z 2009-03-21T00:00:00Z