Reflecting on ALES 204

Retrieved April 10, 2012 from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=3941

ALES204, Communication Theory and Practise, has exposed me to a large portion of the social media world that I otherwise would have never explored if I hadn’t taken this course. Before taking this class, I had never heard of Audioboo, LinkedIn or Flikr. I had never blogged, used Twitter, updated a Wikipedia article or thought of Facebook as a useful platform to promote oneself professionally. Before the Science Article Assignment, I was unfamiliar with OpenAccess Publishing, and its potential to change the academic publishing world. ALES 204 has exposed me to a diverse collection of social media tools, some of which I will use in the future, and some of which I will not.

Although Twitter can be a useful way to connect with people and professionally network, after this class I do not think I will be an active tweeter. I am not a very technological person. I prefer to interact with the people whom I am physically with, rather than have my eyes glued to a computer or iPhone. Although I can see the usefulness of Twitter, I have a harder time recognizing the benefits of Audioboo. I found the Wikipedia stub assignment interesting. I had fun elaborating on a Wikipedia stub, and I learned a few things about disorders ofcalcium metabolism in the meantime. This assignment taught me a lot about where the articles on Wikipedia come from and how easy it is for anyone to post information. Although this was a useful exercise, I doubt I will be updating any Wikipedia stubs in the near future. I do plan, however, to use Facebook as a means to advertise myself professionally, once I have finished my degree. Developing a business oriented Facebook page can really expand your audience and provide valuable advertising, free of charge. I can also see myself using LinkedIn in the future, to network with other nutrition professionals around the globe.

I can appreciate the fact that today, the internet is how we can most effectively reach people and promote ourselves. Because of this, I will use Facebook and other forms of social networking, like LinkedIn, to stay professionally connected. However, I doubt I will ever be a blogger or frequent Twitter user, as I would much rather spend my free time talking with people rather than typing to them. Ales 204 exposed me to a technical world I was previously unfamiliar with. Although I was hoping to develop my public speaking skills a little more and my computer skills a little less, I have gained some valuable knowledge that I will take forward with me in my career.

It’s interesting to read the differing opinions in the reflective posts of my classmates. Shannon points out how she believes it would have been more respectful and productive to have the class tweet after lectures rather than during, I completely agree. After reading many blog posts by ALES 204 students, I commented on some of the posts I found most interesting:

Sydney, Andi, Christie, Brenda Le and Sara.

Raising Awareness with Social Media

This semester in my Community Nutrition (NUTR 377) class, a representative from the organization Growing Food Security Alberta (GFSA) came and talked about food security and eating locally. GFSA is an organization that promotes strategies to ensure adequate, safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate foods for all Albertans. They help rural communities in Alberta and their community members to identify determinants of health and address these issues by helping communities become self-sufficient through things like community gardens and farmers’ markets. Their goal is to address food security by developing a model for a sustainable, local food system in rural communities throughout Alberta. They partner with local farmers, greenhouses, schools and social services throughout the province.

Retreived April 11, 2012, from: http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/images/view_photog.php?photogid=2280

This lecture showed me how the food I buy, and where I buy it, effects so many people and communities. When you buy food that is grown in an unsustainable, environmentally harmful manner, you are supporting that system of growing. When you buy food that is picked and processed by people who work in unacceptable conditions, and earn a less than adequate wages, you are supporting the unfair treatment of those workers. Eating locally not only supports your community, local farmers and business owners, but also supports global sustainability.


GFSA uses social media to spread its message and reach people all over the world. Without the use of Twitter, Facebook, blogs and websites, GFSA would not be able to grow as fast as it has or reach as many people as it has. To learn more about this organization, and what you can do to help, check out their Facebook page, website, and blog, or follow them on Twitter @FoodSecurityAB. In her blog post, “Kony 2012: Make Him Famous,” Steph Nash also shows how social media can be used to raise awareness and support a worthy cause.

The Wonderful World of Wiki

This week’s Ales 204 assignment was to find a stub on Wikipedia and expand on it. The stub I chose was called Disorders of Calcium Metabolism.

Screen Shot by Jen Vandermeer
Wikipedia - Disorders of Calcium Metabolism
March 22, 2012

For those of you who don’t know what a stub is (I didn’t either until this week), it’s an incomplete Wikipedia entry. A stub can be incomplete in many ways; for example, it may not have references to support the written information, or there is just very little information written about a particular subject. Perhaps I’ve been living in the dark until this week, but I didn’t realize that just anyone could go on Wikipedia, create a user name and password, and edit the articles. Basically, anyone with access to the internet can write whatever they want on Wikipedia and be completely unaccountable for what they contribute. I was aware of the fact that Wikipedia was not a consistently reliable source of accurate information and was not appropriate to use in academic writing, but I had no idea any person in the world could post whatever random information or nonsense they wanted. This makes me wonder about how much information I've read on Wikipedia and interpreted as factual.

On the other hand, Wikipedia is constantly scanning updated articles and weeding out as much of the misinformation as they can. While some people may use Wikipedia as place to vandalize, others use it as a place to contribute their knowledge and share their expertise on millions of interesting topics. There are many well written articles on Wikipedia that contain valuable information. Wikipedia’s “featured articles” are considered the most well written articles by the editors. These articles satisfy the site’s specific style requirements and are accurate, complete, and neutral. Wikipedia can be an excellent source of information, when you need a broad overview of a topic or a quick explanation of an unfamiliar subject.

Wikipedia definitely has its pros and cons. While it can be a convenient way to find fast information, it is important to use this information carefully and skeptically. Erika Brown provides an in depth look at the benefits and drawbacks to using Wikipedia as a primary information source. One good way to find out if the Wikipedia information you’re reading has credibility, is to check out the references used for that particular article. If these sources are academic, peer reviewed articles, there’s a good chance that at least some of the information you are reading is reliable. As for using Wikipedia as a reference for academic writing, it’s probably not a good idea if you want your work to be taken seriously or have credibility.

Professional Facebook

No matter where you are in the world, people are talking about Facebook. This social media phenomenon has invaded every square inch of our planet, Facebook is everywhere. You are of an unusual minority if you do not currently have a Facebook account. With its widespread popularity and unavoidable presence, it’s not a surprise that Facebook is an excellent platform for promoting oneself and showcasing personal and professional expertise.

Even though I’ve had a Facebook page for a few years now, I have never thought of using it to promote myself in a business sense. That changed today when I created a professional Facebook page for my communications class. I’ve uploaded a picture of my page using my newly created Flikr account. This page is not a profile; it’s just one page that is somewhat of an electronic resume or business card. It gives potential employers the opportunity to check out your skills, work experience and references in a to-the-point, easy to access resume. As a job seeker, you are able to reach those who may have been previously unreachable. A note of caution, remember to update privacy settings, photos of last weekend are the last thing your future boss needs to see. A professional page should be just that, professional.

ALES prof, a photo by jenv8 on Flickr.

For further information about how Facebook can be used as a useful professional resource, check out Hilary’s blog.

Photo by: Jen V
Nanaimo River

Welcome to my blog! My name is Jen and I am a third year nutrition student working towards becoming a Registered Dietitian. As a first time blogger, I am enthusiastic about gaining some blogging experience and exploring a new way to share information and ideas. I moved to Edmonton two and a half years ago for school and have been missing the warm, mild climate of BC ever since. I am fascinated by the human body and am passionate about healthy living and nutrition. I like to run and go to yoga and be outside whenever I can... weather permitting. As a dietitian I hope to inspire people to take care of their bodies and minds through proper nutrition and physical activity. I believe balance is the recipe for a healthful and fulfilling life.

Communication plays a vital role in the field of dietetics. The internet allows immediate access to the most current nutrition information, which is a rapidly evolving area of research. It allows people who are seeking nutrition advice an endless supply of information without leaving their homes. The internet provides people who have been diagnosed with a disease, like diabetes, to have instant access to information regarding the best nutrition for their ailment. Without having to wait a week to see their doctor, they can go to reputable sites, like the diabetes association website www.diabetes.ca and find information on what to eat, when to eat it and tips on how to cook it. Also, communication tools like Facebook and blogs allow dietitians to share their knowledge and opinions about the ever-changing world of nutrition. Check out Erika B's nutrition thoughts at http://esbrown2012.blogspot.com.