Trending on Twitter: #cs404chat

http://imgur.com/PXXRX4D

We had such a productive chat on Twitter the other day, we caused a trend in the SLC area!

Common Mistake: It's & Its

Many people don't realize that it's and its are two different words with distinct meanings, and those who DO realize it often don't understand the difference.

Here's a simple explanation:

• It's means it is.
• Example: It's fun to go swimming at night.
• Its means belonging to it.
• Example: The government takes good care of its citizens.

Be careful not to mix up the two different forms. Doing so will get you marked down for grammatical errors and will confuse your readers.

For Extra Help

I just want to make you all aware that I have a separate blog, for personal use, where I regularly discuss grammar, editing, and writing issues.

The blog's title is A Novel Adventure. Granted, most of it is geared toward those who seek to write or edit for a profession, but you might be interested in some of the posts if you want to improve your writing skills.

You are NOT by any means required to follow or even visit the blog, but I want you to know that it's there. Just in case.

And yes, the cat's out of the bag. I am a nerd. I like to write about writing for fun.

Dr. Charles Knutson: "Families and the Internet" at Southern Virginia University

If you are interested in listening to one of Dr. K's lectures about Internet safety, here is an audio recording of a lecture he gave at Southern Virginia University in June 2011.

What Most Schools Don't Teach: How to Code

Social Media How To: Google Reader

RSS: Really Simple Syndication

Google Reader lets you read everything in one place. This means that you don't have to open a million tabs in your Internet browser to flip through the class blogs (or various other websites of your interest). It's pretty simple because it routes through RSS, or Really Simple Syndication. The major benefit to Google Reader for CS 404 is that you will be able to link and follow the class blogs, and you will be able to see who has similar interests as you. Social media is all about forming connections. Why should you explore, discover, and think of new ideas on your own when there is an entire audience (both in the class and on the World Wide Web) to help expand your education and deepen your connections?

How to Use Google Reader:

1. Sign in with your Google Account. If you don't have a Google account, go ahead and create one.

2. Navigate to Google Reader.

3. Click on "Subscribe." 

4. Copy and Paste the URL of the blog you wish to follow.

5. Press "Add" and the blog should come up in your Google Reader feed.

Note: There are many ways to connect websites to your Google Reader. Wherever you see the RSS button, you can click it and it should automatically link to your Google Reader as long as you are logged in.

You can follow the news, blogs, and various other websites in Google Reader. It helps you stay up to date with all of your interests. Pretty cool!