PUBLISHED: EDUCATION IS A GIFT

Education is a Gift

Learning Is Forever

 

 

A Day in the Life of An Educator

by India Holland

 

Susan Long-3rd Grade Teacher

Triangle lake Montessori Elementary School

High Point, NC

PUBLISHED: FORGETTING TO REMEMBER

FORGETTING TO REMEMBER

Alzheimer's Disease

by India Holland

VIDEO--A day in the life of MARY ALICE RUSH-Alzheimer's patient-by India Holland

Mary Alice Rush, 93, was diagnosed with the early stages of Alzheimer’s at age 89.  She is cared for primarily by her daughter, Angela Tucker, who lives with Rush in Cedar Square, North Carolina.  Tucker does share in caring for her mother with her siblings.  When asked about what happened to make her think her mother may have Alzheimer’s Tucker said, “she was forgetting things, feeling lost.  She didn’t know where she was in her own bedroom.  She also started burning food, she is an excellent cook. That was a big sign.”   

Tucker recalls Rush as once being a vibrant, talkative, funny person.  Now she is a little quieter. She doesn’t like to go out very much. She doesn’t like crowds.  This behavior is typical with the onset of Alzheimer’s disease based on the Ten Signs of Alzheimer’s from the Alzheimer’s Association.  Rush is showing some of the signs of Alzheimer’s.  Nancy Rush,  Rush’s daughter, says there are changes in her personality and mood sometimes.

 “I know I can’t joke and play with her like I use to. It might upset her. I feel sad. I miss that about her.” 

Doreen Miles, another of Rush’s daughters, said she was not sure how she feels about the diagnosis. “She knows who I am right now. I haven’t thought about how I feel about it.  She is just mom to me.”

Tucker mentioned she has withdrawn from social activities. “We use to go to the grocery store, or Dollar General, that was our thing.  She doesn’t like to go out in crowds anymore.”  Another sign is the patient will get confused with time and places. Tucker added, “She does get her times mixed up. She may get up between midnight and 3 a.m. and thinks it’s time to get up for the day. I have to try to get her back to bed.  I sleep very lightly now.”

As a caregiver it also can be challenging.  The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) determined that live-in caregivers sometimes feel guilty about how they feel regarding their life and the impact this new role has had on them personally.

Julie Reynolds, a consultant for the AFA, says “It is ok for live-in caregivers to want to take some time for them. They need to have some down time to separate from the normal day-to-day life of caring for someone else and take a moment for them.”

“It is a challenge for the patient but it is even more challenging for the caregiver. What would you do if your parent had dementia... and the stress and strain of caregiving was becoming too much? What if you had a case of caregiver burn-out?  What if you needed some help in the form of a break?  Caregivers often feel that they have to do it all,” Reynolds added. “They feel that if they don’t, they’re giving up on their loved one.  It’s only natural to feel that way.”

Tucker relies on a Medicare counselor to share her feelings with.  “She allows me to vent,” says Tucker. “ It’s helpful. I go through things on a daily basis and I need to talk to someone who understands.”

Statistics from the National Institute of Health (NIH) determined in 2006, there were 26.6 million sufferers worldwide. In 2010 experts from NIH reported approximately as many as 5.1 million Americans have Alzheimer’s disease and the number of people with Alzheimer’s doubles in every five-year intervals.  Alzheimer's is predicted to affect one in 85 people globally by 2050 according to the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center.  Since the disease is different for each person, predicting how it will affect the person is difficult.  Neurosurgeon and Nutritionist, Russell Black, M.D., from the Alzheimer’s Disease Education and Referral Center reported on average, the life expectancy following diagnosis is approximately seven years and that fewer than three percent of Alzheimer’s patients live more than 14 years.  

As of 2012, more than 1,000 clinical trials have been or are being conducted to find ways to treat the disease, years after diagnosis according to the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA). 

 “The causes and progression of Alzheimer's disease are not well understood,” explains Reynolds.    “Research indicates that the disease is associated with plaques and tangles in the brain. Current treatments only help with the symptoms of the disease…slows them down.  There are no available treatments that stop or reverse the progression of the disease.  Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people.”

Alzheimer's is a crippling disease for a person and their family.  It robs the patient of their memory and the family of the loved one and peace of mind.  That is why a family who has been impacted by this illness should consult an elder attorney.    Dennis J. Toman, J.D. of The Elderlaw Firm in Greensboro, N.C. is an advocate for the vict 3

ims of Alzheimer’s.

Toman is an elder law attorney.

 According to Toman and aplaceformom.org, a residential living facility for patients with Alzheimer’s, suggest families of Alzheimer’s patients should consider hiring an elder law attorney who handles issues involving power of attorney, wills and trust.

 “Alzheimer's is a cruel disease...and because it can turn your life upside down for years...sometimes it's called "The Long Goodbye," said Sheila McDonald, a paralegal for the Toman Elder Law Firm.  “We provide options to help families in our area cope with this awful disease.  The Alzheimer's Resource Kit is a resource that we offer for free that will help families plan stress-free care for them and their loved one. Plus, it will help them discover ways to pay for their care without going broke.”

There are many legal and financial issues that can develop when a family member has Alzheimer’s.  According to McDonald it is crucial that there be a financial and legal plan established for the loved one.  Families must have clearly written legal documents that outline everyone’s wishes. The documents should authorize another person to make health care and financial decisions, including plans for long-term care. If the Alzheimer’s patient has the legal capacity -- the level of mental functioning necessary to sign official documents -- he or she should participate in legal planning.

She discussed some steps a family should take when looking at the financial impact of Alzheimer’s. The Alzheimer’s resource Kit their law firm offers for free gives steps families need to take to build protections around their loved ones so they can achieve the goal of never being out of money or out of options. She says benefits are available to families to help pay for the cost of in-home, assisted living, or nursing home care for years. 

 “Honest, legal strategies are right for the family and they can avoid being unnecessarily impoverished,” said McDonald.  “Some of the valuable resources available to help seniors are right here in our community.” 

“Alzheimer’s is a disease that impacts an entire family,” says McDonald. “Acclimate the whole family to the disease.    A prepared family is a happy family.”

 

PUBLISHED: As Obama Wins Second Term, Women Voters Reflect

http://ifajs.org/jomcjournal/?p=1260

By India Holland

JOMC Journal Reporter

After months of campaigning, attack ads, accusations and record spending, the 2012 presidential campaign is over. Barack Obama was re-elected president of the United States, winning 303 electoral votes and more than 60  million popular votes,  according to the final New York Times, CNN and CBS News polls. Reaction to Obama’s election as the 44th president was swift.

The question now becomes “What do Americans really think?

Tirado

“I am so excited that President Obama remains our president,” said Democrat Maria Tirado of Jamestown, N.C.  “He has such a great vision for our country.  Today our country decided to move forward and I am happy and proud to be a part of that decision.

“Obama supports education and I have a big need for someone in my corner when it comes to my kid’s future and education,” Tirado, a mother of four, continued. “I will support education every time.”

Chuck Todd, NBCs political director and chief White House correspondent, said the  election shows how divided this country is and how much Florida’s Hispanic vote threw off the Romney campaign.  Todd called it a “demographic time boom that caught the Romney campaign off guard”.

Florida was the beginning of the end for Romney. Over 57 million Americans did not vote for President Obama, however he still won with 50 percent of the popular vote, according to CCN polls.

“I did not vote for Barack Obama but I will support him as our president,” said Republican Jessica Mitchell of High Point, N.C. “I just can’t see where things will be any different with President Obama and I am very concerned about my future and my kids.

“I am very disappointed that Romney did not win. I was looking for a different direction for the country and a fresh point of view and Obama

Mitchell

just hasn’t made that clear to me yet,” Mitchell continued. “Though I will support him as the elected president I will definitely wait and see what good changes he brings going forward.”

Many Americans seemed encouraged that Barack Obama won another term.

“Today we made history again. I couldn’t be more proud to be an American, especially an African American today,” said Democrat Shawanna Brock of Jamestown, N.C.  “I think the critical issue is now we all have to work together to get this country back on its feet permanently and I think President Obama will do it.”

Brock says now that the election is over, she hopes the country pulls together as Americans and starts putting people back to work.

PUBLISHED: NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT

http://ifajs.org/jomcjournal/?p=1358

NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT

 Jessie Falls-Nontraditional Student

By India Holland

May 2011 is a time that Jessie M. Falls will always remember.  Falls worked for American Express for 15 years.  On Jan. 18, 2011 American Express announced it would close the Greensboro Service Center.   American Express offered employees future options, including leaving the company with a package that included paying for two years of education.   

The news from American Express failed to discourage Falls.  Falls took the package and decided returned to NC A&T to obtain a degree in Psychology.  She has the laptop, the backpack, the iPhone, and the glasses to complete her look. However, at age 57, she is about 35 years older than most students. Falls is among a growing number of adults who after being laid off, have returned to school.  Attending college is becoming more and more popular among older adults.

“I decided I wanted to begin a new chapter in my life,” said Falls “Enhancing my education was a great place to start and as a result I am perusing my bachelor’s degree in Psychology." Falls helps women who have been incarcerated or who are recovering substance abusers get re-acclimated into society.

 “Understanding an individual’s behavior would be beneficial in the ministry in which I am currently involved," Falls said. “I decided Psychology was a great place to start."

     When asked about the challenges she has faced since returning to NC A&T, Falls said, "I am glad to say I haven’t had very many challenges and if any, they were minimal.  I am blessed not to have to work and go to school full time. I am able to focus completely on school."

 Falls, who left A&T in 1977, returned to discover the university’s technology advances.

 "Because of the setting I came from at American Express, it was easy for me to become acclimated to the technology,” Falls said. “I have worked in the corporate world for so long the transition wasn’t a problem.”

Another challenge that many students in Fall’s position face, regardless of age, is finding a job in today's economy once completing her degree.

 "Many jobs in my field today require a master’s degree,"  Falls said. “Right now I have an internship working with children with behavior problems.  I work in Reidsville at the Booker T. Washington Learning Center.  It allows me to apply what I have learned through my class curriculum directly to the children in a true setting."

                Falls considers returning to A&T an “amazing experience.” One big highlight is all the support she has received from her academic advisor and chairperson in the Psychology department.

                 In the future, Falls plans to open a facility to help more women. 

“I want to assist women that have been incarcerated, or involved in substance abuse, with their re-entry back into society to develop a strong sense of self identification that goes beyond who they represent in the criminal justice system. It is vital to their recovery,” she added.  Falls believes they want a new life style and the there is a need for recovery programs that will provide a safe environment for them to develop and grow.

                “I’ve had the desire to assist others for some time,” Falls said. “By what I believe to have been a divine intervention, I was led to commit to this in early 2011.”

The non-traditional graduate is a great asset to any company, according to Tasha Ewell, director of operations and human resource manager of Innovative Marketing Solutions in Thomasville.  She handles day-to-day HR operations for companies in Tennessee, Texas, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina.

    Ewell routinely sees the type of individuals who apply for jobs.   She believes that people under 30 face more challenges.

 “They don’t stay long at a job, they move from job to job,” said Ewell.  “They do not see the earning potential; it is hard to get them to get them committed or dedicated to the job.  They tend to have an entitlement attitude as if they are owed something.”

“Older employees are more responsible and have a great work ethic,” Ewell added based off of her experience.  “They come to work, don’t socialize too much. They see work as more than just a job; they see a career.  They do not want to keep moving around.  They see that they can make it and provide for their family so they tend to stay where they are.”                                                                

                         

The faculty also witnesses the nontraditional experience.  Aaron West, who teaches liberal studies at NCA&T, says the nontraditional student is a different kind of student. 

 “The nontraditional student tends to be more prepared for class, more focused on the school work, overall more serious about their education,” West said.  “They have better attendance than a traditional student.  They have their books typically first day of class, they read the class material, turn assignments in on time; ultimately in most cases based on my personal experience they make better grades than the traditional students and they are in a different place mentally.”

Some of the challenges of teaching a nontraditional student can be subtle, says West.    “They sometimes less able to deal with the newest technology in the classroom especially if they have been out of school for a while such as blackboard,” he added, “ Nontraditional students will ask more questions during and after class. They also tend to have difficulty relating to the younger classmates. They are in different emotional and mental places. The nontraditional students tends to be left out of the before and after classroom discussions because the activities are usually things the nontraditional student doesn’t relate to.”

For a nontraditional student the use of learning tools such as Blackboard has lessened the need for the old traditional student study groups.  Such class technology has made studying and access to class information easier.  On the other hand it does lessen the need for student to student interaction.  The newest classroom technology can be an asset and a challenge for the nontraditional student.

A study conducted by Joe Donaldson and Steve Graham of the University of Missouri titled, “A Model of College Outcomes for Adults,” the nontraditional student can thrive in the college environment.  The study speaks to the college-life experience of the nontraditional student in several different areas:        prior life experience, motivation, confidence and values, the adult thinking and reasoning process, classroom setting and socialization, school and family balance and different learning experiences the nontraditional student has encountered. 

A big boost for adult learner enrollment into college is the Internet and other distance learning options.  Based on the study by Donaldson and Graham, “ The adult learner makes up over 40 percent of the undergraduate population in colleges.  Based on part-time and distance learning the nontraditional student can be creative and work at their own pace and on a schedule that works for them.  They do not have to be on campus to earn their degree. “

The study also found that the prior life experience helps the adult learner grasp the content more effectively and can apply learning easily to real life experiences.  The study also found some similarities to West in theory that the nontraditional learner maybe a little nervous and apprehensive about returning to college; but they tend compensate for the fear and lack of confidence in their performance.

  “The nontraditional student is an asset to any university,” West said. “They are in a different place in life and have a determined focus.  I suggest to any that if given the opportunity every adult should attempt to challenge themselves to the next level in life starting with their education and being an adult learner is a great place to start.”

PUBLISHED: Old-School” Aggies Enjoy Homecoming 2012

 

 The author, India Holland and Sharon Jenkins, Miss A&T 1991

http://ifajs.org/jomcjournal/?page_id=1231

Old-School” Aggies Enjoy Homecoming 2012

By India Holland

There is nothing better than an NCAT homecoming except an old-school NCAT homecoming.  Thousands of A&T alumni return to Greensboro each year during homecoming to reunite with old friends and colleagues.  It is a time of reflection and fun.
“I come to homecoming as often as I can to see old friends that meant so much to me while I was a student here,” said former Miss A&T 1991, Sharon Jenkins.  “There is nothing like coming back to A&T; it just gives you a great feeling just to be back on campus.”
Jenkins, like so many other alumni, look forward to certain events during homecoming such as the parade, the football game, tailgating, concerts, day and evening parties.  “When you graduate, you never know where life is going to lead you but you always know there is a road back to an A&T homecoming ,” Jenkins stated.
“I enjoy attending old school events because I know I will see a lot of old classmates that I may not see any other time during homecoming; so the old school events are a great resource for us,” said Shawanna Brock, NCAT graduate 1994.  “Old school to me is when you sit down with your college friends and laugh about how silly you were when you were here as a student, how dumb you were, and if we knew then what we know now…we would be dangerous.”
When asked what is old school? Charles Blackburn, 1979 NCAT graduate said, “If you can remember going to school with Ron McNair and Jessie Jackson, then you are old school.”  Blackburn added, “There is an unspoken appreciation of an HBCU and you carry that with you no matter where you go, who you work for.  Simply said, its pride…AGGIE PRIDE.”
No matter if you are tailgating or cheering on the Blue and Gold, young or old, you will never forget your first Aggie Homecoming and it will not be your last.

PUBLISHED: Blackboard is a key tool for modern learning

Blackboard = Learning

http://ifajs.org/jomcjournal/?page_id=1213
 

Blackboard is a key tool for modern learning

By India Holland

JOMC Journal Reporter

Blackboard is one of the most innovative advanced tools available in education today.  Blackboard is a never ending resource for learners of all avenues. Dr. Shelia Whitley of NCAT Mass Communications and Journalism Department says blackboard has advantages for the professor and the student.  It helps streamline the course work for both by allowing the options for quick access to course documents, assignments, tests, quizzes and grades at a quick glance.

“There are many advantages to blackboard for both the student and the professor.  I post all of my course content material there. I don’t have to worry about if the student received it.  If the student loses it they can go back and retrieve it immediately,” stated Whitley.

“I don’t think I could have survived without Blackboard,” said Tiffany Wright, a graduate student from High Point University.  “It saved me on many test and quizzes throughout my college career. Many of my friends didn’t use Blackboard like I did and their GPA suffered for it.”  Why aren’t more students at NCAT using blackboard?

According to www.blackboard.com, blackboard is an online tool that helps streamline the learning process by using the Internet, mobile apps and interactive capabilities such as online chats.  It is found in thousands of higher education institutions, K-12, professional, corporate, and government agencies, providing them with an easy and engaging educational experience.   Blackboard was founded in 1997 by two college friends; today it has 21 locations.  It has access in more than 70 countries, over 1,700 employees and over 20 million daily users.  Blackboard has more than 17 billion student transactions each year.

Blackboard’s mobile application called Blackboard Mobile Learn, allows the students and professors to access Blackboard while on the move.

“Blackboard keeps me organized. I like the features that update you on assignments,” says NCAT Sophomore Kayla Jackson.  Jackson is an Electronic Media student and uses blackboard extensively.  “I like the mobile app because I don’t have to log on to my computer all the time. I get class update and information through the app pretty quickly.”

Today’s students want their learning experience to be accessible, collaborative, engaging, and very convenient. Learning has to fit their lifestyle. It has to be digital and portable.  Blackboard is that especially with the mobile application.

This also allows flexibility and savings.  An option that some professors have utilized at NCAT is having an online discussion via blackboard verses attending a classroom setting at least one day a week.  This saves times and gas for the commuting students and professor and holds everyone accountable for their contribution to the discussion.   Blackboard is accessible on many mobile devices including iPhones, Androids, Blackberry, HP webOS, and iOS powered devices.

“I use blackboard extensively,” said Whitley.  “I use it to communicate with my students via announcements, email tool and I put all my test there.  Blackboard gives the students more flexibility around when they can take the assessments and they get feedback immediately.” Whitley also added about the blackboard grade book option, “Another advantage for the student is they have a pretty good idea where they stand all times.”

Wright agreed that using blackboard made the decision to go to graduate school easier.  “After graduation I got a job and within weeks I was laid off.  I decided to go back to graduate school.  It is a competitive market in any field today and any help that gives you a leg up I am taking it and backboard did that for me in college,” she added.  “Companies use Blackboard as a part of their day to day technology and communication process and already having a background in it gives me an advantage.”

After polling 100 random students, only 30 percent they used blackboard on a consistent basis.  They also said it helped them tremendously when focusing on test and when needing clarity on assignments. Another 50 percent said they us it occasionally and the final 20 percent said they do not use it at all.

The question is why isn’t the other 70 percent using Blackboard on a consistent basis?  Some say it is because all of the instructors do not use it or they have different ways of using it; making the process more complicated; or the instructors put too much information on Blackboard and they lose the content of the message.  Finally some students believe what they are currently doing is working for them and unless they have to change; they will stick to their current process.

“I don’t find blackboard very helpful. Not all professors post assignments on it; I only check it when they tell me to.  I have no complaints about it. I just don’t use it very often,” says NCAT freshman, Dele Odumosu.