I don't use this blog anymore, so I think I'll use it now to store my media links.
http://www.michigancedarproducts.com/5_awesome_woodworking_people_to_follow_1
http://pethooligans.com/2012/02/11/watch-those-gifts-keep-your-pets-safe-but-spoiled-this-valentines-day/
http://www.silverliningherbs.com/blog/help-your-pets-pearly-whites-during-national-pet-dental-health-month/
http://www.datarecoverygroup.com/blog/2012/02/too-much-too-soon-5-online-services-that-died-and-where-they-went-wrong/
http://www.silverliningherbs.com/blog/weird-white-house-pets-happy-presidents-day/
http://thegoodhuman.com/2012/02/20/saving-energy-in-a-log-home/
http://www.blitalk.com/beginning-woodworking-with-little-time-skill-or-money-yes-you-can
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Collegiate Learning Assessment.
The Collegiate Learning Assessment is the test the students in the learning study took throughout their four years as undergraduates to measure their higher order cognitive skills. Those skills include critical thinking, complex reasoning, and written communication. According to an article on The Chronicle of Higher Education website, the students took the CLA in the fall of 2005, the spring of 2007, and the spring of 2009.
"The CLA helps institutions improve undergraduate education through assessment, professional development, best practices and collaboration," the CLA website said.
The website also says the CLA "allows institutions to benchmark where they stand and how much progress their students have made relative to the progress of students at other colleges."
In a press release from The Council for Aid to Education, they said the study strengthened the validity of the CLA. It said "improvements in CLA results over time were closely aligned with multiple measures of student learning."
The report said students in liberal arts fields scored higher on the CLA, but it also said the findings of the study don't "preclude the possibility that students in other fields are developing subject-specific or occupationally- relevant skills."
Friday, April 22, 2011
Social Science Research Council Report on Learning Based on Book.
The report released by the Social Science Research Council that said a number of college students aren't learning important skills is based on a book called Academically Adrift by Dr. Richard Arum and Dr. Josipa Roksa. The report extends findings found in the book, and the book is recommended for anyone interested in learning about the current state of higher education.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions about the book can be found on the SSRC site.
One suggestion given on the site is "College and university leaders can commit to promoting organizational cultures conducive to academic rigor and undergraduate learning."
Roksa said in an email an important finding that is often overlooked is that there is a lot of variation within or between institutions.
"In virtually every college examined we found students who were devoting themselves to their studies and learning at rates substantially above the average," she said.
Arum and Roksa both have backgrounds involving sociology and education. They are interested in research involving social stratification and education.
A list of Frequently Asked Questions about the book can be found on the SSRC site.
One suggestion given on the site is "College and university leaders can commit to promoting organizational cultures conducive to academic rigor and undergraduate learning."
Roksa said in an email an important finding that is often overlooked is that there is a lot of variation within or between institutions.
"In virtually every college examined we found students who were devoting themselves to their studies and learning at rates substantially above the average," she said.
Arum and Roksa both have backgrounds involving sociology and education. They are interested in research involving social stratification and education.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
E-Books and East Lansing Public Library.
View East Lansing Public Library. in a larger map
Lauren Douglass, the head of technology services at the East Lansing Public Library, said they started the e-book service in 2010 and people are checking out way more things now. They had 244 e-book checkouts last month.
According to Kristin Shelley, the director of the ELPL, they use Overdrive as their vendor for e-books.
She said they currently have 489 patrons registered to use e-book services, and 64 patrons are currently waiting for e-book/audio titles to download.
"Libraries have not made the shift to put more money into the materials for e-books," she said.
However, she said e-book popularity causes a change in philosophy for libraries and they are putting a significant amount of money into e-books in 2012.
"This is the trend," she said. "This is where books are going."
She said the library will support e-books and e-book readers as long as the publishers work well with libraries, and they haven't seen that yet.
Douglass said most of the people they work with that have e-readers are age 40 and up. She believes more adults and children will be drawn into e-readers when Harry Potter e-books come out.
She said East Lansing patrons can get titles faster than other patrons in the area with the services at the ELPL.
Spotlight on Omar Sofradzija
From his birth in 1969 until now, Omar Sofradzija has lived and worked a few places. He started in Illinois, went to Las Vegas, and ended up in Haslett/East Lansing. He has been a reporter, editor, columnist, teacher, and adviser.
As far as Michigan State University and The State News goes, Sofradzija said he is very happy.
"This was the perfect career transition for me," he said.
He said he currently gives advice on good journalism habits, business and legal issues, career options, and alumni and relations.
He said prefers his job at The State News, and he never saw himself as a teacher because he was a loud and rowdy student himself. However, he does like seeing people get better.
His best advice?
"If your mother says she loves you, check it out," he said.
As far as Michigan State University and The State News goes, Sofradzija said he is very happy.
"This was the perfect career transition for me," he said.
He said he currently gives advice on good journalism habits, business and legal issues, career options, and alumni and relations.
He said prefers his job at The State News, and he never saw himself as a teacher because he was a loud and rowdy student himself. However, he does like seeing people get better.
His best advice?
"If your mother says she loves you, check it out," he said.
Friday, April 15, 2011
E-Reader Applications Available on Other Devices.
Actual e-reader devices like the NOOK and Kindle are not the only way to read e-books. Plenty of applications and software are available for a variety of other electronics, which can spare consumers from buying an e-reader.
Some e-book applications are available on certain types of phones including iPhones, Blackberrys, and Android phones. Popular ones are the Kindle and Kobo applications. NOOK has an application for iPods, iPhones, and Android phones. This blog provides a review of popular e-reader applications for the Android, some which may be available on other phones.
E-reader.com provides a list of devices where users can find applications and software for.
Some e-reader applications are also available on PC and Mac as well, including Kindle.
Some e-book applications are available on certain types of phones including iPhones, Blackberrys, and Android phones. Popular ones are the Kindle and Kobo applications. NOOK has an application for iPods, iPhones, and Android phones. This blog provides a review of popular e-reader applications for the Android, some which may be available on other phones.
E-reader.com provides a list of devices where users can find applications and software for.
Some e-reader applications are also available on PC and Mac as well, including Kindle.
Types of E-Readers.
With e-books continuing to become more popular, there are also a lot of e-readers available. They range in price from around $140 to anywhere near $400 on average.
TopTenReviews provides the specifications, price, and rating for the highest rated e-reader devices. CNET also has a section with their e-reader reviews.
Barnes and Noble's NOOK and Amazon's Kindle continue to be some of the highest in popularity. Amazon's website said "Kindle is our #1 bestseller and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon." Barnes and Noble's website said the NOOK is their award-winning, best-selling e-reader.
Amazon currently has over 900,000 e-books, newspapers, magazines, etc. available. Barnes and Noble has over two million titles. Both claim users can download titles wirelessly in seconds.
Some e-readers like the NOOK Color and Kindle have wi-fi/Free 3G, so users can surf the web. Barnes and Noble's Lend Me option lets users lend and borrow e-books from friends.
A plus of e-readers is the ability to change font and brightness, making text easier to read.
TopTenReviews provides the specifications, price, and rating for the highest rated e-reader devices. CNET also has a section with their e-reader reviews.
Barnes and Noble's NOOK and Amazon's Kindle continue to be some of the highest in popularity. Amazon's website said "Kindle is our #1 bestseller and has the most 5-star reviews of any product on Amazon." Barnes and Noble's website said the NOOK is their award-winning, best-selling e-reader.
Amazon currently has over 900,000 e-books, newspapers, magazines, etc. available. Barnes and Noble has over two million titles. Both claim users can download titles wirelessly in seconds.
Some e-readers like the NOOK Color and Kindle have wi-fi/Free 3G, so users can surf the web. Barnes and Noble's Lend Me option lets users lend and borrow e-books from friends.
A plus of e-readers is the ability to change font and brightness, making text easier to read.
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