Monitoring your Own Social Media Communication

Are there images of you on Facebook and MySpace, drinking and engaging in lewd behavior? the party shot with you wearing the tiny ballerina skirt and tights is cute, but so is the one with you brandishing a whip and a shiny silver pair of cuffs; and the narrative is certainly no better, because it tells (in graphic detail) of all the raunchy things the pictures don't show (and there are many), but you are considered among the most cool and everyone wants to hang with you; you're invited everywhere. Besides, what's the harm in having fun? You're responsible during the week; you work in corporate America, draw a nice salary, exercise good investment options, have a 401K, yada, yada, yada. Yet you are a weekend warrior, and weekends belong to you. After all, you're young (maybe) and vital, and vibrant, and your fun is certainly not hurting anyone. Is it? Think again.

My Entry into Writing, Teaching, and Learning Online

When I initially made the decision to begin teaching online I had no idea how rapidly the demand for online courses was growing. I simply knew that I wanted to do something different from standing before a lectern in a traditional classroom telling my students about various stages in the writing process. I needed a new challenge in my approach to instruction and pedagogy, and hybrid and online courses seemed to offer that challenge and more. Granted that there was a learning curve, and I learned many things through mistakes and experience, the journey has been most rewarding, offering a wealth of benefits to both myself and my students, as well as to my institution.