Some simple tips for working at the office, at school or on the computer for long hours.

What is the best way to organize computer files?

This question goes unanswered for most computer users I know.  It’s just something that isn’t addressed.  Every once and a while attempts will be made to move stuff around, but not a lot of thought, planning or structure is either put into the activity or remains after a short while.  Digital clutter can be just as annoying as actual personal clutter.  Not being able to find stuff on your computer is just as paralyzing and wasteful of your precious time.  So, how does one organize all the digital pieces?  Let’s look at a few good ideas from the play book of Getting Things Done by David Allen.

Deciding on topics

How many topics you will have depends on how much information do you have and what is the subject of that information. Just like in GTD each subject should have its own topic in MyInfo. As a general rule, if a topic has more than 100 documents, it is a good idea to split this topic. For example, if you are a hiking enthusiast and your Hiking topics gets more than 100 documents, you can split it into Hiking – Gear & Equipment and Hiking – Routes topics. MyInfo has no limit on how large a topic could be, however very large topics are hard to reorganize and it is not as easy to find the necessary information.

The easiest way to decide how many topics you need is to create them only when they are needed for a particular document. For example, if you encounter a document about traveling and have no topic dedicated on this subject, you create a new Travel topic and put the document there.

Moving information into topics

Your ultimate goal is to move all information scattered on your hard drive in your personal-reference information system. So be sure to check for:

• Documents, brochures, invoices, reports, white papers, software/hardware manuals, and all other files, which are not big enough to deserve their own folder on your hard-drive
• Old e-mail messages in your e-mail client, which hold some future value, but you do not need them currently
• Links in your favorites/bookmark system, which you have not used in a while, but may need in the future
• Instant Messenger (ICQ, AIM, MSN) history and chat logs, which contain some valuable information
• Any other information or small files, that you do use currently, but may do so in the future

- http://www.milenix.com/gtd.php

Mac, Linux and Windows Files

There is a post at ask.metafilter.com that really resonated with me. I use Mac, Linux and Windows, and need to jump from one system to the other.  This post gives some simple perspective:

I use the same structure (and partition, for that matter) for both Linux and Windows:

A partition only for my files. You can start with one directory if you don’t feel like going through the hassle of repartitioning.

One directory for personal, one for work, one for consulting, one for media. Also, one ‘incoming’ directory, where I download everything. If I run out of space, the incoming directory goes first. Anything that hasn’t been categorized is gone. One ‘keep’ directory for things I download that I might need again, and probably won’t be able to find.

Many, many directories under each. For instance: personal/financial/taxes/2004/2004_1040.pdf
media/pics/kids/2005/Nov2005/thanksgiving/

Under Windows, I set the data partition to be my ‘my documents’ directory, and set up all applications to load and save there. Under Linux, I just link a ‘data’ subdirectory under /home/me.

I think the key is to point every application you use to the same place, and never use the defaults. I also find it helpful to create directories for future use, even if they might be empty for some time. Then there is no excuse for being lazy and saving everything in the same place.

I’ve been using the same system for years, and it is very easy to upgrade, switch operating systems, restore from backup, etc.

- posted by bh at 7:46 PM on November 27, 2005

For further discussion, check out the How To Organize Computer Files discussion at DavidCo.com.  There are many perspectives to consider.  Remember there are many great ways to organize and as with any system, stay with it is key.  Develop your own and improve your organization.  Good Luck!

This course is an overview of technology in education, including expanding skills in common classroom applications and developing skills and understanding in the use of learning management systems. Educators will apply technology skills to improve their teaching performance.

Learning Goals

Upon the successful completion of this course, you will be able to:

1. Use a multimedia computer system with related peripheral devices;
   • Complete Operating System Checklist
2. Apply the use of technology productivity tools, information access and delivery tools, and technology-based resources to an instructional setting;
   • Complete Wordprocessing Checklist
   • Create a document and track changes
   • Create a MindMap
     • Download FreeMind
     • Create a blog entry reflecting on experience
   • Create a blog at Wordpress.com
     • Make an about page describing yourself
     • Make an entry highlighting your use and ability with technology
     • Add a Delicious.com Widget to showcase your bookmarks
       • Support Page
   • Create a Delicious.com social bookmarking web page
     • Web Site
     • Support Video
3. Analyze copyright laws and regulations as they pertain to an educational setting;
   • Watch Copyright and Fair Use Video
   • Examine Creative Commons
     • Support Videos
   • Create a blog entry detailing your understanding of copyright, fair use and Creative Commons
4. Explain national, state, and local district learning standards and how they align with each other;
   • Examine State Technology Standards
   • Examine National Technology Standards
   • Reflect on your understanding the standards in a blog entry
5. Analyze major concepts taught in your subject area and how technology may support the delivery of those concepts;
   • Examine online educational technology resources for examples of technology integration
     • Online Magazine List Handout
     • Reflect on your findings in a blog entry, cite your sources with a link to the article or web page
6. Apply the use of technology to the teaching and student learning of major concepts and learning objectives reflected in national and state guidelines;
   • Create or modify a non-technology integrated lesson plan with technology integrated
   • Publish the lesson on your blog
     • Either attach a Word Processed document or include the content in a blog entry
7. Describe the historical development and important trends affecting the evolution of technology and its future role in society.
   • Examine trends in educational technology
     • What is Web 2.0?
     • What have people done and what are people doing?
     • Create a blog entry highlighting your findings
   • Create a philosophy statement justifying your use of technology
   • Create an autobiographical slideshow
     • Examine right brain left brain research
       • PresentationZen.com
     • Examine good presentation style
       • Read Creating Presentations That Don’t Suck
     • Include your name and details about yourself you would share at a parent night.
     • 10 to 20 slides in length.
   • Publish slideshow at Slideshare.net

• Top ten computer tech support sites

• MacBook
  • RAM
    • 1GB
  • Hard Drive
    • 70 GB
  • Processor
    • 1.8 Ghz Intel Core Duo
  • Operating System
    • OS X 10.5.5

My PC

• MacBook
  • RAM
    • 1GB
  • Hard Drive
    • 70 GB
  • Processor
    • 1.8 Ghz Intel Core Duo
  • Operating System
    • Windows XP Service Pack 2