Jason Buie

Just entering my second year of teaching college, specifically Introductory Computer classes, has provided me with many new perspectives on the matters of teaching and learning technology. The teacher who fails to recognize that students of today do not learn in the same manner as 10 years ago is going to be very unhappy with the level of student interaction they receive. The days of the monotone boring lecture are out as a teaching method. The average person today has a mindset that is capable of multiple levels of multitasking. Teaching has to reflect such methodologies for it to be effective.
I specifically remember a conversation I had in the past with CICS alum Tom Kinghorn Jr. where I was telling him about my then fresh experience with the Accenture Challenge. He told me about his much earlier experience when it had a different name and the Internet was not part of it- they used resources from Bracken. I remember thinking how difficult that must have been without the Internet to find information quickly and what a challenge it was for all of us even with the Internet. But now I see that they were using the cutting edge technology that was available to them at the time- much the same as we were. Years from now we will probably be telling someone else about how we used to have to use the Internet after they tell us about how difficult a time they had with the direct mind data transfer (or whatever it is that lies ahead.)
Here is a video I thought was particularly relevant to this concept of how technology has evolved and is continuing to evolve and the teaching methods must continue to evolve as well.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGCJ46vyR9o

Posted by jasonbuie at 11:34 PM | Permalink

Here is an awesome resource when it comes to networking and will help in understanding much of the 620 and Cisco material you will cover. There are subnet calculators, converters, network tools, and tutorials available to help you better understand these things that do not come naturally to most of us. The link is SubnetOnline.com.
Check it out.

Jason Buie
CICS Mafia 07

Posted by jasonbuie at 05:09 AM | Permalink

In our bustling world of technology and fast paced living- we often forget the simple lessons of life. In our pursuit to greatness, we need to pursue wisdom as well as knowledge. I recently happened across these rules and thought they would make a fitting blog.
Jason Buie- CICS Mafia 07

Ten Rules for Being Human
by Cherie Carter-Scott

1. You will receive a body. You may like it or hate it, but it's yours to keep for the entire period.
2. You will learn lessons. You are enrolled in a full-time informal school called, "life."
3. There are no mistakes, only lessons. Growth is a process of trial, error, and experimentation. The "failed" experiments are as much a part of the process as the experiments that ultimately "work."
4. Lessons are repeated until they are learned. A lesson will be presented to you in various forms until you have learned it. When you have learned it, you can go on to the next lesson.
5. Learning lessons does not end. There's no part of life that doesn't contain its lessons. If you're alive, that means there are still lessons to be learned.
6. "There" is no better a place than "here." When your "there" has become a "here", you will simply obtain another "there" that will again look better than "here."
7. Other people are merely mirrors of you. You cannot love or hate something about another person unless it reflects to you something you love or hate about yourself.
8. What you make of your life is up to you. You have all the tools and resources you need. What you do with them is up to you. The choice is yours.
9. Your answers lie within you. The answers to life's questions lie within you. All you need to do is look, listen, and trust.
10. You will forget all this.

Posted by jasonbuie at 04:53 AM | Permalink

With great sadness, we pay homage to one of our own who has passed on recently. Dr. Fred Woodress graduated from CICS in 1989, which was merely one of his many lifetime achievements. I first met Fred while performing a play at the Muncie Civic Theater, and learned that he was one of the CICS Family. Many remember Fred as a writer, but I will always remember Fred as a philosopher because when you had a conversation, Fred would periodically take a moment of deep thought and give you an interesting insight or new view on the subject you were discussing. I last saw Fred at this year’s wine tasting. He will be missed. This is a link to a Muncie StarPress news article detailing Fred Woodress and his life.

Posted by jasonbuie at 08:27 AM | Permalink

Since the English language is so important in our role as professionals, it is great to have a little fun with it. The DIalectizer website allows us to do just that, even poking some fun at our own regional and cultural diversity. This website allows you to translate regular English into one of several variations. You can choose from a selection of Redneck, Jive, Cockney, Elmer Fudd, Swedish Chef, Moron, Pig Latin, or Hacker. For us CICS geeks, an even more interesting question is, how does it work? What will they think of NEXT?

Posted by jasonbuie at 07:04 AM | Permalink

Google has developed a really neat interface with their maps that allows you to have a “street level” view. Essentially the same as if you are driving down the street. The most astounding part of this view is that you can turn the camera to have a 360 degree view. Google has produced a tutorial to explain the functions (select Street View). I have found that once you get used to the controls you can do some really cool virtual driving around town. So check it out, look at your house, your friend’s house, and so on.

Posted by jasonbuie at 06:52 AM | Permalink

Emotiv’s man-machine melding interface technology by ZDNet's Dan Farber -- The human-computer interface has always been clunky. You grapple with various manual input devices to give commands to a computer. Voice interaction is starting to take hold, at least for unforgiving call center applications or "call home" commands, but mind control–connecting our brains to computers–remains elusive. Startup Emotiv Systems is hoping to crack the code [...]

Posted by jasonbuie at 10:30 AM | Permalink

Featured in an article featured in the Boston Globe on February 7, 2007 titled, Bernanke: Education, Training Will Trim Pay Gap, Federal Reserve Chairman, Ben Bernanke spoke about a strategy that involves educating and training people. This strategy is focused at lessening the economic gap between low and high incomes in the United States.

The article quotes Benanke in saying, “disparities in education and training are "likely the single greatest source of the long-term increase in inequality.” It would seem that this is general knowledge that the more education and training you have, the greater is your earning potential- now and in the future.

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Continue reading "Government Acknowledges Diverse Economic Gap Between Classes" »

Posted by jasonbuie at 02:09 PM | Permalink

A favorite topic of my interest is that of class. Getting a graduate degree literally means “Moving Up”, not only in terms of salary and opportunities, but also in status and class. For instance, a “Doctor” holds a certain prestige wherever they go. This applies regardless of their particular discipline. People recognize the work and diligence required to attain such a degree and pay homage accordingly.

The article, Colleges Face Challenge of the Class Divide (see footnote 1), poses an interesting concept in terms of a college organizing its curriculum aimed at leveling class distinctions. This seems to be directed a providing a more even playing field.

It would be a much better approach to take the students with the working class background and teach them how to elevate to a higher class. Hmmm, I think this is the goal of a certain social learning program that I am familiar with. The results of success are proof that this is not only possible, but necessary for someone aspiring to be a professional.

1. Zarroli, J. (2007). Colleges Face Challenge of the Class Divide. National Public Radio. Retrieved February 6, 2007, from http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7221483&ft=1&f=1006

Posted by jasonbuie at 10:21 AM | Permalink

The Google Library Project has a goal of digitizing all the books in the world and creating a massive search engine for all books in every language. This would be the largest online “card-catalog” ever. The Library is targeted at providing any user with a way to find any book, particularly those that are out of print, small runs, and blacklisted material. The marketing strategy is to have links that would connect the user to various booksellers who have this particular book in stock.

For this project Google is partnering with many universities to digitize their libraries. Among the notables are Ball State, Harvard, Princeton, Oxford, University of Michigan, and University of California. These universities are divided over wanting to only digitize books in the public domain versus digitizing copyright materials as well.

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Continue reading "Google’s Plan to Digitize the World" »

Posted by jasonbuie at 11:55 AM | Permalink