We started discussion on this particular topic with a provocative question:
Why don't you read?
Studies are showing that reading rates are on the decline, likely because of the ubiquity of technology in our daily lives. This brought us to another provocative question:
Are you addicted to your technology?
To which we turned to this blog post on the subject of Internet and technology addiction:
The World Unplugged
So, after reading this blog post, for another Career Post, write at least four paragraphs of opinion/reflection on the subject of college students and technology/Internet addiction.
Thanks folks!
Monday, February 23, 2015
Wednesday, February 11, 2015
Databases
Again, what is a database?
It's an organized collection of data. Normally, we think of databases online, but technically, that doesn't have to be the case. (There were databases in computers before the Internet was around.) But for our use, we're looking at purely online databases. These are collections of data (think of an online library) that are easily searchable via a web-based search interface.
Now, we need to remember that database is not the same as search engine. The latter is often used to search the former, but there is a distinction.
What I want to introduce you to are certain major-related or career-related databases that may be of use to you. I'll only present a few right now:
Business/Accounting
Microsoft Academic Search
Medical Assisting/Medical Administrative Assisting
Circumpolar Health Bibliographic Database (University of Calgary)
Human Resources
Microsoft Academic Search
Criminal Justice
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Technology (Database, Security, etc.)
Liberal Arts
Graphic Design
Artcyclopedia
DeviantArt
Today, we'll be looking at a few of these. I'll be adding more throughout the semester. The goal: to get you to better understand what kinds of databases are out there and are available to you, and which ones can be helpful to you during your college career.
It's an organized collection of data. Normally, we think of databases online, but technically, that doesn't have to be the case. (There were databases in computers before the Internet was around.) But for our use, we're looking at purely online databases. These are collections of data (think of an online library) that are easily searchable via a web-based search interface.
Now, we need to remember that database is not the same as search engine. The latter is often used to search the former, but there is a distinction.
What I want to introduce you to are certain major-related or career-related databases that may be of use to you. I'll only present a few right now:
Business/Accounting
Microsoft Academic Search
Medical Assisting/Medical Administrative Assisting
Circumpolar Health Bibliographic Database (University of Calgary)
Human Resources
Microsoft Academic Search
Criminal Justice
National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Technology (Database, Security, etc.)
Citebase Search (U. of Southampton)
CiteSeerX
(Penn State University)Liberal Arts
Directory of Open Access Journals (Lund University)
ERIC: Institute of Education SciencesGraphic Design
Artcyclopedia
DeviantArt
Today, we'll be looking at a few of these. I'll be adding more throughout the semester. The goal: to get you to better understand what kinds of databases are out there and are available to you, and which ones can be helpful to you during your college career.
Tuesday, February 3, 2015
Career Post #2
We've been discussing the subject of website evaluation. (And we'll have plenty more to say in the coming weeks.) It's essential that you all, as college students, understand how to determine reliability when looking at online resources.
So, with that in mind, I want you to use your newly-honed research skills and look for at least one website, or online journal article (be it academic or otherwise) that focuses on the need for college students to better understand website reliability.
Read the article and/or browse the site you find, and when you're done, post the URL and article/site title, and write for me at least two paragraphs (at least 200 words) on why that site/article's information is important to you, a college student.
Remember, these blog posts require a few things:
-Stay on point.
-Make it relevant to your future career or your college experience.
-Make it a substantive post (meaning at least 200 words).
Any questions, let me know via email or comment on this post. Thanks all!
So, with that in mind, I want you to use your newly-honed research skills and look for at least one website, or online journal article (be it academic or otherwise) that focuses on the need for college students to better understand website reliability.
Read the article and/or browse the site you find, and when you're done, post the URL and article/site title, and write for me at least two paragraphs (at least 200 words) on why that site/article's information is important to you, a college student.
Remember, these blog posts require a few things:
-Stay on point.
-Make it relevant to your future career or your college experience.
-Make it a substantive post (meaning at least 200 words).
Any questions, let me know via email or comment on this post. Thanks all!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Website evaluation
Today we'll be starting an ongoing discussion related to website evaluation. We'll discuss where we go to find information online, and how we determine whether or not a particular website is reliable, accurate, and appropriate for academic use.
I will post a blog post exercise later on (either today or later this week) for you to research and write on, but for now, we'll just get introduced to the subject. So, here are some things to keep in mind:
-Reliability
-Validity and accuracy
-Source material
-Timeliness
-Bias
Here are some questions for class discussion:
1. Have you ever encountered information online that confused you as to its accuracy?
2. How did you respond in that situation?
3. How have you tried to determine reliability related to online information in the past?
I will post a blog post exercise later on (either today or later this week) for you to research and write on, but for now, we'll just get introduced to the subject. So, here are some things to keep in mind:
-Reliability
-Validity and accuracy
-Source material
-Timeliness
-Bias
Here are some questions for class discussion:
1. Have you ever encountered information online that confused you as to its accuracy?
2. How did you respond in that situation?
3. How have you tried to determine reliability related to online information in the past?
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