Nerds Fighting on an Island?

I am here today to share with the world, a group of people who "live" on an island. Nerdfighteria Island to be exact. They seem to have some access to the internet on this island, because they have a huge online presence. This island takes on many different forms. When searching for a map, there were many different versions of maps and many different sizes and shapes that the island's form took place. This seemed to be the most detailed map:

The people who inhabit this island are said to be made of pure awesome. It is their mission to decrease worldsuck and increase global awesome.

They have their own motto

their own gang sign

their own theme song,

and they all look up to and follow the creators of Nerdfighters and Nerdfighteria, John Green and Hank Green.

John green is a best-selling author of books like Looking For Alaska and The Fault in Our Stars. His brother Hank is known for his music and various YouTube channels. Together they started making videos back and forth to each other under the name Brotherhood 2.0. Now, they call themselves the VlogBrothers. Together they still make videos under the VlogBrothers channel, but they also have expanded and they make videos on different YouTube chancels such as SciShow, Crash Course, and the Art Assignment. Hank Green created and puts together the annual YouTube Convention called VidCon. Hank and John Green also use their online presence and the Nerdfighter Community to promote their annual campaign to raise money in order to decrease worldsuck. Every year they put on Project For Awesome which raises money and awareness for thousands of charities. In December of 2013 they rained more than 860,000$.

If you would like to be a Nerdlfighter, you probably already are. Just in case: here's a video to help you understand what you're getting into:

All in all this online community brings together people from all countries. They all come together and promote each other's videos. They work together to help each other in need. And they really are made of pure awesome.


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My Childhood

Dear Younger Brothers,

I see you guys just got your fancy new XBox One. I'm perfectly happy with my xbox 360 and Playstation 3. I don't even have time for a lot of games, so I mostly use them for Netflix. Oh Netflix. I see you guys always watching Netflix when I look at my Xbox Friends list. It's nice being able to watch TV and Movies like that. Being able to instantly stream you favorite tv shows and movies. You can watch them over and and over again and it's all digital. Do you two remember all our tapes....VHS....? No? Yeah I think you were a little too young when we finally switched to DVD and now all our streaming movies and tv. I was only last year that Mom finally got rid of all our tapes. You boys were glad to see them go to free up room for video games and DVDs. It was a sad day for me... There goes my childhood.

I remember watching movies over and over again when I was younger. I would literally watch the movie, rewind it, and watch it again. I hated waiting and watching all the previews so mom would right the time the movie started on the VHS box so we could fast forward to the exact spot it started. I remember you boys would never rewind the movie when you watched tapes. Mom would put it in for you so you wouldn't break it. We had to teach you not to mess with the tape but all that was quickly forgotten when we got DVDs. No more rewinding, no more fuzzy lines at the top when the tape was wearing out. I still remember how awesome it was to get to go to Video Only and rent a movie or TV. I even remember where on the shelves the Little Mermaid Tv Show tapes and the Gumby Movie were because I would rent them so much.


DVDs and Streaming are a lot nicer I must admit. But not everything is on DVD or streaming. All the Mickey Mouse cartoon that Mom taped from Tv or the movies that were never covered to DVD... Now we have to find a way to convert all our old home movies, otherwise we can't watch them since our only tape player eats all our tapes.
Have fun with your xbox one,
Love,
Your older sister.

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Engaging the Student

I think that the use of technology in a classroom is useful and should be implemented in more classes. When I go to class I really love taking notes on my iPad. I can type my notes and format them to be very organized. I can draw anything on my notes to help remember something later. I can easily take those notes and change them to flash cards. With almost every test I take, I study with the website/app StudyBlue. With StudyBlue you can join your class, see what flash cards your peers have posted, make your own flash cards, and study on the go. It has definitely helped me get better grades. If something like StudyBlue was promoted or used in the classroom, student would be able to do better in school.

While the program Angel has it's problems, I feel that if it is used correctly, it is very helpful. Being able to check my grades, look at lecture notes, and turn in my homework all from my iPad or phone really has it's advantages. When professors post their lecture notes before class, I can download them onto my iPad and take notes right on their slides. When professors have power points everyday in class but don't provide their notes to students, I find those classes much harder and boring. Even when classes don't have attendance, if they are interesting and engaging, I'll go. Classes that require attendance but are boring and not engaging are the worst. I find myself not wanting to go or simply not paying attention in class.

I honestly believe that classes that allow you to use your own technology or engage the student in how they learn would make students more willing to go to class. If you have to require attendance because so many people aren't going to class, then as a professor, you should reevaluate how you are teaching your class.  


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