To write successfully, one needs to know who their target is: that is, their desired or expected readership. Students are more motivated and engaged when their coursework has a purpose. The first step in every writing endeavor is to identify one’s audience. A blog allows you to change and adapt to various readers as your site matures, which is a good thing. Because the journey is the reward, educational blogs have a distinct edge over other forms of content.
When I have public for my blog articles, my students and professors may contribute more information, comments, and suggestions. This may spark learning and growth. Teachers were formerly the audience, but that is no longer the case. The instructor may now assist their pupils in discovering their audiences. This is not a harrowing experience. One may start small and grow up to a worldwide audience that can give a variety of viewpoints over time.
An audience with a genuine connection is a strong tool. Knowing that someone other than the instructor will view their effort might inspire kids to work harder. Students are more motivated and engaged when their coursework has a purpose. It is also possible for readers to give more information and resources, seek answers to inquiries, etc. This may spark learning and growth.
Blogging is a great way to assist your children in learning the digital skills they will need in the future since the conventional classroom is rapidly changing throughout the country. Blogging may be used to bridge the gap between reading and the rest of the curriculum and cover other learning requirements.Https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning?intc=main-topnav. Ed Week Ryan Lanier is a great blog resource for educators and students who want to stay up-to-date on current events in the classroom. By browsing this blog, I may easily obtain professional development packages, e-books, and connections to other educational blogs (Teaching & Learning, 2020).
I have not often thought about my learning style and how I can better my university journey. It feels a little too late to discover it now in a school sense, but I am still very interested in discovering my learning style so that I can take it with me after university. If you’re like me and you’re curious, then continue reading. If you already know your learning style, keep reading. If you don’t fully care about your learning style, I’d say keep reading and maybe you’ll be more interested after.
There are four main types of learning styles: Visual Learners, Auditory Learners, Kinesthetic Learners, and Reading/Writing Learners. I will be giving a brief description of each of the learning styles and a little quiz you can take after to discover your own!
Visual Learners
If you are a visual learner, it means you prefer to learn by seeing items. Whether this is visually looking at maps, graphs, diagrams, charts, or other types of visual representation, that is you. Visual learners do not mean that you respond best to photos or videos. Rather it can mean that you learn better by seeing patterns and shapes as a visual aid.
Auditory Learners
Auditory learners are people that take in information and learn best when they are able to hear the information rather than seeing it. They are people that are more likely to speak their ideas and work out loud versus others that may write their thoughts down. These learners learn best when the information is presented to them in ways that involve talking or listening. If this is you, lecture-style classes may be the best for you!
Kinesthetic Learners
These kinesthetic learners learn best by doing. They enjoy a hands-on experience. Getting to physically work their way through a problem is best for them. Feeling connected to the experience helps them learn better than simply sitting in a room and listening to someone speak. Kinesthetic learners are people that want to experience the new work that they are learning.
Reading/Writing Learners
Reading/Writing learners remember information better when they are able to write it down or read the information. Text is very powerful for this type of learner. They do best getting to read an instruction manual, taking notes as they read, and getting to write down their thoughts as they work. Written assignments are often a strong suit for these types of learners. If this is your style, keep a notebook with you so you are always able to write down new information!
For me, I am an auditory learner. I do well getting to listen to someone explain directions or a new problem. I like to talk out loud to my group about the assignments and discuss how we are going to accomplish the task. I won’t be attending university after this semester, but I will be able to take my learning style with me in my career. I am able to communicate with coworkers and inform them on how I learn and work best, hopefully, they will be able to do the same.
There are a lot of benefits to networking, such as meeting new people and creating meaningful connections. Connections can lead people to find new business opportunities, a rediscovery of shared interests, or even a new friend. For me, networking took the shape of all of those things and more.
While scrolling on Instagram, one day, I stumbled upon the picture of a former coworker sporting a nice varsity jacket with a subtly eye-popping red logo that read “Thirteen 10”. The logo had Japanese characters on both the lower right-hand corner and the upper left-hand corner of the sweater.
I gave the picture a heart shape “like” without giving it a second thought. Then, a couple of days later, the company gave me a “follow” on Instagram. So I followed them back, assuming “they’re going to unfollow me immediately,” but they didn’t. So I then thought, “it’s just a matter of time until they perform the backstabbing action.”
Fast forward a couple of days, the company posted a new design they’re working on. I was instantly intrigued and decided to send them a direct message (DM) inquiring about available sizes. They got back to me within a day. After some small talk about the wrestling companies, I felt comfortable enough to purchase a track jacket.
Then, after a couple of weeks, the track jacket arrived. I was amazed by the quality of the material. I took a picture and sent it to them via DM. To my surprise, they posted the picture of me wearing the jacket; that action made my customer experience even better. While I got praised for how great the jacket fits in the comment section, I noticed that suddenly my following on Instagram began to grow. People from the wrestling community started to follow me, and I followed some of them back.
Fast forward a few years; I have attended some high-profile wrestling shows while proudly sponsoring (without being an athlete) Thirteen 10. I am proud to say that I now help the company expand it in the United States. I’m currently planning a trip to the UK (where Thirteen 10 is based) to explore how I can support the brand to make a significant impact in the wrestling community stateside.
The brand has a ProWrestlingTees website and has gained athlete sponsorships from professional wrestlers such as Will Ospreay, Ricky Knight Jr, and even Heidi Katrina.
According to a Forbes article by Bianca Miller Cole on “Why Networking is Critical to your Career,” it’s essential to change perspectives to learn how to process different ideas and constantly reassess your qualifications. I would’ve never thought that such an insignificant action on social media, such as a simple follow accompanied by a general business inquiry, would turn into reigniting a childhood passion of mine and dramatic hobby/career shift.
It all just goes to show how impactful networking can be and how you never know where life will take you. So why not connect? @ Sergio_2410_.
When critiquing anything as a professional, it is important to separate your personal biases from the overall review so that you can review whatever it is you are reviewing from the most objective place possible. A film review on a popular site in particular should focus on arguing for or against that particular movie based on the merits of the film alone, without outside influence. Well unfortunately, Christy Lemire over at rogerebert.com must have missed this memo entirely with her review of Ghostbusters: Afterlife, a review permeated with the foul stench of bitterness and disdain for the fans of the franchise that it sours any sort of insight that can be found within.
After only the two introductory paragraphs of her review of Afterlife, Lemire launches into another paragraph dedicated to a long tangent on how much she hates Ghostbusters fans. She mentions the chaotic disaster that was the release of the 2016 reboot and her firm beliefs that the only reason anybody criticized the film was because sexist men can’t stand to see women be Ghostbusters, that is unless they trade in the jumpsuits for more revealing outfits and they look hot while they’re doing it. “…it dared to feature women busting ghosts. That’s men’s work! Women are allowed to answer the phone at Ghostbusters headquarters, and they can be possessed by an ancient demon from another dimension as long as they still look sexy, but that’s about it,” Lemire rants.
This flawed, childish even, belief is baffling to me that it was able to make it onto such an esteemed site that was once host to the opinions of Roger Ebert himself, one of the most influential and poetic film critics of all time. Yes, some of the hate thrown towards Ghostbusters (2016) was the result of sexism. But if you look anywhere online or talk to the fans, you will know that much of the hate was the result of the film’s godawful writing. Paul Feig took a comedy masterpiece that excels in dry, deadpan humor with witty writing and tried to remake it (clumsily, might I add) as a slapstick comedy with way too much of a reliance on cheap physical humor and elementary gross-out gags. I could go on about why Ghostbusters (2016) is a failure and an insult, but I digress.
This section of the review tarnishes any points that Lemire may make later on, as it shows that she cannot separate her bitterness towards the 2016 film’s reception from her thoughts on Afterlife as a standalone product. It calls into question whether she truly hated Afterlife, or if she’s simply writing a scathing review so that it bombs at the box office and Ghostbusters fans can feel the disappointment she felt when the 2016 reboot underperformed.
It’s not like she’s not allowed to address the controversy surrounding Ghostbusters (2016), as that was a major talking point surrounding that film’s release. But to approach that controversy in such a simple minded way, with wording that is so rich with seething anger and passive aggressiveness towards the fanbase, is one of the most misguided decisions I’ve seen made by a major critic. It sours anything and everything else you have to say in the eyes of people who disagree with your position on Ghostbusters (2016), ultimately making you a a biased and unreliable source.
Lemire’s review, along with several others, proceed to lambast Afterlife for its frequent nostalgic throwbacks and familiar elements to the original 1984 film, yet they defend Ghostbusters (2016) which suffers from this problem way more than Afterlife could ever dream of. Personally, I adored Ghostbusters: Afterlife. It is true, I am a lifelong fan of the franchise, which also makes me a biased source, but I also watch a lot of movies and am more critical than the average viewer. I need more than just cheap nostalgia and endless references to enjoy a film, which is why movies like Ready Player One and Free Guy were huge duds for me. So speaking as a fan of great films first and Ghostbusters second, let me tell you this: the movie is fantastic. There’s familiar elements and some cheap nostalgic references, sure, but these moments don’t overshadow the lovable characters, fun and spooky atmosphere, wonderful direction/camerawork, and touching moments of heart that pays true respect to the original 1984 film. Unlike Lemire would have you believe, this is a movie crafted with true care for the franchise by Jason Reitman.
Go see it in theaters and show it some love so that we can show these biased critics that their words mean nothing to us once they begin to let their personal feelings overshadow their objective thoughts on the film. And also because Afterlife is just fun as hell and I want you all to have a good time.
The exorbitant price of insulin, a life-saving drug that helps millions of diabetics all around the world live normal lives, has continued to rise as the years have gone on. It has gotten to the point that some diabetics must ration out their insulin or skip doses altogether due to not having enough money to cover the cost. Thankfully, this may be an issue of the past very soon, as two large developments in Washington hint towards a future with more affordable, easier to access insulin.
A recent article from Healio, an online medical journal, reports that the United States House of Representatives has voted to cap insulin prices at $35 a month for Americans who live with diabetes. Social spending bill H.R. 5376, dubbed the Build Back Better bill, was approved by the House by a vote of 220-213. This bill would make it so that Medicare Part D and other healthcare plans can not charge more than $30 a month for a 30 day supply of insulin. Assuming it is approved by the Senate as well as President Biden, this would go into effect starting 2023.
Garnering approval from President Biden should not be an issue however, as an article from Healthline reinforces. Long-time diabetes activist Gail deVore was recently given the opportunity to sit down with Biden and discuss the current nature of the insulin market and what needs to be done to deflate these prices. According to deVore, the meeting went exceptionally well, as they were able to talk and really listen to one another for a full 30 minutes. “He really heard me,” says deVore. “He was so open, so kind, so wanted to make a connection. I honestly believe that his whole heart is in this proposal, and that he can help persuade people on this.” Biden’s comments at a press conference later in the day reaffirmed that he and deVore are on the same page regarding the accessibility of insulin for all Americans, and that he intends to make her dreams a reality during his presidency.
So does this confirm that insulin price hikes are for sure going the way of the Dodo? Well, there are no guarantees yet, but the approval of the House as well as the verbal approval of President Biden sparks good news for the millions of American diabetics being bled dry by the greedy corporations who provide them their insulin. It all comes down to the Senate and their decision regarding the Build Back Better bill to see where the prices of insulin stand in 2023 and beyond. Let us all hope, for the sake of diabetics everywhere, that they make the right decision.
I have never been a big social media poster. I’m the person that will scroll through and like other people’s posts, but I rarely post myself. I haven’t really thought much about why I don’t. I’m not sure if it’s because my mom posts often on Facebook (for a couple of years straight she bought a “Facebook Book” that was a photo album of all your posts for the year, so she documented everything she/we did) or because my brother got rid of most social media (kept Twitter) and never posts. I have just never been one to post on social media, although at times I would like to. I recently started to think more about why I don’t post even when I want to. I don’t really want to commit to saying that I get “social media anxiety” but that could be part of it. We’ve all heard that social media can affect your mental health. It can cause FOMO (Fear of Missing Out), you may feel inadequate in your own life, and it can even cause you to feel more alone.
For me, I worry about how many likes I get. For example, if I don’t get a certain amount of likes, it means people don’t like me. When it comes to friends and family, I know that that is not true. I have amazing loving and supportive friends and family, so why do I worry about how many likes I get on a post? Shouldn’t social media be for you and not cause you to worry about it? I think it should, but that is not the case for many people.
I recently heard on a podcast I like that the host, Alex Cooper, is turning off her likes and comments on Instagram. She’s doing it mainly for all the hate comments she gets sent, but also says that she’s doing it for herself. She got caught photoshopping a photo and was aggressively called out for it. There were multiple viral TikTok’s addressing the photoshopping. She also got messages on Instagram from people saying they hate her for photoshopping and telling her to kill herself.
Hearing about the ability to turn off likes got me interested and thinking more about it. If I turned off the likes I get on my post, would that make me feel more confident in posting?
When you turn off your “likes” on a post, you can still see who’s liked the post, but others can’t see. On Instagram, it will say “Liked by @username and others” so other people won’t be able to see how many people liked the post, but you still will know. But will turning off your likes big be as big of a benefit as some people think?
Sophia Choukas-Bradley, an assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences, says that this may be a step in the right direction, but they do not believe that will be a majorly transformative change. Jeff Hancock, founding director of the Stanford Social Media Lab, also agrees. “Do I think it’s going to have a huge impact on mental health? I don’t think so”. Not many professionals think that this is going to be a huge drastic change to people’s mental health when they use social media. They all say that it is a step in the right direction. That there are some problems to work out with getting rid of the likes feature, such as being able to apply it to all posts and not individual posts.
I believe that this is a step in the right direction and a good one for Facebook and Instagram. For me being able to apply that feature will ease my mind more of thinking people will judge me for knowing my post didn’t get thousands of likes.
Laura Parker states the following facts in this article “The world’s plastic pollution crisis explained” published in National Geographic:
The manufacturing of half of all the world’s plastics has occurred within the last 15 years. From the years 1950 to 2015, the production of plastics has increased by 445 million tons. This production is expected to DOUBLE in amount by 2050. Parker claims, “That’s the equivalent of setting five garbage bags full of trash on every foot of coastline around the world.” Additives added to make the plastics product more flexible and durable also extend the life of the products, taking at least 400 years to break down.
Parker states that 8 million tons of plastic waste escapes into the ocean each year.
Plastic pollution is harmful and deadly to marine life.
Due to plastic pollution, millions of animals are killed every year. The animals effected are: seabirds, fish, marine turtles, large cetaceans, seals, whales, and even zooplankton.
Ingestion of plastics, entanglement, and strangulation by plastics are common ways marine animals suffer and/or die from the pollution.
Scientists and conservationists state the solution of plastic pollution is to PREVENT plastic waste from entering rivers and seas in the first place. Laura Parker continues in the National Geographic article that prevention “could be accomplished with improved waste management systems and recycling, better product design that takes into account the short life of disposable packaging, and reduction in the manufacturing of unnecessary single-use plastics”. In Britannica, Charles Moore offers another preventative solution in the article “Plastic Pollution” which involves prohibitive measures such as fines for littering and bans on single-use plastics. Moore advocates for the increase of biodegradable plastics and the embracing of a “zero waste” philosophy.
It’s Time to Demand the End of Plastic Pollution
The environmental organization of Green Peace is declaring that major corporations must take responsibility for the solution. Major corporations must not exceed its current plastic waste production, set reduction target dates, and invest in reusable systems.
Green Peace is a leader in the Reuse Revolution, and it is time for us to join them.
Image from breakfreefromplastic.org
Add your name to the “Break Free From Plastic” campaign to help stop plastic pollution.
Those of you that know me will probably look at the title of my blog “role your eyes” and think I am a hypocrite. The reason why you would do that is because you probably saw me eating a burger the other day which 99% percent of the time is plant based but I do admit I have a turkey burger here and there and chicken more then I probably should.
Now you are probably asking yourself why would I create this blog then? Well, my answer to that question is I have a goal of eventually going completely vegetarian within the next year. Also, during my research on plant-based diets I’ve discovered a lot of things about meat consumption that I didn’t know, and think should be shared with everyone like me that is wanting to change.
The Answer is Yes!
If you are on the fence about if you should stop or slow your meat consumption, I say no time is sooner than the present. As a matter of fact, after thinking about this deeper I myself (as I am writing this) am thinking of accelerating my goal to do it sooner than the original plan.
So how can I eat more vegetables and help save the planet?
Well, lucky for us meat eaters that are on the fence with our diets wanting to make a change there are now plenty of non-meat options out there to help us transition. If you haven’t had a “Beyond Meat burger”, I suggest you check it out! Most grocery stores now sell packages of plant-based meat that you can use for grilling, baking, or even frying that tastes exactly if not better than beef or chicken. These meat substitutes are packed with the proteins that beef gives you and fiber and vitamins of vegetables it is truly the best of both worlds!
Also, if you are on a budget like me, I shop at Aldi for my raw fruits and veggies their prices are amazing (about 1/3 the prices of Cub or Walmart) and the product is great! This change in your diet will not only help us cut down on “Carbon emissions,” protect our ozone layer, and slow the acceleration of climate change on of our planet, it will help you become a healthier better you!
Sure, there are plenty of examples of how technology has made life easier, more convenient, and has proven to be helpful, but has it made us smarter? I would like to argue that technology has, in fact, NOT made us smarter but the opposite.
Technology has made life too easy, too convenient, and too helpful. Yes, it helps us navigate unfamiliar streets, find that perfect cookie recipe, diagnose ourselves (often inaccurately) online, and it got us to the moon, but what effect has it had on us cognitively, physically, and psychologically?
The article “What is Brain Plasticity and Why is it so Important?” from the news organization called The Conversation talks about Neuroplasticity – or brain plasticity – which is the ability of the brain to modify its connections or re-wire itself. The article describes why neuroplasticity is important to the development of the brain, but the takeaway for the sake of this blog is – your brain is a muscle. Like our physical muscles, the motto “use it or lose it” applies.
For example, since our brain has the ability to rewire, we are losing that self-navigational ability. Raise your hand if you’ve consistently used the GPS to get to the same location.
Due to the over-use of technology, it has caused us to reduce physical activity (leading to obesity and related health issues), to have poorer posture (which can lead to musculoskeletal issues), sleep problems, and eye strain.
Jon Johnson wrote in his article published by the newsletter Medical News Today, “Negative Effects of Technology: What to Know”, that technology can lead to isolation. He wrote “A 2017 study in young adults aged 19–32 years found that people with higher social media use were more than three times as likely to feel socially isolated than those who did not use social media as often.”
The convenience of technology has made us over-reliant on its use. In some cases, this has turned into an addiction. The use of technology can be addicting. It can be distracting. It can make us less productive. We retain less information. It affects our concentration. It has a negative impact on our social skills. It intrudes upon classroom learning.
Considering these factors, we can conclude that although technology can be useful, it is making us dumber.
Since the scientific breakthrough of insulin discovery in 1921, people diagnosed with diabetes have been able to lead happy, healthy lives. Diabetes is a disease that effects the pancreas, where it’s either producing little to no insulin (Type 1) or not enough insulin to keep up with the body’s carbohydrate intake (Type 2). Thankfully, those who discovered insulin refused to profit off of their groundbreaking discovery and sold their patent for only $1. Unfortunately, large medical corporations have taken control of the insulin distribution industry, and have monetized the drug to a degree that leaves some diabetics unable to afford the drugs they need to survive.
According to a report from the World Health Organization (WHO), the staggering truth is that 1 in 2 people in the world who depend on insulin do not receive it due to the staggering prices that the drug has reached. Many diabetics have reported skipping or rationing out their insulin doses just to ensure they have enough until they have sufficient funds for their next prescription. The insulin price hikes are even more devastating in low and middle-income countries. Three out of four people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes live outside of the United States or Europe, yet only make up 40% of total insulin sales.
Hope is not fully lost, however. WHO has a plan to lower these prices and ensure that diabetics do not have to choose between money or their health. WHO suggests a boost in human insulin production as well as biosimilars, which are cheaper and easier to produce than the synthetic insulin that is more costly and is currently dominating the market. They also suggest diversifying manufacturing to raise the competition within the industry and begin to deflate the prices. WHO also recommends regulations on price mark-ups, as well as promotion of insulin production in the lower income countries.
WHO has entered talks with those within the industry on their strategy, and things are beginning to look up. Policies have been drawn up that would improve the access to insulin biosimilars, as well as access to other diabetic management supplies such as glucose meters, test strips, and diagnostic tools. If efforts continue to move in the right direction, insulin affordability can become an issue of the past for millions of people around the world, such as myself, fighting this disease.
MDST 485 Class Blog 