Alalay Estudyante

What is Alalay Estudyante?

My own definition for this blog:

Alalay - to give support or help.

Estudyante - student.

This is why I made this blog. To help students in their studies in my own little way. This is intended for all levels, elementary, secondary and tertiary. I included everyone interested because this blog might also help them. Also, as someone said: "we are all students of life".

4th Of July

Free animated gif:

Happy Independence Day!

Protect Your Computer!

Aside from cleaning your computer, it needs protection. This must be done during the first installation of operating system, to ensure security at the very start. There are two great free antiviruses: AVG and Avira. I have tried them both and and they are very effective!

AVG Free Edition

Download sites:

http://free.avg.com/download?prd=afe#tba2

http://download.cnet.com/AVG-Anti-Virus-Free-Edition/3000-2239_4-10320142.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap

Provides:

• Anti-Malware
• Link Scanning for Web Surfing
• Automatic Update
• Resident Shield
• Virus Vault

AVIRA Antivir Personal

Download sites:

http://www.free-av.com/en/trialpay_download/1/avira_antivir_personal__free_antivirus.html

http://download.cnet.com/Avira-AntiVir-Personal-Free-Antivirus/3000-2239_4-10322935.html?tag=contentBody;mostPopTwoColWrap

Provides:

• Extensive malware recognition of viruses, trojans, backdoor programs and worms
• Automatic incremental updates
• Virus Guard real time monitoring
• Virus protection against known and unknown threats
• Quarantine

Note: You can only use antivirus one at a time, so choose only one to install.

Birth Of A Hero: Jose Rizal

Today, June 19, 2009 is the 148th birth anniversary of our national hero Dr. Jose P. Rizal. He was an outstanding student. He wrote great novels and poems that inspired many filipinos.

Here is another animated gif about Rizal.

To those who like a copy, right click on the image then click Save Image As . . .

Free Graphics 2 Jose Rizal

Another free gif animation of Dr. Jose Rizal, national hero of the Philippines.

To download, right click on the image then click Save Image As . .

Free Graphics: Jose Rizal

This is the first free animated graphics I made available for downloading.

Right click on the image then click Save Image As . . .

Hope you like it!

Dr. Jose Rizal

This month of June, Filipino students specially elementary and high school are given assignments and projects about Dr. Jose Rizal.

I suggest these websites:

http://www.joserizal.ph/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rizal

http://fil.wikipilipinas.org/index.php?title=Jose_Rizal

http://joserizal.info/

In the making:

Freebies of graphics, images of Dr. Jose Rizal will be posted here!

A video is also coming soon!

Free Online Lecture

I just found out that there are videos of lectures from Stanford University. Don't know yet about other universities or schools, but will search on it. I have not yet finished the first lecture that got my attention (about 49 minutes). But I'm listening while writing this post. Everybody who wants free education should be happy about it. There are plenty of online schools and tutorials but most of it are in text or audio. This one is different. It is like being in the school, attending the class yourself. I stopped typing for now, to focus on the lecture.

Okay, just finished the video. Basically it is an orientation. The professor is Mehran Sahami. He talks fast but clearly and has sense of humor. The students won't feel sleepy, and he has freebies!

The actual lesson started at the ending part of the video. The class is an introduction to software engineering, and uses the Java programming language.

Independence Day

Today, June 12, 2009, we are celebrating Philippine Independence from Spain. In tagalog: "ArawNg Kalayaan" or "Araw Ng Kasarinlan". A national holiday.

In my opinion, independence is nothing and cannot be maintained without education.

Those who are schooling today, you are very lucky. Those who are not; don't give up!

To the government: Free Education = Strong and Free Nation.

Let us all contribute something for a free education.

Last Lecture

I just watched Randy Pausch Last Lecture: Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams in youtube. I guess many of you already know about Randy, but to those who don't, specially the students, please watch the video. He is now one of the World's Top 100 Most Influential People. The lecture resulted to a best selling book and was translated to many languages. While seeing his videos, two actors crossed my mind: Richard Dean Anderson(MacGyver) and Jim Carrey. He was intelligent and funny, the ideal professor.

Clean Your Computer System!

Here is one of the solutions to your slow and crashing computer. Use ccleaner to clean your computer system. It is fast, safe (no spyware) and best of all, free. Every time you use the computer, a lot of files such as temporary files, history, cookies, index and log files are created and they eat up the hard disk space. This results to a slow computer and worse, it may crash. I created this video as a guide to clean your computer. The registry section is for the advanced users, that is why it is important to choose the backup option. Aside from cleaning, there are also very useful tools and options in this freeware.

Dark Ages

I drafted this post on a blank page of a used planner, because there was a brownout. I cannot use my computer. It has been 8 hours so I decided to write. Back to the dark ages again and it is raining here in the Philippines for 2 days already. 

My source of light is a "gasera" (our improvised lamp). While writing, I remember our great national hero Dr. Jose Rizal. He used this kind of light since he was a boy. He studied and wrote great masterpieces with the aid of a lamp or a candle. He was an excellent student. A very good example for students to follow. In my opinion, he started a fire that will never die and its light will shine forever.

At last! After 20 hours, the electricity is back. I can use my computer again and publish this draft. The video about a tool that can clean and optimize computer systems is in the making again. Please check it out.

Word Art

Here is a video tutorial on how to create an artistic title, name or any character in Microsoft Word.

You can use many colors and combinations or simply black. Like pictures, Word Art can be set to background and different positions. It is good for presentations, certificates, labels, assignments and projects. 

How To Insert And Arrange Pictures In MS Word

This video tutorial will help you in inserting and arranging pictures. You can use this for your assignments, projects and resumes. I noticed that even the ones who used MS Word for a long time, they are having trouble when it comes to pictures. To all the beginners and those who have forgotten or want to learn, here is the video. 

Margins, Paper Size and Orientation in MS Word

Another video tutorial for Microsoft Word beginners. I made an effort to make a clear shot of each frame so that new users can read the letters in the video. Specially the Menu. This video is about setting the margins, paper size and orientation. Notice the watermark of this blog, it will also be featured in the coming tutorials. Animation is also included in the end part of the video for a little entertainment! More animations to come! You may ask me about computers and I will do my best to give you an educational and entertaining tutorial! 

Video Tutorial

Good News for computer and Microsoft Word beginners! I just created and uploaded a video tutorial. This is going to be a series of video tutorials for beginners or for the ones who may find it useful. The first topic is about capitalization and centering. You may also request for a topic about computers and softwares. I will do my best to give you the answers or explanations. Please e-mail me or post your comments / questions. Enjoy the video!

Swine Flu Novel Influenza A (H1N1)

Here in the Philippines, classes will open on June 1 though there is the Influenza A H1N1 scare. I pray that the virus does not reach our country. We had enough of the dengue fever. Precautionary and prevention measures must be implemented by the schools and government agencies. 

The virus already reached Japan, two high school students were confirmed after their school trip from New York. 

All entry points of a country must be strictly screened. I think it would be better if all of us can contribute to the prevention even in small ways. Help spread the prevention methods to stop the spread of the virus.  

For information about the virus, I suggest these websites:

http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/

http://www.youtube.com/user/CDCStreamingHealth

College + Work = Graduate

Should you work while in college? In my case, I did! I worked while in college. But there are many things to consider. There are advantages and disadvantages. At that time, we are financially poor. My parents have to work day and night to support our education. Sometimes my brother and I don't have "baon" (allowance). So, I decided to find a part-time job to help finance my college education and also to experience the "real world".

Things to consider:

1. There will be sacrifices.

2. Are you fit to work?

3. Can you manage time or duties or responsiblities ?

4. Will your parents allow you to work?

Advantages:

1. Income

2. Experience

3. Learn new things

4. Meet new friends

5. Positive feeling of independence

6. Builds confidence

Disadvantages:

1. Will affect your performance at school

2. Less or no time for play

3. Less or no time for friends, boyfriend or girlfriend

3. Tendency to discontinue education

Here is my advice in case you want it: Find a job because you need it to finish college, not for other reasons like using the money for partying. You will find a way to work and study well if your reason is good. Good luck!

Learn Web Building For Free

To those of you who want to learn web building for free, I recommend this site: http://www.w3schools.com

I find their explanations and style of teaching very easy to understand. Simple and clear presentation of every subject or topic. It's like the questions in your mind are being answered immediately. You can edit the examples to experiment with the results. This way you can easily absorb the lesson and gain a better understanding of the subject. You may take a quiz if you like to test yourself. There is also a quick link to references. If you want a certificate, apply for an exam (that is the only time you have to pay) then take the online exam anytime, anywhere.

Back to school, away from home

Masked Mexican children return to school

News link

I hope it is back to normal.

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the abscence of disease or infirmity." - World Health Organization, (1948)

273 Pinoy nurses, caregivers leave for Japan

News link

Congratulations and Goodluck!

Vegetables = Classrooms

Classrooms awarded as prizes in vegetable production contest

News Link

Here are the benefits I can think of about this contest:

• Solution to poverty - we can earn from selling vegetables
• Solution to hunger and malnourishment - imagine if there are vegetables in every available soil. Vegetables are very good source of nutrition
• Training or discipline

"Think about every problem, every challenge, we face. The solution to each starts with education."

- George H.W. Bush - Announcement of the America 2000 Education Strategy (April 18, 1991)

Student tips 101

Time Management

Prioritize and organize. 

Identify what is important then get it done.

Create a list of things to do.

Review notes before and after every class.

Use your free time wisely.

Relax, things will get done fast and easy.

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs

Honesty

Here is a good news and a very good example for students and to all of us:

Boy finds, returns backpack stuffed with $8,160 in cash.

news link

With the global crisis going on, a boy reminded us that there is still hope.

Teaching the young ones virtues is very important in making this world a better place.

"Truth is such a rare thing, it is delightful to tell it."  -Emily Dickinson

Helpful Websites For Research / Assignments

Here are some websites that are great for research or assignments:

wikipedia.org

The free encyclopedia available in different languages.

wikipilipinas.org(for pinoys like me)

The biggest collaborative writing project in the Philippines.

google.com

Top search engine offered in different languages.

dictionary.com

An online dictionary, thesaurus, reference, translate and more.

howstuffworks.com

Wide range of topics explaining how things work.

nasa.gov

Full of educational videos and stories educators and students can use.

sciencedaily.com

Your source for the latest research news.

Enjoy your search!

Tips for students

Here is my first tip:

Know the location of your school library! It is your cheapest source of information and a very good place to study. Take care of the books specially when borrowing them.  

Added a few gadgets!

Research works coming soon!

Happy New Year!

Hope I pasted the adsense right this time.