Facebook "Like"

Recently Facebook unrolled their new web-wide standard of sharing information. The "Like" feature is already implemented on 50,000 websites, in which the user clicks the "like" button and this page is automatically shared to the user's Facebook page.

I think this is an amazing use of social technology. Websites will be shared more and more through it, instead of just copying and pasting. It also brings in even MORE users to Facebook, thus gaining them a huge market share and chunk of change.

Final Project

In case anyone reads this and wants a preview of my presentation tomorrow, here's the link. This will also serve as my copy to Dr. Price so he can view it after my presentation tomorrow.

http://prezi.com/b11dryk54bku/comm-380-project/

Comm 380 Project on Prezi

Photostream

I couldn't figure out how to get my own photos into a gallery or others photos into a set, so I developed two smaller streams to be viewed as one.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcalderoneiwc/sets/72157623904718316/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcalderoneiwc/galleries/72157623900633512/

Iowa Wesleyan College Video News Release

With the school year winding down, Iowa Wesleyan College has started the application process for living spaces. This video news release showcases one of the options: Carol J. Nemitz Suites

Lost iPhone

For Apple, Lost iPhone Is a Big Deal

This article talks about the lost iPhone prototype and how it came to be. This article concerns PR and New Media because Apple is getting TONS of free PR from this fiasco. If someone was to lose a prototype 20 years ago, the only consequence would have been another loss... someone's job. Now because of social media and how quick every bit of information is processed and spread, within a few hours of a link being posted from Engadget the blogosphere went wild. It was trending on Twitter, Digg, Facebook and practically every social media site.

This is creating a huge buzz for Apple while also allowing them to see consumer reactions, all of the trending topics are public, and tweak their product to counteract the reactions.

Attendance

Usually my posts deal with social media and technology, as that is the subject of our class and that's what the assignment is. Being as a blog is also an area for personal opinion though, I've taken one other time to offer suggestions to faculty and staff at IWC about e-mail, and I'm taking this entry to do so again but on the area of attendance policies.

I'd like to mention that this isn't meant as an attack, nor is it focused at any one professor. I've been at this school for five years, and these are my observations on how professors can improve their courses and create a positive learning environment.

I understand the importance of an attendance policy to freshman/sophomore level classes; there's a perception from various media outlets that you don't need to go to class and can hire the smart indian kid to help you cram for finals, and you'll be okay. But why is it an attendance that gets them points? Showing students that just for sitting in a chair, they get X number of points and improve their grade. That's it. Just for sitting there. Participation at this school is severly lacking in all areas (How many students on a regular basis answer questions in class? How many students attend on-campus events? How many students participate in Student Government?) because it's been reinforced that if they just sit there without a voice, it's okay. No opinion, just a body in a seat.

Another problem with an attendance policy is that it's a professors last ditch effort to give a meaningless class a meaning. If I can miss a week straight from a class and still do good on your test, your class is meaningless. You shouldn't post the Power Points to the portal, you shouldn't e-mail out notes, and you shouldn't let me make up work I missed. This all takes away from the meaning of the class, without assigning a grade just for sitting in a chair.

If you required students to voice their opinion and participate in the class, regardless if it's a discussion based course or a math class, giving a grade to their participation makes your class a lot more worth while. And all students are not created equal. Do not create advantages to equalize the course between a student who missed the last three weeks because of too many nights at The Alleys and the student who shows up every day.

If your course is truly meaningful and you need to attend class to get a good grade, that's an attendence policy in itself.

Microblogs

Sun's back out in mount pleasant and the snows melted, but not quite frisbee weather yet

Lots of green on Iowa Wesleyan college campus today, happy st patricks day!

Iowa Wesleyan girls bball advance! Next game tomorrow!

Spring break week for Iowa Wesleyan! Basketball teams leave for nationals on Monday!

Bingo tonight in the Iowa Wesleyan Howe Center and girls basketball in the Ruble Arena tonight, lots goin on!

free pizza & bowling tonight at the iris lanes in mount pleasant for all iowa wesleyan students!

Just got an email for the semester's free pizza and bowling sponsored by Iowa Wesleyan at the Iris lanes, can't say no to free pizza!

seems like most of campus was rooting for the Saints last night! #IowaWesleyan

http://bit.ly/5X0OTS link to my blog for Iowa Wesleyan College Communications 380 class

Mount pleasant Rec Center offering $50 memberships for the full semester, pretty awesome deal!

Wow, awesome read! RT @careerealism 5 Parts to a Cover Letter (a.k.a. How to Write a Good One!) http://bit.ly/2dwcxw (via @IWCCareer)

Watching @THAPAC in mt pleasant at the alleys tonight, good show great crowd! http://yfrog.com/au6ufej

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 7, 2010

Iowa Wesleyan College To Hold Cheerleading Tryouts

(Mount Pleasant, IA.) On April 5th, 2010, Iowa Wesleyan College (I.W.C.) will be holding tryouts for the cheerleaders for the 2010-2011 school year. The tryouts begin at 5:00pm and all students interested in trying out are welcome.

The 2009-2010 school year saw Amanda Fulton take charge and the cheerleadering program make a comeback. They cheered on the sidelines during the home football games and performed during select games. They were also visible at select men's and women's basketball games during the record setting season for both teams.

Returning cheerleader Jade McWhirter said, "Last year was a great rebuilding year for us and we plan on taking the momentum we gained from this past school year into next year. We're all really excited to see what new people will bring to our squad and start off next year on a good foot!"

Any student interested in trying out should contact Amanda Fulton for more information at: amanda.fulton@iwc.edu