Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Pinterest in Higher Education Series (#PinterestinHigherEd & Wandering Wednesdays) - 3/5 Ways to Use Pinterest in the College Classroom Environment (Gaining Teaching Ideas via Pinterest))




Readers,

This week's Wandering Wednesday post is focused on a local university, Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth. Their Center Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) always has a WEALTH of great and inspiring blog posts - LINK. In November, Amy Collier posted an awesome post titled, "Some Thoughts on Teaching with Pinterest"

In her post, she focuses on the following:

1 - Emphasis on visuals and visual appeal.

2 - Easy collecting and sharing of topics, ideas, and interests.

3 - Easy management and organization of resources.

Here is her teaching and learning board on Pinterest - http://pinterest.com/amcollier/teaching-in-higher-ed/

Thanks for some amazing ideas!

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41
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Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Pinterest in Higher Education Series (#PinterestinHigherEd) - 2/5 Ways to Use Pinterest in the College Classroom Environment (Finding and Organizing Infographics)




Readers,

One way to use Pinterest in Higher Education is to search for and organize infographics! Lately, I have started to use infographics in my upper-level communication classes and also in the Texas Social Media Research Institute's (TSMRI) events/activities.

Now for definitions! A infographic is a pictorial representation of data in a potentially engaging format. <- Hey, I just made that up! ;) 


Personally, I think that infographics will replace conference poster presentations in the next few years! The images seems to be more engaging than a traditional poster format. Which is GREAT for conference presentations, because you want the participants to visit YOUR poster! :) 

Also, students can use their self-created, infographics on blogs and in their in-class presentations. The only downside is the preponderance of ink that might be used to create the "infographic poster".

Pinterest can be used to ORGANIZE your infographics! Here's an example of one user's infographic boards on higher education (among other issues) - http://pinterest.com/hexiaobo/infographics/

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41
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Monday, December 12, 2011

Pinterest in Higher Education Series (#PinterestinHigherEd) - 1/5 Ways to Use Pinterest in the College Classroom Environment





Readers,

This semester, when I needed some downtime outside of the university, I started visiting the Pinterest website on my computer and iPad (thanks Melissa)! One of my students introduced me to this wonderful resource and I have been HOOKED on this pictorial social media networking website.


I always ask my students, "How can you use XYZ website as a scholarly or organizational tool as well as the social tool?" Now, I will have to ask myself the same question, "How can I use Pinterest as a research, classroom-based, or organizational tool?"


This week, I developed a few strategies and activities for using Pinterest as a social networking tool in higher education. Let me know what you think!


Sincerely,


J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41
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Friday, December 9, 2011

Happy Finals Prep-Week! - Treat Yourself at Marriott Properties During the Winter Break!


Readers,

During the break, I plan to accomplish A LOT of tasks! Non-academic tasks include wrapping gifts and placing the ornaments on the tree. Academic tasks include finalizing the spring syllabi, answering students' e-mail, finding grants, and finishing tasks for the Texas Social Media Research Institute (TSMRI). 

Despite the full schedule, I plan to take advantage of some wonderful last minute reservations at a Marriott hotel (or two) during the break. My hotel stay is always relaxing and I am more productive at a Marriott desk than I am at my own desk (whether at work or at home). There are just so many distractions at home and at work! Sometimes, you just have to treat yourself! This is such a funny video!



If you are interested in the Marriott Rewards program, please click this link...

If you need a referral, please let me know! - jennifertedwards@gmail.com

Sincerely,

J. Edwards


Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41
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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Happy Finals Prep-Week! - The Mini-Mental Vacation (Professors and TV Series)




http://blog.hootmag.org/

Readers,

During finals prep week, I allow myself to do SOMETHING to veg out for a few minutes each day! This rest enables me to focus on other activities that comprise my daily mini-mental vacation! Every semester the mini-mental vacation is always focused on a different activity. Past semesters focused on television series (thank Netflix)! I admit, I love Bones, Law and Order, Criminal Minds, and Mad Men! Yes, I have reached the semi-middle-aged threshold that looks forward to the 5pm and 10pm news! 

This year, I focused my efforts on Pinterest (because I do not have time for anything else). :) Next week, I will focus on how college professors can use Pinterest in their classrooms.

Sincerely,

J. Edwards

Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41
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Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Happy Finals Prep-Week/Wandering Wednesdays - Frugal Scholar: Lessons from a Lifetime of Frugality


http://blog.hootmag.org/
Readers,

During this time of year, I am always searching for good deals for Christmas and for the month of January (which is always an economically LEAN month for our household). I am always reading frugal mommy blogs and frugal couple blogs to gain ideas and insight into how our household can save money. Here's my hidden secret, I also spend money on my "mobile classroom" at the beginning of each semester (even throughout the semester). The items that I purchase include the following: post-it notes, markers, in-class incentives, kraft bags for in class activities, books, etc.). 

Now, I am super excited to feature the following frugal professor blog (one of the first that I have ever seen). Introducing the Frugal Scholar Blog - http://frugalscholar.blogspot.com/. This author (who does not identify herself) describes herself as a, "pathologically frugal professor, wife, and mother".
I will definitely follow her blog via Blogger and I cannot wait to discover which subject she teaches and for which university she is employed.

Her recent posts in the months of November/December include:




Enjoy!

J. Edwards
Millennial Professor - Jennifer T. Edwards, Ed.D.
Become a fan of Millennial Professor on Facebook - http://goo.gl/gnN41
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