Based on a few recent posts and comments, it seems as though a post about technology on campus at UB is in order. In this post I am going to talk a little bit about laptops in the classroom, the kind of technology available at UB, and how various professors are implementing that technology. Also at least one hilarious story included, so read on.
1) Laptops
In the law school, almost everyone brings a laptop to class. This is well established. The pros are the ability to keep your notes neatly organized, in one space. Also, the latest versions of Microsoft Word (especially Word for Mac), Powerpoint, and Open Office make this a breeze. Word for Mac has the amazing notebook mode that supports outlining fluidly, as well as subject tabs. Additionally, I know of one student who has figured out a way to take notes on the Powerpoint slides, so at the end of the class, he has exactly what the professor said while talking about each slide.
Showing posts with label UB. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UB. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Friday, March 19, 2010
To Continue Or Not To Continue, That Is The Question
This time last year, I began taking three of the 15 classes I needed to complete my bachelor's degree. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I knew that I would be on a roll once I had made my mind up about completing my degree. I'm almost done. After this semester, I only need two classes. I can't believe that I returned to college at this point in my life but it was the best decision I've made in a long time and the best time for me to do it.
So now that I'm getting down to the wire, when I'm almost ready to graduate, what happens? UB starts sending me graduate school information. When I returned to college, I was so happy to finally close that chapter of my life. Now the graduate admissions office wants to open a new chapter. I have been considering pursuing a master's degree lately. That's something that was so far from my mind this time last year.
I know that continuing at UB is the best choice if I am pursuing any communications related degree. A friend of mine told me that it looks better to go to a different college for graduate studies. I think that is absolutely ridiculous. Especially when the college I attend has the best communications programs (as far as I'm concerned) in the area.
For me, choosing UB is a no-brainer. My problem is that I keep asking my self, "Do you really want to be in college for another 2 years?" Deciding to go to graduate school is a question that I never really gave much thought to before, but now I can't stop thinking about it. To help me decide, I am going to attend the graduate open house at UB next week. Hopefully, I can get some information about my desired program and this time next year, I'll be in my first graduate classes.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Bee Sightings on Campus
First of all, if you are not familiar with Courtney's post, please click here and get yourself up to speed.
The most dedicated of readers may remember that WAY back on October 7, 2009, I had written P.S. I heard a rumor that UB's mascot is the "Super Bee." Can anyone confirm or deny this? to which Laura noted she "didn't know" and Charlene summed up nicely with, "We have a mascot !!!!" (The entire post is here, if you would like to review in full.)
So, as Courtney has answered all of our collective prayers, I have been beside myself with excitement and looking everywhere for a Bee. Here are my findings, field guide style.
2/24/2010, 12:30PM, Law School Computer Lab:
Read Courtney's post about bee/mascot. Scream out loud in amazement. Receive dirty looks from stressed out law students.
2/25/2010, 11:30PM:
Receive UB Daily Digest on iPhone. See headline about Bee mascot. Try desperately to read article on tiny phone screen, realize that it is a teaser and has no further information. Continue ignoring Con Law professor.
2/25/2010, 6:00PM:
Have now searched all five floors of law school building, can confirm that there are NO bees. Countless Ravens spotted. Classmates no longer amused by my questions about possible mascots. One classmate angrily informs me Poe is our mascot.
2/26/2010. 9:00AM:
Confirmed, Poe is law school mascot. Statute out front, 95% of building is named after him, he is dark and depressing, much like law school.
2/27/2010, 9:30AM:
Remember I am in law school, go to library early Saturday morning. Drove car instead of light rail, still, no Bees spotted.
2/27/2010, 1:00PM:
Walk all over building next to law school, you know the one with admissions, bursar's office, the gym? Still no bees spotted.
2/27/2010, 1:13PM:
Follow up on tip received back in October 2009 that "there is some bee thing in the gym." Thank you, Clay Gorton, for your shallow and obvious attempt to get me to work out with you.
2/27/2010, 1:15PM:
EUREKA! There is, in fact, a bee in the gym! This Bee is painted on the wall of the basketball court. He is about as tall as I am, although he is pretty high up on the wall. He doesn't really look like a bee at all, and none of the colors are the university colors (which I understand to be some combination of blue, gold, and slate). Also, his funky shirt is circa 1950, so I think this may be an example of the outgoing bee.
3/1/2010, 12:26PM:
Three more bees found, interestingly, all in the gym.
This specimen was located on a display in one of the hallways in the gym. He is stepping on a cigarette. A good message, definitely. He also resembles a bee. The tough face and well defined muscles make this guy a good mascot, plus he is clearly wearing a UB shirt.
This specimen was also located on the wall in the gym. He is on a banner, way up high on the basketball court. Unfortunately, all I had was my iPhone, and this was a sighting I did not want to miss. Plus, some guys were playing basketball, and I was trying to stay out of the way. This bee is really similar to the above one.
This specimen was located in another gym hallway. He is advertising intramural sports. In an effort to be more anatomically correct, this guy has several sets of arms/legs. Although he looks MUCH more like a bee than my first sighting, he also sort of looks like a Hindu god. Also, not only does he have some well developed arms (all 4 of them!) but he has been doing some sit ups and pilates. I don't know how I feel about his superhero gloves, they look a little outdated to me.
SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS:
1) There are several bees on campus.
2) The red bee on the gym is pretty surely an old one. He has that sort of "Steamboat Willy" charm to him, but I think is probably not a new design.
3) The 2nd and 3rd bees are for sure UB bees, but I am wondering if they are so generic because they were thought up for a stop-smoking campaign, and not a UB design.
4) The fourth bee is on one hand, sort of outdated and all over the place, but on the other hand a pretty decent sports mascot.
Now I leave it to you. Which design do you like best? Have you found any other bees on campus? Do you think any of these designs predict what the new mascot will be? After the last block party being so much fun, how excited are you for the next one? Leave some comments!
WHAT I LEARNED IN LAW SCHOOL
"Maybe the only special interest group that no one hates is the League of Women Voters. Well, probably not even them." American Legal History Professor.
Turns out, Madison wrote about special interest groups (he called them factions) back when the Constitution was still just a twinkle in his eye. His argument: The bigger the country, the more special interest groups represented, the less likely it is one can take over and subjugate all the others.
The most dedicated of readers may remember that WAY back on October 7, 2009, I had written P.S. I heard a rumor that UB's mascot is the "Super Bee." Can anyone confirm or deny this? to which Laura noted she "didn't know" and Charlene summed up nicely with, "We have a mascot !!!!" (The entire post is here, if you would like to review in full.)
So, as Courtney has answered all of our collective prayers, I have been beside myself with excitement and looking everywhere for a Bee. Here are my findings, field guide style.
2/24/2010, 12:30PM, Law School Computer Lab:
Read Courtney's post about bee/mascot. Scream out loud in amazement. Receive dirty looks from stressed out law students.
2/25/2010, 11:30PM:
Receive UB Daily Digest on iPhone. See headline about Bee mascot. Try desperately to read article on tiny phone screen, realize that it is a teaser and has no further information. Continue ignoring Con Law professor.
2/25/2010, 6:00PM:
Have now searched all five floors of law school building, can confirm that there are NO bees. Countless Ravens spotted. Classmates no longer amused by my questions about possible mascots. One classmate angrily informs me Poe is our mascot.
2/26/2010. 9:00AM:
Confirmed, Poe is law school mascot. Statute out front, 95% of building is named after him, he is dark and depressing, much like law school.
2/27/2010, 9:30AM:
Remember I am in law school, go to library early Saturday morning. Drove car instead of light rail, still, no Bees spotted.
2/27/2010, 1:00PM:
Walk all over building next to law school, you know the one with admissions, bursar's office, the gym? Still no bees spotted.
2/27/2010, 1:13PM:
Follow up on tip received back in October 2009 that "there is some bee thing in the gym." Thank you, Clay Gorton, for your shallow and obvious attempt to get me to work out with you.
2/27/2010, 1:15PM:
EUREKA! There is, in fact, a bee in the gym! This Bee is painted on the wall of the basketball court. He is about as tall as I am, although he is pretty high up on the wall. He doesn't really look like a bee at all, and none of the colors are the university colors (which I understand to be some combination of blue, gold, and slate). Also, his funky shirt is circa 1950, so I think this may be an example of the outgoing bee.
3/1/2010, 12:26PM:
Three more bees found, interestingly, all in the gym.
This specimen was located on a display in one of the hallways in the gym. He is stepping on a cigarette. A good message, definitely. He also resembles a bee. The tough face and well defined muscles make this guy a good mascot, plus he is clearly wearing a UB shirt.
This specimen was also located on the wall in the gym. He is on a banner, way up high on the basketball court. Unfortunately, all I had was my iPhone, and this was a sighting I did not want to miss. Plus, some guys were playing basketball, and I was trying to stay out of the way. This bee is really similar to the above one.
This specimen was located in another gym hallway. He is advertising intramural sports. In an effort to be more anatomically correct, this guy has several sets of arms/legs. Although he looks MUCH more like a bee than my first sighting, he also sort of looks like a Hindu god. Also, not only does he have some well developed arms (all 4 of them!) but he has been doing some sit ups and pilates. I don't know how I feel about his superhero gloves, they look a little outdated to me.
SCIENTIFIC FINDINGS:
1) There are several bees on campus.
2) The red bee on the gym is pretty surely an old one. He has that sort of "Steamboat Willy" charm to him, but I think is probably not a new design.
3) The 2nd and 3rd bees are for sure UB bees, but I am wondering if they are so generic because they were thought up for a stop-smoking campaign, and not a UB design.
4) The fourth bee is on one hand, sort of outdated and all over the place, but on the other hand a pretty decent sports mascot.
Now I leave it to you. Which design do you like best? Have you found any other bees on campus? Do you think any of these designs predict what the new mascot will be? After the last block party being so much fun, how excited are you for the next one? Leave some comments!
WHAT I LEARNED IN LAW SCHOOL
"Maybe the only special interest group that no one hates is the League of Women Voters. Well, probably not even them." American Legal History Professor.
Turns out, Madison wrote about special interest groups (he called them factions) back when the Constitution was still just a twinkle in his eye. His argument: The bigger the country, the more special interest groups represented, the less likely it is one can take over and subjugate all the others.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Alumni Blogger Intro
Not a fun and enticing title for my first post, but hey, it is my first blog post...and I am introducing myself, and I am an alumni...so, "Alumni Blogger Intro" seemed fitting. Hopefully, my wonderful and witty intro will keep the masses coming back on Fridays. If not, then hopefully my co-Friday partner in blog-writing will keep it fun and amusing, and you will accidentally read my posts thinking they are hers...
Ok, back to the regularly scheduled intro blog post...
I am a 1993 graduate of UB, getting my MPA in the evenings, and working as a Schaefer Center for Public Policy Fellow during the day (I actually was a "Gap Boy" as well, but that was a long time ago, when I could fit into those clothes).
I have many fond memories of my two years at UB, and who would have thought I would be where I am today, and Dr. Larry Thomas (my then-boss at the Schaefer Center) would now be the Dean of the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts. He looks exactly the same, and I, well, sorta do in a grayer, heavier, balder kinda way.
When I graduated from UB, I was accepted into the US Office of Personnel Management's Presidential Management Intern (now Fellow) program. Actually, three of us were accepted into this prestigious program from my graduating year - which was a great accomplishment for the UB MPA program. Two of us are still with the Federal government...using everyday what we learned in the MPA program...well, maybe not EVERY day...shhh, don't tell.
I have been back to UB on several occasions to try and recruit UB students to come work for us and have been very successful several times. I actually now mentor two UB grads, who have come to work for my agency. I like to give back to my alma mater, and one of the best ways is to help the graduating students find meaningful positions and hopefully a career in public service.
I hope to be able to bring an "older", well, make that "wiser" perspective to the UB blog. I plan on talking about lots of interesting things, and hopefully, current and former students will find what I post usable for them, or at least give them a chuckle or two to start the day.
I look forward to "meeting" everyone every week through your comments (and I encourage readers to post their comments), and I hope I can end everyone's week with a smile.
Til next week...and to quote Garrison Keillor...Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
Ok, back to the regularly scheduled intro blog post...
I am a 1993 graduate of UB, getting my MPA in the evenings, and working as a Schaefer Center for Public Policy Fellow during the day (I actually was a "Gap Boy" as well, but that was a long time ago, when I could fit into those clothes).
I have many fond memories of my two years at UB, and who would have thought I would be where I am today, and Dr. Larry Thomas (my then-boss at the Schaefer Center) would now be the Dean of the Yale Gordon College of Liberal Arts. He looks exactly the same, and I, well, sorta do in a grayer, heavier, balder kinda way.
When I graduated from UB, I was accepted into the US Office of Personnel Management's Presidential Management Intern (now Fellow) program. Actually, three of us were accepted into this prestigious program from my graduating year - which was a great accomplishment for the UB MPA program. Two of us are still with the Federal government...using everyday what we learned in the MPA program...well, maybe not EVERY day...shhh, don't tell.
I have been back to UB on several occasions to try and recruit UB students to come work for us and have been very successful several times. I actually now mentor two UB grads, who have come to work for my agency. I like to give back to my alma mater, and one of the best ways is to help the graduating students find meaningful positions and hopefully a career in public service.
I hope to be able to bring an "older", well, make that "wiser" perspective to the UB blog. I plan on talking about lots of interesting things, and hopefully, current and former students will find what I post usable for them, or at least give them a chuckle or two to start the day.
I look forward to "meeting" everyone every week through your comments (and I encourage readers to post their comments), and I hope I can end everyone's week with a smile.
Til next week...and to quote Garrison Keillor...Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
The Final Go-Round...
Hello UB! I am soooo excited this semester!... why you ask? BECAUSE I'M GRADUATING WITH MY MASTER'S IN MAY!!!! It is almost over, and I can't believe it has only been two years! I started here in January of 2008 and it will all be over soon this May. I've learned so much and met so many great people during this time... it's just all been a wonderful experience... I was blessed to have done an internship here and create this blog for students to be able to come and share their thoughts and opinions, and I am so happy that it is still thriving and that people are interested in blogging and I hope that it continues for years to come :)
all in all... Welcome back UB! and have a great semester!
all in all... Welcome back UB! and have a great semester!
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Books... books... books...
I am sitting here at work trying to figure out the most cost efficient way of getting the books I need for class. It would be no problem for me to buy them all, if
A. they were going to be used again
B. they did not cost an arm, buttcheek, and all my life's savings
C. they would actually be used in class... meaning, more than just the first 6 classes, and
D. students would receive more then 5 pennies and a pat on the back when they sell them back to the store...
Textbooks cost entirely TOO much, and selling them back to the store just for them to resell them to students (or not accept them at all because a new addition with a new cover and a few extra 'the's have been added) is not something that has ever sat well with me. Therefore, I look to the libraries first, and then to online sources (such as amazon.com) before I venture into the school store to be bamboozeled by the prices... oh why can't life be as simple as it was when we were in elementary school and books were already in the classroom and tasted like playdough LOL... well maybe not that, but they didn't require a blood signature to get (and they would be used next year!)... I guess I'm just venting about how ridiculous it is that in such an economy the prices are high for books in general, and then so called updated books whose information hasn't really changed... maybe that's why I stopped reading like I used to when I was youger... the joy seems to have faded away... hopefully it will come back once I've graduated...
A. they were going to be used again
B. they did not cost an arm, buttcheek, and all my life's savings
C. they would actually be used in class... meaning, more than just the first 6 classes, and
D. students would receive more then 5 pennies and a pat on the back when they sell them back to the store...
Textbooks cost entirely TOO much, and selling them back to the store just for them to resell them to students (or not accept them at all because a new addition with a new cover and a few extra 'the's have been added) is not something that has ever sat well with me. Therefore, I look to the libraries first, and then to online sources (such as amazon.com) before I venture into the school store to be bamboozeled by the prices... oh why can't life be as simple as it was when we were in elementary school and books were already in the classroom and tasted like playdough LOL... well maybe not that, but they didn't require a blood signature to get (and they would be used next year!)... I guess I'm just venting about how ridiculous it is that in such an economy the prices are high for books in general, and then so called updated books whose information hasn't really changed... maybe that's why I stopped reading like I used to when I was youger... the joy seems to have faded away... hopefully it will come back once I've graduated...
Monday, June 22, 2009
lab hours are????
ok... so summer lab hours are not helping me at all. not sure how many of you guys work forty hours a week, what type of commute you have, what you have to do at home, and then how much homework you have to do... but lab hours during the summer... well, they suck big time! there is hardly enough time as it is after work to concentrate on homework, let alone trying to adjust your schedule and rush to get to the lab to do it... the major thing that bothers me is that they are not open AT ALL on Friday and Saturday... two major time frames where full time workers would be able to come in... and the hours on Sunday, guess i can forget about part of church service if i want to be in there to entire time to work on anything? yes, i understand the lab workers don't want to be there on the weekend, all understandable and fine and dandy... but it is difficult and teachers don't seem to sympathize with those who cannot get in there as much as others can... i don't have the time to drive down to ub, find parking, walk to the lab, doing in, work on my stuff, etc, etc, etc... i have other things to do and more time would be nice... or just don't expect spectacular work (not that i would ever say that any of it is lol, my design skills are still developing lol)... but you get what I'm saying??? it just gets frustrating ya know? oh well... things wont change, so no point in getting flustered, right?
Thursday, May 28, 2009
summer go bye bye
So... this is the first time I have ever... and I mean... EVER... taken a summer course... and although we are only one class in, just the thought of losing part of my normal summer is depressing lol... I'm used to getting off work and just coming home (or going out) and being able to relax, not coming home and having to do homework/assignments on top of other to-do list... so I figure I might as well say goodbye to my summer now... most of it anyway... le sigh... :(
Friday, May 8, 2009
The Conversation Continues
I am sitting in Langsdale right now to prepare the final post of the semester. Despite being at the end, the conversation continues as social media abounds at UB.
First, there's a collection of blogs worth noting:
Finally, there's a YouTube Channel:
UB and the Alumni Association have presences on Facebook and LinkedIn, too. So keep on talking, and if you start a UB-related blog, Twitter, or other social media account, post it in the comments!
First, there's a collection of blogs worth noting:
- Langsdale Library News--Straight from the librarians
- University of Baltimore Law Library--Librarians and lawyers
- Take the Lead!--Leadership UB's official blog
- University of Baltimore CNCM Student Info Blog--News from the Center for Negotiations and Conflict Management
- Ron's Blog--News from the Towson/UB MBA program
Finally, there's a YouTube Channel:
UB and the Alumni Association have presences on Facebook and LinkedIn, too. So keep on talking, and if you start a UB-related blog, Twitter, or other social media account, post it in the comments!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Term Options
Coming from a university with more term options to take courses, I wonder how much better would UB be if they did the same?... right now, there are only courses offered in the fall, spring and summer terms. Other schools offer minimester (which is during the winter break after Christmas) and some offer multiple summer terms, ranging from two week course, to seven or nine week course throughout the majority of the summer. I think having more term options would be appealing to a perspective student and to current ones. They would have more options to be able to finish their degree requirements and wouldnt be bound to just the three terms offered. But I guessit's because UB is not as large a scale school as some other universities and colleges are, they are not able to do so... but golly gee! If they could?... I probably would have been the first to sign up for those classes and finish school sooner than later.
Monday, April 13, 2009
Maslow & Me
Here we are, coming out of the holiday weekend... I, as it happens, don't celebrate any of those holidays, but I love watching the people who do. Dressed up, reverent, engaged in their process... It's all good.
Because I lack that ritual, I look for other places to belong. Those of you doing classes in Psych or Education (or presumably a variety of other fields) will know all about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. And you will know that there is a tier up in the middle of the hierarchy for BELONGING. For that human desire to be part of something larger. For a variety of reasons I often find this challenging. Part of it is the queer thing, of course, and a lot of it is just that I have often taken the windier branch of whatever road I happen to find myself traveling. This has worked out well, I suppose, but it has also made everything take longer (which is why I am only now treading the path of MFA grad student, I guess).
For me, it turns out that UB fills a big part of that tier. I see the bright white UB letters from the train station, or from around town, and I get the happies. I go to class and everything feels better (even if class is somewhat surreal, or somewhat harrowing, sometimes). For the first time in close to 20 years, I'm someplace I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to do. I belong here.
Part of this is that I am lucky enough to be in classes with people I like and respect. And a lot of it is that the instructors of my MFA program are so welcoming, and so warm, and so good at what they do. They know their stuff, but they are not bossy and full of themselves about it. They evolve along with us. And they teach by guiding and leading, not by arbitarily telling us what to do.
So thanks, UB, for being home. And happy holiday season, for those of you who celebrate in the spring.
Because I lack that ritual, I look for other places to belong. Those of you doing classes in Psych or Education (or presumably a variety of other fields) will know all about Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs. And you will know that there is a tier up in the middle of the hierarchy for BELONGING. For that human desire to be part of something larger. For a variety of reasons I often find this challenging. Part of it is the queer thing, of course, and a lot of it is just that I have often taken the windier branch of whatever road I happen to find myself traveling. This has worked out well, I suppose, but it has also made everything take longer (which is why I am only now treading the path of MFA grad student, I guess).
For me, it turns out that UB fills a big part of that tier. I see the bright white UB letters from the train station, or from around town, and I get the happies. I go to class and everything feels better (even if class is somewhat surreal, or somewhat harrowing, sometimes). For the first time in close to 20 years, I'm someplace I'm supposed to be, doing what I'm supposed to do. I belong here.
Part of this is that I am lucky enough to be in classes with people I like and respect. And a lot of it is that the instructors of my MFA program are so welcoming, and so warm, and so good at what they do. They know their stuff, but they are not bossy and full of themselves about it. They evolve along with us. And they teach by guiding and leading, not by arbitarily telling us what to do.
So thanks, UB, for being home. And happy holiday season, for those of you who celebrate in the spring.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Does anyone know what the score is?
Ok... so last semester I took my first (and last!) Sunday class... OMG... I missed a full semester of going to church and everyone else in class was a little pissed about missing so many Ravens games. A six hour class is bad enough as is it, but for it to be on Sunday, in the afternoon (12pm to 5:50pm) AND during football season (and my usual after service nap time LOL) that was just not cool at all! :(
I must admit, the teachers were pretty darn cool though... we had two completely opposite generations teaching us (one taught the other, how cool is that to see those perspectives?) their teaching style was on point and very helpful for the coursework... if you're wondering what class, it's Words & Images... but still, even after the good lessons... IT IS MY SUNDAY GONE... le sigh... at least I passed and won't have to take it again :o)
But something must be done about this... or not... any suggestions?
I must admit, the teachers were pretty darn cool though... we had two completely opposite generations teaching us (one taught the other, how cool is that to see those perspectives?) their teaching style was on point and very helpful for the coursework... if you're wondering what class, it's Words & Images... but still, even after the good lessons... IT IS MY SUNDAY GONE... le sigh... at least I passed and won't have to take it again :o)
But something must be done about this... or not... any suggestions?
Monday, March 23, 2009
Welcome UB to the Blogging World!
It's been a long time coming, but UB now has a blog! Whoo hoo!
Get ready for talk about course and teacher suggestions/evaluations, campus life, parking, juggling home, work, school and a life outside of all that, and so much more! Be sure to read and comment on your fellow student's insight and opinions about UB and voice your own.
We encourage you to comment and offer any suggestions to improve on this new venture! If you would like to be one of the designated bloggers for a semester, please contact us at ubblog@ubalt.edu with your contact information and a writing sample.
Get ready for talk about course and teacher suggestions/evaluations, campus life, parking, juggling home, work, school and a life outside of all that, and so much more! Be sure to read and comment on your fellow student's insight and opinions about UB and voice your own.
We encourage you to comment and offer any suggestions to improve on this new venture! If you would like to be one of the designated bloggers for a semester, please contact us at ubblog@ubalt.edu with your contact information and a writing sample.
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