Weekly Report and Reflection #7

This week in ADED 1P32 I was able to spend some time working with a tool called Google Docs. I have had previous experience doing collaborative essays and the like using this, so I was fairly familiar with its functions, which is a nice change for me.
Google Docs provides a convenient way to work collaboratively, by allowing every contributor of the project to see their partners working, in real time (not through video of course, but by allowing them to see the typed content that is being added). It also provides a chat window, which can be used to discuss minor errors or to provide brief instruction or encouragement.
My partner and I used the Brock email system to contact each other and eventually got to TodaysMeet where we set up a time to meet on GoogleDocs. I can say with confidence that I would take Google Docs study dates over emailing or Skype sessions any day. For one, there is no pressure to not wear pyjamas (phew), and there is no delay in response. I have already added Google Docs to my PLE but it serves a more specific purpose than I had considered. Until tonight, I was unaware that it was possible to collaborate on basically any piece of writing. I had previously held the belief that team editing features had only applied to word documents. Having the ability to work with my mom on perfecting a resume, or building a powerpoint presentation with someone slide by slide allows a level of convenience and productivity that messaging and sending photos of each other's work cannot come close to providing. Ultimately, Google Docs provides facilitation of teamwork as well as an automatically saving version of Microsoft Word that has your email connected to it to make it easier to share with other contributors.

One article that caught my attention in my reader this week was a study summary published by WebMD, a medical news website, about the effects of marijuana use on the brain. The article outlines the differences in brain structure observed by neuroscientists in marijuana smokers who had become regular users at the age of 16 or younger, compared to those who started smoking marijuana later in life. Though the article wasn't very specific about the age that they considered "older", and the study did not appear to include non-marijuana users at all, the scientists observed notable differences in the brain structures when compared using an mRI. It seems that regular users that had started at 16 or younger possessed fewer "wrinkles" in their brains, and less distinction between grey and white matter than those who had begun smoking at a later point in their development. Basically what this means is that the way in which marijuana affects dopamine levels in the brain may influence brain development. Perhaps the reason that such a distinction has been observed between the two groups has to do with neuronal development. Of course the brain's work is never done, but development significantly slows down in your twenties. My opinion is that this difference may be in part due to the drug's effect on the brain during critical maturation period.

Well, it was nice talking to you, but in the spirit of digital health and wellness I must be going because I have been staring at a screen for much longer than is considered healthy for my body and mind.

Until next week,

Amy

http://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/news/20160226/pot-habit-early-in-life-may-alter-brain-study-suggests?src=RSS_PUBLIC
http://ylegalizepot.com/sites/default/files/teen%20brain.jpg

Weekly Report & Reflection #5

Hey everyone,

This week we set up Twitter accounts for educational use. Since I wanted this Twitter account to be separate from my own personal Twitter account, and I was not able to use my current email, I had to create a new email address and a new Twitter account. However, it did not end there. I typed in the wrong email address, and Twitter would not allow me to "tweet" without email confirmation, so I had to make another email, and another account. And then another Twitter account for some other reason. So needless to say, I will be getting several emails from Twitter every day until I die, probably. 

Apart from the inconvenience of setting up my Twitter account, which shouldn't apply to the average user, I consider Twitter to be a very effective method of communication and educational exposure. I enjoy Twitter particularly because of its 140 character limit (it makes things short and sweet and lets me get back to my life quickly). Additionally, it is far superior to email when connecting with peers, as it doesn't require correspondence, and allows individuals to follow other classmates' opinions and perspectives in shared courses without having to wait on responses. Hashtags make this infinitely easier still, by efficiently categorizing the tweets of individuals based on topics. While I have already included Twitter in my PLE under Social Media, with the discovery of its use as an educational tool, I would add it to my Information Platform as a means to which I can gather information from educators and peers about my topics of interest. I have also connected LinkedIn to my educational Twitter page, which will allow potential employers to have a more complete view on who I am as a professional.

I discovered something interesting in my feedly reader today as well that I believed would be relevant to this class. This article, titled "When Self-Monitoring Becomes Uncomfortably Intimate", published by the Guardian, outlines the impositions new fitness monitors put in place, and how, instead of improving our health, they cause an uncomfortable parental influence, with some universities and workplaces requiring students and employees to wear these watches, as if personally ensuring their wellness and even sexual purity. This article had me thinking about whether these fitness monitors as a new fad in technology really do have an adverse effect on our health as a whole. I myself own a fitbit, and I had considered it an integral part of my PLE (I was thinking healthy body, healthy mind I suppose), but I see how the pressure to succeed in all areas of life, and feeling like you're being judged when your weekly report gives you a sad face, can affect our personal growth and induce feelings of failure. 

This article may inspire me to carry out a healthy lifestyle without the influence of technology, and allow me to set specific limits on what areas of my life should be affected by technology. Speaking of which, I also came across an article this week on Pinterest that said that you will sleep more soundly if you don't look at a screen less than 30 minutes before you go to bed. So there's a weekly tip, and with that I'm signing out.

Hope everyones exams go well.

Until next time,

Amy

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2016/feb/07/do-we-need-app-to-monitor-premarital-sex

Weekly Report and Reflection Blog Post #4

Hello everyone,

This week I would like to reflect upon an article that caught my eye on my reader this evening. It was published by the Huffington Post and titled, "New Study Finds Link Between Children of Divorce and Obesity". Naturally, this sparked some interest for me, as my parents are no longer together. It turns out that Norwegian scientists studied 3166 third graders based on their weight and the marital status of their biological parents. The results were astonishing: children of divorce are apparently 54 percent more likely to be what is considered "generally overweight"  and have an 89 percent greater chance of abdominal obesity than children whose parents are together.
While these results seem rather large, I suspect that there is some third variable influence in this case- but maybe I'm biased. Not only in my (clearly unprofessional) opinion do all kids go through a "fat stage" (see below), I also strongly believe that if that is not the root cause of this large difference, it may be due to an unbalanced routine or even hereditary thyroid issue. In any case, I'm not sure I can back the researchers on this one. And what's with all the fat shaming.

(Okay, I was maybe a bit larger than most)

This week I also learned about the usefulness of bookmarking items of interest using various web tools. On a program called Diigo, I was able to add various resources to a list and provide "tags" and descriptions as an efficient way of organizing my web-related thoughts, so to speak. I'm generally a pretty simple person when it comes to computer usage, and the idea of bookmarking had never occurred to me. If I wanted to read a blog, I would try to remember it and type it into google. If I wanted an academic resource, I would search it in an e-library. If I had come across something interesting and wanted to share the idea with somebody, I would summarize it to the best of my ability. The bookmark tools take me to another level. I can now send people my saved links, I can find things based on their tags, and all of my favourite resources are in a nice online folder *happy sigh*.  No longer do I lose my place when I log off, and no longer must I aggressively search for the source I argued that undoubtedly proves my point. Life is good.

I also discovered a curation tool called Google Alerts this evening. It is kind of like bookmarks but better. It provides you a broad range of topics, all in nice little categories for your choosing convenience, and then provides you with alerts (clever) that inform you when something has been posted on that topic. This would be a useful tool for anyone who is not particular savvy, as you can access all of your interests in one place, and it provides organization to your online presence. My boyfriend's father, because he is obsessed with fishing, and is on an endless search for the next big idea about how to catch the big one. Perhaps this would stop him from calling me asking about how to use the internet. :)

These new tools I have discovered could easily be incorporated into my PLE that I created in Week 2, and would probably fall under a cross between entertainment and academic-type resources. These tools are shaping me as a digital citizen in that I now have the capacity to stay better informed about my topics of interest, and thus can form an educated opinion on matters of importance.

Until next week folks,

Amy

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/05/obesity-and-divorce_n_5454453.html

Weekly Reflection Post #3

Hello everyone,

I would like to formally welcome you to my second post of the night, where I will be summarizing yet another article that my fabulous Feedly has brought to my attention. While not quite as light and happy as Ted's achievements, this message is a gripping one, and perhaps one that we are still all too familiar with in the twentieth century. You may recall my previous post regarding RSS, and what a wonderful tool it can be to have the world (or at least your world) at your fingertips, and that claim is not lost on this editorial.

And now, without further ado, let me introduce you to.......(drumroll please)......... modern-day racism and blatant discrimination in the film industry!
And.... the crowd goes silent.
While not at all shocking to most, the article my reader presented to me this evening by the New York Times has captured a reality that is both dismal and alive for too many wonderful, talented individuals. The piece discussed a recent protest that had taken place as a result of there being exclusively Caucasian nominees for the Oscar acting awards for two consecutive years. While the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences made what they declared to be "radical" changes, claiming a goal to double the number of women and minority group members by 2020, Oscar balloting has yet to be discussed by the governing board.

While not necessarily an educational resource, this piece, as well as many New York Times articles has provided me with a message that I often consider to be infinitely more valuable than "Study Tips That Will Change Your Academic Career"-type posts, as I truly believe that interacting with real-world issues will change your life, and maybe even the world. I'm a bit dramatic, sure, but you can't help if you don't know what's wrong, and staying informed puts you one step closer to being able to address major issues in a profound way.

This article in particular reminded me that equality is still a fight, and women and minority members are still an afterthought. The very fact that an entire governing board of professionals has had to set a goal to make things fair proves to me that the system, our system, is corrupt. White-washing, which is the use of a white individual in movie productions to play a culturally diverse part, is just one example of this prejudice. Many individuals have been overlooked, forgotten and shunned in the film industry because of the colour of their skin, or their gender, and this modern-day discrimination has an effect that is lethal. Like a wolf in sheep's clothing, industries mask their distaste for minorities and women by putting a smile on their faces while they stab them in the back.

Get a feedly, get informed and involved!

Until next time,
-Amy

To read the article, click below:

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/23/business/media/oscars-diversity-academy-voting-rules.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

My Experience With RSS Feeds

Hello everyone!

I hope this week was as good to you as it was to me.
Well, by now I'm sure you've caught on to the theme of these posts, so I'm just going to jump right into the hard stuff.

This week in ADED1P32 we learned about RSS feeds, also known as Rich Site Summary or Real Simple Syndication. But, I'll save you the research and just say that RSS basically means notifications. You know, the kinds of notifications you receive when someone "likes" one of your Instagram photos, or comments on a video you shared of dancing puppies- only functional. These types of notifications are for blogs, or podcasts, or news websites that you keep up with but can't be bothered to check regularly. RSS is an incredible resource for busy individuals, as instead of having to frequently visit your favourite web addresses to see whether any new content has been published, you will be informed when it has so that you can view it at a time which is convenient for you (nifty, huh?).

In browsing my own personal reader this week, I came across an article published by Brock News regarding the discovery of a certain type of lizard called the tegu that creates warm blood for itself during its mating season. Now, normally I would be appalled by reptiles and lizards and basically anything that can live without warmth (why do I live in Canada?), but seeing as this particular creature is not 1) 3-dimensional and 2) is not an unnatural toxic waste colour, I not only respect this little guy (I've decided he should be called tegu Ted), but also would like to know his secret. Additionally, seeing as heat-production is a feature I myself look for in a man, I'm sure this tactic will be very successful with the lady lizards. Tegu Ted, I salute you. 

As you can probably tell, this reader (I use feedly) can be very effective in exposing you to content that you would normally not engage with and that will undoubtedly impress your parents at the dinner table. I would probably not have come across Tegu Ted on my Facebook newsfeed, for example. Online readers are a great way to keep up on current news and your favourite blog posts, and the podcasts you can access through it can be a great alternative to the rap you listen to on your way to school in the morning. But then again, anything is. 

Until next week at approximately 11:59 p.m., 

Amy 

P.S. Don't be embarrassed about the dancing puppies. In fact, I think something's wrong with anyone who doesn't delight in freakish fluffy shenanigans.

P.P.S. Heat-production is not actually a feature I look for in a man.

P.P.P.S. To learn more about Tegu Ted's time in the spotlight, click below!

http://www.brocku.ca/brock-news/2016/01/new-brock-led-research-discovers-lizard-that-creates-body-heat/

Media delivery, almost as good as pizza delivery... Almost.

Ted, you're being a little obvious, don't you think?

Weekly Reflection Post #2- PLEs, Wordles and Life Goals, Oh My!

Good evening everyone,

I hope you had a fabulous weekend and are settling down with some hot chocolate and fuzzy pajamas right about now, mentally preparing yourself for another work/school week.

In case you were wondering, my week was an all-over successful one; my first ever Polaroid camera came in the mail, and I learned about how to increase my academic growth through the proper understanding and use of my Personal Learning Environment (PLE). You can probably guess which one we are going to be talking about today (Hint: It isn’t on Taylor Swift’s most recent album cover).

So, without further ado, let us jump right into what PLEs are all about. A personal learning environment refers to the use of online educational and social tools that allow for the self-regulated enhancement of individualistic and collective learning efforts. It is essentially a digital venue for learners to set and reach goals in a supportive and unrestricted environment, with a flexible schedule. Or, in human words, the applications and programs that people use to build connections and expand knowledge in a digital context.

No two people will have exactly the same PLE, as we not only vary in our interests, but also in our learning styles. For example, some individuals may be frequent “how-to” blog readers, and find that they learn well from written instruction, while others may prefer to watch tutorials on Youtube. In any case, the customizable PLEs encourage interaction within the Personal Learning Network (PLN), the online communities that media users are involved in, as well as provide an ever-expanding source of insight for media users. I have created a diagram of my own PLE on Poplett, and have it displayed below for you to see.

 Holliday, A. CC (2016). 

 As you have probably noticed, I have referenced a wide array of academic resources in my PLE diagram, most of which I consider to be essential tools for my academic maturation. However, while important, those sources alone will not facilitate my personal growth satisfactorily. I have what some may consider high aspirations for the not-so-distant future and as such, require mental and social stimulation of varying degrees. In five to ten years time, I aspire to be established as a (hopefully employed) Clinical Psychologist with a husband and child(ren), as well as have my first book published, which I am currently in the process of writing. For me to accomplish these very optimistic goals, my PLE needs to include a variety of resources that may not apply to many others, such as a Kindle (the more you read, the better you write, right?), and Prezi, which will be important for the creation of vibrant and original class presentations as I progress in my degree. I will also likely need to create a media presence for myself on professional forums such as LinkedIn, and perhaps become a social blogger in order to establish an Internet personality so as to encourage blog followers to read my book.

In order to make such changes, I may need to alter my learning environment and eliminate, or at least lessen distractions. Setting a schedule for how much time I will dedicate to each area of my PLE in a day may produce a more balanced schedule and allow me to focus more deeply on my personal goals. This schedule may also help me to avoid academic issues such as procrastination (did I mention that it’s 11:43 on Sunday night?) and encourage me to limit my Netflix time to one episode of Gilmore Girls per day instead of approximately 44 (just kidding… sort of).

Another important tool we learned about in this week's activities was the function of word clouds. Not only are they an aesthetically pleasing way to present information, they effectively summarize and draw attention to the main concepts of blog posts. I used Wordle for my word cloud as I enjoyed its professional appeal and found it to be easier to use than other generators I had searched online, not to mention the fact that it looks like a foot when it is presented horizontally (coincidence, I think not). Anyways, that's all for this week everyone, I'll catch you next Sunday night!

Holliday, A. CC (2016).

Digital Driver's License -Navigate With Care

The Digital Driver's License (DDL), used to evaluate just how well-versed individuals are in proper online conduct, revealed some startling news to me. I truly believed that I was a well-rounded, functioning social citizen when it came to online forums before taking the exam. I scored an 18/20, which, for all intents and purposes is a good score (a 90% to be exact). But what was particularly surprising about this outcome is not the grade itself, but the areas in which I did poorly: Digital Health and Wellness and Digital Law. Downloading music and television from the Internet has become so integrated in my lifestyle that I have failed to recognize the effects and the implications of engaging in such behaviour. Additionally, I have allowed media to have control over, and interfere with many of my relationships.
Ultimately, this test, and this week's activities have informed me about what being a responsible Digital Citizen really means, and have challenged me to be more cautious and considerate when posting my opinions in an online setting

.