Freebie Friday! - Download the Moleskine App (Electronic Writing)

Readers,


I love quality stationary materials like Moleskine and Circa, because I am able to integrate these materials into my personal and professional life. Now, Moleskine 
is offering a FREE iPhone/iPad application for users. I downloaded this application a few weeks ago and I love the functionality! 


I can type documents and integrate pictures/handwriting into the electronic document. Love it! :) I WILL use the Moleskine app to write scholarly papers and perhaps an electronic journal.

Check it out - http://lifehacker.com/5793859/moleskine-turns-ios-devices-into-classic-journals



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

From College to Career - Helping College Students Prepare for their Post-College Career

Readers,


One of my favorite times of the year is the biannual graduation ceremony. I love to see our students walk across the stage to end one part of their lives and to begin a new journey as a post-college professional. I take pictures like I am a family member and I post these pictures on our department's Facebook page. However, before I start celebrating the students' accomplishments on their graduation day, I start working with the students on the application process and I emphasize the importance of networking.


This semester, we read one of my favorite books, "From College to Career" by Lindsay Pollack. This has been one of the best career-related books that I have ever read. In addition, after the class presentation focused on the book, several students wanted to purchase the book for their personal libraries.


In addition to the presentation on the book, I wish that I could have shown the students this presentation from ABC News:

Enjoy!


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

Wandering Wednesdays - Mobile Computing 5-Day Sprint (Electronic Resources)

Readers,


A couple of weeks ago (April 25-29, 2011), EDUCAUSE sponsored a Mobile Computing 5-Day Sprint. Unfortunately, this wonderful opportunity was held during the busiest part of my semester. 


Here are some ideas from the sprint - http://educause.ideascale.com/


Each day had a different emphasis!

Monday: The Future of Mobile Computing

Tuesday: Teaching and Learning

Wednesday: Mobile Enterprise Integration

Thursday: Security, Privacy and Policy

Friday: Mobile Infrastructure

Each of the links above includes a recorded session, a video of the day, and recommended resources.

Enjoy!

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

Twitter in the Classroom - Twitter Meets the Breakfast Club (Chronicle of Higher Education)

Readers,


I incorporate Twitter in each of my online and hybrid courses. However, most of this communication is optional and takes place through extra credit assignments. In a recent post by the Chronicle of Higher Education, David Silver wrote about his classroom experiences with Twitter. Silver requires his students to create a twitter account and to use the account to communicate with him and their peers.


The most interested part of this article when Silver explains that another professor contacted him through Twitter to find out more about his assignment. Then, this professor adopted the assignment for her classroom. Read about their experience here - Twitter Meets the Breakfast Club.


I hope to write a book about Twitter in the classroom and how to incorporate this communication technology in online and hybrid courses.


Sincerely,


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

Adopt This Technology! - SIEMENS STEM Academy

Readers,


During Environmental Communication Week 2011, formed co-sponsorships with the Dick Smith Library, the University's Staff Council, and various local businesses in the Stephenville area. However, when we released the first "call for papers", we did not receive any proposals for workshops or paper submissions. This was not a positive start to a week-long program! As a result, we began looking for free webinars online. 


Since we were focusing on environmental communication and my husband is a science teacher who is very interested in STEM education, we started looking for STEM resources. We found the Siemens STEM Academy's website - http://siemensstemacademy.com. Since we were hosting a week-long event, we found a webinar focused on environmental education that occurred during ECW 2011, Earth Day: The Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill One Year Later with Jeff Corwin". 


At first, I was reluctant to choose a webinar from this website because its primary audience was junior high and high school students. However, the information was VERY informative and our audience (myself included) throughly enjoyed the presentation! I would definitely recommendation this wonderful resource for other college classes who are interested in environmental education/environmental communication.


Sincerely,


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

Freebie Friday - Seasoning Packets for Professors-On-The-Go Who Love to Cook!

Readers,


As a professor-on-the-go, I strive to create healthy meals for my family. However, my crazy schedule only enables me to go shopping at our local Kroger store only one time a week. To make my life easier, I purchase frozen skillet meals (i.e. PF Changs, and Romanos Macaroni Grill, and Stouffers) and seasoning packets for my fresh meats and garden veggies. 


Recently, I discovered a free sample from Emeril's and I look forwarding to using this seasoning packet with a future meal! :) Enjoy!


Sincerely,


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

Wandering Wednesdays - The Teaching, Learning, and Technology Group (The TLT Group)

Readers,


Since last summer, I have been a huge fan of the Teaching, Learning, and Technology (TLT Group). I visit their website almost every week and I faithfully read their blog. They usually host free workshops, like last week's "FridayLive Twitter: Forbid It, Ignore It, or Use It?" - http://tltgroup.roundtablelive.org/events?eventId=310889&EventViewMode=EventDetails.


In addition to their wonderful free workshops, they also have a great blog, "TLT-SWG". Recently, this blog featured a post titled, "A Course is Not a Pizza", which focuses on the importance of interaction in online courses - http://tlt-swg.blogspot.com/2011/05/course-is-not-pizza.html.


Check out their website as well!  http://www.tltgroup.org/


Enjoy!


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

College Students, Technology, and Free Food = Food-Bot

Readers,

As a former college student, I appreciate free food. As a millennial, I really appreciate awesome technology! Greg Woloschyn, a student at Carnegie Mellon University, created an awesome website titled, Food-Bot. This website searches every mailing list on campus, searching for food-related keywords like “snack,” “cookie,” and “pizza.” last year. Sometimes the website fails to provide accurate results, for example a "bring your own lunch" entry was on the website's fail list. Woloschyn's invention enabled WoloSchyn and his friends to spend their funds on other items.

Check out his website - http://food-bot.com/home

Currently, only a few universities (Stanford, Carnegie Melton, Berkeley, Duke, UIllinois, MIT, Pittsburgh, Wootster, Case Western, Johns Hopkins, Maryland, Purdue) are included on the website, but it seems that the website is expanding (i.e. - the sentence on the website "Don't see your university? Request for it to be added so you can get in on the free food"...)

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

Green Printing for Students, Faculty, and Staff! - Some Great Tips from Environmental Communication Week @ Tarleton State University

Readers,


During Environmental Communication Week 2011, we were fortunate to have two wonderful presenters from our university's library (the Dick Smith library) and the Center for Instructional Technology and Distributed Education (CITDE) facilitate a session on Green Printing. Our university library (like many other university libraries) usually has a stack of papers that are left on the printers after the library closes each day. This presents a potential problem for our university (wasted paper) and the environment.


Here are some tips from their presentation...


- Be Patient (try not to print twice).
- Print Only What You Need (when listening to a presentation or lecture, ask which notes should be printed and which notes can remain electronic).
- Print Selectively (highlight the section of a document that you need to print and only print this section instead of the entire page)
- Print On Both Sides of Paper (duplex printing).
- Print Power Point Slides as Handouts Instead of the Actual Slides.
- Use Electronic Handouts (distribute a tinyurl link in class).
- Select the CENTURY GOTHIC font to save ink/toner. 


Here's their handout - LINK


This was a neat presentation and I adopted some of the suggestions from the presentation in my classes. I cannot wait to prepare "green" power point/Google Doc slides for the fall semester. 


Sincerely,


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

Freebie Friday! - Emergen-C Samples

Readers


I strive to keep a flawless attendance record in my classes and I am willing to take any natural supplements to keep myself healthy. One of my favorite colleagues recommended the Emergen-C product a few months ago. This product tastes great and it is a boost of vitamin C for the working woman (or man) on the go! 

Visit the website to request a few sample - http://www.emergenc.com/free-samples


I hope that I can stay well until my last final this semester! :)


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

Adopt This Technology - JoliPrint for Instant PDF Documents!

Readers,


JoliPrint (http://www.joliprint.com/) enables users to print webpages (documents, articles, etc.) without the color ads. This website would be helpful for instructors who teach online or hybrid courses, because they could post a link to the shared PDF document on blackboard (without uploading the entire PDF to their university's learning management system.


In addition, I plan to post job announcements on our Communication Studies Facebook and Twitter accounts via JoliPrint instead of saving the content to a Google Document and posting the link. Take a look at our current job postings! Become a fan of the Communication Studies Facebook page! http://www.facebook.com/TarletonCOMSDept


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

Wandering Wednesday's Academic Blogger - Academichic - http://www.academichic.com

Readers,

I LOVE exploring new blogs and since our week-long program for Environmental Communication Week 2011 ended, I have had a few extra minutes in the day to explore a new blog, Academichic! Academichic is a neat blog dedicated to fashion in the academy! I love wearing suits on campus and this site is definitely one of my new favorites! Check it out!

Academichic - http://www.academichic.com

                    

This website has various categories, which range from "Night Without Grading" and "Office Hours" to "Pregnancy in Academia" and "Visiting Lecturer". Very neat! Let me know what you think! :)


This is the first post in a new weekly featured titled "Wandering Wednesdays", which highlights an academic blog or a neat academic website. Enjoy! Come back soon! :)


Sincerely,


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

Goo.gl - A New Url Shortening Website (Thanks LifeHacker)

Readers,


I read the LifeHacker website on a weekly basis and recently the website focused on Goo.gl (http://lifehacker.com/5791974/googl-url-shortener-adds-easier-copying-better-dashboard-controls), a new url shortener website on Google. This seems like a great opportunity for those of us who regularly use bit.ly or tinyurl.com for links in our online and/or face-to-face classrooms.

http://www.thewwwblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/goo-gl-shortener-extension.png

I always place a tinyurl link (after testing the link) beside each of the external links on Blackboard. Since every browser and every computer is different, this enables the students to access the links when clicking the link will not work for the student.


For example:


Action Item - Read COMS 101 Notes - http://www.tinyurl.com/COMS101CH1


Since I am a big fan of Google AND Tinyurl, I think this new Google Service might work for some instructors who wish to use a certain link, but the link title is already taken by another user. For example, if I needed http://www.tinyurl.com/COMS101SpeechNotes and the link was always taken on Tinyurl, I can use the COMS101SpeechNotes link on Goo.gl.


I hope this helps someone! Read the LifeHacker blog for more information...
http://lifehacker.com/5791974/googl-url-shortener-adds-easier-copying-better-dashboard-controls


Sincerely,


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

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University (Recap)

Readers,

We received some wonderful press from Environmental Communication Week 2011!

Here you go!

Library Online Lounge - Tarleton Libraries (Blog Post)

http://tarletonlibrary.blogspot.com/2011/04/environmental-communication-week-2011.html

Environmental Communications Week Kicks Off (Newspaper Article)

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/28/CampusLife/Minute.To.Win.It.Week.To.Learn.It-3996220.shtml

Saving Paper With Green Printing (Newspaper Article)

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/28/CampusLife/Saving.Paper.With.Green.Printing-3996221.shtml

Politics and Environmentalism (Newspaper Article)

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/28/CampusLife/Politics.And.Environmentalism-3996219.shtml

Environmental Communication Week at Tarleton State University (Press Release)
http://www.tarleton.edu/scripts/press/display.asp?id=3453

BYOA (Bring Your Own Appliance) - 

Tarleton, Stephenville community to swap appliances at House Party in effort to recycle and reduce

http://media.www.thejtac.com/media/storage/paper1248/news/2011/04/21/News/Byoa-bring.Your.Own.Appliance-3994348.shtml

Sincerely,

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

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Five

Readers,

Today's Freebie Friday is dedicated to our Green Works Houseparty! Two months ago, we applied to host a Green Works houseparty through Houseparty.com. This has been an amazing experience because House Party sent us a free gift pack for our party!

Here is the link to our House Party! - http://houseparty.com/party/484681

Our Party Pack contained:

• Green Works^® naturally derived Laundry Detergent samples
• Green Works^® naturally derived Compostable Cleaning Wipes samples
• Sierra Club notecards
• Reusable Nalgene^® water bottle from Brita^®
• Green It Yourself Guide with Coupons from Green Works^® and Lowe’s
• Brita^® water filtration system coupons
• NEW Burt’s Bees^® Naturally Nourishing Milk & Honey Body Lotion Sample and Coupon

Each guest brought a household appliance to swap with the other attendees. We took an interesting, interactive quiz on house hold allergens and upon their departure, each guest was given a House Party goody bag. We had a blast!

Here's the neat thing, as we tweeted about the company during ECW2011, the Green Works and House Party company actually responded to our students' tweets and became a FAN of our week! It was amazing! In addition to the extra curricular activities, we also talked about the Green Works company in our persuasion, interpersonal communication, and organizational communication courses.

Sincerely,

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

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Four

Readers,


Today was the LAST day of Environmental Communication Week 2011 (since tomorrow is good Friday)! 

2PM - 3PM

Recycling Contest – 100 Uses for a _________ Contest

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Calendar: Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University

Description: Think of common items around your residence hall room or your home that can be reused! Bring those CREATIVE ideas to our RECYCLING CONTEST! Participants will form teams to complete against one another to create the LONGEST list of alternative uses for everyday products!

We also had attendance punch cards available during each event and each attendee will receive an e-mail (at the end of May) with an itemized listing of each event he/she attended during Environmental Communication Week!

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

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Three

Readers,


Thanks for Prof. Cristi Horton and the other people in the Communication Studies Department (and our wonderful students), this has been one of the most amazing days of my life! Today, during the Air, Wind, and Solar session, the president of our university, Dr. Dottavio and the vice presidents of our university presented me with the Barry B. Thompson Service Award. My department head, dean, and wonderful colleagues were successful in keeping the award a surprise!


Here is a picture from the presentation (more to follow)...

Here is a list of today's events...

View the pictures of today's events here - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.213922415304101.66236.140559722640371&l=bffbe6f661

ALL DAY

Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Swap (Bring a Book, Take a Book)

Where: Library Foyer (By the Circulation Desk)

Description: Do you need new books to read over the summer? Do you have some books to give away? Participate in the Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Swap! Thanks to you, many used books (new to you) will be available daily!

9AM - 1PM

Where Do I Recycle? What Can I Recycle? - Recycling Info. Booth

Presented By: The Tarleton Environmental Advisory Council

Where: Dick Smith Library

Description: Ask questions about recycling at Tarleton and enter for a chance to win a free t-shirt (and other prizes).

10AM - 11AM

Wind and Solar 101

Presented By: Mr. Eric Graff, Owner of the Air, Wind, and Solar Energy Store

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover the basics of wind and solar energy! Door prizes will be available!

11AM - 1PM

Where Do I Recycle? What Can I Recycle? - Recycling Info. Booth

Presented By: The Tarleton Environmental Advisory Council

Where: Thompson Student Center Foyer

Description: Ask questions about recycling at Tarleton and enter for a chance to win a free t-shirt (and other prizes).

12pm - 1pm

Green Works – New To You House Party (Door Prizes). Please RSVP by clicking this link - Tarleton New to You Recycling Party

Where: MATH 135

Description: Bring your own appliance (BYOA) or other household item to this green exchange! Through this interactive session, you will have an opportunity to switch your old coffee maker/blender, etc. with another participant (recycling and reducing)! Then, the Green Works company provided free cleaning products for you to clean your "new to you" appliance during the house party! Fifteen door prizes will be provided to participants!

1PM - 2PM

Panel Discussion – Ordinary People Who Are Doing Extraordinary Things to Go Green

Panelists:

Mr. Paul Risse, Owner of Bearfoot Market

Mr. Eric Graff, Owner of Air, Wind, and Solar Energy Store

Mrs. Pam Huckabee, Assistant Director of the Tarleton School Leadership Alliance (Solar Energy: From a Consumer's Perspective & the Advantages of Purchasing Food from a Natural Food Co-op)

Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards, Communication Studies (Frugal Gardening - Using Recycled Materials in Your Garden)

Dr. Robert Anderson, Communication Studies (Invited) (Driving a Hybrid Vehicle)

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Meet everyday Tarleton Texans who are doing extraordinary things to do green! Ask questions and hear great responses at this interactive panel. Door prizes will be provided to participants.

2PM - 3PM

The Southwest Regional Dairy Center and Environmental Sustainability of Animal Agriculture - Presented By: Dr. Barry Lambert, Dr. Donald McGahan, Dr. Don Cawthon, and Dr. Patti Locke

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how the new Southwest Regional Dairy Center is contributing to environmental sustainability!

3PM - 4PM

Water Gardening 101

Presented By: Dr. Forrest Mitchell

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how water gardening can be an enjoyable activity for everyone!

4PM - 5PM

How to Conserve Water and Harvest Your Own Rainwater

Presented By: The Stephenville Water Conservation Board (Featuring Dr. Hennen Cummings and Dr. Carol Thompson)

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how you can take an active role in water conversation by adopting a few simple habits! In addition, find out how to harvest your OWN rainwater through a simple rainwater collection system!

This has been a successful week-long event and we have one additional event tomorrow! However, I have to travel to San Antonio for the Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association Conference AND the Texas Distance Learning Association Conference. I am attending TWO conferences in TWO days! :) Saving on those travel funds! :)


Sincerely,


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

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day Two

Readers,


The second day of Environmental Communication Week was amazing! Here is a list of today's events...

Click here to view photos from Tuesday's events - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.212256455470697.60629.140559722640371&l=4501f766de 

ALL DAY

Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Swap (Bring a Book, Take a Book)

Where: Library Foyer (By the Circulation Desk)

Description: Do you need new books to read over the summer? Do you have some books to give away? Participate in the Fiction/Non-Fiction Book Swap! Thanks to you, many used books (new to you) will be available daily!

11AM - 12PM

Human Health and Ecological Consequences of Occurrence of Pharmaceuticals in the Environment -

Presented By: Dr.Sudarshan Kurwadkar

Where: Library Instruction Classroom (LIC 139)

Description: How DO you properly dispose of your pharmaceutical medicines to minimize your affect on the environment? Attend this interactive lecture to find out!

12PM - 1PM

Webinar – Earth Day: The Impact of the Gulf Oil Spill One Year Later

Where: Library Instruction Classroom (LIC 139)

Description: How DID last year's oil spill affect the environment? Come to this session to find out!

1PM - 2PM

WATER TRIVIA! (Door Prizes) & What IS a Watershed and Why Is It Important?

Presented By: The Texas Institute for Applied Environmental Research (TIAER)

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Win awesome door prizes through water trivia! Find out about the Clean Water Act and discover the TRUE definition of a WATERSHED!

2:30PM - 4PM

Movie – No Impact Man

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Discover how one REGULAR family lives in the city and reduces their carbon footprint to MINIMAL levels in their year-long journey to go green! No electricity, no Starbucks, no new clothes, etc.

4PM - 5PM

Horticulture Club – Gardening 101 Workshop

Where: Tarleton Horticulture Center

Description: A fun and interactive workshop for beginning gardeners AND seasoned gardeners! Discover how to grow your own produce (and save money in the process).

This has been one amazing day! I love engaging students in fun, educational activities and working with my planning partner, Prof. Cristi Horton to promote the Communication Studies Department by working with other departments on campus! :)


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

Environmental Communication Week 2011 @ Tarleton State University - Day One

Readers,

The first day of Environmental Communication Week 2011 was a success! Here is a list of the events we had today...

View the pictures of today's events here - http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.211955785500764.60528.140559722640371&l=e54dff022b

12PM - 1PM

Minute to Win It - Green Edition (Environmental Communication Week Kickoff!) 

Where: MATH 109

Description: Just like the popular TV show, this event will enable participants to progress through increasingly difficult levels to win the ULTIMATE GRAND PRIZE for Environmental Communication Week!!!

To discover more information about Minute to Win It, CLICK HERE.

1PM - 2PM

Texas: The STATE of Water (How Water Affected Our Past, Affects Our Present, and Will Affect Our Future

Presented By: Dr. Carol Thompson

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: An interactive lecture on the global water crisis and how it affects YOU!

2PM - 3PM

Green Printing @ Tarleton: Can You Accept the Challenge?

Presented By: The Dick Smith Library and the Center for Instructional Technology and Distributed Education

Where: Dick Smith Library Multipurpose Room

Description: Participate in an interactive session focused on how to GO GREEN while accomplishing your research tasks and/or working in your office! Find out about HOW to adopt a green printing lifestyle at Tarleton for individuals AND offices! Door prizes will be available.

3PM - 4PM

Political Perceptions of Environmental Problems in Europe

Presented By: Dr. Jeff Justice

Where: Dick Smith Library Instruction Classroom

Description: How do individuals from various political parties view the environmental problems? Discover the role of politics in addressing environment problems in America. This is an interactive lecture.

We had a great time today! I cannot wait to see what tomorrow has in store for our students! :)

Sincerely,

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

Freebie Friday! - "Go Green" Products! (Trees AND Reusable Bags)

Readers,


Today's Freebie Friday post is focused on environmental products! Order these products and use them for examples in your classroom and/or as classroom giveaways!


I plan to feature these products on next week's Twitter feed for Environmental Communication Week! Follow us TarletonSpeech OR use the hashtag #ECW2011! :)

FREE TREE @ Lowes!
On Saturday, April 23rd, Lowes will give away one million trees! The grading crunch is starting! Visit the store on this day to start your backyard (stress free) zone! For more information - LINK

FREE REUSABLE BAG @ Target!
Visit Target on Sunday, April 17th and receive a free reusable bag! Use this bag to take homework (or goodies) to your students in class OR give the bag away next week as part of a classroom learning opportunity! For more information - LINK.


Have a great weekend!


Sincerely,


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

Undergraduate Research Week 2011 - Campus and Local Events

Readers,


I am very happy to recognize several universities for their programming initiatives during Undergraduate Research Week! While our university did not have a designated event, but we received an awesome e-mail from the Student Research and Creative Activities Director who highlighted the national initiative! :) 


I am also very pleased to see several Texas higher education institutions on the list! 


University of North Texas
University of Texas El Paso
University of Texas Permian Basin


Here is a link to the list: http://www.cur.org/urwevents.html

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

Undergraduate Research Week 2011 - Incorporating Undergraduate Research in My Courses (A Reflection)

Readers,

This semester has been filled of great ideas, wonderful opportunities, and enjoyable experiences. One of these wonderful opportunities include my presentations at various academic conferences and traveling with students and listening to their presentation at the Southern States Communication Association Annual Conference. Through these experiences, I have had time to gain new points of view of my research and research strategies through the eyes of my undergraduate students.

Each semester, I integrate undergraduate research in each of my upper-level undergraduate courses (Fall - Interpersonal Communication and Intercultural Communication; Spring - Interpersonal Communication and Organizational Communication).  Through this integration process, I adopt a scaffolding approach to teach my undergraduate students about the research process and we progress through the steps of the process every week.

During the first week of class, I introduce the undergraduate research experience in my syllabus. Most of the students have never had an undergraduate research experience and an overwhelming majority of the students feel undergraduate research is something that happens in the science department. After explaining the social science research approach and helping the students realize that they CAN do it, the process becomes easier and the students start to select their groups and their research topics. Through their selection of their own topic and creating the problem statement, purpose statement, and research questions, the students start the process of creating a literature review.

They start to take ownership of their projects and become "experts" in their chosen section of their research topic. As a professor (especially near the end of the research project), I discover that the students truly embrace their research and they are able to apply the results of their research as they form conclusions, implications, and suggestions for further research. Usually, the research projects conclude around five to six weeks before the end of the semester we are able to apply the results from their research to the final chapters of their textbook. I think that research is one of the best ways of helping students understand the course material and it enables undergraduate students to "own" their research and to hone (or merely start) the critical thinking process (which is important for higher education and the workplace).

Sincerely,

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

Life on the Tenure-Track - A Millennial's Perspective

Readers,

The past two days have been some of the most interesting days of my career. This week, I attended the AERA Division J - Early Career Scholars Session. Over the few days of the session, I formed a higher education research network several new people (with whom I plan to collaborate on a few research projects), learned new tricks of the tenure track, discovered the items for which you can negotiate in the academic job search process, and then I listened to how several other early career academics carve their research time each day. 


After my posts for undergraduate research week (next week) and environmental education week (the week after), I will post my notes from this very important workshop on the blog. Look forward to reading notes from this very important session!


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

Happy Undergraduate Research Week! - April 11th - 15th

Readers,


As many of you can probably tell, undergraduate research is near and dear to my heart. On November 16, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to declare April 11th - 15th as Undergraduate Research Week! 


Encourage your college students to conduct an independent study project with you OR to help you with one of your undergraduate research projects! They are wonderful helpers and it seems that they learn many incredible skills from their undergraduate research experiences!


Here's a video from their important vote!






Enjoy!


Sincerely,


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