The Secret Adversary--Book Club Discussion

The Secret Adversary online book club continues . . . you can still comment on previous book club posts. For our next online discussion we'll read Chapter 2. On Monday, April 2, there will be more thought-provoking, comment-causing questions and statements about the book. Read on!

And remember, you have to comment ten times by the end of April for a grade. Looking forward to hearing from all of you next week.

Let's Give 'em Something to Blog About

One of the uses of a web log is to post opinions. After all, a blog is an open forum to air whatever floats your boat or bothers you. So here's a couple of hot topics that you may or may not have an opinion about. Feel free to comment on any or all. And as with any debatable subject, state your case, give some reasoning, try to persuade!

American Idol--Voting for the worst singer
Stop Using Oil--Americans should boycott oil usage
Cell Phones in School--Good or bad?
War in Iraq--Stay or get out?
Health Care--Too many people without, costs are outrageous
Illegal Immigrants--What to do?
(Add Your Own)

The Online Book Club Starts Rolling

Reading only the Prologue and Chapter 1 of The Secret Adversary hardly gets you far enough into the story to even get a sense of what's happening. However, here's a few key quotes, a couple of words that may be unfamilar, and some questions that you can elaborate on, answer, or define in your comment.

• What do you think of Tuppence and Tommy--how do you envision them?
• Tuppence is wearing a toque . . . what is it?
• What does this quote refer to "To be left it, to marry it, or to make it."
• How do you think this quote is going to tie in the with title of the book--"We've tried all the orthodox ways, yes. But suppose we try to be unorthodox. Tommy, let's be adventerous."
• How about these words/phrases . . . galleons, doubloons, shillings and crown, a palatial suite at the hostel.
• Where's the Piccadilly Tube
• Who do you think is the man at the end of Chapter 1 who wants to speak to Tuppence?

Looking forward to hearing from all of you!

The Fine Art of Multi-Tasking

What are you doing right now as you read this blog? Are you focused on the content of this particular post or are you also thinking about the several other things that you need to work on, key up, comment to, read over, log into, print out, look up.


You are a part of the multitasking generation who have learned the ability to execute more than one task at a time--where the norm is the belief that the few can be made to do the work of many . . . which leads us into the state of multitasking. Gone are the days of just watching the anchorperson deliver the evening news. Now we have to listen AND read the scrolling text in several areas of the screen while ALSO peeling potatoes AND talking on the phone.

Multitasking--switching back and forth between activities of varying complexity--has become both a workplace and household catchphrase of the millennium. Unlike generations before, 24/7 is the lifestyle for us. But, if you allow it, the stress of having a lot of things on your plate can cause increased anxiety, a sense of feeling overwhelmed by various demands, physical-mental burnout, and depression.

So what to do??? Here are some tips that can help you better manage your time as you multitask your way into personal and professional responsibilities:

• Determine what is important for success and what constitutes exceptional performance. Know what is expected of you and then set the goals and plans that will lead you to that success.
• Use an activity journal to evaluate your use of time and your energy levels at different times of the day. This may help to give you some insight as to how much your time is worth, and which tasks should be avoided, dropped or delegated.
• Maintain an appropriate diet, rest and sleep regiment so that you can spend more time performing well.
• Give important work the quality time it deserves.
• Control the distractions that interfere with effective work

And beyond all that, be an optimist, keep a healthy sense of humor, and laugh often.

How do you handle the stress of overload?

Quotations

Do a google search on the word quotations, and you'll get about 2,890,000 hits.

Some people love quotations for the emotion that they convey. Others read quotations because they like the thoughts of a particular person or because they are interested in a particular topic. Still others access quotations to use in their homework, essays, and speeches. Whatever the motivation . . . quotations have been around for as long as mankind.

Here's a few quotations I came across today . . .

"Read not to contradict and confute, nor to believe and take for granted, nor to find talk and discourse, but to weigh and consider - Harold Bloom

"It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most responsive to change" - Charles Darwin

"Confusion is the beginning of learning. Satisfaction is the end of learning." - Unknown Author

What do these quotations mean to you? Feel free to comment on any or all; share a quotation that has meaning for you; and/or make up your own quote!

And remember to read the Prologue and Chapter 1 of The Secret Adversary. I read it last evening and definitely did not want to stop after Chapter 1 . . . Can't wait to see what you all think. Discussion begins on Friday, March 23!

Not Giving Up--Online Book Club Reprise

A few posts ago, I suggested that we start an "online book club." It would be much like a "traditional" book club in that everyone reads the same book then gets together to discuss it. Our "get together" discussion place would be this blog. I asked for ideas for books that you would like to read, which would, of course, need to be available online.

Okay, so there wasn't an overwhelming response to my suggestion . . . but that doesn't mean I'm giving up! In fact, I'm hoping to add another level to this idea. Let's open our "online book club" to another group of students from another school. I have a friend who teaches technology courses at Loyalsock Township High School. She offered up her Advanced Computer Applications class as possible participants in our online book club.

And I think that the book suggestion The Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie is an excellent choice (thanks, Val). Agatha Christie's writing career spanned more than half a century. She wrote 80 novels and short story collections and over a dozen plays. The chapters of her books are short and easy, mysterious and addicting. If nothing else, you can say you've participated in this whole "online book club" process.

Your first reading assignment--the Prologue and Chapter 1 The Young Adventurers, Ltd.--is due by Friday, March 23. A few discussion starter questions will be posted on Friday the 23rd in this blog and everyone is free to comment!

Word Processing . . .Word Origins

Word processing (a course that I adore teaching) is, after all, about words. In my last post where you were directed to a challenging keyboarding game, you were also faced with some very unfamiliar words. Please continue to visit the site and continue to learn and share new words in your comments.

Here's are some good sites that will help you with your vocabulary. Just to hit on a few!!

Super Kids Words
Word Flash Cards
Word of the Day
Another Word of the Day
Yet Another Word of the Day
How About a Literature Word of the Day
Just About Anything "of the Day" You're Looking For

Check them out. And remember, it's not only important to learn new words, but to learn to USE them, too, in your daily speaking. So here's a challenge for you . . . actually USE a new word or two in a conversation, in class, over the dinner table . . . It's always cool to look smart, act smart, be smart, sound smart!!

Type Like Mad

I got lost in blogosphere today and ended up at this site. Just for fun (and some really good keyboarding practice) check it out and see what level you can reach. There are some really different words in this game. Pick one and include it in your comment along with a definition. Also, include the level you reached in the game. Then I'll let you know what level I reached. Could be a good competition! Also, here's the rest of the "Games for the Brain" list. Who says that computer games aren't educational!!!

A Stab at Poetry

The topic of reading poetry came up in class recently . . . so I thought I'd jump on that idea. Below you will find the text of the poem "If." Read it and comment on any or all of the following:

• Try to explain what you think the poem is doing and how the poem does it.
• Understand the explicit, literal meaning.
• Consider what's implied, unsaid, or suggested by asking questions about the poem.
• Build an interpretation based on your speculations about what's implied (That's what's beautiful and worthwhile about poetry.
• What is the poet's tone of voice or range of feeling?
• Who is the poet and tell a little about him. When was it written?

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:

If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

A Bit About Commenting

Today in class there was some discussion about commenting on a blog. Some of my students have jumped right in on the action, while others have slowly tipped their toes in, and still others have yet to test the waters. So here's a quote from a blog that may help you to go whole heartedly into our classroom blog:

"Commenting is part of this global conversation. People who make meaningful comments understand that this new Internet is about discussing our common concerns and coming up with solutions in a more expeditious and helpful manner that does not exclude anyone. I think some people are afraid of commenting because they don't want to give away their secrets. Well, guess what? If you died today and don't share "your secret," it will die with you and you will miss the chance to leave behind something far more important... a legacy." Read the complete post here.

Now for today's thought-provoking post. Where is the internet headed? What's Web 3.0 or even Web 2.0 for that matter? Any idea what 3D web refers to? Have you heard of Second Life? Go check it out and share your comments!

Blogging for a Grade & Read On . . .line

Up to this point, your blog comments were freebies. However, grading will now commence for your blog comments. Before the end of March, you are required to thoughtfully comment on at least ten posts and to take part in the online book club. So let's decide on an online book to read so that we can get the discussion rolling. Please search the internet for free books to read online and comment on your choice. We will collectively decide which book to read and how much to read per day. This will take some time, as we will read in bits and pieces and discuss in bits and pieces. Let's make it fun and stress free. Let me know your suggestions.