Realizations and goals for 05

As an online teacher and student, I know that I was not performing at my best this past semester; as I mentioned in a prior entry, I simply took too much on. (I have that problem saying no...especially when $ is involved). Anyway, I was playing "catch up" in nearly every area of my life from September to December, and I'm just now getting a chance to breathe. I know when I'm lacking...and I can admit that. I was a better online student than teacher, and I vow never to let my students down like that again. The instructor and his/her participation and interactivity is integral to a successful online class. I feel like my students were at a disadvantage because I didn't give the feedback they deserved, and they probably feel as if they were working blindly at least part of the time. I can only apologize and make an effort never to do such a thing again.

My goals (which is more realistic than saying New Year's resolutions) are:

1. Not to work so hard...a person has to have a life outside of work and money.
2. Not to take on more than I can handle. If you have to ask yourself, "can I handle this..." then the answer is probably NO.
3. Find time to do things that I enjoy: read a book, go to a movie, take a trip.

Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.~Oprah

Degree given to cat; online school sued

Finally someone is paying the price. See CNN article below:

University that awarded MBA to cat sued

HARRISBURG, Pennsylvania (AP) -- The Pennsylvania attorney general's office Monday sued an online university for allegedly selling bogus academic degrees -- including an MBA awarded to a cat.

Trinity Southern University in Texas, a cellular company and the two brothers who ran them are accused of misappropriating Internet addresses of the state Senate and more than 60 Pennsylvania businesses to sell fake degrees and prescription drugs by spam e-mail, according to the lawsuit.

Investigators paid $299 for a bachelor's degree for Colby Nolan -- a deputy attorney general's 6-year-old black cat -- claiming he had experience including baby-sitting and retail management.

The school, which offers no classes, allegedly determined Colby Nolan's resume entitled him to a master of business administration degree; a transcript listed the cat's course work and 3.5 grade-point average.

The state is seeking a permanent injunction, civil penalties, costs and restitution for violating consumer law and restrictions on unsolicited e-mail ads. continue reading full text.

Final Project

Violence in Online Gaming: Pushing the Limits

Abstract

A growing trend in the Internet Revolution involves using the Internet for entertainment purposes, specifically playing video games (also known in the Web world as online gaming). Many of today’s computer and video games contain questionable content, including slavery, lynchings, world wars, concentration camps, Nazi experiments, the cold war, race riots, and nuclear war, just to name a few. Three such games, which which have made recent headlines and are discussed in my paper include Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas (where players steal and murder to avenge the death of one's mother), JFK Reloaded (where players sit in the grassy knoll waiting for JFK to roll by at which time they attempt to "recreate" the assassination of the president), and Ethnic Cleansing (where players thin the world's population by hunting and killing Blacks, Latinos, and Jews). These games are rated for maturity, but this does not keep them out of the hands of young viewers and players. Though violence is commonplace due to other types of media including television and film, the interactivity of these games could be potentially more harmful. I used a variety of sites and articles for background information on video and online gaming trends. This information came from the Entertainment Software Association (ESA), NYU School of Law, Anti-defamation League, Media Awareness Network, Safety Ed International, ABC News, and CNN.com. My conclusion is that many developers are creating games with little consideration or respect for viewers, the rating system is acceptable but not fully enforced, and the responsibility of moderation and understanding lies with the parents. It is important that parents and children discuss games and their content, monitor time online, and incorporate other healthy activities to decrease exposure to violence and alleviate concern regarding violence and online games.

Violence in Online Gaming: Pushing the Limits PDF version

Alma Mater leads state in distance ed.

There was an article in Thursday's East Carolinian, ECU's campus newspaper, that discussed their wide variety of distance ed. options. ECU offers more than 40 degree and certificate programs via the Internet. I salute my Alma Mater and their efforts to extend education to non-traditional students. See full article here.

My first experience with distance learning was in high school; three of us ventured into the unknown and took Latin with the help of an in-class "facilitator" and an instructor whom we never actually met face-to-face. Magistra Pope, as she was called, sat in front of us each day--a face on a TV. She would say, "Salve, Aurora!" That meant hello, (Aurora High School). We could hear other schools, though we never saw them either, and we used the telephone to ask and respond to questions. Overall, I'm not sure that it was totally effective, but it was a good learning experience. It was a precursor for what was to come later when I took online tech writing classes at ECU. Luckily, the masters program was set up for the working professional; lit majors usually taught classes on campus while we, the techies, had outside jobs. I wrote forklift manuals for a local manufacturing plant. Except for one night class and my independent studies, all of my graduate classes were taught online. It was a wonderful option that allowed me the flexibility to work and finish my education. That experience also helps me teach my own online/hybrid classes at Lenoir. This summer I'm developing a fully online version of English 114 Professional Research & Reporting, which will supercede the current telecourse.

PostNewsWeek Q&A

Found this Q&A session on the on the Government Computer News site GCN.com. Provocative questions were raised regarding diploma mills and the "types" of people who were attending and obtaining these degrees. Obviously many people are manipulated and unaware that they are being scammed; however, there are those who are completely aware and make the unethical decision to pursue such degrees. How are the institutions held accountable? Are these students/employees really less qualified than those with legit degrees? Should a person be fired if an employer finds out that their degree is from a diploma mill?

There are a number of questions regarding Laura Callahan, the deputy CIO of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who was placed on paid administrative leave after questions surfaced about her academic qualifications. See article for full story on Callahan. The Q&A session begins below:

Question and Answer

Tom Temin, executive editor and moderator:
Welcome to the PostNewsweek Tech Media Forum on diploma mills and federal employment.

The government is grappling with a shortage of human capital, especially in the information technology field. Therefore we feel claims of college and post-graduate degrees from bogus or unaccredited institutions is central to the quality, credibility and trustworthiness of the federal workforce--a group of people we respect and in many cases admire.

Because of the volume of feedback we have received on our coverage, we wanted to hold this forum to further air your views and answer whatever questions we are qualified to answer.

Most of your questions will be answered by Patience Wait and Wilson Dizard III, the Washington Technology and GCN reporters who have been on this beat. Click here for the rest.