Learning and The Tools We Use

1. Remind us of the learning tool you tried out. Tell us about how that tool helped your learning or did not help your learning.

I tried out the Everynote. I must say that this really was a great tool to use while on the go. I added it to my phone that way I could post "notes" from my cell. That was very helpful. I decided to use it while shopping and trying to get Christmas gift ideas. I also used it for trying to find Thanksgiving recipes.
It was easy to use and fun! It really is an amazing tool!

However the only thing is I can ADD while on the go... but I can't access it while on the go. Which was the only down fall... also it was useful for school but again... hard to access it right away unless you have the fancy Iphone... which I don't.

So overall I would suggest using this tool for personal use and when doing major research (which I used for my paper also). However taking it on the go is the only problem.



2. Reflect on the learning environment changes we made in our class. Which learning environment helps you learn better? Why? How can that learning environment be improved? If you have additional comments, please provide them. Your feedback could help future classes.

I really liked the "visual" aspect of the learning environment. By showing us videos I was able to retain a lot more information than by just reading or having someone "lecture" us.

I also enjoyed the presentations! I actually remember what EVERYONE did and showed us. It was fun and I was able to learn a lot more.

I think my personality and my style of learning is very much visual and "interactive"... so FOR ME it was a great improvement.

xoxo
-B-

Long Tail Assignment

The Wiki would not allow me to send a message OR post so I am blogging about my Long Tail assignment.

The List:

Colbie Caliat - Music Artist
Precious (The Movie) supported by Oprah
The Hunger Games Series by Suzanne Collins
LonelyGirl15
TheTwilightGuy.com
StarKidPotter (Youtube Channel)


-Brandi-

Learning, Education, and Research

Upon going to the library for this assignment I found it very difficult to hunt down any RECENT news on Zimbabwe. In fact, I was unable to find anything. Not going to lie, I gave up 30 minutes into the assignment realizing I wasn't going to find much if anything at all.

However using the Internet I was able to get much more. From videos, to photos, to some articles. Some from 2007 and I am not sure how much from this year, however it was much faster and much more up-to-date.

1. What advantages did you find by backgrounding the story without using the internet?

Honestly, in my opinion there really wasn't any benefit other than learning how to use the library thoroughly.


2. What disadvantages did you find by backgrounding the story without using the Internet?

It took much longer. Also the things in the library were not up-to-date or the most recent news. It was very much like being in a dark room with no light trying to read.


3. What advantages did you find by backgrounding the story with using the internet?

I could be more specific with my research. I could type in dates, places, locations, etc. and have thousands of things pop up on the search engine. It is faster and very convenient. On top of that you can find many more medias such as news articles, videos, photos, and more.


4. What disadvantages did you find by backgrounding the story with using the Internet?

Sometimes I would type in what I wanted and other things come up. Also when I wanted the most recent some of the stuff was from 2007, so that was a little difficult. But I could easily revise my search and find other things to benefit me. I really didn't know what I was suppose to be looking for other than stuff on Zimbabwe but I think I was able to get enough research.


5. Was there information that you only found with one method?

Yes, I was only able to find information on Zimbabwe using the Internet. I had no luck with using the library (which is the only way I knew how to research without using the Internet). I gave up pretty quickly. (sorry).


Below are some links I found.

http://www.videosift.com/video/Zimbabwe-2007-Undercover-Report-On-Growing-Civil-Unrest


http://newshopper.sulekha.com/slideshow/political-and-civil-unrest/860476.htm


http://www.kubatanablogs.net/kubatana/?m=200903


http://www.newsdesk.org/archives/005590.html


http://www.zwnews.com/


http://www.irinnews.orgProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

FAfrica-Country.aspx?Country=ZW

Learning, Education, and Research

Upon+going+to+the+library+for+this+assignment+I+found+it+very+difficult+to+hunt+down+any+RECENT+news+on+Zimbabwe.+In+fact%2C+I+was+unable+to+find+anything.+Not+going+to+lie%2C+I+gave+up+30+minutes+into+the+assignment+realizing+I+wasn%27t+going+to+find+much+if+anything+at+all.%0D%0A%0D%0AHowever+using+the+Internet+I+was+able+to+get+much+more.+From+videos%2C+to+photos%2C+to+some+articles.+Some+from+2007+and+I+am+not+sure+how+much+from+this+year%2C+however+it+was+much+faster+and+much+more+up-to-date.%0D%0A%0D%0A1.+What+advantages+did+you+find+by+backgrounding+the+story+without+using+the+internet%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AHonestly%2C+in+my+opinion+there+really+wasn%27t+any+benefit+other+than+learning+how+to+use+the+library+thoroughly.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A2.++What+disadvantages+did+you+find+by+backgrounding+the+story+without+using+the+Internet%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AIt+took+much+longer.+Also+the+things+in+the+library+were+not+up-to-date+or+the+most+recent+news.+It+was+very+much+like+being+in+a+dark+room+with+no+light+trying+to+read.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A3.+What+advantages+did+you+find+by+backgrounding+the+story+with+using+the+internet%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AI+could+be+more+specific+with+my+research.+I+could+type+in+dates%2C+places%2C+locations%2C+etc.+and+have+thousands+of+things+pop+up+on+the+search+engine.+It+is+faster+and+very+convenient.+On+top+of+that+you+can+find+many+more+medias+such+as+news+articles%2C+videos%2C+photos%2C+and+more.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A4.+What+disadvantages+did+you+find+by+backgrounding+the+story+with+using+the+Internet%3F%0D%0A%0D%0ASometimes+I+would+type+in+what+I+wanted+and+other+things+come+up.+Also+when+I+wanted+the+most+recent+some+of+the+stuff+was+from+2007%2C+so+that+was+a+little+difficult.+But+I+could+easily+revise+my+search+and+find+other+things+to+benefit+me.+I+really+didn%27t+know+what+I+was+suppose+to+be+looking+for+other+than+stuff+on+Zimbabwe+but+I+think+I+was+able+to+get+enough+research.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A5.+Was+there+information+that+you+only+found+with+one+method%3F%0D%0A%0D%0AYes%2C+I+was+only+able+to+find+information+on+Zimbabwe+using+the+Internet.+I+had+no+luck+with+using+the+library+%28which+is+the+only+way+I+knew+how+to+research+without+using+the+Internet%29.+I+gave+up+pretty+quickly.+%28sorry%29.%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0ABelow+are+some+links+I+found.%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.videosift.com%2Fvideo%2FZimbabwe-2007-Undercover-Report-On-Growing-Civil-Unrest%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fnewshopper.sulekha.com%2Fslideshow%2Fpolitical-and-civil-unrest%2F860476.htm%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.kubatanablogs.net%2Fkubatana%2F%3Fm%3D200903%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.newsdesk.org%2Farchives%2F005590.html%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.zwnews.com%2F%0D%0Proxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

0D%0A%0D%0Ahttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.irinnews.org%2FAfrica-Country.aspx%3FCountry%3DZW%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A%0D%0A

NPR

Making a profit.

I just Twotted all over the place....

First of all,
Epic fail on my part for not adding #intsoc to some of my posts on Twitter, but oh well.

Now on to the blog.

I have been using Twitter for quite sometime now and I have found it very useful on many levels. This weekends assignment has only shown me just how useful it really is.

Yes, I must admit I do post random things and I can honestly not tell you why. I just do.
However, this weekend I was able to communicate with family, friends, and fellow classmates easily.

From Swine Flu updates to what we are doing for Thanksgiving, I was able to create a connection with many people at once rather than a simple text to each one.

This weekend has only refreshed my mind on Twitter.

Some people do not comprehend the purpose of Twitter, and at first I didn't either. I mean it is a constant status update.

However, I have come to realize it connects me with all my friends and family. It is just another way to communicate and another tool to use in marketing.

From Trending Topics to #intsoc it can be used in many formats. Classes, personal, family, etc.

Twitter is a great tool and you can be assured I will continue to use it.

xoxo
-B-

5 Ways I Use the Internet

The internet has been a part of my life ever since I was very young. Over the years I have grown with it and learned from it. Today I use it in several different ways, from school assignments to goofing around on myspace it has become a bigger part of my life than I thought it could.

First, I use it to keep in touch with all my family and friends.
When I was younger my family and I moved around a lot and because of myspace and facebook I have been able to keep in touch with friends from 8th grade or my freshmen year of high school.
Also, my mother lives in California and we chat frequently online on facebook. We leave each other comments and message each other, and we are also able to keep track of each others "emotions" because of the status bar.
For example, I mentioned once on Facebook that "I am not having a good day". My mom saw that and contacted me to see if I was okay.
Its just a nice way to stay in constant contact even if I only see her in person 2 or 3 times a year.

Second, I use it for school. MSU and the Mass Communications department demands a lot of researching and the internet has helped me retrieve a lot of useful information for several projects and stories. From dictionaries online, to news stories, and even language translators the internet is a valuable resource I use often.

For the third I would say I use the internet for entertainment. I read some fanfictions as well as play games. When I have spare time and television just won't cut it, I turn to the computer for some amusing activities. From games with people who are connected online (such as WOW and Halo) to reading. It keeps me entertained.

I also use the internet to promote my review segment called Life After Twilight where I review the latest YA novels on the market. I also promote books and talk entertaining news. Because of Youtube, Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, and wordpress I have learned so much about broadcasting, advertising, and promotions. It is not only a fun hobby I have but a great ability I can use when I leave college and go into my career.

Finally, the internet plays a big role at my work place. We use Myspace, Wordpress, Twitter, Facebook, and email to promote our photography studio. Not just our studio, we use the internet to create advertising for different photography sessions we have and special offers we have. Due to all the social networks out there we have been able to connect with people we normally would not be able to in person. We blog everyday almost and stay in contact with regular clients. These social networks have brought uProxy-Connection: keep-alive
Cache-Control: max-age=0

down to a more personal level.

Well, those are the 5 ways I use the internet!

Fascinating right?

xoxo
-B-