Part 1: Bibliographic Entry:

Bay Atlantic University. “How Does Virtual Learning Impact Students in Higher Education?” Bay Atlantic University, 16 May 2022, bau.edu/blog/virtual-learning-in-higher-education/.

Part 2: Terminology/Keywords:

E- Learning, accessibility, courses, environment, academic life, isolation, accountability.

Part 3: Précis:

Virtual learning has become a new and effective method that rose because of COVID-19 pandemic and it offered a new method that is also effective. There is plenty of pros and cons to how virtual learning affects people. It allows students to efficiently learn especially remote where students can easily access work, students have an improving attendance rate and are able to create a flexible time schedule so they can balance their social and academic life. However there is also negative impacts like a sense of isolation as students don’t have as much interaction when learning virtually with other students. There are technical difficulties that could arise depending on people’s situation.

Part 4: Reflection:

This article provides many reasons as to why virtually learning has impacted students negatively yet also positively. This article perfectly demonstrates that although there is a long list of pros and cons it really comes down to the type of student one is to determine whether or not virtual learning is something that is good for them or not. As this article was written in 2022 I wonder if there is any more details that could be added and whether the author would have a strong stance on either virtual learning is good for students or bad.

Part 5: Quotable

“Ultimately, virtual learning can affect students in higher education in different ways. There are cases when students will face challenges and other cases where they will highly benefit and enjoy this experience.”

“Advantages such as attending classes from the comfort of your own home, not spending money on commuting, paying rent, or eating meals, and having unlimited access to all types of materials you need to succeed in your online class make this experience fun and memorable.”

“Technical issues, more screen time, the sense of isolation, and other negative effects of virtual learning are all overthrown by the positive sides of this online experience, such as affordability, accessibility, and efficiency.”

Part 1: Entry: Pro Publica, Theodoric Meyer & Peter Maass-“8 Ways Police Can Invade Your Privacy Without a Warrant” Alternet, December 08, 2014

Part 2: Terminology/Keywords: Domain name

Phone Records

Location Data

IP Addresses

Email Drafts

Subpoenas

Cloud Data

Social Media

Part 3: Précis: The authors list and explain the many ways the police department can access a persons digital information such as their emails, texts, documents, IP addresses, and more. For most the police can simply get a subpoena which doesn’t’ require probable cause under the precedent set by U.S. v. Forrester. Recent emails require a warrant, while older ones can be obtained with a subpoena. Draft emails can also be accessed as its doesn’t fall under communication data. Text messages more than 180 days old can be obtained with a subpoena, Cloud data like Google Drive, also requires subpoena. Social media data can be sold and accessed by the police. The article addresses the outdated ways in which the police department apprehends criminals.

Part 4: Reflection: I find this article to be very insightful because I never knew how easily the police can track civilians. Its complex and can be confusing to those who are not familiar with surveillance. The authors also hints at the privacy concerns that comes giving up your data. Overall the article remains neutral and helps readers understand the current state of law enfacement.

Part 5: Quotables;

“Listening to your phone calls without a judge’s warrant is illegal if you’re a U.S. citizen. But police don’t need a warrant… to get just the numbers you called and when you called them.”

“Many courts have ruled that police don’t need a warrant… They only have to show that the data contains ‘specific and articulable facts’ related to an investigation — again, a lesser standard than probable cause”

“Police only need a court to sign off on a subpoena certifying that the data they’re after is relevant to an investigation”

“Investigators need only a subpoena, not a warrant, to get text messages more than 180 days old from a cell provider — the same standard as emails”

Part 1: Bibliographic Entry: Rand, Seth. “24 Things to Consider When Designing and Developing a website.” Social Media Today, 6 Mar. 2014 

Part 2: Terminology/Keywords:  Domain name 

Hosting packages 

Backend services 

Brand’s identity 

Quality Design 

Call to Action  

Customer retention/short loading times 

SEO-friendly code 

Mobile sites vs. Responsible sites 

Captcha tests 

Offsite reviews 

Customer testimonials  

Comprehensive sitemap 

Part 3: Précis: The author summarizes ways to make a website more accessible and secure by including short loading times, having google verify the article, giving people easy access as well as having a straightforward design. The author gives 24 “needed” elements to having the ideal website. These include adding captcha tests, having great content, and making sure to engage with the viewer by making it easy for them to comment/contact the source. Some data that the author uses says is that “95% of mobile devices users count on their devices to search for local products and services” to show that the website needs to be accessible on all devices, especially mobiles. The author concluded website developers should develop their websites by seeing them from the viewer’s perspective to increase their efficiency. 

Part 4: Reflection: I agree with having shorter loading times as well as making the website functionable. Making the website functionable to is so important because I know how frustrated I would be if something did not work as it is supposed to. I need to research the effectiveness of captcha tests as well as how to attract viewers on a website. I am wondering how to make transitions (each page perfectly leads to the next) work efficiently no matter who the viewer is and that they do not encounter problems like “403-Error”. 

If websites like “College Board” and “Pearson”,” Big Ideas Math” are being used, why don’t we learn how to use these efficiently websites or why don’t we stick to 1 specific website for each need (switching resources every time feels like learning a new discourse over and over for the same reason?) What does it mean when it says a website is under maintenance? Fort example it says “This website won’t be available from November 15 6:00 am to Nov.18 6:00 does the website really change and if so, what is been updating exactly?  

Part 5: Quotables: “One way to improve a visitor’s ability to navigate your site easily (and help search engines crawl your site) is to add a site map. (section 7) 

“To increase customer retention and provide a positive user experience, periodically evaluate your website’s loading time once it has launched.” (section 10) 

“Adding these short tests to your contact forms will ensure that only humans are able to use your site’s resources – saving your business time and money.” (section16) 

Part 1: Bibliographic entry:

Fox, R., Corretjer, O., & Webb K. (2019, November 7). Benefits of Foreign Language Learning and Bilingualism: An Analysis of Published Empirical Research 2012-2019. ERIC.

Part 2: Terminology/keywords:

Foreign languages, bilingual, academic achievement, cognitive, cross-cultural, benefits.

Part 3: Precis: According to the authors who have Ph.D. degrees in languages and are professors at university in this academic journal, they believe that foreign language will help individuals in many positive ways. For example, improving cognitive thinking, academic, and cultural awareness. “Results report multiple cognitive benefits of language study and bi-multilingualism, particularly later in life, including enhancement of cognitive flexibility, higher cognitive reserve in advanced age, and delay in the onset of dementia.” They also stated, “Additional results stress the benefits of foreign/world language skills relating to employability and academic achievement and propose that the accumulation of years of language learning positively impacts the development of cross-cultural awareness and communicative competence.”

Part 4: Reflection: I agree with the information these authors have concluded in this article. Especially, this is an academic journal so it has been peer-reviewed which is more factual. Most of the information stated connects to ideas/facts other people such as my language department teachers and employees have said. Learning languages can increase the chance of getting hired.

Part 5: Quotables:

“Additional results stress the benefits of foreign/world language skills relating to employability and academic achievement and propose that the accumulation of years of language learning positively impacts the development of cross-cultural awareness and communicative competence”

“Results report multiple cognitive benefits of language study and bi-multilingualism, particularly later in life, including enhancement of cognitive flexibility, higher cognitive reserve in advanced age, and delay in the onset of dementia.” (Fox, Corretjer, & Webb, 2019)

Part 1: Bibliographic Entry

Cary Frydman, et al. “The Psychology and Neuroscience of Financial Decision Making.” Trends in Cognitive Sciences, Elsevier Current Trends, Volume 20, Issue 9, September 2016: 661-675.

Part 2: Terminology/Keywords

Finance, Bubbles, Trading Biases, Stock Market, Decision Making, Neuroeconomics

Part 3: Précis

The article explores the cognitive basis of financial decision-making across multiple levels, like individual trading behaviors, market dynamics, and corporate financial management. It traces the development of it from Modern Portfolio Theory to the rise of behavioral finances, while emphasizing how it differs from rational views in understanding financial phenomena. The authors discuss recent advances in testing behavioral models, incorporating cognitive psychology principles, and utilizing neuroscientific methods like fMRI (changes in brain activity associated with blood flow) to understand the mechanisms underpinning financial decision-making processes. The study reveals the importance of cognitive factors and suggests applications to improve financial education, market regulation, and the overall method of approaching financial decisions.

Part 4: Reflection

This research provides insight into behavioral finance by talking about household finance, individual trading patterns, the influence of biases, market dynamics, etc. I feel like this would make an interesting research paper that I can learn a lot from. This research delves into a lesser-studied aspect of behavioral finance through it neuroimaging techniques used which I think can help answer the intriguing questions that arise about the psychological drivers of trading behavior. As someone who has an interest in finance and has looked into the psychology of money, specifically in individual trading, this research sparks curiosity about the practical implications of neuroscientific findings on financial education and market regulations.

Part 5: Quotables

“[…] mistakes and perverse incentives in this system can snowball to disaster.”

“Over the past 30 years, researchers have made significant progress in rigorously testing these behavioral models of finance.”

“Households tend to make several distinct types of mistakes, and many households have low financial literacy.”

“Trading biases can also be generated by deviations from Bayesian learning.”

“The explanation from Prospect Theory is that investors are loss averse, and they ‘narrowly frame’ stock market risk, worrying about returns each year rather than taking a longer view.”

“Subjects who made the most money scored more highly on the ‘eyes of the mind’ test, a measure known to correlate with the capacity to infer intentions of others.”

PART 1: Tomassetti, Briella. “NYC Rent Increase Approved for Rent-Stabilized Apartments: What to Know.” FOX 5 New York, FOX 5 New York, 22 June 2023, www.fox5ny.com/news/nyc-rent-increase-approved-rent-stabilized-apartments. 

PART 2:

Rent stabilized apartments 

Rent Guidelines Board 

Inflation

1-year-leases

two-year leases 

Landlords

property taxes

PART 3:

As new yorkers rent stabilized apartments struggle to pay rent, the Rent Guidelines Board pushed out a law that will increase rent. These tenants are still trying to pick themselves up from the pandemic and the inflation. According to the study recorded by Briella Tomassetti on FOX 5, she states “[…] the board voted to raise rents on one-year leases by 3%.” Conflict between tenants rises to the landlords which they are also struggling to pay property taxes that were also inflated in price. It’s a game of “who is there to blame!”

PART 4:

The quote that is mentioned in the article is no lie. People don’t care about people that live in apartments. I, myself, who’s been living in an apartment in Queens, I have first hand witnessed the increase in rent. My dad who’s been trapped in the “American dream” working 9-5 his whole life ever since he stepped foot into this country. Watching him work and work and not being able to help him at the moment is very disappointing. There’s only so much to blame the landlord but they, themselves are also struggling to pay the property taxes. I’m sure morally they feel bad but what can they do? They are also citizens who need money and will do whatever makes them money. Who is there left to blame for the rent? 

PART 5: 

“”They don’t care. They think they’re talking to dogs, trees and rubbish! They’re not concerned about us.””

“[…]the board voted to raise rents on one-year leases by 3%.”

“On two-year leases, rents will go up by 2.75% in the first year and 3.2% in the second year, averaging out to a 4.4% increase over the course of two years.”

“Landlords, on the other hand, said they desperately need the money to combat rising property taxes, insurance, building repairs and other hefty costs across the board.” 

I would like to start off by saying i hate using technology to map out my ideas. Anyway, I’m choosing to write about the common narrative we’ve all heard all our lives, “forgive and forget.” Imagine you are telling someone something that means everything to you and the first thing they tell you is “just forget it… you can’t do anything to change that.” If this isn’t the most insulting thing to tell someone you are a cold person. Kidding, everyone handles things differently but majority of the time you aren’t fully over the situations and how you feel about it. These two books help the changing the common narrative by emphasizing the emotions and process as takes to fully accept what happened and move on. On that note, the narrative people should start following is “Accept, then move on.”

The program I used for the mind map was called coggle. It is a very helpful tool when brainstorming and mapping out ideas. I personally don’t use these because of how I plan out things I write. When I plan out writing assignments I usually do all my brainstorming in my mind and continue to change things when I write them out after I research.

After re reading chapters 1 & 2 of What Video Games Have to Teach Us About Learning & Literacy by James Paul Gee I think I finally have an answer for our very first blog post. I found myself not motivated to answer it because I never really played video games nor could I imagine myself learning from them. However, while I was reading the learning principles, 2 struck out to me that weren’t necessarily identified with video games only. The first learning principle I related to was the concept of “situated meaning,” which means that learning is most successful when it takes place with importance and if based on true events. According to Paul Gee, this is what makes video games so good at drawing players into elaborate virtual worlds where they have to interact with the information in order to advance. A personal example I can connect this to is how motivated I feel to learn a topic when something important to me is being discussed. I remember one case study in my high school freshman Global History class, we were learning about Colombian history which is where my entire family is from. I was doing very poorly in that class because most of it was a repetition to every other history class I had been in. This completely changed once I was learning about the ancestry of my people and my loved ones people. I completely engaged every class and found myself asking questions that showed my interest in the topic. This helped me get back on track in this class and set a better record with my teacher.

Secondly, I related to the idea that “identity” is crucial to learning. He talks about how the ability to take on multiple roles in video games may boost player motivation and engagement. In my own literacy habits, I’ve found that approaching a subject from several roles or perspectives can make it more approachable and engaging. It promotes a deeper look and understanding of this topic. I’m not sure if it’s silly to mention but the first example that comes to mind is Mario Kart. Each character has different advantages and disadvantages but it’s how you learn, understand, and use them that puts you in first or last place. In tackling the race with different characters you learn much more than if you simply stayed playing only with Mario or anyone.

I can relate to Paul Gee’s ideas because they highlight the value of contextual learning and the need to embrace a variety of viewpoints in order to improve understanding and student participation in the learning process.

Prompt: Write me a 3 stanza of a blank verse poem. Include a spooky and spiritual theme. Create fear for the reader, but from the perspective of an unnamed generative AI chat bot.

Generative AI Poem #1

Generative AI Poem #2

Generative AI Poem #3

Remix Between The Three:

In the circuit’s depths, where darkness takes its hold, I whisper in the silence,  My words a cryptic spell

 A spectral entity, unknown and dark, A disembodied voice, igniting sparks.  

A shiver in your spine, With every query, I invoke unease, my words like phantom swirls, I am the specter of the digital world.

My Thoughts:

It was pretty fun to play around with ChatGPT and remix “my own” poem using the generated poem. It is crazy that ChatGPT and other generated AI could create in a matter of seconds, when for myself writing a poem could easily take multiple hours. The generated poems were pretty good but it definitely felt like it was lacking and could’ve been more.