With the high cost of fuel these days, many students are forgoing enrolling at traditional colleges and universities and opting for another way to earn their degrees: online. According to an article in The New York Times, thousands of students have decided to cut costs caused by rising gas prices by taking one or more of their classes over the internet. With the vast majority of college students living off campus, commuting back and forth to campus can be a drain on their already minimal budgets. By enrolling in internet classes, students have found a way to stay in school and continue their education.

Although most large colleges and universities offer online courses, the largest increases in enrollment has been seen in two-year colleges during summer sessions, according to the NY Times article. But with the increase comes something else: waiting lists. There are still a maximum number of students allowed to enroll, even in online courses, and many students will run into waiting lists unless they enroll early.

Another downfall is the lack of interaction with others in a classroom setting. Sure the work can get done, but the face-to-face contact will be lost. Make sure all of this is taken into consideration before making the decision to enroll in an online course. Consider also that some students find online coursework harder than classroom study. And be aware that regular trips to the campus will still need to be made for some classes; not all of the courses will be available online.

Online courses present an option that can be beneficial and budget-friendly. Consider all of the pros and cons and make the decision that is right for you!

Happy learning!

Charles Robert Darwin (February 12, 1809 - April 19, 1882) is best remembered for proposing and providing evidence of “natural selection,” the idea that all species of life have evolved from common ancestors. Darwin’s scientific discoveries, in a modified form, remain the basis for the foundation of biology.

Darwin was born in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England to Robert Darwin, a wealthy doctor and financier. His mother, Susannah, died when he was eight years old. During his teenage years, he worked alongside his father as an apprentice doctor, helping his father treat the poor of Shropshire. He enrolled at the University of Edinburgh to study medicine, but was repulsed by the brutality of surgery and neglected his studies. He instead focused on natural history and geology, which displeased his father who thought this field held no financial security. His father enrolled him in Christ’s College in Cambridge in hopes of getting Darwin to qualify as a clergyman. Instead of landing a paying position, Darwin embarked on a two year voyage on the HMS Beagle as an unpaid companion.

Darwin’s expedition on the HMS Beagle was to be a two year stint; it turned into a five year study of the South American coastline. During his time there, Darwin kept a journal with his theories of evolution. He captured specimens of his findings and sent these, along with letters of explanation, back to Cambridge. All of this established his reputation as a naturalist. His copious notes showed his gift for theorizing and also formed the foundation for his later work. He published The Origin of Species in 1859 after years of work.

The Origin of Species basically argues that the development of species occurs primarily because among the set of heretable traits, the ones that most aid an organism in surviving and procreating become more common with each generation. Darwin’s second work was published in 1871. The Descent of Man addresses the role of evolutionary principles in the human species, rejecting the racist notion that different “races” of man were separate species (a popular idea among supporters of slavery and imperialism, who argued that blacks and American Indians were as different from “white humans” as sheep were from wolves), emphasizing the role of sex in natural selection (the more attractive you are to a potential partner, the better your chances of passing on your genes), and dealing extensively with what is now called evolutionary psychology: the role of evolution in the history and development of the human brain.

For more insight into the works of Darwin, read the exclusive interview with Michael Ruse on Charles Darwin: Evolution Is No Monkey Business. And as always, don’t forget to check out the Simply Darwin Writings and the Simply Darwin Store! If you have any questions that you need answers to, check out the Simply Darwin Forum. 

Happy learning!

This may be some bad news for our Simply Charly readers that are heading off to college in the fall…an article in the US News & World Report suggests that it may be best for your grades if you are an early bird and take your classes in the morning. According to research collected after surveying 824 psychology students about their sleep habits, those that were the better performers were the ones who had not stayed up until the early hours of the morning and slept until afternoon.

The article does provide tips to develop good sleeping habits for those of you who are simply not morning people:

• Be consistent - Make the attempt to go to bed and awake at the same time every day, even on weekends and in the summer. 
• Become a morning person - Two to three weeks before the semester starts, begin getting up and out of the house. Exposing yourself to the sunlight helps set your internal clock.
• Schedule your classes with care - Be aware that you are likely to turn into an evening person when you go to college. Don’t schedule 8am classes just because you are used to getting up early for high school…that will likely change. Give yourself time to get adjusted.
• Compensate - If you do have early classes, schedule some time in the afternoon to study, while you are still fully awake. Don’t wait until the evening, when you will likely be tired or have other activities scheduled. And avoid all night study sessions.

Being a freshman in college is very different from being a senior in high school. The freedom and independence may hit you all at once and can be overwhelming. The key is to be in control of the situation and arrange your schedule in the way that best fits you.

Happy learning!

From TEDTalks:

Ben Dunlap shares the story of Sandor Teszler, a Hungarian man he met at Wofford College. Listen as he weaves the tale of Mr. Teszler’s life, arcing from the Holocaust to the South in the 50’s…it is a wonderful tale of passion, and justice, and living your life.

About Mr. Dunlap:

Ben Dunlap was a dancer for four years with the Columbia City Ballet, kicking off a life of artistic and cultural exploration. A Rhodes Scholar, he did his PhD in English literature at Harvard, and is now the president of Wofford College, a small liberal arts school in South Carolina. He has taught classes on a wide variety of subjects, from Asian history to creative writing.

He’s also a writer-producer for television, and his 19-part series The Renaissance has been adopted for use by more than 100 colleges. He has been a Senior Fulbright Lecturer in Thailand and a moderator at the Aspen Institute.

Happy learning!

According to an article in Time, students in a rural New Mexico school have been equipped with mp3 players in an effort to incorporate a new tool into the classroom. The mp3 players will allow the students to watch videos and listen to lectures recommended by the teachers and other students. The students are encouraged to link up during class hours, on their bus rides to and from school, and while they are on school trips.

We all know this as podcasting, and this experiment is an agreement between the school and Microsoft. The teachers get a bonus for lessons that identify 20 downloadable lectures that support what they are teaching in class and for developing 5 of their own. Microsoft is collecting data on how the study works, and also gets to showcase their brand to the schools. 

Of course, with an mp3 player comes responsibility. The students had to agree to not download anything that would be offensive and adhere to the “grandma rule”: don’t download anything that their grandmothers would find inappropriate. The teachers have designated certain areas, “no mp3 player” zones, and students must turn off their players when asked.

Bravo to this community for incorporating another tool into the learning process!

Happy learning!

Summertime is sometimes equated with picking up a good book and losing yourself in another world; a bit of escape perhaps from the day-to-day rat race that is life. You may wish to delve into a classic, or you may be more interested in the newest thriller or romance novel. Whatever your fancy, the choices are endless!

Classics

A book is considered a classic if it is written over fifty years ago and many people enjoyed it. The book has stood the test of time regarding relevance, and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Mark Twain said that “a classic is a book which everyone praises but no one reads.” Whatever the case, the choices are many…here are some to choose from:

• The Good Earth - Pearl Buck
• Don Quixote - Miquel de Cervantes
• Pride and Prejudice - Jane Austen
• Wuthering Heights - Emily Bronte
• Anna Karenina - Leo Tolstoy
• To Kill A Mockingbird - Harper Lee
• Song of Solomon - Toni Morrison

Modern Classics

There is such a thing as a modern classic, which basically means that the book is not as old as a classic, but it’s significance is just as celebrated. 

• Another Country - James Baldwin
• Cry The Beloved Country - Alan Paton
• Catcher In The Rye - J. D. Salinger
• The Color Purple - Alice Walker
• One Hundred Years of Solitude - Gabriel Garcia Marquez

source: http://www.wcl.govt.nz/popular/fiction-classics.html

New Releases

But maybe you are not up for going back in time…that’s alright. You have your choices of new books that are released weekly…too many to name here. From the latest James Patterson thriller to Randy Pausch’s motivational self-help book, you are sure to find something that will hold your interest. Check out your favorite bookstore and pick up a book (or a couple of books!) that you can lose yourself in. Give into the joy of reading a good book, and maybe learn something new in the process!

Happy learning!

From TedTalks:

Alisa Miller, head of Public Radio International, talks about why—though we want to know more about the world than ever—the US media is actually showing less. Eye-opening stats and graphs.

Take a look at this video and be amazed at what we are not told…

Happy learning!

From TED Talks:

Brazilian-born, Brooklyn-based fine artist Vik Muniz has exhibited his work all over the world. Using unexpected materials to create portraits, landscapes and still lifes — which he then photographs — he delights in subverting a viewer’s expectations.

Watch as Mr. Muniz shares his art with us, and observe how he takes every day items and turns them into beautiful displays of artwork.

Happy learning!

The life of a college student is defined by freedom and the chance to discover, finally, who you are as a person and come into your own. This is a vital time in a young adult’s life and it is critical that they be allowed to make mistakes and learn from them, sometimes on their own.

The phenomenon known as helicopter parents may block this growth. According to Wikipedia, the definition of a helicopter parent is “…a person who pays extremely close attention to his or her child or children, particularly at educational institutions. They rush to prevent any harm or failure from befalling them or letting them learn from their own mistakes, sometimes even contrary to the children’s wishes. They are so named because, like a helicopter, they hover closely overhead, rarely out of reach whether their children need them or not.”

There are pros and cons of having a helicopter parent. The pros are:

• Students who are in constant contact with a parent or guardian are most likely more satisfied in their school life.
• Students report deeper learning experiences.
• Students report greater gains with learning on their own and learning to work with people from different backgrounds.

The other side of the coin:

• Students with highly involved parents tend to have lower grades.

source: http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2007-11-04-nsse-helicopter-parents_N.htm

Helicoptering, as the term is used, is not relegated to middle- and upper-class students and parents. The phenomenon crosses all class and race barriers, and can be defined by five different categories.

They are:

• The “Consumer Advocate” parent—views each phase of the college experience as a business transaction and wants the biggest bang for their buck.
• The “Only Want What’s Best for My Child” parent—requires that their child have access to the best classes, professors, dorms, internships, and majors.
• The “Helopat” parent—fights for fairness and think that universities aren’t offering equitable resources to all students.
• The “Entitlement Advocate” parent—believes that no child should be left behind and keeps up with the latest state and federal requirements for education.
• The “Vicarious College Student” parent—tries to live out their missed college years through their child.

source: http://www.utexas.edu/features/2007/helicopter/

Whatever the case may be, being supportive of a college student is necessary. To prevent helicoptering, start early by assigning responsibility to the student during high school. Resist the temptation to step in and take over (except for those situations that need parental resolution). Begin letting go in increments and by the time the student is in college, they will come to you when they need support and won’t feel like you are smothering them.

Happy learning!

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was a highly regarded composer of music during the Classical era…and that is simplifying his contributions greatly. With over 600 compositions, Mozart is one of the most enduring and popular composers ever, and many of his works are still played worldwide today.

Baptized Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, he was born on January 27, 1756 in Salzberg. He generally went by the name “Wolfange Almadé Mozart” in his adult life, with many variations. He was introduced to music by his father, Leopold, and by the age of five, Mozart was himself composing little pieces that he played to his father. His father would write these down, and eventually gave up his own composing of music when he realized the genius he had in his son. Leopold was Mozart’s only teacher in his early years, and also taught his children (Mozart and his sister, Maria Anna) other subjects.

Mozart’s father began to take the children traveling, showcasing them as child prodigies. During a trip to Vienna in 1767, Mozart contracted small pox and his father refused to have him inoculated, saying that it was “God’s will” whether he survived or not. During these trips to Italy, Mozart composed the first of many operas, “Mitridate Rè di Ponto,” which led to other opera commissions: “Ascanio in Alba,” and “Lucio Silla.” During the time in Italy, Mozart heard and wrote out, in its entirety, Gregorio Allegri’s “Miserere.” This was the first reproduced copy of the work, as it was closely guarded by the Vatican and illegal to copy.

In 1773, Mozart was employed as a court musician by Prince-Archbishop Hieronymus Colloredo, the ruler of Salzburg. He was unhappy with the position, even though he was considered one of the favorite sons of Salzburg. The pay was low and Mozart wanted to compose operas. He was fired from this position after he balked at the Archbishop’s treatment of him, and after he was forbidden to play for Emperor Joseph II. Mozart then moved to Vienna with his new wife, Constanze Weber.

It was in Vienna that Mozart composed two of his best known works: “The Marriage of Figaro,” and ”Don Giovanni.” He was at the height of his career, and often lent an ear to upcoming talent, such as Ludwig van Beethoven. In 1791, Mozart became very ill with fever. It isn’t known exactly what caused his illness, but he passed away at 1 in the morning on December 5, 1791.

There is so much more to learn about Mozart. Be sure to check out the interview with Robert Levin, and the 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Mozart on the Simply Mozart site. And as always, be sure to visit the Simply Mozart Forum with your questions, and the Simply Mozart Store to build your Mozart library!

Happy Learning!