C4Ta #2 - Part 1 and Part 2 - Tech Intersect

  The first post I read was on the Blog Tech Intersect, by Bill Genereux, an Associate Professor of Computer Systems Technology at Kansas State University at Salina. The post I read was titled "Pineapples Don’t Have Sleeves".

  SUMMARY: In the post, "Pineapples Don’t Have Sleeves", Bill talks about a reading assignment his daughter brought home from school and the reading skills test that came with it. The reading assignment of Pinocchio given to his daughter was worded rather differently from the e-books Bill found online. The curriculum experts seemed to think that “At the sympathetic ring of the money” was an improvement over the original phrase of either “At the jingling of the money” or “At the cheerful tinkle of the gold“. Students, like Bill's daughter are being given poorly written questions. He wondered what the real test for his daughter was like, given that this was only a practice test and reading assignment.

  COMMENT: Hi, I am a student in EDM310 at the University of South Alabama. I agree that standardized tests are worded poorly, and that the change in text took away from the original text. The original text had descriptive vibrant words that made the text more enjoyable, the altered text did absolutely nothing for the mind (in my opinion).

 

  The second post I read was titled: "25 Things Every Young Professional Should Know by Age 25".

  SUMMARY: Bill Genereux gave a link to this list of 25 things which is on Huffington Post. It's a list of things that graduates should learn when coming into the real world. Genereux points out number 20 from the list: "The days of a college syllabus are long gone. If you’re waiting for someone to give you direction, have a seat. You’ll be there a while." Students need to be able to take the lead on their work without being told every little thing to do. Leaving some things ambiguous is preparation for the real world. Here's the list of 25 things:

  25. It's spelled "definitely," not "definately."
  24. Read an apartment lease before you sign. All of it.
  23. An Excel PivotTable will change your life.
  22. A cover letter should add color and personality. It shouldn't summarize your resume.
  21. Everyone likes to receive praise, but the smartest young adults actively seek constructive criticism.
  20. The days of a college syllabus are long gone. If you're waiting for someone to give you direction, have a seat. You'll be there a while.
  19. Multi-tasking is great, but some moments require your undivided attention.
  18. Take LinkedIn seriously.
  17. Understand the pay-stub that accompanies your paycheck.
  16. There's no such thing as an overnight success. However, people who do "break through" tend to start their day while others are still asleep.
  15. Know the difference between a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA.
  14. Even though college is over, you should still find extracurriculars. Among the many reasons, clubs and organizations are terrific places to network.
  13. You're never too busy to write a thank-you note.
  12. Negotiate your salary.
  11. The ability to follow-through on assignments can take you from 25-year-old newbie to essential team member.
  10. You probably make more money than some of your friends and less than others. The only thing that matters is that you pay your own bills on time.
  9. Bring a lunch to work. It's healthier and cheaper than eating out.
  8. Don't step into an interview room without research on the company and questions for the employer.
  7. Dropbox. Learn it and love it.
  6. Treat interns with respect. They'll provide you with management training and ease your workload.
  5. To impress older business associates, ask about their own career path. You may also learn a thing or two.
  4. Under-promise. Over-deliver.
  3. The less you write, the tighter the message. The less you talk, the stronger the speech.
  2. The only failure in your 20s is inaction. Everything else is trial and error.
  1. You're halfway through the most formative decade of your life. You don't need all the answers, but you must keep asking questions. Start with this one: what's something new that I can learn right now?

  COMMENT: This post really put me into thought mode! At 21 years old, this is helpful advice to myself and my classmates, I believe every one of my classmates would do well from also reading it. When you pointed out number 20, I began to evaluate myself to see if i was dependent on a teacher's every little word. I DEFINITELY (#25) plan to work on that while finishing college before I enter the work field!