Blog #12

Reading Response

Proper MLA Citation
This source is classified as an Online Article. The proper citation is:
Cofer, Sarah. “Homework Help Is a Click Away.” Young Adult Library Sources Winter 2007: 17-20. EBSCOhost. University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg. 18 Apr. 2007
Summary
This article is about the advantages of online homework help for children in grades four through twelve. In February of 2006 St. Paul Public Library set up an online program on Tutor.com known as Live Homework Help. This program allows kids from grades four through twelve to receive help from an online tutor in various subjects including math, science, English, and social studies. Not only is this service offered seven days a week in English, but it is also offered five days a week in Spanish. Because of this, more children from different ethnicities are able to get help. Furthermore, because this service provides a safe environment for kids to get help and also allows them to communicate with their tutor via instant messages and interactive chat rooms. Also, because the children don’t have to see their tutors face to face, they feel less threatened and embarrassed and are more like to go back and ask for help again. This in return will help the student to advance and become more proficient in their studies.
Importance
This article is important because it makes people aware of an online service known as Live Homework Help. Where as children who have to meet with tutors in person are normally, shy, embarrassed, or intimidated, kids who use tutor.com now find it easier and more fitting to their lifestyle to get help from the tutors provided online. In addition, this article is important because not only does it explain the program and how it is useful to kids, but it also goes into detail about how the tutors are well-trained and certified to actually be a tutor for this program. This is essential for parents to know because then they can feel assured that their kids are getting help from people who actually know what they are talking about rather than just random, uneducated people.
Connections
This article is similar to some of the topics we have talked about in class before such as online education and online homework. Although I have never actually experienced the help of an online tutor, I have had to meet with a tutor in person before. Although the tutor greatly helped me, I never liked having to leave my home or wherever I was to go and meet with the tutor; in a sense, it was a burden for me. So, I can see how this program would be quite useful for children and more conducive to their lifestyles and habits.
Supporting Source
This article could be used for support in my evaluation of online homework and online tutors. The article provides many advantages and examples of how online tutors can help children to do better in their studies. In addition, it also explains that not only kids, can use this program, but also adults who are returning to school. I can use all of these examples to help support my topic that online tutors are just as good, if not better than normal tutors.
Argumentative Source
I thought this article was very informative and interesting. The author explained in great detail how the Live Homework Help program works and how it can benefit children. In addition, the author also included comments and opinions from students who had used the program, which really helped to support the facts. However, I think the author also should have got some opinions from older adults who have gone back to school and have used the program. I think it would be interesting to he their opinions and how they like the program too.

Blog #11

Reading Response

Proper MLA Citation
This source is classified as an Online Article. The proper citation is:
Selingo, Jeffrey. “Online.” Chronicle of Higher Education 17 Jun., 2005: 23. EBSCOhost. University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg. 16 Apr. 2007 <http://lynx.lib.usm.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct_true&db=aph&AN=17432742&site=ehost-live>
Summary
This article is about the various advantages of the University of Phoenix, an online-based education program. In the beginning of the article the author talks about how the University of Phoenix has grown to educate the capacity of nearly one million students due to its online accessibility. Also, the article goes on to name five main ways in which this university has used technology in order to increase their amount of students. For example, sixty percent of the admissions is handled online which helps to save office space. In addition, the University of Phoenix handles credit transfers via the Internet and online databases which helps to speed up the credit-approval process. Finally, students have easy access to online learning devices such as e-books, which help the students with their studies.
Importance
This article is important because it makes people aware of the advantages of the University of Phoenix. Most people are more concerned with the aspects of traditional colleges and don’t even consider online universities such as this one. However, after reading this article, a person who was unsure about the reliability of an online university would most likely feel more comfortable with the idea of taking online classes. One idea that I thought was important was that students can acquire their textbooks or e-books and reading materials through the University of Phoenix via the internet. This is definitely an advantage to taking online education because people no longer have to worry about physically walking to a bookstore to purchase books. Instead, they can just stay in the comfort of their own homes and acquire knowledge through the text on their computer screens.
Connections
This article is similar to many of the topics we have discussed in class. For example, last class we talked about how online education has both advantages and disadvantages. For example, someone brought up the point in class that online education can be good for stay at home moms or dads because it allows them to go through school in the comfort of their own home. Also, I can relate to this because I have actually experienced online education. For example, for both my college algebra class and my chemistry class I had to do online homework such as My Math Lab and OWL. Although the entire class was not actually taught online, I was able to experience part of the curriculum through the use of the Internet.
Supporting Source
This article could be used for support of my evaluation that the University of Phoenix provides just a good of education as more traditional universities. The article provides various examples as to how online education, specifically at the University of Phoenix, can be advantageous. By using the information from this article I can help explain how online education has allowed admission into the university to be an easier process and how students can access their textbooks online.
Argumentative Source
Overall, I thought this article was informative and provided various examples as to how the University of Phoenix has grown due to its use of technology and how more people are beginning to receive online education. Although the author made many good points, I thought the article would have been better if he would have provided more instances and specific examples of peoples’ success with the University of Phoenix.

Blog #10

I can't wait until summer!!!!! I'm counting down the days. We only have four weeks left, and it seems like it's going by so slow. I have so many tests and papers coming up within the next few weeks, and it's stressing me out. I'm really hoping the week of exams won't be too bad. But, there are a few things I have to look forward to. Next Thursday, Friday, and Saturday are spring parties, so I'm sure that will be a ton of fun. Then, on April 25th my sorority is having a swap and on May 4th I'm going to a Cinco de Mayo date party. So that will be a good way to end the year.

Blog #9

I had a good Easter break, but it deffinately wasn't long enough. I wanted to leave on Thursday after I got out of class, however my sister was supposed to ride home with me and she had to work until Friday. By the time we left on Friday, it was already 4 and I felt like I had wasted a whole day of my break in the dorms when I could have been at my own house. When we finally got home, my family and I went to my aunt's house for a crawfish boil. I always look forward to going to her house because she makes really good food, and she always has some crazy gossip to tell me. On Saturday I just relaxed and went shopping with my mom and sister all day. I bought three new shirts, two really cute skirts, and a new pair of heels. On Easter Sunday I woke up and checked my Easter basket to see what the "bunny" brought me. I got gum, reeses, pilates dvd's, and money. After that my family I went to mass, and then my mom cooked a big dinner for us.

Blog #8

Today was pretty uneventful. I woke up this morning around 10 and worked on my chemistry lab for a little while, and then I went to history class for eleven. We were supposed to get our papers back that we had to write two weeks ago, but once again the teacher said we weren't getting them back until Friday. After I sat through my boring history class, I went to sociology. I actually don't have a problem with going to that class because my teacher is extremely funny and keeps the class interesting. Our teacher gave us our tests back, and I was happy to see that I made an A. After sociology I ate lunch in the commons and then went to chemistry lab. The lab is supposed to last for almost three hours, but usually we get out really early. However, today was one of those annoying days where we had to stay in the lab for 2 hours. I'm pretty happy though right now because I have nothing left to do for the rest of today, so i can just relax.