D2L Orientation Sessions

The Learning Center has announced D2L Orientation session times for spring semester. All orientation sessions will be held in T.4210. Sessions are for faculty, staff and new students.

* Monday, January 10, noon
* Monday, January 10, 5 p.m.
* Wednesday, January 12, noon
* Wednesday, January 19, noon
* Thursday, January 20, 5 p.m.

New Student Email Accounts

New Microsoft Windows Live Email for Students
MCTC is introducing a new official email service for all students at MCTC. Starting January 10, 2011, all students will receive an MCTC e-mail account using Microsoft Windows Live. MCTC is excited to offer this new email service to improve student communications and serve as the official email for college communications.

During the week of Jan. 3 – 7, ITS will be migrating Metnet email addresses for students registered for spring term to Microsoft Windows Live email addresses in ISRS and D2L. During this week, I will continue to communicate with you via your Metnet/personal accounts.

After January 10, if your email address is not listed as username@go.minneapolis.edu, please contact the ITS Service Desk at 612-659-6600 or service.desk@minneapolis.edu.

If you need help with using your new email account, please go to the student computer lab on the third floor of the T Building (T.3200) for assistance.

MetNet is discontinuing email services in the near future. You will still have access to Metnet until further notice, but the college will use Microsoft Windows Live for all official student communications. Student H: drives will remain accessible until further notice.

Please contact ITS with any questions at service.desk@minneapolis.edu.

Library Inc. - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

This is a good article that addresses many of the issues we raise in INFS 1000 - production and creation of information, access to information, homogenization of available resources, etc. I encourage you to read it.

Library Inc. - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Can I get an incomplete?

I have forgotten who I have told and who I haven't told, but in the interest of communicating to all my students, you should all know that my Mom is back in the hospital and is not doing well.

She came with me to Minnesota on 11/19, and went into the hospital on 11/24. Her liver is failing and she is not responding positively thus far to the medical interventions that have been given. The next couple of days will be key for her, but honestly, I think she has given up. So, she is dying. Whether she dies in the next week or so or over the next few months is still in question. But there it is.

I know this has been a frustrating semester for all of you and that I have not been able to be as attentive as you and I would both like. I am doing my best to balance my work and family responsibilities, but am probably failing a little at both. Maybe that's the best I can hope for at this point. I hope I'm also succeeding a little. :) Maybe? If nothing else, I hope you feel I have been honest with you throughout and have kept you informed to the best of my abilities.

Please continue to email questions to me; I will respond fastest to those. I am also in the office (at this point) each day this week and will do my best to meet with you if that is helpful.

Thank you to all for your continued support, patience, and understanding.

Summer Field Study Course Scholarships

FYI...

Civil Rights Movement: History and Consequences Scholarships

As part of its January 2011 events in honor of the work and life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the MCTC Foundation will once again award scholarships for two MCTC students to participate in “The Civil Rights Movement: History and Consequences,” a summer field-study course offered in partnership with the Higher Education Consortium for Urban Affairs (HECUA—www.hecua.org).

This 4-credit course, which will take place from June 8-29, 2011, explores the philosophy, practice, and historical implications of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 1960s. After 3 full-day seminars in the Twin Cities, students will spend two weeks on the road, interacting with current and former civil rights activists and visiting key sites of the struggle in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Throughout the course, students will explore the theory and practice of social change and reflect upon the links between past and current struggles around race, class and inequality. The course fee includes tuition; room, board and transportation outside of the Twin Cities; and admission to museums and other sites.

Strong applicants will demonstrate leadership ability and potential, an interest in the Civil Rights movement, commitment to advancing intercultural understanding on campus and beyond, an ability to connect one’s participation in the course to future goals, a high potential for success in the course, and financial need.

The scholarships, generously funded by Target Corporation, will cover $2500 of the $2,900 program fee. Scholarship funds will be directly applied to the course fees and scholarship recipients will be responsible for covering the remaining $400.

Complete application packets MUST be received by the MCTC Office of College Advancement (K1100) on or before 4 p.m. on Monday, December 20, 2010.

For more information about the scholarship, contact Amy McCarthy (College Advancement Office, 612.659.6313, amy.mccarthy@minneapolis.edu ) or Lena Jones (Political Science Faculty, 612-659-6010, lena.jones@minneapolis.edu)

Police find man naked, wrecking bookshelves - Technician - News

So, LIT program students (and interested INFS students too...), how would YOU handle this situation if you were the staff member in charge?

Police find man naked, wrecking bookshelves - Technician - News

Still working from Nebraska

My Mom is recovering now in a nursing home in Nebraska City, and I'm spending days commuting between Lincoln, where her house is and where I'm staying, and Nebraska City, about 50 miles away. I'm logging into my email in the mornings before I head over there, and in the evenings, before I collapse in a heap.

In the meantime, I hang out with her, talk to her physical and occupational therapists, make friends with her roommate and other residents, and generally feel my energy sucked away as I feed it to her. That said, she is improving every day, and gaining strength. If all goes as planned, I'll be heading back to Minnesota on November 20 with my mom. She'll be living with me and my family for at least a couple of months.

So, keep emailing me when you have questions to ensure I see your questions right away. And thanks again for everyone's patience.

Library Tours!

LIBT 1100 will be touring 2 unique special libraries in St. Paul this week:

Saturday, November 6th @ 10:30 a.m.: Quatrefoil Library Q Library Website
Wednesday, November 10th @ 10:00 a.m.: MN State Law Library MN State Law Library website

LIBT program students are invited to join us for one or both of these tours.
To RSVP or for more information, please contact: Jennifer.Sippel@minneapolis.edu

SkyandTelescope.com - News Blog - Mike Lynch's "Exploding" Telescope

This doesn't really have anything to do with library or information science, or information literacy, but I thought it was interesting and it has a local angle. Do any of you stargaze? Consider taking Parke Kunkle's ASTR 1110 Astronomy course.
SkyandTelescope.com - News Blog - Mike Lynch's "Exploding" Telescope

Texas dad gets school district to ban "my body" book

A real-life book banning.

Texas dad gets school district to ban "my body" book

MCTC Foundation Scholarships

MCTC Foundation Spring Scholarship applications are now available. There are a variety of scholarships depending on a student's area of study, career interests and grade point average. The deadline for submission is November 15 at 4 p.m.

Download the application at http://www.minneapolis.edu/pdfs/foundationscholarship.pdf

Dental Implants

Here's a real life information literacy event. I find myself spending time now researching dental implants, and jaw bone grafts as it appears I've had some bone loss where one tooth was removed over the summer. I spent quite a bit of time today talking with an oral surgeon about my tooth replacement options for my two missing molars, and then talking to my oncologist about bone loss and getting myself set up for a DEXA scan to see where else I've lost bone.

So, that combined with doing some physical therapy for my arm that is impacted by lymphedema, I'm seeing several medical professionals these days. If you sent me an email message recently and I haven't responded yet, please be patient. I will be in the office tomorrow and will be responding to anyone I haven't emailed back yet. I apologize for the delay in getting back to you.

The Heinrich Household Menu for the week of 11 Oct 2010

So, what does this have to do with teaching and learning? A ton.

First of all, menu planning saves you time. By taking 30 minutes to plan out what you and/or your family will be eating, you can plan your shopping and take the guesswork out of "what's for dinner?" When you or your partner or your oldest child get home or whomever, you can say, "Hey, the menu for tonight is right here... Let's start cooking!"

Second, menu planning saves you money. When you have a plan made, you have already taken life's craziness more or less into account. Sit down with your calendar. If you know you have class until 4 pm and have to work at 6, you know you need something quick - sandwiches are always a good choice, or plan for leftovers to eat that night. Or, in our house, you know you have to get home from work, grab the kids, head to hockey practice, and dinner will be after you get back from practice... That night is a good candidate for a crock pot meal that waits there, nice and warm, for you to get home. How does this result in money-savings? You are less likely to get home from work, open the fridge and stare into it, wondering what you should fix, and deciding to heck with it and ordering take-out or pizza delivery.

Third, planning menus and cooking at home is healthier for you. You can make better food choices when you are menu planning in advance than cruising the grocery store aisle at the end of a long work or school day. You can often afford to buy higher-quality food at the grocery store than you could if you ate out for the same amount of money. When you have a plan, you can shop the farmers' market for deals on fresh produce and other high quality food. The fall markets go through the end of this month, and both Minneapolis and St. Paul have winter markets for 4-season shopping.

Fourth, all those things help you be a better student. When you are eating good food, you get sick less often. When you're sick less often, you miss fewer classes and/or work. You can be a better parent/friend/partner/coworker. When you save money, you may find you have to work less, giving you more time to study or just relax. When you can study and find some time each day to relax, you are healthier and do better in school. See how this all works?

So, to help you get started thinking about your week and menu planning, especially if you haven't done much before, here's our household's menu for the week.

Monday (Noodle Night) - Soccer, Ginny out in the evening
[note, in my plan I do a couple of things - I make quick notes about what's going on in the household that night, and I also create "themes" for each night so I have some automatic ideas. Monday is "noodle night." That might mean spaghetti, or lo mein, or pad thai...]

Beef ravioli with tomato sauce, french bread, salad

Tuesday (Soup/Sandwich Night) - Hockey, PTA, LIBT 2210 chat

smoked chicken panini, oven fries, apple slices

Wed (Tried & True) - Hebrew School

Breakfast for dinner - waffles, turkey sausage, grapes

Thursday (Ethnic Night) -

Slow cooker chicken with mushrooms & peppers , brown rice, sauteed bok choi [some bok choi I sauteed up last week with some beautiful mushrooms is my picture for this post]

Friday (Grill Night)

Lamb chops, baked potato, applesauce, Brussels sprouts

Saturday (Kid Pick) -

DS11.5's Pick - [My kids alternate picking the Saturday night meal for our house. This week it's my oldest's pick. They have to include a fruit and veggie, or choose a "one dish" meal like pizza]

Sunday (Oven/Crock-pot Night) -

Wasabi trout, rice, sauteed cabbage

Where the heck is Ginny?

Ginny has been struggling with a toothache over the weekend and is heading to the dentist as soon as I'm done typing this. I will be online in D2L as soon as I can be. LIBT 2210 folks in particular, thanks for your patience, or at least not spambot-ing my email. Yet.
photo credit: sappymoosetree on Flickr

Banned Books Week Extra Credit!

This week is Banned Books Week, and tomorrow, the library is hosting readings from banned and/or challenged books on the Skyway level of the T Building from 11:30 am-1 pm and from 4:30-6 pm. We're also hosting our annual Banned Books Week Readings show on BlogTalkRadio (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/mctc-library) on Friday morning from 11-11:30 a.m.

You can earn 5 extra credit points by participating in these events!

To earn extra credit, you need to:

1) come on Thursday and read a 3-5 minute segment from a banned or challenged book (lists online at http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/index.cfm

OR

Email me a 3-5 min MP3 recording of you reading from a banned or challenged book to upload and play during our Friday BlogTalkRadio show. Recordings must be received by me before 10 am on Friday.

AND

2) Write a short essay (300-500 words) on what intellectual freedom means to you and why you chose to read from the work you did;

AND

3) Post your essay in the Hallway Conversations forum of the online course with your name and "Banned Books Week Extra Credit" in the subject line.

If you plan to participate in this extra credit opportunity, reply to this message and let me know whether you plan to read "live" on Thursday or send me an MP3 file so I know to look for it.

Banned Books Week Video

From the American Library Association

Mozilla Labs » Concept Series » Blog Archive » Concept Series: Seabird – A Community-driven Mobile Phone Concept

For those who came to the video teleconference today, I thought this was particularly relevant given the conversations about mobile technologies. I would like this device. :)
Mozilla Labs » Concept Series » Blog Archive » Concept Series: Seabird – A Community-driven Mobile Phone Concept

Libraries & the Mobile Technologies Landscape

You are invited (and encouraged, if available) to attend the first in a series of 4 College of DuPage web presentations tomorrow from 12-2, to be viewed on the MCTC campus.

"Libraries & the Mobile Technologies Landscape"

MORE DETAILS HERE!

An RSVP is preferred, but not required.

Hope to see you there too!

Yom Kippur

Tonight and tomorrow is Yom Kippur, and I will be observing the holiday with my family. I also have other family obligations tomorrow and Sunday morning. If you post or email questions to me, I will probably not respond until Sunday afternoon or evening at the earliest, and possibly not until Monday.

Peer review highly sensitive to poor refereeing, claim researchers - physicsworld.com

Now that those of you in my INFS 1000 course have read the Brian Martin article, and have talked a bit about scholarly research, what do you think about this report? Add your comments to the blog, or post in our discussion forums in D2L. Other classes are welcome to comment on this as well, not just INFS 1000 folks.

Peer review highly sensitive to poor refereeing, claim researchers - physicsworld.com

Ginny's Whereabouts

I've been in meetings most of the past two days, and have had little time to be in D2L. If' you've posted a question and I haven't answered it yet, I will get to it as soon as I can, probably Saturday afternoon. I apologize for not notifying you all earlier about my availability, or lack thereof.

Campus IT Downtime

This should not impact D2L access if you use the direct link (https://minneapolis.ims.mnscu.edu/)and not the link from the campus home page. However, if you email me, I won't see it until after the downtime.

~~~~

Please be aware that there will be scheduled campus network downtime on Sunday, September 12, 7:00 - 10 a.m.

ITS staff and our vendor will be performing maintenance on our campus firewall systems. During this time, there will be no access to the MCTC website, Outlook e-mail or remote access services.

All messages sent to Outlook during this time will be queued and delivered once the system is back online.

Phone services and voicemail will remain operational.

We apologize for any inconvenience this required maintenance may cause.

Please contact Dana Harrington with any questions at 612-659-6611 or Dana.Harrington@minneapolis.edu.

Google's Book Search: A Disaster for Scholars - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Here are a few reasons why truly good research needs to involve more than just a good Google search and preferably involves a professional librarian or two.
Google's Book Search: A Disaster for Scholars - The Chronicle Review - The Chronicle of Higher Education

Scholars Test Web Alternative to Peer Review

From the New York Times via Library Link of the Day, which, by the way, is a great little email service to stay on top of library and information-related news. I highly recommend it.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/24/arts/24peer.html

Scholars Test Web Alternative to Peer Review [The New York Times]

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Library Link of the Day

http://www.tk421.net/librarylink/ (archive, rss, subscribe options)