WGU-Biochem

ParvulusPuella · Oct 17, 2015

I used Microsoft Word, and saved stuff with the .pdf extension they wanted it in. I'm using Word for the whole program, only 4 courses left. I have never used a Mac, so maybe someone else has tips on that.

You can do it either way. I found it easier to draw the diagram/make the model, take pictures with my phone, email them to myself, and then insert them into the paper. Passed all 5 tasks on the first try, just make sure to follow the rubric. The video guides were extremely helpful as well. And the diagrams don't have to be textbook worthy, just enough to show you understand the concept.

LM NY · Oct 17, 2015

My actual enrollment date is 11/1. I guess once I have access to those videos things will make more sense to me. Did you have all tasks in one document or five different documents? Thanks!

DoeRN · Oct 17, 2015

I bought a cheap laptop to go through the program. I have a MacBook Air and I was having the same problem. I do remember seeing a thread on here about Mac users with WGU and it listed the programs they installed in order to use the Mac with the program. I should have subscribed to it darn it.

Sent from my iPhone using allnurses

LM NY · Oct 17, 2015

Thank you!!! Because people look at me like I am an idiot when I explain my Apple product issues. People always claim there are compatible apps and programs, but the truth is it is easier having a Windows friendly computer to use the Microsoft Office products. I have an Android phone so you can imagine my frustration when I attempted to download pictures from my phone to the laptop. I wish I had the money to spend on a cheap laptop. I like using one thing for everything. Not a fan of owning too many electronics.

holistic_healer · Oct 18, 2015

I've been using my Macbook Air for the WGU Biochem class & haven't encountered any issues yet. I am already 3/4 of the way through the course. As there are so many inserting of images we have to create involved with the various tasks I decided to try using Google Drive (as recommended by the course mentors). I have Microsoft Office for Mac on my system and had used that with no issues but was curious to try something new as there was such a heavy image component to the 5 tasks.

Honestly I will never deal with Word again for any projects that require image insertion as Drive is SO much better designed for this. Drive immediately resizes the images to fit the document. No more endless fussing trying to get the images placed correctly...you literally can drag & drop and the image pops up perfectly placed.

I would think if you just emailed yourself any pictures you take that would avoid your download issues as you would be downloading from the web rather than your Android.

I have also had issues with Word crashing and losing part of my work in the process. Drive saves all edits immediately so this is another selling point for me.

Don't give up on your Air yet...if you really feel the need to run it like a PC there are programs that allow you to have it run it as a virtual machine, google "pc on mac" and you can see how to install software that tricks your Microsoft PC programs into thinking they are running on a PC.

Definitely cheaper than buying a second laptop. :smug:

Best of luck!

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 18, 2015

I used a six-year-old HP laptop with Windows Vista and a 12-year-old Compaq Presario with Windows XP to complete WGU's online coursework.

Anyhow, I hand-drew the biochem diagrams, took pictures of them with my cell phone, sent the pictures to my email account, saved them to my computer, and uploaded them to my biochem PowerPoint presentations.

I should also mention that I now prefer using Google Slides as an alternative to PowerPoint. Google Slides is more intuitive and user friendly. I simply create the presentation, convert it to PDF format, and submit it for grading.

LM NY · Oct 18, 2015

Crazy how I have google drive downloaded on my phone and laptop, but only utilized it a few times when someone sent me something through it(I think). So, I noticed I can create documents, slide, etc. as well as other things. Any tips or suggestion about Google Drive. I am so accustomed to clicking on the "save" button, that I am terrified if I spend so much time working on something through Google Drive that I lose the document. So scary!

LM NY · Oct 18, 2015

O-M-G!!! Thank you for introducing me to Google Drive. I had it all along just never really used it or navigated through it. I LOVE IT!!! So much easier for me to use than buy Microsoft Office for Mac(wish I had money pouring out of my pockets). Just more reason to LOVE Allnurses. I seriously love this community.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

O-M-G!!! Thank you for introducing me to Google Drive. I had it all along just never really used it or navigated through it. I LOVE IT!!! So much easier for me to use than buy Microsoft Office for Mac(wish I had money pouring out of my pockets). Just more reason to LOVE Allnurses. I seriously love this community.

I actually have the full suite of Microsoft Office 2013 products because they came with the used laptop I purchased. However, I still think Google Slides is more user-friendly and intuitive than PowerPoint. Best of all, Google Slides is totally FREE! :)

canigraduate · Oct 19, 2015

For biochem, I used a white board for diagrams, pipe cleaners/pompoms for one model, and toothpicks/gumdrops for another model.

I love arts & crafts.

I have a Mac. I used Pages to create the document and saved it as a PDF to upload to Taskstream.

TheCommuter, BSN, RN · Oct 19, 2015

For biochem, I used a white board for diagrams, pipe cleaners/pompoms for one model, and toothpicks/gumdrops for another model.

I was at work one night when I needed to create a model of lysine for one of the biochem presentations. I basically used uneaten food items from patient's trays (a peach slice, a lettuce leaf, a cherry tomato, a pineapple chunk, shredded carrots, red cabbage slice) connected by toothpicks.