For an extensive look at what Google Analytics is and how to use it, check out this video on Google Analytics for Beginners:

Prominent Features

1. Discover campaigns with most user traffic — using the advanced segment option, you can easily track which marketing campaign or part of your website is attracting the most people!
2. Determine location of ideal visitors — simply look under your Visitors menu to see the Location demographics of your visitors!
3. Learn about search needs — you can track what users are searching for and easily discover the most searched topics for further improvement!
4. Identify worst performing pages — why spend time on pages that aren’t attracting enough people? Google Analytics helps to show you which pages on your website aren’t performing well!
5. Uncover top content — simply put, know which pages that visitors are spending the most amount of time on!

For more prominent features check out this article: 9 Awesome Things You Can Do With Google Analytics 5.

Interface

As shown below, you can see how simple and clean the Google Analytics interface is. You can easily see how many visitors your page has as well as bounce rate, page views, sessions and more!

Room for Improvements

Like any software, there is always room for Google Analytics to improve on. Although Google cannot determine demographic and interest reports reliably for 100% of your traffic, conversion rates, bounce rates and products views are all extremely useful in understanding the behaviour of your audience.

The following image showcases the data that Google Analytics provides to the user. As shown, gender, age and goal conversion rates and completions can help aid your business and enable it to thrive with useful information!

For an in-depth list of Google Analytics mistakes and how to fix them, check out this blog: 3 Common Google Analytics Mistakes and Easy Fixes

Tips and Tricks

As a newcomer or advance user of Google Analytics, Wordstream recommends you to know and try the following tips:

1. Use Audience Data When Creating Custom Visitor Segments
2. Assign a Monetary Value to Goals
3. Examine Your Top Conversion Paths
4. Set Up Intelligence Events
5. Compare Historical Traffic Trends
6. Add Annotations to Your Reports

Overall, there are an enormous amount of features and benefits that Google Analytics provides. If you have a business, blog, or any online platform, be sure to utilize the amazing features of Google Analytics to help your passion thrive even further!

Since EID100 will easily become one of your favourite classes during your semester, you will want to put in the extra effort to excel in the course. Now, keep reading if you want to ensure you get the highest mark possible for your online participation marks!

Why Twitter?

Aside from weekly blog posts, in-class participation and the midterm and final exams, Tweeting will soon become part of your daily regime upon enrolling in EID100. Despite maintaining a Twitter account being a mandatory component of the course, you will eventually learn that there is so much more to its use.

Some categories you can use Twitter for:

1. Business. Stay up to date with your favourite brands and see what they’re up to!
2. Social Networking. Connect with your friends and discover people with similar interests!
3. Entertainment. Have a favourite TV show or celebrity? Show your support by following them!

EID100 Twitter Tips and Tricks for Success

1. Utilizing Hashtags. During EID100, you’ll be required to write and tweet 10 blogs. Ensure you use the hashtag: #module1 when tweeting your blogs!
2. Direct Tweeting. Find an interesting article or are tweeting your blog? Be sure to include @EID100_RU in your tweets so that your tweets can be counted for marks!
3. Interacting With Others. Your network is your net worth. Be sure to interact with your classmates via Twitter to keep the #innovative and #technological conversations going!
4. Meaningful Posts. The more unique your tweet is, the better! At a tech event? Take a picture and tweet about it! Connected with an industry professional? Tweet about what you learned!

Examples of A Successful Tweet

To give you a better idea of how to earn your online participation marks, below is an example of a tweet that I posted.

On Thursday, March 22, 2018, I had the opportunity to attend the Information Technology Management Student Association’s (ITMSA) event, the Ted Rogers IT Summit (TRITS). This event hosted an insightful industry panel and open networking. As the event related to a lot about what EID100 teaches, this was a perfect opportunity to not only earn extra marks, but also share my interest for technology and innovation!

As seen in my tweet below, I included the @EID100_RU, @ITMSA and @TRSMRyersonU account handles and the #innovation hashtag. Overall, not only did this tweet earn online participation marks, but it also provided the opportunity to engage with a greater audience and ability to share the experiences I am passionate about!

Tracking Engagements

One of the fascinating things about Twitter is that you can actually track and discover the reach of the tweets you post. For instance, you can see that my post (showcased above) had a total of 1,834 impressions and 84 total engagements.

Now that you’ve had the chance to learn more about Twitter and its use in EID100, you’ll be well prepared for success. While you may be using Twitter for the sole purpose of attaining marks, you’ll also have fun in the process, and likely use it even after you complete the course!

Happy Tweeting!

Quizlet is an online learning platform that employs user-generated sets of terms and descriptions. With different features such as flashbacks, matching, spelling, etc., Quizlet is the ultimate resource that many students use to better prepare for tests and exams. (Source: PCMag).

One of the best features about Quizlet is the access to literally millions of sets of information where you can practice up on just about any topic. Topics range from intermediate Spanish to early American history. Quizlet is especially popular among language learners, but not limited to. (Source: PCMag).

Using Quizlet to Study for EID100

One of my favourite topics in the EID100 course is innovation. To better prepare for the upcoming final exam and to help you learn more about the topic of innovation, I have utilized Quizlet and inputted the main concepts from the topic into the platform.

Accessing The Quizlet

Access the Quizlet I created via this link: https://quizlet.com/_4mrpvw. Once you click the link, you will see this interface:

An Array of Options

The study options to choose from are endless. Upon accessing the Quizlet, you can choose to study via learning, flashcards, writing, spelling, testing, matching or gravity (a game that integrates the contents I inputted into the Quizlet).

Flashcards

Personally, one of my favourite options is the flashcards feature. You’ll be able to see each definition and with a click of a button, see its explanation. Take a look!

Now click, “click to flip”:

Just Like Magic!

In the example above, the flashcard first shows you “Layers of Abstraction”. If you don’t know the answer, you can easily check the correct answer by clicking “click to flip”. It’s that easy!

Overall, studying does not have to be difficult. With the Quizlet I created (and many more available on the platform), you can brush up on key terms and theories on the easy-to-use and enjoyable platform.

So, what are you waiting for? Try out Quizlet today!

First off, RescueTime is a productivity data application that you can download on your computer. It runs in the background and logs every website you visit and tracks the amount of time you spend on each page.

One of the its main features, ‘Productivity Pulse’ reports how productive or distracted you have been. In the image below, you can see that I had a 95% productivity score on Friday, March 16, 2018.

Defining Productivity

You may be wondering how RescueTime determines how productive you are. Upon downloading the app, you are required to identify what you consider your most productive and distracting activities to be. Some of these activities include Business, Utilities, Social Networking, Entertainment and more.

Personally, I have identified Social Networking as one of my most distracting activities. After using the internet with RescueTime installed, the app showed me exactly how much time I spend on each of the social websites I use. As can be seen in the image above, I spent about 15 minutes on Twitter.

Tracking My Productivity

You can see that I had a 54% productivity score on Sunday, March 18 in the image below.

This decline from Friday (see image above) to Sunday could be explained by the fact that on weekends, I have more time to spend on social networking, whereas on busy work and school days (such as Friday), I have less time to spend on social networking and allocate more time to business and communication.

Overall, RescueTime has been a very resourceful tool in discovering how much time I allocate to each of my most used activities. I further realized how valuable time is and the application has definitely provoked me to be even more strategic when it comes to time management.

Check out RescueTime.com to try the app out yourself and start saving your time today!

Dedication to Impact

For starters, the DMZ is dedicated to the following:

1. Coaching — learn from the best of the best; advisors from various industries, well-rounded entrepreneurs and adept thinkers are available to help you grow!
2. Communities — an alumni network of over 300+ startups and industry leaders are determined to help businesses network with similar talent and increase partnerships!
3. Customers — majority of successful businesses would not succeed without their customers; the DMZ values sales as a prominent component of success by helping you measure your targets and go to market!
4. Capital — money, funding and sponsorship; as the world’s leading business incubator, there are so many opportunities to help advance your plan from point A to point Z!

Fostering Innovation

The DMZ is continuously creating new opportunities for start-ups and entrepreneurs to jump-start their ventures. “Canada is a key market where innovators, influencers and investors are shaping the digital media sector on a global scale,” said Abdullah Snobar, the DMZ’s executive director.

Recently, the Facebook Journalism Project, the DMZ, and the Ryerson University School of Journalism launched the Digital News Innovation Challenge. This challenge will provide $100,000 in non-dilutive seed funding to five startups!

“There has never been a more important time for innovation in journalism, to experiment with technologies and economic models,” said Janice Neil, chair of the Ryerson School of Journalism.

To read more about this challenge, please refer here: Startups Can Receive $100,000 Through Facebook and the DMZs Digital News Innovation Challenge.

From Startup to Scale-up

For additional inspiration of how startups are developing from the DMZ, check out this video:

Replicating the DMZ

As a leading incubator and go-to place for technology and entrepreneurship, the DMZ’s success may be emulated into new settings.

For instance, Ryerson University submitted a second application for an incubator in Niagara Falls. Although initially denied, NiagaraThisWeek reported that a commitment by the city of $10 million including cash and in-kind services over four years was a potential partnership.

“This is a true example of having the courage to try again”, said Mayor Jim Diodati.

Moving forward, if the second application succeeds, the DMZ’s renowned services and experts could very well make their way to Niagara Falls which would connect a landmark city to some of the most sought-after startups, entrepreneurs and expert thinkers!

To read more about the Niagara Falls and DMZ partnership, please refer here: Ryerson Submits New Application for Niagara Falls Biz Incubator.

Overall, the DMZ is a leading place for innovation, technology and making ideas happen. Be sure to check out more about the DMZ’s invigorating impact here: the DMZ.

SAS defines ‘big data” as a large volume of data, both structured and unstructured that overwhelms a business on a day-to-day basis. Notably, it is not the amount of data that is important, but it is what the organizations do with the data that matters.

Essentially, big data leads to better decisions and strategic business plans after it is thoroughly analyzed.

Confused yet? Not too worry, I have curated a list of YouTube videos to help you better understand the concept of big data and how you can use it to your advantage!

Here is a summary of each video and why it was used to help you understand big data:

1. What is Big Data and how does it work?: This video gives you a brief overview of what big data is and how it is used. It is important to note that there are many possibilities for using big data.

2. Big Data…What it Means to You: This video demonstrates how big data can actually be useful to you and why it should. As the buzz for big data continues to grow, leveraging big data can help you make wiser business decisions!

3. How to Monetize Big Data: You might have been asking, “well how can I use big data to my advantage?”. This TED Talk gives you inspiring insight on how to make money from using big data.

4. Data Science vs Big Data vs Data Analytics: Often, big data is confused with other terms. This video elaborates further on how big data is a stand alone concept and is seemingly different from data analytics.

5. Data Analyst Job Description | What 4 Skills Will You Need To Be A Data Analyst?: Now that you’ve polished your background on big data and how to use it to your advantage, this video gives you an idea of how to put all that knowledge into practice. Ever wanted to become a Data Analyst? With your new found knowledge on big data from this video, you may be well on your way towards a new career path!

With a better understanding of big data, you can now explore all that it has to offer and really reveal how advantageous it can be. From science and research to business and perspective. Big data is everywhere!

It is important to note that privacy controls on Facebook are ever changing and you might not even be aware when policies change.

Techlicious poses a set of interesting questions:

• When you post a picture of your kids at a family gathering, which one of your Facebook friends can share it?
• What private information are those Facebook game apps collecting on you for “third-party uses”?
• How do you make sure that live video stream is seen only by people you choose?

THE ANSWER: every action you make on Facebook has privacy and sharing implications that need to be considered before you upload your next post.

Accessing your privacy settings on Facebook is simple. After logging in, simply click on the drop down arrow in the top right corner beside the question mark , then click “Settings” followed by “Privacy”.

And you’re in, congratulations! In the image above, you will see your basic privacy settings that can easily be adjusted. Privacy settings on Facebook are split into two main categories: Your Activity and How People Find and Contact You.

Furthermore, each category can be set to one of the five following options:

• Public
• Friends
• Friends except…
• Specific friends
• Only me

Overall, you can configure who can ultimately see your posts, send you friend requests, see your friends lists, who can find your profile in search and so much more.

For a visual demonstration, check out this video for a step-by-step tutorial on how to access your privacy settings and how to adjust them:

Recommendations

1. Since Facebook is constantly updating and changing their privacy settings, you should continuously ensure that your settings are configured to your standards. A simple check every week or month can help to ensure that your privacy settings are adjusted correctly.
2. If you are actively job hunting, you should consider adjusting your settings so that only you or your friends can view your posts. Even if you do not have any inappropriate posts, this is a good practice to show future employers that you take your social media presence seriously!
3. Always think twice when you are about to post something. No matter how secure your privacy settings may be, it is important to know that nothing is forever deleted online.

Now that you have a basic background on Facebook’s privacy setting and how to access them, I encourage you to review them and adjust them to your preferences. Remember, don’t post anything online you wouldn’t want everyone to see, even if you think it’s a secure or a private site! (Source: Blog.al)

For a complete guide on Facebook privacy settings check out Techlicious’ The Complete Guide to Facebook Privacy Settings.

Okay, not those kind of clouds… but think of them as a VIRTUAL storm.

On a serious note, cloud computing is taking over the way we operate on a daily basis and has dramatically shaped our technological atmosphere.

What is Cloud Computing?

IBM describes cloud computing as “the cloud”. It is the delivery of on-demand computing resources, everything from applications to data centres, over the internet or on a pay-for-use basis.

It might sound complicated, but if you’ve ever taken a photo on your smartphone, made a purchase with your debit card or streamed a song on your favourite music app, you have been an active user of “the cloud”.

To give you a better idea of cloud technology, this blog will provide you with background on some of the main cloud platforms and their benefits.

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Software as a Service (or Saas), is one of the most common forms of cloud computing used by many. Nerdio suggests that organizations of all shapes and sizes are embracing the SaaS philosophy as an alternative to on-premises hardware and software deployment.

You might not have realized that you use SaaS everyday at work crunching numbers, at school documenting notes or at home, lurking on your favourite social media platforms.

How, might you ask? You might already use some of these essential SaaS applications:

1. Salesforce — collect information on customers, prospects and leads within a single online platform
2. Microsoft Office 365 — create, edit and share content from any PC, Mac, iOS, Android or Windows
3. Google Drive Apps — your go-to online solution for storing and sharing documents, PowerPoints, spreadsheets and more with other people
4. Dropbox — anything you add to Dropbox will automatically show up across all your desktop and mobile devices
5. Slack — share and edit files, communicate with colleagues all on one app, on your mobile or computer

For more information on how SaaS is being used, check out: 10 Popular Software as a Service (SaaS) Examples.

If you are still confused about cloud computing, check out this video on what the SaaS concept is. Three cheers for visual learning!

Benefits of using the Cloud

So, after learning about the cloud and understanding how we use it, lets talk advantages. Source: Business Achievers.

1. Reduced IT expenses — using the cloud means you don’t have to purchase any extra servers so you can save on operational and IT costs!
2. Remote access — you can access the cloud from any location (eg. working from home has never been simpler!)
3. Ease of implementation — setting up different apps is super easy
4. Efficiency — collaborating on the cloud allows for increased efficiency, say goodbye to wasting time and advance your business in no time

For an in-depth review of the benefits of using the cloud, check out Small Business and Cloud Computing.

So, what are you waiting for? Go and take advantage of the cloud and watch your efficiency and innovation reach a new high!

NO ACCESS to the internet? Can you imagine that? In a world where we get frustrated on not having wifi during our daily commute or bad service in a store, it is hard to imagine not having any internet at all. That is however, the case for some places.

So, where are these places that do not get to experience the frustration of not having wifi?

The Telegraph lists 35 countries that do not have internet. Many of these places aren’t on the radar of travellers and their low internet usage is in part down to war, civil unrest, and poverty. Source: The Telegraph

Some of these places include:

1. Guatemala
2. Mali
3. Uganda
4. Madagascar
5. Sri Lanka

To see the full list refer here: the last places on earth without internet

Also, it is interesting to note that there are people (who may even be our neighbours) that don’t have access to the internet.

This “digital divide” usually exists between those in cities and those in rural areas, between the educated and the uneducated, between socioeconomic groups and between the more and less industrially developed nations. Source: WhatIs

So, how can we bridge the gaps?

You are probably wondering, “how can we get wifi to these countries ASAP because I couldn’t imagine living in a world without ready access to Facebook or asking my digital assistant what the weather is like today”.

Well, the answer isn’t that simple. We can’t just travel to a developing nation and install a router for wifi overnight. It would likely take years of planning for required infrastructure to actually get connection to these areas.

However, we need to be aware that there are people around us who don’t have access. Perhaps they can’t afford it, live in an area with poor service or maybe just don’t know how to use it.

Here is a list of ways we can help sustain the digital divide locally:

1. Teach those who don’t know how to use technology
2. If you have a family member who has no digital presence (perhaps they don’t want it), then just visit them in person. A little face-to-face socializing won’t hurt you.
3. Give your wifi password… to those that you trust! Share the thing you cherish most and lend a helping hand.

But on a serious note, what is being done to overcome the digital divide? Especially in disparate areas?

Mashable lists a plethora of amazing ways of how cities are fighting to close the digital divide. Source: Mashable

Some of the factors being considered:

1. Equality
2. Education
3. Democracy
4. Economy

For the full article on how the digital divide is being tackled please see: How Cities are Fighting to Close the Digital Divide

Or if you’re a visual learner, check out this video on how CoBank is striving to close the digital divide in Rural America:

So, after learning about the digital divide and understanding why some people face it, lets talk benefits.

Once a city has access to internet, it is obvious that they’ll be able to enjoy the wonders that the online world offers. It is a known fact that internet access makes your life easier, but have you considered the possible implications?

Once you have internet access, you pretty much expose yourself online. What this means is that the government (or hackers, etc.) can get access to your information and find out a lot about you.

So, maybe it’s just better to live without internet? You be the judge!

Netiquette. This fancy term combines the words ‘internet’ and ‘etiquette’ to define how people can appropriately communicate online with respect to the views and opinions of others. Source: BBC

If you’ve ever written an email, updated your Facebook feed or replied to a Tweet, you may want to triple check how you formulated your online presence.

In this diverse, digital age, it is essential that you monitor your choice of words, writing style and a have a general understanding of online standards. In severe circumstances, you might get into trouble if you don’t follow proper guidelines, abuse the power of social media or project a negative light on yourself.

Not to worry, you can absolutely become that social media guru you’ve always wanted to be… and succeed at it! Here are 6 points that will help you become one step closer to achieving mogul status and avoid running into trouble:

1. Be aware and alert. You are not the only person online, so with good judgment, you should be mindful of how other people perceive you. An error in word choice or negativity against a certain person could cost you that dream job or lose your best friend!
2. Consistency is key. Stay on topic to ensure your peers can understand what you are trying to say. Quality over quantity!
3. Respect the views of others. With over 7 billion people in this world, it is obvious that not everyone will share your views. Honour that! It is the differences between us that allow for respectful and meaningful interactions.
4. Know the context. Understanding the circumstances of who you are speaking to is important. Be neutral if you are writing an email to someone you never spoke to and carry your online presence in a positive light.
5. Refrain from spam. Posting the same picture or tweeting a contest 500 times in hopes of increasing your chances to win (in most cases) do not help you. Your content appears in other people’s feeds, so be unique and try something new!
6. Give credit where it’s due. If you post something that isn’t yours, be sure to cite the source you receive it from. You wouldn’t want someone to take your content for their own (unless stated), so recognize the owner’s originality!

For more tips on how to strengthen your netiquette, check out this article featuring 7 rules for online etiquette.

Or, if you’re a visual learner, this video will show you how to excel at netiquette:

Now that you have a good understanding of what ‘netiquette’ is and how you can have a positive online presence, put your social media skills to good use! Remember, if all else fails, if you wouldn’t say something in person, don’t say it online.