Fun, Organizational Tips for Faculty (1/5) - Using Google Docs to Plan the 2011 Social Media Conference @ Tarleton State University

Readers,

This semester, I have had the best experience working with a group of wonderful ladies (undergraduate students, faculty, and staff) in the newly-formed Texas Social Media Research Institute (TSMRI) at Tarleton State University. We formed the institute last spring and this fall we are working on the upcoming 2011 Social Media Research Conference that will be held Friday, December 2, 2011 at Tarleton.

The undergraduate students are TSMRI interns and they are divided into three teams: Social Media, Training and Development, and Conference Planning. Each team has one to three faculty mentors (who are also the TSMRI co-directors) and they have a intern coordinator (who was also my Undergraduate Research Assistant this summer). Last of all, there is me and I function as a faculty mentor and the TSMRI Director.

Each Monday, we meet, eat, and brainstorm. There is one word that truly epitomizes this weekly activity - SYNERGY! I have never experienced ANYTHING like it! These ladies are all amazing and I enjoy their neat ideas and energy! We will have an amazing conference!

Here's the fun organizational tip - We use Google Docs for EVERYTHING!

1 - Registration Form - Created Using Google Forms

2 - Conference Planning Toolbox (Backwards Plan, Contact Sheet, Logo, etc.) - Created Using Google Spreadsheets

3 - Call for Proposals - Created Using Google Spreadsheets

Find out about the conference - http://www.tarleton.edu/tsmri/SocialMediaConference.html

Register for the conference - http://www.tinyurl.com/SocialMediaConference2011Reg

Become a fan of TSMRI on Facebook! - http://www.facebook.com/TSMRI/

Follow TSMRI on Twitter! - http://www.twitter.com/TSMRI/

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Faculty Work-Life Balance Series (5/5) Freebie Friday - Complete Small Activities on Recycle Bank for Free Points Towards High-Value Coupons and Free Products for Classes!

Readers,

I love saving money and I tend to spend A LOT of money on my classes (and our department's conferences), but I try to maximize my dollar by using coupons and contacting individual companies! 

Last year, when planning the "Environmental Communication Week", I was not familiar with this wonderful website, Recyclebank. This website enables users to complete quick quizzes, take green pledges, and read informative articles for Recycle Bank points. Here's the neat aspect, the points can be used for high-value coupons ($2.00 off Kashi Products, etc.) and even free products at McDonalds (i.e. - a free ice cream cone).

Professional Life

I am glad that I found this website last month, because I will be able to share the wonderful information with people who are interested in "Environmental Communication Week 2012". Another cool feature to add to the website! :)

Personal Life

This website is beneficial for our household because I am still planning to increase the amount of money that we save each month. September is always crunch month for our household (tuition, etc.) and this will be a great way to plan for future money emergencies. Faculty have to budget as well! :)

Sign up for Recyclebank today! :)

Enjoy!

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Faculty Work-Life Balance Series (4/5) - Yoga and Higher Education (Celebrating National Yoga Month)!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/myyogaonline/457354375/

Readers,

I am excited to tell announce that this month is National YOGA month! This exciting because many Yoga studios are offering FREE classes this month! Enter your information in the National Yoga Month website to find classes near you!

http://www.yogamonth.org/fwfiles/EventSearch.php

This summer, I started practicing yoga to become more flexible (I hate injuries), to gain a stronger focus on my work and family life, and to minimize the impact of stress on my life. Life for faculty and students is a hard life and many people outside of higher education do not realize the stress level of both of these groups.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortonfox/

Through yoga, I have met a wonderful group of older and younger women (and men) who embrace fitness and health. The older women use the balance balls in the back of the room and the rest of us are on double-mats. I try to avoid double-mats, but the nice women who are taking the class with me make sure that I have an additional mat before the class begins. God bless them!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sisterbeer/

During the summer, we had 105+ days in July and August and this prevented me from walking to the local gym to persist through my yoga class. However, the meteorologists predict that September is the month to expect cooler weather (and possibly rain). So, later this month, I plan to continue my yoga journey and to meet my old (no pun intended) friends again.

Do you practice yoga or another fitness activities to relieve your stressful days? Please share! :)

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41

Faculty Work-Life Balance Series (3/5) - Wandering Wednesdays - "Too Hot To Teach" Blog

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dogwelder/

Readers,

This is our second week of school and I am very excited to share a neat blog with you. This week's Wandering Wednesday's Blog is focused on work-life balance and it is written by three lovely academic bloggers (Professor KM, Miss Kat, and Part-Time KC). Most of their posts focus on the celebrations and perils of being young, fierce, female and faculty. Wow, I remember those young and fierce days, now I feel almost tenured and _______ (insert adjective here).

Their blog helps me reflect on my first six years of teaching in higher education. Yes, it has been SIX YEARS! Here are the categories that are featured on their blog:

Annotated Bibliography

Career Change

Field Notes from the Classroom

Identity Crisis

It Never Ends

Their blog features a WEALTH of personal/professional reflection and an equal amount of neat teaching ideas. 

Visit their blog here - http://toohottoteach.com/.

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41