3 Services EVERY student should know...

Being a college student is somewhat hectic.  Having to jumble a full course load, homework, a job or two and possibly children is not the easiest set of tasks to do simultaneously.  I've put together THREE web 2.0 technologies that may possibly ease your burden. I've personally used them and recommend them. 

1.  Jott.com - Assistant Features

  

 - This service was an excellent help while in school and while managing work.  When I first started using this service, it was free. Unfortunately, the service is now $3.99 a month. I still use it because it has come in handy MANY times.  

   - With Jott, you can capture quick thoughts...quickly...just by using your phone. You can call, text or email "notes" to your Jott account where they are then sent to your email inbox.  You can call Jott and "Jott a note". From there, your message is transcribed and converted to text, then sent to your email address on file.  

   - It was great for setting up reminders about test dates, birthdays, random thoughts and even emailing the professor.  

   - Jott is also compatible with many Web 2.0 social sites such as Google Cal, Remember the Milk, Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, etc., so you can post status updates or add calendar events from this ONE service. 

While you are at it, you can create lists and add to them whenever you recall something that should be on it. 

EXAMPLE: I have a list called "Store".  Whenever an item I need to get from the store crosses my mind, I "jott" it using the Jott.com service.  It is then added to my "Store" list and I am able to get that list text'd to me or emailed to me when I actually go to the store. Now...THAT's convenience. 

If you get interested in it, let me know and I'll send you a coupon code for a free month of service. 

2.  ScanMyEssay.com - VIPER Anti-plagiarism Scanner  (FREE)

   - Easy, accurate...FREE. 

   - This downloadable program scans your computer and the internet, then compares them with your essay to make sure you can't get busted on plagiarism.  It will scan other essays on your computer, published essays on the internet and bring up a highlighted side-by-side comparison of items that look similar.  

    - I'm sure you can see the benefits to this. No further explanation needed. 

3.  FreeFileConvert - File Conversion (FREE)

   - If you have ever come into the situation where you need to convert your Microsoft Word Document into a PDF, but just didn't know how...this site is for you.  You can thank me later. 

   - Simply goto the site, upload your file...choose the format you need it converted to (i.e., docx, pdf, jpg, etc.) then click "convert".  Badda-bing badda-boom.  

These three sites will be life-savers sooner or later if you use them correctly.  For extra tips and tricks or to ask specific questions...respond to this post or email me.  I also have videos up on various topics that may help you out. 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

3 keys to showing students you care

Advisors, when they first start off, are motivated and dedicated. Over time, some tend to lose the sense of accomplishment that comes with service.  Often times, it isn't complacency that gets in the way, it is communication. 

Communication is critical to the advising process, and the foundation of good communication is respect and caring. I've taken a step back from the job. I've taken a retrospective look into what has worked, what has not, and why.  Here is what I came up with:

1) The first key is to take students seriously. Each has a different perspective and each student brings a new situation with them. 

2) The second is to never assume a student knows everything. Many advisors just jargon and tend to assume that every student knows the admissions process or the process to add/drop courses, etc.  This is one of the worse mistakes an advisor can make. Your goal should be to enlighten and educate, regardless of the student's age or perceived knowledge. 

3) You MUST make it personal. Students are coming to you for guidance and direction. If they wanted a systematic response, they would use the online chat feature on your school's main website for help.  Students are looking for that personal touch from an advisor. As an advisor, you should remember their name and situation because of all the thought and time spent on their case. 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's 2nd Posterous

Don't BUY it...RENT it instead!

Did you know that the average student will spend over $500 per term buying textbooks? Seems like an awful lot of money to buy textbooks that often get opened one time, right? Well, with Chegg, you will save hundreds!

So stop wasting your money and start renting from Chegg.  I’m on the bandwagon and I’ve saved enough to buy all my term papers!  Not really, but I have saved some serious cash by Chegging my books.  I have a promo code that will save you an additional 5% off your total order, useCC107728.

Want proof?

Essential Biology by Campbell, Reece & Simon is $83.18 if you buy it on Amazon.com.  If you rent it on Chegg.com, it’s only $11.78.  That’s a savings of over $71!

It’s so simple, just search for the books you need and place your order.  Chegg will ship them to you fast and at the end of the term you ship them back for free.  What’s really cool is that they plant a tree for every order (for all you tree-huggers out there).

Don’t forget to visit Chegg.com and use 

promo code CC107728.

--
Joshua Hernandez
" if you can't solve a problem...You're probably playing by the rules."

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

A little chat with UTB's Transcript Evaluator...

The University of Texas at Brownsville exposes the truth behind the mystery that is "transcript evaluation".  An interview with one of three transcript evaluators currently working at UTB/TSC leads me to answers I (and every other student) have been searching for since our inception to higher learning. 

I started off slow, with some general questioning before tackling the major issues.  Here's the noted version...

How long does it take for a transcript to reach you personally (minus mail carrier time)?

 - Bottom line, it can be anywhere from 1 to 2 weeks honestly. Once the transcript is received at the Admissions Office, it is processed by student workers who place the transcript information into a system, then it is passed over to an actual evaluator.

 

What do you do with it once it reaches your hands? How do you evaluate it?

 - I immediately input the grades for common courses into Datatel. Typically, transcripts from local RGV colleges are quickly placed into the database since their academic core courses will transfer over. When I receive transcripts from other colleges outside the RGV or the state, I first

1. Check accreditation of that college
2. Research descriptions of courses that may transfer in

As you can imagine, this may take a while so we generally leave outside (the RGV) colleges for last.

Courses that absolutely do NOT transfer are remedials, certificate of completions, academies (Police Academy, etc.) or Graduate Study courses.

How does that work? Is there a rubric you use or point system to determine what courses are "worthy of transfer"?

 - Honestly, it is technically up to each of our opinions. A bit of power on our side I suppose. I check for matching course descriptions, but generally I  don't evaluate every course unless the student asks.

 

Alright, KINE courses...spill it.

 - I will generally give transfer credit into the college for any KINE course that involves a physical activity (even the online versions) except for KINE 1301. As far as KINE 1301 goes...if you took that course on or before Fall 2009, we will take it...if you took it Spring 2010 and on, we won't.

 

How do you handle Foriegn Universities?

 - That's a horse of a different color...for another conversation. 

 

Very well.

 

After that conversation, we decided to have a few follow up interviews in the future to dig more in depth on transfer questions.  I'll be out for a month on military training, but rest assured, I will be tackling this upon my arrival.  If you have specific questions you'd like answered, this is your chance.  Leave them in the comment section for me. 

Don't forget to "like" us at Facebook.com/TSTCgst

 

 

 

 

 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

TAMUK transfer equivalency courses are here!

TAMUKequivCourses.pdf (39 KB)
View this on posterous

Here are the most recent courses that are transferable to Texas A&M Kingsville from Texas State Technical College Harlingen. 

Enjoy. 

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

Updated List of UTB Course offerings at TSTC

Hey everyone! Here is the updated list of UTB Courses that will be held at TSTC Harlingen.  If you have any questions...just ask. 

There are new updates made as time passes, please understand if locations/times change from now until course start dates. 

See the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's posterous

Technology will keep Advisors on their toes..

There is a difference between ideal advising and a student's view of advising.  Advising is helping students become self-sufficient. Effective advisors care about students and want to make a difference in their lives.  Great advising is also interactive; both the student and advisor contribute.

The use of technology should not be an excuse to abandon the relationship or accountability aspect.  Instead, it should be a tool to aid in enhancing those aspects.  The tricky part is that with the use of technology, advisors must be true to the cause; advisors will have no choice but to keep up with the relationships and stay prepared to answer questions in a moment's notice. If the advisor is not organized and prepared then it will immediately show and the student will lose trust. 

From the student's perspective...the advisor should automatically be accounting for the following questions:

• Are the course and/or section number accurate?
• Do any of these courses conflict?
• Does the student have the necessary prerequisites, co-requisites, placement scores or other preparation to take the course?
• Are any courses for "instituitional credit only" that will not likely transfer to another institution?
• Is the student taking the courses in the proper sequence?
• Does the student need to take any courses this term that aren't offered in other terms?
• Have any course/program requirements changed from the previous semester?

The number one student problem is confusion. As the advisor, you are expected to be the expert.

How technology changes things...

If you are considering implementing, or perhaps have already implemented, technology and social media into your daily operations then I suggest you be aware of the side effects.  Technology brings three key factors to the equation of advisement:

1) Increase in turn-around time
          - Web 2.0 tools and social media platforms are syncronous. This means virtually instant communication.  Whether it be via e-mail, blog, instant message or the like...the communication is instantaneous.  Students are well aware of this and expect instant, tangible results.  If they send an e-mail to you with a question, they expect a response within minutes. 

2) Increase in advisor accountability
          - The instantaneous nature of communication technology creates a new sense of accountability on different scales.  Keep in mind that students communicating with you via e-mail, blog, etc. have the ability to track their communications. This means that not only are they able to be made aware of when you opened or deleted their e-mail, but they are also able to track and record the information transfered between both parties.  Advisors can no longer afford to make careless mistakes or answer a student without having done the proper research ahead of time. 

3) Adjustment to daily activities/work style
          - New technology sometimes requires an adjustment to current work styles.  If you are a bit more on the traditional side when it comes to tools you are using for advisement, consider the adaptations you will need to make if you plan on incorporating new technologies.  Aside from a possible learning curve, you will need to plan adjustments to keep up with the technologies and consider which mediums you will use to do so.  The majority of web 2.0 tools are able to be accessed via smart phones, desktop applications, web applications, text message and email.  Do some research on the tools you are considering to utilize. Instead of waking up in the morning to read the paper, you may have to alter that to checking your blog comments or email.

Posted via email from Joshua Hernandez's 2nd Posterous