E-Books and Education - Rules from the U.S. Department of Education

Readers,


Recently, the United States Department of Education issued new rules on e-reader technologies for higher education institutions -  

http://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/dcl-ebook-faq-201105.pdf

Does your institution require students to use e-readers? It will be interesting to see how these rules affect K-12 schools, many of which are phasing out textbooks in their classrooms.

Sincerely,

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

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

Freebie Friday - Free Self-Paced Online Classes from HP and Microsoft

Readers,

Are you looking for a few, free self-paced online classes to help you learn how to use HP software or Microsoft products? Well, check out these links to free online classes available from HP and Microsoft! 

The HP classes include: digital photography, home office, MS Office and Adobe Products, PC security and maintenance.

The Microsoft courses include Access, Excel, Outlook, Word and more. There are classes for both the 2003, 2007 and 2010 versions of this software.

Thank You Freebie Blogger!

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

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

Adopt This Technology: The NEW Google Calendar

Readers,

I admit, I am a Google Calendar addict. My life operates from two Google Calendars, my personal calendar and my husband's work/school calendar. Through Google Calendar, I am able to view any gaps or overlaps on the calendar well in advance of the event.

Yes, I also admit that I plan my life at least six to eight months in advance. When someone asks me if I can meet on a certain day, I can tell them with a high level of certainty whether I will or will not be able to meet on a particular day.

Here are some ways that I use Google Calendar:

- Publication Deadlines: I add the publication deadline to the calendar and then I use the reminders feature to send an e-mail to myself when the deadline is three and two weeks away.

- Collaboration Opportunities and Meetings: When I need to work with others on a project and/or publication, I add all of their e-mail addresses to the calendar event and we are able to keep ourselves accountable during this time period.

- Task List: I use the task feature to organize my tasks by the day the tasks are due. For example, if I need to open a Blackboard test for a student tomorrow, I add this "task" on my list on tomorrow's date. Not only does this task appear on my calendar, but it also appears on my Gmail account task list. I can print this task list OR I can glance at this task list on my iPad between classes.


- Embedding the Calendar on a Website: This year, we embedded the Google Calendar on our Environmental Communication Week website. This was very neat for the Google users, because they could just add the events to their personal calendars.


Here's a recent post from Prof Hacker about the new features on Google Calendar - LINK.

Here are some of the new Google Calendar features - LINK.

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

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

Wandering Wednesdays - Communication in Higher Education Blog

Readers,


This week (Independence Week), I am PROUD to feature the Communication in Higher Education Blog for Wandering Wednesday! This blog's author, Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason, is one of my best friends and research partners in higher education. 

Although our journeys are very different (she is white and she works at an HBCU and I am black and I work a predominately white institution), we have a wealth of similarities! Last March, she spent quality time with my students and I at the Southern States Communication Association Conference and we had a great time riding the Little Rock Street Car and dining at one of the local eateries. This summer, she invited me to meet her students during one of their monthly "Pass It On" poetry slam events at the George and Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art. Her students' poetry was simply amazing! Here's a sample:

Throughout the past few years, we compared and contrasted our tenure track journey, which may be coming to an end very soon! I have enjoyed sharing my higher education experience with such a wonderful woman! Okay, now to her blog, Communication & Higher Education: Life on the Tenure Track at a Teaching Institution.


Through her blog, she explores life on the tenure-track at a teaching institution through the following lens: faculty life, socialization, issues faced by faculty, teaching and pedagogy, and technology in higher education. Her blog candidly explores trends in higher education culture, access, information flow, and faculty life.


Enjoy!


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

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

ACRL Presentation: Millennials and Beyond - Student and Faculty Voices

Readers,


Thanks for bearing with me! Here's my presentation from the ACRL conference:




Enjoy!


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

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

Reflection from the TXDLA Conference - My Presentation/Review of Centra/Review of the Conference

Readers,

*I wrote this entry a few weeks ago after the TXDLA Conference and I never posted it to the blog. I always like to write a reflective blog entry after every conference (usually this occurs on the airplane on the way home).

Currently, I am en route to the DFW airport after attending the Texas Distance Learning Association Conference in San Antonio, TX. This was my first time attending this particular conference and I had a wealth of negative perceptions about the attendees. For example, I thought that this conference was just for techies, but after attending the conference I realized that I was a techie as well. I teach online and hybrid courses, but I am a complete techno junkie and I understood all of the jargon utilized at the conference. 

I attended and tweeted during each of the sessions. The first session I attended was presented by administrators from Texas A&M University. This particular session was simply amazing because it focused on Centra, which is a web conferencing software utilized by the Texas A&M System and my university has FREE usage of the software! Wonderful! This three hour session was very interactive and every participant had access to a laptop computer. We watched videos, completed polls, and maintained a great discussion about the features of the software.

After this hour long session, I was ready for lunch (which was provided for all conference attendees). Slightly before the conference session ended, I received a text message from a colleague at my university and she heard that I was attending the conference. I was so excited to hear from her because I thought that I was the only conference attendee from my university. So we met by the ballroom doors to enter the lunch/vendor room.

I wish that I took a picture of the set up for lunch, because it was very organized and the participants had a chance to interact with each of the vendors during lunch (because the lunch tables and the buffet lines were located in the middle of the ballroom). This provided the conference attendees and vendors with a great "bang for their conference dollar". I always interact with conference vendors because I realize how conference need to maintain positive relationships with each of their vendors to keep the vendors interesting in purchasing a booth space for next year's conference. 

During lunch, I had a great conversation with my colleague and we had time to plan an amazing project for next year. Yes, readers...this project will make a BIG impact on the state of Texas and perhaps the rest of the  nation! :) I am too excited about this project and both of us are extremely goal oriented! I will post more information soon!

After lunch, I had time to look over my presentation one additional time before delivering the content at 3 pm. My presentation was focused on one of my passions, Google Applications (Google Documents/Google Docs). I was so excited to see 20-25 session attendees at a later session because more sessions only had two to three attendees. Everyone seemed excited about the content and they really liked the Google Voice program. Several tweets from this session were:

@agozuna: Attending the google docs in online courses session. #txdla-339 #txdla2011”

@agozuna: Jennifer Edwards uses google docs for all course-related materials, including the syllabus. #txdla-339 #txdla2011

I distributed several business cards and I hope to have a few workshop opportunities in the next few months. :) After attending this year's TXDLA conference, I will DEFINITELY attend the conference in Dallas! :)

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

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

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

Freebie Friday - Honey Nut Cheerios! (Coupon and Sample)

Readers,

In the summertime, I teach my online classes (which is labor intensive, but I LOVE it!), prepare for the fall semester, write at least two scholarly articles, and attend summer trainings. For breakfast, I usually eat cold cereal and fruit OR I warm a Bagelful in the microwave.

I am always on the lookout for cereal coupons and samples, because I do not usually cook breakfast in the summertime. Here's a great coupon and cereal duo sample from the General Mill's company for one of my FAVORITE's Honey Nut Cheerios Cereal! -

Enjoy! Work smarter and not harder!

Sincerely,

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

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

ALA/ACRL Conference - Reflection (The Book Proposal Process & Working With Your Campus Library)

Readers,

The ALA/ACRL conference inspired me to start my book proposal process this summer. In fact, I spoke with a book publisher on Monday and she provided me with some promising information about this grueling process. I have been very reluctant to start the book proposal process because I believed that the market is saturated with books on my interests (i.e. - social media, online teaching and learning, and training and development). Could I offer a different perspective? Perhaps.

If any of you could provide me with insight into the book proposal process, I would be very grateful! 

This conference made a BIG impression on my life as a faculty member. Unfortunately, a lot of people feel that librarians do not conduct research and are just there for reference purposes. However, this is not true! Throughout the conference, I became very interested in information sciences and in library sciences. In fact, if every faculty member would have a brief meeting with one of the librarians at their institution, I think they would discover that librarians work VERY hard to stay current on research from a VARIETY of different fields, perform continual  assessment and evaluation of their programs and services, and are the lifeblood of our higher education institutions.

After attending this conference, I think that I will invite a librarian to attend a chat session for my online speech class. Since some of my students are located outside of the United States, I think this will be a very beneficial service for these students. They use the library research databases, but I think the students will greatly benefit from this small gesture. Also, it seems that when some students hear a research suggestion  from their instructor and they do not implement the suggestion. However, if they hear the research suggestion from a librarian, they will implement the suggestion in a heartbeat!

I hope to incorporate the library in a variety of different ways next semester. How do you plan to work with the library next semester?

Sincerely,

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

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

Wandering Wednesdays - Top 50 Blogs By Education Professors

Readers,

Today's Wandering Wednesday post is focused on a website titled, Ph.D. in Education (http://www.phdineducation.org/). This website is dedicated to providing graduate students with the information and tools needed in order to purse their doctoral degree in Education.

Recently, this website posted an informative post on the Top 50 Blogs By Education Professors

This post features the following sections - General Education, Education Administration, Education Technology, Elementary/Secondary/Special Education, Higher Education/Adult Education, Educational Psychology and Counseling, and Library and Resource Management. Here is the link to the post -
http://www.phdineducation.org/top-50-blogs-by-education-professors.html

Under the Higher Education/Adult Education section, the following blogs were featured...

A Millennial Professor’s View of Higher Education: This professor focuses on communication technology in higher education.

Rick Osborn’s Continuing Education Blog: A look at higher education and adult education.

Higher Education, etc.: This blog is written by a doctoral student, who also teaches classes.

CEHD News: A blog from the University of Minnesota’s College of Education and Human Development. Interesting news and resources.

ProfHacker: Information from two professors on teaching in college.

One Ontario College Prof’s Blog: A look faculty relations.

Adventures in Canadian Post-Secondary Education: An interesting perspective from this education professor.

Adrian Barlow’s Blog: The Institute of Continuing Education at Cambridge has a blog devoted to education.

Continuing Education: This adjunct offers great insights.

Great list! Check out their website and blog!

Sincerely,

Here's the link to their lists and website links -
Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.

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

Teaching Tip - Quick and Easy Ways to Use Google Documents for Collaborative Undergraduate Research Endeavors

Readers,

Good morning! Over the past year and a half, I have become a major proponent of Google Documents! This free, online software has changed the way that I teach class an also it has enhanced the way that I distribute information on Blackboard. For example, I create Google Documents for each of the five undergraduate research groups in my class. I am able to monitor their progress along the way and I am able to leave comments for the group members when they are not present on the document. 


During the time in which I integrated Google Documents in my online and face-to-face classes, the online software has greatly increased the amount of features that are available to users. For example, now I am able to leave a comment on a group research document and the students are able to address the comment by modifying the document (and marking the comment "resolved"). When a comment is "resolved", I receive an e-mail informing me that this section of the document has been addressed. 


I am very thankful that Google has enabled the Google Documents app to remain free (at least for the current time), because some of my students are not able to afford the MS Word software suite and most of them work half or full-time and are unable to meet with their group members outside of work. Google Documents enables these students to "meet" with their group members on the document anytime. I have seen some students "meet" at 3:00 a.m. in the morning!

Here is one of my recent videos on Google Documents for my students.

Enjoy!

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

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

ALA/ACRL Conference Recap/Thank You EBSS!!!

Readers,


Today, I just arrived back from the ACRL/ALA conference in New Orleans, LA and I am THANKFUL to the Education and Behavioral Sciences Section (especially Dr. Vanessa Earp) for inviting me to speak for one of their sessions! I had a great time delivering the presentation and I received a wealth of questions and great feedback after the presentation. Click here for my presentation: LINK


Not surprisingly, my presentation and my millennial approach was very different from my counterpart, Dr. Gene Roche, Director of Academic Information from  College of William and Mary. He presented an alternate perspective of the millennial college student and he incorporated research focused on the mental processes of college students. Then he posed a question focused on whether or not colleges and universities should appeal to millennial college students' wants, needs, and learning styles OR should millennials adapt to the college environment.


Here's my perspective, every organization changes at least one aspect of their policies, procedures, or processes to attract future members/employees and to retain current members/employees. Higher education institutions are no different, they have to adapt as well. New recruitment methods, new services and programs, and new (revised) teaching methods are essential if these organizations wish to remain relevant for the current and future student/faculty/staff populations.


As a result, Dr. Roche and I complemented each other's presentations by presenting a vastly different point of view focused on millennial college students. Thank you ACRL Education and Behavioral Sciences Section (especially Dr. Vanessa Earp) for this wonderful opportunity!


Sincerely,


Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

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

Freebie Friday - $2.00 off of a Post-It Tab Purchase of $3.00 or More

Readers,

Today's Freebie for Friday is a coupon for Post-It Tabs and Labels. I use these on a daily basis and I have a stash of these great organizational tools at home and work! Click here for your coupon - http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/promos/201101_mo/67197_Coupon.pdf.

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

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

Teaching Tip - Using Wikis (and Google Docs) in Online and Face-to-Face Classrooms

The Pre-Wiki Time Period...

Readers,


I hope all of you are having a wonderful morning! Over the summer, I have been reading different blogs and tweets related to technology and teaching undergraduate students. I have been writing several of these ideas for the fall semester in my Levenger notebook (a really neat organizational tool).


Here's a wiki focused on wikis in higher education! - https://sites.google.com/site/wikisinhighered/


Recently, I discovered an older blog post related to wikis and their use in the educational setting (K-12 and higher education). This post from 2008 is still relevant in 2011 and it has some great ideas for education professionals! 


My favorite tips from the list:


1. Student Portfolios


2. Fan Clubs


3. Literature Circles


4. Classroom FAQ


5. Make Website Creation Easier for Stuents


Here's the link to the list - 50 Ways to Use Wikis for a More Collaborative and Interactive Classroom


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

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

Wandering Wednesday - Jane's Pick of the Day

Readers,

Welcome to this week's Wandering Wednesday! I am excited about this week's website, Jane's E-Learning Pick of the Day, because I have been following Jane for the past two years! She is simply amazing! Everyday she posts an informative educational technology link on her website (which is linked to Twitter and Facebook).

One of her recent blog series have been the daily Twitter Digests and the monthly reviews. In addition, some of the posts are very specific, such as the 30 ways to use SoMe to work and learn smarter post.


Here's Jane Hart's contact information and links to her social networking profiles. :) She is amazing!


Twitter: @C4LPT
Facebook page: C4LPT

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

Could You Please Help Me? (Very Quick Questionnaire) - The Millennial Generation's Perceptions of College and University Library Programs and Services

Hi everyone! If you were born between 1978 and 1995 (the birth dates of the millennial generation) AND you are currently enrolled or employed by a college or university, please complete this VERY QUICK questionnaire for me.

The Millennial Generation's Perceptions of College and University Library Programs and Services - https://spreadsheets.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dHYwbzdmc09ZOHJCeGloUUw1TEhOc0E6MQ

If you already completed the survey, THANK YOU! :)

Sincerely, 

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

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

Teaching Tip - Forwarding Blackboard Mail to University or Personal E-mail Accounts

Readers,

Last week, I received a lot of comments regarding blackboard mail. Here's a video that I made for my students to show them how to forward their blackboard messages to their e-mail accounts.

Enjoy!

Any questions? :)

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

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

Freebie Friday - $7.00 in Coupons for Post-It Products

Readers,

Today's freebie is a ENTIRE PAGE of Post-It COUPONS! You must use the coupons by 6/30/2011, but otherwise this is a great deal! I actually distribute Post-Its as prizes in my classes and also during our department events. 

Click here for your coupon - http://www.3m.com/us/office/postit/promos/201101_mo/67197_Coupon.pdf.

http://www.post-itteachers.com/wp-content/uploads/coupon_65746.pdf

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

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

Adopt This Technology - Youtube.edu (Videos for Your Classroom)

Readers,


One of my great academic friends, Dr. Lora Helvie-Mason, recently wrote about Youtube.edu on her blog, "Communication and Higher Education: Life on the Tenure Track at a Teaching Institution".


Youtube.edu features videos and channels from the following categories:
- Business
- Education
- Engineering
- Fine Arts and Design
- Health and Medicine
- History
- Humanities
- Journalism and Media
- Law
- Literature
- Mathematics
- Science
- Social Science

Youtube.edu also featuers shows, movies, trailers, contests and personal recommendations! I will definitely use Youtube.edu in my online course this summer!


Enjoy! Thanks Communication and Higher Education blog!


Sincerely,


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a FAN of Millennial Professor on Facebook! - LINK

Wandering Wednesday - Instructify... Rest in Peace

Readers,


This week's Wandering Wednesday is focused on Instructify, an amazing website focused on free Educational Technology apps. Unfortunately, today's post has to begin with "Rest in Peace" to the Instructify website, because the website is "signing off". I hope the information will remain on the server and that current and future educators can access the content.

Check out their website here - http://blogs.learnnc.org/instructify/.


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

Sometimes I Forget the Obvious - Online Teaching Tips (Embedding a Facebook or Twitter Widget on Blackboard)

Readers,


Usually, my blog entries focus on teaching and research. I attempt to think of items that would be of interest to the blog readers, but sometimes I forget the obvious (i.e. - reminders to students, my virtual office hours and Twitter widgets on Blackboard, embedding Google Docs on Blackboard, posting tinyurls in the titles of external links, etc.). These are teaching strategies that I use on a daily basis without thinking about the fact that this simple strategy might be a great blog post! :)


One of my new "academic blogger" friends, Professor Josh also uses embedded widgets on his blackboard course homepage. In one of his recent blog post, he talks about "Adding a Facebook Widget to a Blackboard" course. Although I do not use Facebook with my students, I use Twitter and I embed a Twitter widget on my course home page. 


Here's an example of the interaction that I have with students through Twitter:



I love Twitter because it does not reveal as much personal information as Facebook (i.e. - students viewing a spam message from one of my friends on Facebook or students viewing my pictures from college, etc.). If you use Twitter and desire to embed a widget on your department webpage, personal webpage, or course site - CLICK HERE - http://twitter.com/about/resources/widgets.


Do you use Facebook to communicate with your students? WHY or WHY NOT?  Do you think interaction through this particular social networking website increases social presence in your professional relationship with students ?


Sincerely,


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

Adopt This Technology - AnswerGarden!

Readers,

Answergarden.com is an amazing brainstorming tool that can be used in training and development sessions, face-to-face and hybrid classrooms, in learning management systems, and in department meetings! It informally gathers your participants' opinions and perceptions about your chosen subject.

Let's try it out! Here's my Answer Garden - http://answergarden.ch/view/13130:

Teaching college students is....... at AnswerGarden.ch.

You can make the AnswerGarden larger or smaller to fit your needs! :) Could you please contribute additional ways to use this technology?

Thanks!

Sincerely,

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

Freebie Friday - Carmex Lip Balm

Readers,


I know that this might not seem like a good deal, but it is a GREAT DEAL! When I am teaching (especially in the summertime and wintertime), my lips become slightly chapped while walking across campus. I always have a tube of Carmex in my briefcase to prepare myself for speaking in front of the classroom. Try some Carmex today!


Click the link to print a coupon for $.35 off of Carmex Lip Balm - LINK.

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

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

Nonverbal Communication in the NBA Finals! - A Neat Classroom Teaching Tool!

Readers,


Last week, I was very excited to receive the following article via e-mail from one of my former students - Dallas' Secret Weapon: High Fives. He was very excited to apply concepts from our interpersonal communication class to the sports environment! Since, I have been watching the NBA finals for the past two weeks, I was VERY excited to receive the article from him.





I think communication and sociology professors who are teaching nonverbal communication principles can use the following video in their face-to-face and online courses. Players in the NBA use positive communication to communicate with their peers, why is it so difficult for faculty? Maybe this will start a trend! :)


Sincerely,


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

Adopt This Technology - Corkboard.Me

Readers,

Recently, I started using corkboard.me for personal brainstorming purposes. I have also been searching for ways to use corkboard.me in face-to-face or online classroom environments.

Here's my current Corkboard - http://corkboard.me/fV3QTNo82u. Could you please contribute ways to use this technology in the higher education setting? Currently, I am thinking of in-class brainstorming sessions and organizing group workloads.

Thanks!

Sincerely,

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

Wandering Wednesday - EmergingEdTech: Engaging Student and Enhancing Learning Outcomes and Internet and Instructional Technologies

Readers,


Today's Wandering Wednesday website is the EmergingEdTech: Engaging Student and Enhancing Learning Outcomes and Internet and Instructional Technologies. I have subscribed to this website's RSS feed for the past year and I enjoy the updates, because they are always informative and educational!


Every weekend, the author researches a relevant topic, writes an article about that topic and then he creates a video focused on his selected topic. Here's an introductory video for his website:

The authors provides his readers with timely posts focused on relevant topics!

His "Posts Index" is very comprehensive and it focuses on the following:
- professional development
- educational technology inside and outside of the classroom
- the future of education technology
- specific technologies and products
- education technology organizations and sites
- special needs students


Check out his website!


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

Emerging from a LONG Break (Was It Really A Break)?

Readers,

Whew! The break between the fall and summer semesters has been filled with reading textbooks, gardening, organizing my home, and preparing for summer courses. Usually I write one or two articles over the break, but scholarly activities did not fill my schedule over the break. :( 

Yesterday, was my first day back in the office and I was excited! Most people leave the office for a few weeks and come back to total chaos, which may include a plethora of voice mail messages, e-mail messages, mail in the department mail box, and post-its filled with handwritten notes about an upcoming meeting or concern. Since, I am never really "away" from the office, I felt like I never left. Here's why:

GOOGLE VOICE:

Everyone who calls my office line has the option to send a text message or to call my Google Voice account to contact me when I am away from the office. However, work/life balance is very important and I only accept these calls within a specified time frame during my Monday through Friday schedule. 

EXCHANGE:

I receive and respond to e-mail messages via my iPad. In addition, all of my Blackboard e-mails are forwarded to my university exchange account and this is VERY handy when I am traveling and I do not have a chance to log in to blackboard.

COMMUNICATION WITH MY DEPARTMENT:

I always check-in with my department head at least one time every two weeks to see if anything new is happening in our wonderful department when I am away.

That's it! Monday was an extremely busy day and I had a long committee meeting and a great conference call with one of my state organizations! If I could just fit a workout activity in my summer schedule, I would experience peace! Perhaps yoga? I need to try the morning yoga class, because it is STILL 88 degrees in Texas and it is 8:30 p.m.

This summer WILL be productive! I cannot wait to "meet" the students in my online courses. :)

Have a great week!

Sincerely,

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

Have You Selected Some Good Books for the Summer? Take a BREAK!

Readers,


I know that many of you are gearing up for the summer and many of us spend A LOT of time teaching, reading, and traveling in June, July, and August. I have a stack of books that I purchased from Barron's Bookstore before they went out of business in Colleyville and most of those books comprise my reading list! 


A Great Website - YourNextRead.com
When I find a book that I really love, I think that I will enter the title of the book on YourNextRead.com. Through this website, you can discover which books are similar to books that you enjoy!

Another Great Website - GoodReads.com
Lats summer, I became very interested in a website titled, Goodreads! This website enables users to rate and write comments about books for which they have an interest. In addition to the ratings, you can sign up for a reviewers list and the publishing companies can send the books to you via mail.

Enjoy your summer! Read some great books! What books do you plan to read this summer?


Oh yeah, I plan to finish reading The Help by the time the movie arrives in this area over the summer. This book is just VERY mentally exhausting! :)


Sincerely,


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

Freebie Friday - Free Dessert from the Cheesecake Factory

Readers,


You need a break! Especially after all of the grading of final examinations and preparing for the next summer session. However, now I am very excited about this freebie for Freebie Friday! For the past three years, I decided to give up all desserts and after Lent this, I gave in to my "sweet habit" again. So, I cannot wait to use this coupon for a free dessert from Cheesecake Factory (for every $30.00 you spend).


Find the coupon here - http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/celebrate/email75.htm.

Yes, more sweets equal more exercise! :) 


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

Ads in Gmail and your personal data - Gmail Help

Readers,


As an avid Gmail user, I am disappointed that we will have color ads in our Gmail accounts now. It's funny, but if you do not read the Google blog or examine other blogs (like Lifehacker), you will not know what is happening to your account. :) Here's a recent article from Lifehacker focused on Gmail ads, "Ads in Gmail and your personal data - Gmail Help". 

What do you think about this new "change"? Happy? Sad? This change actually makes me wonder about the fate of Google Documents? Will they stay or will they go?


Sincerely,

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

Wandering Wednesday's - Professor Josh's Blog

Readers,


This week's Wandering Wednesday is focused on Professor Josh's Blog! Professor job works at Valencia Community College as an Instructional Designer. On his blog, he writes about teaching in Central Florida, education, random information, tech tricks and tips, travel, and teaching. He integrates his blog with Twitter and he features the tweets on his blog. :)

Recently, he posted a video from a recent conference presentation titled, "#SMCEDU Millennials, Social Media, and Education: Connecting With Your Students Webinar". Here's the link to the Webinar - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5uhsCkt2WE&feature=youtu.be.


Follow Professor Josh on Twitter - http://twitter.com/#!/professorjosh


Sincerely,

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

Should the Workplace Adapt to the Millennial Generation?

Readers,


Last semester, I wrote a paper focused on college students' perceptions of work-life balance in their future professions. In this paper, the students stated their opinions regarding work-life balance and many of the students felt that their lives outside of work were more important than their life inside of the workplace. Research indicates that past generations (baby boomers, etc.) feel that their lives inside of the workplace were more important than life outside of the workplace.


Since an increasing number of millennials are currently working and/or preparing to enter the workplace, employers are starting to adapt their human resource policies to this new generation. Last year, one of the most widely read authors on the millennial generation, Dr. Neil Howe, released a book titled, "Millennials in the Workplace".

Although I have not had the pleasure of reading this book (I just added this book to my summer reading list), I strongly believe that this book would help organizational leaders and professors who teach human resources, communication, and sociology courses. 


I understand that some people do not believe that workplace environments should change their policies and procedures to adapt to the new population, but some workplaces are adopting flex-time polices to meet the needs of their millennial employees.

What do you think? Should employers adapt to this new generation? Should the millennial generation adapt to the workplace? Should the process involve both parties adapting to each other?


Sincerely,


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

I Remember 9/11, Do Your Students?

Readers,


In a prior post, "Life After September 11, 2001 - A Millennial's Perspective", I began my reflective journey spanning the past ten years. 


Today, Memorial Day, I think it is a very appropriate day to tell all of you about a great grant opportunity! The YSA's Youth Council and State Farm will support youth and educators across the United States to learn, remember, and honor the 10th anniversary of 9/11 through service projects.


Here's the link - 9/11 Service-Learning Grants


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

Freebie Friday! - Free Sample of Avery Sticky Notes!

Readers,


Every morning and every evening, I follow three steps in my daily routine. Drinking six ounces of water from a BPA free container, checking personal and work e-mail on my iPad, and writing several "to do" items on a sticky note. Usually, I am very particular about the types of sticky notes that I choose to use, but lately I started to try something new, the Avery Sticky Note. I just requested a sample to add to my Avery Sticky Note pack. :) 


Request your sample here - LINK.


Thanks Desi Saving Mom (one of my former graduate assistants and current blog friend)!


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

Life After September 11, 2001 - A Millennial's Perspective...

Readers,


On September 11, 2001, I was a sophomore at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. This day really changed the way that I have chosen to live my daily life. I love traveling and as a student from a small town, I dreamed of studying and traveling aboard. As a result of terrorism concerns and the invention of airport security levels, I have been very apprehensive in traveling beyond the borders of the United States. In fact, a few days ago, I tried to remember how airport travel functioned before September 11, 2001. I could not remember life without baggage scans, actually seeing loved ones upon walking through the airline gates of my destination, and taking large bottles of bottled water (and shampoo, etc.) in my rolling luggage.


One website that was launched slightly before the announcement of the death of Osama bin Laden is "Growing Up in the Shadow of 9/11" through the American University School of Communication. Professor Amy Eisman's Writing for Convergent Media class partners with Gannett's Content one to examine the millennial generation's perceptions of life after 9/11/2001. This would be a great research study! :)

Check out their website here - http://www.growingup9-11.com/


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

Wandering Wednesdays - Center for Teaching, Learning, and Academic Technology at Dillard University

Readers,


Last week, when I was searching for teaching and learning centers. I discovered a blog from the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Academic Technology at Dillard University (an HBCU in New Orleans). First of all, I am a fan of technology AND HBCUs and this blog combines both of my interests!


It seems that the DU CTLAT updates their blog on a daily basis. Their updates include: call for papers for journals and conferences, updates from the diverse issues in higher education, and teaching tips (and resources).


I visit this blog almost every day and it seems that the DU CTLAT updates their blog at least three times a day! :)


Sincerely,


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

Become a Fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook!

Readers,

Become a FAN of Millennial Professor on Facebook! When the Facebook site reaches 50 fans, we will have a drawing for a huge gift pack of Post-It Notes and other neat items for your office/home!

Click here - 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/A-Millennial-Professors-View-of-Higher-Education/116889505062355

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

My Online Academic Portfolio (ePortfolio) via Google Sites! - Dr. Jennifer T. Edwards

Readers,


Over the weekend, I decided to create an electronic academic portfolio using Google Sites. I chose Google Sites because I plan to use the free, online software in the fall for the Professional Communication upper-level communication studies classes). 


Here's the link - http://www.tinyurl.com/drjennifertedwards


Should I include anything else? Is anything missing?


I think that all students should have a competitive chance to obtain a job after graduating from college and it seems that electronic portfolios will help them during their journey.


I have to learn how to use the technology and then actively use the technology for at least two weeks before teaching others how to use the technology! :) Hopefully, by the fall semester, I can help my students develop their own online portfolios! :)


Sincerely,


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

Freebie Friday - Arby's Market Fresh Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad Sandwich

Readers,


I am a huge fan of Arby's Restaurants! Recently, I tried the Market Fresh Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad Sandwich and I loved it! Today's freebie for Friday is a wonderful FREE Market Fresh Grilled Chicken and Pecan Salad! Print your coupon here - LINK.


Thanks Coupon Cravings and Bargain Briana!

Enjoy!


Sincerely,


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

Funding Opportunities - Electronic Links to University Research Office Blogs, etc.

Readers,


I hope to write at least one NSF proposal this year. My colleague and I worked on one of our mutual interests this semester (ECW2011) and I rediscovered my love of renewable energy and sustainability. As communicators, we plan to work with the science department on campus on a program proposal. I am really looking forward to this!


As a result, a large part of my summer break will be spent teaching, researching, and writing grants. Here are some great resources for grant announcements and information focused on grants.:


NMU Grants and Research Blog
http://nmugrantsandresearch.blogspot.com/


Grantopedia: From Proposal to Practice - Research Matters
http://www.grantopedia.com/


Dolores' List of CFPs
http://www.personal.psu.edu/dxf19/blogs/dolores_list_of_cfps/


Office of Research and Sponsored Programs - Appalachian State University
http://www.orsp.appstate.edu/blog


University of Texas at Austin - Research Alerts
http://www.utexas.edu/research/resources/research-alerts


University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Research Support
http://research.unc.edu/news-events/research-support/index.htm


University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill - Funding Opportunities
http://research.unc.edu/news-events/research-support/funding-opportunities/index.htm


Grantwriter's Blog
http://grantwritersblog.blogspot.com/


Enjoy the resources!


Sincerely,


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

Wandering Wednesdays - The Tenure Track Blog Graveyard & Hope

Readers,

For this Wednesday's Wandering blog posts, I decided to look for blogs that fit my current situation....the tenure track. Unfortunately, almost every blog that I encountered did not have current posts. For example, one blog focused on one person's first year, but the person never persisted to the second year of their tenure track blog posts. Here are some examples:

Life on the Tenure-Track for a CJ Prof

http://cjprof.blogspot.com/

Teaching and Service and Scholarship! Oh My!

http://tenuretracknewbie.blogspot.com/

Tenure Track Woman

http://tenuretrackwoman.blogspot.com/

After looking at these forgotten blogs, it makes me wonder about the individuals who started the blogs (mostly women) and their ultimate fate. Did they receive tenure? Did they become stay-at-home mothers? Did they become discouraged in their blogging journey? Unfortunately, these blogs are like forgotten tombstones in a overgrown cemetery. Just left and forgotten without any flowers (blog comments) or mentions (on others' blogs).

Then, I started looking for recent blogs on the tenure track process (updated in the past month).

Communication and Higher Education: Life on the Tenure Track at a Teaching Institution

http://www.commhighered.com/

Balanced Instability: Adventures on the Tenure Track

http://scientopia.org/blogs/gertyz/

On the Fence: A Blog for Indecisive Academics Who are on the Market, or Currently Employed in Academe, But Considering Non-Academic Job Options

http://phd-onthefence.blogspot.com/

Babies, a PhD and Me

http://phd-onthefence.blogspot.com/

Now these blogs were inspiring. Most of them are written by women and most of them focus on work-life balance, a subject for which I have a large interest. I am very excited about following these four blogs focused on the tenure-track journey and I hope you will follow them as well!

Sincerely,

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

Eight Ways to Protect Your Facebook Privacy - A Great Article from USA Today!

Readers,


Recently, I received an e-mail from a colleague from another university in Texas and she was wondering how I handle Facebook friendships with students. I stated that I did not become friends with my current students on Facebook, but I did become friends with students who recently graduated from our communication program. The only exceptions to this rule are students from student organizations whom I advise through service roles at my university.


USA Today's Tech and Trends featured an article titled, "Eight Ways to Protect Your Facebook Privacy". Through this article, readers can discover how to protect themselves from internet hackers and unwanted communication from friends (and those who are not friends) on social networking websites. 


Here are the main privacy suggestions in the article...
1 - Who Can See What
2 - Place Your Friends on Lists
3 - Who Can Find You
4 - Browse Facebook Securely
5 - Who is Logging In as You?
6 - Which Apps Know You?
7 - Even Your Friends' Apps Know You, Too
8 - Who Can Post On Your Wall


Overall, the article is extremely informative and I think the most important part of the article was under the "who is logging in as you" subheading. I was able to look under my privacy settings to discover that my iPad was currently logged on to Facebook (however it states that I am logged in to Facebook in another location). Hmmm... However, great read!


Sincerely,


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

Readers,


I cannot wait to purchase this new device! It is a wireless drive made for iPads, iPhones, and iPod touch devices. This device can store up to 300 movies and I plan to load the device with many of my wonderful photos that are filling my iPad and iPod touch. I wonder will this device store anything besides photos, videos, music, and videos.


We shall see! I think the device will have great educational uses for professors on the go! Access the article here - http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/05/look-ma-no-wires--seagates-new-hard-drive-for-ipad-iphone-and-ipod-touch/1?csp=Tech.


Sincerely,


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