Island Waves Student Publication

Missed Class? Catch the Rerun
by Patricia Alex mct campus A number of colleges and universities have begun offering on-demand video of classes, and the use of this technology is expected to grow over the next few years. Video cameras capture classes, and an electronic tablet substitutes for the blackboard. Students can watch the class on their computers or listen to the audio on their iPods, fast-forwarding or rewinding at will. Fans say the practice is another learning tool, but others are wary. They fear that attendance and the kind of learning that takes place in real time will suffer. “It is an unsatisfactory replacement for face-to-face interaction,” said James Zimmerman, associate director of the Research Academy for University Learning at Montclair State University. The academy promotes good teaching, and Zimmerman works with professors to make classes, even large lecture halls, more interactive. “The object is not just to talk at your class,” he said. “Any way that you can get feedback during class will maximize learning. “You can’t do that in the recorded medium,” Zimmerman said. “Professors can’t respond to needs of their audience. You don’t know whether your students are understanding the material or engaged in the material.” But others are excited about the technology. Bergen County, N.J., Community College began using it in two classes this year and hopes to double that number next year, said Ed Pittarelli, director of technologies on the	Paramus, N.J., campus. School officials are also thinking about using it for student orientation, he said. Pittarelli said it costs about $5,000 to outfit a classroom with the technology. The videos are an enhancement to the live classes, he said. The tool is especially helpful at a community college where there is a wide range of students and many of them are juggling work and home responsibilities. “We saw this as a way of helping a lot of students,” Pittarelli said. “They can replay lectures and get themselves on track.” Pittarelli acknowledged that “to some extent there’s no replacement for being in class.” He said faculty members using the technology are also able to measure actual attendance. “It really helps for incidental absences, but our primary concern was to give students another tool to keep up with classwork.” “We haven’t had a problem with attendance diminishing,” said Joan Cook, director of the Center for Teaching Excellence at the County College of Morris, N.J., where one room is equipped with the technology. Cook said it can be particularly valuable for some students with learning difficulties. “There’s a whole host of students who can benefit if they can revisit aspects of class that confused them,” Cook said. “It can make the difference between success and failure.” Pittarelli said the technology suits today’s students. “Today the kids are so tech-savvy. Instead of watching You Tube, they can watch a chemistry class.”

Credit Cards How to Avoid Common Pitfalls of Debt
by Shana Chaleff news editor Imagine, if you will, being at your favorite clothing store and seeing that one pair of shoes you cannot seem to live without. You drool over them and fantasize about parading them in front of all your friends. You feel their jealousy seething toward you as you now possess the most fashionable pair of shoes known to man. Reality comes crashing down around you as you look upon the price tag. “Holy crap!” you say, “I can’t afford that.” Ah, but as you peek into your wallet, another form of payment comes to your attention. Yes, that’s right, the good old credit card. This is precisely where you can get into trouble with that little piece of plastic. Like other lenders, credit card companies make attractive offers to first-time borrowers. For example, one deal by Citi-Master Card tempts students with 0% APR for the first six months, along with no annual fee. The allure of student discounts offered at certain locations seemingly sweetens the deal. But remember, always read the small print on any offer. Some would call this a reality check. The previously mentioned proposal also states that your APR (interest rate) will go to 19.99% on balances after the introductory six months.	And if you default (are unable to pay) your interest rate shoots up to 28.99%! Now, this example isn’t intended to scare the wary reader from credit cards, just to shed some light on the situation. The appeal of credit cards can be overwhelming. Companies are trying, more than ever, it seems, to attract young people. Dave Ramsey, a financial advisor, says on his Web site, “Anyone visiting a college campus in recent years has been shocked at the aggressive and senseless marketing of credit cards to people who don’t have jobs.” You can find yourself in quicksand really swiftly if you say yes to all those offers you get. The mountain of debt can grow very suddenly if one doesn’t use caution. In fact, the American Bankruptcy Institute reported that 19% of all consumer bankruptcies filed last year were college students. The best piece of advice is to use discretion. Exercise self-discipline. If you are in a pinch, and you have the cash, evaluate your options. If you pay off your balances at the end of each month, you have nothing to worry about. When you let the balance carry over, the applicable interest rate, along with finance charges, apply. The longer it takes to pay down your card, the more you end up paying. A life of responsibility and debt management will forever be the envy of your friends long after those luxurious shoes are worn out and discarded.