An article in The Chronicle of Higher Education from July 25, 2009 highlights the use, or lack of use, of technology in the classroom by Professors. Of the seven pie charts highlighted in the article, one that jumped out at me was the use of Student Response Systems in the classroom. The graph indicated that 79% of the 4,600 faculty members from 50 institutions never use these tools. Harrison College has built in the use of student clickers into a number of its programs. Students seem to respond well to the use of these tools when implemented properly. The biggest challenge for Harrison College and institutions of higher learning is to ensure that the faculty know how to correctly utilize available technology.
All of the online programs at Harrison College utilize the Angel LMS to disseminate information to its students and engage the online learners. Other programs at Harrison College that utilize technology include Medical Assisting, Help Desk and Network Administration to name just a few. It is the goal of Harrison College to further leverage available technology in the classroom and make content for online and onground learners more engaging and interactive.
For more information on any of the programs offered at Harrison College, please visit the following website.
Did you know that Harrison College campuses utilize local advisory boards? It’s true, as career specific educators we find it very helpful to call upon local professionals so that we can keep our fingers on the pulse of local employment needs and opportunities as they relate to our students and graduates.
The Harrison College Columbus Indiana college campus recently held our semiannual advisory board meeting to discuss various programs. We asked advisory board members for suggestions for other adult education programs that they felt would be valuable in Columbus and surrounding communities. A couple of suggestions were degree programs in logistics and information technology. Information technology security degrees were also a very hot topic as the world and businesses become more and more technology based every day.
Other topics discussed were current curriculum and ways to measure student learning outcomes in all degree programs.
Working with local professionals gives Harrison College an edge when it comes to offering relevant degrees for local students wishing to remain in the area after graduation. The input of the following advisers was invaluable.
Pet Burgmeier, CEO, Insulation Marketing
Janene Stotts, President, Engineering Resource Division, LHP Software
Melinda Burton, Business Secretary, Columbus City Utilities
Denise Wirrig, Reference Librarian, Bartholomew County Public Library
Don Taylor, Owner, DR Taylor and Associates
Sam Aulick, Sales Manager, Lemley’s Catering
Lu Backensto, HR Director, Furecia
Joy Crandol, Practice Manager, Wellspring Pain Solutions
If you would like to be a part of a Harrison College Advisory Board, contact the Harrison College nearest you.
If you would like more information about the current degree offerings and campus locations, check us out online.
Harrison College currently offers the following degrees through the Harrison College School of Information Technology at the Indianapolis Northwest campus: Help Desk Technician certificate program, Network Administration- A.A.S., and Information Technology B.S.
Have you ever been told that you are "Stupid"? or "Lazy"? There are many students that I came across during my time working as an Admissions Representative. I have heard stories of young individuals who have been abused in ways you can't even imagine. They walked in my office because they saw the Harrison College's commercial and NEEDED to change their lives. They were sick of everyone telling them they CAN'T. They were ready to say "YES, I CAN!"
So, what does Harrison College Mean to you? I can speak from my personal experiences that Harrison College means Success, Inspiration, Change, and Admiration.
Success- Why Success? Success because these students who have come from nothing will be graduating with a degree that friends and family told them they would never have. Not only will they have a degree but they are working as Nurses, Police Officers, Network Administrators..and more.
Inspiration- These students are inspiring to those who are in the same situations that they once were. Our students are inspiring others that they can follow their dreams too!
Change- Harrison College is changing lives. Harrison College is providing students with the tools they need to earn their degree and land a job after graduation.
Admiration- The students at Harrison College are admired. The students I have worked with were told they can't do it and they GRADUATED!! To me that is admirable. Watching someone come from almost nothing to becoming independent and successful!
I look up to all of Harrison College's students who are working hard to achieve their dreams! Keep up the great work!
If you are interested in becoming one of Harrison Colleges successful graduates, please contact Harrison College.
If you've dreamed about pursuing a degree in Health Care Management, Criminal Justice, or Network Administration but were afraid you might not be able to afford it, then read on because I've got good news and even better news for you! The Department of Education recently posted revised 2010-2011 Pell Grant payment and disbursement schedules in response to changes set forth under the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010.
So why is that good news? Well, it's good news because if you were eligible for Pell Grant funding under the first Pell Grant schedule published in January of this year, don't worry, you will not see any reduction in your awards. But, it's even better news because now more students, based on their individual need as determined by the FAFSA (for the 2010-2011 academic year) may now be eligible to receive a Pell Grant if their school's cost of attendance is at least $5,500!
If you are unsure as to whether or not you are affected by this change, of if you have any questions about Pell Grants or financial aid in general, please visit Harrison College's financial aid page at harrison.edu/financial-aid/eliminate-your-financial-fears.aspx.
Our Admissions team is a group of talented admissions specialists who are ready with the tools to make that process efficient. From the time we talk to the student to the time the student is enrolled can be as little as 24 to 48 hours. This however, does depend on the student, he or she does need to complete the necessary steps to make the enrollment process happen.
Perspective students will need to have their prior years taxes available so that they can fill our the FAFSA (federal financial aid application) , they will also need to fill out the enrollment forms (takes about 7-10 minutes), the Scholastic Level Exam (SLE) Student assessment (takes 8 minutes), and pay their $50 (non refundable) application fee. All of these steps with the exception of the financial aid paperwork can be done in less than 30 minutes. There are a few other steps, like the online orientation for ANGEL (our learning management system), that happen after enrollment.
Voila! add that all up and you have an enrolled student that is on his or her road to success.
Students have more options today than they did in the past when it comes to online education. They can enroll in programs in Criminal Justice, Network Administration careers, Health Care Management, etc.
Why wait to enroll in school? Online education is the most convenient method of learning. You are in your own home, or on your lunch break at work, or at the park watching your kids play ball. Give our online admissions team a call or inquire online via our website www.harrison.edu. Click on the online section and let us help you on your road to success.
Harrison's Anderson Career College campus is highlighted multiple times in the Anderson Wants Google-Official Video that will be submitted to Google, and is prominent on YouTube. for more information about Harrison College and the Anderson, Indiana Google initiative, please visit the Harrison College website and the YouTube Anderson Wants Google-Official Video.
In today's world there are a million social networks out there, all with varying functionality and purpose. Since the average age of a Harrison College Alumni Association member is 37, I try to not rely on social media too much since many did not grow up with the internet and social media like today's current traditional aged college freshman. But with inaccurate address records and the cost of printing and shipping, the reality is that online social media marketing is the easiest, fastest, and cheapest way to get the word out. Here is what I use currently for alumni news. (click to visit)
To make it a little easier, on the Alumni Association website (which is our own personal social media site) there is a link at the top titled "News". In that section alumni can find the links to all of our social media sites as well as copies of the latest Harrison College Newsletter, and links to internet stories involving Harrison College.
If you have an aversion to using Twitter, Facebook, etc. here's something to consider, when job searching pay attention to how many ask for knowledge of social media. I have personally seen this skill listed on numerous job descriptions. Businesses of all kinds are turning to social media site to drive revenue and awareness. So if you are looking for a business marketing career, an IT or system administrator career, a career in Hospitality and Restaurant Management or a number of others, my advice is to give it a try, it's really not that hard but slightly addicting so be aware :)
What is a career college? I get this question often when speaking with high school students and non-traditional students looking for adult education programs that will aid in career advancement. Harrison College is an Indiana career college. Being a graduate and an employee, I feel I can give you the basics on what makes career colleges different and why that difference is exactly what many students are looking for today.
Career colleges offer education that is related to specific careers and fields of study. This education is designed to assist the graduate in finding a career position—not just another “job.”
Most career colleges are owned and operated by individuals, private investors, or public corporations. They pay taxes yet receive no direct financial support form the state.
Career colleges are accredited. Accreditation simply means that the college is held to high quality standards in academics and sometimes in career placement of graduates. Accreditation means that the degree the graduate receives is WORTHY of the hard work and investment the student made. Accreditation can be both national and regional. Note: always check to make sure the college you are interested in attending is accredited. You want to get your monies worth--so ask them about their accreditation and then research it online.
Career colleges focus on the needs of both students and employers! Often there is an atmosphere of service for the students—making it that much easier to achieve a degree while still maintaining family, work, and other life-obligations. Many career colleges like Harrison College also use Advisory Boards made up of local professionals and business owners. This allows the college to stay on track with what is needed by local employers--making graduates that much more prepared and employable!
Harrison College is an Indiana accredited college that offers degrees in the following areas:
- Medical Assistant
- Criminal Justice
- Massage
- Health Care Management
- Finance
- Business Marketing and Management
- Help Desk
- Human Resources
- Nursing
- Network Administration
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Laboratory Technology
- Fashion Merchandising
- Systems Administrator
- Veterinary Technology
For a complete listing of degrees offered at Harrison College, click here.
For more information on how career colleges are meeting the needs of the 21st Century Workforce, check out this video or visit the Career College Association site.
Are you majoring in Fashion Merchandising? Are you thinking about it? If so, you are required to take an internship. The benefits of getting your foot in the door are endless no matter what your major is. By: Lyndsey Harbaugh
On February 17th, I had the privilege of meeting Antonio Fermin at his bridal boutique, A Step Above Bridal, in Carmel, Indiana. Antonio Fermin is an award winning international designer who has more than 600 bridal boutiques around the world. I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to meet him. Upon arriving at his bridal boutique, I was immediately impressed by the window display and the beautiful gowns. His gowns are truly stunning, and I found Antonio to be very friendly and enthusiastic about the bridal industry. Antonio met with me for over an hour and discussed his background in fashion designing. He has been designing gowns for over 25 years and has become well known around the world with his bridal gowns.
Antonio began his studies in Spain before arriving in the United States. He was voted manufacturer and designer of the year twice; and the only designer in the history of the bridal industry to receive the Award of Excellence. In addition to his awards, Antonia said that he has been on “Oprah” and “Ellen” several times, and has designed a dress specifically for the Producer of the Oprah show. You can find his gowns in the various Indiana bridal magazines and all of the local bridal shows. During the winter quarter of 2010, Casandra Gonzalez, a Fashion Merchandising major at Harrison College, had the exciting opportunity of interning with Antonio Fermin.
Casandra Gonzalez began her internship at A Step Above Bridal in January 2010 where she quickly became acquainted with the bridal industry and how it is so different from the retail industry. For the first few weeks, Casandra shadowed Antonio and the office manager to learn how to greet customers, log information into the computer systems, and how to dress women for their body types. Once she became comfortable with this, Antonio allowed her to sell gowns. He has also given her the complete responsibility of organizing and running a bridal show on March 7th in Carmel, Indiana. Casandra has already accepted a full time position at A Step Above Bridal and will begin her duties once she graduates and completes her internship.
One of the main reasons for attending a Harrison College Alumni Event is for the networking benefits! You never know who you might meet or what they may be able to offer you in terms of career advancement, new business, workplace advice, etc. Here are the first 4 of 8 simple steps to networking as described by Contacts Count-http://www.contactscount.com/home.html 1. Capitalize on Style
What is your personal communication style and mindset? Are you an introvert? Extrovert?
Know how you best communicate. Re-frame your attitude towards networking and believe that it is something that is helpful and critical in the marketplace.
2. Take a Strategic Approach
Have an agenda for what you want to accomplish. Do you want a new job? Trying to drum up business for your Network Administration Career? Whatever the case may be, set your goals and then attend events that are relevant and make sure you meet the people that can help you the most.
3. Envision the Ideal Network
There may be different networking events/groups that you are invited to. Similar to step 2, make sure you know where your networking opportunities lie and try and leverage these opportunities from one group to another. Know the benefits and challenges that will exist when networking within these various groups. How can you get the most benefit out of your contacts?
4. Develop Relationships
Relationships with people take time and evolve in stages. Make sure you are working toward establishing a trusting relationship with your contacts. If that trust is broken make sure you re-establish it. Show that you have character and that you are competent. Keep those connections alive!
for steps 5-8 visit on March 12th.....
Around 2006 (I think), I came across a USB attack identified as Switchblade. It used a special autorun loader on a U3 compatible USB key in an effort to capture information from Windows 2000, XP, or 2003 machines. Although it requires an account with Administrative privledges to recover password hashes and IP information, it would do so in stealth mode without modifying the system. And since most users run their computer with elevated privledges, it had a very good success rate.
Less than two years later, there were headlines that USCENTCOM - in charge of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan - had their internal systems compromised due to an infected USB drive that was plugged into a desktop computer by a technician. The desktop was connected to the network but no details regarding the amount of damages was ever released.
This type of thing is still happening today. US-CERT just announced that software that comes with the Energizer DUO USB NiMH battery charger is infected with a backdoor Trojan horse, capable of infecting Windows PCs. Sophos detects the Trojan horse as Troj/Bckdr-RBF. Its not quite clear whether the Energizer DUO USB NiMH battery charger shipped with the infected software, or whether it was made available by Energizer separately.
Either way, be careful when plugging anything into your computer!!!
There was a wide range of security threats in 2009 aiming at both end-users and at corporate networks. I would argue that a bigger portion of the attacks were leveraged against end-users for the simple fact that their resources are not protected by a corporate security team and users are much less likely to have defensive measures in place. Hackers ("Crackers" is the proper term to use if the intent is malicious) are always looking for the easiest target.
I'm amazed that in 2010 I still have "elevator" conversations with people who openly admit to not running any type of a highly-rated antimalware solution with antispam, antiphishing and antivirus modules. These things are a must for anyone surfing the web in 2010.
AVG and Malwarebytes are two great products that users can use to improve their security defenses. And hey .... they're FREE! The footprint for malwarebytes is extremely small and amazingly fast. It scanned my 160GB drive in under 7 minutes.
Don't be a victim of ignorance. Take the proper steps to help secure your personal resources. And if you are interested in learning more about these type of things from a college for working adults, please check out our bachelor, associate, and certificate degrees at Harrison College.
At Harrison College, I am continually working cross collaboratively with any number of departments or campuses. Frequently I will attend events at our Lafayette Indiana College campus, and have worked directly with the Anderson Career College campus to host the Mayor of Anderson to meet with our students. Harrison's Elkhart College campus shared a program idea that is now being reviewed for several of our different campuses throughout Indiana and Ohio.
As an organization, we continue to strive for cross collaboration, and that philosophy carries over into our classrooms as well. Students in any of our programs, including those interested in Indiana Nursing School Degrees and Careers, will find plenty of opportunity to collaborate with fellow students and instructors. To learn more about Harrison College and our goal of collaborative learning, I encourage you to visit our website at www.harrison.edu.
Hopefully individuals with Network Administration Careers already have a baseline understanding of networking. But, since we dove head first into subnets, you may not have gained much appreciation for networks and how they work.
With that in mind, I thought I would give you a brief introduction about the Internet. Don't leave yet! Rather than boring you with my ramblings in a long winded blog, I found a great online animation for your quick history lesson. The video is only 8 minutes in length.
"History of the Internet" is an animated documentary explaining the inventions from time-sharing to filesharing and from Arpanet to Internet.
Enjoy the show!
History of the Internet from Melih Bilgil on Vimeo.
There are quite a few confusing messages on line these days. It doesn't matter if you are searching for a System Administrator Career or pursuing training as a Medical Reimbursement Specialist. You are constantly being bombarded with misleading and inaccurate messages. Let me simply state for the record that The Federal Government is NOT going to be providing you money to go to school ENTIRELY for free! I know that may come as a major disappointment, but college is affordable. There is a financial plan for everyone. If there is a will, there is a way. There are lots of ways to pay to attend college: grants, loans (and taking out loans to invest in yourself isn't bad!), online college scholarships, interest-free payments, and all sorts of other options. Check out http://www.harrison.edu/financial-aid/eliminate-your-financial-fears.aspx for assistance in alleviating your financial fears.
Today's blog may not be for the general public so I apologize in advance. And yet, the topic of subnetting is one of the very main reasons why you are able to access this blog via the internet.
So I thought I would end the week by going a little deeper into technology on a Friday. If you get a headache by the end, no worries, you've got the weekend to recover. So stick with me here - especially those of you looking for help desk careers, network administration careers, or system administrator careers. You MUST understand this stuff.
(Skip to videos if needed). Whatis.com defines variable-length subnet mask (VLSM) as a sequence of numbers of variable length that streamlines packet routing within the subnets of a proprietary network. A subnet can be a geographically defined local area network (LAN). Alternatively, a subnet may define security boundaries, departmental boundaries, multicast zones or hardware security parameters.
That's a great definition but what the heck does it really mean and how does it actually work. Watch my video on VLSM and hopefully you'll understand it a little better.
Part 1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FbBvmQbdoWA
Part 2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OZlWq0qGO8
What is it you say? The Add-ons, of course. Its like a built in I-Tunes store for the Fox and boy how it sets the thing on fire! I couldn't resist another corny joke.
I'm a software junky of sorts that has reviewed hundreds of applications. I have lifetime memberships with Download.com and Tucows. Trust me, if it has a point and click function, I've probably looked at it to see if it could make my life easier. I'll leave the programming and syntax work to the really smart people. Just package it up and let me unwrap it.
So enough with the self-diagnosis of review expert you say ... what are the must have Firefox Add-ons? Coming in at number 1 is ...
1. NoScript by Giorgio Maone - This handy dandy utility allows active content to run only from sites you trust, and protect yourself against XSS and Clickjacking attacks. Control your cookie content and improve your security posture while browsing the internet. It’s the first thing I load after installing Firefox.
2. Scrapbook by Gomita - You can save web pages for offline viewing, make notations, and organize your collection.
3. Down Them All by Parodi, Maier, Verna - The best download manager for Firefox I have found.
4. FireFTP by Mime Cuvalo - Free and secure FTP client providing easy access to FTP servers. You can save multiple accounts and access your accounts with one simple click.
5. Flashgot by Giorgio Maone - Another great utility by Maone. This add-on allows me to download flash videos for later viewing or to add to presentations, demonstrations, etc.6. Tr.im at http://tr.im - Not really a true add-on but a must have utility. Reduce the length of URLs and keep a copy with a free account. This is a lot like the tinyurl service but I like a history of the URLs that Trim provides.
For more information on these and other add-ons, you can visit: http://addons.mozilla.org
I think it’s safe to assume that general internet users or even power users like students at a distance learning college will not break the 20 mark. And yet, with bank accounts, Amazon accounts, college accounts, twitter and facebook accounts, the number of passwords can add up quickly.
A mistake I often see users making is using the same username and password for multiple accounts of online services. And who can blame them? It’s not easy to keep up with 20 different passwords. But sharing is definitely not good practice. The worst practice is signing up for a new account with your email address as the User ID and then supplying the exact same password you use for your email account. If your credentials ever become compromised on one system, the hacker now has access to both accounts.
Earlier this year I started reviewing password managers that use a typical database file to store multiple credentials. The file is then encrypted with a MASTER password, which leaves me to remember one password rather than one hundred. The power is in the cipher such as AES, DES, 3DES, Twofish, etc.
In my opinion, Password Safe is one of the best. It’s built on the Twofish algorithm developed by Bruce Schneier, an internationally renowned security technologist and author. I highly recommend his “Applied Cryptography” if you’re into that kind of thing. By the way, I get to hear Bruce speak at an upcoming seminar in three weeks … very exciting for a security samurai.
My favorite component of Password Safe is the “Browse to URL and Autotype”. With a simple right click on the account name, the program will automatically open your web browser and type in your User ID and password for you.
Did I mention yet the program is FREE? Improve your security posture online by using multiple credentials and let Password Safe help you manage them.
Give it a try!
When first approached with the idea of blogging for Harrison College, I must admit there wasn’t much excitement coursing through my veins. It’s the one hold out for me in technology. Since working in technology for nearly 20 years, one might think I would be eager to embrace this medium.
However, I originally classified blogs as just one more communication tool I would have to manage among the arsenal of emails, forums, texting, and IM weaponry. I'm sure help desk technicians, systems administrators, and office workers alike have this information overload as well.
After learning more about blogging, I find it can be a way for me to share my thoughts with others who actually want this information by following my posts; a much better method than me spamming my contact list with news and opinions. Maybe this blogging thing isn’t such a bad idea. And maybe my email headers will end up in fewer junk-email boxes.
Here’s hoping!
My point is that Harrison College is growing by leaps and bounds. We are continually looking at what new programs we should be offering that will translate into career opportunities for our graduates. As the scope of education changes, and as on-line delivery becomes more prevalent, Harrison College will be there to meet those changes and build around the needs of our students.
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