Tech Tip: Embed Facebook

Tech Tip: Embedded Tweet

Head to the sark to see these cool cats who just advanced to round 2 pic.twitter.com/nlAe3csFF2

— SGA (@OU_SGA) October 26, 2016

Tech Tip: Canvas Calendar

I've actually been using this tool all semester and have found it to be incredibly helpful! Unfortunately, not too many professors put their entire class schedule online (thanks Laura!) which makes it a little difficult to rely on it in whole. However, it is certainly an effective organizational strategy! Below is a screenshot of my Google Calendar for this last week with the integrated calendar.

Screenshot from My Personal Google Calendar

Tech Tip: Canvas Profile

Screenshot of my Canvas Profile
Source: Canvas

I really appreciate the fact that you're able to change your name in Canvas... while I am lucky/privileged to go by my birth name, this is especially important for queer people that might not identify with their birth name. My profile itself isn't too new... I don't think that Canvas is the place to put too much personal information or anything similar. That being said, I do have my standard picture there because I think that it makes some of my online posts more personable. Either way, I like the layout!

Tech Tip: Canvas Notifications

I absolutely love the notification system that Canvas has. I am a frequent user of my OU e-mail due to the amount of extracurricular organizations that I'm involved in, and receiving notifications there is really nice. However, I do wonder why it takes so long for notifications to appear, especially after I submit a quiz to be graded. I usually have to wait at least 30 minutes to get a notification from Canvas telling me that something has been graded. Other than that, I'm grateful for it!

Tech Tip: Cheezburger

Image Generated by Cheezburger

Tech Tip: Quotemakers (Force of Nature)

Image created with BeHappy.me
Quote from Grey's Anatomy

Tech Tips: Hashtags and Retweets

The tweet that I re-tweeted can be found here. I am so excited for the new Rocky Horror to come out (I've loved Victoria Justice and Laverne Cox since I knew they existed) and can't wait to share it with everyone!

The hashtag that I found the most interesting was #ICMA (International City Management Association) which is a big conference that just concluded in my hometown of Kansas City. I used to to work for the City Council in Kansas City, so I was able to follow along pretty closely with some of the proposed policy changes and just enjoy some of my old work friends enjoying themselves!

Tech Tip: Automotivator

Image Created by AutoMotivator
Text: Quote from Audrey Hepburn (Source: GoodReads)

Tech Tip: Following at Twitter

This week, I decided to take a closer look at some of the accounts at Twitters that I could following using the "Who to Follow" option on the right-hand side of the desktop UI. I chose to follow @OU_Unheard because they release a good deal of content and announcements from their social media pages, and as a Student Government official/Social Justice minor, I like to know how students believe that OU is doing as it relates to creating an inclusive and welcoming community.

Google Timer Tech Tip

I've actually been browsing lately for a timer app to install on my Dell, so it's nice to find out that there's one that's so easily accessible! This will be especially useful for setting timers... I often have a short period of time in-between classes that I can get stuff done during, but I can use this timer to ensure that I get to class on time! I can sometimes get lost in my work and not pay much attention to the clock, which makes a timer all the more necessary.

Tech Tip: First Tweet

I've had a Twitter account for a while, and I must say, I really enjoy it because it serves its own unique purpose within my social media "portfolio" (including things like Twitter, Blogger, Facebook, etc.)

One aspect of Twitter that I really enjoy is the ability to restrict who can see your Tweets, also known as "protecting". As someone who uses Twitter both as a personal diary of sorts and as a way to speak out about social justice issues, I appreciate the level of privacy that I can have on Twitter, while using other platforms like Facebook or Instagram to communicate the less controversial aspects of my life (accomplishments, jobs, events) to my family that wouldn't appreciate or benefit from seeing my Twitter feed.

Introduction to a Singing Scholar (Tech Tip: Embedded YouTube)

Hello everyone! 

My name is Jake, and I'm an International Studies/Letters (Constitutional Studies) double major sophomore with minors in Social Justice and LGBTQ Studies. I'm from Kansas City (for more information about the best hometown in the world, check out my location post here). As you might be able to surmise from my field of study, I'm largely interested in public policy, especially as it affects queer-identifying people, and hope to become a civil rights attorney in order to litigate for the rights of queer people both domestically and abroad. 

Outside of my professional and academic pursuits, I'm also largely involved on campus. I'm a Peer Educator for the Gender + Equality Center's Step In, Speak Out program (picture below taken from our first training, I'm the one standing),

Picture taken by the Director of the Gender + Equality Center
at the 2016 Step In, Speak Out Training at OU, Source: Facebook

as well as a Small Group Leader for Camp Crimson (my small group is shown below).

Picture taken by Camp Crimson Staff at OU's Camp Crimson 2016 (OKU Session)
Source: Facebook

I'm also actively involved in the Student Government Association, the Informed Citizens Discussion Group, the Honors College, and a number of other organizations on campus.

In addition to my extracurricular pursuits, I am also a classically trained vocalist/musical theater fanatic. Below is a picture of me from my Junior year of high school playing The Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera.

Personal Photo of myself as The Phantom in Park Hill South's production of The Phantom of the Opera

At OU, I also had the opportunity to participate in The Crimson Chords, OU's premier student-led, co-ed a Cappella group, which was a lot of fun. A video of our performance of Bastille's Pompeii at our mid-semester concert can be found below (that's me in the black cardigan).

Video of the Crimson Chords performing at Gray Owl as recorded by a member's father

Source: Facebook

Unfortunately, due to conflicts with a job during this semester, I had to quit the organization, but I still try to sing when/where I can.

Finally, I'm a huge proponent of debate in high schools. I spend a good number of weekends volunteering to judge debate and speech events in the OK community, because I have such a passion and belief in the activities' ability to change lives like it changed mine. I'm considering becoming a speech and debate coach either immediately following undergrad or after I retire from being an attorney. Below is a picture of me at Dallas Nationals my Senior year of high school with two of my best friends.

Photo of my friends and I at Dallas Nationals taken by my coach
Source: Facebook

Anyways, that's about it for me! The gist of this introduction is that I'm passionate, outspoken, and can generally be found singing. Can't wait to spend the semester learning with all of you!