my short time in the blogging world

It has been a while! I never meant to neglect this but I think many of us can understand how school can get overwhelming...But today we'll focus on blogs...I've learned a lot about blogging and how I can use this blog to help people understand myself and my professions much better. I've learned so much in reading other peoples blogs as well. I will in the future be able to look to other peoples blogs to answer my own questions as well. I will let this be the last post in this blog for a while as I focus more on school. My advice is vent through blogs, voice opinions through them and resort to them. Don't make them too long but instead short and to the point while still trying to keep it interesting. Well, it's been different, fun and interesting....
HAPPY BLOGGING EVERYONE! :]

Exercise Phys. Podacasting

In my search for a Kinesiology related podcasts I came across one called Exercise Physiology Podcast. This was lengthy yet informative, pretty much specifically targeted at runners. It was full of factual information like percentages and numbers comparing both male and females. They clearly tried to keep it somewhat interesting by throwing in some tunes in between each different topic, but over all it was pretty winded and monotone...However, I'm sure it's better than what my first podcast will be. One last thing is that I do find it interesting to listen to how different people approach different podcasts and personalize them to their liking.

Young Minds->Fast Times

After reading the article "Young Minds, Fast Times: The 21st Century Digital Learner" on Edutopia.com I think that the author Marc Prensky really pushes the boundaries of education and encourages other educators to follow his lead.  He clearly is on to something in talking to the students about how they would like to learn.  I feel like many of my past teachers have asked what they could have done differently and what kind of learning is best for the students.  Unfortunately many students have different learning styles and of course the teachers cannot cater to everyone's needs.  I think this article really focuses on the realization that computer technology and technologies like it are the mainstream way of learning now.  I feel like many of my past teachers are so scared of change and they themselves are uneducated in the technological advances that they are struggling to keep with the pack.  I clearly remember my sophomore history teachers to be one of the best teachers I've ever had.  This I believe is first because he was truly passionate about teaching, and would break a sweat every class from being so into his own teachings, and secondly because he incorporated computer usage and always asked for our feedback...He, a man of about 30 years old, was prepared to change, prepared to get students engaged and wanting to learn.  He was not completely fresh out of school but cared enough about his students to change his ways of teaching to cater to the needs of his students.  I guarantee there wasn't a student that left his class that year without a wealth of knowledge and the first to say he was one of the best teachers they had ever had.

Podcasts & Kinesiology

I read Bethanys blog about the Westeren Illinois Kinesiology students who used podcasts to create a program to help people (WIU employees) stay fit and then followed the link in her blog to read the article about the students & found it very, very interesting. I think it is a fantastic idea to have trails around campus and have each of them focusing on a different aspect of fitness. I feel like so many people aren't educated enough about their fitness and this is the perfect way to get them to understand & strengthen their knowledge while improving their bodies health by walking the premade trails. Although I couldn't find the podcasts themselves, I do have a pretty good idea of how they sound. Thanks for the informative article Bethany!

Down & Out

Oh My! It has been what seems like forever since I've blogged! Its awful how busy I've been...I was sick, then we had October break, and just test after test & quiz after quiz in my classes... :( But now I'm back at it!
Soooo.. Who else is extremely dissappointed with the turn out of the ALCS game?! I sure would have loved to see the Red Sox go to the World Series...its okay though as one of my friends put it theres been a "Superbowl appearance, nba championship, ALCS appearance, Bruins Playoff Appearance, New England Rev Championship appearance, & New England still owns the US." Which is so true, New England is the place to be now a days!!

Online Exercising?

I read Dan's blog, and then the article attached and completely agree with him. I guess I can't really understand why people are so obsessed with finding exercise stuff online or in magazines because I've been trained and understand how to workout properly. I kind of feel like most people who resort to magazine/internet recommended diets and workout plans are often read by those people who are looking for an easy out to exercising or getting thin. People need to understand that you must get up & go to the gym, not sit around and read all day about going to the gym. There is no such thing as exercising your body online!

Optimisim is Key

So I was browsing through my fellow students blogs and I stumbled upon Becca's blog 'Viva la Blog!' and noticed right off the bat how all of her blog titles were catchy and fun. This made me think that I should try this...but I struggle with clever creativeness. Her post 'Having a Flat Ain't So Bad' definitely caught my attention. Becca's post is so optimistic and heart felt that I actually enjoyed reading it. She and I are both Kinesiology majors, she and I have both had flat tires...but the difference is that she embraced her experience much more than I. My flat tire was dead of winter, (which I hate)headed back here from Sugarloaf, in the middle of nowhere with no houses around and barely any cell signal. I was cold and miserable but luckily some friends came back to help. She [Becca] took it all in and found appreciation in the small things. Just reading her post helped me be more optimistic and think back to the little things that count now and always have. It really was refreshing to have some positive after a long week, thank you Becca. :)

p.s. here are some kinesiology blogs!!
#1
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Training//Exercise

So I was supposed to post my entries by 7pm tonight but my life has been completely chaotic with tests/school & work...Needless to say I'm posting now! I just read Bethany's article on Training vs. Exercise & completely agree with her. This is probably because Doc. Lehnard taught us that same idea in my KPE 378 class earlier this year. I agree that people can exercise sometimes but really training is key. Training will get you to your goals and desired fitness level, not the occasional exercise.

Weekend Memories

I had such a great weekend this weekend! Thursday night (yes, Thursday can totally count as a weekend day ;] ) my roommate Christina and I went to one of my friends house and watched a movie and college football with a couple of guys. It felt really good to have a low-key relaxing night while still spending time and getting to know a few new people. Friday was the usual - classes where you can't focus because you're just so excited that its Friday, and its officially the weekend. Both Friday and Saturday night I saw a ton of different people that I love and had an absolute blast. I even had a good time at working at Abercrombie & Fitch on Saturday-and that rarely happens! :) I love being social and that is what keeps me going up here. It's like every week I push through the school work just for the weekends, but hey- if that's my motivation then so be it! :)

Gina's Dreams

I read Gina Conyers-Beach's blog from 9/15 about her goals to be a teacher. I think that she would be an amazing teacher because she has such a magnetic personality. She's got that personality that I think would keep kids interested in the subject. I really hope that she can find a school to teach art at so she is truly following her dreams. And, to teach in England would be such an amazing and culturally satisfying opportunity!! Gina is smart and I think will be a well-liked and fun teacher. I know I would have loved to have her as a teacher in high school! :)

Tech Habits

I read the MSN article, "20 Tech Habits to Improve Your Life" and found most of it intriguing. My personal favorite was the website where you can watch t.v. and movies. I always miss shows that I want to see and I never want to pay $9 at the movie theatres. The site hulu.com had me so hooked last night that I got distracted & watched a 2 hour movie and then forgot to blog! One tech habit that I thought was silly was to label all of your cords. I really don't mess with my plugs enough to take the time to label them all. However, some people may, or may find this helpful, I just can't see how it's really relevant to my life. I guess now in my spare time I'll be on hulu.com though!

My Education

This is my second year here at The University of Maine as a Kinesiology major with a concentration in Exercise Science. I absolutely love my major and hope it sets me up well for a future that I will enjoy. I'm in classes that I see immediately relevant to my future career and in others that I feel I could do without. I use technology in the classroom on a daily basis, whether it be using my iPod on my way to class, my laptop for notes in class, or I admit-my cell phone for the occasional text message. Being a Kinesiology major I think that I use the computer technology less than say-an engineering or business major. However, I think that technology doesn't have to be limited to "smart" items such as PDA's, cameras, phones, etc. Technology to me could be a skin-fold clamp, or the technologies used to calculate the amount of fat on the body when doing hydrostatic testing. Many people only view technology as the newer, better, smarter, faster items. Although I believe people mustn't be so close minded and realize any invention or anything engineered, can be considered technology. Daily I use simple and complex technologies to educate myself as I believe most everyone else does too.