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25 Applications to Better Manage Your Time

Although cliché, time is money.  Depending on which way you work the equation and proportion, you can spend money by spending your time OR you can save money by maximizing your time.

This is beyond obvious—right?  But it’s so much easier said than done; and when you’re required to work 40 hours a week, deal with family issues, occasionally get to the gym or yoga studio and maybe once in a while see a movie for fun, there’s not  much extra time to convert to cold-hard cash.  

Well, I’m no alchemist or magician, I can’t offer a secret elixir or potion to give you the Midas touch, but alas, I can offer some quirky gadgets and applications that just may save you a minute here and there.  And let’s be real: a minute here and there can turn into an hour here and there.

Get to Where You’re Going Faster
These applications eliminate the pain of remembering passwords and other hurdles that slow down the process of getting to your destination.

1.    Launchy Bypass your start menu and desktop icons to launch documents, files, folders, bookmarks, and programs with a single key stroke when you use Launchy.
2.    Quicksilver Mac users can enjoy using Quicksilver for launching apps, like with Launchy, but also emailing files, queuing albums for that extra study motivation, looking up definitions, and sending IMs.
3.    AutoHotkey Create hotkeys or mouse clicks to automate anything from expanding abbreviations to creating custom menu bars.
4.    MemoKeys II Lite Similar to AutoHotkey, this tool allows you to create shortcuts with hotkeys to help speed up composing email messages, automatically plug in passwords, open documents, and more.
5.    Hyperwords If you use Firefox for your web browser, then check out Hyperwords. This add-on allows you to select a word on any page and perform any number of tasks with it, such as look up the definition, translate it, tag it, email it, send it to Twitter or Facebook, and more.
6.    WakeupOnStandBy Use this tool to wake your computer from standby or hibernation to run scheduled tasks or programs automatically.
7.    LastPass This password manager will remember passwords, complete online forms for you, and allows you to log in to sites with one click.
8.    Agatra Forget your passwords and spend more time remembering important facts for school with this encrypted tool that securely stores all your passwords.

Analyze and Manage Your Time
Use these tools to monitor, analyze, and even promote smart usage while online or on your computer.

9.    RescueTime Solo Install this app and let it do the work for you as it tracks the apps and websites you are using. Find out how much time you spend on each and learn how to restructure your time more efficiently.
10.    Toggl This time tracker is easy to embed and helps you track and analyze your time spent on various projects.
11.    TimeTracker Keep track of the amount of time dedicated to any task you do with TimeTracker.
12.    LeechBlock Block yourself from using any time-draining websites with this Firefox add-on.
13.    SlimTimer This tool allows you to create tasks, time your work, and take a look at how well you are managing your time.
14.    Personal Time Management Tool Complete this worksheet for one typical week and see how you can better manage your available time.
15.    Wakoopa Track the time you spend using various apps and create easy-to-read graphs to better understand how you can optimize your time on the computer.

To-Do Lists
These to-do lists will ensure you never miss an important assignment or test.

16.    NowDoThis To-do lists can’t get any simpler than this. Use this for an easy way to remember what you need to do next.
17.    Checkvist This is a to-do list on hyper drive. It manages all your to-do lists and organizes them into one list that you can even share with others.
18.    Ta-Da Lists Make as many to-do lists as you need with this tool that very easy to use.
19.    Vitalist This web-based GTD tool helps you stay on task with its intuitive format.
20.    Remember the Milk This popular to-do list keeps your tasks organized, reminds you when something is due, and works with Google Calendar and your iPhone.
21.    HassleMe Your to-do list will hassle you when it’s time to get something done.
22.    bitBomb Get text messages with reminders for your tasks with this tool.
23.    Toodledo Create a to-do list and let Toodledo analyze your dates, priorities, and time estimates to create a schedule for you.
24.    Bla-bla List You can email this simple to-do list to yourself or update others via RSS feed.
25.    My 50 This tool will help you keep focused on your goals by managing your list of accomplishments.

 

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find degrees from accredited online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job.  Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you! 


March 19, 2010 02:53 | E-mail | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
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College Student Snacks: Recharge Through the Day and Charge Through the Night

For a nation of supposedly overweight people, many of us don’t eat often enough throughout the day.  We may munch on some Captain Crunch before making the morning rounds at Starbucks and we may even take a lunch break—but generally speaking, we should be eating more often than we do. 

The whole “eat six small meals versus three large ones” is hardly novel news.  It’s been the advice of dieticians and health counselors for a considerable time now.  The challenge for many Americans, especially students, is how to do that.

Some of us don’t mind converting our purses into portable grocery stores; others may feel silly—especially guys for whom it’s less than socially-chic to carry multiple bags fraught with sliced apples, carrot sticks and vegan sun cakes.  Throw the whole eating-well idea out the window, and still, people are resistant to carrying candy bars, chips and the like with them.
But there are plenty of options available in most conventional markets that provide sustained fuel in-between your larger meals.  They’re also not that much of a hindrance to carry.  Some even come replete with cute packaging.

Here are a few healthy alternatives:


•    Cliff bars, Luna bars, bars in general:  As it is with bars of the alcoholic nature, you tend to either like these things or you don’t.  I for one am a huge fan of (most) Luna Bars.  Amongst others, my others favorites are typically GNU bars, some kashi bars and Larabars.  Depending on how health-conscious you are, you’ll want to weigh and consider what a good snack investment is vs. a glorified (or rather camouflaged) candy bar.  Candy bars, while perhaps satisfying, simply spike blood-sugar, leaving you—30 minutes later—with both a headache and a rumbling in your tummy. 

•    Protein shakes and Smoothies: These can seem a little hippy-dippy to the nachos kinda kid, but they can be a light, quick way to recharge and can be very customized.  If you’re a dude looking to bulk up, load on the protein powder.  If you’re a lady who’d prefer to stay toned, make the protein components proportionate to the fruits and juices.  Also, the investment in a canister of whey or soy protein can seem hefty depending on what brand you choose.  A quality mix will generally run you between 12-25 dollars—but remember, you get about 20 servings.  That amount can be stretched if you don’t use the full suggested serving size—and you certainly don’t always need to if  you’re supplementing with soy or conventional milk, fruit, juice, tofu etc.

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•    Ezekiel bread:  Found either in the health-food section or frozen section, these loaves of sprouted, live grains are so popular that one can find them anywhere from Whole Foods and Trader Joes to their neighborhood Superfresh and Acme. While my favorite flavor is the cinnamon raisin, any flavor (especially with toppings) makes for a scrumptious snack.  It may seem odd to snack on bread—but it’s rife with nutrients and admirable amounts of protein and fiber.  In addition to being hearty it’s also gluten free.  Who doesn’t dig hearty?

•    Vitamuffins:  Like Ezekiel bread, these babies are spreading in popularity.  I’ve always loved the notion of a muffin but when one inspects most muffins’ ingredients, she’s likely to find it’s just a cupcake (sans the frosting) masquerading as something “healthier”.  Alas, though, the word is OUT that Vitamuffins and vitatops (yes, think Seinfeld) not only provide a full daily serving of vitamins, but they rock your taste buds!  Individually wrapped they are super travel friendly (just don’t squish them).  Coming in a variety of flavors like chocolate, corn and bran-berry, they can also be ordered online! 

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•    Soy crisps:  Again, do NOT judge a food by it’s name (or implied contents).  These crispy substitutes for nutrition-less chips pack protein and fiber in a low-fat, low-sugar context.  HOLLA!  They come in all shapes (usually circular, sometimes heart!) and flavors (ranch, barbeque, sea-salt, caramel etc).  I once offered some to a colleague backstage: an actress who was of the fast-food, high caffeine lifestyle.  Upon trying them, this French-fry-kinda-gal admitted that—while typically opposed to any foods with the word “soy” in them—she found them rather tasty!  Soy crisps are manufactured by a number of companies and can be bought as an individual serving or an economy sized bag.    

Other obvious easy snacks include the perennial carrot sticks, yogurt, fruit (pears, apples are especially tote-able), pretzels, fresh pop-corn and nuts. 
If you’re willing to tote around some Tupperware or take the five minutes to recruit the aide of some Reynolds wrap or a plastic bag, hardboiled eggs, mini-salads, tuna fish with rice crackers and beyond all become viable mini-meals.  Also, fresh popped pop-corn, seasoned however one likes, is another under-the-radar healthy but yummy snack.

While the above snacks are great to carry you through the day, as you tromp along slaying dragons and jousting evil knights (read: type your life away, study and work until 5), sometimes when you return to hit the books, you need something more intense.  Snacks that don’t just keep your sugar-levels content, but snacks that keep the synapses firing as you study, cram and earn your online degree.  At this website, one can find a smattering of ideas for power-packed brain foods.  I particularly like the banana suggestions.  Baked banana—yum.  But the quinoa-peanut butter mix is also innovative.  Upon my next all nighter or cram session, I’ll be sure to try it—although, as I’m allergic to peanuts, I’ll opt for almond butter or some similar substitute. 
Banana Monkey Pile

All in all, let me reiterate: don’t wait all day to eat.  If you work all day, kinda, sorta forget to eat and than return home to complete your online degree work, chances are you’re not only going to be exhausted—your sugar levels will also be down.  This means once you start eating dinner—you won’t want to stop; and when/if you stop, comatose will soon ensue and the whole getting work/learning done will fall secondary to sleeping.  Oh the domino effect can be so vicious! 
So don’t just eat breakfast and dinner, eat eat eat throughout the day. 

 

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find degrees from accredited online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job.  Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!

 


March 17, 2010 10:20 | E-mail | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Entertainment | Tags: , , ,

How to Avoid School Work during Spring Break

Homework, oh homework. It's bad enough it even exists—but assigning work over break? Excusé moi?

(Are we having fun yet?!)

Sad, but it happens. But stand your ground, e-learners; you can get your accredited online degree and still party (or sleep) away break. Here's a few ways to somewhat dance (temporarily) around doing your homework:

Do the fun parts on break so you don't feel like you're working! Have a picture or diagram to draw? Maybe a creative writing piece? Perhaps you just love reading 400 pages about microeconomics. If something seems fun or even remotely interesting try and chisel away at it during break—this tricks you into getting actual work done. It may not prepare you for the calc midterm or finish your physics problem set, but it's still one less thing to do once the grind is back a grinding.

THINK about your homework on break: what you need to do, what you could potentially write about, how you might accomplish a task. Play pretend. You don't even have to sit down, brainstorm or open a book. Don't let it keep you down or away from the bars and beaches, but allow it—occasionally and ever so briefly—to perhaps wander in and out of your daily thoughts. By merely considering it, you'll inevitably brainstorm which totally softens the blow once you really, truly return from break and must buckle down.

Once you return from break, just be sure to work like Superman (or at least be super efficient). Remember, work goes faster in groups. Conference calls, Skype, AIM, Google Chat, Wallwisher; all of these things and more keep you connected with others who suffer the same fate. They may alert you to certain problems, assuage your worries, or just offer practical help and insight. You could also agree to share notes and study strategies. As long as you write your paper and take the actual exam on your own, it's all fair and very collegial.

There is no magic way out of doing homework on break; no fairy dust to spread and make it somehow disappear. It's all about the attack, how you think about it. Remember, top online schools exist for people who have a life and need flexibility. Perhaps the only full-proof way to avoid homework on any break is to plan your breaks, and course schedules, wisely! And in the event that crunch time comes and captures you, see our previous post on surviving the all-nighter. It happens to even the most diligent once in a blue moon.

Carry on—here comes Spring!

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find accredited degrees from online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!


March 12, 2010 09:04 | E-mail | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
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9 Essential Tips For College Students Pulling All-Nighters

Alexander Pope quipped, 'to err is human'. This is true—but getting more specific it seems 'to procrastinate is human.'

Perhaps you are procrastination pro. Perhaps you may still be something of a novice. No matter the level, students on campuses and in online colleges will eventually fall prey to procrastination's grimy grip. Whether it's spring fever, March Madness or simply being spread too thin, things WILL and DO come up. And sadly, school work gets pushed aside. Until…

BOOM! Less than 24 hours before a major due date or exam. Oh man, actual work needs to happen.

After a short, intense full-out-freak-out, you begin crunching out pages, biting your nails on one hand while going over the rosary with the other…

But that's not efficient use of your limited time. Your online degree awaits—but not before you prove yourself. So here are a few strategies for helping you meet the deadline while also greeting the next day as a partially-functioning human being—if not yourself:

  • Caffeine: Obvious. You are pushing your human capabilities and will need to call in the reinforcements. There are even options for those who eschew coffee—tea (black or green) provides both caffeine and antioxidants. If fizz and sugar is your thing, sodas like Surge or Mountain Dew can fuel the fire. For the health nut, Kombucha tea provides energy and vitality without the caffeine—and it's naturally evanescent! Sa-weet!
  • B-vitamins: Especially b-12, these babies really (and naturally) keep the energy UP! You can buy a b-vitamin complex (perhaps pop a few more than normal) or take b-12 capsules (either would be available at most drug stores, health food stores or apothecaries). You could also just down a Monster drink which, along with another powerful, natural stimulant ginseng, provides lots of vitamin B to keep your eyes open and in the game.
  • Music: This can help or hinder. Personally, I lose myself in the music and within minutes am prancing about, wasting precious time before I realize I've just performed, solo, the entire first act of Wicked: the Musical. Others, though, find music invigorating; the rhythm helps them fall into a similar, productive patter. Don't say I didn't warn you.
  • Book Stand: Don't underestimate this folding piece of metal. Not only highly transportable, but for around 5 bucks, you can get your text properly and efficiently propped up to not only prevent neck strain but to also facilitate typing should you need to quote from it. It also makes studying in a variety of positions—say sprawled on your leopard carpet—more accessible. We do warn, however, against remaining too long in a vertical position: you may be apt to fall asleep.
  • Move: Sleep, generally speaking, equals stillness. Remain still for too long, you fall asleep. So when you feel the lids a droopin', get up and move! Do some down-dogs in the library, somersault on some carpeting, dance or just let out a really hearty scream. Not only are you releasing tension, you're releasing endorphins and serotonin into your body which helps you crusade all night long onto victory.
  • Sticky tabs: Not only do they look totally super sweet, they are also functional. Quickly locate quotes, diagrams to review, or hugely important terms in bold-face you may need to memorize. It's milliseconds you're saving, but by not having to search for the page you save something and get that much closer to being DONE.
  • Shower: We are not talking a leisurely sauna session in which you jam through the best of Aretha Franklin. Leave that for the victory celebration. Keep the temperature hot to relax nerves and muscles or bitingly cold to jolt you up and back into focus. Enrolled in an online college, you may not have to physically go to class the next day, but rest assured, those around you (wherever you are the next morning) will much appreciate the effort. You'll also feel good. And when you feel good, you work better. See how it all adds up?
  • Single THAN double space: If you're writing a paper, boost your mood and sense of productivity by starting your paper single-spaced. Once you've fluffed out somewhere around half of the length requirements (at least 2 pages), highlight the text, select double space and BAM! You are OH so much closer to meeting the length requirement. Finish up by telling them what you already told them, perhaps throw in any neglected essential facts…and get to bed.
  • SLEEP: Seems counter intuitive to pulling an all-nighter, but let's be real, you won't ace the test or write the A paper if you're a sleepless zombie expending all her energy on the act of staying awake. Try and give yourself at least a 2 hour break to rest your mind and body. You'll actually test better—because if it isn't in there by a certain point, 2 more hours of jamming it in, when you're barely functioning, won't force it there. Being quasi-clear minded and able to form coherent sentences, though, might help you stay afloat. You can also take a cat nap for an hour or two and wake up extra early to polish your paper or memorize those last few terms with a fresh mind.

 

 

Overall, use the all-nighter as a last resort. True, we sometimes work better under pressure, but often times we sell ourselves short (and stress out majorly in the process!). One thing's for sure: as an e-learner you have more flexibility to tailor your schedule and due dates to suit the many things in your life—and still procrastinate accordingly.

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find accredited degrees from online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!


March 10, 2010 05:49 | E-mail | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
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Who Says Online Education Can’t Be Totally, In-Your-Face Personal?

Amongst the academic old guard, there's something of an insistence that no substitute exists for classroom learning and online degree programs can't offer the intimacy of a campus-based program.

HA!

Once again the rigid ways of academia are outdone by the ever aggrandizing, ever expanding forces of technology; and while there are many technological applications and gadgets which can facilitate your online degree, without a doubt, the one that evaporates the virtual distance between student and online school is SKYPE.

Since the advent of podcasting, students have been able to listen (and perhaps re-listen) to lectures and lessons at their leisure, when the kids are in bed and after the new 30 Rock premiere. And while podcasting is great (no desire to trash-talk podcasting!), you can't exactly interrupt the lecture if up pops a question. Furthermore, it can also be a bit passive—watching a video or listening to a talk, if one is even just a tinge tired or has perhaps had a nice hefty meal, the inactive form of watching/listening runs the risk of loosing the learner.

This isn't so with Skype—you can't hide or stifle your snoring! With a skyped lecture, you hear and see everything (even if you don't want to!) and this ensures that every word and detail goes in both eyes and ears—thereby eliminating any obstacles to obtaining your online Bachelors or Masters Degree.

And should lecture not be enough (or maybe you want to discuss a ridiculously difficult assignment with your peers), you can always self-schedule study sessions and reviews for exams on your time. So long as you have access to the Internet and a computer, you can stimulate the local coffee shop (sans the overpriced coffee) or the library (sans the inappropriate noise/disturbing silence).

There's also no limit to how Skype can be used in top online schools. Statistics classes, English seminars and voice lessons (of all styles) can be given over Skype. Yep. Reigning queen of coloratura, Mezzo-Soprano Joyce DiDonato, is one of many established, international singers known to have her lessons via Skype while she's traversing the globe tra-la-la-ing.

Additionally, Skype is a beyond-priceless asset for the foreign language student. For years, language programs were limited in their efficacy as they didn't immerse the student in the verbal language enough. Students would have to write out on paper what they intended to say before they could even attempt communicating something. But how often in life does one write out what they're going to say?

Thanks to The Mixxer Language Connection, hosted by Dickinson College, one can even learn a foreign language from her favorite lazy boy or fainting couch. Quieres aprender espanol? Cantonese…Slovenian? All are possible through affordable online colleges—and all can be made easier with The Mixxer. The Mixxer pairs people who want to learn a specific language with a native speaker who, in turn, wants to learn their language. The pair, or sometimes group, can set up their own online rendezvous and thereby stimulate an immersion like experience without the pressure of airports, snooty European waiters and intimidating immigration control officers.

Overall, people complain that social networking and similar technology diminishes connection in a post-modern, fast-paced world. Public schools, in their attempts to “protect,” have been known to ban Skype and other programs. Seems ironic, though, as Skype is one of the few modern assets able to bridge the virtual space/time gap inherent to an accredited online degree program.

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find accredited degrees from online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!


March 8, 2010 10:26 | E-mail | Comments (3) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Educational News | Tags: , , , ,

Watch and Learn: EducationalVideos.com

I can't count the amount of times I'm engaging in conversation and I use videos to help better explain a specific topic or point. I've done this chatting with friends and in formal settings like a classroom presentation. Like most people, I generally default to YouTube! for my video needs. This is usually suitable for breaking down the elements of an incredible touchdown pass or illustrating the environment at a concert I recently attended. But what about when I'm trying to teach someone about how inflation rates can affect the economy? Sure, YouTube! will provide the visual I need, but how many unrelated videos would I have to dig through to find the hidden gem?

Recently I came across EducationalVideos.com, a site that compiles all educational videos into one place. It doesn't have nearly the amount of videos as YouTube!, but it is specific to education and has potential to be a niche site for online colleges looking to reach students with instructional videos.

Let's say a student is in an online degree program that requires a web development course. A video like the one below, found at EducationalVideos, is a great recap of the basics for using animations with Photoshop.

The video was originally placed on YouTube!, but EducationalVideos did the legwork of retrieving it and adding it to a category dedicated to technology and learning. Yes, this site is still a small fish in a big pond, but I like their chances of becoming a trusted, reliable source of educational videos in due time.

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find accredited degrees from online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!


March 5, 2010 06:01 | E-mail | Comments (1) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Educational News | Tags: , ,

Google Buzz is Humming Loud

So what's the buzz?

Google has recently released Google Buzz, a social networking tool that is integrated into its Gmail service and brings many functions of current social media sites into one experience. Users can now share videos, pictures and updates and communicate with others about the shared content in the same space. Comments are automatically sent to the Gmail inbox ensure the message reaches the user. Furthermore, the user can choose whether or not the information is public or private to a specific group of people.

Perhaps the most important tidbit: Buzz works on your phone. With Google also recently launching a new smart phone, the Nexus One, the Buzz feature could be a strong selling point for distance learners looking to find the right mLearning device. One of the biggest appeals toward online colleges is the idea of convenience and portability. What's more convenient than bringing multiple communication vehicles into one virtual workspace on your mobile phone?

Many believe that the Nexus One, which uses the Android operating system, is the closest competition to the Apple iPhone. From an education standpoint, if the apps on the Nexus One are close in comparison to those on the iPhone, how much leverage will Buzz create for Google in the mobile learning realm? A mobile device that offers quality learning applications combined with the benefits of Google Buzz could certainly appeal to students earning accredited online degrees.

It remains to be seen what kind of impact Google Buzz will have on distance learning. So for now, we'll just sit back and listen to the hum.

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find accredited degrees from online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!


March 3, 2010 02:28 | E-mail | Comments (0) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Educational News | Tags: , , ,

Wallwisher: A New Way to Promote Student Collaboration for Online Colleges

Working closely to the field of education, I get to learn about the fascinating learning opportunities that are available for students. Technology continues to stimulate the learning experience and more students are choosing online colleges as their preferred method of education. E-learning has had its share of criticism from members of traditional academia who often point out the disadvantages of accredited online degrees. One of the most common arguments I've encountered is that students choosing online education are missing out on the importance of teamwork with other students. Some educators claim that face to face group work better prepares the student to function in their real world job. Wallwisher is a relatively new tool that is on the right path to solving the lack of collaboration and team work of online college students. Here is the breakdown:

What is it?

Wallwisher is simply a customizable online message board where anyone can post a note. The wall is just a webpage that allows short written messages to be viewed by anyone and monitored by the owner. Wallwisher can be used for personal note taking, to-do lists, feedback collection, etc. Best of all there is no signup needed- simply create a wall and start posting.

How does it benefit distance learning?

As I've briefly mentioned, this is a great tool to stimulate group collaboration among students enrolled in online degree programs. Multiple walls can be created for an entire group project:

  • A wall that has the to-do list and which student is responsible for each task
  • A wall that allows students to jot down notes for the project as they collect information (allowing others in the group in use the information)
  • A wall that offers individual feedback when determining a decision that needs a group vote
  • A wall that tracks the completion status for each group member's task

What do the experts say?

Eric Tremblay, an experienced post-secondary educator in both campus-based and online classroom settings, agrees that Wallwisher is perfect for student collaboration because of its ease and quickness: "team members can post multiple short notes (max of 160 characters) to a common wall as well as post links to other web-hosted pages or files. Team members can move these notes around on the wall and organize them in whatever way they wish. For example, similar notes could be grouped together, notes outlining a process could be placed in a hierarchy to better illustrate the start and the end of the process, some notes that are proposed for deletion could be segregated to a specific area of the wall until all team members agree that they can be removed."

Professor Tremblay also describes Wallwisher as the 'storming' phase of Bruce Tuckman's 1965 team development model: Forming – Storming – Norming – Performing. Says Tremblay, "Wallwisher is a great Web 2.0 tool for the 'Storming' phase. This phase is the time for members of the team to share ideas, to propose a method of working together, to divide and assign tasks to individual team members. Combined with a wiki, which could best serve the team in the Performing phase, Wallwisher is definitely a useful tool for teams working together at a distance."

Enough already, what does it look like?

Here is a demo from the Wallwisher website. To visit the actual demo, click here.

The possibilities seem endless, but the point is clear: Wallwisher is further proof that technology continues to create new opportunities for distance learners to gain the same educational experiences as students in campus-based programs.

eCollegeFinder.org helps you find degrees from online colleges to start a new career or improve your current job. Search eCollegeFinder today and find the right online degree for you!


March 1, 2010 04:31 | E-mail | Comments (1) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Educational News | Tags: , , , ,

The Top Ten Celebrities with a Master’s Degree

Celebrities are commonly known for their achievements on the big screen, on stage or on the field. Very few are known for their academic achievements. To help recognize their success in the classroom, here’s a list of celebrities that have completed a masters degree in no particular order.

Peter Weller
Roman and Renaissance Art, Syracuse University

Part man. Part robot. All student. Yes, Robocop (or Peter Weller) earned a graduate degree in Roman and Renaissance Art. Whether he used human side or cyborg side to earn the degree remains a mystery.

Dexter Holland
Molecular Biology, University of Southern California

The Offspring's front man spent his time screaming vocals for the established punk rock band while earning a graduate degree. Holland was a candidate for a Ph.D. in Molecular Biology, but chose his band over his shot at becoming a doctor. Though he never quite completed the highest level of his field of study, Holland’s combination of musical fame and an advanced degree is something to be proud of.

Rowan Atkinson
Electrical Engineering, Oxford University

Who would have thought that Mr. Bean used his bean for more than his zany antics as a comedic star? Yes, Atkinson finished what many celebrities never even start: an advanced degree in engineering. His success with comedy began when he joined the Experimental Theatre Club at Oxford. Atkinson managed to finish his degree and create the unforgettable comic identity known as Mr. Bean.

Monica Lewinsky
Social Psychology, London School of Economics

It’s too easy to get the jokes started for Lewinsky and most of us already know her claim to fame. So we’ll let her slide this time and give her credit for completing a graduate degree.

Sigourney Weaver
Fine Arts, Yale University

The queen of aliens, ghouls and freaks, Sigourney Weaver is one educated sci-fi actress. True that many celebrities in Hollywood were at one time were enrolled in a Fine Arts program, not all finish their degrees; let alone complete a master’s degree program.

Lisa Leslie
Business Administration, University of Phoenix

Leslie, a retired WNBA superstar, has compiled an incredible list of achievements: three- time MVP, four-time Olympic gold medal winner, and the first female to ever dunk in a WNBA game. Perhaps her biggest slam came when she completed an online degree, earning a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

Shaquille O’Neal
Business Administration, University of Phoenix

Can Shaq and Leslie be any more alike? They dominated the center position in each of their respected leagues; they brought the city of Los Angeles multiple basketball championship titles; they earned an online masters degree in business from the same university. Looks like Shaq can back up his nickname as “The Big Aristotle.”

David Duchovny
English Literature, Yale University

If you’ve seen his recent work on Showtime’s hit series, Californication, you’ll understand why he is perfect for the show. Some of you may think he plays this role so well because of his stints in rehab for sexual addiction – but we were referring to his role as a writer and novelist. That’s because off the big screen, Duchovny earned a master’s degree in English Literature from Yale University. Duchovny may be known for his addiction, but his academic success in literature should hardly be ignored.

Dolph Lundgren
Chemical Engineering, University of Sydney

Does anyone else find it odd that Dolph Lundgren has appeared in two separate blog posts this month? We knew he could throw a mean punch, we just found out he’s quite the musical entertainer, and now this: Dolph Lundgren earned a master’s degree in Chemical Engineering. Throw in the fact that he speaks more than five languages, I think it’s safe to say that Lundgren is an 'Ivan’ of all trades.

Art Garfunkel
Mathematics, Columbia University

Garfunkel spent most of his career playing second fiddle to Paul Simon, but he has the edge when it comes to education. His master’s in Mathematics is one degree up on his singing, songwriting partner. There should be no troubled water under this bridge.

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February 22, 2010 06:21 | E-mail | Comments (1) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Environmental News | Tags: , , , ,

Ivan Drago Sings Elvis

If you are anything like me, you probably need something to distract you from the work you put off over the weekend that is waiting for you on monday morning. Not to worry we've got just the trick for your procrastination needs. Today's video features Dolph Lundgren who is probably most notable for his portrayal of Ivan Drago in Rocky IV. Let's just say we get to see a new side of Dolph outside of his usual "I must break you" or "if he dies, he dies" routine.

February 15, 2010 03:24 | E-mail | Comments (1) | Comment RSSRSS comment feed
Category: Study procrastination videos | Tags: , , ,