ALES 204: Communication Theory & Practise :: Winter 2012

Agriculture Research Conference

2012-05-09T13:58:00.000-06:00

Letter Grade Conversions

2012-05-05T14:02:00.000-06:00

I've had a few questions about the conversion of & to letter grades. This is the ALES Faculty letter-grade conversion chart:

Highest	Lowest	Letter
100.00 %	97.00 %	A+
96.99 %	93.00 %	A
92.99 %	90.00 %	A-
89.99 %	85.00 %	B+
84.99 %	81.00 %	B
80.99 %	76.00 %	B-
75.99 %	71.00 %	C+
70.99 %	65.00 %	C
64.99 %	60.00 %	C-
59.99 %	54.00 %	D+
53.99 %	50.00 %	D
49.99 %	49.00 %	F

Final Class

2012-04-13T00:30:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone!

And here we are, on the very last day of ALES204 - I know you'll miss it! :)

REMINDER: Your E-portfolio is due today by 17:00. Please send the link to your blog to your TA. And, don't forget to include the links to your FIVE comments in your final blog post.

I'd like to thank you all for coming to class and participating both in class and through the class blog, your e-portfolios and twitter. I'd also like to wish you all a lovely summer - whether you're back at uni taking more courses, perhaps heading somewhere to start a job or even returning home to relax. It was a pleasure meeting you all and I think you for sharing your thoughts.

On our last day, as mentioned, we will have the exciting Pecha Kucha presentations for the CSL students. They are going to share with us a little bit about what they've been working on this term. Perhaps you'll be so interested, you'll want to enroll in CSL in another term.

After the Pecha Kucha presentations I would like you all to take about 10 minutes to answer a survey I've created. I'm very interested to hear your thoughts on the course, what you learnt and perhaps what you would still like to learn. I'll use this information in my next course design! I appreciate your input and your participation.

You can fill in the form right here (scroll down a bit):

Note, feel free to work with a partner.

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Friday Class - CSL Pecha Kucha Presentations

2012-04-12T16:25:00.000-06:00

Hi everyone,

The students from the CSL lab and I would like to invite you to come to class tomorrow to hear about our experiences working with community organizations as part of ALES 204. I can tell you that the presentations are awesome! We're also looking forward to welcoming our community partners to class once again. We hope to see you there.

Agriculture Symposium

2012-04-11T12:35:00.001-06:00

World of 2050SessionsRegistrationEvents at SymposiumRequest an Invitation Alltech Annual International Symposium May 20 - May 23, 2012 Lexington, Kentucky, USA 2012 Alltech Symposium to Envisage the World of 2050 Your invitation to Alltech's 28th Symposium The world population is growing at an incredible rate, which means that people and industries alike must explore innovative ideas in order to plan for the future. Agriculture will play a tremendous role in shaping that future as producers grapple with the challenges of feeding the booming global population — projected to reach 9 billion people by 2050 — while dealing with diminishing resources and environmental concerns. To feed that population, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports that global food production must double by 2050 to avoid mass hunger. According to Alltech, this can only be achieved through improved technology. During Alltech’s 28th Annual International Symposium May 20-23, 2012, in Lexington, Ky., presenters will cover many topics related to feeding the world now and in the future. The event is expected to draw more than 2,000 participants from around the world. Participants will explore innovative solutions to growing industry and global challenges as they attend sessions and network with other professionals from across borders and industry segments. Download Symposium Brochure “As we look to our future, we have some major questions that we need to come together and answer through innovative solutions,” Dr. Pearse Lyons, president and founder of Alltech said. “For example, what does the future hold for our children’s world? What role will you play in it? Where will you be? As we look to our children’s future, we must revolutionize how we think about the business of food production.” Through more than 100 presentations by industry experts, including speakers from major industry leaders such as Domino’s Pizza, Jack in the Box, Wendy’s, Nestle, Murphy-Brown, Future Farmers of America, PetSmart and the Harvard School of Business, Alltech’s Symposium will examine innovative strategies and focus on ideas for better use of resources, improved business practices and natural nutritional solutions. Special Events at Symposium Alltech Headquarters and Algae Tour International Dinner Fun Run An Evening at the Kentucky Horse Park Spouse/Guest Outing - Tour Discussion Dinners In addition to general sessions, the Symposium will provide opportunities for professionals to attend breakout sessions in areas such as aquaculture, beef, dairy, equine, poultry, pig production, pet food and regulatory along with new focus areas offered for this year on food quality, traceability, crop science, legal, marketing, information technology and designer food. The Symposium will explore possible answers to questions facing the agricultural industry today such as: How can we feed a world with 9 billion people? Why does China succeed while the economies of Europe and America struggle? What are the implications of a $100 billion Facebook? How can agriculture benefit from the first global youth network? Is aquaculture the future of protein? Why does Alltech predict that epigenetics and programmed nutrition are the future of meat production? Why is salesmanship fundamental to building a business? What does the next generation of lawyers, marketers and economists need to know about a growing new economy and a primary requirement of life – food? “When we come together through education and discussion, we create synergy that allows us to develop revolutionary new ideas for sustainability in food production and to share market-oriented business strategies, agribusiness training and scientific research. This will lead us to technological solutions to the issues our industry faces,” said Dr. Lyons. “As an industry and as good citizens, we must address these issues now for the future generations who will inherit our world.” Alltech’s prestigious Medal of Excellence and Young Scientist Awards will also be presented during the Symposium. If you haven't recieved your invitation code request one here!

Lecture 32: Future-Casting

2012-04-11T00:30:00.000-06:00

Wow, it is that time of year already - one classe left in the entire term and today will be the final lecture!

Lecture 32 2012 - Future- Casting

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As you know, Friday we have some fun lined up for us consisting of the sure-to-be informative pecha kucha presentations from our CSL students.

Here is my own little summary of this term's Ales204 class. I used storify (mentioned in the lecture) to curate some photos, tweets, audioboos and more that were published on the web with our course tag: #ALES204. Enjoy and feel free to comment on the stories themselves (a new feature storify recently added).

Take a look at this prediction for the Future of Science from the Institute for the Future:

A Multiverse of Exploration: The Future of Science 2021

CNN features map in "A look at 'the future of science' 2021"

Invisibility cloaks. The search for extraterrestrial intelligence. A Facebook for genes. These were just a few of the startling topics IFTF explored at our recent Technology Horizons Program conference on the "Future of Science." More than a dozen scientists from UC Berkeley, Stanford, UC Santa Cruz, Scripps Research Institute, SETI, and private industry shared their edgiest research driving transformations in science. MythBusters' Adam Savage weighed in on the future of science education. All of their presentations were signals supporting IFTF's new "Future of Science" forecast, laid out in a new map titled "A Multiverse of Exploration: The Future of Science 2021." The map focuses on six big stories of science that will play out over the next decade: Decrypting the Brain, Hacking Space, Massively Multiplayer Data, Sea the Future, Strange Matter, and Engineered Evolution. Those stories are emerging from a new ecology of science shifting toward openness, collaboration, reuse, and increased citizen engagement in
scientific research.

We are delighted to share the map with you, under a Creative Commons license permitting non-commercial sharing with attribution. We hope you enjoy it and find it provocative. Think of "A Multiverse of Exploration: The Future of Science 2021" as a star chart of possibility, pointing the way toward opportunities for wonder, knowledge, and insight. Use it to raise questions about how your life and work may change in light of the startling transformations that science may bring about in the next ten years. Indeed, every forecast could be rephrased as a "what if" question. What if you could record your dreams? What if you could design a life form? What if you could launch a company in orbit? Your answers to those questions can help inform decisions in the present. Inside this map, you'll find plenty of space to think.

E-Portfolio Assignment

2012-04-09T15:21:00.001-06:00

Shrink Rap Radio (2012). APA Style Manual [Image], Retrieved, April 9 2012, from: URL http://www.shrinkrapradio.com/about/shrink-rap-radio-in-the-apa-style-manual/

I've had some more questions about the E-Portfolio which is due on the last day of class (the 13th of April).

NO you do not need to include a Delicious tag cloud. Delicious no longer supports this and your assignment does not ask you to do this. Please make sure you are looking at the current assignment (and not last term's one): found here.
Your final reflective blog post means I am looking for you to tell me about your learning throughout the term. You can disagree with using Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs, Twitter etc...BUT tell me why. Use examples to support your analyses. I am looking for you to show me your critical thinking; why you are thinking the way you do. Use examples, use resources, refer to class content and readings
In your final reflective blog post PLEASE remember to include the links to your FIVE comments that you have made throughout the term
YES even if you are including photos that you took (so there is no copyright issue) you MUST still include a caption/reference noting all the pertinent information following APA style

Again, if you have any questions, don't hesitate to e-mail me.

I'm including the assignment information below too:

ALES 204 E-Portfolio Term Project

Total Value: 35%

As we proceed through the term your writer’s toolbox will grow. Blogging for this class will help you not only keep track of what you’ve been learning but it will also give you a space to stretch your communication muscles. Communicating well in various modes, text, image and sound are part of this class’s learning outcomes that you can practise in your own blog posts.
This term assignment is not really about specific instances of “science.” Rather, this assignment is an opportunity to make broad observations of kinds of scientific knowledge and professional composition in relation to what we’re learning in the class. You do not have to write a blog post for every single class that we have. You must do at least five posts and two side-bar widgets. In most instances I WILL assign you a blog post topic (such as the Introductory blog post and the final reflective post) – that will count as your E-Portfolio – but you will have the opportunity to choose ONE topic AND, if you wish to write any extra posts, those topics will be also be your choice (though they must be related to class content). With this E-Portfolio you have a chance to participate in an online environment that is becoming increasingly important for the future; both in education and employment.

At the end of the term, you will have written at least five blog posts. In each blog post you must:

Include at least one image

Include at least one external link (somewhere out in the WWW)

Include at least one reference to a fellow student’s blog post (you must link to the post, i.e. internal link)

Be on topic (i.e. related to our class work).

Each blog post should be at least two paragraphs but no more than four.

Additionally, throughout the term you must comment on at least five blog posts written by fellow students in this class. You can find links to the students’ blogs on the class blog, under the Module 2 blog post.

Comments, like all the writing and interaction in this class, must remain appropriate in level (writing style, mechanics and punctuation) and collegiality. In your final blog post for this project you will need to include links to the five (or more) comments you made.

Mandatory Blog Post Topics

Module 2: Introductory Blog Post

Module 3: Embed the Flickr photo of your paper (or online) Facebook profile.

Module 10: Wikipedia stub entry (not required for CSL students)

Module 10: Optional Post (only for CSL students)

Additional E-Portfolio entries include (to be completed by the end of the term, 13th April.):

Embed your Twitter feed in the sidebar of your blog.

At least ONE blog post on a topic of your choice

Reflective blog post. Please add links to your FIVE comments here on your final reflective blog post.

Important Elements to Note:
1) All related links, images, audio and any other multimodal device must be appropriate, and you must CITE the reference information using APA style, even if the images are your own work.
2) The internet and computers can have hiccups. Save, save, save your work.
3) Use your writer’s toolbox in your blogs – there’s no excuse for forgetting to capitalise, incorrect punctuation and txt spk (unless that is part of the assignment).
4) Remember to label your posts appropriately.
5) This is an individual project. You are to write each blog post on your own. There is opportunity to collaborate by commenting on other blog posts.

Note on Computer Access:
You will have the chance to write blog posts on your own time and by using any of the computers available at the University of Alberta campus. As a class we now have all lab sessions in computer labs during which there may be opportunity to craft a blog post.

Due Date: 13th April 2012, 17:00

Happy Easter Monday

2012-04-09T00:30:00.000-06:00

Ah, I'm sure you're all enjoying the long weekend and don't need a reminder that there is no lecture today as it's Easter Monday!

Image from UK Bank Holiday Dates.

AFNS SPECIAL SEMINAR

2012-04-06T20:33:00.001-06:00

Bridging Industry and Academia

Dr. Patrick Doyle

Head, Quality Management, R&D Seeds, Syngenta Biotechnology Inc.

Durham, North Carolina

DEVELOPMENT OF AN AGRICULTURAL BIOTECH PRODUCT – TESTING

FROM DISCOVERY TO COMMERCIALIZATION

April 19, 2012

3:00pm to 4:00pm

Room NREF N2-003

Natural Resources Engineering Facility Building

116 St & 91 Ave

University of Alberta

Refreshments to follow presentation

For more information please contact: Sharon Katzeff at Tel: 780 492 0379

Email: sharon.katzeff@ales.ualberta.ca

Dr. Doyle is the Global Head of R&D Quality Management for Syngenta Seeds located in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina. Patrick has over 20 years experience in working within the agricultural industry with roles covering: Field Research Chemistry (both in the Field & as Manager); Product Management & Marketing; Regulatory Sciences Business Development; and now Quality Management.

Patrick earned his M.Sc. from University of Saskatchewan in 1989 based on a Thesis focused on the evaluation of seed applied bio-inoculants to improve nutrient update and yield in field crops. Patrick recently earned his PhD from the University of Guelph in November, 2009 based on research focused on a project bridging pharmaceutical antibody engineering technology to limit mycotoxin contamination of agricultural crops. Patrick’s has authored numerous publications and patents based upon a wide range of research interests and technological disciplines.

Originally from Regina, Saskatchewan, Patrick has worked all across Canada, as well as within Basel, Switzerland. Patrick and his family currently reside in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, where they are the only Edmonton Oilers fans in the state.

Parking $10.00

If entering via General Science Building

Take first flight of stairs or elevator to Main Level

Walk down passage

Meeting room located on your right hand side just

Before the pedway to ETLC

If entering through ETLC – take escalator to main level (food court area)

Walk to pedway, cross pedway

Meeting room on your left hand side just after the pedway

Sponsored by:

Department of Agricultural Food & Nutritional Science & the Division of Plant BioSystems.

Sharon Katzeff

Public Relations Coordinator

Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science

University of Alberta

4-10 Agriculture/Forestry Centre

University of Alberta

Edmonton, AB, Canada T6G 2P5

Phone: 780-492 0379

Cell: 780 906 0148

Fax: 780-492-4265

Our asperations are our possibilities – Samuel Johnson

Happy Good Friday

2012-04-06T00:30:00.000-06:00

No lecture today because it's Good Friday!

Analysis of an Interview

2012-04-04T11:10:00.001-06:00

REMEMBER MAKE A COPY!! Please don’t write in this document!

ALES204 Analysis of An Interview

1. Summary of the content of the interview, including a statement of its purpose:

2. What techniques in the interview made it effective or ineffective? Use the checklist and explain your choice

Technique	Poor	Good	Excellent	Explanation
Articulation
Description
Humour
Pauses
Pitch
Pronunciation
Speed
Tone
Variance
Volume

Google and Scholarly Research

2012-04-03T22:52:00.000-06:00

During lectures I often note how useful google can be to find academic research. We talked about using google scholar and the advanced search function. With that in mind, I'm sure you'll appreciate this infographic from Jenica Rhee.

Created by: HackCollege

Lecture 31: Interview Analysis

2012-04-03T00:30:00.000-06:00

Today we'll practise analysing an interview. You will have the opportunity to find an interview related to your interest or field, and then you can analyse it using a google doc which can be found here.

Note: PLEASE make sure you *save a copy* of the google doc rather than simply writing in it! more like a workshop where you'll have most of the class to practise what we've been covering all week.

Lecture 31 2012 Interviews

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Charities Contest

2012-04-02T18:08:00.001-06:00

What's the (verb)? Students (Verb) Charities is an AWESOME CONTEST. Students create public awareness campaigns in any form about how charities impact the quality of life in Canada Read more here.

Lecture 30: Podcasting

2012-04-02T02:00:00.000-06:00

Lecture 30 2012- Podcasting and Interview Techniques

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Module 12: Labs

2012-04-02T00:30:00.000-06:00

In labs this week you'll have the opportunity to practise the interviewing and podcasting information we're talking about all week. I know you just can't wait!

Some of the things you're going to be doing:

image from audio boo.fm

Find a partner
Together, read through this handout
Choose whether you will ask employment questions, behavioural questions or journalistic questions
Take a few minutes to create some questions for each other
Conduct your interviews and record it using audioboo (your TA can help you)
Remember, you have the choice to announce your real name in the interview or use an alias
Think about your voice, breathing and pacing.
Share the link to your audioboo recording with your TA.

Lecture 29: Business E-mails

2012-03-30T00:30:00.000-06:00

Today Biba will guide you through some dos and don't of writing a business e-mail!

For fun, read this article by Ms. Mentor: "Don't E-Mail Me This Way"

Lecture 28 2012 Email Etiquette

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2012-03-29T19:21:00.003-06:00

Hello Everyone,

This is the presentation for the business emails guest lecture on March 30, 2012. Hope you find this informative and useful.

All the best for your science article assignments and e-portfolio assignment.

Business Emails

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Science Article Assignment: Questions Answered

2012-03-28T13:00:00.000-06:00

A number of students have come forward noting the differing information they have been receiving about the Science Article Assignment and how this new information does not correspond with the assignment I have given you. Let me clarify, PLEASE follow the assignment guidelines!

Each option requires that you write your answer in a memo style. Even Option 4 if you are "translating" your academic paper into a more general paper - follow the memo style and include headings (for examples of headings see Option 1 which has a list) OR for Option 4 you might just be including a poster translation. Remember to SINGLE space your work BUT double space between headings.
Have a look here for a great example of how a memo looks. NOTE this is just to give you an IDEA of how a memo looks. I am not asking you to follow all the ideas, but the basic structure is correct. You do NOT have to bold the first sentence (but you can if you prefer) AND see the last paragraph that talks about citation, it suggests to do what your professor asks...and that is to include an APA style reference list!
Another question that has come up: students have asked whether they need to address all the prompter questions I have included in some of the Options. No, of course not. I have included lots to get you thinking. I am looking for a strong analysis of a few ideas (demonstrating your critical thinking) RATHER than a superficial summary of a lot of ideas.

Lecture 28: E-Mail Etiquette

2012-03-28T00:30:00.000-06:00

Today we have Marie-Claude showering us with another great presentation.

Mc lecture 27

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Nutrition Without Borders

2012-03-27T14:33:00.000-06:00

Guest Lecture by Anindya Ghosh

2012-03-26T09:13:00.000-06:00

Anindya Ghosh is from Leger Marketing, Edmonton Canada. He is working there as a Project Manager. He will be delevering a lecture on "social media- a marketing perspective". Please have a look at the presentation summary below.

Title: Social Media – A Marketing Perspective:

The discussion is about the various aspects of social media in marketing and how those practices can be adopted in our personal application of social media. The following topics will be broadly touched upon in the presentation:

• A brief introduction on the evolution of social media

• The importance of social media in marketing

• Some marketing social media success stories – and the lessons we learn from them

• What are some of the current challenges in social media marketing

• An overview of how to measure social media and the challenges

• Finally, how can some of the marketing ideas be used in personal utilization of social media

Social media 26 03 12

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Lecture 27: LinkedIn and Science

2012-03-26T00:30:00.000-06:00

A reminder about the science article assignment which is due on Friday (the 30th) at 17:00. You must send your assignment via e-mail (yes, e-mail!) to BOTH your TA and myself. If you are doing option four and have chosen the poster option, you need to send your assignment to us via e-mail and then (if you have decided to do a physical poster) you can give me (or the TA leading the lecture) the poster on Monday before we start class (otherwise, an attachment with your e-poster is preferred!).

Lecture 27 linkedin - 2012

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Science Article Assignment: Clarification

2012-03-23T14:30:00.000-06:00

Image from Duke University.

I have had several questions from students about the Science Article Assignment. Let me clarify a few things.

You only need to do ONE option, NOT all four!
All options are due on the same day at the same time: Friday, 30th of March at 17:00
You MUST e-mail your assignment to BOTH your TA and me.
Option 2 is a comparison so you MUST have both the online version and the PRINT version of the SAME journal
Option 4 is asking you to create a different version of a paper you ALREADY have written. You will EITHER create another paper written for a more general audience OR a poster. You will submit TWO items, your original academic paper AND a poster translation OR a more general and shorter paper.

You can read more about the assignment here. As always, please let me know if you have any further questions.

Symposium

2012-03-23T14:17:00.001-06:00

Dear Friend,

We would like to invite you to join Alltech and University of Alberta

students at our Kentucky Bound event!

Theme: Students are willing to auction off their time to attend

Alltech’s 2012 Symposium. Come and help these students raise funds for an exciting opportunity!! We look forward to seeing you there.

Date: Wednesday, April 3, 2012
Time: 5:30 PM Cocktail hour / Reception begins

6:30 pm Dinner

Location: Poultry Research Center

University of Alberta South Campus

If you would like to attend this event, please RSVP by April 1, 2012 to Shannon Clarke.
Email: shannon.clarke@ales.ualberta.ca
Phone: (780) 492-9863