Admitting there is a problem is the first step….

If you’re like me, I’m sure you’ve sat down at your computer, “just for a few minutes”. You know, you’re going to check on your class, maybe your bank balance and the weather, then log off. At least, that’s the plan. Three hours later you look at the clock and wonder where your time went. The dark abyss of the internet has struck again..

I use the internet for everything – school, shopping, social media – you name it, I use the computer for it. My husband, a non-computer sort, got mad because I threw out all of the Yellow Pages. What do we need those for – we have a COMPUTER!

But it is coming out now that, like everything else in the world, too much of a good thing can be bad for you. In this case, the good/bad thing is the internet. Doctors are even classifying some people as “internet addicts”. The Chicago Tribune has some tips on recognizing and dealing with this growing addiction. As the term “internet addiction” may cover a broad spectrum, the website HELPGUIDE.ORG breaks it out even further into specific areas that a person may be having trouble with. This article also speaks of ways to break the internet addiction.

What is the PostSecret Project?

PostSecret is an ongoing community mail art project, created by Frank Warren, in which people mail their secrets anonymously on a homemade postcard. Select secrets are then posted on the PostSecret website, or used for PostSecret's books or museum exhibits

The Digital Textbook Alternative

The digital textbook offers students and faculty an economical alternative to the traditional textbook. Printed textbooks are an expensive investment, editions are quickly out-of-date, and textbooks are cumbersome to travel with. Consider the latest technology advancements with the Kindle and iPad. Whether you a student, faculty member, or enjoy reading, these digital book formats allow for a less expensive alternative that are easy to access from anywhere anytime.

The past decade, the cost of textbooks has significantly increased to double the inflation rate. This increase in price is driving students to seek a more practical alternative to purchasing traditional textbooks. Purchasing the Kindle or iPad is an investment itself; however, many publishers are offering downloadable e-books with a reader that could be used on a PC or Mac computer. The e-book editions can offer readers an even less expensive option to review books electronically on your computer without having to purchase a Kindle or iPad.

As a new term approaches consider the digital textbook alternative, make sure you can access your reader in class, and decide if this option is right for your needs.

Tips For Taking Online Quizzes in Blackboard

Use wireless network connections with caution. Wired connections are preferred since wireless connections can become interrupted easily by interference from other devices or due to the saturation of the wireless access point in a public area.

Never double click during your assessment. Click once to launch the assessment, click once to navigate to the next question, click once to save the assessment, etc. If after waiting for a few seconds nothing happens you can try to click again on the button.

Do not use the forward and back buttons in your browser. Always use the navigation inside of Blackboard.

SAVE early, SAVE often. Be sure to save your assessment or assignment early after launching. As you progress through the assessment continue to save your work. This is extremely important for tests or other work longer than 30 minutes.

Use an external word processor. If the assessment has lengthy essay questions it is often helpful to use Microsoft Word or another word processor to compose your answer and then copy and paste your answer into the text box in the assessment. This will provide you with a copy of your lengthy response in case of a server error.

SUBMIT when you are finished. When you are done with an assessment, you must Finish/Submit button so that your test/assignment can be submitted for grading.

The Starship Enterprise Is Real

It was not that long ago when some of us listened to music from 8-track players, cassettes, and phonographs. These technologies enabled us to listen to our favorite tunes, and most never imagined the explosion of rapidly-changing technology that characterizes our modern world.

Many Baby Boomers and Gen Xers now live in a world that is very different from the three-decades-old society where the phonograph and discoteca ruled the day. Most members of these generations are likely to remember the familiar introduction from Star Trek:

Space... the Final Frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before.

This introduction could describe the technology revolution that transpired over the past three decades. Our contemporary society might be considered an “Enterprise” – in its own right – that is guided by innovative business leaders. We might call these leaders our “Captain Kirks,” who have “boldly” advanced us from the dated technologies of the ‘60s and ‘70s to modern technologies that lead us to live unconventional lifestyles. One example of our unique lifestyles is the use of android phones to take college courses.

Today, college students are taking courses through their android mobile phones. These phones are rapidly replacing the personal computer, offering millions of applications that enhance the android user’s experience. Personal computers offer users tens of thousands of applications in comparison to android phones, supporting analyst predictions that suggest an ending personal computer era.

Where will the “Enterprise” go next?