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Entertaining for College Students: How to Throw a (Semi) Classy Dorm Party

Site Administrator — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:25:13 +0000

College parties don’t all have to be ragers with keg stands and wet t-shirt contests. While big blowouts are certainly fun, they have their place. But if you and your friends are in the mood to throw a semi-classy party, your dorm can serve as a respectable venue to practice your entertaining skills. If you never took home economics in high school and are worried the only life skills you’ll pick up by the time you graduate involve knowing how much beer you can fit in a cooler or fetching coffee, keep reading for some grown-up entertaining tips.

Before you get to planning the booze, clean your room. Dorms are often designed to hide dirt — blue speckled carpet anyone? — so you may not even know how disgusting your room is. Borrow a vacuum from the RA; scrub your bathroom counters and clean the toilet; clean off your desks (with actual spray cleaner, not just removing clutter); and make you and your roommate’s beds look clean, fresh and presentable. People are probably going to be sitting on them, after all. Use an air freshener, and if you use candles, make sure they’re blown out before your rambunctious guests arrive.

Decide what kind of party you want, and you’ll quickly be able to plan a menu around it. If you have a dorm kitchen, you can bake cookies and whip up some easy appetizers like bruschetta or heated-up frozen snacks. If you don’t have access to a kitchen, then simple options like chips and salsa, olives, cheese and veggies and fruit work, too. Check with your dorm policies for having alcohol in your room, and remember that loud parties should be saved for weekends when RAs are a little more lenient about busting up the soiree.

To keep your party more semi-classy than slightly trashy, buy colorful paper or plastic plates and cups, and a few decorations for your room. Create a playlist on your computer, and have a few game ideas prepared, either a DVD game or board game like Cranium or Apples to Apples. Send out invitations through Facebook, evite.com or even campus mail, and suggest a lenient dress code if you want the party to be a little more special. Dorm rooms are cramped, so don’t be offended if people start filtering in and out, but if you set your party apart from the traditional kegger, you may have to start turning people away.

Be a Foodie In College

Site Administrator — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:24:07 +0000

College students are supposed to be content with warmed-up pizza and confounding-looking mashed potatoes, but with the advent of amateur food blogs and intense interest in whole and organic cooking, even the 18-24 set is looking to eat better. The trouble, of course, lies in the fact that for on-campus students, a food budget has already been pre-paid by parents and can only be redeemed in the form of cafeteria food. And while some college dining halls are considerably healthier, tastier and offer more variety than others, there are only so many options for you to pick from when you’re eating three meals a day, plus snacks, for as long as you live on campus. If you don’t live off campus or have finally moved off, your budget is probably even more miniscule and rigid. How can you be a college foodie with so many restrictions?

First, realize that being a foodie does not justify eating out every night or spending exorbitant amounts of money on food. Foodies work with their own budgets and lifestyles while pursuing a genuine interest in food culture, nutrition, gardening and production, and experimenting with recipes. Focus your foodie spirit on education, and explore the seemingly unending amount of food blogs online (they’re free!) The best foodie blogs include dazzling photos of food and will help you learn about food pairings, substitutes, food and travel, food from around the world, and preparing foods. Television shows on the Food Network, Travel Channel and new Cooking Channel also serve to educate you on the history of food and eating, and introduce you to new ingredients and food cultures.

Being a foodie means really understanding food and learning about food, but you of course want to be able to enjoy it, too. To mesh your interest with your budget, opt for cooking meals rather than eating out. It’s cheaper to find your own ingredients at the grocery store, farmer’s market or by joining a community garden. Grow your own herbs and vegetables on your balcony if you have space, and invite friends to help you in the dorm kitchen or at someone’s apartment so that you can split the cost. Making food yourself is also more fun, and your hands-on experience trains you better, too. A monthly dinner party can be a great way to put all of your reading into practice, and satisfy your desire for something truly delicious and unique.

Privacy Etiquette for Roomies

Site Administrator — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 20:23:26 +0000

Living with a roommate in college can be the best thing ever — sharing clothes, making a new best friend, keeping each other motivated — or a nightmare — getting stuck with a kleptomaniac slacker who never does laundry. Whatever your luck turns out to be, privacy is always an issue that needs to be resolved as soon as possible. You might assume that everyone has a sense of common courtesy when it comes to privacy, but you might be surprised at your own misconceptions and mistakes that could lead to some stressful — and awkward — situations your first semester.

Everyone’s expectations for privacy differ, according to their personalities and their own family’s household dynamic. But basic rules should always apply from day one: close the bathroom door, don’t completely strip down in front of each other, and don’t touch your roommate’s things without asking. That includes clothes, school supplies, their computer, their bed, toiletries and food. And if you ever accidentally stumble across something that’s private, like a note from a boyfriend or a graded paper, immediately put it back where you found it, and don’t start snooping.

Besides the what-should-be obvious privacy tips, err on the side of being too polite, at least the first few days. After spending a week together living in the same cramped room, you’ll get a feel for how your roommate reacts to certain situations and how she or he plans out the day. From there, you can ask any questions you have about shower schedules, personal time, study schedules or sharing certain personal items to lay down the law early on. And when it comes to boyfriends or girlfriends sleeping over, try to avoid doing so when your roommate is in the room, too. Try the old sock-on-the-door hint if you need a little afternoon nookie, but don’t plan a romantic tryst during your roommate’s usual study time or nap time.

And if your roommate seems to be infringing upon your privacy a little too much, don’t let the situation escalate until you can’t help but freak out and turn the issue into a bigger deal than it is. Most likely, your roommate has no idea that he or she is irritating you, and unless you tell them, there’s no way they’ll know about your need for 30 minutes of quiet time after lunch every day. You’ll have to be flexible when you move in with a roommate, but keep communication lines open, and try to compromise your needs and schedules as early in the semester as possible.

100 Smart Twitter Feeds to Hack Your Day & Enhance Your Life

Site Administrator — Tue, 24 Aug 2010 02:31:28 +0000

If you’re interested in improving your life as a university student, professional, parent or goal-setter, Twitter is a great place to find advice. You can hack just about anything and find little ways to enhance your life with the help of productivity experts, professional organizers, success cheerleaders, and more. Here, we’ll share 100 Twitter feeds that can change your life for the better.

Productivity

Follow these Twitter feeds for a more productive you.

@MichaelNozbe: Michael is a productivity guy who works to get things done.
@grahamallcott: Read what this productivity expert has to say.
@bethflarida: Beth is a productivity coach and efficiency expert.
@JWhite: Jay White, creator of Dumb Little Man, can help you stay sane and improve your life.
@gtdguy: David Allen is the originator of GTD.
@dragushan: Aaron Dragushan writes about startups, productivity, life hacking, and more.
@mindhackz: @mindhackz delivers hacks for cognitive performance.
@Halfdozenmonkey: Half a Dozen Monkeys is all about productivity and personal development.
@StephCalahan: Stephanie is a speaker and productivity expert.
@mnthomas: Maura is a productivity trainer and speaker.
@TheTimeTamer: Christine Giri offers her guide to productivity and time management.
@Productivity501: Follow @Productivity501 to put together pieces of the productivity puzzle.
@gracebrooke: Grace shares her knowledge of organizing and efficiency.
@the99percent: @the99percent is all about making things happen in a creative world.
@JulieMorgenstrn: Julie is an organizing and time management expert.
@masontech: Andrew Mason discusses motivation and getting things done.
@GetItDoneApp: @GetItDoneApp shares GTD productivity news.
@gtdtimes: @gtdtimes offers tweets about the latest news in GTD.
@Mindjet: Follow @Mindjet to find out how you can use mind mapping for productivity.
@neenjames: Find out what this productivity expert has to say.
@lucianop: Read what Luciano has to say about using your mind efficiently.

Money

Reading these feeds will help you better manage your finances.

@JeremyVoh: Jeremy blogs about all things money.
@TimesMoney: You can find the latest in money news from @TimesMoney.
@FiscalFizzle: This new dad will help you navigate the world of personal finance.
@trenttsd: Trent writes to make your life not suck.
@currencynews: @currencynews will give you the best information for currency and fundamentals.
@ManVsDebt: Adam Baker writes about paying off debt and selling their junk.
@GetOutOfDebtGuy:Steve Rhode can help you get out of debt for free.
@fcn: @fcn discusses personal finance.
@SuzeOrmanShow: Suze Orman is an incredibly trusted personal finance expert.
@NCN: @NCN writes about debt reduction and saving money.
@freefrombroke: @freefrombroke offers personal finance for regular folks.
@USATODAYmoney: Follow @USATODAYmoney for the latest news in money.
@frugalgirls: Follow Heidi to save money with coupons, giveaways, and deals.
@Green_Panda: College students and 20somethings can learn about personal finance from @GreenPanda.
@SmartSpending: @SmartSpending shares frugal ideas from MSN.
@wisebread: Wise Bread offers a personal finance and frugal living portal.
@nodebtplan: @nodebtplan blogs about debt freedom and wealth building.
@MoneyNing: David Ning helps individuals reach their financial goals.
@AuthorDavidBach: David Bach can help you start over.
@bargainr: Read about Jim Wang’s personal finance and interestingness.
@moneywatch: This personal finance blog features money news and more.
@BSimple: @BSimple will help you simplify your personal finances.
@ptmoney: Phil Taylor offers his insight as a personal finance blogger.
@LifeTuner: @LifeTuner offers money for the rest of us.

Zen & Simplifying

Make your life just a bit simpler by following the advice from these feeds.

@savvychristine: Simple Savvy discusses the art of knowing how to simplify.
@minimalissimo: This blog celebrates minimalism in all its forms.
@moypmto: Miriam discusses everything you need to know about simplifying.
@simplifide: Luke focuses on less chaos, and more life.
@vehmassembly: @vehmassembly is all about the good life with simplicity.
@fidlet: Tina Huggins Ramey blogs about simplicity, sustainability, and living a joyful life.
@OrganizedMarcie: Marcie is a professional organizer, speaker, and coach.
@mama_craft: Sara tweets about living a creative life with simplicity.
@SimplerLiving: Naomi writes about living well with less.
@BDGzendo: Read about zen meditation, mindfulness, and more from @BDGzendo.
@ZenTreehouse: Gary Johnson shares what he learned building a treehouse.
@Zen_Moments: Zen Moments shares the great power of small things.
@digitalzendo: This zen Buddhist writes about uniting the heart and mind.
@Zen_Everyday: Read this feed to find zen every day.
@BuddhistGeeks: @BuddhistGeeks are seriously Buddhist and seriously geeky.
@providencezen: Follow @providencezen to learn about zen meditation.
@KwanUmZen: This school can teach you about finding zen.
@MindDeep: @MindDeep is a student of mindfulness meditation.
@garabdorje: @garabdorje is a Mahamudra practitioner and zen addict.
@Lawrencejiko: Lawrence is a zen Buddhist monk, artist, and haiku writer.
@brooklynzen: Learn about zen in the big city from @brooklynzen.

Positive

Feeling down? Get a positivity boost from these Twitter feeds.

@posimperative: Victor Sinclair shares the importance of positivity in life.
@HappinessInside: Follow this community to find support for happiness.
@BePositive: Sebastian is a positive energy spreader.
@ItStartsWithUs: @ItStartsWithUs is changing the world.
@LiveLifeSolid: Find positive mojo from @LiveLifeSolid.
@thepositivelife: Raj loves to inspire and motivate people.
@positivemommies: Raise positive kids with the help of @positivemommies.
@PositiveTwords: Julie Perez tweets to make the world a happier place.
@Simply_Positive: @Simply_Positive projects positive energy.

Organization

Follow these feeds to find out how to whip your organization into shape.

@Behance: This network is on a mission to organize and empower the creative world.
@OrganizerGal: Debbie is a professional organizer that overpowers perfectionism.
@ramonacreel: Ramona is a professional organizer and simplicity coach.
@realneat: Check out what Michelle Deo has to say about organization.
@SoBeOrganized: Rivka is a time and space management junkie.
@MonicaRicci: Monica shares her organizing expertise for time management, productivity, and simplicity.

Success

Read these Twitter feeds to find success every day.

@successwalls: Find inspiration for success from @successwalls.
@lifetosuccess: John Clark writes about success from education and motivation.
@BreakThruGuy: Paul Sutherland has personal development and goal achievement.
@GoforNo: Andrea Waltz wants to shift your mind about failure, rejection, and the word no.
@feistywoman: Ava Diamon works as a women’s success strategist.
@Goals_Coach: Andrew Morgan is a goals coach, author, and speaker.
@SuccessExpress: With @SuccessExpress, you’ll find tips, tools, and thoughts on success.
@dreammanifesto: Follow @dreammanifesto to find powerful tools for transforming your life.
@Chooz2bPositive: This life success coach teaches positive affirmation.
@SuccessNuggets: Scott Harrison has nuggets of wisdom, motivation, and encouragement for success.
@freeyourspirit: This success coach will help you be your best.
@SuccessConnects: @SuccessConnects helps to connect successful people.

Inspiring

You’ll get inspired by these Twitter feeds.

@tonyrobbins: Get inspired by motivational speaker Tony Robbins.
@motivational: Follow @motivational for motivational quotes.
@inspiringtweet: Find daily inspiration through this feed.
@YouQuotedQuotes: Corey Wells has motivational and famous quotes for inspiration.
@tinybuddha: Find inspiring wisdom from Tiny Buddha.
@LollyDaskal: Lolly is passionate about inspiring and empowering others.
@GoforNo: Andrea Waltz will change your perspective on failure and inspire you to be more courageous in business and life.

11 All-Time Biggest Movie Slackers

Site Administrator — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 03:22:07 +0000

Contrary to popular belief, being a slacker takes a certain amount of dedication. You have to maintain a focus on doing nothing, and constantly remind yourself not to get too involved. The 11 slackers on this list are masters in the art of not doing much besides looking for their next meal, party, or chance to get a little high. Some of them are students, but most are adults, and it’s amazing that some of them manage to hold down jobs. (Well, only a couple do, but you know what I mean.) Take a look:

Jeff Spicoli: Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a classic of 1980s teen cinema, and it launched a number of careers for its cast, including Jennifer Jason Leigh and Nicolas Cage. But it’s Sean Penn’s portrayal of stoned surfer Jeff Spicoli that remains the movie’s most enduring image almost 30 years later. He’s constantly fried, rarely clothed, and uninterested in getting a job as long as he’s got "tasty waves and cool buds." Penn’s gone legit since then, but no amount of Oscar clout will make people forget that he started out as one of the biggest slackers in movie history.

Ron Slater: Writer-director Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused is a love letter to the bored high schoolers of the late 1970s, with Ron Slater (Rory Cochrane) representing the slacker faction. He’s almost always baked, and he doesn’t want to do anything but hang out. He’s so zoned out that he barely registers the world around him, but he’s a nice guy. Plus he knows all about how George Washington was in a cult that worshipped aliens, so that’s something.

Randal Graves: Clerks is basically 90 minutes of two guys arguing about Star Wars, but Kevin Smith’s lo-fi debut feature works because of its characters. Randal (Jeff Anderson) is a wiseass slacker who works at a video store and has absolutely no ambition beyond reading magazines and gently harassing customers. He’s a classical slacker because he’s not out to destroy the system, just coast through it with as little effort as possible.

& 5. Bill and Ted: Bill S. Preston, Esq., and Ted "Theodore" Logan became heroes of San Dimas High for traveling through time to pass their history test. Bill and Ted are sweet-natured, dumb guys with difficulty paying attention to anything that doesn’t involve their dreams of rock stardom. If not for the intervention of Rufus, they’d probably just flunk out and get jobs at the Circle K. Like the best slackers, though, they come through in the clutch.

The Dude: The Coen brothers’ The Big Lebowski is one of their most beloved comedies, thanks in large part to the hilarious performance of Jeff Bridges as Jeff "The Dude" Lebowski. (Or "El Duderino" if you’re not into the whole brevity thing.) Based on a real person, the Dude is as easy as they come, which makes his entanglements in an absurd series of crimes and mishaps that much more hysterical. No matter what happens, though, the Dude abides.

& 8. Harold and Kumar: Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle created such an indelible pair of stoner slackers that the phrase "go to White Castle" became slang for getting high. The pair’s epic road trip to get some munchies almost gets them killed, no thanks to Neil Patrick Harris, but they manage to ultimately keep their cool in pursuit of tasty little sliders.

Troy Dyer: Oh, Ethan Hawke. He immortalized the Gen-X slacker vibe with his portrayal of Troy in Reality Bites, a wannabe grunge-rocker with a degree in philosophy. He can barely get his act together enough to go after Lelaina (Winona Ryder), though he pulls it together in time. Still, she’s bound to know that he’s not going to do much besides sit around all day.

Brian: Dave Chappelle’s the main character in Half Baked, but the star is Jim Breuer as Brian, a pothead who gets swept up in a scheme to sell medical-grade weed. His shopping list for munchies is one of the best moments in the whole show.

Dex: Dex (Donal Logue) is overweight, underpaid, and determined to stay that way. His attitude is what helps him hook up with so many women; basically, he acts so casual that they can’t figure out why he isn’t chasing them, at which point they wind up chasing him. Throughout The Tao of Steve, he’s a well-meaning but low-energy guy, completely at ease with whatever happens to him, as any good slacker should be.

100 Best Travel Books Ever Written

Site Administrator — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 03:01:39 +0000

Travel books have some excellent qualities, including adventure, history, and even some romance. Whether you’re reading them for school or just for fun, you’ll find some great stories in these books. Read on to find the 100 best travel books ever written.

General

Study cities and modern travel in these books.

Journeys: These articles highlight cities, journeys, historic sites, and more.
Tourist Season: Study the tourism culture of southern Florida in Carl Hiaasen’s novel.
Baghdad Without a Map: Tony Horwitz follows his journalist wife across the world, and this time it took him to Baghdad just before the 1991 Gulf War.
Mardi Gras in the Moment: This novel tells the story of Conrad Greyman’s first visit to the Mardi Gras festival.
Dave Barry’s Only Travel Guide You’ll Ever Need: Have fun with this book on modern travel.

The Journey

Read these travel books that are all about the journey.

North of South: Shiva Naipaul shares his journey to Africa.
The Worst Journey in the World: Learn about the doomed 1911 South Pole expedition in The Worst Journey in the World.
The Size of the World: Jeff Freenwald writes about his mission to circle the world without leaving its surface.
Behind the Wall: Take a journey through China with Behind the Wall.
Blue Highways: Blue Highways will take you on a journey through American backspaces.
The Innocents Abroad: The Innocents Abroad tells the story of 19th century touring.
The Snow Leopard: Peter Matthiessen shares this journey into remote Nepal.

Road Trips

Everyone enjoys a good road trip, and you can live vicariously in these books.

Among the Russians: Colin Thubron tells the story of a 10,000 mile car journey from St. Petersburg to Georgia and Armenia.
Great Plains: Embrace middle-America wanderlust in Great Plains.
Through Painted Deserts: Enjoy the open road in Through Painted Deserts.
Road Fever: Road Fever will take you on a high speed road race from Tierra del Fuego to Alaska.
Travels with Charley: Steinbeck takes his poodle Charley on the road from coast to coast in America.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: Explore Europe through this book.
The Lost Continent: Bill Bryson takes a journey across America for the quintessential small town.
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: Hunter S. Thompson and his attorney set out on a road trip with a trunk full of drugs.
On the Road: Jack Kerouac’s novel tells the story of freedom and the beat generation.

Destinations

Learn about travel destinations from these books.

Naples ’44: As an intelligence officer in Italy, Norman Lewis kept a diary that is full of observations and incidents.
Facing the Congo: Read Facing the Congo to take a modern journey into the heart of darkness.
As I Walked Out One Midsummer Morning: Laurie Lee’s novel discusses life in Spain before the Civil War.
Hotel Pastis: You’ll read about the creation of a boutique hotel in Paris in Hotel Pastis.
Venice: This travelogue by Jan Morris offers a fine look at the city of Venice.
Our Man in Havana: Read this novel that captures the events of Havana in 1957, as well as the aura of the city.
The Lost Continent: The Lost Continent follows Bill Bryson’s trip across America at common attractions and back roads.
In Patagonia: Bruce Chatwin’s In Patagonia chapters read like photographs capturing a moment.
Holy Cow: Holy Cow tells the story of an Indian adventure.
The Road to Oxiana: Robert Byron writes about ten months in Persia and Afghanistan in The Road to Oxiana.
Desert Solitaire: Desert Solitaire gives a view on life in the Southwest.
A Turn in the South: Take V.S. Naipaul’s book to explore the Southern United States.
Under the Tuscan Sun: Read about an abandoned villa in Tuscany in this book.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek: Annie Dillard shares this meditation on the area in Virginia where she lived.
Europe, Europe: Take an insider’s tour of Europe in this book.
The Peaks of Shala: The Peaks of Shala has an account of travel among the Albanians.
The Serpent and the Rainbow: Wade Davis goes to Haiti to discover the truth about zombies.
Down Under: Down under describes Bill Bryson’s excursions through Australia.
Homage to Catalonia: In Homage to Catalonia, you’ll read about George Orwell’s account of the Spanish Civil War.
In a Sunburned Country: Bill Bryson’s love of Australia shows through in this book.
The God of Small Things: Read about a family living in Kerala in this book.
Notes from a Small Island: Follow Bill Bryson on his final tour of Britain.

Slow Travel

Walking, horseback, and bicycles are the preferred method of travel in these books.

A Time for Gifts: You’ll find Patrick Leigh Fermor’s story of a walk from London to Istanbul in this book.
Riding to the Tigris: Freya Stark’s book shares a horseback traveler’s trek across the Turkish plateau and Tigris River.
Miles from Nowhere: Miles from Nowhere will take you on a bicycle adventure around the world.
The Beach: Young author Alex Garland writes about his backpacking adventure in Asia.
The Great Railway Bazaar: Train enthusiasts and seasoned travelers will love this novel from Paul Theroux.
Tracks: In this book, a young Australian trained two camels and headed for the Indian Ocean.
Rucksack Man: Sebastian Snow walked from Tierra del Fuego to Panama.
The Man Who Walked Through Time: The Man Who Walked Through Time offers a natural history of the Grand Canyon and an epic backpacking trip.
A Time of Gifts: Patrick Leigh Fermor takes you on a walk across Europe in 1933.
Roughing It: Mark Twain’s Roughing It shares tales of adventure in the gold fields of the American West.
A Walk Across America: Peter Jenkins discusses his 1973-1975 walk from New York to New Orleans.
Arabian Sands: These travelers choose camels while vehicles and airplanes became commonplace.

Adventure

Read these books to renew your sense of adventure.

Into the Heart of Borneo: In this book, Redmond O’Hanlon and poet James Fenton take a journey into the jungles of Borneo.
Coming Into the Country: Read John McPhee’s book about exploration in the wild.
Cities of Gold: Douglas Preston retraces the route of Coronado through the Seven Cities of Gold.
Married Adventure: Osa Johnson follows her photographer and filmmaker husband along the South Seas, Africa, and Borneo.
Around the World in 80 Days: Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days is one of the most loved adventure novels of all time.
Four Against Everest: These friends decided to climb Mt. Everest unprepared.
The Lost City of Z: The Lost City of Z discusses exploration into the Amazon.
Book of Marvels: Find stories of exotic places and cultures in the Book of Marvels.
Winterdance: Gary Paulsen survived his training and finished the Iditarod race in Alaska.
Dark Star Safari: Paul Theroux shares his journeys on cattle truck, bus, canoe, and more in Africa.
Into the Wild: You’ll read about self-reliance in Into the Wild.
Venture to the Interior: Laurens van der Post visited Nyasaland to map two mountains that were unknown to cartographers.
Seven Pillars of Wisdom: TE Lawrence becomes a participant in the world of Arabia.
The Snow Leopard: The Snow Leopard tells the story of a trip to the Crystal Mountain in the Himalayas.
A Short Walk in the Hindu Kush: In this book, you’ll read about the author and his friend Hugh on a mountain climb they’re not really prepared for.
No Mercy: Redmond O’Hanlon’s No Mercy is on the hunt for a dinosaur-like creature in the Congo.

Flight

Enjoy the wonder of flight in these books.

Wind, Sand and Stars: In this book, you’ll see how lonely and beautiful the early postal routes were.
Sky Roads of the World: Sky Roads of the World shares predictions about the future of aviation.
West with the Night: Read about flying east to west across the Atlantic in West with the Night.
Missing, Believed Killed: Missing, Believed Killed discusses theories about the fate of Amelia Earhart and other flight pioneers.
The Wild Blue Yonder: Read about a daredevil Atlantic crossing in The Wild Blue Yonder.

Water Voyage

Follow these books on their journeys on the water.

The Cruelest Journey: Kira Salak kayaked the Niger River for 600 miles and discusses her story in The Cruelest Journey.
Hunting Mr. Heartbreak: Jonathan Raban’s book is a love letter and social history of the United States.
Lobster Chronicles: Lobster Chronicles writes about becoming a lobsterman on a tiny island.
Old Glory: Read about Jonathan Raban’s journey on a small boat down the Mississippi.
Captain Cook’s Endeavor Journal: Read about Captain James Cook’s voyage of discovery.
Coasting: Jonathan Raban sails around the 2,000 mile coast of England.

Ex-Pats

Experience life in another country through these expatriate books.

The Sun Also Rises: Follow a group of ex-pats living in Paris in The Sun Also Rises.
Iron & Silk: Take an interesting look at teaching English abroad in Iron & Silk.
A World Elsewhere: John Manchip White is an Englishman who settled down in the American Southwest.
Out of Africa: This author ran a coffee farm in Africa, and discusses relationships with the natives in this novel.
High Albania: Edith Durham’s book shares insight into the Balkans.
Coming Home Crazy: Bill Holm spent a year living and teaching in China.
A Moveable Feast: Check out A Moveable Feast to find Ernest Hemingway’s observations on living in 1920s Paris.
River Town: You’ll read about Peter Hessler’s Peace Corps experience in the rural town of Fuling.
Dreamed of Africa: Kuku Gallman is an Italian writer who writes about her exploits in Kenya.
Two Towns in Provence: After divorcing, Fisher fled to Provence. In this book, she discusses her new life.
Oracle Bones: When his Peace Corps stint was over, Peter Hessler stuck around and wrote about it.
The Soccer War: The Soccer War covers conflicts from a reporter who has seen them all around the world.
All the Wrong Places: Read the stories of Southeast Asia in this book for a background on the region.
City of Djinns: This year of life in Delhi is rich with historical material.

Culture

These books examine the culture of travel destinations.

The Sheltering Sky: Read this book to learn about the incomprehension of alien cultures leading to the destruction of the cultures.
Wild Swams: Jung Chang’s book offers insight into Chinese culture.
The Songlines: Read The Songlines to see Bruce Chatwin’s investigations into Aboriginal culture in Australia.
Video Night in Kathmandu: Read these essays about Asian trips that reveals the culture of China, India, Tibet, and more.

50 Best Novels for Political Junkies

Site Administrator — Fri, 06 Aug 2010 03:16:17 +0000

True story: Some of the best political novels aren’t explicitly about politics. Yes, some of the books on this list deal directly with governments and politicians, with laws and the ways they’re made or abused, and with the peril and promise inherent in every governing body. But some of them use adventure, parable, or satire to subtly explore our political system with a depth that wouldn’t be possible any other way. Many of the titles might be familiar to you — they’re pretty popular in college courses nationwide — but hopefully there are a few surprises as well. If you’ve got a thirst for politics and a love for good stories, you owe it to yourself to dig into these novels:

Dystopias

These novels examine the myriad ways a corrupt system can destroy society.

Brave New World, Aldous Huxley: Aldous Huxley’s classic novel is set in a world where a global government limits procreation and forces its citizens into a cycle of endless economic consumption. A must-read for anyone interested in tales of the extent to which a body will go to control its subjects.
1984, George Orwell: Released in 1949, Orwell’s novel depicts a totalitarian society in which the government constantly revises historical records in order to appear blameless and correct. Chilling and ahead of its time.
Fahrenheit 451, Ray Bradbury: The controlling political system of Bradbury’s dystopia has outlawed reading and, by extension, free and critical thought. The novel revolves around the way people cede control of their lives to silent governing units.
Blindness, Jose Saramago: Jose Saramago’s searing work won him the Nobel Prize for Literature. His novel deals with the citizens of an unnamed city as they succumb to a freak epidemic of global blindness. The splintered government quarantines more and more of the people as society devolves. A harrowing look at how oppressive systems exist on all levels.
Seeing, Jose Saramago: The sequel to Blindness finds many of the same characters returning, this time for a more direct attack on corrupt politics. The populace casts blank ballots at an election to protest the government’s distance and detachment, spurring the government to greater heights of alienation and control.
The Trial, Franz Kafka: Kafka cooked up some truly terrifying works in his time, including this unnerving novel about a man arrested for a crime that’s never revealed and persecuted by an authority he can’t contact.
The Castle, Franz Kafka: Another bleak novel about the abuse of power, Kafka’s The Castle revolves around a land surveyor perpetually at odds with the incompetent and inaccessible bureaucracy that resides in a high castle and dominates the activity of the village below.
Animal Farm, George Orwell: Orwell’s political allegory is an English course staple, thanks to its trenchant insights into human nature and heartbreaking examination of the methods by which political systems are established, run, and ultimately corrupted. The central animals in the tale are based on Stalin, Trostsky, Marx, Lenin, and more.
Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand: A novel enjoying a recent surge in popularity thanks to some far-right pundits’ embrace of its politics, Ayn Rand’s epic novel about the government’s role in business lays out the tenets of her philosophy of Objectivism and rational self-interest. A compelling read for those curious to learn more about enterprise.
V for Vendetta, Alan Moore and David Lloyd: Regarded as one of the best comic books ever written, this graphic novel from Alan Moore follows a masked revolutionary known only as V as he sets out to take down the totalitarian government that’s set up in the United Kingdom. A fantastic exploration at freedom and anarchy in a police state.
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood: A fantastic tale in which a totalitarian government overthrows the U.S. government and rules with a cruel political will based partly on Old Testament theology.
The Children of Men, P.D. James: Similar to The Handmaid’s Tale in that it deals with infertility, P.D. James’ novel is set in a future England ruled by an all-powerful government that takes power when a depressed populace loses interest in voting. It’s a smart sci-fi novel and a powerful warning about the danger of ignoring the creep of governmental power.
The Plague, Albert Camus: Albert Camus, a key thinker in the existentialist area, crafted this bleak but unforgettable novel to explore the nature of humanity when confronted with a disease that threatens to destroy it. Many interpret the novel as a discussion of the Nazi occupation of France during World War II.
Lord of the Flies, William Golding: Another high school classic, William Golding’s novel uses a group of shipwrecked boys as an allegory for the evil in all of us and the way that all groups — societies, governments, etc. — become tainted.

Russia

These Russian masters used the backdrop of war and struggle to create some of the best novels ever written.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn: Based on the author’s experience in the Gulag, this slender but moving novel highlights the horrors of governmental oppression and torture.
Doctor Zhivago, Boris Pasternak: Boris Pasternak’s classic love story is set against the Russian Revolution and following Russian Civil War.
The White Guard, Mikhail Bulgakov: This lesser known but wonderful work of historical fiction follows one family’s ups and downs through the Russian Civil War, with real-life historical figures touching their lives.
Darkness at Noon, Arthur Koestler: Set in 1938, Arthur Koestler’s famous novel centers on a man who participated in the 1917 revolution and is now suffering through the Great Purge of the Stalin era. A fantastic novel about totalitarian authority.
The Possessed, Fyodor Dostoevsky: Dostoevsky’s written some of the most well-regarded books in history, and The Possessed is a fine example of what made him great. His novel examines the conflict in clashing ideologies in the Russia of the late 1800s, with equal criticism given to the idealism of the left and the corruption of the right.
War and Peace, Leo Tolstoy: There’s a reason this is a global classic. Tolstoy’s epic novel — the 2006 paperback version runs 1,475 (!) pages — traces a group of families as they deal with Napoleon’s invasion of Russia and the aftermath in the 19th century. An indispensable entry for lovers of history and politics.

American Civil War

The era when the United States government splintered makes for compelling fictional stories.

The Killer Angels, Michael Shaara: Michael Shaara won a Pulitzer for his moving novel about the Battle of Gettysburg.
Gods and Generals, Jeff Shaara: Jess Shaara, son of Michael, amplified his father’s work with this winning prequel that traces the beginnings of the Civil War.
Andersonville, MacKinlay Kantor: MacKinlay Kantor’s historical novel uses real and invented characters in this fascinating story about a Civil War POW camp.
Democracy: An American Novel, Henry Adams: Henry Adams’ political novel was published anonymously in 1880, with his authorship only revealed after his death. The book uses real figures like Johnson and Grant to describe how governments are run and how easily power can be abused.
Lincoln, Gore Vidal: Vidal’s novel examines the politics behind the war through the viewpoints of multiple characters, including Lincoln, William H. Seward, and John Wilkes Booth.

Satires

These biting novels offer a sharp critique of modern political systems.

Catch-22, Joseph Heller: Heller’s brilliant critique of war and bureaucracy is so potent that "Catch-22" entered the language.
MASH: A Novel About Three Army Doctors, Richard Hooker: The novel that spawned a media franchise, Hooker’s book is a dark but hilarious look at the armed forces through the eyes of military surgeons.
Wag the Dog, Larry Beinhart: Originally published as American Hero before getting repackaged to go with the film version, Beinhart’s novel is an all-too-real satire about the U.S. government’s efforts to stage a fictional war in order to distract the public from the president’s sexual indiscretions.
Primary Colors, Anonymous (Joe Klein): Joe Klein’s novel was originally released anonymously, though intrepid reporters soon tied him to it. The book is a fictionalized version of Bill Clinton’s 1992 run for president, from the scheming advisors to the extramarital affairs. Political junkies should be able to recognize the real-life counterparts for most of the characters, but if not, here’s a chart.
It Can’t Happen Here, Sinclair Lewis: Sinclair Lewis’ dark novel centers on a U.S. president elected on a populist platform who quickly becomes a dictator, imprisoning his enemies. The title comes from the passive, disbelieving protests that such a change could never happen in America.
The Way We Live Now, Anthony Trollope: Hailed as one of Trollope’s best, this dense, lengthy novel is a critique of corrupt systems in general, from political to religious.

American Classics

From government to race relations, these novels explore the American way of political life.

All the King’s Men, Robert Penn Warren: Winner of the Pulitzer Prize and adapted multiple times for stage and screen, Warren’s seminal novel about Southern politics in the 1930s draws its inspiration from Huey Long, the Louisiana governor with a thirst for power.
To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee: Harper Lee only ever wrote one novel, but it was a perfect one. Her story of race relations in the U.S. South during the Depression is a wonderful examination of systemic oppression and the costs of fighting for justice.
The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne: Every student slogs through this one in high school, but Hawthorne’s story still has some interesting (if occasionally stuffy) things to say about how a strict morality can lead to political alienation.
The Marrow of Tradition, Charles Chesnutt: Published in 1901, Chesnutt’s historical novel dramatizes the white supremacist movement of the era.
Advise and Consent, Allen Drury: Drury’s literary thriller won the Pulitzer in 1960 for its gripping account of a heated confirmation battle over a Secretary of State.
The Manchurian Candidate, Richard Condon: A classic thriller from the Cold War, Condon’s novel draws from the Korean War and the growing strength of McCarthyism for its powerful story of a soldier brainwashed into being an assassin.
Invisible Man, Ralph Ellison: Based in part on Ellison’s life, this novel digs into the politics of discrimination as viewed by a socially "invisible" African-American man.
Seven Days in May, Fletcher Knebel and Charles W. Bailey: A political thriller later made into a movie with Kirk Douglas, this novel imagines a nightmare scenario in which the president’s advisors conspire to commit a coup d’etat and force him from office.

England

These novels follow England throughout the 20th century.

The Prime Minister, Anthony Trollope: First appearing in 1876, Trollope’s novel centers on a divided, coalition government that’s unable to function because of partisan divisions. (Sound familiar?)
No Telephone to Heaven, Michelle Cliff: Primarily set in Jamaica, this novel deals with the social effects of imperialism and colonization in deft and tragic ways. A great novel for those looking to gain more perspective on global empires.
The Ghost, Robert Harris: Loosely based on the life of Tony Blair, Harris’ novel is an espionage tale about a disgraced British prime minister and the ghost writer hired to pen his autobiography. Plenty of ties and allusions to the Iraq War and other modern happenings make this novel as timely as it is entertaining.
A Very British Coup, Chris Mullin: Insidious overthrows of the government are a staple of political fiction, and Chris Mullin returns to that well with A Very British Coup, which involves a conspiracy between the U.K. and the U.S. to topple the prime minister.

Europe and Asia

Just a (very small) fraction of the fictional works set across the Atlantic.

Death of a Red Heroine, Qiu Xiaolong: This mystery novel involves politicians at every level, offering a realistic portrayal of the life of power.
Les Miserables, Author: Victor Hugo’s timeless classic grapples with issues like justice and love against the backdrop of the June Revolution of 1832. Even if you wind up tackling an abridged version, don’t miss this story.
Candide, Voltaire: Voltaire’s humorous and often sarcastic novel uses historical events like the Seven Years’ War to discuss political philosophy.

Alternate Histories

These novels examine the political issues of today by imagining a different past.

The Man in the High Castle, Philip K. Dick: Philip K. Dick is a titan in sci-fi circles for his imaginative and gripping tales about personal identity, whether explored through cyborgs, cloning, or memory erasure. This novel takes place in a world in which the Axis Powers won World War II and now share territory in what used to be the United States.
The Plot Against America, Philip Roth: Imagining a world in which Franklin Roosevelt lost the 1940 presidential election to Charles Lindbergh, Roth’s novel is a first-person dispatch from another universe that explores politics, oppression, and society.
The Yiddish Policemen’s Union, Michael Chabon: Michael Chabon’s inventive detective story is set in Sitka, Alaska. In his world, Sitka became the site of a Jewish refugee camp during World War II, a plan based on the real-life Slattery Report that was never implemented. The story’s parallels with our own world make it a wonderful what-if version of politics.
Fatherland, Robert Harris: You can’t blame authors for turning again and again to World War II as the jump-off point for alternative history; it was the biggest global event of the 20th century, and it’s packed with loads of potential turning points for new worlds. Harris’ bestseller is set in Nazi Germany 1964, years after they won the war, and follows a detective who gets caught up in political intrigue while investigating a death. Definitely one to read.

10 Geekiest Cities in the U.S.

Site Administrator — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 03:03:41 +0000

Remember when geeks started having a comeback? Are they cool yet? Whether you’re the biggest geek at your online university or just want to avoid geeks altogether, check out this list of 10 geekiest cities in the U.S.: you’ll either find out the best places for you to gain respect and find a great job, or discover all the cities you shouldn’t visit if geeks make you jealous.

Hartford, CT: With a nickname like "insurance capital of the world," how can this not be a geek town? The capital of Connecticut is definitely built on the insurance industry, but it’s also dependent on the many engineering and science jobs located there. Eight colleges, seminaries, and/or graduate schools call Hartford home, as does the country’s second oldest high school. Samuel Clemens once had a house here, which is now a museum, and the Phoenix Mutual Life Insurance Building is actually on the city’s list of tourist attractions.
Silicon Valley, CA: Where did all the computer geeks from high school run off to? Most likely Silicon Valley, where they’re treated like gods, and where geeks go to get rich and gain respect. Home to Apple, Google, Facebook, Netflix, Yahoo!, Cisco, Adobe, eBay and lots of other tech start-ups-turned-mega-corporations, Silicon Valley, CA, is the capital of software and venture capitalist firms in the U.S., possibly the world. Stanford and San Jose State are also located here, educating and giving jobs to engineers, mathematicians and all sorts of brainy geeks. The city employed nearly a quarter of a million techies in 2008, the highest concentration of high-tech professionals in the U.S.
San Diego, CA: Besides having world-class universities and research centers and loads of jobs for engineers and techies, this pretty, beach-side city boasts the zip code with the most museums in the United States. San Diego’s 92101 is home to 18 museums, including the San Diego Natural History Museum, Museum of Man, San Diego Air and Space Museum, Museum of Contemporary Art, and obviously a lot more. The San Diego Public Library system also boasts 35 branches, the first of which opened in the late 19th century. Comic-Con is also presented here each year. Enough said.
Carlisle, MA: Carlisle, MA, includes one of the richest zip codes in the country, and the highest number of residents who hold a college degree or higher: over 83% of everyone in the town. The tiny city was founded in 1651 and is located about 25 miles from Boston.
Austin, TX: To Texans, Austin is the hippie dippie town that’s full of liberals, artists and musicians (and UT football.) That’s true, but it’s also full of geeks, from start-up types to film, web and production geeks. It’s home to the South by Southwest festivals, which do feature cool, under-the-radar musicians and bands, but also the interactive festival. That’s basically the Comic-Con for tech geeks, who descend on the capital for trade shows and presentations about gaming, apps and other dorky stuff.
Conway, AK: Nicknamed "the city of colleges," Conway, AK, is home to the University of Central Arkansas, Hendrix College and Central Baptist College. It’s a small town but part of the Little Rock – North Little Rock – Conway metro area, and it’s also one of the best educated towns in the state. It’s a huge town for arts geeks, and its public school system — no matter what you’ve heard about Arkansas schools — is hugely devoted to music, theatre and dance programs. Hewlett-Packard has a facility here, too, making it a city for all types of geeks.
Washington State’s Tri-Cities area: Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco, WA, make up Washington’s tri-cities area, and ExpansionManagement.com recently named it "the number one place for scientists and engineers to live and work in the U.S." That means it’s full of PhDs, medical doctors, engineers and other class-A geeks. The region, located in the southeastern part of the state, is also home to two colleges and a tech skills vocational center, Amazon.com, Lockheed Martin facility, and the energy laboratory Battelle Memorial Institute, as well as the Shelby SuperCars company, which manufactures the fastest car in the world: SSC Aero.
Huntsville, AL: Call us ignorant, but when we started out with this list, we didn’t imagine an Alabama city claiming a spot. But Huntsville, AL, kept popping up as a great place to live and work for computer and information specialists, space engineers, mathematicians and other geeky jobs. It’s also the "center of rocket-propulsion research" in the country, whatever that means. And Huntsville’s first name was actually Twickenham, named after Alexander Pope’s home in England. Geeks across all disciplines.
Bethesda, MD: Bethesda is one of the richest towns in the country, and the 2000 census found it to be the best educated town in America. Bethesda actually has quite a lot of hot people, too. But (not to cause controversy), it’s over 85% white, most of whom are rich. They probably work at one of the many important (ahem, geeky) institutions headquartered in Bethesda, like the National Institutes of Health campus, National Library of Medicine, Consumer Product Safety Commission or Lockheed Martin. The Discovery Channel also used to call Bethesda home.
Boston, MA: Whether you’re a history geek, food geek, arts geek or brainy, Ivy League geek, Boston is the city for you. One of the oldest metro areas in the country, Boston and the surrounding area is home to countless battle sites and historical monuments and landmarks, and also top colleges and universities like Boston College, Boston University, MIT, Boston Latin School, Harvard, the New England Conservatory, Massachusetts College of Art, Wentworth Institute of Technology, and many others. Just imagine all the geeks working, visiting and attending class in Boston: you’ll be surrounded! The Hynes Convention Center is also located in Boston,and brings in more geeks from around the country for the Berklee College of Music jazz festival and competition, Harvard Model Congress, Harvard Model United Nations, and Anime Boston.

10 Most Amazing Slam Poets on YouTube

Site Administrator — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 02:55:18 +0000

There’s something about hearing a poem being performed that feels like listening to music: the delivery, pitch, and rhythm are tailored to create just the right reaction and hit you in a very specific way. Whether they’re talking about their first love, worst job, or unbelievable college experience, these slam poets use language and voice like no one else you’ve ever heard. Give them a listen:

Taylor Mali: Taylor Mali is one of the best slam poets working today, and has appeared multiple times on teams at the National Poetry Slam. He’s probably best known for "What Teachers Make," a poem he wrote a few years ago that’s enjoyed a viral popularity ever since:

Beau Sia: Beau Sia uses his Chinese and Filipino heritage as fuel for his fiery, hilarious spoken word performances. He’s appeared on HBO’s "Def Poetry Jam" and won multiple National Poetry Slam Championships. His poem "Love" is a scathing look at relationships that showcases his passion:

Big Poppa E: Another veteran of "Def Poetry Jam" and National Poetry Slam champ, Big Poppa E’s poems range from shouting indictments against hypocrisy to earnest works about loneliness and rejection. Here’s a poem of his called "Dear White People" that makes a hilarious case for people to just chill out and be themselves:

Mighty Mike McGee: Mike McGee has a way with words like few others. See, for example, this sentence from "Microphones": "In order to love life, I must love living and live love like losing it would look like I have no life left to live." He builds phrases with lightning speed and plays with the audience’s expectations in fantastic ways:
Alix Olson: Alix Olson’s spoken-word performances attack homophobia, sexism, and corruption with wit and style. She won the National Poetry Slam Championship in 1998 and has since published her work multiple times and appeared on "Def Poetry Jam" and national tours. She was also the subject of a documentary called Left Lane: On the Road With Folk Poet Alix Olson. "America’s on Sale" is a great example of her style and subject matter:

Rives: John Rives is a fantastic poet whose work covers a variety of languages, including American Sign Language (he’s worked as a teacher at a school for deaf students). He rhymes about love, poets, and the weird inner monologue of his daily life. Here’s "Sign Language":

Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz: Cristin O’Keefe Aptowicz has performed just about everywhere and has been fortunate enough to publish her poetry, as well. Her poems deal with work, relationships, and the struggles poets tend to face, all laced with humor. "Notes on Rejection" was built, appropriately enough, using old rejection notices:

Scott Woods: Scott Woods is the president of Poetry Slam, Inc., known for his regular 24-hour marathons where he performs constantly without repeating a poem. "A House Is Not a Home" talks about the death of Luther Vandross:

Rachel McKibbens: A prominent slam poet and mother of five, Rachel McKibbens lives in New York but performs across the country, from festivals to dive bars. She’s appeared multiple times in the National Poetry Slam, as well. "After School Special" deals with her prickly attitude toward her daughter’s overbearing teacher:

Saul Williams: Saul Williams blends poetry and hip-hop to create something unique and amazing. He had a starring role in the 1998 film Slam and has published his work in everything from Esquire to The New York Times. "Coded Language" is a great place to start for those new to his work:

101 Open Courses To Improve Your Teaching This Summer

Site Administrator — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:06:21 +0000

Summer is a great time to brush up on your teaching skills, whether you’re interested in technology, development, or specific areas of learning. With these courses from online universities, you can put your summer to good use.

General

Find general teaching education in these courses.

Looking Forward and Looking Back on Education: Eric Klopfer covers the past and future of education in K-12 settings. [MIT]
Thinking About How I Work With Other Professionals: Think about teamwork with other teachers through this course. [Open U]
Contemplation and the First Year Experience: See how students can improve academic life with this course. [ND]
Introduction to Education: Introduction to Education will help you understand and evaluate education. [MIT]
Integrating Thinking for Future Leaders in Education: See how you can use integrative thinking to educate children. [Connexions]
Guide to Teaching & Learning in Higher Education: Make sense of teaching in higher education with this course. [UNESCO]
Experiments in Education: This seminar takes a look at how learning should happen. [MIT]
Mentorship for Teacher Leaders: See how you can be an active mentor with this course. [Connexions]
Understanding IQ Testing and Special Programming for Advanced Learners: With this seminar, you’ll see the benefits and limitations of IQ testing. [UCI]
Multicultural Education & ESL Education: This course offers a foundation in multicultural issues and initiatives in ESL. [Dixie]
Economics of Education: Check out this course on the economic aspects of issues in education. [MIT]
Introduction to Accelerated Learning: Teach with accelerated learning using this introductory course. [Open U]
Educational Theory and Practice I: This course takes a look at what’s necessary to teach in secondary schools. [MIT]
Gender Issues in Academics and Academia: Find out about women in academia through this course. [MIT]
Education for the New Millennium: Update your teacher skills for the new millennium with this course. [Connexions]
Knowledge in Everyday Life: If you work with kids from 3-8, take this course for a look into their learning. [Open U]
Teaching and Learning for a Sustainable Future: Check out this course for a look into education for a sustainable future. [UNESCO]
Teaching and Learning at Home: Explain how parents can improve teaching and learning at home with this course. [Open U]
Inclusive Education: Knowing What We Mean: Look at different perspectives on inclusion with this course. [Open U]
Supporting Professional Development in Initial Teacher Training: Find out how to develop yourself as a teacher with this course. [Open U]
Authentic Problem-Based Collaborative Learning Practices for Professional Development in Teacher Education: With this course, you’ll see how collaboration can be put to work in teacher education. [Connexions]
Utilizing Distance Education in Your Professional Development: In this survey, you’ll learn about using distance education. [Connexions]

Technology

Brush up on your technology skills this summer with these courses.

Technologies for Creative Learning: Through this course, you’ll see educational technologies and creative learning environments. [MIT]
The Review of the Development of Elearning: Here you’ll learn about the development of elearning in the past 10 years. [Connexions]
Teaching Using Digital Video in Secondary Schools: Explore the use of digital media in teaching. [Open U]
Teaching Your First Blackboard/WebCT CE 6 Course: With this course, you’ll learn how to create a Blackboard/WebCT course. [Open Campus]
Computer Games and Simulations for Education and Exploration: Check out this course to see how simulation helps people understand complex systems. [MIT]
Education for an Information Age: Take this course to learn about teaching in the computerized classroom. [Pitt]
Computer Applications for Instruction and Training: Professor Brett Shelton looks into basic computer applications for instruction and training. [USU]
Accessibility of eLearning: Accessibility of eLearning explains some of the challenges disabled students run into when using computers. [Open U]
Online Instructor Training: See how to become an online instructor using this course. [UCI]
Media, Education and the Marketplace: This course explains how to harness the emerging forms of interactive media for learning. [MIT]
Establishing Tone in the Distance Course: You will learn how to establish tone in the distance course here. [Connexions]
Facilitating Online: Educators can be trained as online facilitators with this course. [UCT]
Master Online Teacher Certification: You’ll find help for creating online courses with this program. [Weber]
Best Practices in Online Teaching: Take this course for practical strategies and advice in online teaching. [Connexions]
Technological Tools for School Reform: You will see the impact of modern technology on school reform in this course. [MIT]
Promising Practices in Online Teaching and Learning: Distance education faculty can learn about promising practices from this course. [Connexions]
Visual Design for Distance Education Content: Check out this course to find tips for designing distance education content. [Connexions]
Managing Your Distance Course: Take this course to find tips that will help you better manage your distance course. [Connexions]
Creativity, Community and ICT: In this course, you will explore creativity, collaboration, and technology in education. [Open U]
Advanced Topics in Learning Object Design and Reuse: Take this course to learn about the design, creation, and reuse of learning objects. [USU]
Video in Distance Education: See what you need to know and consider before creating or using video in your online course. [Connexions]
Managing and Maintaining the Discussion Board for Distance Courses: Take this mini-course to find out how you can make your distance discussion board more successful. [Connexions]

Open Education

Check out these courses to learn about open education.

An Overview of Open Educational Resources: Get an introduction to open educational resources from this course. [Connexions]
Open Teaching in a Digital Age: This course offers suggestions for publishing teaching materials online. [UCT]
Introduction to Open Education: Check out this course to get introduced to open education. [USU]
The Impact of Open Source Software on Education: Use this course to find out about the impact of open source software on education. [Connexions]
Creating Open Educational Resources: This unit teaches educators how to create open educational resources. [Open U]
Introduction to Open Educational Resources: You will find out about open educational resources for college teachers from this course. [Connexions]
Collaborative Learning and the Open Educational Resource Movement: Here you’ll learn about collaborative learning and open educational resources. [Connexions]
An Open Source Vision for Caribbean Higher Education: This course explains how open source software is being considered as a viable alternative in the Caribbean. [Connexions]
The How Tos of OER Commons: The How Tos of OER Commons explains how you can participate in the OER movement. [Connexions]
Open Source Software and the User Experience in Higher Education: Mara Hancock explains the changing nature of open source software in teaching and learning. [Connexions]

Classroom & Instruction

With these courses, you’ll build your classroom and instruction skills.

Intro to Instructional Design: Take this course for an introduction to instructional technology. [USU]
Instructional Games: Explore the field of instructional gamin with Professor Brett Shelton. [USU]
Entertainment Education for Behavior Change: In this course, you’ll see how using entertainment education can improve behavior and life. [Johns Hopkins]
Building a Global Teaching Profile: This course explains how educational resources can build a global reaching profile. [UCT]
The Nature of Constructionist Learning: Bakhtiar Mikhak shares topics in constructionist learning. [MIT]
Teaching Students with Special Needs: You will learn about behavior management for special needs students from this course. [USQ]
Concept-Centered Teaching: Try teaching using concepts with this course. [MIT]
New Teaching Methods: Take this course to find an introduction to thematic and cooperative learning. [Connexions]
Evaluating School Classroom Discussion: With the help of this course, you’ll see how you can learn from classroom discussions. [Open U]
Using Film Music in the Classroom: This course shares the approaches to using film music in the classroom. [Open U]
Teach Global: See how to teach with a global perspective using this unit’s resources. [Open U]
Teaching Assistants: Support in Action: This course will teach you how teaching assistants are an important educational resource. [Open U]
Exploring K-12 Classroom Teaching: You’ll learn about K-12 classroom experiences, activities, and more in this course. [MIT]
Teaching for Good Behavior: Teaching for Good Behavior will explain how your teaching quality impacts student behavior. [Open U]
Childhood Psychological and Emotional Health: Learn how to recognize childhood psychological and emotional health with this course. [Connexions]

Student Development

Take these courses to better understand student development.

Play, Learning, and the Brain: Find out how the development of a young child’s brain works in this course. [Open U]
Attention: This unit aims to understand how we pay attention. [Open U]
Adolescent Health and Development: This course is all about the development and health of adolescents. [Johns Hopkins]
Developmental Psychology: Study developmental psychology in this course. [Berkeley]
Learning and Cognition in Educational Settings: Watch this video course on behaviorism, cognition, and more. [UCI]
Human Growth and Development: Study growth and development to better understand your students. [Tufts]
Cognition & Learning in Educational Settings: This course will introduce you to theories of learning and related topics. [UCI]
The Role of Play in Children’s Learning: Check out this course to see why play is so important in children’s learning. [Open U]
Implications for Educators of Gifted Minority Students: Here you’ll learn about diverse learners in gifted education. [UCI]
Gifted and talented Education Seminar Series: In this seminar, you’ll learn about developing programs for gifted and talented students. [UCI]
Building the Parent Teacher Connection: Check out this seminar to learn about communicating between parents and educators. [UCI]
Encouraging Book Talk in the School Library: This course will teach you how to encourage children to discuss books. [Open U]
Enhancing Pupil Learning on Museum Visits: Enrich museum field trips for your students with this course. [Open U]
Finding Information in Education: Discover how to find information in education with this course. [Open U]
Research for the Classroom Teacher: Research for the Classroom Teacher will help you learn how to design and carry out research. [USU]

Teaching Subjects

These courses explore teaching specific subjects.

Teaching Citizenship: Bring citizenship into discussions with the help of this course. [Open U]
Why Teach Art?: Why Teach Art? explains the value that art has in the school curriculum. [Open U]
Training Methods and Continuing Education for Health Workers: With this course, you will learn about training methods and continuing education for health workers. [Johns Hopkins]
Teaching College-Level Science and Engineering: Take this seminar to learn what you need to teach science and engineering in higher education. [MIT]
Increasing Reading Fluency of Elementary Students: Check out this course to find information on increasing reading fluency in elementary school students. [Connexions]
Introduction to Teaching and Learning Mathematics and Science: With this course, you’ll find an introduction to teaching math and science. [MIT]
Language Awareness: Language Awareness offers phonic and historical connections between languages. [Open U]
Individualized Reading Instruction in the Elementary Grades: Explore teaching and assessment of reading and writing skills through this course. [Mich]
Changes in Science Education: This course will give you an overview of issues in science education. [Open U]
School Geography: With this course, you’ll explore school geography. [Open U]
Noisy Learning: Noisy Learning takes a look at loud but fun music education activities. [Connexions]
A Global Dimension to Science Education in Schools: Use this course to find out how you can add a global feeling to your teaching. [Open U]
Using Visualization in Maths Teaching: Look at visualization in math through this unit. [Open U]
Language as a Medium for Teaching and Learning: This course takes a look at language as a cultural tool that can get students involved. [Open U]
Using GPS in Geoscience Education: With this course, you’ll take a look at using GPS for geoscience. [Carleton]
Geography in Education: Look at what geography can do for education in this course. [Open U]
Careers Education and Guidance: See how you can provide guidance for students. [Open U]