Please follow these instructions to learn more about HTML & CSS.

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Combine PDFs is a simple but functional tool for, well, combining several pdf documents into one. 

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Training Objective: Create a five page magazine layout utilizing multiple columns and a variety of image formatting techniques. Upload it to vspace.

Watch Winston’s tutorial and learn the basics of InDesign:

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Here’s the simplest, least painful way I’ve found to upload a chapter from a book.



Instead of going through Epson Scan and then importing those files into a multiple file .pdf in Acrobat, one should open Acrobat first.

1.Open Adobe Acrobat

2.Choose Create PDF (Either on start up or under File). Choose “Create PDF from Scanner.”

3.You will be prompted with a window that would like you to choose a scanner. Epson GT 20000 should appear on the list.

4.Click on “Scan” and choose where you want to save your file.

5.The Epson Scan program will appear. Place the book in the scanner lying flat. Choose scan (sometimes you have to preview before this option is available).

6.After the first page you will be prompted to choose “scanning complete” or “scan more pages (put sheet 2).  Choose scan more pages if need be, and repeat step 5.

7.Once complete, choose scanning complete. OCR should run automatically in Acrobat.

It’s as easy as that!

-Jane

What is Secondlife?

Secondlife is a free 3-D virtual reality program in which users create and manipulate an alternate identity, or avatar. Users can also create objects and property, manipulating the virtual world in which the avatar exists. This virtual reality interacts with the reality outside the computer in various ways, including financially, educationally, and creatively.

To learn more about the Secondlife program, explore these sites:

http://secondlife.com/whatis/ – Secondlife’s description of the World and its Residents

http://www.second-life.com/ – a helpful site offering information and user tips

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Secondlife – Wikiedia’s description of Secondlife

Secondlife at Vassar

Vassar College has been very active in the evolution of Secondlife, particularly in the ways that Secondlife is used as an instruction technique. Various psychological and cognitive science experiments are now conducted within Secondlife, and Vassar College has revolutionized the ways that Secondlife can be used to represent and study art in 3D. To explore the ways Vassar conceptualizes this exciting program, visit this site, which contains Vassar’s description of Secondlife and the ways we use it. The site also includes further links to Vassar’s recreation of the Sistine Chapel and to a digital performance that occurred there.

Some classes using Secondlife

160a and b. Issues in Feminism: Bodies and Texts (1) – en exploration of the body, representation of the body, and textuality with a focus on issues in feminist theory

160a and b. Approaches to Media Studies (1) – an introductory study of “new” and “old” media, with a focus on specificity and the many approaches to the study of media

If you’d like to arrange a workshop or a training for a class, contact Baynard Bailey at

New Users

If you are interested in creating a Secondlife account or are looking for helpful tips on the Secondlife World, or even if you just need help figuring out how to modify your avatar’s appearance, the Web staff has created a series of tutorials to help integrate new users into the Secondlife World. To view these tutorials, click here.  For a sneaky way to get to Vassar Island if you already have an account, click here.

The All New PlusDeck2c!!!

We have an all new piece of hardware called the PlusDeck2c that can save all those old cassette tapes of yours into digital files for your audio listening pleasure!

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In the Media Cloisters, we have a VHS to DVD converter and burner.

It is located in the back by the digital sender (the bulk emailer).

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Audacity is an open-source sound editor that works on macs and PCs. It can be used to to edit raw sound files from digital recordings, or to record live.

This Audacity tutorial was used for the Approaches to Media Studies Audacity workshop. It covers importing files, basic editing, the envelope tool and exporting.

Many students and teachers use iMovie to create digital films for classes.

The Media Cloisters will happily provide tutorials or workshops.

We have develops an iMovie guide to assist you in your iMovie projects.

If you look at the Staff Schedule, you can see when students are available to assist you.

Everyone with a Vassar email account has access to Vspace.

With Vspace you can upload files from your computer into your Vspace account, and then be able to access them via the Internet. This is super useful. You don’t have to carry around a flash drive or burn a CD. You can work on something in your dorm or at home and then have it available in class or at the library.

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