Technology That Empowers Me

I will have to concede there is some technology that empowers me. For instance, my math class is 90% online. It gives me the freedom to get ahead and teach myself. There are tutors available to clarify concepts. I was able to get through Math 950 in seven weeks and I'm halfway through Math 990.

Throughout the semester I completed a module a week online that includes taking notes and completing homework. I relied heavily on the study guide to get me through Math 950. Additionally, if I wanted to retake a quiz, the program formulates homework based on the concepts I missed. The program has it's flaws but I still think it's sound.

Before I started the math program I was warned by my friends and acquaintances that Weber State University has the hardest math programs around. That did not help my anxiety about math. Although I invested a ton of time it was worth it and empowering.

I hate it when people show up late for no reason

I showed up to a group meeting for my English class and everyone was late for various circumstances. One person decided to sleep in and has either showed up to class late or late to groups meeting consistently.  I think there is several factors into why I hate people coming late to appointments/meetings. First, I feel for the most part, I grew up in a generation where people expected to be on time. I also think having a military background where you're expected to be 15 minutes early to meetings/appointments is another factor. Furthermore, I worked in legal offices where we helped commanders give military members various forms of administrative actions for being late. It is literally a crime in the military to be late.

I think it's a crime of thoughtlessness when civilians show up late. It robs me of precious time with my family. My oldest daughter literally cried this last weekend because I'm gone so much.  It's hard not to take it personally.

I understand there is valid reasons and explanations as to why people are late. Things are made worse when people just sleep in and don't seem to care. It also makes it worse when people put themselves down over being late. It's the last thing I want to hear when I know the tardiness could affect my grade on a group project. It's been a long week winding down the summer semester. I should have put a disclaimer before I started this post that I'm cranky.

No Screen Week

No Screen Week

I think it would be easy to live without a computer and phone for a week. In the past 10 years I have had a cell phone for a total of 4 years due to work requirements. I hate being “tethered” to my cell phone and would enjoy the freedom for a week. I would miss reading the news and keeping up on what’s going on in the world.

I had an experience in 1985 when Hurricane Gloria hit Massachusetts and my family and I had no electricity. We cooked on a campfire and there was no TV to distract us for a week. I think everyone should unplug from their screens and let life slowdown.

Writing a Thesis Statements in 3 Steps

Writing a Thesis Statements in 3 Steps

       1. Make the topic specific: Children

2     2.  Continue with a debatable phrase: Are being robbed by technology

3     3. Explain the significance: Proving immersion in technology is harmful

 Children’s social skills are being robbed by technology due to constant immersion in technology.

Show how socializing is affected in a paragraph

Show how attention spans are affected

Show how physical activity is affected

Shows how education is affected (Watch Digital on class blog)

Writing a Thesis Statements in 3 Steps

1.       Make the topic specific: Children

2.       Continue with a debatable phrase: Are being robbed by technology

3.       Explain the significance: Proving immersion in technology is harmful

 Children’s social skills are being robbed by technology due to constant immersion in technology.

Show how socializing is affected in childhood

Show how attention spans are affected                                                        

Show how physical activity is affected

Shows how education is affected (Watch Digital on class blog) Children who are heavy media users have poor grades.[F1] 

Introduction

According to a New York Times article in January of 2010, If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online, the average young American, ages 8-18, spends over 7 ½ hours a day using technology devices. (why) Many of them are multitasking with these technology devices packing in an astonishing average of 11 hours of media contact into those 7 1/2 hours.  Further, the authors of the study did not include the combined two hours of texting and talking on a cell phone because it’s not considered by them as media use. Subsequently, children’s social skills are being robbed by technology due to constant immersion in technology.  [F2] 

What is the topic? Beyond naming the paper, going general and going specific

Why is there a debate? Give two sides

Why should people care even if they are completely removed? Society issue

equaling 2 ½ hours of music, almost 5 hours of TV and movies, 3 hours of internet and video games, and just 38 minutes of traditional reading according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, which adds up to 75 hours a week.  

Sources

Children and Computers: New Technology. Old Concerns: This article from Princeton gives a historical context to studies done with children and technology. Talked about the harmful effects of TV and children. See note 47

Nicholas Carr, who argued in ''The Shallows'' that Web use practically causes brain damage, told PBS that technology is ''pushing even more distractions and interruptions on us'' and thus will never ''return to us our attention span.

Negative Effects of Technology on Children; http://www.personal.psu.edu/djw5068/assignment%205.html

If Your Kids Are Awake, They’re Probably Online http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html

Generation M2: Media in the Lives of 8- to 18-Year-Olds is the third in a series of large-scale, nationally representative surveys by the Foundation about young people’s media use.  The report is based on a survey conducted between October 2008 and May 2009 among a nationally representative sample of 2,002 3rd-12th grade students ages 8-18, including a self-selected subsample of 702 respondents who completed seven-day media use diaries, which were used to calculate multitasking proportions.

http://kff.org/other/event/generation-m2-media-in-the-lives-of/

"The Children of Cyberspace: Old Fogies by Their 20s - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/10/weekinreview/10stone.html?scp=1&sq=technology%20children&st=cse .

"If Your Kids Are Awake, Theyre Probably Online - NYTimes.com." The New York Times - Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/20/education/20wired.html?scp=3&sq=tv%20obesity&st=cse .

"Kids and Electronics: New Study Shows Kids Spend More Than 7 Hours a Day With Electronics - ABC News." ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Politics, Online News, World News, Feature Stories, Celebrity Interviews and More - ABC News. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://abcnews.go.com/WN/kids-electronics-study-shows-kids-spend-hours-day/story?id=9616699 .

"Kids Eat Hefty Number of Calories While Watching TV." Stanford News. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://news-service.stanford.edu/news/2004/july7/med-tv-obesity-77.html .

"NACHRI & N.A.C.H. | Childhood Obesity Statistics and Facts." NACHRI & N.A.C.H. | HOME. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.childrenshospitals.net/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Site_Map3&TEMPLATE=/CM/ContentDisplay.cfm&CONTENTID=49561 .

"Obesity and Overweight for Professionals: Childhood | DNPAO | CDC." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html .

"Television." California State University, Northridge. Web. 21 Mar. 2010. http://www.csun.edu/science/health/docs/tv&health.html

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 [F1]Build these and come back to  Intro

 [F2]Save as a bridge or transition

My headaches with privatized housing in the military.

For the last coupe of years, all Air Force housing has been privatized in the continental U.S. This means a private company is now the landlord. This was done to bring housing up to standards because there was not enough money for the Air Force to do it.

While stationed in Arizona I moved into a new home from a dilapidated old home. I had to sign lead and asbestos waivers to live in that old home.

In comparison, the old house that I live in now is falling apart and is in worse condition than the previous old one. When I first moved in I tripped over broken concrete and lose paver stones left in the backyard. I did not see them under the snow and I fell and split my knee open the day I moved in. I stopped counting stitches after 12 and to top it off I ended back in the ER on Christmas morning because of a bone infection. My knee has never been the same, it still has issues.

From that day on, it has been a battle to get things repaired. It took 4 weeks to get my swamp cooler fixed only to find out the roof is leaking too. My ceiling dropped 2 inches in the hallway from rain. I was told a contractor would come and look at the roof on Friday. This follows the mantra of the military "Hurry up and wait" So far no one has inspected the roof. and I'm worried about mold. We also have an invasion of ants. I think my house was built on ant hill.....a giant one.

In all seriousness, military members and veterans need to be treated better.

Why I chose Weber State

While I was in the military every part of my life was structured and I was told what to do as well as how and when to do it. Making the decision to go to school without my familiar structured life was not easy.

I considered many factors before making my decision. I first looked at schools in different geographic areas. I finally narrowed down my decision to the state of Utah. I have property and family there. Before the military, I worked as an auto mechanic and state inspector in Utah. I figured if school did not work out I could work for my old boss.

Since I joined the Air National Guard, I'm still allowed to live on a Air Force base. The housing on Hill Air Force base fit my budget. That's about all it fits. I also love northern Utah and the outdoors.

Finally, I looked for a military friendly school and found Weber State University. Specifically, the Veterans Upward Bound program had me sold. To my surprise, the program is funded by the department of education. I'm able to get guidance for school as well as tutors.

Although the decision to chose a school was difficult, it has been the best decision of my life. It has been my dream to finish my education. I challenge everyone who reads this to get out of their comfort zones and pursue their own dreams.

What would I advocate for?

I took a class to help me transition from the military to a civilian life. During the class I was handed a magazine that indicated Weber State University was one of the top hundred military friendly schools. When I registered for the fall semester I was told the Veterans Office does not consider some of the automotive classes as full time. The classes are five hours a day, five days a week. I would like to advocate for student veterans, especially those wanting to learn the automotive trade. My automotive degree will now be delayed for a year because some classes are only offered in the fall. I do not want see other veterans go through this or avoid the program all together.