By email at debrak@manhattan.k12.ks.us OR by phone at 785/587-2100. The EASIEST way to reach me is by email. Several room assignments, see my Kidd schedule by hour. My planning time for Fall 2011 is Hour 1 (7:40-8:33) at extension 5114.

I really work with students who need extra lab time or lab time if they are absent. Extended Learning Time (ELT) is in a business dept lab on Tuesday and Thursday from 3 - up to 5pm. If a student has a study hall I will try to find a lab where there is space to work on their own (I may not be in that lab that hour). If a student needs work time before school or at lunch time they should see me so they can have that accomodation.

Ask them to tell you! They may be able to show you how software works, how a business operates, ask you questions about how computers or businesses affect your life. You'll see more in my web pages about each "course" which may include: course syllabus, information, schedules, internet links, etc.

Extended Learning Time. In the business department, it is on Tuesday and Thursday's after school from 3 up to 5pm. If all the students are done and have left by 4:00, ELT is over. The location rotates to one of the four business department labs. Students will find us in one of our labs. If possible, announcements are made in classes if ELT is not going to be available on any night. MHS offers a similar whole school ELT time in the library. Sometimes the library ELT is cancelled because of events in the library. Our business department ELT is rarely cancelled (maybe inclement weather) so students should check with one of the teachers in the business department. Sometimes we do cut ELT short if the teacher has another commitment.

Only under extreme (long absence) circumstances. We are limited to the lab of books and many classes use these. If a student is absent (documented) for a day or a few days they will have a short amount of time to make up the work on their return. This makeup work normally needs to be done outside the regular classroom time (ELT, study hall, lunch, before school, etc.) . Ask your instructor for time allowances.

Check out the Microsoft Office Web Site for free training. The general web site is www.office.microsoft.com You can get to a training link page at: Office 2010: http://www.microsoft.com/learning/en/us/training/office.aspx Office 2007: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/beginner-s-training-for-office-2007-HA010270562.aspx?CTT=1 Office 2003: http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/assistance/HA011465331033.aspx and from there choose which software program you would like to find out more about. It's a step by step screen process to explain their software.

Computer Applications offers an introduction to computer hardware and software. It is available for a MHS 1/2 credit. The units studied are Introduction to Computers, Word Processing, Spreadsheets, Databases, and Presentations. We use the Microsoft Office 2010 software with projects and reinforcement computer activities from the textbook. Computer Applications/KSU-CIS is available for a MHS 1/2 credit and four KSU credit hours. Students enroll at K-State and pay tuition for those 4 credit hours. The course subject areas are the same as Computer Applications (PowerPoint not required by KSU but offered at MHS). The courses for credit at KSU are CIS101, CIS102, CIS103, and CIS104. Besides the tuition payment, the major difference between the two courses is the teaching/learning method. Most work for KSU is done using an internet service software (myitlab) plus some reinforcement activities from a textbook. In either course, good attendance and good makeup work ethic is important. Almost all the work (except studying for quizzes and exams) is done in the classroom.

Make sure that you are registered for the parent portal and check for grades, attendance, messages, etc. there. Because my classes are largely project based, assignments may be worked on for a week or two with no grade changes.