I began this blog to write about things that interest me. I found that it helped me to keep track of things that I like to share with my students as well. This site has been helpful because it serves as a kind of journal. I have not had as much time to write for this blog lately because of my other site. For those of you interested in online education, I am the Editor in Chief of Inside Online Schools. That blog is dedicated to online learning from my perspective as an online professor.
I have also created a new Facebook page. I post my links from both blogs there. It may be easier to keep track of all of my postings if you follow me there. Click here for Dr. Diane’s Facebook Fan Page.
I really liked the kaplan courses I took. They also have a campus I could use here in Iowa. College courses can be hard online, so it was nice to have the walk-in ability. Im going to read your blog now, since I relate to the life choise.
Muhammad Ali has been called the most recognizable man on earth. While he is still considered the champ from his boxing days, he has continued to inspire people around the world. His belief that others can achieve greatness led to his most recent venture the Generation Ali Global Citizenship Scholarship Program. This program, due to launch December 7, 2012, is aimed at the millennial generation. According to the Generation Ali site, the program is about “Fostering tomorrow’s leaders to achieve personal greatness, contribute positively to their communities, and change the world for the better.”
According to Alltech, Donald Lassere, president of the Muhammad Ali Center stated, “Muhammad Ali has proven that one person can be a spark that lights the flame of inspiration and change the world. Generation Ali will take up the torch and continue Muhammad’s legacy by inspiring a new generation of leaders to create better lives, better nations, and a better world.”
In order to apply for this program, applicants must
Be a high school senior or graduate or post-secondary undergraduate.
Plan to enroll or are currently enrolled in full-time undergraduate study at an accredited United States two- or four-year college, university or vocational technical school.
U.S. and international students encouraged to apply.
Ali’s Facebook site shows a graphic that mentions $10,000 scholarships. Ali stated, “This is it! The Greatest Scholarship of All Time is here! Start spreading the word. Online application starts December 7th! U.S. and international students encouraged to apply.”
I have recently started writing a separate blog for online students titled Inside Online Schools with Dr. Diane Hamilton. It is based on my perception of online education issues and is intended for anyone interested in taking online courses. I recommend going to that site and checking out some of the content. In the meantime, I have also included some links here to some of the top articles on the site:
Even the best writers make mistakes. Some common issues include alliteration, split infinitives, and mixed metaphors. Check out a fun list of writing mistakes created by Frank Visco (VP and Senior Copywriter at USAdvertising):
If you do not know the definition of some of the words in this title, you are not alone. Although many of these things are used in every day conversation, many people may look puzzled if you ask them to define them.
Anagrams – A word, phrase, or sentence formed by rearranging the letters of another. Example: angel, formed from glean. Click here for a list of anagrams.
Euphemisms – A harmless word or phrase that may be used as a suggestive one. Example: A bun in the oven would be a euphemism for pregnant. Click here for a list of euphemisms.
Jimmy Fallon and Barack Obama recently held a news jam session to promote keeping rates on Stafford student loans from increasing. According to Staffordloan.com “Federal Stafford loans are fixed-rate student loans for undergraduate and graduate students attending college at least half-time. Stafford loans are the most common and one of the lowest-cost ways to pay for school. Learn more about Stafford Loans.”
To qualify for a Stafford Loan:
You must have submitted a FAFSA to be eligible for a Stafford loan.
For subsidized Stafford loans, you must have financial need as determined by your school.
You must be a U.S. citizen or national, a U.S. permanent resident, or eligible non-citizen.
You must be enrolled or plan to enroll at least half time.
You must be accepted for enrollment or attend a school that participates in the Federal Family Education Loan Program.
You must not be in default on any education loan or owe a refund on an education grant.
US News reported, “the House will vote on a Republican bill to keep Stafford student loan interest rates at 3.4 percent. The $5.9 billion proposal would be paid for by cutting money from President Obama’s healthcare overhaul.”
Grantoo is a startup company that is designed to allow college students to use free game playing to help fund their education. Grantoo’s tagline is “Why Pay For College When You Can Play For It?” According to Mashable, the co-founder of Grantoo stated, “Students are playing social games a lot so we want to make it useful to them by turning something that’s a distraction or a waste of time into something that’s positive. We want to promote philanthropy at an early age, introducing students at no cost.”
Grantoo’s games include: Wordy Bird, Grantoo Hold ‘Em, and Quiz Night. Students can “play their tuition bill.” Companies can sponsor tournaments through donations. This is good for the corporate image and helps students at the same time. Mashable stated, “All of the money companies donate goes toward the combination of philanthropy and college grants for students, according to the ration determined by the game winners. Grantoo generates its own operating cost through on-site advertising.”
Grantoo partners with colleges and corporate sponsors. Students can take their money to pay for college expenses and can pledge a percentage of winnings to a favorite philanthropic cause. This unique gaming platform is free. According to Grantoo’s site, “Students spend hundreds of hours per year on casual games – Grantoo’s network goes beyond entertainment. Here, you can turn your gaming hours into financing your education. In addition, your success is directed towards meaningful social contributions.”
For more about Grantoo, check out the following video:
Today’s Ask Dr. Diane Question: I noticed you work for a lot of universities. I’m considering working for several universities as well and I am curious what is your typical day like?
Answer: My days vary, based on how many classes I teach. I like to teach between 10-15 courses at a time. I also serve as chair for 10 doctoral students and work on 5-10 doctoral committees. Additionally I take courses to keep up with technology, education, etc. A typical day usually includes about 8-9 hours of grading papers, providing feedback, responding to discussions/emails, guiding doctoral students with dissertations, and developing curriculum.
I usually look at one school’s information at a time. However, I may have several school sites open at once, if my computer or the site is running slowly. It helps that schools have different due dates for assignments. For example, one school may require a “deliverable” or an assignment to be due on Mondays. Another may have assignments due on Fridays, etc. Usually it works out that all of the big assignments are spread out over the week. However, most of them have discussions going on that I respond to on a daily basis. I will go to a school’s site to handle all email, questions, discussion responses, and grade any submitted assignments. I do the same for the next school, and so on, until I have responded to every single item. I do not stop working until everything is graded. Most schools allow instructors a week to grade papers. I do not like to make students wait. If someone has submitted an assignment, I grade it as soon as I log on that day.
On weekends, less homework seems to be assigned, so I work less hours. I probably work around 3-4 hours a day on Saturdays and Sundays. I do not usually take any days off, but that is not required. Schools usually require 5 or 6 days of work per week. The nice thing about working as an adjunct is that you can decide how many courses you can handle. You can start off with just a few and add more if you find you have the time.
I tend to work from 6 to 8 or 9 at the most on weekends. I could skip those days and just work harder on the other days. I just don’t like to make students wait. Sometimes I only have an hour or two of work on those days. It all depends on how many classes I have going and whether doctoral students have dissertations for me to read.
The pharmaceutical job market is extremely competitive. One way for potential applicants to stand out from the crowd is to become a Certified Medical Representative (CMR). The Certified Medical Representative Institute has recently launched a pre-hire program, designed for someone interested in entering the biopharmaceutical arena. The program is designed to provide basic knowledge that would help make someone a better candidate or provide deeper knowledge to enhance their abilities in a potential position.
When I obtained my CMR, I found that the training was excellent. Adding the CMR designation to my business card also demonstrated that I had received training that went above and beyond the industry standard.
CMR’s latest program covers the following topics:
The Biopharmaceutical Industry
Overview of the Drug Development Process
Promotion and Advertising in Pharmaceuticals
The Sales Environment
The Evolution of Managed Care
Healthcare Insurance Plans and Healthcare Financiers
Online course taker 12:09 pm on March 8, 2013 Permalink |
I really liked the kaplan courses I took. They also have a campus I could use here in Iowa. College courses can be hard online, so it was nice to have the walk-in ability. Im going to read your blog now, since I relate to the life choise.