Entry 7

   Using multimedia tools in order to get a message across is the newest greatest thing. It is so exciting having so many ways to get a point across, help people learn, or keep everyone updated. One example that came to my mind immediately was the Winter Web Cam. My whole family has been in love with this dolphin since the first movie. My son HAD to see Dolphin Tale 2 when it came out. Once we left the movie, he said it was a motivational movie that made him want to get a job as a Marine biologist to help save animals. This is coming from a seven year old boy, who spends most of his days having all his toys fight and shoot things. One of the best aspects about the movie, other than the actual story of course, is the communication the fans can have with the dolphin. If you haven't seen the movie, the children put together a fundraiser to save the aquarium. By using multimedia, they are able to bring in hundreds of people to the event and even more online were watching. One of the tools they used was a webcam (found at http://www.seewinter.com/animals-exhibits/meet-animals/live-web-cams-0). The children set the webcam up so that online viewers could actually watch the dolphin swim around the tank at their leisure. For children like my son, this was absolutely amazing. The dolphin in the movie came to life to him and gave him motivation to research sea life. Multimedia tools give us all the opportunity to get information out, without too much trouble. The one thing I always try and point out is the use of moderation. No matter how much technology improves our lives, it is important to keep in mind that our purpose in life is to love one another and help each other grow. Although technology allows us to do this, it also can distract us. I came across a picture awhile back that I love to share.

If we are not careful, media will change us too much. Things like the Winter Web Cam are amazing, but human interaction is just as important.

 

Entry 6

               Have you ever known a person who, to you, seems just perfect? A person whose physique, intelligence, energy, and kindness makes you wonder if they were from a different planet? Rachael Wunderlich is a person like this. Not only is she a mother of three, Marine Corps spouse, and avid community volunteer, but she is also the creator of the blog called Adventures in Wunderland.  This nominee of the Marine Corps Spouse of the Year Award is not only successful with her personal life, but also as a blogger. She has a fetching way of organizing her information into sections that are appealing to the eye and mind.
              Rachael is talented in her ways of presenting her information so that it is not only educational, but creative and understandable as well. I do not have a hard time searching through her categories or understanding her posts. She isn't geared towards one idea only, but multiple areas of interest for any type of woman. She has interesting articles about décor, parenting, career advice and tips, cooking, and of course the military lifestyle. Her website is beautifully done and easy to follow.
              I feel that Rachael's best practice is the organization and appeal of her page. The overall layout is well arranged. Her pictures are impressive and her "to-do" ideas have step by step instructions with pictures as well. Nothing she writes is offensive or over the top. Her writing is very professionally written and accurate, from my perspective. Her diverse content allows her to maintain a steady flow of information.
            The best practices that Rachael follows is the same steps that would help other bloggers create a blog that is well put together and excellently maintained. When creating a blog, it is important to read many other blog sites to see what the other writers are doing. By reading other sites, you have the ability to see not only how well they have their page organized, but if it is working  in regards to gaining a fan base. The function of the blog should be very clear and concise so that the readers know what type of blog they are following and what information they will be looking for in the future. Even a site that has many areas of interest can be clear when it comes to showing the audience what you are into.
    Rachael's blog can be found at http://adventuresinwunderland.com/.
   

Entry 5

Shannon Duncan                                                                                        FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
555-555-5555                                                                                              JANUARY 23, 1012
Shannon.duncan@sportsnews.net                   

 

Coach, Mentor, and Legend, Joe Paterno Dies at Age 85

              As a child I remember being in sports and looking up to my coaches. As I grew older, those coaches became people who I relied on for guidance and clarity not only on the field, but in my life. A coach is not merely a person who teaches a skill. Coaches are leaders to a group of children or adults who need to learn about teamwork, dealing with adversity, and overcoming obstacles. Joe Paterno was exactly this person. He not only led a team to victory, but he led college students into life.

              Paterno died, at age 85, Sunday after battling lung cancer. The loss of this legend was a hard hit for Pennsylvania State College, the fans, and of course the students. Once the news of his death spread, there was an impromptu vigil held at the football field. He was such an admired person in the area, the local creamery named and ice cream flavor after him, peachy Paterno. He created a team that became known by all, which in turn caused the stadium to grow to hold its new fans. He was a fixture at the college that no one believed would go away, as if they felt he was immortal.

              His name became even more famous by the controversy that some believe tarnished his legacy. In 2002, he was told by a then graduate student that Jerry Sandusky was sexually assaulting young boys in the locker room. Paterno did what he thought was best and handed the situation over to people he thought would take care of it correctly. In an article from the Washington Post, Paterno said “I backed away and turned it over to some other people, people I thought would have a little more expertise that I did. It didn’t work out that way.” His decision ultimately led to the end of his career in 2011 after an amazing 46 seasons and only three games before that season would end.

              There were a lot of different sides to this story. Some believed that this well-known coach had way too much power. While others thought he had done something and that was good enough. One long-time fan Steve Shaffer, who was there for Paterno’s first win as head coach, stated that when Paterno was fired due to his decision to not alert authorities, “the whole thing was like finding out there’s no Santa Clause.”

              Paterno was not only known for his stellar coaching record, but his generosity.  During his tenure, the Paterno family donated over $4 million dollars to the school to assist with buildings and scholarships. As a coach with a degree in English Literature, he had a unique lifestyle compared to his fellow collegiate coaches. In fact, his different ways of coaching is what many believe caused the team to be so different.               

Facebook Post
Coach, Mentor, and Legend, Joe Paterno Dies at Age 85. #46 Seasons

Entry 4

The first website I worked with was google hangouts. I honestly have not used most social media tools, so it was not hard to pick sites to play with. I am only familiar with Facebook and Linkedin. After looking at the google hangouts, I feel that it is a useful site. This site is used for multiple reasons including chatting live online, uploading videos, and being able to have a conversation while seeing the person on the other end.  Most people are already using google, so it would be easy to add friends, colleagues, and family. Most important factor is that you can use google hangouts from any device, whether it be an android phone, Microsoft computer, or any iOS device.  I found more about google hangouts, you can visit https://plus.google.com/hangouts.

Prior to moving, I worked for the Marine Corps Reserves. As time passed, we had to make cuts because of all the budget issues. Part of the cuts included travelling for workshops and trainings. There was a lot of stress trying to figure out how to train people. GoToWebinar seems like a fantastic tool for situations like that. Although it is not a free resource, the pros to using it seem worth the financial input. GoToWebinar is a user friendly site and the tools to create a fun, creative, and educational meeting seem very enticing. In all honestly, the price ($79 and up) seemed quite fair for the amount of amenities the website offers. Not only can you invite up to 1000 people, but you can archive a webinar and post a link to your website. As the host, you are also able to gather data from the participants and find out how well your webinar did. I would absolutely utilize this site for professional or personal use. GoToWebinar can be found at https://www4.gotomeeting.com/.

 I had registered on it last year, but only started to use it this week. I am intimidated by certain sites because of the reviews I hear from friends. What I heard about Pinterest is that it is addicting, and that is something I don’t have time for! So I decided to peruse the site this week and get to know it better and maybe use it in moderation. I am starting an in-home childcare and the ideas on this site are phenomenal. Everything from décor to hair styles can be found. There are so many ways to do one thing! The one thing is that some of the projects can seem easy, but in real life they are meant for true creative artists! My favorite pictures on Facebook are people’s Pinterest Fails! For those people who are creative, but need help coming up with the ideas, Pinterest is a great site to use. Pinterest can be found at http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=research%20paper&term_meta%5B%5D=research%7Ctyped&term_meta%5B%5D=paper%7Ctyped.

Entry 3

            The article I found discussed the health hazards of artificial sweeteners. This article jumped out to me because of my own struggle with sugar levels recently. This article is saying that the use of artificial sweeteners changes the person's microbiome which in turn creates health concerns such as diabetes.
            There is nothing completed that is proof they are unhealthy, but results show that we should look more into the problem. The study discussed was originally done on mice. They noticed a difference, using DNA, in the gut of the mice when they gave them artificial sweeteners. Once they cleaned their systems out, the irregularity was gone.
              They also did a similar study with volunteer participants that showed the same results as the mice. The showings were quite clear that there was a correlation between the microbiome change and artificial sweeteners. There was not much more discussed within the article, other than the fact that the idea of this hazard needs to be further studied.
              I looked into the resources including the author of the article, as well as the doctor who led in the study. Kenneth Chang, the author, is not a well-known journalist, but is highly educated. Before finishing his PhD, he chose to change it up and study science writing. He worked for other news papers, including the LA Times, before moving over to the NY Times. The doctor, Dr. Eran Elinav is the principal investigator for the Elinav Lab. I am not sure if this makes him credible or not. I did not find other information about him. I am only wary about his credibility because a person who is in charge of the lab has the ability to make things work the way he wants.

Kenneth Chang, 2014. Artificial Sweeteners May Disrupt Body's Blood Sugar Levels. The New York Times.

Entry 2

How do you know what you know?
I believe that what I have learned was through experiences and also from listening to those who have had experiences of their own. I am one of those stubborn people who feels it is necessary to attempt things before believing in it. This of course caused me a few problems growing up. I have had many bad experiences and some really traumatizing, but I do not regret a thing in my life. Knowledge comes from trials and tribulations.

Name one new thing you learned using a social media site today and explain why you believe it is true.
Today I learned that an acquaintance from high school has passed away. I believe this to be true because of other connections such as classmates and family. This is partially why it is hard to be online. When you are having a great day, it can be dramatically changes by simply logging in to Facebook.

What source did you use to acquire this information?
I was on Facebook, called my sister and read posts from other classmates to ensure the information was correct.

At times, are social media sites reliable for obtaining credible information?
I believe they are very credible. Before you believe what you are reading, you just have to check other avenues to be completely sure. You can also search the page and see where else you are seeing the information being posted. For example, when Joan Rivers passed away, it was posted on everyone's page including Fox News and other news sites. A day later I logged on and saw a post that stated Betty White had passed away also. I at first believed it, and was SO upset, then realized that it was no where else on Facebook. No one was talking about it and no news stationed covered it. This to me proved it was a fake because I know that if she died it would be on everyone's mind.

Entry 1

What forms of new media do you use daily?
The only new media form I use daily would be Facebook. Most days I am simply clearing messages. I use it much less than I used to.

 How has new social media influenced your perspective of events? Are these positive or negative influences?
"In the past, media provided a filter.  If something was on the front page or the evening news, it was considered important.  If not, it wasn’t.  Yet today, anyone can broadcast—whether it be a distraught mother or a crusading journalist.  Nobody needs to ask for permission, even in a corrupt, authoritarian country" (Greg Satell, 2014). Instead of reading the paper and deciding on how I feel about the event, I have to look into multiple resources. Some of those resources include online articles, newspapers, people I trust, and school articles. I am not sure if the information being sent is true or simply an opinion. I also feel that it is important to have all of these resources because the truth comes. With the large amount of witnesses and the immediate access to internet, we see events quickly and can decide what we want. There are so many pros and cons to social media and its immediate access to the world. It brings fear into the people, yet educates them about the world. Without leaving your room you can learn about the poverty in Africa, the process for federal hiring, why certain laws are created, and what park to take your child. It is amazing, scary, interesting, and freeing all at the same time.

Forbes.com. Greg Satell, 2014. https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4453592782884991831#editor/target=post;postID=2175804210847528478