Page 8 - Boca Club News - September '20

Page 8, Boca Club News
Computers

From Sheila’s Desktop:

Necessities for Online Schooling

By Sheila Garber of Broken Sound One brand is Eero, which costs $99 for the router and $149 students who just need access to Skype or Zoom, the Amazon
Club. Sheila was a teacher for 41 for beacons to extend the network reach. Eero allows you to Fire Tablet Kids edition costs only $60 to $150. It comes with
years, the last 22 years as a Computer manage everything from parental controls to network speeds. a thick protective case. If it breaks within two years, Amazon
Teacher. She is the recipient of an AOL For those of you whose community provides these devices, will replace it. One teacher, however, said that to run Google
Interactive Educational Initiative take advantage of this service. They update the firmware and Classroom these families had to switch to other devices.
Grant and the author of an award- will service them if problems arise. If you choose to purchase Lower-end Chromebooks cost under $200. For a
winning website featuring virtual your own, make sure you update the firmware. touchscreen, the range is $400-$500. It will accommodate
reality panoramas of the historical The next essential is a good set of headphones. Get one Google Classroom.
and cultural sites of Philadelphia. that can take wear and tear. Avoid earbuds and choose over- For older students needing more sophisticated devices,
Mrs. Garber currently resides in Broken Sound Country the-ear headphones. It helps to cancel background noise. turn to Mac or Windows. Apple is selling certified refurbished
Club and devotes her time to teaching others computer skills. Anker has a good one for $60 that is noise cancelling, along 2019 MacBook air models for $779 and $849 for 2020
Many school systems have decided to begin schooling with a $30 model that does not. JBL has a model for $15 for models. If you buy it directly from Apple, it comes with a
online rather than in actual school classrooms. smaller heads. one-year warranty. College students should take advantage of
Numerous districts are furnishing laptops and WIFI hot The next device is a printer. This will allow worksheets Apple’s higher-education pricing. It can include a MacBook
spots to students to help bridge the digital divide. Some to be printed and other non-digital learning materials. A Air for $899 plus either a free pair of AirPods or a pair of
districts are issuing Chromebooks and other computers to suggested model is Epson’s cartridge-free color printer. It noise-cancelling Airpods Pro for $90. This should save you
their entire classes. Some expect their students to have their is pricey at $200-$400. It avoids constant replacing and about $250.
own devices, plus accessories like headphones. purchase of cartridges. You can purchase a black-and-white For those of you who prefer a Windows device, a Dell XPS
For those of you who are parents struggling to turn an laser printer, HP Laser Jet Pro M15w, for only $109. Ink jet 13 is recommended. A refurbed model is $918. If purchasing
ad-hoc setup from spring into an education station for real printers are much cheaper, but will require constant purchases a new one, students enrolled in college can get 10% off.
learning this fall, you will find a list of necessities below. of expensive cartridges. Other needs might include a laptop stand like Griffin
The first thing you must have is a modern router with a For those of you who will require a computer for your Technology’s Elevator, $39, which raises the device to eye
strong, reliable internet connection. If your router is more student, a simple tablet or Chromebook will do. A separate level. Still another device might be a wireless keyboard, such
than five years old, you will probably need a new one that is device for your child is preferable. Find out from your district as Logitech’s Keys to Go for $60.
optimized for current standards. what is necessary. They may have a loaner. For younger Good luck, Sheila. garberse@aol.com
Health & Wellness

Reality Check √ - Healthy Answers on Living & Loving

Life: “Which Side Of The Fence Are You On?”

By Dale Brown, B.S., M.A., C.E.C. The argument continued to the extent that they agreed at this point no one wins. Worst of all, you may lose your
Dale is a motivational speaker who to solve the controversy once and for all. They wrote to the relationship entirely.
has spent many years as a Certified Scrabble company for a definitive answer. When the ruling What’s the best way to diffuse conflict?
Life Coach and has written numerous came back in favor of Dad, it didn’t matter. Mom simply A better way of handling this type of situation is to open
articles and e-books relating to self- said, “They don’t know what they’re talking about. I know your mind to the idea that you could possibly be on the wrong
improvement and ways to build a high- I’m right!” side of the fence. The secret to getting along with people is
performance team. Her education and What makes someone so sure that his or her view is right? to keep in mind that your reality is not necessarily the same
years of experience in physical fitness For one thing, we all have our own version of the “truth,” as theirs. The more you insist that your perception is the
and training of elite athletes has which comes from our unique way of experiencing the world. truth, the more it’s likely that others will double down on
enabled her to sharpen her knowledge in many health-related Your perceptions are influenced by your upbringing, life their opinions. Eventually, you may reach a stalemate, where
areas. The following is one in a series of columns devoted happenings, education, and biological make-up. In time you nothing is accomplished.
to many topics that deal with the mind/body connection and become so tied to your beliefs that you become inflexible and Leading the discussion into more neutral territory is one
the importance of living a healthy lifestyle. Dale, a Bocaire unwilling to admit, “I don’t know, you might have a point.” way of diffusing the argument. For instance, after you hear
resident, can be reached at dalebrown@lovingmondays.com. If you happen to know, work or live with Mr. or Ms. Right, the other person’s point of view, validate it by saying, “I see
Have you ever noticed that some people insist on being you understand it’s not easy. It’s a constant battle that often what you mean, I didn’t look at it that way. We might be
right all the time? They close themselves off to ideas that can’t be won. But don’t give up…there are ways to avoid or saying the same thing.” Taking the high road gives credit
could actually help in their career, relationship, or life in retreat from the front lines. where credit is due and takes the heat off both parties.
general. This type of individual will argue their point to the Is the battle worth fighting? Lastly, if you find you’re embroiled in a conversation
bitter end and shy away from alternative answers just to prove Often, a difference of right or wrong can lead to an with someone of little importance to you, don’t jump to
a point. argument. A simple dispute ends up falling into the awful conclusions. Listen and ask yourself, “Is there a valid reason
Regardless of whether you clearly have facts to “name calling trap.” When tempers flare, emotions soar. to continue this exchange?” Give him a fair chance. If it’s
substantiate the truth or an expert standing by with answers, Before you know it, what started out factual becomes a not worth it to you, walk away.
there’s no way this person is going to admit, “I’m wrong!” personal assault. “You always think you’re so smart” or Who’s the judge of right and wrong?
Even when they do find themselves in the “wrong,” they turn “You’re just a hot head.” Insults only fuel the fire. Objectively, someone is probably “right.” Without a
and accuse you of always wanting to be “right.” I had a client named Steve who was always in conflict referee to make the call, both parties will hold to their
How often have you been told, “You’re a know it all!” with his boss. He would cite many incidents where he truly assumptions without budging. Open-mindedness is critical
This is a natural response from someone who suffers believed his boss was clueless on many business-related to getting along in this world. Unless you find pleasure in
from the “need to be right” pattern of behavior. Although issues. Of course, this led to controversy and threatened his arguing, it would make life easier to find ways to live in
they might intellectually understand that other people have job security. I would ask Steve, “Is this battle worth fighting? harmony. Remember, you can agree to disagree. But, at
different ideas, they rule out any other point of view. They If it really doesn’t make a difference in the long run, better some point, there remains a middle ground where common
truly believe that what they think, feel, hear, and say cannot to give in. Sometimes, the cost is too high and not worth courtesy and respect prevail. Sometimes, you just need to let
be wrong. winning. You may lose a job, friend, or partner because some things go!
There are other factors that enter into the “right
syndrome.” The underlying cause is fear of being wrong and
losing credibility or control. When you disagree with this type
of individual, he feels threatened and defensive, and won’t
let it go until he has regained his power and false sense of
confidence.
Some people feel diminished when proven wrong; others
may have a need to be right to boost their self-esteem or
their egos. This behavior may be due to the demanding
expectations of parents, a humiliating moment as a child, or
being bullied by friends. Whatever the cause, the fact is no
one likes to be wrong.
My mother in-law was a good example of one such person:
a strong-willed woman who stood on ceremony whenever
push came to shove. Although I wasn’t around at the time,
my husband tells a funny story that goes something like this:
His parents became embroiled in a dispute about a rule while
playing a game of Scrabble. Mom was absolutely sure she
was right. Dad was convinced she was wrong.