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Oral IV Technology Lesson- The Innovation of Loneliness

Hi all- 

On Tuesday, October 15th in Elisa's section of Oral IV we watched a video and had a discussion about the impact of the internet and social media on our modern psyches. Here is the link to the video we watched in class: http://vimeo.com/70534716 called ¨The Innovation of Loneliness.¨ It was inspired by this TEDtalk and research of Sherry Turkle: http://www.ted.com/talks/sherry_turkle_alone_together.html

This is the text from the handout that guided our conversation:

Before watching the video:

Imagine that you go out to coffee with a good friend and have an hour long conversation about your lives. Then you go home, go onto facebook, and start chatting with another friend or perhaps a number of other friends. You chat for about an hour as well.

What are the differences between a conversation you have online versus in person? Please make a pro and con list for each type of conversation.

Important vocab:

threshold: n. the level or point at which something is true or will take place and below which it is not or will not, a boundary, an end

gossip: n. information about the personal lives of other people

self-actualization: n. the realization of one´s own potential

self-actualization ideal: n. and a concept- an archetypal or fanciful idea, an ideal way that someone would dream to realize their own potential. In the video, this concept is related to how we imagine ourselves and the ¨perfect self¨that we can create for ourselves online.

ailment: n. a sickness or illness

paradox: n. something that is made up of two opposite things and that seems impossible, but it actually true or possible.

psyche: n. mind and personality

After the video, we talked about these questions:

What is the average human threshold for number of friends? Why is this relevant to the video?

In what ways are our social lives online trading quantity for quality?

What are some of the differences between a real conversation and a virtual conversation, according to the video?

What are the three gratifying factors of social networks?

What do you think the video means when it says that we crave connection over conversation? Do you agree? Why or why not?

What does the statement ¨I share, therefore I am¨ mean?

¨If we are not able to be alone, we will only know how to be lonely.¨

Do you agree with this statement? Why or why not?

Why do you share things online? What feelings does sharing create? Does it create conflicting emotions?

The video argues that social networks are at least in part successful because humans are vulnerable, but afraid of intimacy. Why do you think social networks are successful?

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For those who love language, this is an infographic of some special words. Check it out!

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Today is the 50th year anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech, delivered in Washington DC in 1963. It was an incredibly powerful and important speech, delivered by one of the most influential figures in Civil Rights and US history. This video helps commemorate Dr. King and his words.

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These are the images from the American Lit help session today on the historical background of To Kill a Mockingbird. 

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Taylor Mali (http://taylormali.com), one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement and one of the few people in the world to...

Taylor Mali is one of my favorite slam poets. Slam poetry is a type of spoken performance art, an oral tradition that is often politicized or a forum for social commentary, much like the Beats movement, Negritude, Rap, and Hip Hop.  You can read more about here: http://www.poets.org/viewmedia.php/prmMID/5672

Taylor Mali is a wonderfully talented slam poet, who is also a teacher. To read or listen to some of his work, go onto his website and search under the “work” tab. Here is just one example of his great poetry: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU and here is a transcript to follow along with: http://www.taylormali.com/poems-online/what-teachers-make/

Happy viewing!

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These are the slides for a presentation on the topic of segregation, which I presented to Oral II students this week as part of Chapter 2: City Life. Click on the images to see them closer up.

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Developing a love of language, with a little help from Stanley H. Kaplan.

This is a lovely article about having a love for words and language. It has some great vocab in it!

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Sign up now for a Creative Writing and Poetry Workshop. It will be held for six weeks, from August 21st to September 25th, on Wednesdays from 9:30am-11:30am. 

We will cover different literary techniques, play with language and words, write poetry and prose, and read some pretty inspiring works too. This workshop will be a great way to have fun and be creative, while also practicing your English and expanding your vocabulary. 

Sign up by putting your name on the roster outside of Mari's office. Space is limited. Please sign up before the 19th of August. 

Hope to see you there!

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Here is a list of 10 words associated with summer, and explanations for where they come from. Ever wondered where the words marshmallow, frisbee, vacation, and barbecue came from?

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Commonly confused words

Here is a small list of English words that are often confused with one another and improperly used:

accept- v. to receive or take something

except- prep. not including or other than

  disinterested- adj. not influenced by other people’s opinions or ideas

uninterested- adj. not wanted to learn more about something or become involved in something

principal- n. the person in charge of a public school, university, college, or company

            adj. chief, most important

principle- n. a moral rule or belief that helps you know what is right and wrong and that influences your actions.

  access- v. to be able to enter or get near something

            n. a way to get near, at, or to something or someone or permission or the right to enter.

excess- n. an amount that is more than the usual or necessary amount.

  ensure- v. to make something sure, certain or safe

assure- v. to tell someone something to lessen their worries or to convince them of something

  imply- v. to express in an indirect way, to suggest something without saying or showing plainly  

infer- v. to form an opinion based on evidence, derive meaning

council- n. a group of people who are chosen to make rules, laws or decisions about something

counsel-  n. advice given to someone

            v. to give advice to someone

  affect- v. to act on or change someone or something, influence

  effect- v. to cause something, to make something happen

            n. a change that results when something is done or happens, an event, condition or state of affairs that is produced by a cause.

  eminent- adj. successful, well-known, respected

imminent- adj. happening very soon

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Photos from the coffee hour on Wednesday evening. We had a great time talking, getting to know one another, and eating some delicious treats! Thanks to everyone who came. We'll have more of these next semester!

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Some Oral III students shared a class with students from Nebraska on Tuesday!

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Tips for giving a great presentation:

Structuring an oral presentation:

Introduction:

a. Attention grabber: begin your presentation with something that will catch the audience’s attention and show them that what you are going to talk about is interesting. Ideas for attention grabbers: anecdote, question, fact, statistic, idiom, proverb, famous quote

b. Explain what you will be speaking about, give any relevant, definitions, explanations, or descriptions of the ideas and topics you will be covering.

c. Outline your presentation: tell them what you are going to tell them. You can think of this as giving them a road map of your presentation.

Presentation:

a. Provide examples and complete descriptions.

b. Show that you did your research. Be specific.

c. Provide different perspectives or points of view.

d. Make it personal: humor, personal stories, conversational language- but not informal.

Conclusion:

a. Give a brief summary of your presentation. Just a sentence or two.

b. This is your chance to tell us why your presentation is important. You should answer the question: why does that topic matter? Draw connections to other issues or topics, current events, or the news. Send a message. Do events or data build to a climax?

b. Give advice. What would you do? What would you change?

c. Conclude in a strong way. NOT “Well I guess that is it.” Don’t fade away. Your last sentence should be one of your strongest. Have it planned out beforehand.

General Tips:

Step 1. Know your material: Try to pick a topic you are interested in. Know more about it than you include in your speech.

Step 2. Structure your presentation: On the day of the test, create an outline that follows the structure above (intro, presentation, conclusion). You will not have time to write out your whole presentation, so do not write full sentences- just focus on key words.

Step 3. Practice: Practice presenting on exam-like questions.

a. Try to recreate the test exactly. Time yourself. Give yourself the real amount of minutes to prepare that you will be given on the exam day. Spend that time making an outline. When that time is over, give your presentation out loud. If possible, record yourself or practice for a friend or family member.

b. Remember it is incredibly important not to read.

c. Try not to depend on memorization. Be comfortable enough with your vocabulary and ideas that if you forget EXACTLY what you are going to say, you can phrase it another way. Aka don’t be dependent on having memorized it word for word.

d. Practice realistic presentations like this over and over. 

Your voice creates an impression:

Pronunciation

Volume

Pace

Tone

Avoid words like um, eh, arr.

Vocabulary and language:

Use a wide variety of vocabulary that demonstrates your knowledge.

Do not use generalizations: Everyone knows that… every time anyone has ever done it…

Don’t ramble. Know what you are going to say. Be concise and to the point.

Step 4. Body Language:

Eye contact, stand up straight.

Address the class, not just the professor.

Don’t do distracting things with your hands or any part of your body.

Hands out of pockets.

Step 5. On the day of the presentation

Relax. If you know you get nervous, try visualizing yourself doing a good job beforehand. Focus on your breath and positive thoughts.

Focus on creating an organized and logical outline of keywords that you can use as a roadmap to guide you through the presentation.

Don’t apologize if you make a mistake. You can acknowledge it or correct it and then move on.

Know that everyone wants you to succeed. The audience is rooting for you.

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Stress Management

Don’t let stress own you: be the master of your own stress:

Before the Exam:

       1. If you worry about being able to finish an exam in time, do timed     practice exams or sets of questions.

Put things in perspective. Remind yourself that your entire future doesn't depend on this exam. There will be other exams and other courses. Many students fail a course or two but go on to graduate and have successful careers.

Don't give a test the power to define you. An exam won't tell you whether you're brilliant or stupid and it can't predict your future success. Your performance on an exam mostly depends on how well you studied for the test, the quality of your prior education, and the test-taking strategies you use.

Visualize completing the test successfully despite your anxiety. Play the entire "tape" in your mind -- from the moment you wake up on the day of the exam to the moment you finish the exam.

The effects of caffeine are increased with high anxiety, so reduce your intake of caffeine on the day of the test.

During the Exam:

Try to avoid talking with other students right before the exam because their anxieties may impact you.  Instead, arrive a little early and take a walk as you give yourself a positive self-talk.

If it is a seated test: Choose a seat in a place with few distractions (probably near the front).  Do your best to ignore what other students are doing and don't worry if they finish early.  Often, some of the worst exams are turned in early. 

Remind yourself of how hard you studied, and how you will not let anxiety control you.

Skip tough questions and return to them later.  This is especially true for exams that include problem solving.

Expect a few unexpected questions on the exam.  When you encounter an unexpected question on the exam, don’t get upset and lose your concentration.  Instead, simply skip that question for now and return to it later to make an attempt.

If you begin to have negative thoughts, say STOP to yourself and remind yourself of past successes.

If you continue to feel overly anxious, do the ANXIETY CONTROL PROCEDURE:

Turn the test paper over and close your eyes.

Breathe in slowly to the count of seven and exhale to the count of seven.

Continue this slow breathing until you begin to feel more relaxed.

Open your eyes, turn the test paper right side up, and give yourself a positive self-talk (ie. "You're sure to do well. You studied hard and remember.”) This whole procedure should take only about a minute to do. It's well worth the time!

Do not try to figure out your grade as you go (your estimate is not likely to be correct anyway).  Instead, just take each question as it comes. 

Do not obsess about running out of time on the test. Check the time occasionally, but avoid checking too frequently, as this will only distract you and make you more anxious. Remind yourself that it's better to miss a few points by not quite finishing the test than to lose your concentration and thus miss many points.

Approach your studying seriously, but think of the test as a game. Your goal is to collect as many points as you can in the time available. Don't worry about a particular question. If you're unsure of the answer, guess and move on. Remind yourself that you can miss a few questions and still get an 100%. 

Compiled with the help of: http://www.uic.edu/depts/ace/anxiety.shtml 

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Study Tips!

Change where you study. Try new locations, this will help you stay focused and not get too distracted.

Study groups:

Assign chapters or topics to each person before you meet.

Each person should then become an expert on their topic(s) and then teach those topics to the rest of the group. Make sure to include important vocabulary and also to create a list of potential exam questions that a professor could ask on that subject. There is no better way to learn material than to teach it.

Once everyone has presented their topic, choose some of those potential exam questions and discuss them.

Then practice presenting (or if you are studying for a written test, practice writing answers) and keep track of the time with your watch. Make it realistic!

Having planned times to meet with study groups will motivate you to learn and study the topic or chapter that you are responsible for.

It also saves everyone time.

Make a study schedule. Start today! Look at your calendar and plan ahead for what material you are going to study each day and how long you are going to study. Stay organized and plan ahead. Don’t forget to schedule in some time to relax too. 

Figure out what's covered. It is very important to know what materials are going to be tested on the final. Is the final going to concentrate on materials since the midterm or is it going to include all the information you have covered since the beginning of the semester? If you have any questions, ask your professor!

Make meetings with Professors and Assistants. Make use of student attention hours or schedule meetings to review concepts and ask questions. You can always schedule a meeting with me by emailing me at la.ucrso@gmail.com 

Don’t forget to move. If you plan on studying for hours and hours, remember to get up and move around to wake yourself up and refresh your brain and body. Take a walk outside, go on a run, do some pushups, or maybe just put on some good music and dance. Moving your body will help you relax and better concentrate when you study.

Eat well. We are what we eat. Especially during exams, it is important to have nutritious, regular meals. Skipping meals or eating junk food will negatively impact your energy and your mood. You will study better, longer, and more effectively if you have good fuel. 

Sleep. You will remember more and feel less anxious if you get good sleep. Staying up all night before an exam can actually do more harm than good. Getting sleep before an exam is one of the best ways to prepare.

Compiled with the help of:

http://www.usnews.com/education/blogs/professors-guide/2010/12/10/top-15-hot-tips-for-finals

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/01/study-tips-for-exams-12-ways-to-ace-your-finals_n_789731.html#s193495title=Study_In_Chunks

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 Is procrastination a problem for you (delaying doing something until a later time because you don't want to or don't feel like doing it)? Here are some tips about overcoming procrastination and studying better: http://www.uic.edu/depts/ace/overcome.shtml

They include:

Reduce Temptations:   Constantly trying to resist temptations will sap your energy and your focus.  Instead, create an environment where you have fewer choices and fewer temptations. 

Find a good place to study.  Don’t think about where you want to study (this is probably your room).  Instead, think about a place you can go where there’s nothing you can do but study:  a library, an empty classroom, a designated study area, a café or cafeteria.

Think of creative ways to limit temptations in your environment: Put your T.V. in a closet or only turn it on after your homework is finished for the day.  Turn off your telephone while you study or give it to a friend to keep while you study.  Check Facebook when you have no choice but to do it quickly and get off (before a class or appointment).

As you study, keep a pad of paper nearby where you can record reminders to yourself. 

Increase Your Motivation:  The Carrot

Reward yourself at the end of each task, day, and week. For example, take a 10-minute break after completing a study task.

Form a study group to make some of your studying more active and interesting.   Decide beforehand what material the group will cover and tell everyone to come prepared.

Post reminders or motivational messages on your wall, phone, and computer. 

Visualize yourself in your future career.  Remember why you are studying in the first place

Stay organized

Create artificial deadlines.  Promise a friend that you will finish reading a chapter by 9:00 and then e-mail to confirm that you’ve done it.  Make an appointment with your professor or at the Writing Center to bring in the rough draft of your paper a week before it is actually due.

Check out the website for even more tips: http://www.uic.edu/depts/ace/overcome.shtml

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http://www.uic.edu/depts/ace/anxiety.shtml

In anticipation of the upcoming exams, here is an article about how to manage your stress during exam time. It has a number of great suggestions for feeling less anxious and nervous. Some of the advice includes:

Tips for how to control your anxiety during a test

If you worry about being able to finish an exam in time, do timed practice exams or sets of questions.

Try to avoid talking with other students right before the exam because their anxieties may rub off on you.  Instead, arrive a little early and take a walk as you give yourself a positive self talk.

The effects of caffeine are increased with high anxiety, so reduce your intake of caffeine on the day of the test.