Showing posts with label All Groups. Show all posts
Showing posts with label All Groups. Show all posts
Mar 25, 2011
Mar 23, 2011
Is Twitter the Blog Killer?
We've been using a blog for the JUA since 2006 when the term 'social media' didn't exist, Web 2.0 was a major buzz-word and there was this brand new site invading college campuses. At that time students producing content for the web was a pretty novel concept.
Of course now students regularly produce all kinds of content. In my media class, for example, finding a student who doesn't have a YouTube account is rare.
That being said I wonder if the concept of blogging is waning? Are new technologies taking over the space? Here on the JUA we are always trying to keep ahead of the curve so I pulled up some analytics data to see how this year compared to last. Although we are creating just as much content on the site, our blog viewership is down year-to-date:
Note that today's data is obviously incomplete so we may see a bump there.
On the other hand we have seen a massive up tick in student and staff Twitter use with hundreds of tweets demonstrating excellent use of tags, photos, mentions and brand interaction. I find this not only fascinating, but also hilarious because just last year all of my students had one of the following three responses when I told them we were going to use Twitter:
Of course now students regularly produce all kinds of content. In my media class, for example, finding a student who doesn't have a YouTube account is rare.
That being said I wonder if the concept of blogging is waning? Are new technologies taking over the space? Here on the JUA we are always trying to keep ahead of the curve so I pulled up some analytics data to see how this year compared to last. Although we are creating just as much content on the site, our blog viewership is down year-to-date:
click to see full size
Note that today's data is obviously incomplete so we may see a bump there.
On the other hand we have seen a massive up tick in student and staff Twitter use with hundreds of tweets demonstrating excellent use of tags, photos, mentions and brand interaction. I find this not only fascinating, but also hilarious because just last year all of my students had one of the following three responses when I told them we were going to use Twitter:
- A) Huh? Twitter? What's that?
- B) I don't get it
- C) I thought Twitter was for old people
Mar 22, 2011
Shifting Gears
Now that it's evening we'll see groups shifting gears from learn mode to reflect mode. You'll see more blog posts shortly as groups reflect on the day and post.
Also folks will shortly be heading out for dinner and fun activities in their group. Lots of smiling kids and great stories of experiences today.
Also folks will shortly be heading out for dinner and fun activities in their group. Lots of smiling kids and great stories of experiences today.
On our minds
As the students head out into the city they probably have many things on their minds. Thoughts right now are ranging from questions about their topic, the first speaker they will be meeting with & maybe where they will stop for lunch!
So now is a good chance to ask you, dear blog reader, what is on the top of your mind? What questions do you have about the JUA? What kind of content would you like to see?
Let us know what you are thinking about by clicking on the 'comment' button below!
So now is a good chance to ask you, dear blog reader, what is on the top of your mind? What questions do you have about the JUA? What kind of content would you like to see?
Let us know what you are thinking about by clicking on the 'comment' button below!
Mar 21, 2011
Weather related issues on 3/21
Hi folks - as you know there is a bit of bad weather right now in New Hampton that is causing some travel delays. Here is where we stand overall:
If you are a day student and you are unable to make it to the meeting tonight due to hazardous travel conditions please see below.
Any student who will be unable to make it to the meeting tonight (or who will be late) should also contact their group leader to make sure they will be prepared for tomorrow.
Many thanks - and please stay safe! We look forward to seeing everyone soon.
- We are still planning an 8:30pm meeting in the Master Classroom tonight
- We are still planning to board buses tomorrow by 7:30am behind the gym (see the full schedule to the right for more details)
If you are a day student and you are unable to make it to the meeting tonight due to hazardous travel conditions please see below.
- Please make arrangements to be on campus at 7:00am Tuesday so you can check in with your group leader and board your assigned bus by 7:30am
- Please review the packing list in the student resources section to make sure you have everything you need
- We will not be able to check in to the hotel immediately upon our arrival, please be prepared wearing what you need to wear and with everything you need for the day in a separate bag from your suitcase, your suitcase will be stored in a secure location until we are ready to check in
- Please review the Code of Conduct. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in swift action for you and possibly also your roommates in the hotel
Any student who will be unable to make it to the meeting tonight (or who will be late) should also contact their group leader to make sure they will be prepared for tomorrow.
Many thanks - and please stay safe! We look forward to seeing everyone soon.
Mar 20, 2011
Are You Ready!?
Welcome back everyone - here at the JUA we're very excited that the moment has finally arrived when we are about to head to Boston with you for the 2010-2011 Junior Urban Adventure!
Groups have already started blogging about where they are going and what they will be doing and you will be able to stay tuned here for all the latest and greatest throughout the program. Most groups will be posting 2-3 times a day during the trip!
If you would like to follow along with the program even closer you can search the tag #NHSJUA on Twitter or just check out the feed over on the right sidebar. I expect groups to be tweeting dozens of times a day, so that will be a fun way to keep up to date.
The JUA is our urban experiential learning project and we think it's a pretty compelling way to learn and experience interesting subjects together. If you need a quick overview of the program this is probably a good place to start.
Welcome back - and here we go!
Groups have already started blogging about where they are going and what they will be doing and you will be able to stay tuned here for all the latest and greatest throughout the program. Most groups will be posting 2-3 times a day during the trip!
If you would like to follow along with the program even closer you can search the tag #NHSJUA on Twitter or just check out the feed over on the right sidebar. I expect groups to be tweeting dozens of times a day, so that will be a fun way to keep up to date.
The JUA is our urban experiential learning project and we think it's a pretty compelling way to learn and experience interesting subjects together. If you need a quick overview of the program this is probably a good place to start.
Welcome back - and here we go!
Mar 3, 2011
Twitter 101
Hi folks, we are going to be using Twitter during the JUA to invite parents, teachers and friends to join us as we go about our program in Boston. We will even be able to see what other groups are doing while we are out and about.
To view our Twitter stream you don't even need to have an account! I've embedded the feed for #NHSJUA over on the right sidebar there.
If you want to tweet along with us you will need a Twitter account and a cell phone with a text message plan. Please note that although Twitter doesn't cost anything standard text messaging rates do apply. Don't join in on Twitter if you don't have an unlimited (or very large) text messaging plan on your phone!
To get started check out this tutorial video and let me know if you have any questions:
A good tweet is short (140 characters or less), honest but appropriate, thoughtful and avoids slang and text message speak. For example, "omg lol that was crazy" isn't a great tweet while, "About to visit with the Business School at Harvard!" is a fantastic!
To view our Twitter stream you don't even need to have an account! I've embedded the feed for #NHSJUA over on the right sidebar there.
If you want to tweet along with us you will need a Twitter account and a cell phone with a text message plan. Please note that although Twitter doesn't cost anything standard text messaging rates do apply. Don't join in on Twitter if you don't have an unlimited (or very large) text messaging plan on your phone!
To get started check out this tutorial video and let me know if you have any questions:
A good tweet is short (140 characters or less), honest but appropriate, thoughtful and avoids slang and text message speak. For example, "omg lol that was crazy" isn't a great tweet while, "About to visit with the Business School at Harvard!" is a fantastic!
Feb 28, 2011
Group Meetings This Week
Hi folks - there are several JUA group meetings this week. Here's what we'll be up to:
Class Meeting Tuesday, March 1
Class Meeting Tuesday, March 1
- Review purpose of the JUA
- Review your planned agenda
- Group work: Formulate guiding questions, consider final project
- To Do: What should you do during free time?
- To Check: Did everyone sign up for a roommate?
- Review dates of JUA
- Review packing list
- Review code of conduct, safety & assessment guidelines
- Group work: Research and prepare for interviews, decide on group roles
- To Do: Make first blog post
- To Check: Any travel issues we don’t already know about?
Feb 8, 2011
Topic Areas
Check out the topics we think we will be studying this year. Ideas are still coming in so I'll post updates here as I get them.
Women in Pro Sports (NEW)
Mr. Churchill
Why aren’t there more female pro sports teams? Are we as a society biased against the female athlete? This group will explore the issue of female pro sports, girls athletic programs, and the business that is pro-athletics. Students interested in women’s sports, gender fairness and combating sexism might be interested in this group.
Global Voices (NEW)
Mr. Fisk
Americans (even open minded and worldly Americans) see the world from a certain point of view. This point of view is rooted in western values, christian beliefs, the English language, and dominant economic and cultural perspectives. But the world is a vastly more diverse place. This group will explore our cultural biases, dig deep into several different cultural traditions and reflect how our history informs our world view. Students interested in other cultures and languages or students who just like to meet new people and talk about new ideas might be interested in this group.
The Science of Shopping (Revised Description)
Mr. Buck
Did you know that marketers position the shopping season’s most hyped toys at child eye level on store shelves? Did you know that budget shortfalls in many districts are forcing schools to allow marketing inside classrooms? If the price is $89.00 isn't that the same thing as $90? This group will explore the power of marketing to affect how and what we buy and what (or who) is really being sold. Students interested in marketing, business and media awareness might be interested in this group.
Life Against Life
Ms. Kang
What if you were told a life saving treatment was available for you or someone in your family but Federal law prevented the treatment from being developed? Stem cell research is a controversial debate: should humans ‘play God’ when determining who lives and doesn’t live? If stem cells can cure cancer and other diseases why aren’t we exploring this treatment to the fullest? Students interested in careers in medicine, science or who enjoy discussing ethics might be interested in this group.
Gridlock?
Mr. Kozens
Every day in the news we hear stories about how our government is polarized, gridlocked and unable to take care of ‘Main Street’ but are these stories really true, or is this just more political rhetoric? This group will explore the political system in the United States from the Democrats to the Republicans and even the Tea Party. Students who are interested in politics, careers in government or who want to better understand how the American democracy works might be interested in this group.
It’s not a Game it’s a Franchise
Mr. McCulloch
Pro sports is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States with the top players making millions of dollars a game. How has the media attention, high financial stakes and focus on star players changed the games we love? Aren’t sports about trying your best and playing fair no matter if you win or loose? This group will explore how big business has changed athletics, what it does to individual players and what we can do about it. Students who are interested in careers in sports management, business or enjoy sports might be interested in this group.
This Pill Will Help You Feel Better
Ms. Lane
Modern medicine has transformed health in the world: we live longer and more productive lives. Yet even as medicines have improved our lives they have shown us the dark side of human nature. Prescription drug abuse, illegal drug use and crime are all closely related. This group will examine the technologies that lead to the production of new medicines and also explore issues related to their misuse. Students interested in careers in medicine, science or who care about reversing the issue of drug abuse might be interested in this group.
Race, Justice and Law
Ms. Frame
Why do young black men make up a much greater proportion of people in prison than any other demographic? Is the justice system in the United States biased against minorities? This group will explore the system of justice in America and explore issues of fairness and racial profiling. Students interested in careers in law, government or who are interested in social justice might find this group interesting.
New Media
Mr. York & Ms. Wilson
Do you need to have millions of dollars and connections in LA to make a hit series any more? In a world of file sharing how do young musicians make any money? New media has brought new opportunities and new problems for creative artists. This group will explore the artists, labels and venues seeking to capitalize on the new media landscape. Students interested in careers in music, film, or new media might be interested in this group.
Women in Pro Sports (NEW)
Mr. Churchill
Why aren’t there more female pro sports teams? Are we as a society biased against the female athlete? This group will explore the issue of female pro sports, girls athletic programs, and the business that is pro-athletics. Students interested in women’s sports, gender fairness and combating sexism might be interested in this group.
Global Voices (NEW)
Mr. Fisk
Americans (even open minded and worldly Americans) see the world from a certain point of view. This point of view is rooted in western values, christian beliefs, the English language, and dominant economic and cultural perspectives. But the world is a vastly more diverse place. This group will explore our cultural biases, dig deep into several different cultural traditions and reflect how our history informs our world view. Students interested in other cultures and languages or students who just like to meet new people and talk about new ideas might be interested in this group.
The Science of Shopping (Revised Description)
Mr. Buck
Did you know that marketers position the shopping season’s most hyped toys at child eye level on store shelves? Did you know that budget shortfalls in many districts are forcing schools to allow marketing inside classrooms? If the price is $89.00 isn't that the same thing as $90? This group will explore the power of marketing to affect how and what we buy and what (or who) is really being sold. Students interested in marketing, business and media awareness might be interested in this group.
Life Against Life
Ms. Kang
What if you were told a life saving treatment was available for you or someone in your family but Federal law prevented the treatment from being developed? Stem cell research is a controversial debate: should humans ‘play God’ when determining who lives and doesn’t live? If stem cells can cure cancer and other diseases why aren’t we exploring this treatment to the fullest? Students interested in careers in medicine, science or who enjoy discussing ethics might be interested in this group.
Gridlock?
Mr. Kozens
Every day in the news we hear stories about how our government is polarized, gridlocked and unable to take care of ‘Main Street’ but are these stories really true, or is this just more political rhetoric? This group will explore the political system in the United States from the Democrats to the Republicans and even the Tea Party. Students who are interested in politics, careers in government or who want to better understand how the American democracy works might be interested in this group.
It’s not a Game it’s a Franchise
Mr. McCulloch
Pro sports is a multi-billion dollar industry in the United States with the top players making millions of dollars a game. How has the media attention, high financial stakes and focus on star players changed the games we love? Aren’t sports about trying your best and playing fair no matter if you win or loose? This group will explore how big business has changed athletics, what it does to individual players and what we can do about it. Students who are interested in careers in sports management, business or enjoy sports might be interested in this group.
This Pill Will Help You Feel Better
Ms. Lane
Modern medicine has transformed health in the world: we live longer and more productive lives. Yet even as medicines have improved our lives they have shown us the dark side of human nature. Prescription drug abuse, illegal drug use and crime are all closely related. This group will examine the technologies that lead to the production of new medicines and also explore issues related to their misuse. Students interested in careers in medicine, science or who care about reversing the issue of drug abuse might be interested in this group.
Race, Justice and Law
Ms. Frame
Why do young black men make up a much greater proportion of people in prison than any other demographic? Is the justice system in the United States biased against minorities? This group will explore the system of justice in America and explore issues of fairness and racial profiling. Students interested in careers in law, government or who are interested in social justice might find this group interesting.
New Media
Mr. York & Ms. Wilson
Do you need to have millions of dollars and connections in LA to make a hit series any more? In a world of file sharing how do young musicians make any money? New media has brought new opportunities and new problems for creative artists. This group will explore the artists, labels and venues seeking to capitalize on the new media landscape. Students interested in careers in music, film, or new media might be interested in this group.
Jan 25, 2011
JUA 10-11 Theme Announced
Inspiring students to take action to ‘reverse’ an issue that the feel strongly about, that’s JUA 2010. The JUA has three parts: learn about an issue, do something about it, and share your experience with others. This is social-media based, urban experiential learning: students will be blogging and tweeting as they go, working to create good in the world.
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