Things you should know about online learning

Many students sign up for online classes under the premise that they can complete courses at their own pace, they can remain anonymous because they aren’t required to participate, and that online classes are easier than taking classes on campus.

These things are rarely true in an online learning environment.

Although online classes allow for you to dictate your own schedule, it’s not usually in the way people expect.  Most online courses still follow the regular semester calendar.  Your assignments still have due dates and there are assigned times to take tests and participate in group discussions.  Some classes even have attendance policies where students are required to log a number of hours online as part of their grade.  The biggest benefit of online classes is that the time of day you log on to complete your course work is up to you, if you have a full time job and can only log on in the evening you’re capable of doing that but, you are still required to follow a course schedule which allows the class to move cohesively at the same pace through the course material.

Another common misconception among students is the belief that in an online learning environment they won’t be required to interact with other students and professors.  Truth is, the majority of online classes offer discussion forums with both the instructors as well as other students.  In some cases these interactive components are necessary and participation in them is used to calculate a student’s grade.  Students can gain a lot from online discussion as well. Large lectures often don’t allow for intense discussion simply because of class sizes.  An online forum, on the other hand, permits students to contribute when they are available and also gives introverted students the ability to participate in a non-threatening environment.

The biggest myth about online classes is that they are easier to complete than traditional on campus courses.  This one is probably the most important thing to remember.  Online classes can be extremely demanding.  In order to complete them successfully students have to be determined, disciplined and self motivated.  It’s easy to procrastinate when you don’t have a class to attend and the daily demands of working, a social life or parenting seem more important.  It’s critical that online students be prepared for a heavy workload filled with reading and are capable of managing their time efficiently.

No matter which learning style you prefer online or on campus, the life of a student is hectic at times.  Choose an environment that best suits your learning style and pick classes you enjoy or that interest you until you get into a productive routine.  The transition can be hard but, it’s definitely worth it!

Diabetic Pastry

If you are wondering how to become a pastry chef, one way to differentiate yourself is to learn how to bake for specific dietary needs such as diabetes. Diabetic foods present a challenge in keeping flavor, sweetness, and body while substituting sugar for artificial sweeteners and alternative flavors. All it takes is some practice, experimentation, and following a few tips.

Here are some common problems when removing sugar from baked goods and tips for being successful:

Dryness

When you remove sugar from a recipe, the end result will be a much drier cake. One alternative substitute is a naturally sweet syrup called agave nectar from the agave plant. This adds both moisture and a delicate sweet flavor.

Rising to the occasion

One of the roles sugar plays in baking is helping batter to rise. Eliminate sugar and baked foods will look more flat. To make up for this,  simply add a couple additional tablespoons of flour to give more volume and an extra half teaspoon of baking soda for every cup of flour to give baked goods more height. A smaller pan will also force the same amount of batter to rise higher.

Sweet golden brown

The trademark of the most treasured baked goods is that light golden brown color that is so inviting, but without sugar even the best blue ribbon pie will look lackluster. Adding a couple tablespoons of molasses or honey will do the trick as well as misting the batter before baking with cooking spray.

Cookies that will not flatten

Artificial sweeteners in cookie dough will not flatten when baked. An obvious solution is to simply press down the cookie dough before baking.

Weird aftertaste

One way to rid that awful aftertaste of artificial sweeteners is to combine two different sweeteners together. Doing so enables you to use half as much sweetener with a much stronger sugar flavor. Vanilla also gives a sugar flavor.

You too can become a diabetic pastry chef and create your own brand of baked goods that could quite possibly open new doors for a successful career. The key is to learn more about sugar and its various forms as well as the various sugar alternatives and then use this information by trial and error to find your own unique recipes. Friends and family are often quite willing to be your test subjects!

Pastry chefs are not limited to just baking bread and desserts. A good education in becoming a pastry chef opens all sorts of doors: opening your own business, being a food critic or writer, or teaching. An experienced pastry chef can make over $60,000 a year and it is a rewarding career limited only by your own creativity.

The Challenging Field of Computer and Information Security

Computer, information and internet security is a continual challenge for computer programmers and software developers that is constantly changing and evolving. In this uncertain age of global terrorism and the constant threat of identity theft, our government, banking industry, and computer industry are faced with this issue constantly and as a result create a demand for innovative people who can rise to the challenge of staying ahead of new technology.

One such challenge is protecting the BIOS, "Basic Input/Output System", which is the most fundamental software in the computer system that initializes the hardware components before the actual operating system starts. Because it works at such a fundamental low level below normal system security levels, changes to the BIOS that are either malicious or accidental pose a major security risk that could be part of a targeted attack to an organization's systems and operations. The National Institute of Standards and Technology, (NIST), is constantly updating it's BIOS Protection Guidelines for computer hardware manufacturers and security professionals.

Other applications of computer security include network servers and infrastructure, e-commerce, web site development, software application, firewalls, virus and threat detection, to name a few.

A typical career path for a security professional would be a System Administrator, with a annual salary range of 34 to 54k, Information System Security Officer with an annual salary range of 47 to 90k, Information System Security Manager with an annual salary range of 72 to 126k, and the Chief Information Security Officer with an annual salary range of 104 to 213k.

System admin or help desk positions are generally considered entry level for a career in computer security requiring some experience and a basic computer science degree, that gives someone the opportunity for hands on experience while still being in the process of attaining their BS or Masters degree. This type of scenario is perfect for online college education or the part time student.

Elements of computer security are used in a variety of other cool information security type of jobs:

Information Security Crime Investigator/Forensics Expert, System-Network Penetration Tester, Forensic Analyst, Incident Responder, Security Architect, Malware Analyst, Network Security Engineer, Security Analyst, Computer Crime Investigator, Security Operations Center Analyst, Prosecutor Specializing in Information Security Crimes, and Disaster Recovery Manager.

Regardless of the current economic and job environment, computer and information security will always be in high demand and evolving to open new opportunities. According to the U. S. Treasury Department, last year global computer crimes exceeded drug trafficking in illegal profits for the first time. The next decade is expected to see unprecedented growth in information security positions.

A Career in Aquaponics

If you have an interest and passion for the "green" movement, and love of agriculture and science, you may want to consider a career in aquaponics.

Aquaponics is combining fish farming and hydroponic agriculture into one production system. Water from fish tanks is circulated to a soil-less growing system that feeds plants roots and is then circulated back to the fish tank. No chemicals are used in the nutrient system other than the natural nutrients supplied by fish waste. Fish waste is produced first as ammonium and is then converted by bacteria into nitrate, a form of nitrogen that plants are able to use.

The aquaponic farmer breeds and raises fish for consumption without affecting native fish populations, and produces totally organic produce while conserving natural resources.

The technology for wide scale commercial application is a bit complicated and has been steadily advancing over the last two decades with a big jump in the last ten years. It has opened up new areas in the fields of scientific study and research, biology, fish husbandry, and agriculture that require a full range of educational degrees one can attain from the best colleges online.

Fish Species

Typical fish species being farmed include tilapia, bass, trout and perch, however most commercial operations are focusing on tilapia, a white fish that is growing in popularity with consumers. Tilapia is a warm water fish that is tolerable of fluctuating water conditions and adapts well to the re-circulating tank culture.

Plant Species

The selection of suitable crop plants directly relate to the stocking level of fish and the concentration of plant nutrients they produce. Specialty greens, herbs and lettuce have a low to medium nutrient requirement while crops such as fruit bearing tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers have a much higher nutrient level need. Other factors include the light and humidity needs of the plants which are all things one gains from the study of agriculture and plant physiology. Managing a commercial system also requires a background in engineering.

The Basics

While the commercial operation of aquaponics is at a grand scale, the basic principals of the science can be applied to small scale home operations. With a small aquarium, house plants can grow from the top of the aquarium, or water may be pumped from the aquarium to a second container that houses a variety of plants and pumped back to the aquarium in a set up that is easy to build. Hobbyists who have aquariums often change the water and use the dirty water to feed house plants, or use plants to filter the aquarium water. This is an easy way for a student to experiment with aquaponics and see first hand its affect on plant growth.

The field of aquaponics is dramatically growing with future opportunities for students who have a passion for the environment and want to choose a career that makes a difference in the world.

The Expendables 2.

 “The Expendables” follows a team of mercenaries who have been given the assignment of taking out a corrupt military leader, as well as a rouge CIA agent on a Latin Island”. With a plot like that, it is not hard to see why it was so successful. If you were a fan of the first movie you will be happy to know that “The Expendables 2” is set to hit the big screens on the 17^th August 2012.

 It looks as if it will contain just as much action as the first installment and still includes all of the biggest names in action, such as Bruce Willis and Sylvester Stallone. Arnold Schwarzenegger will even be taking part in an action sequence, as opposed to the short speaking role he held in the first movie. However, there is one actor missing that for me would make the movie complete. Steven Segal. He is the original action hero, he is a real life martial arts expert and the last time I saw him on TV, he was teaching someone how to become a cop. That’s right Steven Segal is a member of the real life police force. That being said it still looks set to be one of the best actions movies of the year.

The story follows Mr. Church as he sets out to reunite his team of mercenaries for an easy paycheck. However the mission was not as simple as they first thought, and to the teams anger one of them is killed in action. The team’s priority changes from making cash, to seeking revenge, and in my opinion this is the recipe for one incredibly action packed movie.

If action movies are your thing, you may be also interested to know that 2012 will also bring the much-anticipated “The Dark Knight Rises” as well as the third men in black movie. It’s going to be a great year for action! 

Bombay Bicycle Club

Bombay Bicycle Club is a four-piece indie band from London, UK. They have been playing under their current name since 2006, and they have just recently released their third studio album “A different kind of fix” through the major label, “Island Records”.  I was personally a huge fan of their first two albums, they had surprised fans by adapting there sound massively and maturing at an impressive rate.

This album was not an exception. The first single from this album “Shuffle” definitely lives up to it’s name.  I defy anyone to listen to that track and at the very least not tap his or her foot. At the opposite end of the spectrum you have songs like “still” which is an emotional cannon. It features just piano and falsetto vocals from the lead singer Jack Steadman, it is truly like nothing that they have ever done before and yet it is probably the most touching track on the album. There is a huge amount of honesty in their lyrics and you don’t need a psychology major to figure out what they are trying to say. This is one of the reasons I think people find it so easy to relate to their music. 


There is nothing pretentious about this band; their songs come across in a humble yet impressive way. In an age were what you wear seems to be more important than what you have to say, it is refreshing to see a band like this reach such popularity. They have already played all of the biggest music festivals in the UK and have also been relentlessly touring the US. With such flawless songs and what would appear to be a very strong work ethic, these guys deserve everything they get and I can’t wait to see what the future holds for Bombay Bicycle Club. 

Real life CSI.

I love watching TV shows like NCIS and CSI and I can remember when they first aired. Everyone suddenly wanted to be a Crime Scene Investigator, but before you get too excited about fast cars and high-tech gadgets there are probably a few things you should know.

 You won’t be packing heat or kicking down doors. Only a very small number of CSI members carry guns, and they are usually firearms specialists. So all the police work will be done by the police, most of your time would be spent in the lab. 

   Although, on TV the team usually drive $60,000 hummers you will most likely be the proud owner of a late 90’s pickup truck.

    On TV they are able to gain almost immediate results. In reality even the fastest DNA test takes up to 48 hours. So in reality the job is a little slower paced.

     TV police often enhance dark or far away images from being almost unrecognizable to being able to see a suspects face clearly. Although enhancement is possible is has its limits.  I saw an episode where they zoomed into a mans eye and found the criminals face in it’s reflection, safe to say this is not going to happen anytime soon.

   The members of CSI we are used to seeing are always stylishly dressed with immaculate hair. When handling a real dead body you might want to leave your new shirt at home. Actual members of CSI usually wear full body suits because lets be honest a dead body probably isn’t very hygienic.

Contrary to popular opinion Crime Scene Investigators are not always busy solving homicide cases in fact this makes up a very small part of the job.

Here are the numbers.

• Natural causes – 60 %

• Accidental – 26 %

• Suicide – 10 %

• Homicide – 2 %

• Undetermined – 1.5 %

I still love these shows regardless but I might reconsider my career options.

Hobbies in the dorm room

So you are away from home in a strange place where you are supposed to be focused on your studies and, oh yes, your whole future! Does that mean you should give up your hobbies that you enjoyed from the comfort of your own home? Would it be a distraction from your performance as a student? NO, not necessarily!

Staying current with your outside hobbies and interests only enriches your college experience as long as you do not become obsessed with it. In some cases a hobby may relate to your educational interests and have aspects of science, mathematics, or history. If you can tie your hobby into your studies, your pastime becomes a tool and a passion reflective of your studies.

One such hobby is aquariums. When keeping aquariums you are putting to use principals of biology, marine biology, water chemistry and other science. It is an opportunity to observe animal behavior, reproduction and other aspects of the hobby that may directly correlate to your classes. Freshwater planted aquariums open you up to subjects of photosynthesis, plant nutrient uptake, the affect of aquatic plants in the Eco system, and various environmental issues.

Web sites such as Aqua Botanic provide much of the information one needs to know to get started in the hobby and an introduction to the science behind it that could be applied to your studies. Here are some examples:

Rhizomes and Tubers

The Role of Photosynthesis in the Aquarium

Water Plants 101


What to consider


When considering bringing a hobby into the dorm room, think about how it would affect the comfort of your room mate, and how much time and resources it would take.

An aquarium takes up space, may create some noise from equipment, and needs a source of water and power. Depending on the type of aquarium set up and approach, it requires a certain number of hours per week of maintenance. This can be your time to enjoy and observe the aquarium as well, but you may want to consider researching various low maintenance approaches to keeping an aquarium or planted aquarium. Also consider the cost of bringing your hobby to the dorm: equipment, materials, and supplies.

Take notes!

A hobby that involves science is particularly useful to school if you take notes! Create a diary of your hobby where you can write observations, daily activity, problems or issues that required resolution and how you fixed the issues. This can be valuable information for not only improving your hobby, but to learn wonderful lessons- hands on experience that may help you in how to choose a career. Just do not blow up the dorm in a mad scientist experiment!

New years resolutions

Of course everyone is aware of the tradition of making New Years resolutions. Most often they are lofty ideas that are not taken too seriously or they represent unrealistic ideals that never come to fruition.

I believe taking time to reflect is very useful and positive as long as you do not get too bogged down in it. As a student, this is a good time to reflect without judgement on your past achievements and where you would like to go in the coming months or year. Entering college you undoubtedly have already set long term goals for your education and working career. You have looked at all your options from the best schools online to campus alternatives and set a course.  Why not take a little time to look at steps and milestones for the coming year?

To take advantage of this opportunity and truly make it useful, you should set goals that enhance your scholastic experience and are reasonably attainable. Organizational skills, time management, study habits, social interaction, are all important tools to a rewarding educational experience and can be areas of improvement that when accomplished and recognized give you fuel to tackle larger goals.

I begin by making a list of things that I want to improve on. Next I list what steps and accomplishments I have already made for each of these things no matter how small or insignificant it may first appear. Then I continue by making a list of things I could do to expand on what I have already accomplished to meet the end result goal. This gives me a road map to meeting my resolutions.

Keep your goals moderate, reasonable and attainable, and acknowledge all the baby steps that take you there. Give yourself a pat on the back as you accomplish each baby step and remind yourself of the goal you are aiming for. Gretchen Rubin states "Little accomplishments provide energy for bigger challenges. The humble resolution you actually follow is more helpful than the ambitious resolution you abandon. Lower the bar!"

Attitude and positive thinking play an important role in education. Setting a course for attainable school year goals will boost your confidence to not only meet them, but set a foundation for attaining your long term goals as well.

Panic attacks in the classroom

The term "panic attack" is often thrown around. You may have heard a friend say, "Oh I am having a panic attack today about this test!" For many people an actual panic attack is a serious problem and not something to be taken lightly. It is more than just having a bad day or feeling anxious about an upcoming exam. It can be a traumatic experience that is frightening and sudden.

Anxiety is a normal reaction shared by everyone to stressful situations. Normally it is a defensive reaction that helps us to to focus on dreaded tasks and is a coping mechanism, but a panic attack goes way beyond the normal feelings of stress.

A panic attack happens suddenly and without prior notice and is a feeling of intense fear for no apparent reason- giving you a feeling of total loss of control and even a feeling of death or a heart attack. Here are common symptoms from MedicineNet.com:

• "Racing" heart
• Feeling weak, faint, or dizzy
• Tingling or numbness in the hands and fingers
• Sense of terror, of impending doom or death
• Feeling sweaty or having chills
• Chest pains
• Breathing difficulties
• Feeling a loss of control

Understanding the nature of an attack is key: it is a disorder not an actual life threatening situation. Take deep breathes and turn your thought to a subject that is calm and relaxing- SAFE. If you are in a public setting or classroom and feel you need to leave, step out for a few minutes to gather your thoughts, let it pass and then return to the place you left. Do not let the fear of the experience reinforce the anxiety. If this is your first experience with such an episode, go to a hospital to be diagnosed and be certain that it is not a physical problem.

Most panic attack episodes start suddenly, usually peak at ten minutes, and then linger for a few hours. Some people may experience this once every few years, or quite frequently. If you have frequent attacks, you should consult with a medical professional for treatment. If left untreated, this disorder can lead into other serious problems including drug and alcohol abuse, thoughts of suicide, depression, phobias and isolation.

Self awareness of the problem is a very important first step. The other day I caught a television talk show that had a member of the rock band Guns n Roses on talking about his problem with panic attacks. He suffered frequent attacks from his late teens through his 30s without ever realizing what was really happening to him. To escape the trauma and feeling he was going crazy he turned to drugs and alcohol and almost ended his life. He stated if he new what the problem actually was he would have been able to deal with it from the start. Recognize the problem for what it is and seek help. Depending on the severity and frequency there are many different unobtrusive treatment options. Whether you are considering an online degree or going on campus, the college experience does not need to suffer because of this disorder.

For more information on panic attacks visit the following links:

Mayo Clinic

WebMD

Helpguide