Capstone Project

 College students around the country are learning differently than they use to. The boring lecture for three hours isn’t working anymore. Students get tired and burned out on class. What the classroom needs is hands-on learning. An employer would rather hire an experiences prospective employee. When students only listen to their professor, they do not get the experience necessary to play a vital role in the work force. College is a learning experience right? Well, let’s teach students with information and experience. Students will want to come to class if they get to take part.

 There are many positive sides to having hands-on learning. Students really seem to capture the information. A Chinese Proverb says, “I hear and I forget, I see and I remember. I do and I understand.” The method of hands-on teaching gives them lasting comprehension, not just short-term memorization.  During lectures, information comes so quickly to students. It is pretty much going in one ear and out the other because so much is being told at one time. Hands-on allows them to not just listen about the subject, but experience how to use the subject. The sad part is lectures are the main way college students are taught. College students can’t process the information as quick as the professor throws it out there.

Hands-on also allows the students become the creators. Students don’t like listing to a monotone professor, who they feel like they do not relate to. They also don’t like reading the big textbook that puts them to sleep. When they use hands-on, they become interested. The students also feel they share the common interest with the professor. Students tend to do better in classes they are interested. When hands-on is involved they see the importance of the material. They learn skills that are important to them now and later. They also learn how to order their priorities. For instance, facebook does not come before taking an online test.

Hands-on learning will give students the experience and skills they need for the workplace. Students feel accomplished when they do their own experiments. Teaching is more effective when a student has to try something out to know if they really understand the material. When students understand the subject, they will be able to answer on-the-spot questions. They will also be able to apply the subject to everyday life and the workplace. Isn’t college all about becoming prepared for the work industry?

There are always two sides to every story. So, along with the positives effects also come a few negatives. The negatives are really determined on the student. Hands-on learning could become a distraction to the students. That is where the student determines how they will spend their time. Maybe there is an instance where hands-on learning is taught without the logic and full teaching from the professor. The student wouldn’t be able to comprehend the material if the proper information wasn’t taught first. Hands-on learning should still be balanced with the old-style classroom teaching. The hands-on method preoccupies more time than a lecturing method.

 The benefits of hands on learning are obvious. Being able to retain the knowledge you are being taught and understand it`s applications is really the whole goal of a college course in the first place. If professors are willing to put in the effort, hands on learning can be added to any course in any number of ways and it has been proven to show incredible results. One way to add hands on learning to a course is to have the professor research online role playing games. Many can have real life applications that can help students to understand the subject matter by virtually “doing” what they are being taught. These games can teach you about social science, architecture, mathematics, economics, and many other real world topics. The entire class can be required to make an account and then be given assignments either individually or in groups that the professor can check from his or her own account.

Another way to make classroom learning more interactive is to have the professor break up the lecture. There are a number of ways this can be accomplished such as: letting the students watch a relevant video that shows the applications of what is being discussed, giving time for the students to practice what is being taught so they can figure out what they understand or don`t understand before they leave the class, asking specific questions so students can gauge how well they are comprehending the material, or opening the floor for discussion among the students rather than making the class an hour and a half long monologue by the professor.

Having two separate courses work together to solve a problem is another way to implement hands on learning. Making a course co-op would not only provide a sound understanding of the material and its applications, it would also encourage students to learn to work together and show how the subject matter in one class is connected to the subject matter in another. This could help show the relevance of all the courses that students must take and the benefits of learning a broad spectrum of subjects.

 One more way professors can make sure students are grasping the material they are being taught is by at the beginning of the class asking them what their learning goals for the semester are and what their confidence level in the subject is. This should be followed up by asking for regular, honest feedback about how well they feel they understood the section and how they feel their understanding could be improved while they are being taught the next section. This will allow the professor to make small changes throughout each semester so they can do the best job possible teaching that specific group of students.

If Jacksonville State University would integrate the hands-on learning method, major results would occur. More high school students would want to attend JSU. Word would travel that JSU is an interesting and fun place to attend classes. More starting freshman would see graduation day because they wouldn’t get so burned out on their classes. It would bring JSU into the twenty-first century. Finally, the teachers could be on the same page as the students. Students learn by doing, so let’s give them that opportunity!

http://benefitof.net/benefits-of-hands-on-learning/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/elizabeth-marincola/stem-teaching-hands-on-_b_1865146.html

http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2009/01/engaging_students_in_stem.html

http://www.hand2mind.com/resources/benefits_hands_on_learning.jsp

Reflection

Ever heard the saying all good things must come to an end? Well, that’s what the end of this English 101 class feels like. Before this class, I knew about social media. Social media was a part of my everyday life. What I didn’t know was about all the kinds of social media. I used facebook and twitter but I never thought to start my own blog. I knew some facebook friends who had blogs. I always felt like I didn’t have enough to write about to start a blog. I figured you had to be married, had children, or using it for work. Needless to say, I’m not married, I have no children, and I currently do not have a job. This class taught me blogs were for everyone. I didn’t have to be a nurse or married with three kids. As I read different blogs, I learned I could just tell how my day went and people would listen. I’m thankful Mrs. Sasser asked questions for the class to post about. If she hadn’t given us topics, I would have rambled about my everyday struggle as a college student. Thank her next time you see her! I never thought blogs would improve my writing because it is social media and a casual thing that everyone does online. I was wrong! My writing has greatly improved.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/avardwoolaver/7034644229/

If I had to choose my best written blog, it would be my revised blog. Looking at the original, I have made many adjustments. For instance, my revised blog has paragraphs. The original was written at the beginning of the semester. I didn’t really know why I chose to come to college. I knew I came for my career, but I didn’t know all the other opportunities that college offered. For my revised blog, I had the experience of college. I already figured out the pros and cons to attending Jacksonville State. I went to the writing clinic for this particular blog. I was shown how to fully develop my sentences. I have a habit of getting in a rush and leaving necessary words out on my sentence. In this last blog, I took everything I learned and applied it to my blog. I developed my paragraphs, made complete sentences, had good punctuation, and proofread my blog. Looking at this blog compared to my very first one, I have made tremendous improvement.

My favorite blog to write was on an essay from Share or Die. My essay was “Heartbeats and Hashtags”. I enjoyed writing this one because I felt the importance of it. The essay used social media to raise awareness about a good cause. When writing this I felt like a writer should. I didn’t stop to think of what I would say; my words just poured out into my blog. I felt passionate about raising awareness to use social media in a useful way. I wanted to write this post. I felt like this post wasn’t just about me and a grade. If someone reads my blog, they could be encouraged to use social media to benefit the lives of our people. For all I know, a person could raise 40,000 dollars for breast cancer by social media. What if they got the encouragement to start that fundraiser from reading my blog post? That is the difference I want to make. Not only did I make a difference, I developed a well written blog. I developed good paragraphs. I separated my topics better than normal and didn’t ramble on. I have a habit of switching subjects and I’m proud to say I didn’t in this post. This is where it finally sunk in my head that I had to improve. I believe I accomplished that. Since I felt this blog was on an important matter, I tried harder. I spent much more time writing this and I proofread. I’m very proud of this blog and the things I learned from it.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hauptillusionator/6934904204/

I didn’t start greatly improving my writing until the last few blog posts. My first two didn’t even have paragraphs. I found it hard to answer the questions being asked. I had never given why I came to college much thought. I never knew how many people graduate college and are still unemployed. I just knew that my career choice demanded a bachelor’s degree in nursing. I really had to dig deep to get the answers for my blog posts. I felt like it slightly hindered my writing because I had come to the realization how tough college will be. I was thinking is it worth it? My mind was filled with so much; it was hard to concentrate on just one question. On my slow improvement journey, I published “Is College Really Good Enough”. This post does have well developed paragraphs and good punctuation. I had not yet learned to not jump around in my paragraphs. I liked this post because I was interested in the question. I had to examine all the pros and cons to college, and decide if it was worth going in debt for. This post really made me brainstorm. This was the first post I wrote in Microsoft Word. I knew my previous posts were pretty much crap and I wanted this one to be better. I wrote the post as a rough draft, proofread it, and then published a pretty good learner’s blog. It was by far not my best one, but it was the beginning to improvement. Thank you Mrs. Sasser for teaching me how to be more effective in the social media world! As you can see, you’re teaching paid off. 

photo credit: Avard Woolaver via photopin cc

photo credit: Hauptillusionator via photopin cc

Why College: Revisement

Everyone wonders why college. I was even wondering during my freshman year of high school. I quickly realized with the economy and how hard it is to get a job, having a college degree is important. With a degree, you often receive better pay and also have a better chance at getting a job or any promotions that come later.

Nurse anesthetist 

Before I could think about college, I had to think about a career. I prayed about what career choice I should make. I felt God was pointing me towards nursing. I am now a nursing major and plan to specialize after four years of school. My plan is to specialize and become a nurse anesthetist. My career requires college.

 I originally decided on Jacksonville State because it was close to home. Jacksonville offered me a better scholarship than any other colleges I was looking into. The BCM is a JSU organization. I could go to the BCM and worship with college students to help me stay strong in God. The BCM was a major deciding factor. I knew being apart of a Christian organization would connect me to people with similar beliefs. I believed an organization would be a fast way to friends. Since I came to the BCM, I have found older friends who can give me advice and mentor me. I’m glad I chose Jacksonville State because I have loved every minute of my experience here.

I mainly came to college to further my education. My career requires college so I didn’t have much of a choice. I am excited to go through college to reach my goal. I also came to college so I could be a part of something. I wasn’t real involved in high school and I wanted to become involved in college. I want to make connections to help me get a job. I want to find my place in a community. College has so many opportunities. Some students get to learn in other countries with a study abroad program. The BCM has mission trips to help others. The BCM has a mission trip coming up to Syracuse, Gulf Shores, and Portugal. If I hadn’t come to college, I wouldn’t have the chance to go to all those places.

My parents played a big role in my decision to attend college. My mom had started college but she got pregnant with me and didn’t finish. My dad didn’t need college for his career. My parents were proud of me wanting to help others. They knew nursing required college so they gave me support. I believe my little sister looks up to me because of my decision to attend college. She wants to better her grades now that she sees how much I like college.

Attending college is a tough decision. I believe people shouldn’t base their decision off of what their high school guidance counselor wants. College is a lot different than high school. College doesn't tolerate people playing games. The professors will fail you if you don’t care about you’re school work. Professors don’t hold a student’s hand and remind them to do their work. College is also expensive so I wouldn't come if I wanted to be a janitor.

I’m only in my first semester of college, but I have already learned a lot. For instance, this blog post has paragraphs and my first one didn’t. I also had numerous different topics in a paragraph. Thanks to college English, I have improved my writing. High school didn’t teach me how to blog. I was clueless on the first day. I’ve learned that high school didn’t teach things well. I learned things in college that my teacher described wrong. The learning experience of college is remarkable. I would encourage anyone to attend if their interested in learning. I wouldn’t advise someone who wanted to party and never study. College costs too much to flunk out. 

Heartbeats and Hashtags

                Heartbeats and hashtags, what could that even mean?  This essay shows the relationships between helping individuals and social networking. I’ve notice that people don’t understand all the benefits to social networking. Presidential candidates use social networks to gain supporters. Doctor’s use it to raise awareness on medical issues. Religious groups even use it to share their beliefs. In this particular essay, social networking is used to raise awareness about poverty in the Bronx and ways the Bronx life center gives help.

              

http://www.gaudette-insurance.com/Blog/?Tag=volunteering

              The history of the life center dates back thirty years. A woman, by the name Sister Margaret, opened a soup kitchen with one bowl of soup and a single roll. Since that day, six organizations have arisen in the Bronx. The only thing missing is a website to let the world know about the life center and the help they give.

               

          That is where Hannah comes in. Hannah was a recent unemployed college graduate. The recession took a toll on her generation and the jobs available to them. “Why College Isn’t Enough” stated that the recession was taking a lot of jobs from students. She decided to start volunteering. She lived in New York, where the price of living is extremely high. When she would tell people she was only a volunteer, they would look at her crazy. She made twenty-five dollars a week. That will not get you a whole lot anywhere, especially in New York. She dedicated a year to volunteering, hoping the economy would pick up.

               

              Hannah volunteered and helped Sister Margaret set up a Facebook page. Sister Margaret wanted people to know about what the life center was doing to help others help themselves. This is where two generations came together. Hannah knew all about social media and how to make people aware in the community. Sister Margaret knew people. She could feel the heartbeat of an unemployed mother trying to feed her kids. She could feel the heartbeat of kids playing after nap-time.  She had been around long enough to where she could see what they felt like. Sister Margaret felt the pain they did and wanted to reach out.

              

              I believe this article really shows the recession and how it hurts everyone. It hurts businesses like Sister Margaret’s. She has had this business for thirty years. The government is cutting her funds, making it almost impossible to stay in business. Hannah, who is a recent college grad, can’t get a job because businesses can’t afford to hire new employees. The businesses also want experience more over a college degree now.

                

              With Hannah volunteering at the Bronx life center, she now has experience with running computers in a business. The experience will make her stand out when she goes to apply for a job. “Why college isn’t good enough” informs us that experience wins every time.  A college degree doesn’t make you stand out anymore and Hannah found that out the hard way. She was smart about it though and decided to keep pushing until jobs in her field were available while also gaining experience.

               

http://i.ytimg.com/vi/tavGqhjOaO0/0.jpg

               Sister Margaret reminded Hannah the real reason for social networking. In the younger generation, we tend to use social media in the wrong way. Instead of posting what we had for supper, we could post about October being breast cancer awareness month. The younger generation acts like they don’t need the older generation, and the older generation acts like the younger generation don’t know too much. In this essay, the younger generation needed the older one to remind them about the important things in life. Likewise, the older generation needed help with technology that they refuse to try a lot of times. Technology can be a great thing to have as long as you’re using it the right way.  Instead of trying to repel jobs by posting pictures of partying, post pictures of volunteering in the community. 

Is College Really Good Enough??

So who are the lucky ones when it comes to college? Everyone expects you to go to college, but is it good enough? This is a very important question when thousands of dollars are involved. People also invest many years into college and they want to get something out of it besides debt. There’s always two sides right? Well the same goes for college. College has pros but it also has cons; I think it depends on the person and their intentions.

http://memerial.net/3659-college-degree-will-provide-a-career

When I was in high school, everyone told you that you had to go to college to be successful. I wouldn't fully agree with them. Some jobs require a degree which makes college worth it. Some jobs don’t require a degree and that can save you four years and thousands of dollars. Not everyone is suited for college. A high school student who never studies and don’t care about school should not go to college. College is a totally different ball game from high school and it’s harder. If a student didn't care in high school, they’re going to find college to be hard. It’s much better for a high school senior to get training for a particular job than go into college and drop out. They could be making money doing something they’re good at instead of wasting money and hating their college experience. Ramesh Ponnuru brought up the question of whether we should help more kids go to college or make it easier for those without a degree to make a living. We need those people without a degree. We need plumbers, constructors  garbage men, and etc. We shouldn't make people think they have to go to college when they can be successful without it.

http://www.collegeloanconsultant.com/value-of-a-college-degree.html 

When our economy was in a good state, a bachelor’s degree did pretty much guarantee a job. Now, our economy is on a downward spiral. The economy is bad and it’s hard to find jobs, even with a college degree. “Why your college degree isn’t enough” points out that obtaining a degree no longer sets you apart from the pack. A bachelor degree is now compared to having a high school diploma. That’s why it’s important to know what you want to do with your life. People need to be informed of their field. Why waste a lot of money and time if it isn't required? 58 percent of recent college students are unemployed. In our economy, finding a job is tough stuff. Jordan Wiseman wrote about the number of graduating college students compared to the number of jobs available. The jobs just aren't there. That’s why I don’t understand why the government pushes everyone to go to college. The government is giving out money that people are going to waste. Many graduating college students will get a job at a place Buffalo Wild Wings or Starbucks. Their degree is useless and they don’t have a good enough job to pay back loans and live off of. 58 percent sure is a scary statistic. What’s even scarier is that most incoming freshman drop out before graduation. That is because college isn't for everyone.

Many employers take experience over a college degree. They want someone who they don’t have to teach. That doesn't have to be a bad side to college. College offers the opportunity for volunteer work. There are many organizations and departments that allow students the chance to get the experience they need in their field. Anthony Balderrama describes how an education is often a perquisite for landing a job interview. If a person can say they have a degree and experience they have much higher chances than those without any experience.  That also comes back to some people don’t need college. If on the job training is all someone needs for a job, why spend four years in college and spend thousands of dollars. There are so many other options besides college. Technical schools and on the job training are available for many jobs. That is the best bet for a lot of people. Colleges see money signs. They lower their requirements for admission so everyone can get in. College is extremely hard to make it through and colleges give the wrong impression by lowering the requirements. When a high school student applies for college, they think since they can get in that they can graduate. That just isn't the case. Some professors make their courses too easy and some give good grades to help their student out. I personally don’t want to spend four years in college and not learn anything. Gary Gutting says,” College and universities have no point if we do not value the knowledge and understanding to which their facilities are dedicated”. Employers want smart, intellectual, and professional people. If someone keeps good grades and learns to their best ability it will show. College can help a person to mature and cope with pressure. College can be very stressful and will teach students how to make it through those hard times. People can learn time management if they follow their schedule in college. I believe people get out of college what they put into it. Some students only put in enough time to get by. Students don’t study like they should or look for opportunities to get experienced in their field. The time people waste could be used to help them get a job later.

Colleges offer a variety of courses, but are they all useful? I don’t believe taking a zumba or scuba diving course will help you get a job if you want to be a lawyer. Many people attend college for the wrong reasons. They enroll in college to take fun courses and party. Partying and making good grades usually don’t happen. Partying is a major reason of why students flunk out of college. When this occurs college isn't worth it. People can party and hold down a job without attending college. College is supposed to be a learning environment. Sure, college is about meeting people but meet people who can help you later. One of the great things about college is you meet people who know people. If you’re a nursing major, you might meet friends who can help you get hired at a hospital. College is great as long as you use it the right way.

In conclusion, I believe College has pros and cons. Everyone is different so it affects others differently. We shouldn't push anyone to do anything. What’s right for us may not be right for them. My dad never went to college. He is a mechanic on eighteen-wheelers and he makes a good bit of money. My boyfriend got his GED and never went to college. He works and builds power lines, which pays great! I’m attending college but what’s right for me wasn't right for them. I think people should make their own decisions about college and careers. Now that having a college degree doesn't guarantee a job, more people should consider the other options that work best for them. Not everyone should go to college. Not everyone can get a job with a college degree but we still need people to go after the jobs that don’t require a college degree. People who build roads don’t have to have a degree but we need them for the surgeons to get to the hospital they work at. I hope this article encourages people to dig deeper and make the decision that’s right for them. College isn't always the best option!

http://www.onewisconsinnow.org/blog/2011/11/how-financing-a-college-education-has-changed-at-the-expense-of-students.html

What's The Big Deal About College

        

          College is expensive these days and is the education you’re getting really worth the time or the money? We’re talking 20,000 dollars a semester. College is good for many reasons. An individual and their society benefit from them attending college. Many people can find reasons not to attend college. I believe there are more pros to college than cons.

College really helps students socially. You meet all kinds of people and some can help you later on in life. For instance, I’m a nursing major and maybe I’ll meet friends or professors who can help me get a job at a hospital. It gives students the opportunity to get involved. I was one of those kids that didn’t do a lot in high school. I want to get involved in college and I feel comfortable doing it because everyone gets involved. College also helps with your people skills. Most kids when they first come here don’t know anyone, so when they start school they have to make new friends. College isn’t all about cliques like high school. It is easy to find someone like you, but its also easy to find someone totally different from you. People of all cultures and background come to college for an education. You finally learn about the outside world at college. You can learn a lot about other countries and cultures through college. I know some JSU organizations travel to other countries. JSU has an international house filled with different cultures. College is a great way to meet people and help students accept those who differ from them.

So we want to make college a fun experience right? Well studying the same stuff over and over isn’t fun! Colleges offer many different classes. Why not minor in something like a foreign language? It’ll raise your chances for a job and it’ll add spice to all those boring required classes. Mike Rose stated, “not just learning things to make a living, but also learning things to enable you to do things with your life, to enable you to find interests and pursuits that may in some way or another expand the way we see things." College will teach you little things that really matter. I’ve learned the importance of voting since I came here. One vote can determine the future of a country. Unlike high school, students can disagree in college. That’s important for knowing how to approach issues and how to disagree. A nurse could save a life in a medical situation by speaking up and voicing his/her opinion. It teaches students the importance of working together. The boss isn’t going to care who likes who. He expects you to do your job and learn to get along. If someone causes trouble and refuses to get along, they get fired. It is a great transition to prepare students for the work world.


In the article, A Critic At Large: Live and learn (Why we have college) many different aspects are pointed out .For example, College will categorize people. It will break students and show their talent. College will separate people and show what they can do. If they don’t do their work and get bad grades, jobs will see that. Jobs use college references to see if students showed up and if they put forth effort. For instance, nursing school only has so many spaces available and those with the highest GPA get in. Nursing majors have a great chance for getting in if they tried hard, studied hard, and attended class. If they don’t get into nursing school, they don’t get a degree. They won’t be able to get a job and will have to try again.

The downfall of college is that it is very expensive. I don’t believe you can put a price on and education. It’s important to know the field you’re going in and what to expect. Mark Kantrowitz talks about how students need to know the expectations for the growth of their field. Almost all college students have some sort of college debt. It is very important to decide on a job that has a high enough salary to pay back the loans taken out. You’ll eventually make the money back with the great job you’ll be able to get with a college degree so why put a price on it. Students who constantly change their mind about their majors are just wasting thousands of dollars. The quicker students stick with a major the closer they are to a job to pay back their loans. If they love their job then it’s all worth it.

It is also important for students to save. All the money spent on partying, clothes, and useless stuff could be spent towards the loans while in college. College teaches you the importance of a budget. Students shouldn’t spend more than they have. They will not just be in debt to a college but also a credit card company.

Saving is an important trait to have for life. Our economy isn’t the best and money isn’t as easy to get. College is also good because it raises your chances for getting a job. In this economy, jobs are also harder to come by.  A bachelor degree is getting to the point where it’s like a high school diploma. College is necessary for many jobs.    

College has some negative things but the positive outweighs them. College helps you in more ways than just a career. The important thing is to get the full college experience and have fun learning. College gives you people to help you cope with the good and the bad so just make the best of it!          

         
         

Why College?!?

The job of a nurse anesthetist!

Everyone wonders why college. I was even wondering during my freshman year of high school. I quickly realized with the economy and how hard it is to get a job, having a college degree is important. Not only do you receive better pay but you also have a better chance at getting the job or any promotions that later come. I want to become a nurse anesthetist. In order to accomplish that goal I must have my BSN and then go further into my education by enrolling in a nurse-anesthesia program for another two years. I prayed about where God wanted me to go and whether or not I needed to be going to college when I was a freshman. I received the answer about me needing to go when he put on my heart what I should pursue a career in but still wasn't sure where. I decided to come to JSU because it was close to home, I had a better scholarship than any other colleges I was looking at and I had the BCM I could go to and stay strong in my beliefs. I wanted to further my education and learn more. I learned a lot in high school but I knew what i didn't truly grasp there I would in college. My history class for example, I hated the old civilization courses I had to take in high school. My history class was boring and I didn't see the point in learning about the old empires; I felt American history was important because it shows how all the things we have here came to be and whats going on now. Now that I can actually stay awake in history class, I realize those empires were important because they are the basis that our country came off of and they had the same issues we do so we should learn from them. I'm excited to be in college because i'm starting out as an adult but I have so many people on campus I can go to for mentoring and advice. I mainly came for my education but I also came to be apart of something and know I'm trying to accomplish something truly important to me and my family. My parents are excited that I came to college and they want more than anything for me to succeed. I'm making a difference not only in my life but also my family's and hopefully one day the patients I help while being a nurse anesthetist. I know that college is required to pursuing my potential career but the college experience alone is worth coming for. I will probably meet future co-workers, best-friends, and great mentors along the way!