Life as Edward Jensen

Last Friday (July 10th), the Dean’s Office for the ASU College of Public Programs moved, so please note our new address:

411 N. Central Avenue
Suite 650 | Mail Code 3520
Phoenix, AZ 85004-0686

Our phone number, (602) 496-0600, will remain the same.

-Edward Jensen and the Dean’s Office

[editor's note: Amy Freberg, the guest author of this post, is the Student Ambassador for the School of Social Work here at the ASU College of Public Programs.  Her blog is at http://aafreberg.blogspot.com/.]

Ode to the Noisy Train
Inspired by Edward Jensen

I wait on the platform
With the heat of the summer
Dripping down the back of my neck.
I stand waiting.

Down the street as far as one can see
A metro train grows in the distance,
Lights flashing as a warning.
I stand waiting.

As it rolls up to the stop
I collect my things,
There is a pause before the doors open.
I stand waiting.

On entering I look for a seat
In this one-car-train,
None are to be found.
I stand waiting.

The train jolts into movement,
I try to keep my balance.
A noise explodes from somewhere below,
The sound of a new train in need of oil,
And I stand, Waiting.

[author's note: Since April 2009, I've been working with the IT and e-Learning side of the ASU College of Public Programs in a new endeavor that combines my passion for technology and the advancement of learning. Don't get me wrong, I'm still working with the Student Ambassadors (StARs). The StARs group we have assembled at the moment is an energetic, passionate, and eager bunch and I'm humbled and honored to call them all my colleagues and friends.  Do please check out what these future world-changers have to say.  But this added gig lets me work with CoPP faculty to reach out to new students in newer and more innovative ways.]

[editor's note: At least once a week, we'll try and have an e-learning post online wherein we share our thoughts about technology in the classroom, social media, emerging technologies, and anything of the sort. You can find all these assembled posts under the Online Learning subtheme of the ASU theme.]

About a couple of months ago, ASU announced that it had partnerned with Inigral to bring ASU on Facebook (click to launch), a Facebook application that connects students to each other in the same class, major, school, and college.  The application also allows students to connect with instructors, view class schedules and find other students from the same hometown. The premise of ASU on Facebook is that it links a student’s Facebook account to the ASU Student Information System via the ASURite single sign-on (SSO) system.

With the introduction of any new system comes lots of questions. Borrowing from a popular format by Educause, I co-wrote (with Dr. Colleen Carmean) 7 things you should know about ASU on Facebook for the College’s e-Learning team.  You can click on the image at right to download a nice 1-page flyer (on legal-size paper, 8.5×14) of what this Facebook application is (and is not) or you can check out a more detailed version on the College’s website, http://copp.asu.edu/facebook. In the context of a hypothetical scenario of Sheila, an undergraduate student in the College’s Social Work program, the flyer outlines the what, who, how, significance, downsides, where, and implications for learning of this new application.

The thing that will be interesting to see is how this ASU on Facebook application works with – and quite possibly even complements – the existing Blackboard course management system.  Most students are probably on Facebook more than they are on Blackboard (sadly), so will students treat this new application as though it were Blackboard?

Probably not at the outset.  Notably lacking from the ASU on Facebook application – and probably by design – is a system where students can submit their assignments and review their grades.  ASU can make people use Blackboard, but it cannot make them create a Facebook profile, the crux of this entire system.

Facebook is an informal system, something that Educause discussed in their September 2006 flyer, 7 things you should know about Facebook (PDF).  This is something we felt would challenge the academic tone that instructors are trying to establish in their classes.  But given the wide popularity of Facebook – 200 million active users by Facebook’s own count – who knows if this will supplement Blackboard or start to replace it.  As Dr. Carmean and I wrote as a concluding thought:

ASU on Facebook is an informal approach to discussion and connection in a course. Since many students already use Facebook, this initiative provides a familiar approach for students seeking connection outside the classroom. Will faculty embrace the initiative, accept course invitations to join their students at ASU on Facebook, and embrace informal course communications? Time will tell.

If you’ve skipped reading everything I’ve written above and just want the link to the flyer: it’s at http://copp.asu.edu/facebook.  The ASU on Facebook application is at http://facebook.asu.edu/.

-Edward Jensen

If you remember, back on July 4, I posted a video of the late Virgil Fox performing Charles Ives’ Variations on ‘America’, which you probably know as either My country, ’tis of thee or God save the Queen.  But after posting that video, I found a couple of different (better?) versions and so I feel as though I should reshare.

So, here is Tom Trenney performing on the Trinity Wall Street organ, which should be familiar to you because this is where Robert Ridgell performed quite possibly the best tribute to Michael Jackson.

Much better, I think.

-Edward Jensen

233 years ago, never have words have such a profound effect on history.  On this day, the Declaration of Independence was signed and thus was born the greatest political experiment, the United States of America.

Fast forward to 1891, when young church organist and composer Charles Ives composed his Variations on ‘America’, which you might know as either My country, ’tis of thee or God save the Queen (how ironic).

Finally, fast forward to today, 4 July 2009, where you’ll listen to the late concert organist Virgil Fox play this piece:

So happy Independence Day, America!

-Edward Jensen

As you’re probably aware, the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, died last week. Tributes have poured in from all over the world and sales of Mr. Jackson’s albums have skyrocketed.

And at Trinity Wall Street, an Episcopal parish on Wall Street in Manhattan, organist Robert Ridgell performed quite possibly the best tribute yet to the late entertainer.

So, from the organ voluntary on 28 June 2009 at Trinity Wall Street in Manhattan, this is quite possibly the best tribute to the late King of Pop (because it’s played on the King of Instruments):

Yes. This is amazing.

My great thanks to the Episcopal Church of the Epiphany in Flagstaff for finding this and putting it on their Twitter stream (@EpiphanyFlagAZ).

-Edward Jensen

Upcoming Event in the Olney Art Gallery on First Friday…

Sarah Kriehn’s “Abstractions”

Meet the artist during the OPENING RECEPTION, Thursday, July 16, 7-9 pm

Join the Cathedral Center for the Arts and Trinity Episcopal Cathedral for a month long print exhibit showcasing the work of Sarah Kriehn.  An Arizona native and graduate of Arizona State University, Sarah Kriehn’s career in the arts spans over twenty years.  In additional to serving on the Arizona Humanities Council, she was awarded the 2003 Elementary Art Educator of the Year award, and was the 2005 Art Education Nominee for the Governor’s Art Award.

Her prints are created by transferring an image inked onto Plexiglas to paper. Using both biomorphic and geometric abstraction, her images investigate the boundaries of time and space and their relationships to the natural and human world.

The gallery and reception are free and open to the public.

It is crucial that this message be disseminated and understood by all Valley Metro bus and METRO light rail passengers.

1) Purchasing fares at the farebox or “on-board” the bus will cost more tomorrow (Wed, July 1). The local bus/METRO light rail/LINK All-day bus fare increases from $2.50 to $3.50. Purchasing this same All-day fare at the BUS farebox will cost $5.25.

2) Purchasing fares in advance will save riders money.

3) You can purchase a fare in advance at: METRO light rail station fare vending machines, online at valleymetro.org, transit centers, some public libraries, Safeway grocery stores, and Fry’s Foods.

4) Why does the All-day pass for local, express and reduced fares now vary? Because purchasing fares at the farebox or “on-board” the bus slows down the boarding process for everyone and makes it more difficult for the bus to stay on schedule. 90% of our All-day passes are purchased on the bus—but now we have doubled our locations to purchase fares making it more convenient to save money.

-Edward Jensen

Ok, so something I’ve long been considering is getting a Segway.  You may know them as those futuristic-looking vehicles that balance on two wheels and are controlled by how the driver  leans.  (If you’re curious, I’m looking at the i2 Commuter.)

Since I don’t have a car (or a license for that matter, but by personal choice), I’m limited to public transport, walking, biking, friends, and the parents.  Which is fine.  But a Segway, I feel, would complement this repertory of mobility extensively.

So yesterday, I sent out the following tweet on Twitter (as a complete aside, if you’re on Twitter, follow me: I’m @edwardjensen):

Does anyone know if Metro will allow Segways on its trains? If I get one, it better be able to go on the Metro… #raillife #phx

And I get the following tweet back in response from @PhoenixMetroBus, the Twitter account for Valley Metro (spelling, punctuation, etc. retained from the original):

@edwardjensen If u push it to the platform and onto the train, yes, Segways are allowed on the train. #raillife #phx

I should also thank @michichan for her reply tweets offering a clarification (again, spelling, punctuation, etc. retained):

@edwardjensen you can take a segway on board. you can’t ride it on platforms or trains unless it’s a mobility aid and it is marked as such … the only major restriction is on gas powered devices (including gas powered motorized bicycles) #raillife

Next, I have to figure out where I can park my hypothetical Segway on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus…

To do list: i. figure out where to park the Segway on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, and ii. raise capital to purchase a Segway. Then have lots of fun…

-Edward Jensen

[author's note: With a slight change to the format this time around, I'm continuing my series on ASU Downtown Phoenix campus adventures, or trips to little-known places in and around the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus.  New editions will be posted on Mondays under the 'Downtown Phoenix campus adventures' tag, so be sure to check back!]

Readers of my blog will notice that I haven’t posted in a week. This is because I was on a family vacation to Colorado.  I enjoyed my time there but I’m rather happy to be back in Phoenix.

I bring this up because although I didn’t have time to prepare a new edition of ASU Downtown Phoenix campus adventures, friend and colleague Amy Freberg read my mind and gave a video overview of the Lincoln Family YMCA from my favorite spot on the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, the roof deck of University Center.

So, go check out “See the Y from the 9th Floor” and watch the video. You’ll be glad you did.

And I’ll be back next Monday with a new adventure.

-Edward Jensen