Reflections from An Alumna; What if NIU’s Huskies Win The Orange Bowl Today?

By My Web Writers

NIU Plays in the New Years Day 2013 Orange Bowl 

I’ll be there in section 112 row 18.

I’m a little full of myself- Row 18 and all.

Really, I’d like to think of row 18 symbolizing what NIU alumni are feeling- maybe even what the whole student body is experiencing- validation.

My Journey to NIU

My older sister went to Northwestern.  She met her husband there, fell in love, and got married.  The next brother was sent to Bradley, another private, Illinois school.  As the youngest of four, my fate was altered by their degrees.  Dad determined that a private school education was no better than a public university’s education and that the later was much better for his retirement.  The school in DeKalb, IL looked good to him.

My parents drove me to Northern Illinois University where I met with Dr. Arthur Doederlein.  He was NIU’s undergrad, COMS department coordinator.  We met and he waived me into some junior level courses as a freshman, so that I was able to fit in all of my teaching degree’s requirements, as well as pursue a career in media.  I was off to Illinois’ second largest, public university- an economical choice.

In class, Dr. Doederlein once said, “You kids are the ones who didn’t have the grades for U of I and most you grew up in working class families.”  One shoe didn’t fit us all, however that shoe fit many.

NIU at the Orange Bowl is Victory for the Underrated

But the university has evolved.  As I wind down my time at Miami Beach’s Fountaine Bleau, I’ve noticed fans cheering “Go Huskies!”  Strangers high-five strangers in the Miami sun. Frigid Northerners nod at each other in the elevators.  It’s an unusual camaraderie for what was once Chicagoland’s suitcase school.

I’m not sure if the students playing in today’s Orange Bowl realize the depth of what they’re doing for the university.  Playing at the Orange Bowl is a victory for underdogs here, there, and everywhere.  And, imagine if they win, today.  Oh, how sweet that’ll taste.  The Herbstreits in our lives will have to bite their toe nails.  We are just as smart and capable- no matter what the field and we’re in your face.  It’s a new era for the university and the alumni are in. Here’s to Huskie Pride renewed!

In the wee hours of the 2013 New Year, I met a NIU grad who was a tight end in the seventies.  He pulled out his photos and proudly showed the day he cracked someone’s ribs. “Now, I’m just a bum working in a factory making $15 per hour, but I was the baddest bad ass on the NIU football field back then.”   Today’s football team inspires the old timers – anything is possible.  You don’t have to be stuck in life.  You CAN make a new name for yourself – a new year for yourself.

NIU’s Social Media Team Rises to the National Challenge

My former mentors in NIU’s media services department have been assigned a big task.  They are social media messaging about Northern’s increase in donations, applicants, and spirit wear.  They’ve adjusted to 24 hour coverage by the national press.  Brad Hoey, Jay Orbik, and Holly Nicholson are just a few of these new media enthusiasts who energize an entire team devoted to monitoring Facebook and Twitter.  Messages forward to their phones and they are handling the numerous public appearances.  No one wants to blink as they ride this wave to new highs.  The retiring NIU president, Dr. John G. Peters, whom I’ve now seen at least a half dozen events this week, has brilliantly guided the university through this era.  He just keeps going.  Morning and evening he’s mingling with people.  He’s chosen good people to drive the various departments of the NIU bus as he quietly works the rooms and media behind the scenes.  Not only does the football team deserve to be here.  The entire NIU team is posed for sweet success.

Here’s to Miami’s Orange Bowl

Miami, you are a welcoming and generous host city.  While walking on the beach, Seminole fans have approached us wanting to know more.  Of course Florida thinks it’ll win, but those welcome billboards at the entrances to the city are signs of a great host.

But, it’s NIU’s time.  We can feel it.

We’re basking in the thaw of 20 degree temps.  Let’s make New Years in Miami a tradition!  ~Jean

 

Update: Just back from the game where the Florida State Seminoles beat the NIU Huskies 31 to 10.  Ah, well.  Our team heads back to the pound with a bone to gnaw.  Hold your heads high, players.  This season brought the school together and it sure was fun!  Governor Quinn of Illinois even declared the day, Northern Illinois University Huskie Day. 

Three University Content Writing Programs to Consider

by My Web Writers

Content Writing From an Intern’s Perspective

When I entered college, ready to study English and Journalism, I had never heard of content writing—the concept of the program of study.  When my internship mentor gave me a quick overview of content writing, I didn’t think I would enjoy it half as much as I do.  When my mentor suggested that I research various content writing programs, I was apprehensive.  Now that I’ve looked into a few different content writing programs, I’m intrigued.

Content Writing Programs to Consider

Many of the universities researched consider “content writing” a part of their creative writing programs.  Students hone their creative writing skills and apply them to writing blog posts, press releases, and website content.

1. Princeton University:   SEO Guru lists Princeton as number one on their list of the top seven content writing programs in the United States.  Princeton’s undergraduate program in creative writing teaches fiction writing, poetry writing, translations, and other types of creative writing that students can later apply to content marketing.  Small workshops allow students to not only work with one another, but also to receive feedback from one of the fifteen practicing writers on staff.  Seniors are asked to put together a thesis project, which typically consists of a novel or a collection of short stories, poetry, or translations.

1. University of Southern California:  Because of its close proximity to Los Angeles, students at USC enjoy listening to lectures from bigwigs in the entertainment industry.  This gives the USC program a slight edge over other universities.  Also, this program utilizes the workshop atmosphere, allowing for small group work.  Students also work one-on-one with mentors so they can receive firsthand feedback on their writing and learn how to improve their writing from the professionals that write daily.

1. Purdue University: The creative writing program at Purdue is similar to the others in that it is a graduate program, but the three-year program at Purdue seems more intense than others.  Purdue also takes a workshop-based approach to their creative writing program, but their ratio of students to faculty members is 3.5 students to every 1 faculty member.  This means much more one-on-one time with the teachers, more hands-on feedback, and a better final product when the students finish.  The students are able to learn more and get more familiar with their teachers—when a student is able to get to know a teacher, the learning experience is that much more real.

By offering creative writing programs instead of content writing, universities are teaching their students to write in a way that will appeal to a wide variety of people, rather than simply producing technical writing that will only appeal to a select group.  Universities really are setting their students up for success with their creative writing programs.  Looking into a creative writing program, or at least a few classes, is something every content writer should consider.

~Holly

Communication Theory in a Social Media World

by My Web Writers

Social media has changed the landscape of communication redefining how “e-relationships” develop and are perpetuated. Ultimately, we stand at a crossroad facing the choice to use the available technologies of social media to facilitate communication or “miss the bus” entirely. From SEO content specialists like those at My Web Writers blogging about trends in e-commerce to educators debating the role social media should play in the classroom, the basic system still hasn’t changed. Whether written in caves or transmitted electronically, messages have been encoded, sent, decoded, and returned.  Inevitably, theories were developed to study these systems and help explain how and why they function. The means used to accomplish this vary but the road traveled will always be termed communication.

Communication Theory begins Face-to-Face

Basic communication theory focuses on the conversation or “face-to face” interaction.  A person has an idea they want to share. This idea is encoded (put into words) and transmitted through a channel (voice-to-ear) to another. That individual decodes the message and encodes feedback (verbal or nonverbal) indicating their understanding, or lack of it, to return.  This process is repeated until the interaction was complete. Its overall effectiveness is also dependent on noise (physical, psychological, or environmental) and context.

First Impressions of Social Media

Initially, many considered Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and the like had forever changed that. People worldwide believed this “machine system” had altered some crucial element adversely affecting the character and quality of messages being sent and received. Feedback was delayed or simply nonexistent; the channel was comprised of masses of electronically generated “ones and zeros”, and the context was imaginary.  Social media was deemed undisciplined and potentially dangerous.

Positive Impact of Social Media

Social media hasn’t changed communication theory but rather illuminated a different facet.  According to Northern Illinois University’s Dr. David Gunkel, social media “…has returned us to a part of communication theory that we had forgotten about.”  He cites James W. Carey’s opinion that communication isn’t just transmissional, as described above, but also “ritualistic”.  Social media help build, enhance and reinforce the rituals that comprise our “communities” defining who we are with a speed and immediacy that traditional methods can match. Gunkel points to the entomological relationship between “common”, “communities”, and “communication” as evidence of that link.

The photos of family events that once had to be sent through the mail can now be put in a scrapbook on Pinterest or posted on Facebook.  Video of a child’s first steps can be seen on Youtube within minutes. Updates concerning events of every type reach interested people within seconds via Twitter. Resumes can now be viewed by employers all over the world 24 hours a day via LinkedIn.

The Changing View of Communication and Social Media

It’s tempting to focus only on the negatives of social media but it’s also unrealistic.  Educators shouldn’t lament the passing of teaching techniques once employed but rather rejoice in the greater insights it can offer and the benefits it can have for students. Simply plugging in different terms into the traditional communication model shows us that the basic structure hasn’t changed. Substitute keyboard for encode/decode and screen-to-screen for channel. We are still both sender and receiver worrying about correct feedback. What used to happen with facial expressions and body language is now accomplished through emoticons and internet acronyms.

Social Media Conclusions

The emergence of social media is an important facet of traditional communication theory.  We do more harm than good by denying its significance and positive role they play.  Do we exploit the benefits or bury our heads in the sand? Social media will always wield the power to harm, but we owe it to ourselves to at least have a better understanding of its benefits as well as dangers.  Think of what can accomplished not just for how we communicate with each other but how it enhances the rituals of our families and  in turn, society overall. Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook are simply tools in the communication toolbox.  If and how we use them ultimately depends on us.

~Jim

TEDx Fort Wayne Initiates Student Speech Contest

by My Web Writers

Ever have a great idea and want to share it with the world? Or maybe you want to hear about other people’s ideas in technology, entertainment and design? Those three subjects are the ideas behind TED- a nonprofit devoted to “Ideas Worth Sharing.”

While TED is an international program, it also gives smaller communities the chance to share their own ideas with each other via the program “TEDx.” TEDx gives people the opportunity to share on the local level.  In Fort Wayne, Indiana, TEDx Fort Wayne invited the area’s youth to share their ideas for change via a student speech contest.

“It’s a reminder that great ideas come from everywhere,” said Craig Crook, TEDx Fort Wayne Coordinator. “I hope the student speech contest captures the attention of the folks back at TED, as engaging our youth should be incorporated at all TEDx events.”

Over 30 students submitted their entries to the speech contest via YouTube and flash drive.  The entries included a wide range of topics and ideas.  Jean Bansemer, a TEDx Fort Wayne volunteer who initiated the speech contest, said, “It’s inspiring to watch our youth speak from the heart and to articulate their ideas. A contest like this supports the schools’ and parents’ academic efforts while providing insight into what the next generation is thinking.”

TEDxFortWayne coordinators visited local schools, called and emailed local administrators and teachers, reached out to the area’s libraries, and engaged community members socially via Twitter and Facebook to get students involved. The speech requirements were for area youth to “dream big” and to explain how they want to make a difference in the community. While some entries will be included in a video presentation at TEDxFortWayne in May, other students will present their speeches in person.

High school students were encouraged to enter by submitting a three-minute video of their speech.  Elementary and middle school students submitted short essays.  Students chose from four topics: 1. Share your vision for our community, 2. Explain what you’re doing to improve our culture, 3. Tell us about your ideas for change, or 4. Show us what power really means.

Other TEDx events are held all over the globe, from Brazil, to Egypt, to China and Saudi Arabia, with each community sharing its own ideas in different ways.

Crook has enjoyed seeing what Fort Wayne students have come up with, and hopes the speech contest will catch on in other communities.  He believes there are many reasons students should participate in such a contest.

“Having a chance to actively participate in the future, letting your voice be heard, realizing that you are never too young to create and engage with things that matter,” Crook said, “those are all good reasons to enter.”  Winners of the 2012 student speech contest will be announced within the next week.

Update- 4/16/2012:

A panel of TEDx Fort Wayne judges, who reviewed over 30 YouTube and essay entries, recently selected winners and honorable mentions for this year’s “Re-Think Fort Wayne” contest.  Students were asked to voice their ideas, dreams, and vision for their communities, country, and world via a writing and speech contest.

High school speech winners include: Neisha Freshly, with “Teenage Power”; Erin Purcell, “Equine Assisted Therapy”; and Rachel Shie, “Teenage Depression.”  All three students attend New Tech Academy in Fort Wayne.  Eighth grader, Natalie Brown, from Carroll Middle School, wrote the winning middle school essay- “Fort Wayne: Fulfilling One Dream at a Time.”

Mitch Bleich, Derek Dalman, Hannah Dorian, Breon Johnson, David Lehman, Quinasha McCall, Benjamin Perose, Yamin Thu each receive honorable mentions as speech contest runners-up.  All of these students will be featured in a video montage, during the May 19, 2012 TEDx Fort Wayne event.  Attendees will have opportunities to visit student tables to discuss the students’ areas of interest in between sessions.

TEDxFortWayne organizer Craig D. Crook said, “The theme for TEDxFortWayne 2012 is Re-Think Fort Wayne.  We invited area youth to dream BIG and they did!”

Contest coordinator, Jean Bansemer, added, “It was difficult for judges to narrow down entries to winners and honorable mentions.  The dreams and hopes of all the students really impressed the judges.  Come to the event and listen to what these young people have to say about rethinking Fort Wayne and the future.”

TEDx Fort Wayne will be held on May 19, 2012 from 9am- 5pm at the Cinema Center (437 Berry Street).  Tickets for this non-for-profit event can be purchased at Tedxfortwayne.com.

~Natalie

Content for Educators- What Parents Really Want to Read on Your School Website

by My Web Writers

Creating a class website is a fantastic way to keep teachers, students, and parents on the same page. Using sites such as WordPress,  Google Sites, and Weebly, you can craft your site for free. Many educators do not have training in web design, but these sites are fairly easy to create and maintain. By simplifying the process and streamlining the content, your website will be a tool students and their parents can use to keep at the top of the class.

Divide Content into Clear Categories

Busy parents won’t want to spend a lot of time looking for information on your webpage. Make sure your content is divided into clear categories. Have different sections for assignments, field trips, extra resources, grades, or fun stuff. Make sure your sections make sense for your class or school. You know how you organize your curriculum and using your webpage to mirror your class will help make the webpage easily navigable. Make sure your design is consistent across sections. Picking a basic template or a color scheme and sticking with it across all your categories will help make your site look more professional and appealing.

Stick to a Schedule

Posting new information on a regular schedule will help parents and students know when to check your site and help keep your work efficient. For example, post assignments for the week on Sunday nights and supplemental resources or fun posts on Thursday afternoons, allowing your class to get a jump on the weekend. Pick a schedule that fits your class and stick to it. Make sure parents know the schedule.  Establish regular patterns of classroom use for the resources your site provides.

 Include Photo Slideshows for Easier Viewing

You can make a slideshow at Photosnack.com for free and post it on your webpage. There are plenty of styles, so you can choose one that works seamlessly with your site design. If your students are minors, make sure that it’s okay with parents that you post pictures. A simple permission form at the beginning of the year should be sufficient. Also, best practice is to refrain from posting photos of individual children or including their last names.

 Organize Volunteers

Especially in an elementary school, the need for parent volunteers can fluctuate over the course of the year. Set up a section of your school or class website where you post dates, times, and events for which you need parent volunteers. Using your website to organize volunteers can take a lot of the stress out of scheduling, which means more involvement and enjoyment for busy parents and less hassle for teachers.

 Digitize the Class Newspaper

If your students write a weekly or monthly newspaper for their parents, post the newspaper as a PDF online instead of or in addition to photocopying it. So many newspapers have digital editions now, your students will feel like real journalists, and parents will be able to keep up with the current events more easily.

Archive Course Materials

Regular use of the class website can help make your job easier in years to come. At the end of the year, move old content to an archive section. Clean out the clutter, but retain important posts such as your syllabus, schedule, assignment sheets, additional resources, and photos. In the future, you’ll be able to easily look back at old materials for ideas or reference and parents of students in your current class will also be able to get an idea of what a year in your room looks like.

Your school or class website should give your class planning and participation a boost, not drain on your time and energy. A clear site design and regular posting gets your site off on the right start, but remember to keep your personality. Parents don’t just want to know what their kids are learning; they want to know you too!

~Kasey